We propose in this paper analytical and numerical models that describe the in‐plane uniaxial elastic properties (Young's moduli and Poisson's ratios) of a honeycomb structure with curved walls. We perform a parametric analysis of the mechanical performance of this honeycomb also by taking into account the different types of deformations acting inside the cell walls. The curved wall honeycomb possesses higher magnitudes of the Poisson's ratio ν12 in the auxetic configuration compared to classical center symmetric configuration with straight cell wall. The presence of the curvature also allows creating configurations with positive Poisson's ratio even for negative internal cell angles, and makes this honeycomb design attractive for mechanical tailoring.

Over the past several years, extensive theoretical, numerical and experimental research has been carried out on the structural behavior of steel beams with web openings of various shapes. However, in all these studies, cellular beams have always been treated or designed as simply supported at their ends. In other words, the beam to column connections are assumed as nominally pinned. The main aim of the present paper is to perform numerical simulations to determine whether the use of end plate connections, instead of simple connections, could enhance the global bending and/or shear capacity of cellular beams with circular and sinusoidal web openings.Interaction between a circular or sinusoidal opening in the beam web and endplate connection has also been studied. Data obtained from a number of experimental research programs on steel solid beam to column connections and simply supported cellular beams, available in the literature, were utilized to validate the numerical models developed in this paper. The numerical simulations using ABAQUS software were performed on full scale cellular steel beams connected to the columns with seven types of endplate connections. The results were compared with those obtained for similar simply cellular beams.

The work describes the out-of-plane properties of a curved wall honeycomb structure evaluated using analytical models and finite elements techniques. Out-of-plane properties are calculated using a theoretical approach based on energy theorems and validated using a fullscale finite element technique to simulate transverse shear tests. The effects of the curvature of the walls and the depth of the honeycomb cells on the out-of-plane elastic constants are evaluated and excellent agreement is observed between theoretical and numerical models.These curved cell wall honeycombs feature specific (i.e., relative density weighted) highly tailorable upper shear bounds that shift their maximum values with the radiuses of the curved cell walls at different internal cell angles. Finally, it is also shown that these honeycombs exhibit a particular topology with a specific upper boundary independent of the non-zero curvature cell wall adopted and only dependent upon the internal cell angle.

Waste rock materials are becoming widely used in road pavement and building constructions in many countries. In this work, experimental laboratory tests were carried out on the waste rock produced from the extraction of the phosphate in the Kef-Essenoun mine, to study the performance of road pavement foundations built with these types of material. Two types of waste, namely phosphatic limestone (type 1) and limestone (type 2), were initially tested to determine the most suitable one to be used in pavement structures. The characterization tests showed that the presence of carbonate-fluorapatite and carbonate-fluorapatite, and calcite, dolomite, and quartz are predominant in phosphatic limestone and limestone, respectively. The Los Angeles Abrasion (LA) and Micro-Deval (MD) values range from 59.9% to 90.4% and 42.05% to 86.31% for phosphatic limestone and from 43.64% to 95.88% and 38.25% to 75% for limestone. The CBR values of type 1 and type 2 waste were found to be 10.5% and 18.7% respectively. The results show that these materials, classified as B42ts and B42s respectively, could be used cautiously in capping layers and pavement backfilling materials. Furthermore, they must be treated with a hydraulic binder such as cement in order to improve their physical and mechanical properties.