Obtaining equivalent fracture toughness of concrete using uniaxial compression test

Zongjin Li,Yanhua Zhao 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2010 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.7 No.4

From typical stress-axial strain curve and stress-volume strain curve of a concrete under uniaxial compression, the initiation and localization of microcracks within the interior of the specimen can be identified. The occurrence of random microcrack indicates the end of the linear elasticity, and the localization of microcrack implies formation of major crack, which triggers the onset of unstable crack propagation. The interval between initiation and localization of microcracks is characterized by a stable microcrack growth. Based on fracture behavior observed from a uniaxial compressive test of a concrete cylinder, a model has been developed to extract fundamental fracture properties of a concrete, i.e. the equivalent fracture toughness and the size of fracture process zone. The introduction of cracking Poisson’s ratio accounts for tensile failure characteristics of concrete even under uniaxal compression. To justify the validity of the model proposed, tests on three-point bending have been performed to obtain the fracture toughness in accordance with two parameter fracture model and double-K fracture model. Surprisingly, it yields favorably comparable results and provides an encouraging alternative approach to determine fracture properties for concretes.

Fabrication and piezoelectricity of 0–3 cement based composite with nano-PZT powder

Zongjin Li,Hongyu Gong,Yujun Zhang 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.3

Lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3) (PZT) nano-powder with a perovskite structure was fabricated using sol–gel process. The average crystallite diameter of the PZT powder is calculated to be 23.6 nm and the average agglomerate size is about 200 nm. The 0–3 cement based nano-PZT composites were obtained by pressing the mixture of white cement and the nano-PZT powders under a high pressure followed by steam curing. The properties of the nano-PZT/cement piezoelectric composites have been measured and compared to the PZT/cement composites incorporated with ground coarse PZT particles. The enhanced piezoelectricity of the nano-PZT/cement composites can be attributed to the good connectivity between the nano-PZT particles among the cement matrix. Lead zirconate titanate (Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3) (PZT) nano-powder with a perovskite structure was fabricated using sol–gel process. The average crystallite diameter of the PZT powder is calculated to be 23.6 nm and the average agglomerate size is about 200 nm. The 0–3 cement based nano-PZT composites were obtained by pressing the mixture of white cement and the nano-PZT powders under a high pressure followed by steam curing. The properties of the nano-PZT/cement piezoelectric composites have been measured and compared to the PZT/cement composites incorporated with ground coarse PZT particles. The enhanced piezoelectricity of the nano-PZT/cement composites can be attributed to the good connectivity between the nano-PZT particles among the cement matrix.

Preparation, Properties and Microstructure of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Concrete

Zongjin Li,Zhang Yunsheng,Sun Wei 단국대 부설 리모델링연구소 2005 리모델링 연구소 논문집 Vol.3 No.2

In this paper, fly ash was investigated as a basic Si-Al ingredient of geopolymer. Based on compressive and flexural strength, the replacement percentage of fly ash and 3 types of curing regimes were studied to obtain the optimum synthesis condition. The results showed that geopolymer containing 30% fly ash that was prepared at 80˚C for 8 hours, exhibited high mechanical strength. The compressive and flexural strength of the fly ash based geopolymer were 32.2 and 7.15MPa, respectively. In order to investigate the durability behavior of fly ash based geopolymer concrete, CI permeability, freeze-thaw tests were also carried out. The measured results indicated that fly ash based gopolymer concrete had 2.63 times lower coefficient of chloride-ion diffusion and could withdraw 2.2 times more freeze-thaw cycles as compared to Portland concrete with the same compressive strength.

Differences in the gut microbiota between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae in captivity

Zongjin Huan,Yongfang Yao,Jianqiu Yu,Hongwei Chen,Meirong Li,Chaojun Yang,Bo Zhao,Qingyong Ni,Mingwang Zhang,Meng Xie,Huailiang Xu 한국미생물학회 2020 The journal of microbiology Vol.58 No.5

The gut microbiome of captive primates can provide a window into their health and disease status. The diversity and composition of gut microbiota are influenced by not only host phylogeny, but also host diet. Old World monkeys (Cercopithecidae) are divided into two subfamilies: Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. The diet and physiological digestive features differ between these two subfamilies. Accordingly, highthroughput sequencing was used to examine gut microbiota differences between these two subfamilies, using data from 29 Cercopithecinae individuals and 19 Colobinae individuals raised in captivity. Through a comparative analysis of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), significant differences in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota were observed between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae. In particular, the gut microbiota of captive Old World monkeys clustered strongly by the two subfamilies. The Colobinae microbial diversity was higher than that of Cercopithecinae. Additionally, Firmicutes, Lactobacillaceae, Veillonellaceae, and Prevotella abundance were higher in Cercopithecinae, while Bacteroidetes, Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Acidaminococcaceae abundance were higher in Colobinae. PICRUSt analysis revealed that the predicted metagenomes of metabolic pathways associated with proteins, carbohydrates, and amino acids were significantly higher in Colobinae. In the context of host phylogeny, these differences between Cercopithecinae and Colobinae could reflect adaptations associated with their respective diets. This well-organized dataset is a valuable resource for future related research on primates and gut microbiota. Moreover, this study may provide useful insight into animal management practices and primate conservation.

Signal-based AE characterization of concrete with cement-based piezoelectric composite sensors

Youyuan Lu,Zongjin Li,Lei Qin 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2011 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.8 No.5

The signal-based acoustic emission (AE) characterization of concrete fracture process utilizing home-programmed AE monitoring system was performed for three kinds of static loading tests (Cubic-splitting, Direct-shear and Pull-out). Each test was carried out to induce a distinct fracture mode of concrete. Apart from monitoring and recording the corresponding fracture process of concrete, various methods were utilized to distinguish the characteristics of detected AE waveform to interpret the information of fracture behavior of AE sources (i.e. micro-cracks of concrete). Further, more signal-based characters of AE in different stages were analyzed and compared in this study. This research focused on the relationship between AE signal characteristics and fracture processes of concrete. Thereafter, the mode of concrete fracture could be represented in terms of AE signal characteristics. By using cement-based piezoelectric composite sensors, the AE signals could be detected and collected with better sensitivity and minimized waveform distortion, which made the characterization of AE during concrete fracture process feasible. The continuous wavelet analysis technique was employed to analyze the wave-front of AE and figure out the frequency region of the P-wave & S-wave. Defined RA (rising amplitude), AF (average frequency) and P-wave & S-wave importance index were also introduced to study the characters of AE from concrete fracture. It was found that the characters of AE signals detected during monitoring could be used as an indication of the cracking behavior of concrete.

Frequency characteristic analysis on acoustic emission of mortar using cement-based piezoelectric sensors

Lu, Youyuan,Li, Zongjin Techno-Press 2011 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.8 No.3

Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was conducted for mortar specimens under three types of static loading patterns (cubic-splitting, direct-shear and pull-out). Each of the applied loading patterns was expected to produce a particular fracture process. Subsequently, the AEs generated by various fracture or damage processes carried specific information on temporal micro-crack behaviors of concrete for post analysis, which was represented in the form of detected AE signal characteristics. Among various available characteristics of acquired AE signals, frequency content was of great interest. In this study, cement-based piezoelectric sensor (as AE transducer) and home-programmed DEcLIN monitoring system were utilized for AE monitoring on mortar. The cement-based piezoelectric sensor demonstrated enhanced sensitivity and broad frequency domain response range after being embedded into mortar specimens. This broad band characteristic of cement-based piezoelectric sensor in frequency domain response benefited the analysis of frequency content of AE. Various evaluation methods were introduced and employed to clarify the variation characteristics of AE frequency content in each test. It was found that the variation behaviors of AE frequency content exhibited a close relationship with the applied loading processes during the tests.

A constitutive model for fiber-reinforced extrudable fresh cementitious paste

Xiangming Zhou,Zongjin Li 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2011 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.8 No.4

In this paper, time-continuous constitutive equations for strain rate-dependent materials are presented first, among which those for the overstress and the consistency viscoplastic models are considered. By allowing the stress states to be outside the yield surface, the overstress viscoplastic model directly defines the flow rule for viscoplastic strain rate. In comparison, a rate-dependent yield surface is defined in the consistency viscoplastic model, so that the standard Kuhn-Tucker loading/unloading condition still remains true for rate-dependent plasticity. Based on the formulation of the consistency viscoplasticity, a computational elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model is proposed for the short fiber-reinforced fresh cementitious paste for extrusion purpose. The proposed constitutive model adopts the von-Mises yield criterion, the associated flow rule and nonlinear strain rate-hardening law. It is found that the predicted flow stresses of the extrudable fresh cementitious paste agree well with experimental results. The rate-form constitutive equations are then integrated into an incremental formulation, which is implemented into a numerical framework based on ANSYS/LS-DYNA finite element code. Then, a series of upsetting and ram extrusion processes are simulated. It is found that the predicted forming load-time data are in good agreement with experimental results, suggesting that the proposed constitutive model could describe the elasto-viscoplastic behavior of the short fiber-reinforced extrudable fresh cementitious paste.

Frequency characteristic analysis on acoustic emission of mortar using cement-based piezoelectric sensors

Youyuan Lu,Zongjin Li 국제구조공학회 2011 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.8 No.3

Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was conducted for mortar specimens under three types of static loading patterns (cubic-splitting, direct-shear and pull-out). Each of the applied loading patterns was expected to produce a particular fracture process. Subsequently, the AEs generated by various fracture or damage processes carried specific information on temporal micro-crack behaviors of concrete for post analysis, which was represented in the form of detected AE signal characteristics. Among various available characteristics of acquired AE signals, frequency content was of great interest. In this study, cement-based piezoelectric sensor (as AE transducer) and home-programmed DEcLIN monitoring system were utilized for AE monitoring on mortar. The cement-based piezoelectric sensor demonstrated enhanced sensitivity and broad frequency domain response range after being embedded into mortar specimens. This broad band characteristic of cement-based piezoelectric sensor in frequency domain response benefited the analysis of frequency content of AE. Various evaluation methods were introduced and employed to clarify the variation characteristics of AE frequency content in each test. It was found that the variation behaviors of AE frequency content exhibited a close relationship with the applied loading processes during the tests.

An analytical and computational study on energy dissipation along fracture process zone in concrete

Yanhua Zhao,Shilang Xu,Zongjin Li 한국계산역학회 2004 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.1 No.1

The influence of the fracture process zone (FPZ) on the fracture properties is one of the hottest topics in the field of fracture mechanics for cementitious materials. Within the FPZ in front of a traction free crack, cohesive forces are distributed in accordance with the softening stress-separation constitutive relation of the material. Therefore, further crack propagation necessitates energy dissipation, which is the work done by the cohesive forces. In this paper gf, the local fracture energy characterizing the energy consumption due to the cohesive forces, is discussed. The computational expression of gf in the FPZ can be obtained for any stage during the material fracture process regarding the variation of FPZ, whether in terms of its length or width. Gfa, the average energy consumption along the crack extension region, has also been computed and discussed in this paper. The experimental results obtained from the wedge splitting tests on specimens with different initial notch ratios are employed to investigate the property of the local fracture energy gf and the average value Gfa over the crack extension length. These results can be used to indicate the influence of the FPZ. Additionally, changes in the length of the FPZ during the fracture process are also studied.

Effects of Different Lightweight Functional Fillers for Use in Cementitious Composites

Asad Hanif,Zeyu Lu,Yu Cheng,Su Diao,Zongjin Li 한국콘크리트학회 2017 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.11 No.1

The effects of different lightweight functional fillers on the properties of cement-based composites are investigated in this study. The fillers include fly ash cenospheres (FACs) and glass micro-spheres (GMS15 and GMS38) in various proportions. The developed composites were tested for compressive, flexural and tensile strengths at 10 and 28-day ages. The results indicated that both FACs and GMS38 are excellent candidates for producing strong lightweight composites. However, incorporation of GMS15 resulted in much lower specific strength values (only up to 13.64 kPa/kg m3) due to its thinner shell thickness and lower isostatic crushing strength value (2.07 MPa). Microstructural analyses further revealed that GMS38 and GMS15 were better suited for thermal insulating applications. However, higher weight fraction of the fillers in composites leads to increased porosity which might be detrimental to their strength development.