Papers by Keyword: Softening

Abstract: The article provides some information about gypsum concrete, its applications, and the advantage of using organic fillers compared to mineral ones. The optimal technology for the production of gypsum concrete mix was determined, and an economically attractive type of organic filler in the form of chopped corn stalks was established. The compressive strength of the resulting material was studied depending on the fraction of crushed stone used. Effective methods for combating shrinkage cracks at the stage of manufacturing prototypes have been identified, which allows increasing the bearing capacity of the samples by 2.5 times. The water resistance and water absorption of the material, as well as their effect on strength, were investigated. As a result of experimental studies, it was found that the optimal concrete compositions with filler fractions of 3-5 and 5-10 mm should be considered 1:1 and 1:1.5 by volume (binder: filler), which can provide sufficient compressive strength (13-23 MPa) for blocks and slabs of internal partitions and good water resistance (0.91-1.0), while having good sound-absorbing properties.

Abstract: This paper considers the softening and flattening treatment of Schizostachyum Lumampao Bamboo as part of a process in its preparation for utilization. Bamboo half-culm samples with thicknesses of either 5.00 mm or 6.00 mm was soaked in palm oil at either of two temperatures (100°C or 160°C) with an application of 50 N load to simulate the flattening process for a period of either 2700 sec. (45 mins.) or 3600 sec. (60 mins.). By measuring the height of the bamboo half-culm before and after the thermal treatment, a relationship was derived between the total heat transferred into the bamboo culms and the flattening behavior. Furthermore, after the flattening, the bending strength of the culms exhibited an exponentially decaying trend and the fracture strength a bi-modal behavior which is confirmed by other studies. This study reports a derived parameter designated as the thermodynamic bending stiffness of about 4 MPa for the flattening process.

Abstract: The paper considers the theoretical foundations of softening of iron ore materials in a blast furnace (the so-called ‘cohesion zone’). The dependences of the temperature range of softening of iron ore materials (the temperatures of the beginning and ending of softening) on the degree of reduction are calculated and experimentally obtained. Physical modelling of the softening process of reduced iron ore materials was carried out using the Russian State Standard No 26517-85. The results of calculations of the location and shape of the cohesion zone in the blast furnace for iron ore materials with different metallurgical characteristics are presented.

Abstract: Numerical methods used to calculate strength are based on energy approaches and minimization of functionals of one type or another. Yet the model of a material is limited to stable processes of deformation. As a result, a considerable number of deformation properties related to realization of the softening stage in materials of structural elements remains unaccounted for. To describe fracture as a new phenomenon in the behavior of structures, one needs to apply newer experimental and calculational approaches. The article cites results of modelling and experimental notions on the stage of softening in materials and its role in determining their durability. It is proposed to define the durability of a structurally inhomogeneous material as its capacity of equilibrium deformation beyond its ultimate strength under specified loading conditions. That reflects nonlocality of criteria for the failure of the material, their dependence both on its own properties and the geometry of a structural element. Complete stress-strain diagrams for structural materials of various classes and examples on how the softening stage is realized in structural materials are given.

Abstract: The results were shown in influence of fast heating parameters on the structure and properties of cold-worked alloy AMg6 with original hot-forged structure. Based on the measured data, the change of mechanical properties of cold-worked alloy AMg6 during the process of short duration heating was evaluated. There was reviewed the role of the temperature and the time of heat on the processes of softening the samples of cold-worked alloy AMg6. The stability of mechanical characteristics of hammer-hardened alloy AMg6 under elevated test temperatures was evaluated. It is shown that the return processes in cold-deformed AMg6 alloy during heating in the temperature range studied receive the most intensive development in the first 5–10 minutes, reducing the hardening effect from cold deformation, determined by tensile strength, respectively: by 8–9% with 100 °C; 26–27% at 150 °C; 37–38% at 200 °C; 42–44% at 250 °C and 50% at 300 °C. A decrease in the yield strength during high-speed heating in the temperature range studied is much faster ,compared with the change in the tensile strength. Hour exposure at 200 °C reduces the hardening effect on the yield strength from 340 MPa to 258 MPa, while the tensile strength decreases from 430 MPa to 385 MPa.

Abstract: Physical theory of reliability is based on research into degradation processes of various origins which take place in a material of a stressed construction. Experimental evaluation of parameters carried out for such processes is a practically important problem by itself. One of the approaches to solving this problem is related to the studies into the stage of material softening due to deformation. This paper analyzes the issues of experimental validation of material softening properties in terms of a phenomenological approach to the problem of structural fracture. Results of deformation analysis for the “machine – model specimen” system, using catastrophe theory are used to form requirements for carrying out experiments which investigate the softening stage of materials. The success of such experiments – which should include recording a branch descending to zero on a computer diagram – is possible when small specimen, made from structurally heterogeneous materials, are strained in a sufficiently rigid testing machine. Thus, the conditions for manifestation of the softening stage connect properties of the material with properties of the load-applying system. Therefore, the material's limiting state – preceding the fractured – also depends on the conditions of loading, and the criteria of that fracture would be nonlocal. In consideration of the results of diagrams plotted from various bases for deformation measurement, a necessity of utilizing local material characteristics for calculation purposes is discussed. As an example of using the complete diagrams for determining kinetics of material degradation from external load, the results of specimen testing, which follows a cyclic training, are cited.

Abstract: Composites are extensively using in modern industry (aircraft and automobile manufacturing, construction, etc.). Nowadays high-strength and lightweight composite materials, such as FRPs, exhibit elastic and strength anisotropy and deform nonlinearly at high stresses. Also, such materials have small enough failure strain in comparison with metals, and they are drastically more expensive than steel and aluminum alloys. The most important task in the design of structures made of composite materials is the minimization of its weight without loss of strength properties. We presented the method for modeling a UD FRP with randomly arranged fibers at the micro-and meso-level. These two approaches were compared on the problem of the composite panel tension. The selection of the mesomodel mechanical characteristics was based on data of the micro-level model. In the mesomodel, the damage accumulation of middle layer (90° layer) was simulated using the Stochastic Failure criterion (random Mott scatter of layer strength). The calculated curves and data, obtained in micro-and mesomodels, correlate well with each other.

Abstract: In the paper we determined the dependence of the parameters of purified on anionite water on its salt composition, hardness and shape of the anion exchanger used. It is shown that the capacity of the ion exchanger in the CO₃^2- form is higher in chlorides and sulfates than in the OH^- -form. It has been established that during the sorption of chlorides and sulfates on the anionite AB-17-8 in the base form, an increase in the alkalinity of water occurs, which in the presence of hardness ions ensures its effective softening.

Abstract: The paper presents a complex material model which covers the elastic-plastic behavior, material deterioration and ductile fracture. The calibration of such model was conducted for Aluminum Alloy (AA) 2024-T351 using specimens with various geometries and loading which covers various stress states. The model was then applied to the simulations of tensile test of plates. The computations were carried out in Abaqus/Explicit using the user subroutine Vectorized User MATerial (VUMAT), where the crack initiation and subsequent propagation was realized using the element deletion technique. The results were compared to the experimental observation in the end.

Abstract: The National Institute of Technology, Okinawa College (OkNCT) has developed a food processing machine that generates underwater shock waves through wire electrical discharge. The machine can used for sterilization, milling flour, softening, and extraction among others. In this study, we experimentally examined the conditions for food softening using pork as the food material in experiments. Softness was revealed to be related to the distance of shock wave generation point from meat and the number of shockwave processing.