Application of a n-Phase Model to the Diffusion Coefficient of Chloride in Mortar

The determination of the chloride diffusion coefficient of a concrete is needed to help the prediction of the service life of concrete structure. In this paper, we propose first a critical review of models for chloride diffusion coefficients already used in literature at different scales and then we develop an analytical model, which takes into account the characteristics of the different phases of concrete. These materials are treated as a three-phase composite, consisting of a cement continuous phase, of an aggregates dispersed phase and of an interface transition zone. Chloride diffusion coefficient using an n-layered inclusion-based micromechanical modeling is predicted. The details of calculations are summarized hereafter and experimental measurements obtained on mortars are compared with predicted results.     

A fictitious domain/mortar element method for fluid–structure interaction

A new method for the computational analysis of fluid–structure interaction of a Newtonian fluid with slender bodies is developed. It combines ideas of the fictitious domain and the mortar element method by imposing continuity of the velocity field along an interface by means of Lagrange multipliers. The key advantage of the method is that it circumvents the need for complicated mesh movement strategies common in arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) methods, usually used for this purpose. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Porcelain tile surface modification with isocyanate coupling agent: interactions between EVA modified mortar and silane improving adherence

Adhesion between tiles and mortar is of paramount importance to the overall stability of ceramic tile systems. The interfaces between ceramic tiles and polymer‐modified Portland cement mortar are derived from several physical and chemical phenomena that take place during their formation. From the chemical perspective, weak forces are expected to occur preferably at the tiles and polymer‐modified Portland cement mortar interfaces. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to promote a new chemical functionalization of ceramic tile surfaces by modifying with isocyanate‐trialkoxysilane coupling agent in order to enhance the interfacial adhesion with poly (ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate), EVA, polymer‐modified mortar. Pull‐off tests and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), using the Attenuated Total Reflectance method, were carried out in order to characterize the system. The bond strength results have provided evidence toward improvements in adherence at the tile–polymer modified mortar interface, thus reflecting the development of urethane linkages between silane and EVA polymer, as detected by FTIR. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CASCADIC MULTIGRID METHODS FOR MORTAR WILSON FINITE ELEMENT METHODS ON PLANAR LINEAR ELASTICITY

Cascadic multigrid technique for mortar Wilson finite element method of homogeneous boundary value planar linear elasticity is described and analyzed. First the mortar Wilson finite element method for planar linear elasticity will be analyzed, and the error estimate under L2 and H1 norm is optimal. Then a cascadic multigrid method for the mortar finite element discrete problem is described. Suitable grid transfer operator and smoother are developed which lead to an optimal cascadic multigrid method. Finally, the computational results are presented.     

钢筋网水泥砂浆加固砖墙中关于拉结筋的试验研究

本文通过对拉结筋的试验研究，得到拉结筋的设置与否对于钢筋网水泥砂面层加固砖墙的承载力无影响的结论，因此，可采用扒钉或４寸钉子代替Ｓ形拉结筋以固定钢筋网于墙上，达到省工，省线的良好经济效果，在砖房加固工程中具有重要的实用意义。     

Experimental investigations of the joint-mortar behaviour

An important failure mode of the masonry walls is the shearing process in joint mortar. In order to understand better this phenomenon, an experimental study is carried out on half brick couplet specimen. Load/Unload shear tests are performed to assess the type of the shear behaviour of the joint mortar. The cohesion and the internal friction angle are then derived from linear regression while assuming Mohr–Coulomb criterion. In particular, the influence of holes on the joint behaviour is studied by comparing results obtained with both solid and hollow bricks. In both cases, the experimental results show that there is not any stiffness degradation even in the softening regime. Actually, the shear modulus remains constant. Hence, the joint behaviour is considered to be elastoplastic, independently on the brick type. However, it seems that the presence of holes increases the stiffness but does not affect the internal friction angle of the joint mortar.     

Influence of limestone fillers on combustion characteristics of asphalt mortar for pavements

Asphalt materials will be ignited and release significant toxic fumes within tunnel fires. Thus, combustion character- istics of asphalt materials used in road tunnel should be studied in order to limit such an adverse effect. In the present work we study the influence of limestone fillers on combustion characteristics of asphalt mortar by thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis. It is shown that the combustion of asphalt mortar is not just a linear superposition of asphalt and limestone. The limestone will increase the ignition point and the activation energy of the primary volatile release, and will catalyze the char formation from the primary volatile release. Kinetic analysis shows that the primary volatile release stage of asphalt mortar combustion can be explained by a three-dimensional diffusion model, the secondary volatile release and char combustion stage can be explained by a model under the assumption of random nucleation and nuclei growth, whereas the limestone decomposition stage appears to follow the one-dimensional phase boundary model.     

A Neumann–Neumann algorithm for a mortar finite element discretization of fourth‐order elliptic problems in 2D

Here we present and analyze a Neumann–Neumann algorithm for the mortar finite element discretization of elliptic fourth‐order problems with discontinuous coefficients. The fully parallel algorithm is analyzed using the abstract Schwarz framework, proving a convergence which is independent of the parameters of the problem, and depends only logarithmically on the ratio between the subdomain size and the mesh size.© 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2009     

The use of tg to measure different concentrations of lime in non-hydraulic lime mortars

A high speed method of thermal analysis was developed to allow the carbonation profile of lime mortars to be followed within a convenient time-frame. The loss in mass on heating, up to 700°C, of lime/sand mixtures of different proportions was related to the known quantity of lime in each mixture. It was shown that a heating rate of 50°C min^–1 produced data which had a very high correlation with known quantities of Ca(OH)₂. Thismethod can be used to measure the extent of carbonation at varying depths through a limemortar. This can be repeated at intervals to give an insight into the shape and extent of the carbonation front as it develops over time.     

The calcination of limestone — Studies on the past, the presence and the future of a crucial industrial process

The calcination of limestone is one of the oldest technical processes and it is still of actual interest. Very early calcitic mortars from Turkey have been investigated and compared with materials of other early civilisations i.e. with Egyptian mortars containing gypsum as well as medieval dolomite-based mortars from alpine regions. Contemporary calcination procedures, in particular the cement production, range among the most important global industrial processes causing non neglectable environmental problems. Sustainable, solar energy assisted calcination technologies and the conversion of product CO₂ into useful commodities are discussed.The authors like to thank Prof. K. von Salis Perch-Nielson, Institute of Geology, ETH Zürich, for assistance in sedimentological investigations.