This paper accounts for utilization of shear induced alignment method during ceramic stereolithography. Lateral oscillation mechanism, combined with 3d printed wall pattern, was employed to generate necessary shear to align fiber in desired direction. First, semicircular channel pattern was printed to assess the effect of difference between wall direction and oscillation direction on the fiber alignment. Then, flexural strength of ceramic matrix was tested with nickel coated carbon fiber and ceramic fiber reinforcements. The results demonstrated that the shear induced alignment further improves the flexural strength compare to randomly distributed samples. Flexural strength of aligned samples with 1.0 wt% carbon fiber loading was improved by ~90% compared to randomly orientated samples and by ~333% compared to unreinforced samples. Finally, fracture surface morphology of the flexural strength test specimens was evaluated. The main fracture mechanism was observed as fiber pull-out.

There is an increasing global trend to find sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials as an alternative to limited natural raw materials. Similarly, the use of waste materials has been gaining popularity in the production of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). In this study, the sustainable use of glass-fiber-reinforced polyester (GRP) pipe waste powder (GRP-WP), gathered from the cutting and milling process of GRP pipe production, utilizing it in asphalt mixes as a filler, is evaluated based on lab testing to find out: (i) if it produces similar or better performance compared to the most conventionally available filler material (limestone) and, (ii) if so, what would be the optimum GRP-WP filler content to be used in asphalt mixes. For this reason, an experimental test matrix consisting of 45 samples with three different amounts of binder content (4%, 4.5% and 5.0%), and a 5% filler content with five different percentages of the GRP-WP content (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% replacement by weight of the filler), was prepared to figure out which sample would produce the similar Marshall stability and flow values compared to the control samples while also satisfying specification limits. It was found that the samples with 4.5% binder content, 3.75% GRP-WP and 1.25% limestone filler content produced the results both satisfying the specification requirements and providing an optimum mix design. It is believed that use of GRP-WP waste in HMA production would be a very useful way of recycling GRP-WP.

Widened slabs, widely employed in many US states in concrete pavements, have suffered from unexpected longitudinal cracks. These cracks suddenly appeared within 0.60 m to 1.20 m from widened slab edges and could be detrimental to the long-term pavement performance. The primary objective of this study was to identify possible causes for such longitudinal cracking observed on widened concrete pavements. Both field investigation and Finite Element Analysis were performed. Degrees of curling and warping were measured using a Terrestrial Laser Scanner. Concrete cores were also extracted to achieve a better understanding of how the cracking had developed. Field survey and numerical simulation results indicate that such longitudinal cracks could be primarily caused by a combination of excessive traffic loads, a high degree of curling and warping, inadequate support from underlying layers, pavement ageing, and skewed joints. It was also found that 4.30 m widened slabs coupled with tied Portland Cement Concrete shoulders outperformed others in terms of producing less cracking, even when they had experienced higher levels of truck traffic. The sites constructed in late afternoons also showed significantly less longitudinal cracks.

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