Micro versus Macro Shear Bond Strength Testing of Dentin-Composite Interface Using Chisel and Wireloop Loading Techniques

Shear bond strength (SBS) testing is a commonly used method for evaluating different dental adhesive systems. Failure mode analysis provides valuable information for better interpretation of bond strength results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of specimen dimension and loading technique on shear bond strength and failure mode results. Eighty macro and micro flowable composite cylindrical specimens of 1.8 and 0.8 mm diameter, respectively, and 1.5 mm length were bonded to dentinal substrate. Four study groups were created (n = 20): Macroshear wireloop, Gp1; Microshear wireloop, Gp2; Macroshear chisel, Gp3; and Microshear chisel, Gp4. They were tested for SBS using chisel and wireloop loading devices followed by failure mode analysis using digital microscopy and SEM. Two- and one-way ANOVA were used to compare stress at failure values of different groups while the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare between failure modes of the tested groups. Gp4 recorded the highest mean stress at failure 54.1 ± 14.1 MPa, and the highest percentage of adhesive failure in relation to the other groups. Specimen dimension and loading technique are important parameters influencing the results of shear bond strength. Micro-sized specimens and chisel loading are recommended for shear testing.

Prediction of Mechanical Behavior of GFRP with Elastomer under Impact and Tensile Loading

In this paper, the mechanical behavior of GFRP laminates reinforced with Elastomers under Impact and Tensile loading conditions has been studied. The GFRP laminates have bidirectional orientation so that it can take loads acting along both x & y-axis. Composite made of E-glass fibre and Araldite LY 556 resin was reinforced with Silicone Rubber elastomer. The GFRP laminates were manufactured utilizing the Compression Molding (Sheet Molding) Process. Elastomers are believed to improve the Impact and Tensile Strength of GFRP laminates. Which can be studied only by comparing the Impact and Tensile test results of GFRP with Elastomers to those without Elastomers. A total of ten specimens, five GFRP laminates without Elastomers, and five GFRP laminates with Elastomers were manufactured. For each type, two samples were used to obtain Tensile Strength at 34oC & 50oC, and then three specimens were used to gain Impact Strength. The Tensile Strengths were obtained from the Tensile Test as per the ASTM D638 standard of testing, and the Impact Strengths were obtained from the Charpy Impact Test as per the ASTM D256 standard of testing. The specimen dimension for Tensile Test was 4.97 mm * 12.9 mm, and the specimen dimension for the Charpy Impact Test was 63.7 mm * 12.7 mm. The values for Impact Strength and Tensile Strength for each type of specimen were tabulated, utilizing which graphs were plotted between Stress vs. Strain. These values were used to analyze the Mechanical Properties of GFRP with Elastomers under Impact and Tensile Behavior.

Toward Core-Free Pavement Compaction Evaluation: An Innovative Method Relating Asphalt Permittivity to Density

Asphalt pavement compaction quality control and quality assurance (QC/QA) are traditionally based on destructive drilled cores and/or nuclear gauge results, which both are spot measurements representing significantly less than 1 percent of the in-service pavement. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is emerging as a tool that can be used for nondestructive continuous assessment of asphalt pavement compaction quality through measuring the pavement dielectric constant. Previous studies have established that asphalt pavement dielectric constant measurements are inversely proportional to the air void content for a given asphalt mixture. However, field cores are currently required to calibrate the measured dielectric constant to the pavement density. In this paper, a method is proposed to eliminate the need for field calibration cores by measuring the dielectric constant of asphalt specimens compacted to various air void contents. This can be accomplished with a superpave gyratory compactor (SGC), which is routinely used in the pavement industry to fabricate 6 in. (15.2 cm.) diameter specimens. However, this poses difficulties with the GPR antenna height, direct coupling, and the Fresnel zone in relation to the asphalt specimen dimension limitation. These challenges are overcome by employing a plastic spacer with a known dielectric constant between the SGC specimen and the antenna. The purpose of the spacer is to reduce GPR wave speed so that the signal reflected from the specimen is separated from the direct coupling effects at an antenna height where the Fresnel zone of the GPR is not affected by the specimen dimension. The specimen dielectric constant can then be measured using the reflection coefficient-based surface reflection method (SR) or the pulse velocity-based time-of-flight method (TOF). Also, The Hoegh–Dai model (HD model) is demonstrated to reasonably predict pavement density based on the results of field measurements and corresponding core validation, especially as compared to the conventional exponential model. Results are presented from multiple days of paving on one project, as well as a single paving day on a project with significantly different mix properties. The agreement between the HD model, coreless prediction, and field cores shows the promise for implementation of dielectric-based asphalt compaction evaluation without the need for destructive field core calibration.

Compressive Behavior at Ambient Temperature of ZK60-xDy Magnesium Alloys

Effects of the compressive rate, specimen dimension, specimen orientation and microstructure on the compressive property at ambient temperature of extruded ZK60-xDy alloy rods were investigated. The results show that the specimen dimension, specimen orientation and microstructure except the compressive rate play a significant role on the compressive property. The compressive strength σbc increased significantly by the improving amplitude of 65~110 MPa with increasing the height/diameter ratio h/φ of the cylindrical compressive specimen from 0.5 to 1, however it was not enhanced further as h/φ increased to 2. With increasing the value of h/φ, the yield stage on the compressive curve was strengthened gradually, and meanwhile the compressive macro-fracture changed from the inverted "V" type to pure shear fracture with an angle of 45°. Compared with the specimen whose axial direction was parallel to the transverse direction, σbc was enhanced by the improving amplitude of 60~120 MPa for the specimen whose axial direction was parallel to the extrusion direction. When small amount of Dy (0.31%) was added into ZK60 alloy, σbc was increased from 500 MPa to 540 MPa. However, it slightly decreased to 515 MPa again when the Dy content increased to 4.32%.

Effect of specimen dimension and pre-heating temperature on supercritical CO2 dewatering of radiata pine sapwood

Removing water from wood is a critical requirement for applications in building and construction and for chemical modifications. Normally, green radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) timber, with a moisture content (MC) range at harvest between 150% and 200%, is kiln dried to below fiber saturation point (FSP) to 10–14% MC. In the present work, a physical-chemical-mechanical dewatering process is presented, which involves pressure cycling with supercritical CO2 to remove water to near the FSP. When the CO2 was cycled from ∼4 MPa into the supercritical state, at pressures up to 20 MPa, specimens of cross-sectional dimensions of up to 52 mm were successfully dewatered from a MC of 174%, typical of the green state, to approximately 39% in seven cycles. The specimens with the smallest cross-sectional dimensions dewatered more slowly than the larger specimens. Preheating the green wood before loading it into the dewatering vessel increased the rate of dewatering. The final MCs were similar in all experiments and were independent of specimen dimension (15–52 mm) or preheating temperature between 40°C and 60°C. Pressure-temperature phase diagrams show that it is necessary to compress the CO2 to the supercritical state for efficient dewatering. Diffusion rates and solubility of CO2 in sap were important, but channel opening within specimens was proposed to be a critical factor in the dewatering process. The reason why pressure-based experiments remove water from wood to an MC greater than the established FSP of 30% is not yet clear.