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
A simplified bilinear moment-curvature model are derived based on the moment-curvature response generated from a parameterized stress-strain response of strain softening and or strain-hardening material by Dr. Barzin Mobasher and Dr. Chote Soranakom. Closed form solutions are developed for deflection calculations of determinate beams subjected to usual loading patterns at

A simplified bilinear moment-curvature model are derived based on the moment-curvature response generated from a parameterized stress-strain response of strain softening and or strain-hardening material by Dr. Barzin Mobasher and Dr. Chote Soranakom. Closed form solutions are developed for deflection calculations of determinate beams subjected to usual loading patterns at any load stage. The solutions are based on a bilinear moment curvature response characterized by the flexural crack initiation and ultimate capacity based on a deflection hardening behavior. Closed form equations for deflection calculation are presented for simply supported beams under three point bending, four point bending, uniform load, concentrated moment at the middle, pure bending, and for cantilever beam under a point load at the end, a point load with an arbitrary distance from the fixed end, and uniform load. These expressions are derived for pre-cracked and post cracked regions. A parametric study is conducted to examine the effects of moment and curvature at the ultimate stage to moment and curvature at the first crack ratios on the deflection. The effectiveness of the simplified closed form solution is demonstrated by comparing the analytical load deflection response and the experimental results for three point and four point bending. The simplified bilinear moment-curvature model is modified by imposing the deflection softening behavior so that it can be widely implemented in the analysis of 2-D panels. The derivations of elastic solutions and yield line approach of 2-D panels are presented. Effectiveness of the proposed moment-curvature model with various types of panels is verified by comparing the simulated data with the experimental data of panel test.
ContributorsWang, Xinmeng (Author) / Mobasher, Barzin (Thesis advisor) / Rajan, Subramaniam D. (Committee member) / Neithalath, Narayanan (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
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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