Experimental Study for Structural Behaviour of Precast Lightweight Panel (PLP) Under Flexural Load
Precast lightweight concrete slab is first fabricated in workshop or industrial before construction and then transported to site and installed by skilled labour. It can reduce construction time by minimizing user delay and time for cast-in-situ to increase workability and efficiency. is environmental friendly and helps in resource reduction. Although the foamed concrete has low compressive strength compared to normal weight concrete but it has excellent thermal insulation and sound absorption. It is environmental friendly and helps in resource reduction. To determine the material properties of foamed concrete, nine cubes and six cylindrical specimens were fabricated and the results were recorded. In this study, structural behaviour of precast lightweight panel (PLP) with dry density of 1800 kg/m3 was tested under flexural load. The results were recorded and analysed in terms of ultimate load, crack pattern, load-deflection profiles and strain distribution. Linear Voltage Displacement Transducers (LVDT) and strain gauges were used to determine the deflection and strain distribution of PLP. The theoretical and experimental ultimate load of PLP was analysed and recorded to be 70 and 62 kN respectively, having a difference of 12.9%. Based on the results, it can be observed that PLP can resist the adequate loading. Thus, it can be used in precast industry for construction purposes.
Computational Analysis on Flexural Behavior of Precast Aerated Concrete Panel Incorporating Polypropylene Fiber
Precast system has great advantages in terms of its speed of construction, strength and durability. In this research, Precast Lightweight Aerated Concrete Panel, PACP, incorporating polypropylene fibers were utilized and tested to analyze its structural behavior under flexural load. Finite element analysis (FEA) using LUSAS software was utilized to simulate the PACP models under flexure load adopting nonlinear and transient analysis. The dimension of PACP panel was 200mm thickness, 500mm breadth, 1400 mm length. The FEA results were com-pared to theoretical results in terms of the panel’s ultimate load. Different thicknesses and reinforcement diameters were utilized in the FEM simulations to determine the optimum values for both parameters which confirm the stability of the panel. The outcomes demonstrated that 300 mm thickness is the optimum thickness while 12 mm diameter was the optimum size of reinforcement in the PACP panel.  
Influence of multiple mandreling and the following heating on the behavior of titanium nickelide couplings
Abstract In order to use shape memory Ni–Ti couplings repeatedly for the joining of pipelines, one should know how the multiple mandreling (expansion) affects the temperatures of the phase transformation in titanium nickelide and the quality of the inner surface of these couplings. This problem has been studied, using three couplings of commercial Ni–45wt.%Ti (TH1) alloy, which were designed to join the pipelines with an outer diameter of 11.9 mm. During expansion by mandreling the inner diameter of the couplings increased from 11.45 to 12.00 mm. It was observed that the required mandreling force decreased by a factor of 3–4 after a 10-fold mandreling. After each mandreling the coupling was heated, and the temperature of the initial and final stages of the reversible transformation was defined by the change in the inner diameter of the coupling. A decrease of the phase transformation temperatures by 8–20°C was registered between the 2nd and 10th mandreling cycle. In every cycle the average diameter of the coupling and the deviation from the ideal circular shape were measured before mandreling as well as after mandreling and heating and cooling back to room temperature. It was found that the deviation from the ideal circular shape increased with the number of mandreling cycles. This means that the quality of the couplings deteriorates with their repeated expansion by mandreling. This should be taken into account when using the couplings again for the joining of pipelines.