The ageing of asphalt mixes, together with their exposure to low temperatures, causes a progressive increase of cracking. In this paper, the effect of ageing and temperature on the fatigue of asphalt concretes made with two types of binders, conventional (50/70) and polymer modified bitumen (PMB), is studied. For this purpose, specimens previously subjected to an accelerated laboratory ageing p...

This review covers recent advances and work on the microstructure features, mechanical properties and cracking processes of conducting polymer film/coating- substrate structures under different testing conditions. An attempt is made to characterize and quantify the relationships between mechanical properties and microstructure features. In addition, the film cracking mechanism on the micro scal...

Mineralized polymer composites (MPC) are recognized as potential fillers of bone defects. Though bioceramics exhibits quite a good bone-bonding and vascularization, it is considered to be too stiff and brittle for using alone. Thus, the use of polymer scaffold instead of bioceramics has several advantages including combining the osteoconductivity and bonebonding potential of the inorganic phase...

A new class of molecular actuators where bulk actuation mechanisms such as ion intercalation are enhanced by controllable single molecule conformational rearrangements offers great promise to exhibit large active strains at moderate stresses. Initial activation of poly(quarterthiophene) based molecular muscles, for example, show active strains in the order of 20%. Molecular rearrangements in th...

Resin transfer molding of an inorganic polymer binder was successfully demonstrated in the preparation of ceramic fiber reinforced engine exhaust valves. Unfortunately, in the preliminary processing trials, the resulting composite valves were too brittle for in-engine evaluation. To address this limited toughness, the effectiveness of a modified fiber-matrix interface is investigated through th...

Abrasive Jet Machining is an Unconventional machining process in which the metal is removed from brittle and hard material in the form of micro-chips. With increase in need of materials like ceramics, composites, in manufacturing of various Mechanical & Electronic components, AJM has become a useful technique for micro machining. The present study highlights the influence of different parameter...

This communication describes the development of graphene and graphene reinforced polyvinylester nanocomposites. Low concentration of graphene was incorporated in the polymer matrix with the help of two different solvents. The role of solvent in the nanocomposite was studied. The FTIR spectroscopy and electron microscopy have supported the presence of graphene in the nanocomposites. It was disco...

Here we report novel phase-separation behavior accompanying mechanical fracture ("fracture phase separation"), which is observed in polymer solutions. Surprisingly, mechanical fracture becomes a dominant coarsening process of the phase separation. The transition from viscoelastic to fracture phase separation corresponds to the "ductile-to-brittle transition" in fracture of materials under shear...

Experiments were carried out to study the effects of impingement angle and particle velocity on the solid particle erosion behavior of Bagasse Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites (BFRPCs). The erosive wear is evaluated at different impingement angles from 30° to 90° at four different velocities of 48, 70, 82 and 109 m/s. The erodent used is silica sand with the size range 150 – 250 m of irregul...

BASED on vast experience watching the fruit of my hard work fall apart time and again, I feel highly qualified to discuss the manner in which systems break. In particular, the goal of this paper is to define and analyze systems which exhibit brittle behavior. This behavior is characterized by a sudden and steep decline in performance as system state changes as shown by point D along curve Ph in...