1st week of Thesis

preparing the mold for downsize samples

As to celebrate our fourth year as a degree student, we were given many thesis titles to choose from. And somehow, me, TreeSon, JackSon, FunChong and WenFong is under the same supervisor doing thesis title which comes very close related.


our moderator MrAshraf doing PhD under ProfZamin

We weren't involve in the planning much, most of our theoritical works was done by the moderator, and we're more like assist in research. Since we don't need to study 1st, we carry out the casting of concrete beams as soon as possible to avoid future congestion that might occur, espesciali those who has their thesis with concrete as well.


JackSon, FunChong, TreeSon testing the straingauge

My title is about maintenance of old structural beams. Under Fatigue loading conditions (i.e. repetitive loading and unload) the steel bars however loose their strength over time, and cause the beam to bend over its limit. Further causing exposure of re-bars, erosion, and cracking of the concrete at the bottom of beam. In the end, leads to STRUCTURAL FAILURE.


Silicone layer to protect the straingauge

Hence, we need to strengthen the beam, by adding reinforcement externali via attaching Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plates . This causes a composite effect which greatli increases the flextural strength. But since different materials strain differentli, a Shear Flow is induced at the interlayer, which brought forth to further problems.


100% Acetic Silicone | Glass Sealer

My thesis is to study the thickness of the required CFRP, to eliminate the axial peeling cause by concentration of shear in the center part, and also the intermediate anchors to counter the shear induced. However, my thesis title is shared with Jackson, so he's my partner.


Applying Sealant to the beam mold

So we started with preparing a lots of mold for the concrete samples, which are very heavy even when empty. Clean it up, and apply a layer of petrol. Preparing the materials, aggregates, sand, simen for the concrete mixing. For 1 beam, we need 3bags of sand, 2bags aggregate, 1 bag cement 41kg. The bags with sand easily weight over 90kg, and requires 3 person to bring it up.


Ashraf with the concrete mixer

To study the behaviour of the loaded beam with the CFRP reinforcement, we installed 2 strain gauge in each beam (i.e. 1 rebar 1 straingauge) and apply a layer of silicone gel on it, to protect it during casting and make it water proof.


WenFong with the Vibrator a.k.a LanJiao

After everything's in place, we pour in the concrete by 3 layers, and vibrating it with the Lanjiao...i mean vibrator, for compaction purpose. Then we cover it with wet 麻布 for it to slowli cure. The next day the smal samples were demold and put into waterbath for curing. While the beam can oni b demolded after at least 1 week, so, we have to pour water onto it everyday morning and evening for proper curing.


The samples for testing

We continue to prepare more materials for casting, hope to finish them within 1month, 8beams.