No abstract

No abstract

This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of research on the utilization of fibers (predominantly derived from waste materials) as reinforcement in adobe brick production. Recycling of these wastes provides sustainable construction materials and helps to protect the environment. Specimen preparation and test procedures are outlined. The effects of addition of these wastes on the physical and mechanical properties of adobe bricks as presented in the literature, are investigated. The main results for each additive are presented and discussed. It is concluded that improved adobe brick properties can be expected with the addition of combination of waste additives. The use of waste materials in the construction industry is generally of interest and useful for engineers and designers seeking sustainable solutions in construction. It is also of interest to researchers actively seeking to develop methodical approaches to quantifying, optimising and testing the performance in use of such waste material additives.

The structural behaviour of prestressed stayed columns is investigated through nonlinear finite element modelling. The models were developed using the commercial software ABAQUS and validated against a series of recently conducted experiments. The sensitivity of the load-carrying capacity to the geometry of the stayed column, the initially applied prestress level within the stays and the initial global imperfection is investigated through parametric studies. It is found that there is a substantial increase in load-carrying capacity with increasing cross-arm length, provided the critical buckling mode remains symmetric. Once the critical buckling mode becomes antisymmetric, mode interaction becomes significant and the load-carrying capacity reaches a plateau and the component generally becomes more sensitive to imperfections. It is also found that the relative level of initial prestress required to maximize the load-carrying capacity of a given stayed column tends to reduce with increasing cross-arm length.

This study sheds considerable light on the potential of superelastic Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Belleville washers for innovative seismic resisting applications. A series of experimental studies were conducted on washers with different stack combinations under varying temperatures and loading scenarios. The washers showed satisfactory self-centring and energy dissipation capacities at room temperature, although slight degradations of the hysteretic responses accompanied by residual deformations were induced. The hysteretic loops became stable after a few number of cycles, indicating good repeatability. The washers also showed good flexibility in terms of load resistance and deformation, which could be easily varied via changes in the stack combination. Compromised selfcentring responses were observed at temperatures below 0 °C or above 40 °C, and a numerical study, validated by the experimental results, was adopted to further investigate the deformation mechanism of the washers. A further phenomenological model, taking account of the degradation effects under varied temperatures, was developed to enable effective and accurate simulation of devices incorporating the washers. Good agreements were observed between the test and simulation results, and the model was shown to have good numerical robustness for wide engineering applications.

No abstract

In this paper, the physical, durability and mechanical properties of soil bricks reinforced with chicken feather fibres (CFF) and sugarcane bagasse fibres (SBF) were studied. The adopted optimum lengths of 15-mm of CFF and SBF were randomly distributed in the soil mix at 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 11% by weight. In total, 525 samples of cubic (350) and prismatic (175) soil samples were prepared for each fibre type and tested in accordance with the guidance in the British standards for bulk density, water absorption, compressive strength and tensile strength at 14, 28, 56, 90 and 180 days. With the addition of 7% CFF and 5% SBF, soil brick samples were found to be 98.8% and 78.7% stronger respectively in compression compared to the control mix. Based on the experimental results the stress-strain model describing the soil bricks response to compressive loading for each fibre type was obtained via regression analysis.This study contributes original data to the characterization of soil bricks and provides reference values that can be considered for design purposes. The soil bricks thus developed will contribute to the provision of affordable and sustainable housing construction across the world, particularly in developing countries.

Fibers obtained from different parts of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) have been under investigation for possible use in construction. Studies have been carried out investigating the engineering properties and possible applications of these fibers. However, the experimental methods employed and the values of mechanical and physical properties recorded by various authors are inconsistent. It has therefore become necessary to organize information which would be useful in the design of oil palm fiber cement composites and help researchers and engineers make informed decisions in further research and application. This review provides information about fibers from different parts of the oil palm, their properties, enhancement techniques, current and potential application in cement composites.