This study intended to address the problem of damaged (collapsed, cracked and decreased soil strength) road pavement structure built on clay soil due to clay soil properties such as low shear strength, high soil compressibility, low soil permeability, low soil strength, and high soil plasticity. Previous research reported that ground granulated blast slag (GGBS) and fly ash can be used for clay soil stabilizations, but the results of past research indicate that the road pavement construction standards remained unfulfilled, especially in terms of clay’s subgrade soil. Due to this reason, this study is carried out to further investigate soil stabilization using GGBS and fly ash-based geopolymer processes. This study investigates the effects of GGBS and ratios of fly ash (solid) to alkaline activator (liquid) of 1:1, 1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1, and 3:1, cured for 1 and 7 days. The molarity of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and the ratio of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) to sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was fixed at 10 molar and 2.0 weight ratio. The mechanical properties of the soil stabilization based geopolymer process were tested using an unconfined compression test, while the characterization of soil stabilization was investigated using the plastic limit test, liquid limit test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the highest strength obtained was 3.15 MPA with a GGBS to alkaline activator ratio of 1.5 and Na2SiO3 to NaOH ratio of 2.0 at 7 days curing time. These findings are useful in enhancing knowledge in the field of soil stabilization-based geopolymer, especially for applications in pavement construction. In addition, it can be used as a reference for academicians, civil engineers, and geotechnical engineers.

This study focuses on the properties and process parameters dictating behavioural aspects of friction stir welded Aluminium Alloy AA6061 metal matrix composites reinforced with varying percentages of SiC and B4C. The joint properties in terms of mechanical strength, microstructural integrity and quality were examined. The weld reveals grain refinement and uniform distribution of reinforced particles in the joint region leading to improved strength compared to other joints of varying base material compositions. The tensile properties of the friction stir welded Al-MMCs improved after reinforcement with SiC and B4C. The maximum ultimate tensile stress was around 172.8 ± 1.9 MPa for composite with 10% SiC and 3% B4C reinforcement. The percentage elongation decreased as the percentage of SiC decreases and B4C increases. The hardness of the Al-MMCs improved considerably by adding reinforcement and subsequent thermal action during the FSW process, indicating an optimal increase as it eliminates brittleness. It was seen that higher SiC content contributes to higher strength, improved wear properties and hardness. The wear rate was as high as 12 ± 0.9 g/s for 10% SiC reinforcement and 30 N load. The wear rate reduced for lower values of load and increased with B4C reinforcement. The microstructural examination at the joints reveals the flow of plasticized metal from advancing to the retreating side. The formation of onion rings in the weld zone was due to the cylindrical FSW rotating tool material impression during the stirring action. Alterations in chemical properties are negligible, thereby retaining the original characteristics of the materials post welding. No major cracks or pores were observed during the non-destructive testing process that established good quality of the weld. The results are indicated improvement in mechanical and microstructural properties of the weld.

The surfacing technologies are used for constitution of protection layer against wear and is destined for obtaining coating with high hardness. Among many weldings methods currently used to obtain the hard surface layer one of the most effective way of hardfacing is using flux cored arc welding. This additional material gives more possibilities to make expected hard surface layer. Chemical composition, property and economic factors obtained in flux cored wire are much richer in comparison to these obtained with other additional materials. This is the reason why flux cored wires give possibilities of application this kind of material for improving surface in different sectors of industry. In the present paper the imperfection in the layers was used for hardfacing process in different situations to show the possible application in the surface layer. The work presents studies of imperfection of the welds, contains the picture of microstructures, macrostructures and shows the results of checking by visual and penetrant testing methods.

The article presents the modeling of temporary temperature and phase share calculations during SAW (submerged arc welding) overlaying of steel elements. The input heat of a melted electrode and the heat of direct electric arc impact have been taken into consideration in the temperature field solution. The characteristic areas (fusion, full and incomplete transformation), have been determined by solidus, A3 and A1 temperatures, respectively. The limit temperatures of the phase trandformations during cooling, based on the cooling rate in the temperature range 800–500 °C according to S355 steel time-temperature-transformation welding diagram, have been determined. The JMAK (Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov) law and KM (Koistinen–Marburger) formula were used in the phase change kinetic description. Theoretical considerations were illustrated with examples of temperature and phase share computations for welding overlaid S355 steel plate. The analysis of the history of changes in temperature and structural components (phases) was carried out based on the results of numerical simulations as well as metallographic examination after SAW overlaying. The dimensions of the HAZ (heat-affected zone), obtained experimentally, and the structure types confirmed the results of the computation.

In this paper, the experimental investigation results of the bead sequence input on geometry, structure, and hardness of surfaced layers after multi-pass weld surfacing are analyzed. Three S355 steel plates surfaced by GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) were tested with three different combinations of six beads. The geometric, structural, and hardness analysis was carried out in the cross-section of the plates in the middle of the welded layers. The dimensions of padded layers, fusion and heat-affected zone, as well as the individual padded weld were evaluated. On the basis of metallographic samples, qualitative and quantitative structure analysis was performed. Hardness measurements in surfacing welds and heat-affected zones in the tested cross-sections of the surfacing layers were carried out. A comparative analysis of structure and hardness, taking into account the thermal implications of the bead sequence, allowed for the formulation of conclusions. Comparative studies have shown differences in properties between heat-affected zones (HAZ) for individual surfacing sequences. These differences were mainly in the dimensions of the surfacing layers, the share of structural components, as well as the uniformity of hardness distributions. Finally, the most favorable sequence in terms of structure and hardness distribution, maximum hardness, and range of hardness has been indicated.

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań nad napoinami trudnościeralnymi przeznaczonymi do pracy w warunkach przemysłu cementowego. Głównym celem pracy była próba wykonania pełnego kwalifikowania procesu napawania półautomatycznego zgodnie z wymaganiami PN EN ISO 15614-7 przy wykorzystaniu drutu dającego twardości sięgające do 60 HRC warstwy wierzchniej w jednym przejściu o ściegu szerokim na 10 i 20 mm. Następnie próbki poddano badaniom nieniszczącym to jest badaniom wizualnym i penetracyjnym oraz badaniom niszczącym w postaci badań metalograficznych makroskopowych i mikroskopowych, badaniu twardości. Zastosowanie niniejszej normy nie daje możliwości akceptacji kwalifikowania technologii napawania z wykorzystaniem materiałów dających bardzo twarde warstwy wierzchnie zawierające w swojej strukturze wydzielenia węglikowe.

The welding technologies are widely used for design of protection layer against wear and corrosion. Hardfacing, which is destined for obtaining coatings with high hardness, takes special place in these technologies. One of the most effective way of hardfacing is using self shielded flux cored arc welding (FCAW-S). Chemical composition obtained in flux cored wire is much more rich in comparison to this obtained in solid wire. The filling in flux cored wires can be enriched for example with the mixture of hard particles or phases with specified ratio, which is not possible for solid wires. This is the reason why flux cored wires give various possibilities of application of this kind of filler material for improving surface in mining industry, processing of minerals, energetic etc. In the present paper the high chromium and niobium flux cored wire was used for hardfacing process with similar heat input. The work presents studies of microstructures of obtained coatings and hardness and geometric properties of them. The structural studies were made with using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction that allowed for identification of carbides and other phases obtained in the structures of deposited materials. Investigated samples exhibit differences in coating structures made with the same heat input 4,08 kJ/mm. There are differences in size, shape and distribution of primary and eutectic carbides in structure. These differences cause significant changes in hardness of investigated coatings.

This paper clarified the microstructural element distribution and electrical conductivity changes of kaolin, fly ash, and slag geopolymer at 900 °C. The surface microstructure analysis showed the development in surface densification within the geopolymer when in contact with sintering temperature. It was found that the electrical conductivity was majorly influenced by the existence of the crystalline phase within the geopolymer sample. The highest electrical conductivity (8.3 × 10−4 Ωm−1) was delivered by slag geopolymer due to the crystalline mineral of gehlenite (3Ca2Al2SiO7). Using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence, the high concentration Ca boundaries revealed the appearance of gehlenite crystallisation, which was believed to contribute to development of denser microstructure and electrical conductivity.