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The increasing use of polymer products in transportation and almost all sectors is a distinctive sign of the current decade. On-site repair of defects along the spatial path are important advantages of a portable welding and repair system. The current article presented an in-house developed pneumatically powered portable set-up and tool for defect repair based on friction stir welding (FSW). The suggested tool can be used for welding polymer products such as car bumpers, motorboats, and polymer vessels. Further, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer specimens were joined by FSW and friction stir spot welding (FSSW), and the maximum temperature was monitored. FSW process parameters: rotational speed and traversing velocity, and FSSW parameter: rotational speed and dwell time, were varied, and the design of experiment-based investigations was carried out. Response surface method (RSM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyse the results. The acceptable results were obtained for rotational speed of less than or equal to 1100 rpm and welding velocity lower than 6.5 mm/min (for FSW). Good quality welds were obtained for dwell time equal to or higher than 25 s (for FSSW). The preferred temperature for a good quality weld was found to be 105°C in both processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete RC is a versatile and durable building material widely used in construction. This study investigated the impact of PVC-coated steel wire mesh layers on the compressive strength of RC. Seven cube specimens (70 × 70×70 mm) with varying numbers of PVC-coated layers were tested after a 28-day curing period. Results showed that specimens with two layers of PVC coating exhibited the highest ultimate compression stress and breaking force, indicating a significant 38% increase in compressive strength compared to those without PVC coating. The findings suggest that PVC-coated steel wire mesh provides a sustainable and costeffective method for reinforcing RC structures. By mechanically enhancing these structures, their overall mechanical properties can be improved. This research highlights the potential of PVC-coated steel wire mesh as an effective reinforcement technique, offering practical solutions for strengthening concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]