A Study on the Mechanical Characteristics of Glass and Nylon Fiber Reinforced Peach Shell Lightweight Concrete

In the current study, the utilization of glass and nylon fibers in various percentages are added to enhance the mechanical performance of peach shell lightweight concrete. Glass and nylon fibers were added at 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by cement weight. The results showed that, as we added the glass and nylon fibers, the density of peach shell concrete was reduced by 6.6%, and the compressive, split tensile and flexural strength were enhanced by 10.20%, 60.1%, and 63.49%. The highest strength that was obtained in compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength at 56 days was 29.4 MPa, 5.2 MPa, and 6.3 MPa, respectively, with 6% of glass fiber in peach shell concrete. Mechanical test results showed that post-failure toughness and modulus of elasticity of peach shell concrete is enhanced with the utilization of fibers. To verify our lab results, a statistical analysis, such as response surface methodology, was performed to make a statistical model, it was confirmed by both lab results and statistical analysis that the mechanical performance of peach shell concrete could be significantly improved by adding glass fibers as compared to nylon fibers. With the use of fibers, the water absorption and porosity were slightly increased. Hence, the glass and nylon fibers can be used to improve the peach shell concrete mechanical properties to make concrete eco-friendly, sustainable, and lightweight.

Tensile stress and penetration test of the Red Haven peaches skin

Skin protects fruits against changing external factors such as varying temperature, moisture, etc. The knowledge of its mechanical properties is thus of critical importance. The paper is focused on determination of selected mechanical characteristics of Red Haven peach skin. Such destructive experiments (tensile stress and penetration test) were performed, where fruit skin integrity was radically violated. In a peach, a part of the skin is subject to external mechanical action and resulting deformation is measured and it can be viewed as a function of parameters describing both the action and considered sample of the skin or vice versa. Several basic physical quantities such as Young’s modulus of elasticity, stress in failure, toughness, and maximal penetration pressure were determined. These quantities, depending e.g. on date of harvest and describing quality and maturity of peaches, were quantified and evaluated. The results obtained within this research can be used e.g. for creation of detailed mathematical model.