Pavel Tesárek

Nanofibrous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) membranes loaded with diamond nanoparticles as promising substrates for bone tissue engineering.

Video abstract Video

Fracture-Micromechanics Based Model of Mortars Susceptible to Shrinkage

The addition of stiff aggregates into a relatively compliant matrix results, up to a certain limit, in an increase of the effective mortar stiffness. Conventional micromechanical models are not able to capture this limit and must be coupled with a fracture mechanics model predicting the formation of microcracks between aggregates due to shrinkage of matrix. The proposed model utilizes the Mori-Tanaka (MT) scheme together with an estimation of a crack density, based on requirements for the crack formation determined by a numerical analysis. As a result, the model involves a single phenomenological constant, and provides significant improvement over the basic MT scheme.

Use of Open Source DIC Tools for Analysis of Multiple Cracking in Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Digital image correlation (DIC) became indispensable when monitoring and analyzing adevelopment of displacement or strain fields. The method is capable of capturing strain localization, itis not limited to a relative measurement of discrete points as conventional methods and appears to bemore accurate than measurements by means of extensometers or strain-gauges that often suffer fromimperfect attachment to the measured surface. As open source DIC tools appear, the method becomesfeasible and the development is supported by the growing computational power of modern computers.The presented paper introduces open source 2D DIC tools and simple rules to follow when employingthe method. The presented case study on behavior of fiber reinforced high-performance concretedemonstrates a computational feasibility, accuracy and sensitivity of the method for a relatively lowfinancial cost.

Effect of Pva Modification on Properties of Cement Composites

Polymers are used for modification of the cement-based composites and others building materials since the thirties of 20th century. Based on the conclusions of recent studies, it is assumed that even water soluble polymers could be used as an admixture for such modification. Currently, there exist and are exploited several possibilities for polymer modification of mortars, wood-based products or bituminous asphalts. Various options differ in the way of modification, which can be basically applied to the entire volume or just a surface, but also in the form of the polymer used – either in the form of solution or fibers. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of volume modification by the water soluble polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), on the properties of cement paste and find an optimum additive. It turned out that the addition of PVA solution into fresh cement paste results in an increase of porosity and therefore a stiffness and compressive strength reduction. On the other hand, the bending strength of PVA-rich specimens was significantly higher and their water absorption decreased, which may consequently result in enhanced frost resistance.

Utilization of Recycled Fine-Ground Concrete from Railway Sleepers for Production of Cement-Based Binder

The environmental awareness and potential cost reduction have promoted the recycling of materials in civil engineering. This paper is dealing with the recycling and secondary use of old concrete railway sleepers for reconstruction of old railway lines. In particular, it is focused on the investigation of material properties of a binder prepared from finely crushed old concrete sleepers. This material could be used for strengthening of subsoil and embankments supporting the railway structures. The study shows that the compressive and bending strength of the investigated material is sufficient for this purpose and that the strength can be further increased by suitable curing conditions. These findings could contribute to the utilization of old concrete sleepers during railway reconstructions and safe money spent for the purchase of new materials and disposal of old sleepers.

Mechanical Properties of Single and Double-Layered PVA Nanofibers

Multi-layered nanofiber textiles can be utilized in many applications. In such case the individual layers are laid in more stages and the question arises whether the connection is perfect. Two kinds of samples of PVA nanotextiles having the weight of 1.3 g/m2 (single-layered, AI) and 2.8 g/m2 (double-layered, AII), respectively. It was shown that mechanical properties, in particular the average tensile strength (24 N/mm for AI and 51 N/mm for AII) and stiffness (950 N/mm for AI and 1600 N/mm for AII), are independent of the number of layers, only their weight per unit area matters. This indicates that the bond between the individual layers is perfect.

Influence of Aggregate Stiffness on Fracture-Mechanical Properties of Lime-Based Mortars

Addition of relatively stiff aggregates into lime-based mortars is responsible for an increase of the effective mortar stiffness and stress concentrations around aggregates during mechanical loading. To observe the damage development during the three-point bending and splitting tests a 2D plane-stress nonlinear finite element analysis utilizing isotropic damage model was carried out and the results were validated against experimentally obtained data. The study revealed that the finite element model is able to capture the trends observed during the experimental investigation. The results of the numerical modeling and experimental investigation show the advantages of the use of relatively compliant crushed brick aggregates in ancient structures.

MICRO-MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE USED AS RECYCLED RAW MATERIAL IN CEMENTITIOUS COMPOSITE

The reduction of industrial pollution is recently one of main goals over all fields. In civil engineering, re-cycling of structural waste provides wide opportunity contributing this effort. This paper focus on re-use of concrete waste, which after further processing can be used in new constructions as partial supplement to the mixture. To investigate the impact of re-cycled concrete addition, it is necessary to determine mechanical and structural parameters of individual phases in the “raw” material. For this purpose, grid indentation and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM, EDX) are combined to determine properties of concrete sample.

Non-Destructive Testing of Composite Gypsum Material Properties – Long Time Measurement

The paper presents results of long-time investigation of mechanical properties of composite gypsum material using nondestructive technique. The gypsum block was put to the façade of the building for four years. Then it was removed and cut to smaller specimens, which were investigated. The matrix of 6 × 4 specimens of dimensions 40 × 40 × 160 mm were cut from the block after its removal from the façade. After 6 and 9 years, the Young’s moduli and shear moduli of these specimens were determined from the transversal, longitudinal and torsional vibrations using the impulse excitation method.

MICROSTRUCTURE DESCRIPTION AND MICROMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SPRUCE WOOD

The knowledge about the microstructure and morphology of individual phases also allows an artificial modification of the material, or its processing, to produce engineered products with required properties. The purpose of our work was to investigate the distribution of elastic stiffness within the tissues of individual cells using the finest equipment and to observe the morphology of individual phases. A quasi-static nanoindentation was carried out on the cell walls of earlywood and latewood tracheids of spruce wood. The dynamic modulus mapping, also known as nanoDMA, was utilized to obtain the map of elastic moduli over the entire tracheid cross-section. In particular, it was found that the stiffness cells walls is approximately 10.5 GPa and 12.5 GPa in the case of earlywood and latewood tracheids, respectively. The difference between earlywood and latewood elastic stiffness is attributed to a different chemical composition and orientation of fibrils. The acquired data are indispensible for micromechanical modeling and design of engineered products with superior mechanical properties.