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Composites are materials that are widely used in industry, including yachting, railway and aviation. The properties of these materials can be modified by changing the type of reinforcement, the type of matrix, as well as the use of additives in the form of fillers and nanofillers that improve their mechanical or specific parameters. Due to the fact that these materials are often used for important structures, computational models using FEM tools may not be sufficient to determine the actual strength parameters, and what is more, to check them during operation. When designing structures made of composite materials, it is necessary to use high safety factors due to their behavior under several different types of loads, which is still difficult to determine precisely. This situation makes these structures much heavier and characterized by much higher strength properties than those that would actually be needed. In this article, the Kolmogorov-Sinai (K-S) metric entropy was used to determine the transition from the elastic to the viscoelastic state in GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) composite materials without and with the addition of nanoaluminum, during a static tensile test. Additionally, the acoustic emission method was used during the research. This signal was further processed, and graphs were made of the number of events and the amplitude as a function of time. The obtained values were plotted on tensile graphs. The influence of the nano-filler on these parameters was also analyzed. The presented results show that it is possible to determine additional parameters affecting the strength of the structure for any composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for recycling methods of composite materials indicated the possibility of using composites with polyester-glass recyclate as structural elements. The main aim of the article was to analyse the influence of the graphite percentage content on the mechanical and structural properties of such composites. Composite materials were made by hand laminating with 10% polyester-glass recyclate and graphite nano-additive. Samples for the static tensile test were prepared, which was carried out in accordance with the applicable standard on a universal testing machine. The obtained results showed that with the increase in the amount of graphite, the properties of the composite decrease; however, disproportionately to the % of its content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to their excellent strength and durability, composite materials are used to manufacture many important structural elements. In the face of their extensive use, it is crucial to seek suitable methods for monitoring damages and locating their origins. The purpose of the article was to verify the possibility of applying the acoustic emissions (AE) method in the detection of damages in the structures of composite materials. The experimental part comprised static tensile tests carried out on various sandwich composites, including simultaneous registration of elastic waves with increasing loads, carried out with the use of an acousticelectrical sensor connected. The signal obtained from the sensor was then further processed and used to draw up diagrams of the AE hits, amplitude, root mean square of the AE source signal (RMS) and duration in the function of time. These diagrams were then applied on their corresponding stretching curves, the obtained charts were analysed. The results obtained point to a conclusion that the acoustic emissions method can be successfully used to detect and locate composite material damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the technologies of recycling polyester–glass waste and the influence of manufacturing technology on the properties of layered composites with polyester–glass recyclate additive. Milled polyester–glass waste was used as the recyclate. Polyester–glass composites with a specific content of recyclate were manufactured by means of manual laminating and vacuum bagging. The influence of the recyclate content and manufacturing method on the mechanical properties of composites was determined with the aid of specimens exposed to static tensile testing. Test results indicated that the composite without recyclate additive manufactured by means of vacuum bagging exhibits higher strength properties than the same composite manufactured by means of manual laminating. Additionally, its plasticity is much higher than that of the composite manufactured by means of manual laminating. The tests indicated that the tensile properties of the composite are, essentially, influenced by the content of recyclate (apart from the manufacturing method). Adding recyclate to the manufactured composite in the amount of 10% and 20% causes a significant decrease in its tensile properties in relation to the composite without the recyclate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attractive characteristics of polyester-glass composites have led to their use in many industries, but using them as structural elements requires knowing their mechanical properties. This paper presents processing methods of polyester and glass scrap and their use in the production of new composites. This scrap, called the recyclate, was pre-crushed, ground, and then passed through sieves to obtain the desired fractions. Composite materials with added recyclate were made by hand lamination. Composites were made and then used to conduct appropriate tests to determine the degree of cure of the resin, and to determine the effect of the polyester-glass recyclate content on the hardness of composites. For this purpose, rectangular panels with a thickness of g = 8 mm were produced by manual lamination. Each plate contained 0% glass mat, 10% resin, and 20% recyclate with granulation = 1.2 mm and = 3 mm. Then, test samples were formed from each plate. Hardness measurements were performed using the ball-pressing method. In addition, structural studies were carried out to determine the correlation between the structural and mechanical properties of the discussed materials. The obtained test results showed that the recyclate content and its granulation clearly affected the mechanical properties of the tested composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the problem of plastic recycling, and in particular waste polyester-glass, has been described. In brief, the technology for the production of new composite materials by hand, made by the contact method, using the matrix filling in the form of polyester-glass waste coming from worn-out laminates used in the construction of ship hulls. The waste used was a powdered mixture of resin particles, glass fibers, and composite particle agglomerates. A method for producing composite panels with a recyclate content of between 10% and 30% was carried out. The samples were then manufactured according to the requirements of the standard, i.e. PN-EN ISO 527-4_2000P. Samples obtained from the test plates were subjected to a static stretch test, to verify the impact of the integrated wastes on the mechanical properties of the composite. Photographs of the structure of the obtained material have also been presented. These photos showed significant differences in the composition of the resulting composites determined by the amount of waste material used. Analysis of the results indicated that increasing the amount of recyclate reduces the value of the material's strength limit and also reduces the plasticity of the material. This article has provided an introduction to more comprehensive research on the recycling of plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article attempts to assess the possibility of using rubber recyclate as a component of composite materials. Research is being carried out to develop a technology for the production of composite materials with the addition of rubber waste. These tests are aimed at increasing the reliability and safety of the operation of structures exposed to longterm impact of devices generating vibrations. At the same time, work is underway on the use of complex composite surfaces as sound-absorbing elements. The new direction of using recyclates will have a positive impact on the management of environmentally harmful waste, taking into account a favorable economic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite materials are used in many industries. They are construction materials that are being used more and more often, which makes it necessary to accurately identify the process of their destruction. Recent decades have resulted in an intensive increase in diagnostic tests of structures and mechanical elements. Non-destructive testing (NDT) represents a group of test methods (surface and volumetric) that provide information about the properties of the tested element without changing its structure. The method of acoustic emission (AE) is also being used more frequently. Thanks to the ability to detect and locate signal sources, as well as to perform tests during operation, it is a method that is increasingly used in industry. In this article, the acoustic emission was used to analyze the changes occurring in composite materials. Obtained parameters helped to determine the signals originating from fibre delamination, fibre cracking, etc., as well as the starting point of these changes and the stress values at which these changes occurred. The analysis of acoustic emission signals recorded during the tests helped to determine the values of amplitudes characteristic for the destruction mechanisms of considered composite materials. Signals with an amplitude in the range of 30–41 dB may indicate elastic–plastic deformation of the matrix. Signals with an amplitude in the range of 42–50 dB indicate matrix cracks with the accompanying phenomenon of fibre delamination. Signals with amplitudes greater than 50 dB indicate fibre breakage. Based on the test results, the permissible stress was determined; when exceeded, the mechanisms of damage to the structure of composite materials accumulate. This stress limit for the tested material is 70 MPa. The use of the acoustic emission method in mechanical tests may contribute to a greater knowledge of composite materials used as a construction material, as well as determine the stresses allowable for a given structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batychron is a flexible underwater bell patented by the Gdynia Maritime University as a device used in hydro-technics engineering for underwater transport and diving while maintaining the safety of human life. This study aims to present the methods and results of strength tests and the conducted analysis of the selection of the most appropriate method of joining thermoplastic polyurethane film (TPU) and polypropylene belts for underwater use to obtain a device with a specific buoyancy force. A universal testing machine with a hydraulic drive was used for the tests. Various methods of joining polypropylene belts were tested to select the most favourable in terms of strength properties. For this purpose, two types of materials were selected: the TE324 polyester belt and the TS501_50 style belt. Various connection methods have been used: without seams; zig-zag stitch, straight cross; cross stitch, straight longitudinal; cross stitch, straight transverse, in order to select a joint with the highest strength parameters. In addition, the tensile strength of individual types of belts was tested. The methods of joining the TPU film were verified. The obtained results allowed us to determine that the strongest bond of TE324 material is a straight, longitudinal cross stitch. This is related to the load distribution in the belts tested in laboratory conditions, but also reflected in their practical application. Thanks to the results obtained, it was possible to select the optimal methods of joining (connection) and the construction of Batychron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer composites are materials that are used in many industries. Their wide application has a direct impact on the amount of post-production and post-consumer waste. The global problem with recycling, especially of fiber-reinforced polymeric materials, has prompted research into methods of their use. Previous research on composite materials with polyester–glass recyclate showed a decrease in mechanical properties. The construction material should have the highest mechanical properties. Based on the literature, it was found that the use of nanoadditives may have a positive effect on the parameters of the materials. The use of gamma aluminum nanopowder, in a small amount can significantly increase the mechanical properties of composites with polyester–glass recyclate, and thus can affect the application of these materials to structural elements. The article is devoted to the research on the hardness of composite materials with polyester–glass recyclate and gamma aluminum nanopowder. The main goal is to investigate the possibility of using a nanoadditive as a material, increasing the mechanical properties of composites with polyester–glass recyclate, so as to create a recycled material with the highest possible strength parameters. Hardness tests were performed using the Barcol method. For each composite material, 30 measurements were made in order to subject the results to a statistical analysis. Using parametric statistical tests it was shown that the obtained hardness values at the assumed level of statistical significance pv = 0.05 for comparisons for the samples of the reference material (B0) do not differ by chance, while for the comparisons in the configurations of the reference material (B0) with the modified materials, (R10, A2, R10A2) they do not differ by accident. Studies have shown that the addition of 2% gamma aluminum nanopowder slightly lowers the hardness of a pure polyester–glass composite, but the same additive allows the hardness of composite materials to be increased with the addition of glass recyclate. This is of particular importance for the development of the optimal composition of polyester–glass composites with the addition of recyclate, which will have good strength properties and at the same time enable the reuse of composite waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the unique properties of polymer composites, these materials are used in many industries, including shipbuilding (hulls of boats, yachts, motorboats, cutters, ship and cooling doors, pontoons and floats, torpedo tubes and missiles, protective shields, antenna masts, radar shields, and antennas, etc.). Modern measurement methods and tools allow to determine the properties of the composite material, already during its design. The article presents the use of the method of acoustic emission and Kolmogorov-Sinai (K-S) metric entropy to determine the mechanical properties of composites. The tested materials were polyester-glass laminate without additives and with a 10% content of polyester-glass waste. The changes taking place in the composite material during loading were visualized using a piezoelectric sensor used in the acoustic emission method. Thanks to the analysis of the RMS parameter (root mean square of the acoustic emission signal), it is possible to determine the range of stresses at which significant changes occur in the material in terms of its use as a construction material. In the K-S entropy method, an important measuring tool is the extensometer, namely the displacement sensor built into it. The results obtained during the static tensile test with the use of an extensometer allow them to be used to calculate the K-S metric entropy. Many materials, including composite materials, do not have a yield point. In principle, there are no methods for determining the transition of a material from elastic to plastic phase. The authors showed that, with the use of a modern testing machine and very high-quality instrumentation to record measurement data using the Kolmogorov-Sinai (K-S) metric entropy method and the acoustic emission (AE) method, it is possible to determine the material transition from elastic to plastic phase. Determining the yield strength of composite materials is extremely important information when designing a structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research was to analyze the strength parameters of epoxy-glass sandwich composites with the addition of rubber recyclate. Material samples were subjected to a static tensile test performed on a universal testing machine in accordance with the current standard for fiber-reinforced composite materials. The test results showed that the addition of rubber recyclate increases the plastic parameters of the composite, which allows considering the use of the tested material for structures loaded with the vibration and noise scale. The use of rubber recyclate to modify the strength parameters of the composite allows to reduce the amount of rubber waste and ensures the durability of the new material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the possibility of applying the acoustic emission method (AE) and the Kolmogorov-Sinai (K-S) metric entropy phenomenon in determining the structural changes that take place within the EN AW 7020 aluminum alloy. The experimental part comprised of a static tensile test carried out on aluminum alloy samples, and the simultaneous recording of the acoustic signal generated inside the material. This signal was further processed and diagrams of the effective electrical signal value (RMS) as a function of time were drawn up. The diagrams obtained were applied on tensile curves. A record of measurements carried out was used to analyze the properties of the material, applying a method based on Kolmogorov-Sinai (K-S) metric entropy. For this purpose, a diagram of metric entropy as a function of time was developed for each sample and applied on the corresponding course of stretching. The results of studies applying the AE and the K-S metric entropy method show that K-S metric entropy can be used as a method to determine the yield point of the material where there are no pronounced yield points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Objectives: A surgical procedure is a serious interference in the homeostasis of the body. The coexistence of diabetes mellitus additionally causes many adverse changes, which may be intensified by the surgical trauma. The organism of a patient with diabetes does not cope as well with changes resulting from surgery as that of a patient without the disease. The most common postoperative complications are acute infections. Deaths usually occur in patients with late vascular complications of diabetes mellitus, patients with comorbidities, or patients undergoing emergency surgeries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and kind of perioperative complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. Material and methods: The study involved 40 patients with diabetes mellitus, who had been subjected to surgical treatment. The most numerous group was patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (90%). Patients' individual medical documentation from the 1st to the 12th day was analysed depending on the kind of surgical treatment. Results: 40 patients (60% females and 40% males) aged from 28 to 83 years (M = 56; SD = 13.9) took part in the study. The value of glycaemia in the study sample before the surgery was between 79 mg/dl and 248 mg/dl. After the surgery, the value of glycaemia was between 78 mg/dl and 246 mg/dl. Glycaemia exceeding 151 mg/dl was found in half of the patients. Conclusions: Hyperglycaemia, which occurred in 35% of the patients, was treated with intravenous administration of short-acting insulin. The doses of insulin were determined on the basis of glycaemia values in accordance with the recommendations of the PDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]