1.0 Introduction It is now reasonably well established that reinforced concrete (RC) structural elements can be strengthened/retrofitted/repaired by bonding high-strength fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Such reasons include steel reinforcement corrosion, construction flaws, change in loading or structure usage, or damage from impact or seismic events. Traditional methods of repair ca...

Effective elastic properties for carbon nanotube reinforced composites are obtained through a variety of micromechanics techniques. An embedded carbon nanotube  in  a  polymer  matrix  and  its surrounding  interphase  is  replaced with an equivalent fiber for  predicting  the  mechanical  properties of  the  carbon  nanotube/polymer composite. The effects of an interphase layer between the nan...

The filler/matrix interface in fiber-reinforced polymer composites is critical in controlling load transfer from the matrix to the fiber, failure mechanisms, and degradation. It is not clear, however, how the mechanisms of load transfer in traditional composites apply to nanofiber-filled polymers. This paper is focused on understanding the reinforcement mechanisms in multiwalled carbon nanotube...

The mechanical properties of polymer composites, reinforced with silica-coated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), have been studied using the nanoindentation technique. The hardness and the Young's modulus have been found to increase strongly with the increasing content of these nanotubes in the polymer matrix. Similar experiments conducted on thin films containing MWNTs, but without a silica ...

A workshop on mechanical testing methodology for glass, glass-ceramic, and ceramic matrix composites was held at NIST on February 8,1990. The purpose of the workshop was to assess roomand elevated-temperature measurement techniques for whiskerand continuous-fiber reinforced ceramic composites and their constituents. Techniques being used for metaland polymer-matrix composites as well as those d...

effective elastic properties for carbon nanotube reinforced composites are obtained through a variety of micromechanics techniques. an embedded carbon nanotube  in  a  polymer  matrix  and  its surrounding  interphase  is  replaced with an equivalent fiber for  predicting  the  mechanical  properties of  the  carbon  nanotube/polymer composite. the effects of an interphase layer between the nan...

Increasing concern about global warming and depleting petroleum reserves have made scientists to focus more on the use of natural fibres such as bagasse, coir, sisal, jute etc. This has resulted in creation of more awareness about the use of natural fibres based materials mainly composites. In past decade there has been many efforts to develop composites to replace the petroleum and other non d...

The rising concern about environmental issues and the need to find a realistic alternative to glass or carbon-reinforced composites have led to an increased interest in polymer composites filled with natural-organic fibers, derived from renewable and biodegradable sources. The scope of this article is to raise awareness regarding the current scientific and technological knowledge on these so-ca...

Damage induced in polymer composites by various impacts must be evaluated to predict a component's post-impact strength and residual lifetime, especially when impacts occur in structures related to human safety (in aircraft, for example). X-ray tomography is the conventional standard to study an internal structure with high resolution. However, it is of little use when the impacted area cannot ...