We have established the cohesive law for interfaces between a carbon nanotube (CNT) and polymer that are not well bonded and are characterized by the van der Waals force. The tensile cohesive strength and cohesive energy are given in terms of the area density of carbon nanotube and volume density of polymer, as well as the parameters in the van der Waals force. For a CNT in an infinite polymer,...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of plasma treatment on adhesion between fiber-reinforced posts and a composite core material. Two types of posts, methacrylate-based (FRC Postec) and epoxy resin-based (DT Light-Post), were treated with oxygen plasma (O(2)), argon plasma (Ar), nitrogen plasma (N(2)), or helium mixed with nitrogen plasma (He+N(2)) using a radio-frequency generato...

Abstract One of the methods of increasing soil resistance against failure is soil reinforcement using geosynthetics. Soil-geosynthetic interactions are of great importance and are affected by friction and adhesion at their interface. Soil gradation, contact surface roughness and geotextile density are among the factors affecting soil-geotextiles interaction this study, to investigate the eff...

Vegetation can signiˆcantly contribute to stabilise sloping terrain by reinforcing the soil: this reinforcement depends on the morphological characteristics of the root systems and the tensile strength of single roots. This paper describes an investigation on the reinforcing eŠect of soil-root matrix in the laboratory using a modiˆed large shear box apparatus (300 mm×300 mm). Four diŠerent spec...

An indirect J-integral technique for measuring the tension softening curve of non-yielding materials like concrete is presented and is applied to mortars reinforced with various short fiber types (steel and synthetic). The tension softening curve serves to characterize and measure material fracture resistance. The dependence of structural behavior on material fracture resistance is investigated...

The propensity of the transition of fracture type in either brittle or ductile cracked solid under mixed-mode I and III loading conditions is investigated. A fracture criterion based on the competition of the maximum normal stress and maximum shear stress is utilized. The prediction of the fracture type is determined by comparing smax=rmax at a critical distance from the crack tip to the materi...

Plastic concrete consists of aggregates, cement, water and bentonite, mixed at a high water cement ratio, to produce a ductile material. It is used for creating an impermeable barrier (cut-off wall) for containment of contaminated sites or seepage control in highly permeable dam foundations. The effects of water to binder ratio and clay dosage on mechanical properties of plastic concrete were i...