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
Early-age cracks in fresh concrete occur mainly due to high rate of surface evaporation and restraint offered by the contracting solid phase. Available test methods that simulate severe drying conditions, however, were not originally designed to focus on evaporation and transport characteristics of the liquid-gas phases in a hydrating cementitious

Early-age cracks in fresh concrete occur mainly due to high rate of surface evaporation and restraint offered by the contracting solid phase. Available test methods that simulate severe drying conditions, however, were not originally designed to focus on evaporation and transport characteristics of the liquid-gas phases in a hydrating cementitious microstructure. Therefore, these tests lack accurate measurement of the drying rate and data interpretation based on the principles of transport properties is limited. A vacuum-based test method capable of simulating early-age cracks in 2-D cement paste is developed which continuously monitors the weight loss and changes to the surface characteristics. 2-D crack evolution is documented using time-lapse photography. Effects of sample size, w/c ratio, initial curing and fiber content are studied. In the subsequent analysis, the cement paste phase is considered as a porous medium and moisture transport is described based on surface mass transfer and internal moisture transport characteristics. Results indicate that drying occurs in two stages: constant drying rate period (stage I), followed by a falling drying rate period (stage II). Vapor diffusion in stage I and unsaturated flow within porous medium in stage II determine the overall rate of evaporation. The mass loss results are analyzed using diffusion-based models. Results show that moisture diffusivity in stage I is higher than its value in stage II by more than one order of magnitude. The drying model is used in conjunction with a shrinkage model to predict the development of capillary pressures. Similar approach is implemented in drying restrained ring specimens to predict 1-D crack width development. An analytical approach relates diffusion, shrinkage, creep, tensile and fracture properties to interpret the experimental data. Evaporation potential is introduced based on the boundary layer concept, mass transfer, and a driving force consisting of the concentration gradient. Effect of wind velocity is reflected on Reynolds number which affects the boundary layer on sample surface. This parameter along with Schmidt and Sherwood numbers are used for prediction of mass transfer coefficient. Concentration gradient is shown to be a strong function of temperature and relative humidity and used to predict the evaporation potential. Results of modeling efforts are compared with a variety of test results reported in the literature. Diffusivity data and results of 1-D and 2-D image analyses indicate significant effects of fibers on controlling early-age cracks. Presented models are capable of predicting evaporation rates and moisture flow through hydrating cement-based materials during early-age drying and shrinkage conditions.
ContributorsBakhshi, Mehdi (Author) / Mobasher, Barzin (Thesis advisor) / Rajan, Subramaniam D. (Committee member) / Zapata, Claudia E. (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2011
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Description
High-temperature mechanical behaviors of metal alloys and underlying microstructural variations responsible for such behaviors are essential areas of interest for many industries, particularly for applications such as jet engines. Anisotropic grain structures, change of preferred grain orientation, and other transformations of grains occur both during metal powder bed fusion additive

High-temperature mechanical behaviors of metal alloys and underlying microstructural variations responsible for such behaviors are essential areas of interest for many industries, particularly for applications such as jet engines. Anisotropic grain structures, change of preferred grain orientation, and other transformations of grains occur both during metal powder bed fusion additive manufacturing processes, due to variation of thermal gradient and cooling rates, and afterward during different thermomechanical loads, which parts experience in their specific applications, could also impact its mechanical properties both at room and high temperatures. In this study, an in-depth analysis of how different microstructural features, such as crystallographic texture, grain size, grain boundary misorientation angles, and inherent defects, as byproducts of electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) AM process, impact its anisotropic mechanical behaviors and softening behaviors due to interacting mechanisms. Mechanical testing is conducted for EB-PBF Ti6Al4V parts made at different build orientations up to 600°C temperature. Microstructural analysis using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) is conducted on samples before and after mechanical testing to understand the interacting impact that temperature and mechanical load have on the activation of certain mechanisms. The vertical samples showed larger grain sizes, with an average of 6.6 µm, a lower average misorientation angle, and subsequently lower strength values than the other two horizontal samples. Among the three strong preferred grain orientations of the α phases, <1 1 2 ̅ 1> and <1 1 2 ̅ 0> were dominant in horizontally built samples, whereas the <0 0 0 1> was dominant in vertically built samples. Thus, strong microstructural variation, as observed among different EB-PBF Ti6Al4V samples, mainly resulted in anisotropic behaviors. Furthermore, alpha grain showed a significant increase in average grain size for all samples with the increasing test temperature, especially from 400°C to 600°C, indicating grain growth and coarsening as potential softening mechanisms along with temperature-induced possible dislocation motion. The severity of internal and external defects on fatigue strength has been evaluated non-destructively using quantitative methods, i.e., Murakami’s square root of area parameter model and Basquin’s model, and the external surface defects were rendered to be more critical as potential crack initiation sites.
ContributorsMian, Md Jamal (Author) / Ladani, Leila (Thesis advisor) / Razmi, Jafar (Committee member) / Shuaib, Abdelrahman (Committee member) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Nian, Qiong (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2022
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Description
Concrete develops strength rapidly after mixing and is highly influenced by temperature and curing process. The material characteristics and the rate of property development, along with the exposure conditions influences volume change mechanisms in concrete, and the cracking propensity of the mixtures. Furthermore, the structure geometry (due to restraint as

Concrete develops strength rapidly after mixing and is highly influenced by temperature and curing process. The material characteristics and the rate of property development, along with the exposure conditions influences volume change mechanisms in concrete, and the cracking propensity of the mixtures. Furthermore, the structure geometry (due to restraint as well as the surface area-to-volume ratio) also influences shrinkage and cracking. Thus, goal of this research is to better understand and predict shrinkage cracking in concrete slab systems under different curing conditions. In this research, different concrete mixtures are evaluated on their propensity to shrink based on free shrinkage and restrained shrinkage tests.Furthermore, from the data obtained from restrained ring test, a casted slab is measured for shrinkage. Effects of different orientation of restraints are studied and compared to better understand the shrinking behavior of the concrete mixtures. The results show that the maximum shrinkage is near the edges of the slab and decreases towards the center. Shrinkage near the edges with no restraint is found out to be more than the shrinkage towards the edges with restraining effects.
ContributorsNimbalkar, Atharwa Samir (Author) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Thesis advisor) / Mobasher, Barzin (Thesis advisor) / Rajan, Subramaniam (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
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Description
This dissertation aims at developing novel materials and processing routes using alkali activated aluminosilicate binders for porous (lightweight) geopolymer matrices and 3D-printing concrete applications. The major research objectives are executed in different stages. Stage 1 includes developing synthesis routes, microstructural characterization, and performance characterization of a family of economical, multifunctional

This dissertation aims at developing novel materials and processing routes using alkali activated aluminosilicate binders for porous (lightweight) geopolymer matrices and 3D-printing concrete applications. The major research objectives are executed in different stages. Stage 1 includes developing synthesis routes, microstructural characterization, and performance characterization of a family of economical, multifunctional porous ceramics developed through geopolymerization of an abundant volcanic tuff (aluminosilicate mineral) as the primary source material. Metakaolin, silica fume, alumina powder, and pure silicon powder are also used as additional ingredients when necessary and activated by potassium-based alkaline agents. In Stage 2, a processing route was developed to synthesize lightweight geopolymer matrices from fly ash through carbonate-based activation. Sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) was used in this study to produce controlled pores through the release of CO2 during the low-temperature decomposition of Na2CO3. Stage 3 focuses on 3D printing of binders using geopolymeric binders along with several OPC-based 3D printable binders. In Stage 4, synthesis and characterization of 3D-printable foamed fly ash-based geopolymer matrices for thermal insulation is the focus. A surfactant-based foaming process, multi-step mixing that ensures foam jamming transition and thus a dry foam, and microstructural packing to ensure adequate skeletal density are implemented to develop foamed suspensions amenable to 3D-printing. The last stage of this research develops 3D-printable alkali-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag mixture. Slag is used as the source of aluminosilicate and shows excellent mechanical properties when activated by highly alkaline activator (NaOH + sodium silicate solution). However, alkali activated slag sets and hardens rapidly which is undesirable for 3D printing. Thus, a novel mixing procedure is developed to significantly extend the setting time of slag activated with an alkaline activator to suit 3D printing applications without the use of any retarding admixtures. This dissertation, thus advances the field of sustainable and 3D-printable matrices and opens up a new avenue for faster and economical construction using specialized materials.
ContributorsAlghamdi, Hussam Suhail G (Author) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Thesis advisor) / Rajan, Subramaniam D. (Committee member) / Mobasher, Barzin (Committee member) / Abbaszadegan, Morteza (Committee member) / Bhate, Dhruv (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019