The paper presents test results for the mechanical and creep properties of European aluminium alloy EN 6082AW T6 at high temperatures. Mechanical properties of the aluminium alloy were determined by means of two types of test: constant stress-rate and stationary creep tests. Mechanical properties were determined up to a temperature of 350 °C, while the creep tests were conducted within the temperature interval 150–300 °C. The creep tests conducted identified the critical temperature interval for creep development, which represents an important factor when analysing creep behaviour of aluminium structures. This temperature interval was found to be within the range 200–300 °C. Test results for stress at 0.2% strain and modulus of elasticity at different temperatures showed good agreement with the codified values from Eurocode 9 and with other comparable studies.
The aim of this study was to assess the potential of hardwoods harvested in Croatian forests for the production of glued laminated timber (glulam), mainly of those species for which there is no published performance assessment. Nine sets of glulam beams were produced: three sets using lamellas from European hornbeam, three sets from Turkey oak, and three sets from maple. Each set was characterized by a different hardwood species and surface preparation method. The surface preparation methods included planing, planing followed by sanding with fine grit, and planing followed by sanding with coarse grit. The experimental investigations included shear tests of the glue lines in dry conditions and bending tests of the glulam beams. The shear tests showed satisfactory performance of the glue lines for the Turkey oak and European hornbeam, but not for the maple. The results of the bending tests showed superior bending strength of the European hornbeam compared to the Turkey oak and maple. Planing followed by rough sanding of the lamellas was shown to have a significant influence on the bending strength and stiffness of the glulam from Turkey oak.
1 January 2013 in Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
This paper presents an experimental study of behaviour of high-strength concrete at high temperature. Reduction of the mechanical properties of concrete was determined starting from the period when the concrete specimens were heated to the maximum temperature and cooled down to ambient temperature and the additional 96 hours after the initial cooling of the specimens. The study includes determination of compressive strength, dynamic and secant modulus of elasticity, and stress-strain curves of concrete specimens when exposed to temperature level up to 600°C. The study results were compared with those obtained from other studies, EN 1994-1-2 and EN 1992-1-2. Tests point to the fact that compressive strength of concrete continues to reduce rapidly 96 hours after cooling of the specimens to ambient temperature; therefore indicating that the mechanical properties of concrete have substantial reduction after being exposed to high temperature. The study of the dynamic and secant modulus of elasticity shows that both of the properties are reduced but remain constant during the period of 96 hours after cooling. The level of postfire reduction of compressive strength of the analyzed concrete is substantial and could significantly affect the postfire load bearing capacity of a structure.