Advanced Composites for Civil Engineering Infrastructures

The development of advanced composites not only enhances strength, ductility, durability of materials, and endows materials with the multifunctional property, but also reduces the construction cost and promotes civil engineering infrastructure to make sustainable development. In this chapter, several representative advanced composites with abundant research achievements and wide applications are systematically introduced with regard to cementitious composites, fiber-reinforced polymer composites, novel thermally functional composites, and 3D printing composites in terms of their definitions, properties, research progress, and applications in civil engineering infrastructures.

Visible Light Active Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Applications

This chapter explores the concept of visible light active nanocomposites for the enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation and dye degradation. Since the late 1960s, A. Fujishima has been involved in unfolding the fascinating characteristics of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as semiconductor oxide. The increased growth in population and industrial development has tremendously increased the generation of waste products and consumption of energy worldwide. This situation creates an immense need of clean and sustainable alternative sources of energy. Hydrogen, having a high energy capacity, is considered as a reliable fuel for the future energy requirements. In addition to that, due to the rapid industrialisation, our water is being contaminated with various harmful industrial effluents. This chapter illustrates the significance of visible light nanocomposites for the photocatalytic application of hydrogen generation for future energy security and dye degradation for the effective effluent treatment of textile industries.

Fabrication of Orthotic Calipers With Epoxy-Based Green Composite

The concern towards environmental issues and the need for more polymer-based composites has extended its collection towards polymer composites strengthened with natural fillers. The main aim of the chapter is to make the side metallic sticks (called braces, where aluminum alloys are being used) of orthotic calipers with epoxy-based composite reinforced with coir dust as filler. Its mechanical behavior together with density, tensile and three-point bending are observed and compared with the existing aluminum-based calipers components after validating the experimental as well as virtual results. Virtual testing is done using 3D software CREO and analysis is done with the help of ANSYS workbench. It is seen that the strength and stiffness of epoxy-based composite with natural fillers is more than that of presently used aluminum alloy. The microstructure of the composites is considered to summarize the general filler distribution in the matrix using scanning electron microscope.

Development of Aerospace Composite Structures Through Vacuum-Enhanced Resin Transfer Moulding Technology (VERTMTy)

Quality products with low cost manufacturing routes are the major objectives for the product development in any application. The current statement is evident for polymer-matrix composites, particularly in high end applications such as aerospace and mass transit structures. These applications require advanced composite materials tailored to meet the property demands posted by dynamic load conditions, and hence, the use of wide spectrum of constituents and architectures are vital to cater the needs. Consequently, the development of novel composite materials with the permutations of ingredients leads to the innovative processing techniques. To address the gap in the manufacturing with economical processing routes of thick sectioned advanced composite parts showing superior properties at different wall sections, an innovative composite manufacturing technology coupling resin transfer moulding (RTM) processing and vacuum applications, namely vacuum enhanced resin transfer moulding technology (VERTMTy), is conceptualized, proposed, and developed.

Application of Silica-Gel-Reinforced Aluminium Composite on the Piston of Internal Combustion Engine

The piston of the internal combustion engine is one of the most complex parts among all engine components. During the operation, the pistons of IC engines are typically subjected to high loading and wearing. To withstand these, they require high mechanical properties and excellent tribological properties. This chapter aims to compare the mechanical as well as tribological properties of silica-gel-reinforced aluminium composite with aluminium alloy, which is used in manufacturing of piston of IC engine. Initially silica-gel-reinforced aluminium composite was fabricated with base material aluminium and six different percentages of silica gel reinforcement by stir casting method. After that, mechanical and tribological properties of silica-gel-reinforced aluminium composite were estimated and the tremendous mechanical and tribological properties among all percentages by different optimization techniques were found. The authors then compared the admirable properties of aluminium composite with aluminium alloy for manufacturing of piston of IC engine.

Fabrication of Porous NiTi Alloy Using Organic Binders

Nitinol has growing applications in aerospace industries, MEMS, and bio-medical industries due to its unique properties of pseudo-elasticity, bio-compatibility, and shape-memory effect. Behaviour of NiTi alloy can be changed by altering the composition, modifying the porosity, and applying external thermal and mechanical treatment. In this chapter, porous NiTi alloy with powder metallurgy is fabricated by varying the composition of polypropylene as an organic binder from 0% to 15%, and Young's modulus and porosity of porous alloy has been evaluated. The effect of process parameters—compaction pressure, sintering temperature, and sintering time—are evaluated using Taguchi L16 orthogonal array. These particles initially act as a binder but with the increase of temperature, the organic particles evaporate and create pores. With the increase of organic particle percentage, the porosity increases while Young's modulus decreases. SEM was used to characterize the fabricated porous NiTi alloy.

Industrial Applications of Polymer Composite Materials

Polymeric composites are being used widely for industrial applications. This is because of a number of advantages offered by the composite materials. Some of the advantages offered are low weight, enhanced mechanical properties, excellent durability, etc. Therefore, this chapter provides an overview of different industrial applications of polymeric composites. The different industrial sectors considered are automotive, military, aerospace, sports and leisure, and industrial construction. The authors are of the opinion that the importance of polymeric composites could be realized with the applications presented in this review.

Laminated Composite Hypar Shells as Roofing Units

This chapter presents a broad perspective of the recent research done on laminated composite hypar shells used as roofing units. Different types of analysis including bending, vibration, buckling, impact, and failure are included. The chapter is collated and categorized based on various aspect of research. The first aspect concentrates on typical analyses including problems in which various boundary conditions and laminations are considered. Then it focuses on the structural complexities which include stiffened shells, shells with cutouts, etc. The basic results of theoretical and experimental investigations of stress-strain state, vibration, buckling, and failure are summarized in this chapter incorporating the review of materials published in scientific and technical journals and proceedings in recent times.

Electroless Nickel Coatings for High Temperature Applications

This chapter aims to discuss the evolution of electroless nickel coatings with respect to their tribological behavior with special emphasis on their applicability at high-temperature-based applications. Electroless nickel coatings have tremendous potential as anti-wear and anti-friction coatings under ambient condition. The investigation of their tribological properties at high temperatures is relatively new. At demanding conditions, most conventional lubricants lose their properties and hence the use of self-lubricating coatings is unavoidable. Due to high melting point of nickel and oxidation resistance, electroless nickel-based coatings may prove to be suitable candidate at high temperatures. A review and analysis of the tribological characteristics of electroless nickel coatings especially at high temperatures is therefore necessary and has been reported in this chapter. Future research directions for the improvement of coating properties at high temperature are also identified from the review.

Textile-Reinforced Composites for the Automotive Industry

In the last decades, automotive industry has especially focused on developing and applying new materials and technologies for enhancing the comfort and security levels in the vehicles, but on the other hand for reducing the weight of the means of transportation in order to decrease the energy consumption. In this concept, textile-reinforced composite structures come in possession of one of the most favored materials in the automotive industry by satisfying these demands. In this chapter, usage of textile-reinforced composites in the automotive industry has been elucidated under three main sections: textile reinforced composites for 1) automobiles, 2) mass transportation vehicles, and 3) trucks. The aim of this chapter is to discuss the subject in detail by giving technical information about particular vehicle parts and composite structures utilized in the automotive industry and academia.