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An intelligent optimization technique has been presented to enhance the multiple structural performance of PA6-20CF carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plastic injection molding (PIM) products. This approach integrates a deep neural network (DNN), Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), collectively referred to as the DNN-GA-MCS strategy. The main objective is to ascertain complex process parameters while elucidating the intrinsic relationships between processing methods and material properties. To realize this, a numerical study on the PIM structural performance of an automotive front engine hood panel was conducted, considering fiber orientation tensor (FOT), warpage, and equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ). The mold temperature, melt temperature, packing pressure, packing time, injection time, cooling temperature, and cooling time were employed as design variables. Subsequently, multiple objective optimizations of the molding process parameters were employed by GA. The utilization of Z-score normalization metrics provided a robust framework for evaluating the comprehensive objective function. The numerical target response in PIM is extremely intricate, but the stability offered by the DNN-GA-MCS strategy ensures precision for accurate results. The enhancement effect of global and local multi-objectives on the molded polymer–metal hybrid (PMH) front hood panel was verified, and the numerical results showed that this strategy can quickly and accurately select the optimal process parameter settings. Compared with the training set mean value, the objectives were increased by 8.63%, 6.61%, and 9.75%, respectively. Compared to the full AA 5083 hood panel scenario, our design reduces weight by 16.67%, and achievements of 92.54%, 93.75%, and 106.85% were obtained in lateral, longitudinal, and torsional strain energy, respectively. In summary, our proposed methodology demonstrates considerable potential in improving the, highlighting its significant impact on the optimization of structural performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces an eco-friendly method for the reclamation of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP). The research project involved numerous experiments using microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) to explore a range of factors, such as the inert gas flow, the power level, the On/Off frequency of rotation, and the reaction duration. To design the experiments, the three-level Box–Behnken optimization tool was employed. To determine the individual and combined effects of the input parameters on the thermal decomposition of the resin, the data were analyzed using least-squares variance adjustment. The results demonstrate that the models developed in this study were successful in predicting the direct parameters of influence in the microwave-assisted decomposition of CFRPs. An optimal set of operating conditions was found to be the maximum nitrogen flow (2.9 L/min) and the maximum operating experimental power (914 W). In addition, it was observed that the reactor vessel's On/Off rotation frequency and that increasing the reaction time beyond 6 min had no significant influence on the resin elimination percentage when compared to the two other parameters, i.e., power and carrier gas flow rate. Consequently, the above-mentioned conditions resulted in a maximum resin elimination percentage of 79.6%. Following successful MAP, various post-pyrolysis treatments were employed. These included mechanical abrasion using quartz sand, chemical dissolution, thermal oxidative treatment using a microwave (MW) applicator and thermal oxidative treatment in a conventional furnace. Among these post-treatment techniques, thermal oxidation and chemical dissolution were found to be the most efficient methods, eliminating 100% of the carbon black content on the surface of the recovered carbon fibers. Finally, SEM evaluations and XPS analysis were conducted to compare the surface morphology and elementary constitution of the recovered carbon fibers with virgin carbon fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of non-metallic reinforcement can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector. Mixed structures made out of steel and non-metallic reinforcement should be avoided due to the risk of galvanic corrosion. So far, researchers have been focusing on the load-bearing behavior in the longitudinal direction of the fibers. In this study, the behavior of the fibers in the non-metallic reinforcements is analyzed perpendicular to the fiber orientation. Therefore, a uniaxial shear test on a single bar (uniaxial shear test), as well as a series of push-off tests with reinforcements embedded in the concrete, was carried out. For both experiments, bars made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) and glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRPs) were investigated. In order to analyze the influence of non-metallic reinforcement in the joint, specimens without reinforcement have been tested as well. Also, the joint roughness and reinforcement ratio of the concrete joint was varied in the tests. The determined transverse shear strengths for the single bar exceed the values of the producer. For the push-off test, high standard deviations occurred, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Nevertheless, it is shown that increasing the amount of reinforcement leads to higher ultimate forces. The presented study emphasizes the necessity of further studies of the shear transfer in concrete joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intelligent optimization technique has been presented to enhance the multiple structural performance of PA6-20CF carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plastic injection molding (PIM) products. This approach integrates a deep neural network (DNN), Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), collectively referred to as the DNN-GA-MCS strategy. The main objective is to ascertain complex process parameters while elucidating the intrinsic relationships between processing methods and material properties. To realize this, a numerical study on the PIM structural performance of an automotive front engine hood panel was conducted, considering fiber orientation tensor (FOT), warpage, and equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ). The mold temperature, melt temperature, packing pressure, packing time, injection time, cooling temperature, and cooling time were employed as design variables. Subsequently, multiple objective optimizations of the molding process parameters were employed by GA. The utilization of Z-score normalization metrics provided a robust framework for evaluating the comprehensive objective function. The numerical target response in PIM is extremely intricate, but the stability offered by the DNN-GA-MCS strategy ensures precision for accurate results. The enhancement effect of global and local multi-objectives on the molded polymer–metal hybrid (PMH) front hood panel was verified, and the numerical results showed that this strategy can quickly and accurately select the optimal process parameter settings. Compared with the training set mean value, the objectives were increased by 8.63%, 6.61%, and 9.75%, respectively. Compared to the full AA 5083 hood panel scenario, our design reduces weight by 16.67%, and achievements of 92.54%, 93.75%, and 106.85% were obtained in lateral, longitudinal, and torsional strain energy, respectively. In summary, our proposed methodology demonstrates considerable potential in improving the, highlighting its significant impact on the optimization of structural performance.

This article introduces an eco-friendly method for the reclamation of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP). The research project involved numerous experiments using microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) to explore a range of factors, such as the inert gas flow, the power level, the On/Off frequency of rotation, and the reaction duration. To design the experiments, the three-level Box–Behnken optimization tool was employed. To determine the individual and combined effects of the input parameters on the thermal decomposition of the resin, the data were analyzed using least-squares variance adjustment. The results demonstrate that the models developed in this study were successful in predicting the direct parameters of influence in the microwave-assisted decomposition of CFRPs. An optimal set of operating conditions was found to be the maximum nitrogen flow (2.9 L/min) and the maximum operating experimental power (914 W). In addition, it was observed that the reactor vessel’s On/Off rotation frequency and that increasing the reaction time beyond 6 min had no significant influence on the resin elimination percentage when compared to the two other parameters, i.e., power and carrier gas flow rate. Consequently, the above-mentioned conditions resulted in a maximum resin elimination percentage of 79.6%. Following successful MAP, various post-pyrolysis treatments were employed. These included mechanical abrasion using quartz sand, chemical dissolution, thermal oxidative treatment using a microwave (MW) applicator and thermal oxidative treatment in a conventional furnace. Among these post-treatment techniques, thermal oxidation and chemical dissolution were found to be the most efficient methods, eliminating 100% of the carbon black content on the surface of the recovered carbon fibers. Finally, SEM evaluations and XPS analysis were conducted to compare the surface morphology and elementary constitution of the recovered carbon fibers with virgin carbon fibers.

The use of non-metallic reinforcement can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector. Mixed structures made out of steel and non-metallic reinforcement should be avoided due to the risk of galvanic corrosion. So far, researchers have been focusing on the load-bearing behavior in the longitudinal direction of the fibers. In this study, the behavior of the fibers in the non-metallic reinforcements is analyzed perpendicular to the fiber orientation. Therefore, a uniaxial shear test on a single bar (uniaxial shear test), as well as a series of push-off tests with reinforcements embedded in the concrete, was carried out. For both experiments, bars made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) and glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRPs) were investigated. In order to analyze the influence of non-metallic reinforcement in the joint, specimens without reinforcement have been tested as well. Also, the joint roughness and reinforcement ratio of the concrete joint was varied in the tests. The determined transverse shear strengths for the single bar exceed the values of the producer. For the push-off test, high standard deviations occurred, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Nevertheless, it is shown that increasing the amount of reinforcement leads to higher ultimate forces. The presented study emphasizes the necessity of further studies of the shear transfer in concrete joints.

This paper experimentally studied the influence of the notch shape and size on the damage evolution and failure strength (tension and torsion) of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix (CFRP) laminates. Hashin's damage criteria were utilized to monitor the evolution of multi-damage modes, and FEM simulations were also performed by using the ABAQUS code to clarify the specific damage modes in detail as an instructive complement. The failure characteristics of all the notched samples were analyzed and compared with those without notches. The measured results presented that the existence of a variety of notches significantly impaired the load carrying capacity of CFRP laminates. The tensile strengths of C-notch and U-notch increase with an increasing notch radius, while the ultimate torques of C-notch and V-notch decrease with an increasing notch size and angle. The variation in notched properties was explained by different notch shapes and sizes, and the failure characteristics were also presented and compared among notched CFRP laminates with varied notches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper experimentally studied the influence of the notch shape and size on the damage evolution and failure strength (tension and torsion) of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy matrix (CFRP) laminates. Hashin’s damage criteria were utilized to monitor the evolution of multi-damage modes, and FEM simulations were also performed by using the ABAQUS code to clarify the specific damage modes in detail as an instructive complement. The failure characteristics of all the notched samples were analyzed and compared with those without notches. The measured results presented that the existence of a variety of notches significantly impaired the load carrying capacity of CFRP laminates. The tensile strengths of C-notch and U-notch increase with an increasing notch radius, while the ultimate torques of C-notch and V-notch decrease with an increasing notch size and angle. The variation in notched properties was explained by different notch shapes and sizes, and the failure characteristics were also presented and compared among notched CFRP laminates with varied notches.

For over fifty years since carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) were introduced to the automotive industry, enhancing their flame-retardant properties has been studied due to their vulnerability to fire. Coating is one method of flame-retardant enhancement, accomplished by modifying surface characteristic to achieve its goal. Phenolic resin-based coatings, as a candidate material, offer advantages such as good chemical compatibility and cost efficiency. However, to meet the necessary specifications for flame-retardant performance, a thick coating layer with higher brittleness is required. In this study, we developed an aramid felt-reinforced coating layer to address the limitations of phenolic coatings. The effectiveness of the flame-retardant coating was demonstrated through various tests, including limiting oxygen index (LOI), micro-combustion calorimetry, heat exposure test with cone shaped heater, and mechanical property tests including surface-burning test. Consequently, the aramid felt-reinforced phenolic coating exhibited superior flame-retardant enhancement using a cost-effective, easy-to-follow, and lightweight method, achieved with a relatively thin coating fabrication. • Felt-reinforced phenolic resin-coated CFRPs were introduced to enhance flame-retardant properties. • The randomly oriented fiber successfully prevented crack generation in the phenolic coating under burning conditions without increasing the coating layer thickness. • The LOI of the CFRP with 140 μm aramid felt-reinforced phenolic coating was 52.7 %, representing an 89 % increase compared to the CFRP without a coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in recent years for use in strengthening concrete structures bears witness to their efficiency and ease of use. A major issue in FRP strengthening designs, however, is the determination of the bond strength (ultimate load capacity) of the FRP strips, which is quite dependent on their debonding off the concrete substrate. Identification of the major parameters involved in the FRP–concrete bond capacity forms an important step toward its prediction. The parameters commonly considered in previous models include the geometric and mechanical properties of FRP sheets as well as the properties of both the concrete and the adhesive material used as determinants of bond strength. The present study, however, explores the additional parameter of cement-to-aggregate weight ratio for its effect on the failure plane. In the experimental phase of the study, a wide range of FRP strips is used in three different series of concrete specimens to investigate the failure plane in each. Based on the post-test conditions of the specimens, a novel method is adopted for the first time to measure the failure depth of the externally bonded reinforcement (EBR) strengthening technique. Accordingly, the depth of the failure plane is expressed as a function of the cement-to-aggregates weight ratio. In the second phase, an analytical model is developed that draws upon interfacial fracture energy and in which failure depth is introduced as one of the parameters involved in interfacial fracture energy. The unknown parameters of the new model are then derived based on 196 specimens (85% of the data set) from the experimental results of the present study and the extracted data from previous studies. Finally, the model is validated against three existing well-known ones using 35 random specimens (15% of the data set) of the database to show the satisfactory performance of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the adverse effects on the environment and economy and to avoid health problems caused by the excessively used cutting lubrications, cryogenic machining is drawing more and more attention. In this work, a novel cryogenic machining approach was applied for drilling of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs). According to this approach, CFRP was dipped into the liquid nitrogen (LN2) and it was machined within the cryogenic coolant directly. Various machinability characteristics on thrust force, delamination damage, tool wear, surface roughness, and topography were compared with those obtained with dry condition. This experimental study revealed that the novel method of machining with cryogenic dipping significantly reduced tool wear and surface roughness but increased thrust force. Overall results showed that the cryogenic machining approach in this study improved the machinability of CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beam-column joints (BCJs) in reinforced concrete (RC) structural systems are the critical regions, especially when they are subjected to high shear demands. According to earthquake reports and joint subassembly tests in the literature, mostly brittle failures were experienced due to inadequate design detailing. To avoid such failures, several strengthening techniques were developed for weak BCJ regions such as externally applied steel and RC jackets, and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. Experimental results revealed alleviation of these deficiencies and improved shear capacities of the strengthened joints. Shear capacity predictions of these retrofitted joint subassemblies for design purposes require analytical models. In this study, an analytical model and computation procedure was proposed to predict the lateral load capacities of the shear-critical joint subassemblies with or without carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wrapping technique. Several failure mechanisms such as shear failure in joint panel, crushing of concrete in the beam, yielding of the beam reinforcement, or rupture of CFRP wrapping were determined for each incremental lateral load level and most critical ultimate lateral load capacity was found. The predicted results were compared with the experimental results in Part I of this paper as well as other research in the literature, and they were in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures in Turkey built prior to 1999 have deficient design details due to their non-seismic design or construction flaws. In particular, the beam-column joints (BCJs) experience high shear forces during such events, mainly due to inadequate design detailing of transverse reinforcements as well as inadequate lap splicing. Severe damage or total collapse of structures often occurred. To enhance the performance of such deficient joint systems, several strengthening techniques such as reinforced concrete and steel jacketing, as well as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping, have been proposed. In this study, new shear strengthening techniques were developed using carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to retrofit these insufficient BCJs. The effectiveness of various CFRP wrapping methodologies was investigated experimentally. One control specimen was constructed according to provisions specified by the 1975 Turkish Building Design Code, whereas four other specimens were constructed with deficiencies observed in the practice. Moreover, three additional specimens were constructed to develop alternative shear strengthening techniques via CFRP wrapping. The quasi-static tests were carried out by applying constant axial load and reversed-cyclic lateral load at the top of the column. Comparative analysis of control and CFRP-strengthened specimens' results showed that significant improvements in the lateral load and the energy dissipation capacities were achieved by using the proposed CFRP-strengthening techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of the investigation dealing with enhancing the mechanical and functional properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers are presented in the paper. The scientific issue is relevant enough to the aerospace engineering where strength-to-density ratio is one of the most important properties providing sufficient strength and stiffness along with minimal weight, while electrical and heat conductivity are required for lightning strike protection and better efficiency of thermal deicing systems, respectively. In the present research, insufficient electric conductivity of CFRP is improved by adding single-wall carbon nanotubes. Measurement of electrical resistivity of modified composites as well as CNT-filled epoxy is taken. The results of mechanical testing demonstrate unchanged tensile strength, while flexural strength increases, which is attributed to higher interfacial shear strength of hybrid CFRP/CNT composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study to investigate the stiffness and strength enhancement in a structural steel channel section strengthened by six different carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wrapping configurations is described in this paper. An approach of transforming the singly symmetric open section such as a channel section to a closed section by CFRP wrapping as a means to increase the stiffness and strength is demonstrated. A total of 21 specimens, both CFRP reinforced and bare steel specimens, were tested in four-point bending. Two different CFRPs, unidirectional and bidirectional fabrics, were used in wrapping the specimen. While the unidirectional layers contribute to the stiffness and strength, the bidirectional layer primarily contributes to confining the former in addition to increasing the resistance to lateral torsional buckling (LTB) of the specimens. The results indicate that the CFRP-strengthened closed sections confined by bidirectional fabrics are effective in enhancing the strength and stiffness compared to CFRP skin-strengthened sections (perimeter of bare steel channel sections overlayed with CFRP). The effectiveness of the closed section can be further improved by increasing the unidirectional CFRP layers prior to the final wrapping by bidirectional fibers. The variation in stiffness for all the CFRP configurations from the initial loading of specimens up to the ultimate is also investigated. This paper demonstrates that the strength and stiffness of steel channel sections can be significantly enhanced by means of appropriate CFRP wrapping configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen reinforced concrete T-beams were tested to evaluate the shear performance of beams strengthened externally with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates and CFRP anchors. Monotonically increasing load was applied to the reinforced concrete members at three different shear span-depth ratios until shear failure. Other test variables included the amount of transverse steel, the layout and amount of CFRP laminates, bond between the CFRP laminates and the beam surface, and inclination of CFRP anchors. All specimens were 24 in. (610 mm) deep. Beams strengthened with anchored CFRP laminates showed a much larger shear strength increase than those strengthened with unanchored laminates. In all cases, CFRP anchors increased the contribution of the CFRP laminates to the shear capacity. Test results indicate that current design procedures for external CFRP shear strengthening should be modified to account for interactions between concrete, steel, and CFRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]