Search Results (135)

This study examines the mechanical properties of concrete in which natural aggregates are entirely replaced by modified basic oxygen furnace slag (MBOFS) and reinforced with chopped carbon fibers, under both dynamic and quasi-static loading conditions. The carbon fiber (CF) was subjected to heat treatment and pneumatic dispersion prior to mixing, and its performance was validated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-fiber tensile tests. The experimental program included tests on workability, compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength, impact resistance, and high strain rate behavior using the reverse split Hopkinson pressure bar (RSHPB) method. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirmed that heat treatment removed surface sizing from carbon fibers (CF) with minimal effect on tensile strength. Replacing natural aggregates with MBOFS reduced slump but enhanced compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strength. Incorporating 1% chopped CF further improved mechanical performance: 6 mm CF increased compressive strength, while 12 mm CF enhanced flexural and splitting tensile strength. Impact resistance improved with CF addition, with 12 mm CF slightly outperforming 6 mm. RSHPB tests showed higher dynamic strength for 6 mm CF specimens, with both strength and dynamic increase factor rising with strain rate and gas pressure. Full article

Electromagnetic micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) micromirrors are widely used in optical scanning systems but often encounter mechanical crosstalk due to the use of shared drive coils. This phenomenon leads to parasitic motion along the slow axis during fast-axis operation, resulting in undesirable elliptical scanning patterns that degrade image quality. To tackle this issue, a hybrid actuation scheme is proposed in which a piezoelectric actuator drives the fast axis through an S-shaped spring structure, achieving a resonance frequency of 792 Hz, while the slow axis is independently driven by an electromagnetic actuator operating in quasi-static mode. Finite element simulations and experimental measurements validate that the proposed decoupled design significantly suppresses mechanical crosstalk. When the fast axis is driven to a 40° optical scan angle, the hybrid system reduces the parasitic slow-axis deflection (typically around 1.43°) to a negligible level, thereby producing a clean single-line scan. The piezoelectric fast axis exhibits a quality factor of Q = 110, while the electromagnetic slow axis achieves a linear 20° deflection at 20 Hz. This hybrid design facilitates a distortion-free field of view measuring 40° × 20° with uniform line spacing, presenting a straightforward and effective solution for high-precision scanning applications such as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and structured light projection. Full article

This study investigates the mechanical response characteristics and damage evolution behavior of TC4 alloy through quasi-static/dynamic coupled experimental methods. Quasi-static tensile tests at varying temperatures (293 K, 423 K, and 623 K) were conducted using a universal testing machine, while room-temperature dynamic tensile tests (strain rate 1000–3000 s⁻¹) were performed with a Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB). Key findings include the following: (1) Significant temperature-softening effect was observed, with flow stress decreasing markedly as temperature increased; (2) Notch size effect influenced mechanical properties, showing 50% enhancement in post-fracture elongation when notch radius increased from 3 mm to 6 mm; and (3) Strain-hardening effect exhibited rate dependence under dynamic loading, with reduced hardening index within the tested strain rate range. The Johnson–Cook constitutive model and failure criterion were modified and parameterized based on experimental data. A 3D tensile simulation model developed in ABAQUS demonstrated strong agreement with experimental results, achieving a 0.97 correlation coefficient for load–displacement curves, thereby validating the modified models. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of fracture surfaces revealed temperature- and strain rate-dependent microstructural characteristics, dominated by ductile fracture mechanisms involving microvoid nucleation, growth, and coalescence. This research provides theoretical foundations for analyzing Ti alloy structures under impact loading through established temperature–rate-coupled constitutive models. Full article

Aramid fibre has become a critical material for individual soft body armour due to its lightweight nature and exceptional impact resistance. To investigate its energy absorption mechanism, quasi-static and dynamic tensile experiments were conducted on Kevlar^® 29 plain-woven fabric using a universal material testing machine and a Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB) apparatus. Tensile mechanical responses were obtained under various strain rates. Fracture morphology was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultra-depth three-dimensional microscopy, followed by an analysis of microstructural damage patterns. Considering the strain rate effect, a viscoelastic constitutive model was developed. The results indicate that the tensile mechanical properties of Kevlar^® 29 plain-woven fabric are strain-rate dependent. Tensile strength, elastic modulus, and toughness increase with strain rate, whereas fracture strain decreases. Under quasi-static loading, the fracture surface exhibits plastic flow, with slight axial splitting and tapered fibre ends, indicating ductile failure. In contrast, dynamic loading leads to pronounced axial splitting with reduced split depth, simultaneous rupture of fibre skin and core layers, and fibrillation phenomena, suggesting brittle fracture characteristics. The modified three-element viscoelastic constitutive model effectively captures the strain-rate effect and accurately describes the tensile behaviour of the plain-woven fabric across different strain rates. These findings provide valuable data support for research on ballistic mechanisms and the performance optimisation of protective materials. Full article

The behaviors of hybrid and non-hybrid woven composite laminates with different stacking sequences under quasi-static indentation (QSI) and compression after indentation (CAI) were investigated in this paper. A comparative experimental and numerical study was conducted to find whether the hybridization exhibits better performance, and a focus was given to the mechanisms behind it. A C-scan ultrasonic imaging system and a digital microscope to assess the visibility of the damage and penetration resistance were employed for specimens after QSI. For CAI analysis, digital image correlation (DIC) was applied. Results show that glass–carbon hybrid woven laminates ([(±45)_g/(0,90)_c]_4s) exhibit 4.31% greater load bearing efficiency, 4.45% higher residual compressive strength, and 6.35% less indentation-induced damage area than the carbon–glass ([(±45)_c/(0,90)_g]_4s) hybrid woven laminates. These findings on different stacking sequences provide insights into surface layer behavior and interfacial failure in glass–carbon hybrid composites for designing surface-engineered laminates with improved resistance, energy absorption, and residual compressive strength. The results support the advancement of hybrid woven composite laminates and the development of durable, high-performance materials for structural applications. Full article

This paper considers the uniaxial orientation effect on the structure and piezoelectric properties of vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer ferroelectric films. The films were exposed to uniaxial orientation stretching in a temperature range from 20 °C to 60 °C; then, they were contact polarized under normal conditions. The temperature dependence of the electric strength was determined. The longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ values were measured by the quasi-static Berlincourt method. The piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) method was used to investigate the film domain structure before and after polarization, and the local piezoelectric coefficient values were also calculated. Phase composition was studied using differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy with the Fourier transform. It was found that uniaxial orientation stretching contributed to an increase in the piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ from 5 pC/N to 16–20 pC/N. The results obtained indicate the importance of the amorphous phase contribution to the formation of the piezoelectric properties in polymeric materials. Full article

In this study, novel biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composites for sustainable packaging applications were developed by adding surface-treated wood fibers (WFs). Specifically, the WFs were treated with citric acid (CA) to improve the fiber/matrix adhesion and then melt compounded with a PCL matrix. The presence of an absorption peak at 1720 cm⁻¹ in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of CA-treated WFs, coupled with the increase in the storage modulus and complex viscosity in the rheological analysis, confirmed the occurrence of an esterification reaction between CA and WFs, with a consequent increase in interfacial interactions with the PCL matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the cryo-fractured surface of the composites highlighted that PCL was able to efficiently wet the fibers after the CA treatment, with limited fiber pull-out. Quasi-static tensile tests showed that the composites reinforced with CA-treated wood fibers exhibited a significant increase in yield strength (about 30% with a WF amount of 10% at 0 °C) and also a slight improvement in the VICAT softening temperature (about 6 °C with respect to neat PCL). Water absorption tests showed reduced water uptake in CA-treated composites, consistent with the reduced hydrophilicity confirmed by higher water contact angle values. Therefore, the results obtained in this work highlighted the potential of CA-treated WFs as reinforcement for PCL composites, contributing to the development of eco-sustainable and high-performance packaging materials. Full article

In order to study the microstructure evolution of polytetrafluoroethylene–copper (PTFE-Cu) composites under compression load and reveal the molecular dynamics mechanism of deformation failure, three PTFE-Cu composites with different densities (3.0 g/cm³, 3.5 g/cm³, 4.0 g/cm³) were prepared in this study. The crystallinity of PTFE in each sample was determined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The quasi-static compression mechanical properties test was carried out to analyze the effect of PTFE crystallinity on the macroscopic mechanical response of the composites. It is found that the crystallinity of the three PTFE-Cu composites was 43.05%, 39.49% and 40.13%, respectively, showing a non-monotonic trend of decreasing first and then increasing with an increase in copper powder content. The elastic modulus and yield strength of the material are negatively correlated with the crystallinity. The failure mode is the axial splitting failure and the composite morphology of axial splitting failure and shear tearing. Finally, the molecular dynamics simulation method is used to reveal the microstructure evolution and deformation failure mechanism of PTFE-Cu composites under compression load from the atomic scale, which provides a theoretical basis and experimental support for understanding the mechanical properties of PTFE-Cu composites. Full article

This study investigates the mechanical and fatigue behaviour of friction stir composite joints fabricated from an aluminum alloy (AA6082-T6) and a glass fibre-reinforced polymer (Noryl^® GFN2) under different service temperature conditions. The joints were tested under both quasi-static and cyclic loading at three different temperatures (23, 75, and 130 °C). Fracture surfaces were analyzed, and the probabilistic S–N curves were derived using Weibull distribution. Results indicated that increasing the service temperature caused a non-linear decrease in both the quasi-static and fatigue strength of the joints. Compared to room temperature, joints tested at 75 °C and 130 °C showed a 10% and 50% reduction in average tensile strength, respectively. The highest fatigue strength occurred at 23 °C, while the lowest was at 130 °C, in line with the quasi-static results. Fatigue stress-life plots displayed a semi-logarithmic nature, with lives ranging from 10² to 10⁵ cycles for stress amplitudes between 7.7 and 22.2 MPa at 23 °C, 7.2 to 19.8 MPa at 75 °C, and 6.2 to 13.5 MPa at 130 °C. The joints’ failure occurred in the polymeric base material close to joints’ interface, highlighting the critical role of the polymer in limiting joints’ performance, as confirmed by thermal and scanning electron microscopy analyses. Full article

To address the inherent contradiction between low-profile design and high gain in traditional omnidirectional antennas, as well as the narrow bandwidth constraints of ENZ antennas, this study presents a dual-mode ENZ-FP collaborative resonant antenna array design utilizing a substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW). Through systematic analysis of ENZ media’s quasi-static field distribution, we innovatively integrated it with Fabry–Perot (F–P) resonance, achieving unprecedented dual-band omnidirectional radiation at 5.18 GHz and 5.72 GHz within a single ENZ antenna configuration for the first time. The directivity of both frequencies reached 12.0 dBi, with a remarkably low profile of only 0.018λ. We then extended this design to an ENZ-FP dual-mode beam-scanning array. By incorporating phase control technology, we achieved wide-angle scanning despite low-profile constraints. The measured 3 dB beam coverage angles at the dual frequencies were ±63° and ±65°, respectively. Moreover, by loading the impedance matching network, the −10 dB impedance bandwidth of the antenna array was further extended to 2.4% and 2.7%, respectively, thus overcoming the narrowband limitations of the ENZ antenna and enhancing practical applicability. The antennas were manufactured using PCB (Printed Circuit Board) technology, offering high integration and cost efficiency. This provides a new paradigm for UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) communication and radar detection systems featuring multi-band operation, a low-profile design, and flexible beam control capabilities. Full article

The 6061 aluminum alloy is extensively utilized in the production of aircraft components, valve parts, and maritime equipment, owing to its exceptional corrosion resistance, weldability, machinability, and anodic oxidation performance. This study investigates the effects of different heat treatment parameters on the mechanical properties of 6061 aluminum alloy. A series of orthogonal experiments were conducted, including quasi-static tensile tests using a QJBV212F-300KN universal testing machine following different solution and aging treatments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for microstructural characterization, revealing the mechanisms by which different heat treatment conditions impact the alloy’s mechanical properties. The test results indicate that the plasticity of 6061 aluminum alloy improves progressively within the temperature range of 510 °C to 540 °C. However, when the solution treatment temperature is elevated to 570 °C, significant grain coarsening occurs, leading to increased brittleness at the grain boundaries and reduced plasticity. Additionally, the elongation of 6061 aluminum alloy initially decreases and then increases as the aging time increases. Based on the experiments, a Hansel–Spittel constitutive model was developed, incorporating temperature, strain rate, and strain effects to accurately predict the flow stress of 6061 aluminum alloy under varying heat treatment conditions. Full article

This study developed a twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel characterized by lightweight, high strength, and high toughness. Tensile tests were conducted at strain rates ranging from 10⁻⁴ to 6500 s⁻¹ using a universal testing machine and a Hopkinson bar to evaluate the material’s mechanical properties. A Johnson–Cook (J-C) constitutive model was developed based on the mechanical performance data for high-strain behavior. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were employed to analyze the microstructural evolution and fracture mechanisms of tensile specimens. The results show that the TWIP steel exhibits positive strain rate sensitivity (PSRS) under both quasi-static and dynamic strain rates. At high strain rates, the yield strength increased from 1133.0 MPa to 1430.6 MPa, and the tensile strength rose from 1494.3 MPa to 1640.34 MPa. The J-C model fits well at strain rates of 1000 s⁻¹ and 3000 s⁻¹, but fitting errors increase at higher strain rates due to the competition between thermal softening and strain hardening. XRD results reveal no significant phase transformation occurred during deformation, with twinning being the dominant mechanism. As the strain rate increased, deformation twins appeared in the material’s microstructure, inducing plastic deformation during tensile testing. The twin volume fraction increases progressively with the strain rate. At high strain rates, secondary twins emerge and intersect with primary twins, refining the grains through mutual interaction. The TWIP effect enhances the material’s mechanical performance by improving its strength and ductility while maintaining its lightweight nature. Full article

This study investigates the dynamic response and damage characteristics of cornstalk-inspired lightweight structures. Specimens were fabricated via 3D printing using Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) as the chosen thermoplastic due to its toughness and resistance to impact. Low-velocity impact tests were conducted at varying incident energies, with subsequent damage analyses performed using X-ray CT scans. The effect of geometrical variations in the constituents on energy-absorbing capability was also investigated. The results demonstrate a ~14% increase in specific energy absorption (SEA) compared to quasi-static measurements. This research is built upon the authors’ previous work on the quasi-static response of the cornstalk-inspired design. Full article

A novel hot-melt cyclic olefin-based adhesive was designed as a transparent, non-tacky film of amorphous thermoplastic with a unique polymer micro-structure. The aim of the present paper is to assess the mechanical properties of the 0.1 mm thick COP hot-melt adhesive film through adhesive characterizations tests. The glass transition temperature was determined using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). For mechanical characterization, bulk and thick adherend shear specimens were manufactured and tested at a quasi-static rate, where at least three specimens were used to calculate the average and standard deviation values. Tensile tests revealed the effects of molecular chain drawing and reorientation before the onset of strain hardening. Thick adherend shear specimens were used to retrieve shear properties. Fracture behaviour was assessed with the double cantilever beam (DCB) test and end-notched flexure (ENF) test, for characterization under modes I and II, respectively. To study the in-joint behaviour, single lap joints (SLJs) of aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) were manufactured and tested under different temperatures. Results showed a progressive interfacial failure following adhesive plasticization, allowing deformation prior to failure at 8 MPa. An adhesive failure mode was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of aluminium SLJ. The adhesive exhibits tensile properties comparable to existing adhesives, while demonstrating enhanced lap shear strength and a distinctive failure mechanism. These characteristics suggest potential advantages in applications involving heat and pressure across automotive, electronics and structural bonding sectors. Full article

The present work constitutes the initial experimental effort to characterise the dynamic tensile performance of basalt fibre grids employed in TRM systems. The tensile behaviour of a bi-directional basalt fibre grid was explored using a high-speed servo-hydraulic testing machine with specialised grips. Deformation and failure modes were captured using a high-speed camera. Tensile strain values were extracted from the recorded images using the MATLAB computer vision tool, ‘vision.PointTracker’. The specimens, consisting of one and four rovings, were tested at intermediate (1–8/s) and quasi-static (10⁻³/s) strain rates. After the tensile tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were performed to examine the microscopic failure of the material. Linear and non-linear stress–strain behaviours were observed in the range of 10⁻³ to 1/s and 4 to 8/s, respectively. Tensile strength, ultimate strain, toughness, and elastic modulus increased at intermediate strain rates. Overall, the dynamic increase factors for these properties, except for the latter, were between 1.4 and 2.3. At the macroscopic level, the grid failed in a brittle manner. However, microscopic analyses revealed that the failure modes of the fibre and polymer coating were strain-rate sensitive. The enhanced tensile performance of the grid under dynamic loading conditions rendered it suitable for retrofitting structures prone to extreme loading conditions. Full article