This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.

In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.

Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at gradformat@asu.edu.

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Description
The main objective of this study is to investigate drying properties and plastic shrinkage cracking resistance of fresh cement-based pastes reinforced with fibers and textiles. Naturally occurring mineral wollastonite has been studied independently as well as in combination with AR-glass textile. A series of blended mixes with Portland cement and

The main objective of this study is to investigate drying properties and plastic shrinkage cracking resistance of fresh cement-based pastes reinforced with fibers and textiles. Naturally occurring mineral wollastonite has been studied independently as well as in combination with AR-glass textile. A series of blended mixes with Portland cement and wollastonite nano-fibers were developed and tested under low vacuum conditions to simulate severe evaporation conditions and expedite the drying process causing plastic shrinkage cracks. Cumulative moisture loss, evaporation rates, and diffusivity were analyzed by means of a 2-stage diffusion simulation approach, developed previously in Arizona State University. Effect of fiber-matrix interaction on the transport properties of the composite were evaluated using the existing approach. Morphology of the cracked surface was investigated by the means of image analysis wherein length, width, area and density of the cracks were computed to help characterize the contribution of fiber and textile in the cracking phenomenon. Additionally, correlation between cumulative moisture loss and crack propagation was attempted. The testing procedures and associated analytical methods were applied to evaluate effectiveness of four wollastonite fiber sizes and also a hybrid reinforcement system with alkali-resistant glass (ARG) textile in improving shrinkage cracking related parameters. Furthermore, the experimental and analytical approach was extended to magnified version of the existing shrinkage testing set-up to study the size effect of these composites when subjected to matching drying conditions. Different restraining mechanisms were used to study the simulation of the cracking phenomena on a larger specimen. Paste and mortar formulations were developed to investigate size effect on shrinkage resistance of cementitious composites.
ContributorsKachala, Robert (Author) / Mobasher, Barzin (Thesis advisor) / Dharmarajan, Subramaniam (Committee member) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2014
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Description
Composite materials are finally providing uses hitherto reserved for metals in structural systems applications – airframes and engine containment systems, wraps for repair and rehabilitation, and ballistic/blast mitigation systems. They have high strength-to-weight ratios, are durable and resistant to environmental effects, have high impact strength, and can be manufactured in

Composite materials are finally providing uses hitherto reserved for metals in structural systems applications – airframes and engine containment systems, wraps for repair and rehabilitation, and ballistic/blast mitigation systems. They have high strength-to-weight ratios, are durable and resistant to environmental effects, have high impact strength, and can be manufactured in a variety of shapes. Generalized constitutive models are being developed to accurately model composite systems so they can be used in implicit and explicit finite element analysis. These models require extensive characterization of the composite material as input. The particular constitutive model of interest for this research is a three-dimensional orthotropic elasto-plastic composite material model that requires a total of 12 experimental stress-strain curves, yield stresses, and Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s ratio in the material directions as input. Sometimes it is not possible to carry out reliable experimental tests needed to characterize the composite material. One solution is using virtual testing to fill the gaps in available experimental data. A Virtual Testing Software System (VTSS) has been developed to address the need for a less restrictive method to characterize a three-dimensional orthotropic composite material. The system takes in the material properties of the constituents and completes all 12 of the necessary characterization tests using finite element (FE) models. Verification and validation test cases demonstrate the capabilities of the VTSS.
ContributorsHarrington, Joseph (Author) / Rajan, Subramaniam D. (Thesis advisor) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Committee member) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
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Description
Pultrusion manufacturing technique stands at the forefront for efficient production of continuous, uniform concrete composites for use in large scale structural applications. High volume and low labor, among other benefits such as improved impregnation and better sample consistency, stand as some of the crucial advances found in automated pultrusion. These

Pultrusion manufacturing technique stands at the forefront for efficient production of continuous, uniform concrete composites for use in large scale structural applications. High volume and low labor, among other benefits such as improved impregnation and better sample consistency, stand as some of the crucial advances found in automated pultrusion. These advantages introduce textile reinforced concrete (TRC) composites as a potential surrogate for wood, light gauge steel, and other common structural materials into an ever changing and broadening market of industrial grade structural sections. With the potential modifications of textile geometry, textile type, section geometry, and connection type, the options presented by TRC sections seem nearly boundless. Automated pultrusion presents the ability to manufacture many different TRC composite types in at a quickened rate opening up a new field of study of structural materials.

The objective of this study centered on two studies including the development of an automated pultrusion system for the manufacturing of TRC composites and ultimately the assessment of composites created with the pultrusion technique and their viability as a relevant structural construction material. Upon planning, fabrication, and continued use of an automated pultrusion system in Arizona State University’s Structures Lab, an initial, comparative study of polypropylene microfiber composites was conducted to assess fiber reinforced concrete composites, manufactured with Filament Winding Technique, and textile reinforced concrete composites, manufactured with Automated Pultrusion Technique, in tensile and flexural mechanical response at similar reinforcement dosages. A secondary study was then conducted to measure the mechanical behavior of carbon, polypropylene, and alkali-resistant glass TRC composites and explore the response of full scale TRC structural shapes, including angle and channel sections. Finally, a study was conducted on the connection type for large scale TRC composite structural sections in tension and compression testing.
ContributorsBauchmoyer, Jacob Macgregor (Author) / Mobasher, Barzin (Thesis advisor) / Rajan, Subramaniam D. (Committee member) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
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Description
The concept of Creep is a term used to define the tendency of stressed materials to develop an increasing strain through time under a sustained load, thus having an increase in deflection or having an elongation with time in relation to the short term strain. While the subject of compression

The concept of Creep is a term used to define the tendency of stressed materials to develop an increasing strain through time under a sustained load, thus having an increase in deflection or having an elongation with time in relation to the short term strain. While the subject of compression creep of concrete is well developed, use of concrete under tension loads has been limited at best due to brittleness of concrete. However with the advent of using fiber reinforced concrete, more and more applications where concrete is expected to carry tensile loads due to incorporation of fibers is gaining popularity. While the creep behavior of concrete in tension is important, the main case of the study is what happened when the concrete that is cracked in service is subjected to sustained loads causing creep. The relationship of opening cracks under these conditions are of utmost importance especially when the serviceability criteria is addressed. Little work has been reported in literature on the long-term behavior of FRC under sustained flexural loadings. The main objective of this study is to investigate the Long Term Flexural Behavior of Pre-Cracked Fiber Reinforced Beams under Sustained Loads. The experimental reports document the effect of loading and temperature on the creep characteristics of concrete. A variety of study has been carried out for the different responses generated by the creep tests based on factors like effect of temperature and humidity, effect of fiber content, effect of fiber type, and effect of different loading levels.

The Creep Testing Experimental Methodology is divided into three main parts which includes: (1) The Pre-cracking Partial Fracture Test; (2) Creep Test; (3) Post Creep Full Fracture Test. The magnitude of load applied to a specific specimen during creep testing was based on the results of average residual strength (ARS) tests, determined using EN14651. Specimens of the synthetic FRC mixture were creep tested at loads nominally equivalent to 30% and 50% of the FR1 value. The creep tests are usually continued until a steady Time versus CMOD response was obtained for the specimen signifying its presence in the secondary stage of creep. The creep recovery response is generated after unloading the specimen from the creep set up and later a full fracture test is carried out to obtain the complete post creep response of the beam under flexure.

The behavior of the Creep Coefficient versus Time response has been studied using various existing models like the ACI 209-R 92 Model and the CEB-FIP Model. Basic and hybrid rheological viscoelastic models have also been used in order to generate the material behavior response. A study has been developed in order to understand the applicability of various viscoelastic models for obtaining the material response of real materials. An analytical model for predicting the Flexural Behavior of FRC under sustained creep loads is presented at the end. This model helps generate the stress strain and Moment Curvature response of FRC beams when subjected to creep loads post initial cracking
ContributorsGohel, Megha Rajendrakumar (Author) / Mobasher, Barzin (Thesis advisor) / Dharmarajan, Subramaniam (Committee member) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017