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The copper alloyed stainless steel 1.4542 (X5CrNiCuNb16-4) is used in different areas due to its good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Strength and corrosion resistance can be adjusted by the heat treatment, which is of importance for the application of this alloy. The mechanical properties (strength and hardness) are attributed to the dispersive precipitation of the copper rich ε–Phase. The additional precipitation of chromi-um carbides can reduce the corrosion resistance. Different ageing states were produced to investigate the precipitation behaviour with various methods. Furthermore, the influence of cold-rolling on the precipitation behaviour was studied in comparison to a solution annealed state without deformation. The microstructure was studied by SEM and the variations of hardness and magnetic proportion were characterised. The electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (EPR) was used to determine the corrosion resistance and detect chromium depletion in all heat-treated states. The results show that a work hard-ening accelerates the precipitation rate, while ageing at 600 °C reduces the corrosion resistance due to chromium depletion.
As the well-known damage mechanisms slow crack growth (SCG) and environmental stress cracking (ESC) are the major causes for possible failure of polyolefin-based materials, especially for PE-HD, they are highly relevant and need to be considered thoroughly. Furthermore, due to slight but perceptible differences in damaging effect, a differentiation between SCG and ESC is expedient. SCG appears in “inert” or “neutral” media without a decisive influence of the surrounding medium whereas ESC occurs in “active” media, which influence the failure behavior and time to failure crucially.
To characterize the inherent resistance of the material against those damage mechanisms, the well-established Full-Notch Creep Test (FNCT) is used. In this study, the FNCT – usually applied according to ISO 16770 [3] using a few universal model liquid media and mainly for pipe materials – is extended by investigations with appropriate parameters of selected relevant PE-HD container materials also in real media, such as the topical fuels diesel and biodiesel. The investigations were performed using a novel FNCT-device with 12 individual sub-stations, each equipped with individual electronic stress and temperature control and continuous online monitoring of the specimen elongation.
Especially, mechanical stress and temperature were varied systematically during FNCT and time to failure values, time-dependent elongation data as well as detailed fracture surface analysis by laser scanning microscopy (LSM) were combined for the first time (Fig. 1). Particularly, the fracture surface analysis provides a sound basis to characterize failure behavior, mainly regarding the balance between brittle crack propagation and ductile deformation. Therefore, fracture surface analysis is an essential tool for a decent assessment of SCG and ESC by FNCT measurements.
The influence of isothermal ageing on microstructure, sensitisation and pitting corrosion resistance of the lean duplex stainless steel (LDSS) X2CrNiN23-4 was investigated with various electrochemical methods. The aging at 600 °C (from 0.1 h up to 20 h) lead to the formation of precipitations at the ferrite-ferrite (α/α) and ferrite-austenite (α/γ) grain boundaries, inducing sensitisation due to chromium depletion. The degree of sensitisation was evaluated with the double loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation method (DL-EPR) according to ASTM G108 and correlated with critical pitting potentials (Epit) as well as critical pitting temperature (CPT) measured in an electrolyte according to ASTM G48 using electrochemical noise. Up to an ageing time of 1 h, the sensitisation did rise significantly, stabilising at a nearly constant level with a slight drop at 20 h. This behaviour correlated perfectly with the potentiodynamically determined pitting potentials Epit and sensitisation. The CPT showed a higher sensitivity at short ageing times compared to the DL-EPR and Epit. Finally, the KorroPad method was applied to visualise the sensitisation induced reduction of pitting corrosion resistance. The “KorroPad” is an agar-based gel-electrolyte containing 0.1 mol/l sodium chloride (NaCl) and 0.1 mol/l potassium ferricyanide III (K3[Fe(CN)6]), invented at the Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing in Berlin (Germany) to detect surfaces of stainless steel prone to pitting corrosion. The standard configuration of the KorroPad showed no differentiation for the various aging conditions. Increasing the concentration of both NaCl and potassium ferrocyanide III to 0.5 M shifts the detection limit of the KorroPad method to stainless steels with higher corrosion resistance, producing the same trends detected by standard electrochemical pitting corrosion values (Epit, CPT) and sensitisation (DL-EPR). By that, the KorroPad method was successfully adjusted to the lean-duplex stainless steel X2CrNiN23-4, enabling short-time testing to detect sensitization.
Electrochemical study of polyaniline/silicon dioxide containing coatings in geothermal solution
(2018)
Polyaniline/Silicon Dioxide containing coatings were electrochemically investigated in a saline geothermal solution.
With the increase of exposure time, impedance values of coated specimens decreased at low frequency, which could be caused by the decrease of pore resistance due to electrolyte or water uptake.
Coating system needs further optimization work.
In recent years the German motorway network has seen an increase in the occurrence of damage to concrete road surfaces that can be attributed to the alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The effects of mechanically-induced damage resulting from cyclic traffic and climatic loading have previously not been taken into consideration while developing ASR test procedures. Therefore this contribution investigates the influence of fatigue mechanical loading on the ASR.
We examine the behavior of reinforced concrete components subjected to impact induced loading conditions which might be caused by vessels collisions such as aircraft fuel tanks The concrete plates were impact damaged at TU Dresden and shipped to BAM At BAM laminar tomography as the imaging method is used to determine and quantify the damage state An automatic crack detection method based on template matching is applied to find the cracks and we aim to develop a new method using machine learning Algorithms In addition numerical models are developed to understand the experiment and to predict the damage structures based on failure mechanisms.
The mechanical behavior of normal strength and high-strength concretes under tension can be significantly improved by the incorporation of steel fibers. This improvement comprises not only an enhancement in strength and ductility, but also in energy absorption capacity, which makes steel fiber reinforced high-strength concrete potentially suitable for seismic design applications. Force transfer controlled processes between steel fibers and concrete matrix, i.e. fiber debonding and fiber pull-out during crack opening are the main mechanisms contributing to the high-energy dissipation characteristic of this composite material.
In order to gain more information on the material efficiency under tension, a comparative study on different ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concretes (UHPFCs) subjected to direct tensile loading at moderate strain rates is presented. The experimental approach considered three UHPFC mixtures, incorporating two volumetric fractions of high-strength smooth steel fibers. The stiffness modification of the concrete matrix was realized by the addition of a copolymer. The direct tensile tests were conducted on small sized dumbbell shaped specimens at nominal strain rates of 0.000025 1/s and 0.01 1/s, representing quasi-static and seismic loading conditions, respectively. For a detailed analysis of crack formation and crack propagation during load application, classical tensile tests were accompanied by non-destructive measuring technique using digital image correlation (DIC). Furthermore, relevant material parameters, such as such as first and post cracking stresses, strain capacity, and energy absorption capacity are determined and discussed.
The quenching and partitioning (Q&P) heat treatment enables a higher deformability of high strength martensitic steels. The Q&P heat treatment was applied on the martensitic stainless steel 1.4034 (X46Cr13) to study the influence of partitioning time. Therefore, extensive characterizations of the mechanical properties, focussing on the materials behaviour under different mechanical load scenarios, were performed. A comprehensive analysis of the microstructural evolution was per-formed for different heat treatment and mechanical loading states. A complete solution of chromium carbides was detected to be a first requirement for successful Q&P heat treatment. The comparison of common quenching and tempering with the Q&P heat treatment verifies the extensively enhanced materials strength whereat the formability is still acceptable. The microstructural reason was detected to be an increasing aus-tenite fraction due to austenite reversion at subgrain boundaries of martensite besides the stabilising of retained austenite. Further a distinctive strength differential effect was observed.
The governing load bearing mechanism of multi-pile foundations is often the shaft friction. Under cyclic loading the soil particles next to the foundation rearrange and tend to compact leading to a decrease of the surrounding normal stress. The reduction of the normal stress leads to a lower threshold for shear stress (friction fatigue), which results in a degraded shaft bearing capacity. The common interface models used for numerical simulations (e.g. Mohr-Coulomb) are not able to capture such behavior. This work aims to develop an interface material model that incorporates such features of the contact behavior at the soil-structure interface.
The response of many geotechnical systems, whose structural behavior depends on granular friction and a shearing effect with the ground, is characterized by a complex soil-structure interaction at their interfaces. Experimentally it is found that this interaction is highly non-linear, state-dependent and localized within a narrow layer of soil next to the structure, whereby cyclic loads can play a key role. Numerically, this behavior is often modelled with overly simplified models of interface elements that neglect cyclic effects within the soil. This work introduces a new perspective with an adequate constitutive model in the framework of Generalized Plasticity for sandy soils for an improved consideration of the interface mechanics.
Hardness and pitting corrosion resistance are the major quality criteria of cutlery. Both are achieved by the heat treatment (austenitization, quenching and tempering) of the normally used martensitic stainless steels. The established quality control method regarding the pitting corrosion resistance is an alternating immersion test in 1 % NaCl solution at 60 °C according to DIN EN ISO 8442. This standard test shows a high deviation, which limits any optimization of the heat treatment process. New approaches for corrosion testing of martensitic stainless-steels were developed and used in the last years to connect the weak pitting corrosion resistance of martensitic stainless-steels with the phenomenon of chromium depletion. The tempering temperatures used in the industrial heat treatment of cutlery are too low to explain the appearance of chromium depletion. For this reason, a systematic investigation of three heat treatment parameters (austenitization time, cooling speed and tempering temperature) were performed on the martensitic stainless-steels X50CrMoV15 (1.4116) to detect their contribution to chromium depletion. The electrochemical potentiodynamic reactivation (EPR), which is very sensitive to any change of the microstructure, was used to quantify the degree of chromium depletion. The KorroPad indicator-test was applied to correlate low pitting corrosion resistance to the presence of chromium depletion. The results of all investigations allow conclusions about the very small process window, which is necessary to achieve cutlery with high pitting corrosion resistance.
The duplex stainless steel 1.4062 (X2CrNiN22-2) is used as alternative material to austenitic stainless steels in the construction industry. The corrosion resistance of welded seams is influenced by the base material, the weld filler material, the welding process and also by the final surface treatment. The scale layer next to the weld seam can be removed by grinding, pickling, electro-polishing or blasting depending on the requested corrosion resistance. Blasted surfaces are often used in the industrial practice due to the faster and cheaper manufacturing process compared to pickled or electro-polished surfaces. Furthermore blasting with corundum-grain is more effective than blasting with glass-beads which also lower the process costs. In recent years, stainless steel surfaces showed an unusually high susceptibility to pitting corrosion after grinding with corundum. For this reason, it is now also questioned critically whether the corrosion resistance is influenced by the applied blasting agent. This question was specifically investigated by comparing grinded, pickled, corundum-grain- and glass-bead-blasted welding seams. Results of the SEM analyses of the blasting agents and the blasted surfaces will be presented and correlated with the results of different corrosion tests (KorroPad-testing and pitting potentials).
KorroPad - New Test Method for the Investigation of the Passive Layer Stability of Stainless Steels
(2018)
The KorroPad is a gel-based indicator test designed for the electrochemical determination of the passive layer stability and localization of surfaces of stainless steels threatened by localized corrosion. Different investigations and studies on the performance of the KorroPad as well as field trials by industrial users the have proven the principal suitability of the KorroPad method to assess the passive layer stability of stainless steels. The electrochemical mode of action will be described in detail and also the limitations of the applicability will be demonstrated. The influence of different surface finishes has been investigated and verified by known methods for describing corrosion resistances. As a result, the increased corrosion susceptibility of two ground surfaces has been detected, but also the corrosion resistance of further surface finishes could be confirmed. Furthermore the KorroPad test was used for the investigation of the influence of time and humidity on the passive layer development on different stainless steels.
This paper addresses how the value of damage detection Information depends on key Parameters of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system including number of sensors and sensor locations. The Damage Detection System (DDS) provides the information by comparing ambient vibration measurements of a (healthy) reference state with measurements of the current structural system. The performance of DDS method depends on the physical measurement properties such as the number of sensors, sensor positions, measuring length and sensor type, measurement noise, ambient excitation and sampling frequency, as well as on the data processing algorithm including the chosen type I error for the indication threshold. The quantification of the value of Information (VoI) is an expected utility based Bayesian decision analysis method for quantifying the difference of the expected economic benefits with and without information. The (pre-)posterior probability is computed utilizing the Bayesian updating theorem for all possible indications. If changing any key parameters of DDS, the updated probability of system failure given damage detection information will be varied due to different indication of probability of damage, which will result in changes of value of damage detection information. The DDS system is applied in a statically determinate Pratt truss bridge girder. Through the analysis of the value of information with different SHM system characteristics, the settings of DDS can be optimized for minimum expected costs and risks before implementation.
On 14 August 2018, the Morandi bridge in Genoa Italy collapsed, which caused 43 people to die and great losses. Here I am not going to talk about why it collapsed. But I want to say what we can do to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening. Any structures are like us, if we are sick, we go to doctors. But if structures are sick, how could we know?
Yes, through structural health monitoring-SHM! SHM is process of implementing damage detection strategy, which is like a doctor giving us indication of the structure health status. However, the SHM is not like our health insurance which can be free. Some structure owners may be hesitated on investing large money before they see the VALUE.
Although it is proved that SHM is beneficial, the existing literature doesn’t tell them: when to do the monitoring? How often to do that? Which SHM techniques to choose? After monitoring, what action to take? There are so many decisions needed to be made, that’s why here comes my research, which can help to answer all these questions by breaking the wall of value of monitoring information!
So how do we do that? Here we introduce a decision tree. A Decision tree is a decision support tool that uses a tree-like graph or model to describe decisions and their possible outcomes, including how likely it will happen, how severe the consequences will be. Based on the probabilities and their respective costs and benefits, the value of every decision can be quantified.
Based on the decision trees, different SHM strategies can be compared and the optimal strategy will be the one with highest value. After Knowing the value of SHM, we can improve the decision basis for design, operation and life-cycle integrity management of structures to reduce the risk, reduce the cost and extend service life benefits.
So that everyone in society can benefit from a safer and more reliable environment!
Evaluation of evacuation process is common separated by two phases: pre-movement and movement-phase. Individual capabilities of pedestrians have an impact on both and therefore on the time required for safe escape. In view of evaluating the evacuation process, characteristics of realistic movements of pedestrians involved are needed, but so far such data are mainly available for individuals with unrestricted evacuation capabilities only.
Due to the lack of available data, parameter studies in an assisted living for people with disabilities were performed to explore the movement during evacuation. Preparation times for assistance (n=10), unimpeded walking speeds (n=34) depending on the assistance devices in the plane as well as walking speeds on stairs (n=11) were focussed.
Time to prepare an assistance device for utilisation depends significantly on the kind of device type. Further on, practical experience in handling the devices for assistance has an impact on the preparation time. In contrast to the results of the preparation times, any relation on assistance devices were investigated for the unimpeded walking speed in the plane. A remarkable decrease of walking speed on stairs was observed which is independent from the utilised assistance device.
The presented data improve and extend the insufficient engineering data base and raised up questions regarding the complexity of considering pedestrians movement with impairments in evacuation planning.
The erosion phenomena is the main cause of the most serious incidents observed on earthen hydraulic structures such as dams and dikes. Thus, there is a real need to explore in depth and understand the mechanisms at work in such complex erosional processes for preventing similar risks.
The aim of this study is to provide a micromechanical insight into the mechanisms taking place during the erosion of a cohesive granular material driven by a fluid flow, the objectives are summarized as follows:
Perform numerical erosion tests.
Parallelization of the code (Gpu).
Extensive parametric analysis => rely micro parameters (eg. Cohesion) to macro parameters (eg. Soil erodibility, mechanical strengths).
This poster provides an overview of ultrasonic investigations of an engineered test barrier at ERAM Morsleben, which were completed as part of contractual work with the Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE). This includes both experiments with the Large Aperture Ultrasound System (LAUS) and the ultrasonic borehole array. Also included in the poster is a description of the planned BAM thematic project “SealWasteSafe”. In particular, the proposed geopolymer materials are described and future research requirements are detailed.
Appropriate monitoring of transportation infrastructures (e.g. bridges) is of utmost importance to ensure safe operation conditions. Accurate and reliable assessment of such structures can be achieved through the integration of data from non-destructive testing, advanced modeling and model updating techniques. The Bayesian framework has been widely used for updating engineering and mechanical models, due to its probabilistic description of information, in which the posterior probability distribution reflects the knowledge, over the model parameters of interest, inferred from the data. For most real-life applications, the computation of the true posterior involves integrals that are analytically intractable, therefore the implementation of Bayesian inference requires in practice some approximation methods.
This paper investigates the application of Variational Bayesian Inference for structural model parameter identification and update, based on measurements from a real experimental setup. The Variational Bayesian method circumvents the issue of evaluating intractable integrals by using a factorized approximation of the true posterior (mean field approximation) and by choosing a family of conjugate distributions that facilitates the calculations. Inference in the Variational Bayesian framework is seen as solving an optimization problem with the aim of finding the parameters of the factorized posterior which would minimize its Kullback-Leibler divergence in relation to the exact posterior. The Variational Approach is an efficient alternative to sampling methods, such as Markov Chain Monte Carlo, since the latter’s accuracy depends on sampling from the posterior distribution a sufficient amount of times (and therefore requiring an equivalent number of computations of the forward problem, which can be quite expensive).
In this contribution a Proper Generalized Decomposition model is derived for linear elastic structures with Young's modulus as extra-coordinates. Next, the computed PGD solution is used in a Bayesian model updating algorithm resulting a probability distribution of the searched model parameter for given synthetic data. The future goal is to extend the method to be able to identify arbitrary material parameters, based on experimental data.
The Role of Decomposition Temperature for Flame Redartancy Mode of Action in the Condensed Phase
(2018)
Condensed-phase mechanisms play a major role in fire-retardant polymers. Generations of development have followed the concept of charring to improve fire properties. Whereas the principal reactions are believed to be known, the specific description for multicomponent systems is lacking, as is the picture across different systems. One important aspect in achieving, adjusting and optimising flame retardancy in the condensed phase is exploiting chemical reactions between the pyrolysing polymer and flame retardant at the right place, time and temperature. It is the aim of this contribution to address the role of the decomposition temperature of both flame retardant and polymer by the means of two examples: First, aryl phosphates in Polycarbonate/ Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (PC/ABS) blends, where the reaction with the early stage decomposition products of PC is controlling the flame retardancy mechanism in the condensed phase. Second, a comprehensive set of phosphorus flame retardants in thermosets and their corresponding carbon fibre reinforced composites based on two different epoxy systems. Both examples show that key reactions between intermediate decomposition products only occur when the decomposition temperature ranges correspond to each other. The systems can be shifted towards condensed phase activity such as charring or inorganic glass formation as well as towards phosphorus release and thus flame inhibition in the gas phase. Changing the role of flame retardancy mechanisms also influence the efficiency in the achieved flame retardancy.
The full-notch creep test (FNCT) is a common method to evaluate the environmental stress cracking (ESC) behavior of high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) container materials . The test procedure as specified in ISO 16770 provides a comparative measure of the resistance against ESC using the time to failure of specimens mechanically loaded in a well-defined liquid environment. Since the craze-crack damage mechanism underlying the ESC process is associated with brittle failure, the occurrence of globally brittle fracture surfaces is a prerequisite to consider an FNCT measurement as representative for ESC . Therefore, an optical evaluation of FNCT fracture surfaces concerning their brittleness is essential. Due to the experimental setup, an inevitable increase of the true mechanical stress and the associated appearance of small ductile parts on fracture surfaces is induced in any case. Hence, an FNCT experiment is considered as 'valid', if the corresponding fracture surface is predominantly brittle . Based on laser scanning microscopy (LSM) height data of FNCT fracture surfaces , a universal and easy-to-use phenomenological criterion was developed to assess the validity of distinct FNCT experiments. This criterion is supposed to facilitate a quick evaluation of FNCT results in practical routine testing.
The Effect of Low Charge Polycarboxylate on C3A Passivation Monitored by Optical Spectroscopy
(2019)
Tricalcium aluminate (C3A) is less than 10 wt.% of the total cement composition; however, during hydration, the soluble C3A plays an important role in cement setting when mixed with the appropriate amount of sulfate.1 A good understanding about the balance of these components is therefore crucial to follow with the rapid growth of substitution materials and the rising levels of aluminate clinker. The aim of this investigation is the use of optical spectroscopy and in-situ X-ray diffraction utilizing a water-soluble organic dye (dye-S) to monitor early hydration of calcium aluminate (C3A) in the presence of 26 wt.% CaS04.2H2O (G) and PCE polymers with different charge densities (PCE-LC and PCE-HC). Phase characterization and optical evaluation were performed using in-situ X-ray diffraction and steady-state fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Fluorescence spectroscopy of the reference C3A + dye-S revealed a fast decay in fluorescence intensity. However, in the presence of 26 wt.% G (C3A + dye-S + 26 wt.% G), a gradual increase in fluorescence intensity was observed in the first hours of reaction followed by a plateau that subsequently dropped in intensity after eight hours. The addition of PCE-LC and PCE HC to the mixture exhibited changes in the intensity threshold and overall a higher fluorescence intensity. Dye changes during hydration and structural changes will be further discussed.
The advantages of treating prefabricated components made of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UCPC) at 90 °C are largely recognized, while hydrothermal treatment at 185 °C and the corresponding saturation pressure of 1.1 MPa, in contrast, is not applied in building practice so far and was studied only by a few researchers.
In the research presented, the parameters pre-storage-time before treatment and dwell time in the autoclave were systematically varied. The results illustrate in which way compressive strength increases with the duration of treatment. Already samples which were only heated up and immediately cooled down show an increase in strength compared to the 28-day reference of about 10 %. After 20 h the maximum increase of about 25 % is reached. Interestingly the compressive strength of samples treated very long hardly decreases. It can be therefore concluded that for the composition investigated the achievable mechanical strength is not severely sensitive regarding the duration of the treatment.
Also, pre-storage times before autoclaving longer than 0.5 days showed no significant impact on strength development. The phase composition measured by XRD exhibits significant changes compared to the reference. The amount of ettringite and portlandite have vanished, the cement clinker phases are substantially decreased and hydroxylellestadite and hydrogarnet are formed as new phases. The increase in strength can be assigned to an improved pozzolanic and hydraulic reaction. Contradictory to literature, there was found no obermorite, a mineral which is known to be susceptible for disintegration at Long autoclaving duration. This explains why no significant strength loss appeared.
Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is a serious Problem concerning the deterioration of concrete. This leads to significant maintenance and reconstruction costs for concrete infrastructures all over the world. The geographical regions, which play a major role in concrete deterioration, are for example coastal Areas or in general, areas with a high air humidity/salinity due to closeness of rivers or lakes.
These exemplary results show, the application of Raman spectroscopy establishes a valuable approach for characterizing the chemical and structural composition of ASR-products. The results prove the potential to trace the kind of reaction products, developing in dependence on the aggregate and to follow up its local alteration from origin of the gel.
Applications of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for the design and analysis of Offshore Wind Turbine (OWT) structures has gained much attention within the past few years. Being exposed to repeated cyclic wind and wave loads, OWTs are dynamically sensitive structures and can benefit from monitoring systems to predict time-dependent deterioration. This study focuses on the quantification of the value of SHM information on the maintenance of OWT structures, with emphasis on fatigue of welded joint. By utilizing the decision tree, structural reliability, SHM data, as well as the cost-benefit assessments, a value of information (VoI) analysis can be done to model the fundamental decision of whether the service life of an OWT foundation can be extended beyond the initial design life. The application is demonstrated on a butt weld of a monopile support structure of a 3 MW offshore wind turbine with a hub height of approximately 71m where the prior probability analysis is modelled as a probabilistic fatigue damage model based on S-N approach and designed wind data. The posterior probability of failure of welded joints is updated using the three-year measured oceanographic and one-year strain data. The expected value of SHM information can be found as the difference between the maximum utility obtained in posterior analysis with SHM information and the maximum utility obtained using only prior information. This work can provide insights on how much benefits can be achieved through SHM information, with practical relevance on reliability-based design optimization and fatigue life extension of OWT structures.
A method to determine the structural and damage detection system influencing parameters is proposed based on the value of information analysis. The value of information analysis utilizes the Bayesian pre-posterior decision theory to quantify the value of SHM for the structural integrity management during service life. First the influencing parameters of the structural system such as deterioration type and rate are introduced for the performance of the prior probabilistic system model. Then the damage detection system performance influencing parameters including number of sensors, sensor locations, measurement noise and the Type I error are investigated. The pre-posterior probabilistic model is computed utilizing the Bayes’ theorem to update the prior system model with the damage indication information. Finally, the value of information is quantified as the difference between the maximum utility obtained in pre-posterior and prior analysis based on the decision tree analysis, comprising structural probabilistic models, consequences as well as benefit and costs analysis associated with and without monitoring. With the developed approach, a case study on a statically determinate Pratt truss bridge girder is carried out to validate the method. The analysis shows that the higher the deterioration rate is, the more it is beneficial to do SHM. Furthermore, it shows that more sensors do not necessarily lead to a higher value of information; only specific sensor locations near the highest utilized components lead to a high value of information; measurement noise and the Type I error should be controlled and as small as possible. An optimal sensor employment with highest value of information is found. Moreover, it is found that the proposed method can be a powerful tool to develop optimal service life maintenance strategies - before implementation - for similar bridges and to optimize the damage detection system settings and sensor configuration for minimum expected costs and risks.
A central challenge to ensure the sustainable production and use of nanotechnologies is to understand and effectively control the risks along the industrial innovation value chain. Knowledge about nanotechnology processes and nanosafety issues (hazards, fate, risk...) is growing rapidly but the effective use of this knowledge for risk management by market actors is lagging behind.
EC4SafeNano (European Centre for Risk Management and Safe Innovation in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies) promotes a harmonized vision of expertise in risk assessment and management for the public and private sectors to enable the safe development and commercialization of nanotechnology.
EC4SafeNano is operated together by major European risk institutes with the support of numerous associated partners, gathering all stakeholders involved in Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies (regulators, industry, society, research, service providers...).
In a case study the surface chemical transformations upon 2 different ageing procedures (long-term UV irradiation or swimming pool water) of a representative set of titanium dioxide nanoparticles has been investigated. The materials have been analyzed by various analytical techniques. Each method addresses different aspects of the complex endpoint surface chemistry. The multi technique approach allows evaluation of the capabilities and limitations of the applied methods regarding their suitability to address the endpoint surface chemistry and their sensitivity to identify even small surface chemical transformations.
Results:
- To obtain a comprehensive picture, it is insufficient to concentrate on a single analysis technique.
- By using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) in combination with principal component analysis (PCA) it was possible to identify even subtle changes in the surface chemistry of the investigated materials.
- A general trend that was observed for the UV-aged samples is the decrease of organic material on the nanomaterial surface.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 723623.
A promising approach for the further improvement of fire detection techniques is the inclusion of fire gases in the characteristics used to detect a fire. A screening of sample materials representative for common first burning items and their gas release under different ignition conditions was performed to gain an overview of possible target gas candidates. Different fire scenarios were investigated to evaluate fire gases produced in early stages of fire development, their time of appearance and concentration development using the vitiated mass loss calorimeter and a heating plate setup in the single burning item test chamber.
Polymers with intrinsic microporosity are promising candidates for the active separation layer in gas separation membranes. Here, by means of inelastic neutron scattering, the vibrational density of states (VDOS) and the molecular mobility were investigated for PIM-1, the prototypical polymer with intrinsic microporosity. The results are compared to data measured for a more conventional high-performance polyimide used in gas separation membranes (Matrimid).
The measured data show the characteristic low frequency excess contribution to the VDOS above the Debye sound wave level, generally known as the Boson peak in glass-forming materials. In comparison to the Boson peak of Matrimid, that of PIM-1 is shifted to lower frequencies. This shift is discussed considering the microporous, sponge-like structure of PIM-1 as providing a higher compressibility at the molecular scale than for conventional polymers.
Elastic fixed window scans were measured on a neutron backscattering spectrometer to have an overview about the molecular dynamics at a time scale of ca. 1 ns. The temperature dependence of the estimated mean squared displacement shows a step-like increase in the temperature range from 100 K to 250 K indicating the onset of some molecular mobility. The nature of this motional process was analyzed in detail by quasielastic neutron scattering combining Time-of-Flight and backscattering where the data are discussed with regard to both the q- and the temperature dependence.
Polymeric membranes represent a low-cost, energy efficient solution for gas separation. Recently polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have emerged as prestigious membrane materials featuring a large concentration of pores smaller than 1 nm, a BET surface area larger than 700 m2/g and high gas permeability and selectivity. Unusual chain structure combining rigid segments with sites of contortion gives rise to the intrinsic microporosity. However, this novel class of glassy polymers are prone to pronounced physical aging. The initial microporous structures approach a denser state via local small scale fluctuataions, leading to a dramatic reduction in the gas permeabilities. For the first time, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy with state-of-the-art high-resolution analyzers was employed to investigate three representative PIMs with a systematic change in chain rigidity: PIM-EA-TB 〉 PIM-1 〉 PIM-MDPH-TB. The molecular mobility, the charge transport and their response upon heating (aging) in the polymers were measured in a broad temperature range through isothermal frequency scans during different heating / cooling cycles. Multiple dielectric processes following Arrhenius behavior were observed for the investigated polymers. Local fluctuations, Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) polarization and structural relaxation phenomena were discussed and attempted to be correlated with the structural features of PIMs. Moreover, all PIMs showed conductivity in the glassy state. The significant increase in the conductivity with increasing temperature far below the glass transition temperature of PIMs is explained in terms of the loosely packed microporous structure and the formation of local intermolecular agglomerates due to interaction of π-electrons in aromatic moieties of the polymer backbone.
The proposed BAM project SealWasteSafe will advance the state of the art for the construction and monitoring of safe sealing systems for underground repositories of radioactive or toxic waste. During this project, a novel salt concrete exhibiting neither significant cracking nor shrinkage will be optimized for use in the sealing systems. The composition of this material will be based on alkali-activated materials, which are characterized by particularly small thermal deformations during the hardening reaction. Quality assurance and continuous monitoring systems developed during this project will be demonstrated not only for high reliability, but also for resistance to highly alkaline environments and to water intrusion along cables or at sensor locations. A variety of sensors will be used in combination with wireless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to record moisture, temperature, and, if necessary, corrosion activity within the sealing system. Distributed Fibre Optic Sensor (FOS) technology will also be used for strain, temperature, and moisture content measurement. Ultrasound-based measuring methods will be utilized for the detection of cracks and delaminations. Additionally, digital image correlation and acoustic emission analysis will be used for deformation measurements and crack detection. A novel borehole probe and advanced ultrasound imaging techniques will be further developed to track cracks and delaminations within the host rock in 3D. The surface-based Large Aperture Ultrasound System (LAUS) will also be utilized to detect cracks and delaminations deep below the exterior surface of the sealing system. Although the focus of this project will be on the host rock salt, the resulting technologies will be intentionally developed in a way that facilitates their adaptation to other host rocks.
One of the most important goals in civil engineering is to guaranty the safety of constructions. National standards prescribe a required failure probability in the order of 10-6 (e.g. DIN EN 199:2010-12). The estimation of these failure probabilities is the key point of structural reliability analysis. Generally, it is not possible to compute the failure probability analytically. Therefore, simulation-based methods as well as methods based on surrogate modelling or response surface methods have been developed. Nevertheless, these methods still require a few thousand evaluations of the structure, usually with finite element (FE) simulations, making reliability analysis computationally expensive for relevant applications.
The aim of this contribution is to increase the efficiency of structural reliability analysis by using the advantages of model reduction techniques. Model reduction is a popular concept to decrease the computational effort of complex numerical simulations while maintaining a reasonable accuracy. Coupling a reduced model with an efficient variance reducing sampling algorithm significantly reduces the computational cost of the reliability analysis without a relevant loss of accuracy.
Fire resistance testing of components made of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) composites usually demands intermediate-scale or full-scale testing. In this study a bench-scale test is presented as practicable and efficient method to assess the improvement in structural integrity of CFRP with different protective coatings during fire.
Our approach includes the preparation of blends of preferably liquid-crystalline polyesters with Lignin, but also the synthesis of new polyesters with Lignin-related monomer units.
While most studies employ pulped Lignin directly, we first purified the Kraft Lignin by fractionation, followed by chemical modification of the terminal OH groups. Acetylation results in the reduction of glass transition temperatures (Tg) below 200°C, improved processability in the melt with complete melting of the Lignin sample, and higher thermostability.
These Lignin fractions were melt-mixed in a mini-twin-screw extruder with polyesters. The chemical structure of the polyesters was systematically varied between poly(ethylene terephthalate), (PET); poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-oxybenzoate), (PET/HBA); liquid crystalline polyesters with fully aromatic structure; and polyesters with Lignin-related monomers like ferulic and vanillic acid). The polymer influence on the blending behavior with Lignin was examined. SEM revealed phase-separated blends with partial compatibilization of the phases indicated by the shift of Tg’s. The influence of the polyester and the Lignin on decomposition and combustion was accessed by thermogravimetry (TGA), TGA-FTIR and pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC) and compared to the decomposition of polyesters. The main focus was to achieve melt-spinnable blends for fibres with improved flame retardancy or as precursors for carbon fibers. Blends of Lignin fractions with the aromatic-aliphatic polyesters (here preferably PET/HBA) were successfully spun into fibers with lab-scale melt-spinning equipment. X-ray measurements revealed orientation of the fibers with Lignin. The E-moduli raised with increasing purity of the Lignin fractions (e.g., by removal of reducing sugars).
The structure of the polymer matrix determines the decomposition and combustion behavior of the blends with Lignin. Incorporation of aliphatic subunits reduces the amount of remaining char formed in TGA and PCFC from about 40-45 wt% for fully aromatic polyesters to 18-25 wt% for semiaromatic polyesters (at almost comparable carbon content in the polymer), while the maximum temperature of combustion decreased from 480-530°C for the former to 410-465°C for the latter. Lignin fractionation and acetylation yields samples with high char content (36 wt%) and extremely low heat release capacity (80-90 kJ/gK) with combustion maximum temperature at 405°C. Lignin/ PET/HBA blends combine the low HRC with intermediate char and offer interesting opportunities for polyester fibers with improved flame retardancy without adding P-containing FRs.
The flame retardancy behavior was explored by limiting oxygen index measurements on injection-molded parts and fibers.
In the last three decades, the vibrations of many floors and bridges have been measured. The contribution shows some evaluation methods, experimental results and some modelling and theoretical results. Simple evaluation methods have been developed for single and coupled floors. Two coupled beams have been measured in good agreement with the theory. A more complex coupling model has been found for a large wooden floor in a castle consisting of six floor bays which correlates well with the measurements. Damaged and intact poles have been tested by their natural frequencies and damping values, and a fair correlation between the degree of damage and the shift of the frequency. Road bridges have been analysed in detail and some examples are presented. Railway bridges and trains are studied for resonant excitation. The risk of resonance can be estimated in frequency domain by using axle-sequence spectra of the train and the natural frequencies of the bridge. A measurement example shows the amplification, but even stronger the cancellation of the subsequent axle responses. Several high-speed trains and freight trains have been analysed for their potential resonance amplification.
Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) is known for its high compressive strength of more than 150 MPa and its high durability. Thermal treatment at 90°C can accelerate the strength development so that the 28-days-strength can be achieved immediately after the treatment and an additional increase up to 30 % in some cases. The reason for the strength development is an accelerated hydration of the clinker minerals and an intensified pozzolanic reaction leading to a denser microstructure.
In previous research inhomogeneities in form of a zonation after unprotected thermal treatment were observed and analysed in respect to changes in the microstructure. This zonation is defined by a different microstructure in the core compared to the outer zone in the matter of porosity, mineral phase composition and a significant change in the potassium and sulphur concentration of the zones is measurable.
To isolate different transport mechanisms responsible for these element distributions UHPC samples were thermally treated at 90 °C and the microstructure was investigated under dry conditions and after immersion in water to investigate the influence of dehydration during and rehydration after the thermal treatment on the microstructure. Through durability testing via water absorption, water vapour diffusion, permeability testing and sulfuric acid resistance transport mechanisms like diffusion, migration, capillary suction are under investigation in correlation with the microstructure analysis. For the microstructure analysis measurements with µXRF, mercury intrusion porosity, XRD and SEM were conducted.
The internal project "SealWasteSafe" of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing is dedicated to the further improvement in the construction of sealing systems for underground repositories of radioactive waste. Particularly, a multi-sensory concept is developed to ensure quality assurance and continuous long-term monitoring on the engineered barriers. Therefore, beside other measures, the temperature and equilibrium moisture of the construction shall be monitored and respective multi-sensoric monitoring concepts are tested first on the laboratory scale. One focus in this project is on embedded application in alkali-activated mortars (AAM), which results in special requirements for the resistance of the sensors to strongly alkaline environments with up to pH 14. In addition, the ingress of water along cables or at sensor positions is critical for sensors embedded in concrete, as the cable access of the sensor housing is a major weak point. It is therefore advisable to equip wireless high frequent radio frequency identification-based sensors, so called HF RFID sensors (short: RFID), that do not require cable access and thus have a stable and leak-proof sensor housing for long-term monitoring. In this contribution, the results from temperature, moisture and transmitted power monitoring of a AAM and a M2 specimens by means of HF RFID sensor systems are presented.
Molecular orientation has a significant effect on the material properties of polymers. Preferential orientation of the microstructure (polymer chains or crystallites) in a specific direction or plane often enhances the material properties, especially if the high-strength covalent bonds are primarily exposed to loads instead of the weaker van der Waals bonds. However, the orientation-dependent microstructure and its mechanical behavior is in general already well understood by many scientific studies [1-3]. Isotropic materials are frequently required for an intrinsic material characterization without prevailing processing-induced properties, as is the case for Full Notch Creep Test (FNCT) [4] addressing environmental stress cracking (ESC) in high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) [5, 6]. Since ESC is one of the major limiting issues for long-term performance of PE-HD pipes and containers [7], which in contrast have a production-related preferential orientated microstructure due to extrusion or extrusion blow molding, it is important to additionally investigate the ESC resistance of such anisotropic microstructure.
Investigations of the slow crack growth (SCG) with respect to the molecular orientation generally obtain a factor of 1.2 up to 4.7 between crack growth perpendicular to the extrusion direction and crack growth parallel to the extrusion direction 8. Based on FNCT investigations with an aqueous detergent solution as environmental medium, hot pressed sheets with isotropic morphology are compared with extruded sheets from which specimens with different orientation angles are taken. However, the time to failure obtained by FNCT is also significantly influenced by the different cooling conditions under which the final morphology is formed. The tendency of the specimen to fail due to ESC is investigated as a function of environmental medium temperature. For a more detailed analysis of the affecting parameters in the manufacturing process, the ESC resistance is discussed considering the differences in crystallinity as revealed by thermal analysis.
In Germany, the reuse of asphalt has a long tradition. Since the 1980s, the reclaimed
asphalt has been recycled achieving a reuse rate of around 90% and thus a very high
value in the last years. In the future, instead of the amount, the quality of the
reclaimed asphalt will be more important because the recycled asphalt will be reused
again and again. Thus, these asphalt mixes are in the second or even third cycle of
reuse. Concerning this situation, the question arises if asphalt can be reused several
times without any loss in quality. An important factor affecting the asphalt quality is the
binder bitumen. During the production, construction and service life, the ageing of this
binder occurs causing a hardening of the bitumen. To compensate this hardening,
additives for the reclaimed asphalt in terms of rejuvenation agents (rejuvenators) gain
in importance. With these rejuvenators, the physical properties of bitumen can be
modified e.g. the hardness and the stiffness reduced. However, the mechanism of the
rejuvenation agents and the effects of the bitumen chemistry are largely unknown
because the composition of the products varies very strongly. But with growing
knowledge about these mechanisms and effects of the rejuvenation agents, the
chemical composition and thus the physical and ageing behavior of bitumen can be
targeted modified by the use of suitable rejuvenators. In this work, the actual results of
the project Postcarbone road should be presented including investigations about the
chemical and physical mechanisms as well as the efficiency of different rejuvenators.
Further, a model for the cyclic reuse of bitumen should be developed. Based on this
model, the choice of a suitable rejuvenation agent for the considered bitumen or rather
asphalt should be possible. The project Postcarbone road (392670763) is funded by the
German Research Foundation (DFG).
Multifunctional Graphene in Flame Retarded Polybutadiene/ Chloroprene/ Carbon Black Composites
(2021)
Multilayer graphene is investigated as a multifunctional nanofiller to polybutadiene/ chloroprene rubbers (BR/CR) that partially substitutes carbon black (CB) and aluminum trihydroxide (ATH). Loadings of only 3 parts per hundred rubber (phr) MLG replaced 15 phr of CB and/or 3 phr of ATH in BR/CR nanocomposites. Mechanical and fire behavior were investigated, and results point to improved rheological, curing and mechanical properties of MLG-containing rubber composites.
Natural Rubber Nanocomposites via Optimized Latex Premixing and Conventional Technical Processing
(2021)
Creation of highly functional materials and replacement of high amounts of conventional fillers are driving forces for the development of nanocomposites. Besides the type and properties of nanoparticles, their dispersing in the elastomeric matrix and the stability of this dispersion through all processing steps are the
main factors for the resulting performance of the produced material. Therefore, a preparation chain via latex premixing to a highly filled masterbatch, followed by conventional technical processing is to be developed.
Three types of carbon-based particles are characterized as such (SEM, Raman Spectroscopy, BET specific surface area) and in combination with natural rubber, as nanocomposites (TEM. Hardness, Abrasion resistance, Compression set, Cone calorimetry).
All of the studied particles lead to an improvement in the investigated mechanical properties, the extent of reinforcement depends strongly on the specific surface of the particle interacting with the elastomeric matrix in combination with their shape.
A commercially available bio epoxy resin with kenaf fibers and halogen free inorganic and organic flame retardants, respectively, is investigated concerning its thermal stability and fire performance. Particular attention has been paid to the difference of short fibers, fiber mats and woven
materials.
FR additives were incorporated during tanning process. The mode of action of an intumescent system and each component individually, was methodically investigated in a semi-finished leather. Vertical flammability test results showed that the investigated semi-finished leather satisfies the regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration; in addition, afterglow time is strong minimized and forced fire behavior pointed out an important reduction on smoke production.
Polyesters with DOPO substituents can be successfully synthesized with 10-[2,5-Bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide(DOPO-HQ-glycolether) and DOPO-substituted dimethyl succinate (PIta). These polyester materials show an effective flame retardancy which can be fine-tuned by the chemical structure of the polyester backbone.
The influence of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes as adhesive layers on the burning behaviour of bonded materials has been investigated. Single-sided tapes as an outer connection between construction materials have large influence on flammability, flame spread and fire resistance. In contrast, double sided tapes only take a small impact on the flammability but can drasticly change the burning behaviour in developing fires.
Corrosion testing in a laboratory container: Corrosion testing with artificial seawater and sediment
(2022)
Electricity generation by offshore wind turbine generators (WTG) is an important pillar of the energy transition. Corrosion processes on WTGs pose a particular challenge with regard to safe operation over longer periods of time due to the highly corrosive conditions in the offshore area. BAM is therefore conducting research to ensure a safe operation of the turbines over their intended service life to protect people and the environment.
In a joint research project, different corrosion-relevant areas of a WTG foundation structure were specifically simulated in test basins within a laboratory container. The aim of the work was, on the one hand, the gravimetric and electrochemical determination of corrosion rates in the different areas of an WTG that are relevant for cathodic corrosion protection (CCP): Underwater and sediment zone as well as the transition area between these two zones. Also, targeted tests were carried out under CCP. In addition, investigations regarding calcareous deposition during CCP were carried out on idealized specimens under laboratory conditions to better assess its influence on the protection process. The investigations were carried out in a laboratory container with different basins, which were filled with sand as sediment and artificial seawater according to ISO 15711and connected via a closed water circuit.
The poster at EURCORR 2022 provides an overview of the investigations and the most important results. It will be evaluated, if a simulation of offshore corrosion conditions is possible to a certain extent in an idealized system with artificial seawater and sediment.
Determination of the corrosion product layer resistance on zinc samples by using gel electrolytes
(2022)
Crash barriers, railings, lamp posts, waste glass containers - these are just a few of the many examples of galvanized surfaces. They withstand wind and weather for decades, which is possible thanks to a protective layer made of corrosion products. When designing the atmospheric durability of galvanized components, a linear corrosion loss is assumed. In the past 30 years, however, the surrounding atmosphere has changed a lot. Due to the restriction of sulfur exhaust air, acid rain completely disappeared in Europe and Germany, which has a direct influence on the type and protective effect of the corrosion products. Under the influence of current atmospheric conditions, zinc layers are significantly more resistant and no longer show any linear corrosion loss. The established test methods cannot correctly map this change in neither short-term nor long-term tests and thus provide incorrect results. In order to solve this problem, a new measurement method was developed at BAM that can assess the protective effect of the formed surface layers in a minimally invasive manner without damaging the sample and in short test times. For this new method, gel electrolytes are used and the so-called corrosion product layer resistance RL, which is made up of various surface resistances, is measured electrochemically. As a single measurement, the surface layer resistance can provide information about the existing corrosion protection, while time-dependent measurements assess the stability of the layer. Thus, it is possible again to evaluate the corrosion protection layer. Furthermore, this method can also be used for field measurements on real components.
Understanding the fundamentals of bioreceptivity enables the developement of functionalized materials. Concrete as the most used building material worldwide is of special interest as microbially greened panels may represent an alternative to classic façade greening with plants. This project includes extensive outdoor experiments, in which eight differently structured concrete panels are weathered under different conditions, aiming to grow a stable biofilm of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. Documentation and data analysis of this experiment will be demonstrated using an example of one of the surfaces.
In the maritime context of offshore operation, corrosion, in combination with the materials used, poses a particular challenge to ensure safe operation over long indefinite periods and to minimise susceptibility to failure. Until today, only a few corrosion protection systems have proven themselves for the interaction of efficiency, installation, and maintenance in the offshore sector. In addition, available corrosion test methods sometimes have major deficits about conclusions of the durability. Therefore, there is more research and development needed.
The flagship project H2Mare of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research aims to enable the production of green hydrogen and PtX products at high seas. Research is being driven forward by the partners in four individual projects, where BAM is involved in two.
In PtX-Wind, major kinds of corrosion attacks at offshore constructions are characterized and investigated, and suitable corrosion protection measures determined. In TransferWind, attention focusses on transferring scientific results into standardization.
This poster at the H2Mare Conference 2023 presents an overview of the investigation methods and contribution of the department “Corrosion and Corrosion Protection”.
Dredging sediment refers to materials removed from the bottom of a water body during dredging operations. Mainly the dreading mud contains clay, silt, sand, water, and alkalis. This work incorporated dredging mud into the calcium sulfoaluminate cement at replacement levels of 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% by weight. Pastes were evaluated after 1d, 28d, and 90d- hydration through mechanical strengths and the reaction rate by isothermal conduction calorimetry. XRD and MIP characterized the reaction products. The findings showed that small replacements (10% and 30%) increased early strength with higher ettringite formation in the system at 1d of curing. However, the evolution of mechanical strength was lower than the reference (0% replacement) over time. The results showed that in low replacement dosages, the dredging mud act as a nucleation site for the hydration of calcium sulfoaluminate phases.
Algal biofilm façades are an alternative to traditional green façades which can help to improve biodiversity and air quality within cities. They present a low maintenance approach in which subaerial algae are grown directly on concrete substrates. The intrinsic bioreceptivity of the substrate is a critical factor in successful facade colonisation. Existing research has identified several environmental and material properties which influence concrete bioreceptivity, however a consensus has yet to be made on which properties are most influential and how the interaction between properties may promote algal biofilm growth under specific conditions.
Even after autoclaving for 2 weeks in the temperature range of 120 to 200 °C, CEM I paste with a water-to-cement ratio of 0.5 still contains some low-crystalline C-S-H. The conversion of low-crystalline C-S-H to crystalline is faster with increasing temperature. The observed low-crystalline and crystalline C-S-H phases (reinhardbraunsite, jaffeite) indicate that the samples have not reached equilibrium yet under these experimental conditions. However, there is a good agreement between experiment and thermodynamic modelling for the other solids indicating that the used datasets are suitable for this application.
Safety is a key parameter for the design and construction of buildings. The most widely used construction material to date is concrete that consists of about 15-20 wt.-% cement, which is responsible for the main concrete properties, i.e., strength and durability. Despite many standards regulating the quality of cement, at present, there exists no viable method to track the cement life cycle “from cradle to grave”. This led to an increasing interest in simple and robust methods for studying the processes and changes occurring during the life cycle of cement. In this context, we explored the applicability of fluorescence measurements which can be performed with relatively inexpensive and miniaturized instrumentation yet require robust optical probes which survive the harsh cement environment. Therefore, we developed a platform of lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), consisting of a NaYF4 matrix doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ with sizes between 20 nm and 55 nm, which show characteristic multi-color emission patterns, composed of narrow bands of varying intensity in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and short-wave spectral region and examined their potential for cement probing and the non-invasive monitoring of the hydration processes occurring during cement formation.
UCNPs of different size and chemical composition were synthesized via a thermal decomposition approach under inert conditions. The tailor-made design of different emission patterns was achieved by tuning particle size and morphology, material composition, and particle surface chemistry in upscaleable syntheses. For cement probing, different types of UCNPs were added to cement and the evolution of the UCNP emission pattern was used to probe in-situ changes of physico-chemical parameters in the cementitious environment during hydration, utilizing a simple and portable custom-designed optical setup. The observed changes in the UCNP emission patterns are characteristic for a given particle size, surface chemistry, and cement composition. In addition to fluorescence measurements, conventional isothermal heat flow calorimetry was used to study the influence of UCNP addition on cement hydration kinetics. Subsequently, both sets of measurements were correlated. Our results underline the potential of our optical approach ad UCNPs for the non-invasive probing of cementitious systems and cement hydration. This can be also exploited for cutting-edge applications of construction materials such as 3D concrete printing.
Thermal runaway investigations were performed by subjecting single and double NMC pouch cells to thermal abuse condition inside an air-tight reactor vessel with an internal volume of 100 dm³. The study was divided into two series. The findings revealed the thermal runaway-induced explosion in the cells results in a rate of temperature increase greater than 10 K/s. The highest gaseous production was achieved at a range of 90 – 100% SOC and higher battery capacities 0.79 L/Wh (Series 1, 10 Ah cell) and 0.87 L/Wh (Series 2, 32 Ah cell). The investigation showed between 25 m³ and 84 m³ of explosible gas mixture could be released from electric vehicles of nominal useable electrical energy from 32 kWh up to 108 kWh at thermal runaway. It was also found that, the release of these explosible gases could undergo a secondary explosion.
Fire resistance of fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) has been an important area of research for many years since FRPs are mainly used in the transportation and construction sectors. This study presents the fire behavior, and mechanical performance between the flame retarded pure epoxy resin and flame retarded glass-fiber composites before, during, and after a fire event. This enables a deeper understanding of the transferability of flame retardants on composite materials.
The transfer of flame-retardant epoxy resin formulations to composites for structural and lightweight applications in the energy and transport sector can be complex and requires systematic investigation. Here, uncoated and silane-coated ammonium polyphosphate (APP, Si-APP) intumescent compounds are transferred to prepregs using a Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) resin matrix to 0/90o bidirectional glass fibers with an aerial weight of 600 g/m2. Inorganic silicates (InSi) are added to improve the fire residues of the composites after combustion and the total amount of flame retardants in the resin formulations was 10% by weight. The prepregs' fiber volume content (FVC) is corroborated using in-process measurements and thermogravimetric analysis. This was found to be approximately 60% for the composites containing APP, which is ideal for load-bearing applications with high mechanical strength. However, the Si-APP containing prepregs showed an inconsistent FVC potentially due to interactions with the commercial sizing of the glass fibers. The composites subsequently prepared are analysed for potential filtration effects of the additives via SEM after immobilization in a cured resin and platinum sputtering. The inter-laminar shear strength and the mechanical strength of the composites are compared via three-point bending tests. Additionally, the fire performance of the composites is analysed using cone calorimetry. It was found there was minimal impact of the loading of the flame retardants on the delamination of the composites and the flexural strength. However, the high density of the glass fibers possibly results in a suppression of the mode of action of the flame retardants in the composites. Therefore, the fire residues of the composites are further compared using SEM, and the flame-retardant modes of action upon transfer are investigated.
This study presents the processability, fire behavior, and mechanical performance between the flame retarded pure epoxy resin and flame retarded glass-fiber-reinforced plastic before, during, and after a fire event. This enables a deeper understanding of the transferability of flame retardants, modes of action, char enhancement, and flame inhibition on composite materials
Bench-scale fire stability testing - Protective layers in carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminates
(2023)
Fire resistance testing of components made of carbon fibre reinforced polymers (CFRP) composites usually demands intermediate-scale or full-scale testing. In this study, a bench-scale test is presented as a practicable and efficient method to assess the improvement in structural integrity of CFRP with different protective interlayers during fire.
The residual post-fire mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced epoxy composites are influenced by their fire residues after burning. This study uses intumescent/low-melting glass flame retardants to tailor fire residues in epoxy resin. Processibility of prepregs and their quality are analysed for transfer of the flame-retardant epoxy resins to layered glass-fiber reinforced composites. Minimal effects were found on the pre-fire flexural strengths of the composites due to low loading of the flame retardants. However, when transferred to glass-fiber reinforced composites, the fire residues diminish significantly. Further studies are required to improve theoretical and experimental estimations of the post-fire mechanics of the composites.
Maritime exposure poses particular challenges for corrosion
protection in plant construction. In addition to the right choice
of materials, special design features that can have an impact
on corrosion resistance must also be taken into account to
ensure long-lasting corrosion protection. In practice, structural
crevice arrangements are unavoidable, and therefore the
crevice corrosion resistances of stainless steels are of
particular importance. These and other influences are being
investigated in this joint project.
Current capabilities for full-scale field testing are highly resource intensive. Reliable small-scale experiments are an effective alternative. Characterization of the dynamic response and damage of RC elements to scaled blast loads was investigated in scaled-down field experiments. Spatially resolved information on the dynamic structural response using distributed fiber optic acoustic sensing (DAS) and acceleration as well as blast loading by piezoelectric pressure sensors.
Currently, mandatory requirements and recommendations for the detection of irregularities in laser beam welded joints are based on classic micrographs as set out in the standard ISO 13919-1:2019. Compared to classic micrographs, computed tomography enables a non-destructive, three-dimensional and material-independent mode of operation, which delivers much more profound results. Even in building material testing, methods with limited informative value can be checked and supplemented by CT examinations.
To combat climate change the share of renewable energy production must increase drastically. Offshore energy production – offshore wind and power-to-X – are crucial to achieving climate targets. However, the impact of these offshore constructions – wind turbines and production platforms – on the marine environment remains unclear in many aspects. Potential sources of chemical emissions are corrosion protection systems, remobilization of contaminants from old sediments during construction, the brine of desalination plants and increased shipping for maintenance and transportation. In order to minimize the environmental impact of renewable energies, close monitoring is essential. The goal of this project is the development of a monitoring concept for an offshore power-to-X production platform.
The development of standards that include simulation models is often based on heuristics that include experimental data that is used to calibrate and validate the simulation models. However, these data and the corresponding calibration procedures are usually not part of the publicly accessible documentation making it very difficult to identify gaps in the current standard or extend it to new innovative solutions. The poster shows an adapted procedure that integrates the complete process into a database and a workflow to be published alongside the standard.