Search Results (491)

Adaptive reuse research commonly evaluates completed projects, overlooking cases in which the design, program, and/or construction are not yet finished. This article examines the ongoing reuse of the Çırpıcı Meadow Textile Factory in Istanbul to investigate architectural continuity within a fragmented post-industrial complex. This qualitative single-case study combines three semi-structured interviews with the lead architect, two site visits, photographs, drawings, project visualizations, aerial images, and historical sources. Material, spatial, symbolic, and programmatic transformations are the connected analytical lenses. The findings reveal uneven and conflicting forms of continuity. Original reinforced-concrete structures remain in Blocks L, S, B, and C, whereas H and F have been reconstructed and R is under construction as of July 2026. The courtyard and selected footprints sustain spatial relationships despite material loss, while the surviving denim-washing pools and new steel tower provide references to the industrial past. The shift from a culture-oriented campus to municipal offices has altered the subdivision, circulation, servicing, and access control. Because the complex was unoccupied and its public landscape unbuilt, accessibility, adaptability, and symbolic reception could not be evaluated. The study shows that existing conditions, completed interventions, ongoing works, approved proposals, and abandoned concepts must be distinguished when interpreting continuity in unfinished adaptive reuse projects. Full article

The present study demonstrated the fabrication of a sustainable, high-performance composite by upcycling waste denim fabric within a cyanoacrylate matrix reinforced with B₄C micro-particles (4, 7, and 10 wt%). XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the successful integration of the ceramic filler and effective fiber encapsulation, with particle agglomeration identified at 10 wt% loading. The 7 wt% B₄C composition exhibited the highest static mechanical performance, with a tensile strength of ~20.3 ± 1.3 MPa and Young’s modulus of 1.17 GPa—improvements of ~22.8% and ~41% over the unreinforced denim–cyanoacrylate composite—while at 10 wt% B₄C the ultimate tensile strength declined below the unreinforced baseline and the Young’s modulus reverted to a comparable value, likely reflecting agglomeration-induced stress concentration as a major contributing factor. Under dynamic impact loading, the peak contact force increased monotonically from 0.34 kN to 1.31 kN with increasing B₄C content yet remained well below the thresholds specified by international impact protection standard thresholds across all compositions. This divergence between static and dynamic responses indicates that the increase in contact force with B₄C content reflects progressive stiffening and more direct load transfer rather than improved energy attenuation, whereas tensile performance depends critically on dispersion quality and fiber–matrix adhesion. Surface wettability analysis showed a marked increase in hydrophobicity, with the water contact angle rising from 105 ± 4° to 133 ± 4° (for the DSGB-7 wt% composite), consistent with a Cassie–Baxter wetting regime. These preliminary results suggest that B₄C-reinforced waste denim–cyanoacrylate composites merit further investigation as candidate materials platform for protective textile applications, pending validation through larger-scale, standardized testing. Full article

This study systematically investigates the effects of reinforcement ratio, textile orientation, and interface treatment on the tensile behavior of carbon fiber textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) through uniaxial tensile tests and numerical simulation. The experimental results indicate that as the reinforcement ratio increases from 0.44% to 1.33%, the ultimate tensile stress rises from 1.86 MPa to 4.08 MPa (an increase of 119%), the ultimate tensile strain increases from 0.86% to 1.72% (an increase of 100%), and the average crack spacing decreases from 24.3 mm to 8.7 mm (a reduction of 64%). Correspondingly, the failure mode transitions from brittle single-crack fracture to multi-crack quasi-ductile failure. Compared with transverse orientation, the longitudinal orientation yields a 32.7% increase in ultimate tensile stress and a 46.2% increase in ultimate tensile strain, primarily attributable to a 35–45% enhancement in interfacial frictional stress. Under the longitudinal configuration, carbon-glue interfacial treatment further improves the ultimate tensile stress by 36.9% and the ultimate tensile strain by 42.1%, while reducing the average crack spacing to 8.1 mm and shifting the failure mode toward fiber rupture-dominated failure. Digital image correlation (DIC) analysis reveals that the strain inhomogeneity index decreases from 0.65–0.78 to 0.28–0.35. The finite element simulation results indicate that the error in peak load remains below 5%, and the error in crack spacing remains below 10%. This study establishes a quantitative regulatory framework encompassing reinforcement ratio, textile orientation, and interface treatment, thereby providing a basis for performance prediction and optimization of TRC. Full article

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) stems represent an abundant lignocellulosic resource with considerable potential for sustainable textile and bio-composite applications. This study investigated the effects of biological, alkaline (1–7.5 wt.% NaOH), and combined extraction methods on the physicochemical, structural, and mechanical properties of okra fibers. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the progressive removal of hemicellulose and lignin, resulting in increased cellulose crystallinity after alkaline treatment. Optical microscopy revealed enhanced fiber individualization and cleaner surface morphology. Increasing the NaOH concentration improved fiber density, reduced hygroscopicity, and enhanced mechanical performance. The highest cellulose content (76.52%), tensile strength (148.57 MPa), and Young’s modulus (6.62 GPa) were achieved with 7.5 wt.% NaOH treatment. However, excessive treatment severity induced partial cellulose degradation. Overall, alkali-treated okra fibers exhibited improved structural organization, reduced moisture sensitivity, and enhanced mechanical properties, highlighting their potential as lightweight and sustainable reinforcements for technical textile and bio-composite applications. Full article

Carbon nanotube (CNT)- and graphene flake (GF)-modified polyester (PET) nonwoven composites were prepared using a one-sided impregnation process with waterborne polyurethane (PU) as the binder. The objective of this work was to clarify how the geometry and loading of one-dimensional CNTs and two-dimensional GFs regulate conductive network formation, anisotropic mechanical behavior, and thermal response in PU/PET nonwoven composites. The novelty of the study lies in the direct comparison of CNT and GF fillers in the same nonwoven/PU matrix and in correlating filler morphology with mechanical reinforcement, electrical conductivity, and textile-related thermal management performance. The sample codes C5 and C6 represent CNT contents of 5 and 6 wt.%, respectively, while G4 and G6 represent GF contents of 4 and 6 wt.%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that GF tended to form sheet-like coatings on fiber surfaces and to fill inter-fiber pores, whereas CNTs showed more local aggregation because of their high surface energy. The composites exhibited anisotropic tensile behavior, with higher tensile strength in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. In the longitudinal tensile test, G4 reached a tensile strength of 13.01 MPa, while C5 reached 11.35 MPa. With increasing carbon material content, both the electrical and thermal conductivities of the composites increased. The electrical conductivity reached 0.02100 S/cm for C6 and 0.05893 S/cm for G6. The thermal conductivity of the CNT/PU/PET composites increased from 0.1163 to 0.1923 W/(m·K), whereas that of the GF/PU/PET composites increased from 0.1793 to 0.2537 W/(m·K). Infrared thermal imaging further indicated that carbon material addition produced faster heating and slower heat dissipation than the unmodified PU/PET sample. These results provide a useful reference for developing multifunctional nonwoven composites for smart textiles, special protective clothing, wearable thermal management layers, and flexible electronic textile substrates. Full article

In response to the increasing needs for environmentally friendly products, lignocellulosic natural fibers have been of interest as potential replacements for synthetic reinforcement materials in textiles, composites, and related applications. Among these resources, bast fibers derived from plant stems (flax, hemp, nettle, jute, hop), which contain a high cellulose content, have good mechanical properties, low density, and are renewable, are highly promising. Steam explosion has emerged as a green fiber extraction, defibrillation, and surface modification pretreatment technology. Despite the growing number of studies on steam-exploded natural fibers, a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between processing conditions, fiber modifications, mechanisms, and end-use performance remains limited. This review investigates the structural, chemical, and morphological influences of steam explosion on bast fibers. Specifically, it focuses on the mechanism of steam explosion including the solubilization of hemicellulose, partial lignin redistribution or removal, fiber individualization, and cellulose enrichment. The literature indicates that steam explosion can improve fiber separation, fineness, surface morphology, and interfacial adhesion of the composite materials and reduce the use of hazardous chemicals compared with conventional extraction methods. Nonetheless, conflicting results have also been documented, where the same steam explosion conditions can yield distinct fiber characteristics according to biomass type, composition of biomass, moisture concentration, and the amount of processing involved. Excessive treatment severity may lead to fiber shortening, cellulose degradation, and deterioration of fiber quality, particularly for textile applications requiring long fibers. This review highlights current knowledge gaps regarding the optimization of processing conditions, the understanding of steam explosion mechanisms, and the scale-up of the technology for industrial applications. Full article

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) based on industrial by-products, such as ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), are increasingly considered sustainable alternatives to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) due to their lower environmental impact and favorable mechanical performance. Among the key parameters controlling the behavior of alkali-activated systems, the chemical composition and modulus of the alkaline activator play critical roles in determining the reaction kinetics and material properties. This study investigates the influence of potassium silicate modulus (Ms), defined as the molar ratio of silica to alkali oxide (SiO₂/K₂O), on the reactivity, setting time, flowability, and mechanical properties of alkali-activated slag pastes. Potassium silicate solutions with moduli ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 were used as activators for GGBFS. Paste specimens with different activator moduli were prepared and cured at 20 °C and 75% relative humidity for mechanical testing. The results show that the activator modulus significantly affects the fresh properties, particularly at higher modulus values. Increasing the modulus delays reactivity and prolongs the setting time, whereas the flowability of the fresh paste decreases. Nevertheless, the flowability of the mixtures remained sufficient to allow proper penetration between open textile meshes, which is essential for textile-reinforced cement/concrete (TRC) applications. No clear systematic trends were observed in the mechanical properties, including the elastic modulus, flexural strength, and compressive strength. Full article

The article investigates damage in textile-reinforced rubber conveyor belts caused by impact loading. The study aims to evaluate how impact conditions and belt structural properties affect severe damage formation and to develop predictive models for identifying critical operating conditions. Damage assessment was performed using visual inspection and computed tomography (CT), with CT serving as a reference method due to its ability to detect internal defects in the load-bearing carcass. CT identified more severe damage cases than visual inspection, confirming its higher sensitivity. Experimental tests were carried out with impact heights between 0.8 and 2.6 m and impact weights from 50 to 100 kg. The results showed that impact energy is the dominant factor influencing damage formation, as higher impact heights and weights significantly increased the probability of severe damage. Belt structural characteristics also affected damage resistance, especially the thickness of the top cover, which reduced the risk of failure. To predict severe damage, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and XGBoost models were applied, all achieving excellent performance (AUC > 0.95). Logistic Regression (AUC = 0.994) additionally enabled the estimation of damage probability and the identification of critical impact conditions. The proposed approach supports safer operating limits, risk assessment, and predictive maintenance in conveyor systems. Full article

Driven by the growing demand for functional textiles featuring excellent waterproofness, moisture permeability and mechanical robustness in outdoor sportswear, medical protection and technical apparel, traditional pongee—despite its desirable softness, high wrinkle resistance and good stability as an ideal substrate fabric—is severely restricted in further application by its intrinsically poor hydrostatic pressure resistance in extremely wet environments. Accordingly, we developed a modified waterborne polyurethane (WPU) coating for pongee substrates to fabricate functional textiles that maintain high hydrostatic pressure resistance while possessing good mechanical properties and increased UV absorption. In this study, by using the sol–gel method, an amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂) coating layer was constructed on the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles, forming silica-modified titania particles (SiO₂/TiO₂). These SiO₂-modified particles were subsequently physically blended with an anionic waterborne polyurethane system that had been previously modified with a polyester-type modifier A to enhance its hydrostatic pressure resistance. The resulting composite coating was designed to combine the high hydrostatic pressure resistance inherited from the modified WPU matrix, the mechanical reinforcement and increased UV absorption contributed by SiO₂/TiO₂, and satisfactory water repellency on fabric substrates. The results indicate that the incorporation of an appropriate amount of modifier A into the prepolymer system significantly enhances hydrostatic pressure resistance while maintaining high elongation at break. At a SiO₂/TiO₂ loading of 0.2 wt%, the composite film exhibits optimal comprehensive performance, characterized by superior mechanical properties, low water absorption, and static water contact angles exceeding 100° for coated fabrics. SiO₂/TiO₂ composite WPU coatings substantially improve hydrostatic pressure resistance across various fabrics, with 380T polyester taffeta demonstrating the best performance. This resistance remains remarkably stable after standard washing, indicating excellent wash fastness and practical applicability. Full article

In this study, the effect of substituting waste glass aggregate and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) at different ratios (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%) on the compressive strength performance of geopolymer concretes reinforced with tire-derived textile fibers (TDTF) was investigated. A total of 22 different mixtures were prepared, and their 7-day and 28-day compressive strengths, water absorption rates, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) were determined. The results showed that TDTF improved compressive strength in both waste aggregate series, with a more pronounced contribution at 28 days. Increasing the waste glass aggregate content reduced 28-day compressive strength by 16–31% compared with the control mixture, whereas RCA mixtures showed only 1–4% strength loss up to 60% replacement and 17–19% loss at higher replacement levels. Glass aggregate mixtures generally exhibited higher early-age strength, while RCA mixtures performed better at 28 days. TDTF addition increased the 28-day compressive strength by approximately 25–30%, depending on aggregate type and replacement level. The lowest water absorption value was obtained in the fiber-reinforced glass aggregate series, whereas the highest value was measured in the RCA series, mainly due to the porous adhered mortar on RCA particles. Based on the compressive strength, water absorption, and UPV results, RCA replacement levels up to 60% and glass aggregate replacement levels of 40–60% may be considered suitable for the mixtures examined in this study. Full article

Buildings account for a significant share of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, creating an urgent need for advanced energy retrofit technologies. This review critically examines the role of plasma-modified textile polymer materials in improving the energy efficiency and durability of building retrofit systems. Various textile polymers, including polyester (polyethylene terephthalate, PET), polypropylene (PP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyamide (PA), and fiber-reinforced composites, are evaluated in relation to plasma surface engineering approaches, including atmospheric plasma, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), and plasma jet treatment. Reported studies demonstrate that plasma treatment significantly alters surface morphology and chemistry, resulting in increased surface roughness, enhanced wettability, improved coating adhesion, and superior hydrophobic behavior. Water contact angles increased from approximately 70° to 145° depending on polymer type and plasma conditions, while reflective coating performance improved with solar reflectance enhancements of approximately 10–15%. Plasma-treated reflective roofing and shading textiles also showed reductions in building cooling energy demand of approximately 18–25% and roof temperature decreases of 10–15 °C. Furthermore, plasma-induced surface activation improved durability, ultraviolet (UV) resistance, and weather stability of textile membranes used in facade and roofing applications. The review also discusses industrial challenges related to scalability, plasma aging effects, energy consumption, and long-term performance. Plasma-modified systems demonstrate strong potential for multifunctional, lightweight, and sustainable building envelope technologies for future energy-efficient construction. Full article

This study experimentally investigates the structural behavior of hexagonal- and square-shaped composite specimens subjected to vertical compression, vertical tension, and diagonal tension loading. The specimens were fabricated using four- and six-layer alkali-resistant (AR) glass textile reinforcements embedded in a modified cementitious mortar via pull, pour, and roll manufacturing techniques. The mechanical performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber-reinforced composite connectors and steel clamp-type elements was also evaluated at the joints of hexagonal specimens under vertical tension and lateral shear loading. The results show that increasing the number of textile layers significantly enhances structural performance. A 50% increase in textile layers improved load-carrying capacity by up to 56% in compression, 104% in tension, and 216% in diagonal tension. Corresponding increases of approximately 20–42% in ductility and up to 266% in energy dissipation capacity were observed. No failure occurred in the connecting elements, confirming their adequate stiffness, strength, and ductility. In addition, validated three-dimensional finite element models were developed to simulate the response of the hexagonal specimens. Overall, the proposed system demonstrates strong potential for applications such as infill walls, cladding, and sandwich panels due to its favorable strength, ductility, and energy absorption capacity. Full article

After establishing a lunar settlement, developing resilient infrastructure becomes essential. Transporting prefabricated materials from Earth is costly and logistically challenging, making lunar regolith a promising in situ alternative. Its natural properties support durable, protective construction suited to harsh lunar conditions. This study examines fibre-reinforced composites using LHS-1 and EAC-1 regolith simulants, combining fibre tensile strength with a regolith matrix to improve load-bearing performance. Inspired by textile-reinforced concrete on Earth, this approach enhances tensile capacity and durability compared to unreinforced regolith. Modular components—blocks, panels, structural elements—enable scalable, efficient assembly, supporting adaptable, long-term lunar infrastructure. Full article

Carbon fiber textile-reinforced engineered cementitious composite (CTR-ECC) is widely utilized in structural strengthening applications due to its advantages of low weight and high strength. A comprehensive understanding of its mechanical behavior under off-axis tension is crucial for addressing the prevalent off-axis stress states in engineering practice. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the off-axis tensile properties of CTR-ECC. Specimens were fabricated with four off-axis angles: 0°, 15°, 30°, and 45°. The study revealed three main findings: (1) Under axial (0°) loading, failure is characterized by yarn fracture and interface slip, whereas off-axis tension induces a stable progressive delamination failure in textile-reinforced ECC systems. (2) While CTR-ECC exhibits higher tensile strength than plain ECC at all angles, its strength decreases significantly as the off-axis angle increases (e.g., a 27.1% reduction at 15°). Off-axis layouts, however, substantially improve energy absorption, with strain energy density increasing by up to 368.4% at 30°. (3) A phenomenological constitutive model was developed, which can adequately capture the stress–strain response of CTR-ECC under various off-axis angles, with coefficients of determination (R²) exceeding 0.9 in all cases. These results provide important insights into the failure mechanisms and performance design of CTR-ECC under off-axis tension conditions. Full article

This study experimentally investigates the mechanical performance of historic brick masonry walls strengthened with three innovative methods: restoration mortar, carbon textile reinforcement, and sprayed polyurea. The research comprises material characterization and structural testing of masonry specimens. Initially, flexural, and compressive strengths of handmade bricks and restoration mortar used for both joining and strengthening were determined. Subsequently, 40 masonry specimens were tested in four groups: unreinforced (control) and three strengthened groups (restoration mortar, restoration mortar with carbon textile and sprayed polyurea). For each group, 20 triplet specimens were subjected to shear strength tests, while 20 four-unit masonry wallets underwent diagonal compression tests following ASTM E519 to evaluate failure loads, shear stresses, deformation capacities, and failure modes. Tensile adhesion tests on polyurea material showed strong bonding without brick spalling. Strengthened walls were compared with control specimens in terms of load capacity, ductility, deformation patterns, and failure behavior. The results indicate that the polyurea-strengthened walls exhibited the highest structural performance together with a significant increase in ductility. This method is advantageous due to its flexibility, ease of application, and minimal intervention on the original masonry. Furthermore, sprayed polyurea enhanced performance under collapsing loads and shear stresses, demonstrating its potential as an innovative strengthening solution for historic masonry structures. Full article