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Different researches were performed by using thermal storage materials, solar concentrators, reflectors, and other technologies to increase the productivity of solar stills. The main objective of the present study is to enhance the basin solar still productivity by using ecomaterials from the wastes of workshops and factories. So, this study presents an experimental investigation of basin solar still performance using steel wool pads, internal reflectors, and woven wire mesh. The experimental setup was performed at Suez Canal University, Ismailia City, Egypt. Two solar stills were included: one represents the conventional design (CSS), and the second one is the modified with steel wool pads, internal reflectors, and woven wire mesh (MSS). Both solar stills were evaluated under identical climate conditions, considering water depths of 1, 2, 3, and 4 cm, and the required parameters were measured and tabulated during the working days. The results indicated that incorporating these modifications led to a notable increase in accumulative productivity and daily thermal efficiency with minimum cost per liter. The MSS enhanced the daily yield and thermal efficiency by 22.1% and 28.0%, respectively, versus CSS at a water depth of 1 cm. In addition, the energy production factor (EPF), energy payback time (EPT), and the average exergy waste were 1.2 years, 0.85, and 400.2 J, respectively, for MSS. The annual exergy output, environmental effect factor (EEF), improvement potential (IP), and sustainability index were 462.7 kWh, 10.4, 290.6 W, and 1.09, respectively, for MSS. Finally, the cost per liter and the annual CO2 reduction over a lifetime for CSS and MSS were 0.023 $/l, 17.4 tons, and 0.11 $/l, 20.4 tons, respectively. These results align with and reinforce previous publications on desalination, highlighting the potential of these modifications for addressing the pressing challenges of affordable and efficient water using solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on manufacturing a range of hybrid laminated structures made of thermoplastic polyurethan (TPU), glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and metal mesh materials, and further on investigating the structural response of the TPU based composite sandwich laminated structures. These laminated structures were tested under quasi-static perforation and low velocity impact loading to determine their structural responses and energy absorption characteristics. It has been shown that three-layer and five-layer laminates with lay-ups of GFRP-TPU-GFRP or TPU-GFRP-TPU and GFRP-TPU-GFRP-TPU-GFRP or TPU-GFRP-TPU-GFRP-TPU subjected to quasi-static perforation demonstrate an increased peak load and stiffness with the core thickness from 1 to 4 mm. Also, the TPU core laminates show a superior ductility in comparison to their GFRP core counterparts. The energy absorption values of the three-layer and five-layer TPU and GFRP based laminated structures under low velocity impact are higher than those under quasi-static loading due to strain-rate effect. However, the hybrid laminates with SBR and wire mesh as a core do not give much improvement on the impact perforation resistance of the laminates with the different size of wire mesh, as metal mesh plays a less important role in the laminated structures to resist perforation. In overall, TPU-GFRP-TPU-GFRP-TPU structure with 4mm thick GFRP core demonstrates the highest peak force, and the GFRP-TPU-GFRP-TPU-GFRP structure with 4mm thick TPU core offers the highest energy absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with ferrocement and exposed to pure torsion are the study's main focus. Ferrocement is utilized for strengthening because it's price-effective. The solution is cost-effective and structurally efficient. Ferrocement is cheaper, more accessible, and has good ductility, durability, and bond performance. Five RC beams were encased with 2.5 cm of ferrocement on each side and subjected to pure torsion for the investigation. The other two beams were references. Each strengthened beam had a cross-section of 100×250 mm and a constant length of 2000 mm. The first control beam without torsional reinforcement has the same reinforcement features as all enhanced beams. This study examined the effects of wrapping beams from three and four sides and the presence or absence of strengthening, plastic, and steel wire mesh layers. All specimens enhanced with the ferrocement layer had better RC beam torsional performance than control beams. Compared to reference beams (b1, b2), b4 (beam strengthened with four faces) had the best torsional moment resistance and the highest ultimate torque moment. Strengthened beams with three faces (U-wrapped) (b4, b5, b6, b7) and different steel and plastic wire mesh layers increase ultimate torque (233%, 233%, 221%, 209%) for b1 and (114%, 114%, 106%, 99%) for b2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laminate composites have restricted practical application as a result of the significant problem of delamination. Researchers are always focusing on enhancing the strength and hardness of the layers, often known as interlaminar characteristics. This study investigates the feasibility of hybrid composites fabricated through the utilization of plain weaving techniques. Four different hybrid composites were created by weaving flax and hemp threads with stainless steel wire mesh, infusing them with epoxy resin, and reinforcing them with hand-laid hemp and flax fibers. The composites were produced using different combinations of hemp and flax yarns, resulting in the following variations: hemp fiber with weaving on wire mesh using hemp yarn 1 (H1), hemp fiber with alternative weaving on wire mesh using hemp yarn and flax yarn 2 (H2), flax fiber with weaving on wire mesh using flax yarn 1 (F1), and flax fiber with alternative weaving on wire mesh using flax yarn and hemp yarn (F2). The composites underwent ASTM standard assessments to determine their hardness, impact resistance, flexural properties, and tensile strength. The tensile test indicates that the maximum values were obtained in F2 (42.38 MPa) and H2 (38.61 MPa). The tensile strength of F2 is 8.89% higher than that of H2. H2 has a flexural strength of 85.12 MPa, which is 8.12% greater than H1. Similarly, F2 exhibits a 9.05% increase in strength compared to F1. The impact strength of the composite material used in F2 is 9.95 J, which is higher than the impact strength of other composites such as F1, H1, and H2. Material H2 has a significant 15.13% enhancement in impact resistance when compared to the other composites. The maximum hardness of composite F2 is 31.8VHN, which exceeds the average hardness of other composites by 10.29%. Integrating weaving techniques into wire mesh entails utilizing flax fiber and hemp fibers, which have a substantial impact on its mechanical properties, leading to enhanced flexibility, resistance to impact, ability to be stretched, and tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In transportation engineering, road pavement is commonly categorized as either flexible pavement or rigid pavement. The pavement demonstrates a distinct capacity to endure a variety of loads, including compressive and tensile loads. The capacity to endure compressive and tensile forces is extremely important, especially in the field of pavement construction, as it ensures both the longevity and the safety of the pavement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of hot mix asphalt to endure compressive and tensile pressures. The experimental methodology employed four different wire mesh deployment configurations on hot asphalt mixtures, utilizing three-point flexural test equipment. The data indicates the most effective method for mimicking hot mix asphalt involves adding a wire mesh layer at a depth of 30 mm below the surface of the experimental specimen. The particular modeling method showed a measurement of flexural resistance up to 291.85 kN. The study's findings indicate that the hot asphalt mixture exhibits a state of balance in its capacity to endure both compressive and tensile pressures. Incorporating a wire mesh layer within the middle section of the hot asphalt mixture has been perceived to enhance its ability to withstand tensile loads, hence improving its overall performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jute fiber has emerged as a promising reinforcement material in polymer composites, and researchers are actively exploring hybrid composite materials to overcome its individual mechanical property limitations and enhance overall performance. The paper introduces a unique hybridization of polymer composites that harnesses the advantages of stainless steel and aluminium offering a lightweight material for potential engineering applications. In this study, stainless steel 304 wire mesh (S), aluminium wire mesh (Al) and aluminium perforated sheet (Alp) are used as an additional reinforcement along with jute (J) and glass (G) fibers to fabricate hybrid polymer composites with varying volume fractions of SS304 and Al wire mesh. Seven laminates of hybrid composites namely J/J/J/S/J/J/J, J/J/S/J/J/S/J/J, J/J/J/Al/J/J/J, J/J/Al/J/J/Al/J/J, J/J/J/Alp/J/J/J, G/J/J/J/S/J/J/J/G, (J/J/S/J/J/S/J/J)450 along with virgin composite laminate J/J/J/J/J/J/J/J were fabricated and tested to obtain mechanical and vibration properties. Bonding between metal wire and matrix is investigated and reported through ILLS tests and SEM observations. Experimental findings indicate a notable 24% and 7% increase in tensile and ILSS strength, respectively, with SS304 reinforcement. Moreover, significant improvements in flexural and impact strength, approximately 48% and 33% for J/J/S/J/J/S/J/J, demonstrate the effectiveness of the hybrid approach. The J/J/S/J/J/S/J/J laminate excels in damping capacity under various boundary conditions. The study underscores the potential of metallic reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties of jute fiber‐reinforced polymer composites, presenting opportunities for the development of lightweight, sustainable, and high‐performance materials in engineering applications. Highlights: Developed jute fiber‐based hybrid polymer composites with metal wire reinforcement.Significant increase in strength and stiffness observed with addition of metal wires.Bonding between metal wire and matrix is investigated through ILLS tests and SEM observations.Vibration damping of all hybrid materials is reported.Study provides valuable data to develop sustainable, lightweight, and cost‐effective materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a structure for concrete composite materials that effectively attenuates transmitted power through the composite slab across a wide frequency range. The proposed structure is practical for electromagnetic interference shielding applications. To assess its effectiveness, the proposed structure has been compared with two other structures: a traditional wire mesh used in reinforced composites and an array of helices, a cutting-edge technique for manufacturing lightweight concretes with significant improvements in shielding properties. The comparison among full-wave simulation results indicates that the proposed method leverages the benefits of both techniques. It achieves a shielding effectiveness exceeding 30 dB from low frequencies up to 8.5 GHz and beyond 55 dB from low frequencies up to 4 GHz. Furthermore, an experimental measurement was conducted to validate the full-wave simulation results. An experimental sample was fabricated according to the simulated proposed structure, and the measured shielding effectiveness confirmed the composite's capability in wideband electromagnetic shielding. Theoretically, the proposed structure can enhance the concrete's mechanical characteristics while improving its shielding effectiveness, making it suitable for designing ultra-high-performance concretes.

This paper proposes a structure for concrete composite materials that effectively attenuates transmitted power through the composite slab across a wide frequency range. The proposed structure is practical for electromagnetic interference shielding applications. To assess its effectiveness, the proposed structure has been compared with two other structures: a traditional wire mesh used in reinforced composites and an array of helices, a cutting-edge technique for manufacturing lightweight concretes with significant improvements in shielding properties. The comparison among full-wave simulation results indicates that the proposed method leverages the benefits of both techniques. It achieves a shielding effectiveness exceeding 30 dB from low frequencies up to 8.5 GHz and beyond 55 dB from low frequencies up to 4 GHz. Furthermore, an experimental measurement was conducted to validate the full-wave simulation results. An experimental sample was fabricated according to the simulated proposed structure, and the measured shielding effectiveness confirmed the composite's capability in wideband electromagnetic shielding. Theoretically, the proposed structure can enhance the concrete's mechanical characteristics while improving its shielding effectiveness, making it suitable for designing ultra-highperformance concretes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization and technological progress have intensified the demand for energy efficiency, prompting a shift towards renewable sources like solar energy. Among solar technologies, the parabolic trough collector stands out for capturing sunlight efficiently. Various methods, including optical concentration and improved fluid heat transfer, are employed to enhance the performance. This study investigates the thermal enhancement in the absorber tube of a parabolic trough solar collector using inserts like wire mesh twisted tape and circular ring wire mesh. Thermal oil Sigma therm K is taken as a working fluid at a constant mass flow rate of 0.18 kg/s. Parameters considered include Nusselt number, friction factor, and performance evaluation criteria for assessing the performance of inserts. Absorber tube made of copper with an internal diameter of 22 mm and 1300 mm length were taken. Wire mesh twisted tape of pitch 80 mm and circular ring wire mesh of diameter 18 mm have been tested. Experiments were conducted inside the laboratory with three different configurations, i.e., plain tube, wire mesh twisted tape, and circular ring wire mesh, for a duration of 50 min. The result reveals that circular ring wire mesh exhibits the highest thermal enhancement compared to wire mesh twisted tape and plain tube. The PEC of wire mesh twisted tape is 1.17, and the PEC of circular ring wire mesh is 1.34, proving the wire mesh inserts' efficacy. These findings validate the effectiveness of augmentation techniques that can be implemented to improve the performance of the solar collector.

Two different wire mesh open volumetric receivers (OVRs) are studied together with six different coatings and two different working conditions in order to assess their effect on the performance of the OVR comparing them to the two baseline OVRs, uncoated and state-of-the-art. The results show that selective coatings produce the best OVR thermal results, having the best results when the solar absorptance is as high as possible and the thermal emittance is as low as possible.

Ferrocement is extensively utilized in construction as a structural material, given its exceptional mechanical properties and impact strength. This study aimed to analyze the performance of ferrocement that is reinforced with recycled steel wire tires under static loads. This current study a comparative investigation of behavior of compressive strength of ferrocement cubes and flexural behavior of ferrocement panels and behavior of ferrocement panels reinforced with tire Steel wire tires under static loads. Ferrocement slabs sample was (L 500 x W 500 x t 50mm) in size, and 15 slabs were subjected to static point load. The number of wire mesh layers, which was replaced by recycling tire steel wire as a ratio of the volume of wire mesh, was the main parameter in the current study. The percentage of recycle steel wire tires are 33% and 66% and 99% from of steel wire mesh for reinforcements of ferrocement panels. The results presented, the behavior of panels under static load at ultimate failure and first crack. It showed that ferrocement have 99.0% steel wire tires gave a good performance under static loading which were required to increase the load value to make the first crack and ultimate failure, and causing late of the failure and less deflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Energy storage is becoming increasingly important and plays an important role in the optimal use of available energy. Thermal energy storage is among the more efficient uses of energy. There are factors that affect thermal energy storage. One of these factors is porous media, which affects the thermal performance of phase change material (PCM) thanks to its high thermal conductivity. In this study, the effect of wire meshes with different number of layers on the melting rate of the phase change material was experimentally investigated. In the case of non-wire mesh and different numbers of wire mesh in the test chamber, different combinations of experiments were created. These experimental combinations were investigated at least three different asymmetric constant heat flux boundary conditions. In time-dependent experiments, the melting times of the phase-change material were analyzed and the corresponding heater plate surface temperatures were investigated. Compared to the absence of wire mesh in the test chamber, the melting time of the phase-change material in the case of 8-layer wire mesh improves between 2% and 24% depending on the position of the thermocouples, while this situation is up to 16% in the case of 4-layer wire mesh. The structure of the porous medium and the thermal conductivity coefficient affect the thermal storage performance, temperature distribution and melting time of the phase change material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to analyze and reveal combustion characteristics in a Cylindrical Meso Scale (CMS) Combustor with a wire mesh flame holder as a reference for designing a compact, efficient, and high-density energy source for future vehicles. This experiment analyzes the combustion phenomenas's of a butane gas (C4H10)-air mixture in a cylindrical meso-scale (CMS) combustor with the addition of wire mesh flame holder on the stability of the combustion flame, as initiation of future vehicle energy source. The diameter of the CMS combustor with wire mesh flame holder is varied to give an idea of the effect of heat loss on the combustion flame's characteristics. The results show that the wire mesh as a flame holder is essential in the combustion stabilization mechanism. A stable flame can be stabilized in a CMS combustor with wire mesh. Variations in the diameter of the CMS combustor will result in variations in the surface-to-volume ratio, heat loss, and contact area of the wire mesh flame holder. At a large diameter, it produces the characteristics of a combustion flame with a more stable flame stability limit than a smaller diameter, a dimmer flame visualization than a smaller diameter at the same air and fuel discharge, a more distributed flame mode map area than the smaller diameter, lower flame temperature and combustor wall temperature than the smaller diameter, and relatively higher energy output than the smaller diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, linear infrastructures (roads, railways or airports) are the most efficient and advantageous means of transport for citizens. Some of these infrastructures, such as roads or runways, are made of concrete, and as they are exposed to repeated loads and weather conditions, cracks are forming and spreading throughout the pavement. Several repair techniques have been applied to ensure their continued use under various types of traffic. The repair technique of adding lightweight welded mesh or geosynthetic layers seems to be a suitable solution, given their mechanical and aesthetic performance. This paper presents an experimental study on the effect of wire mesh and geogrids on the reinforcement of rigid concrete pavements. Twenty-four (24) specimens of concrete slabs, unreinforced and reinforced with a combination of geogrid sheets and wire mesh, were fabricated and tested in four-point bending. Validation of the experimental results was obtained by applying the finite element method, using a commercial software. Non-destructive in situ tests with a heavy deflectometer (HWD) were carried out on the central part of a rigid runway located in southern Algeria (arid zone), before and after its reinforcement with geogrids. It was found that geogrids are more effective than wire mesh in terms of tensile strength, stress and displacement reduction and downward crack propagation, with percentages ranging from 15 to 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's world, researchers are actively seeking the most suitable materials to meet the growing industrial demands. These materials need to possess specific characteristics such as lightweight nature, high strength, excellent mechanical properties, and environmental friendliness. Due to these requirements, relying solely on mono fiber composite materials is insufficient. Therefore, it has become necessary to incorporate different reinforcements into polymer matrices to achieve the desired mechanical properties. This study focuses on the fabrication of a novel hybrid composite using jute fibers, luffa fibers, palmyra leaf fibers, and AISI 303 (0.5 mm) wire mesh combined with epoxy resin. The fabrication process involved utilizing vacuum bagging techniques. To assess the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites, two wire mesh orientations (45° and 90°) and a total of 12 stacking sequences of jute/wire mesh/luffa/palmyra (J/W/L/P) were selected. The mechanical characterization of the hybrid composites included tensile, impact, flexural, and interlaminar strength tests. Furthermore, a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA-8000) was employed to investigate the elastic behavior, including storage modulus (E′), loss modulus (E ″), and damping factor (tan δ). Additionally, the fracture surface's microstructure was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Among the various stacking sequences and fiber orientations, the 45° fiber orientation and the stacking sequences JWLP, JLWP, JWPL, JPWL, PWJL, and PJWL exhibited superior ultimate tensile strength. Notably, the PWJL stacking sequence displayed the highest average tensile strength (74.83 MPa), flexural strength (131.60 MPa), percentage elongation (1.35%), and interlaminar strength (1.47 kN). Moreover, dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the hybrid composite sample with 90° wire mesh orientation exhibited a peak energy absorption of 0.820 at the transition region, specifically at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the numerical and experimental investigation of the small-scale power generator. The travelling wave thermoacoustic power generator is numerically analyzed and experimentally tested. The cyclic analysis is used to carry out numerical analysis of the power generator. The system is operated on atmospheric pressure, which allows the manufacturing of an acoustic feedback loop using Polyvinyl chloride piping. The acoustic power generated inside the generator is harnessed by the low-cost linear alternator, i.e., loudspeaker. The effect of regenerator wire mesh on performance of the power generator is numerically analyzed and validated experimentally. The numerical analysis identifies the temperature variation, pressure fluctuation, volume flow rate inside the system, and acoustic power distribution. The maximum electric power experimentally generated by the small-scale power generator is around 45 W with overall efficiency 8.30%. The alternator generates the maximum electric power at the optimum location, i.e. 2.30 m away from the engine core.

In recent years, the use of natural fibers has increased in manya applications, particularly in automotive industry, owing to their lightweight, high specific strength, recyclability, and ecological properties. This study aims to investigate the influence of copper filler on fiber-coated hybrid composite through mechanical and machining (CNC milling) characterization. Initially, the copper filler was characterized using the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), particle size analysis (scanning electron microscope), and component analysis (X-ray diffraction (XRD)). Four coated natural fiber/wire mesh hybrid composite designs were developed and identified as hemp/mesh/ramie composite [HMR (1-4)]. In this work, 16 experiments were designed by central composite design (CCD) using Design Expert 13, considering the spindle speed, feed rate, and composite type as input parameters. The results indicate that copper filler particle proportion influenced the tensile strength and impact resistance of the HMR hybrid composite (16% & 15.42%). A fiber coating with a higher infill percentage reduces water absorption. The responses were estimated based on the resultant force and surface roughness, which were influenced by the weight percentage of the filler. In all the spindle speeds, the resultant forces are increased with raise in feed rates (120–600 mm/min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the deflagration efficiency and protection level of combustible mixed gases in narrow spaces, a small square experimental pipeline system was designed. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of lateral vent pipes and metal wire meshes on the explosion characteristics of methane gas. This study examined the influence of changing the positions of the lateral vent pipes and metal wire meshes in the pipeline on the variation of parameters such as the flame shape, leading speed, and pressure of the methane/air premixed gas in the pipeline. The results indicated that the lateral vent pipes could effectively release part of the energy from the methane explosion, and the release effect was stronger the closer they were to the ignition end. This was significantly more effective in releasing the flame and pressure than when the vent pipes were placed in the middle or at the end of the pipeline. For lateral vent pipes close to the ignition source, their effective release of the not yet fully developed premixed flame allowed the heat absorption, wave absorption, and quenching performance of the installed metal wire mesh in the pipeline to fully exert their effects on the slow-spreading premixed flame. Furthermore, when a metal mesh was installed in the pipeline and the flame could not be extinguished, the flame penetrated the mesh structure, causing the flame front to become unstable and exhibit "irregular wrinkles". That is, the flame front was no longer smooth, the wrinkles became more pronounced, and the degree of turbulence was enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two precast concrete thin-shell wall panels were subjected to reverse-cyclic lateral loads to replicate wind fatigue over a 50-year design lifetime prior to loading to failure. The panels consisted of an outer wythe of concrete connected to light-gauge steel framing. Wire mesh was used to reinforce the concrete panel skin. Rivets provided a connection between the steel studs and the concrete panel. Two reinforced concrete (R/C) beams were integrated into the top and bottom parts of the panel, isolated from the concrete face by a thin sheet of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation. To connect these beams with the concrete face through the rigid foam insulation, a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) grid was utilized. The aim of the experimental program was to characterize the behavior of the concrete and steel framing panel, with particular attention focused on the connections between the various structural elements of the panel. The first and second thin-shell panels survived the fatigue loading cycles and behaved elastically through failure-level lateral load cycles equivalent to 54 psf (2.6 kPa) and 66 psf (3.2 kPa) of applied uniform load, respectively. The failure mode was the separation of the top R/C beam from the concrete panel on the pull stroke of the loading cycle (when the connection between the beam and the concrete shell was in tension) for both specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the significant amount of carbon dioxide gas discharged into the atmosphere by the cement industry and the massive amounts of byproduct fly ash also turning into a significant concern. Geopolymers are demonstrating promise in lowering greenhouse gas footprints. The results of testing geopolymer ferrocement elements reinforced with varying numbers of wire mesh layers are presented in this article. The primary objective was to investigate the flexural behavior for geopolymer ferrocement elements by applying a uniformly distributed load by means of a layer of sand. Ferrocements measuring 600*600*25 mm were reinforced with 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 layers of welded square meshes. Test results showed that first crack and ultimate loads increase with increase in wire mesh layers embedded in the ferrocement samples. The element with 6 layers of wire mesh displayed highest deflection. It has been determined that geopolymer ferrocements are versatile materials with excellent deflection capacity along with environmental sustainability.

Debris accumulation in natural ecosystems is one of several anthropogenic stressors exerting pressure on ecosystems all around the world. Effects of the ubiquitous anthropogenic debris pollution on free-living organisms is well known. Increasing reports of anthropogenic debris in nests of several species of birds ranging from terrestrial to seabirds are pouring in year after year. Shortage of natural nesting materials coupled with abundance of anthropogenic debris have been suggested the rationale behind the change in the nest building. Synthetic materials incorporated in nests can harm the occupants and negatively impact nesting and fledging success. As of late, majority of these studies are centred on plastic debris in bird nests. Here we present, a report of nest incorporation of metallic wire mesh in avian nests. 24 nests of Little egrets and 9 nests of Indian pond herons, totalling 33 nests in a heronry in India contained welded wire mesh. Though metal strips and wires in bird nests have been reported earlier, this could be the first report of inclusion of wire mesh in bird nests.

This paper reports the results of probabilistic analysis of ultimate load, Pu, of normal and lightweight ferrocement elements under axial tension. The lightweight ferrocement element was realised by replacing the sand in cement mortar by blast furnace slag by 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. In probabilistic analysis, the diameter and ultimate tensile strength of mesh wires and the modelling error associated with the prediction equation of ultimate load are treated as random variables. From the analysis of results of probabilistic analyses it has been found that the ultimate load follows a normal distribution at 5% significance level and also the bounds (mean±1.64*standard deviation) enclose the experimental scatter and hence the characteristic strength can be used for the design of ferrocement members against ultimate limit state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flame resistance characteristics of wire mesh and its influence factor on syngas explosion were researched by experiment. Relationships between flame propagation and pressure rise at the flame resistance system two ends were clarified under different flame resistance results. And the effect of syngas concentration on explosion parameters was obtained and flame resistance mechanism was also revealed. Results indicate that the existence of wire mesh could indirectly affect pressure rise by affecting the flame propagation, and flame propagation and pressure rise presented a clear corresponding relationship. The wire mesh could play a better inhibiting role and reduce the explosion intensity, affecting by syngas concentration. As the flame resistance failed (c =30%), △ P max was effectively decreased from 0.81 MPa to 0.52 MPa above wire mesh and from 0.58 MPa to 0.39 MPa below wire mesh. And the reduction extent was more significant under flame resistance success (80.25% and 68.97%). With reduction of syngas concentration and increase of mesh layer, explosion parameters were evidently decreased. Especially the temperature above wire mesh did not present an increase trend and reach the ignition point of syngas under flame resistance success. The inhibition mechanism was mainly attributed to the combination of endothermic and wall effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spread of airborne diseases can be prevented by dilution ventilation, which is possible by increasing fresh air intake. A recommended way to bring in outside fresh air requires operable windows. These windows must have wire-mesh to prevent the entry of insects, flies, rodents and stray animals. A visual examination of 265 house plots was made in a residential area of New Delhi. Out of the 40 built post 2016, 12 had new Poly-Vinyl Chloride-based window/door frames, none of which had a wire mesh. Operability and wire-mesh are important for fresh air intake for dilution ventilation and preventing vector-borne diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the progress of wire-mesh-reinforced composite (WMRC) is significant with the development of automobile and aircraft products. The research in the field of WM-reinforced polymer matrix composite (PMC) has been expanded based on the application. This review article summarizes the recent developments of WM-incorporated PMC and their applications. Moreover, the fabrication technique with various types of WM was also introduced, on natural and synthetic fibers. Furthermore, current fabrication techniques and opportunities for the growth of WMRC were proposed as the progressing trend to avoid lightning strike damage of composite in aircraft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo fiber is a natural and environmentally friendly material made from cheap and widely available resources and is commonly selected as the reinforcement material for steel-wire-mesh BFRPbar concrete beams. In this work, the effects of various fiber lengths and fiber volume rates on the shear properties of bamboo-fiber-reinforced steel-wire-mesh basalt fiber composite reinforcement concrete beams were studied through a combination of shear tests and numerical simulations. The findings demonstrate that the addition of bamboo fiber improves the cracking performance of the beam. The improvement effect of 45 mm bamboo fiber mixed with a 1% volume rate was the most obvious at about 31%. Additionally, the test beam's total stiffness was increased, and the deflection was decreased. However, the use of bamboo fiber was found to decrease the concrete's compressive strength, lowering the final shear capacity for the majority of beams. A method for estimating the shear capacity of the bamboo-fiber-reinforced steel-wire-mesh BFRPbar concrete beams is provided and lays the foundation for engineering practice, in accordance with the impact of bamboo fiber and steel wire mesh on beams that suffer shear breaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed eddy current (PEC) technique has been used to detect corrosion under insulation (CUI) for decades, but whether and how the wire mesh laid in the insulation layer affects the detection remains ambiguous. This paper touches on this issue for the first time. The insulated structure was simplified to a carbon steel plate covered by a cladding with an air gap representing the insulation layer, in which the wire mesh was situated. Finite element simulations were performed on the simplified model and found that the aluminium or stainless steel wire mesh had little effect on eddy currents in the plate, while the mild steel wire mesh could cause a considerable increase in the probe footprint and a significant drop of the eddy current density. For the mild steel wire mesh, the magnetic permeability and wire diameter were the main factors affecting the probe footprint and eddy current density. Afterwards, simulations were conducted to analyse the effect of the mild steel wire mesh on the PEC probe performances for evaluating the CUI depth and found that the mild steel wire mesh led to decreases in both the PEC signal amplitude and decay rate. The simulation results were finally verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete columns play an important role in distributing loads from slabs and beams to foundations. As a result of time, fatigue, or other factors, the reinforced columns are exposed to deterioration, and it is required to strengthen or repair these columns. Ferrocement jacketing can be considered as an easy and cheap method which has a significant effect on strengthening members. The main objective of this research is to study the effect of strengthening short columns using ferrocement jackets. Fourteen short square columns having the same dimensions were tested under axial loading. One column was designed as a control specimen and the other thirteen specimens were strengthened with ferrocement while changing the type and number of layers. It was found that using ferrocement as strengthening method increased the strength of columns in average from 11 to 40 %. Following that, a finite element analysis was conducted using the tested column specimens to further assess the usage of ferrocement jackets for strengthening concrete columns. A modified equation was proposed to calculate the capacity of short square columns strengthened using ferrocement jackets. Comparison with experimental data showed that the proposed equation gives good correlation compared to the experimental data.

These articles presents an experimental investigation on mechanical, vibration, and wear behavior of (aloevera/flax/hemp/wire mesh/BaSO4) laminated composite. The mechanical characterization was performed with ASTM standard specimens. The free vibration performance was analyzed under two clamping conditions and boundary conditions (clamp-clamp & clamp-free). The wear test trails were accomplished using a pin on disc at different process parameters like sliding speed (3–5 m/s), sliding distance (1000 m) and applied load (10–30 N) under sliding dry environment at room temperature of 28 ± 5◦C. The scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the interaction between the matrix and reinforcement interface after the failure. The experimental results revealed that the addition of wire mesh and BaSO4 filler in the fabricated composite Aleovera+Hemp+Wiremesh+Flax+Aleovera+BaSO4 composite (C4) increased the tensile strength by 8.68% compared to Aleovera+Hemp+Wire mesh+Flax+ Aleovera (C3) composite and it also depicts that the addition of wire mesh and BaSO4 as reinforcement has improved 5.42% of flexural strength compare to Aleovera+Hemp+Flax+Aleovera+BaSO4 composite (C2). The addition of BaSO4 improved the hardness in both C2 and C4 composites. The 5% addition of BaSO4 enhanced the natural frequency of the composites. Among the composites, the C4 has shown the highest coefficient of friction during the experimental trials.

This paper presents a finite element (FE) analysis of the seismic performance of the quick repaired seismic-damaged RC frame under low cyclic loading. The quick repair was realized by applying the wire mesh combined with ultra-high early strength grouting materials. The FE model was established based on the constitutive relationship of each materials and validated against the previous experimental results in the literature. The simulated results indicated that the repair could effectively exert the seismic performance of RC frame. Then, the FE parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of studied parameters on the seismic performance of the quick repaired seismic-damaged RC frame models. The analyzed parameters included the axial compressive ratio of columns, the thickness and the height of the repair layer. The numerical analysis showed that the seismic performance of quick repaired seismic-damaged RC frame could be enhanced by the certain increase of the axial compressive ratio. The thickness and height of the repair layer exhibited limited influence on the seismic performance of the RC frame. The paper reported the design suggestions for the quick repaired damaged RC frame. • A quick repair technology with ultra-high early strength grouting material and wire mesh for damaged RC frame is proposed. • A refined finite element model for seismic assessment of quick-repaired seismic-damaged RC frame. • Implementation of RC frame pre-damage and repair in Abaqus. • Result accuracy comparable to that obtained for the former experimental results. • Axial compressive ratio and repair condition are the major factors that affect the seismic performance of quick-repaired RC frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effects of bamboo fiber and steel wire mesh on the flexural ductility of basalt fiber reinforced polymer（BFRP）bar concrete beams, 7 BFRP bar concrete beams with bamboo fiber and steel wire mesh were tested with different bamboo fiber lengths (0 mm, 30 mm and 45 mm) and different steel wire mesh layout ranges (0, 1/2 maximum bending moment point layout and full beam length layout). The flexural failure tests of the 7 beams were carried out, and the initial crack loads, the crack developments, the ultimate loads and the deformations were detected. The effects of the fiber length and the wire mesh layout range on the crack resistance and the deformation resistance of the specimens were analyzed based on the test data. With the function model, the equivalent yield points of the 7 test beams were obtained, and their ductility coefficients were calculated. The results show that, the addition of bamboo fiber and steel wire mesh increases the cracking loads of BFRP bar concrete beams by 12%~68%, decreases the crack spacings and the crack length development speed, reduces the test beam deformation under the same load, and increases the ductility coefficient by 1.58%~31.75%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two precast concrete thin-shell wall panels were subjected to reverse-cyclic lateral loads to replicate wind fatigue over a 50-year design lifetime prior to loading to failure. The panels consisted of an outer wythe of concrete connected to light-gauge steel framing. Wire mesh was used to reinforce the concrete panel skin. Rivets provided a connection between the steel studs and the concrete panel. Two reinforced concrete (R/C) beams were integrated into the top and bottom parts of the panel, isolated from the concrete face by a thin sheet of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation. To connect these beams with the concrete face through the rigid foam insulation, a carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) grid was utilized. The aim of the experimental program was to characterize the behavior of the concrete and steel framing panel, with particular attention focused on the connections between the various structural elements of the panel. The first and second thin-shell panels survived the fatigue loading cycles and behaved elastically through failure-level lateral load cycles equivalent to 54 psf (2.6 kPa) and 66 psf (3.2 kPa) of applied uniform load, respectively. The failure mode was the separation of the top R/C beam from the concrete panel on the pull stroke of the loading cycle (when the connection between the beam and the concrete shell was in tension) for both specimens.

With the increased interest in the inherent fire resistance of organic insulators, various precast concrete insulation panels have been developed. However, precast concrete insulation panels still have structural and fire resistance problems resulting from a low composite action and unclosed cross-sectional details. To improve composite action and fire resistance, this study proposes the closed cross-sectional details of insulator panels with lightweight aggregate concrete, insulation material, and wire mesh. The objective of this study is to examine the flexural–shear performance of precast lightweight concrete panels with closed cross-sectional details developed for exterior cladding with high insulation capacity. Six full-sized insulation panels were tested under two-point top loadings. The main investigated test parameters to vary the moment–shear ratio of the insulation panels were the amount of the shear reinforcement and shear span–effective depth ratio. Test results indicate that the insulation panels with moment–shear ratios of 2.60 or higher were governed by shear, indicating that the longitudinal bars remained in an elastic state until the peak load of the insulation panels was reached. Thus, an increase in the moment–shear ratio of the insulation panels led to more brittle failure characteristics. Meanwhile, the insulation panels governed by flexure exhibited plastic flow performance in the applied load–deflection curve and well-distributed cracks. In particular, the maximal flexural moments of insulation panels with moment–shear ratios of 0.75 or less were higher than those calculated from the equations specified in ACI 318-19, indicating that the composite action was fully exerted. Overall, the developed insulation panels with cross-sectional details must be designed to a have moment–shear ratio of 0.75 or less to fulfil the ductile response under extreme lateral loads and exert full composite action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the energy and exergy performance of a double-pass solar air heater (SAH) using a novel model of a v-corrugated wire mesh absorber (CM-SAH) is investigated experimentally. The v-corrugated wires are adjacent to each other in one layer along the airflow direction to reduce the hydraulic resistance. Simultaneously, this arrangement increases the surface absorptance rate of solar radiation and expands the heat exchange area. To evaluate the performance of CM-SAH, a standard SAH having a v-corrugated absorber plate (CP-SAH) and the same configuration dimensions is compared with CM-SAH. The comparison is achieved under the same operating conditions and using different air mass flow rates of (0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 kg/s). The results show that the CM-SAH outperformed the CP-SAH in terms of thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and output air temperature. The maximum thermal efficiencies reach 87.3 % and 65.1 %, while the maximum exergy efficiencies reach 4.4 % and 3.4 %, for CM-SAH and CP-SAH, respectively. In addition, the thermal efficiency of CP-SAH decreased after midday while that of CM-SAH continuously increased. • A novel absorber surface of a v-corrugated aluminum wire mesh is developed for SAH. • The novel model energy and exergy performances are investigated experimentally. • A novel model is compared with a standard SAH having a v-corrugated absorber plate. • The novel model absorber improved the energy and exergy efficiencies of SAH. • The comparison shows a significant improvement in the novel model's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solid fairing and a wire-mesh fairing consisting of very fine wires and pores are numerically and experimentally investigated for the mitigation of landing gear noise. A slightly modified LAGOON landing gear and two configurations, one equipped with a solid fairing and the other with a wire-mesh fairing, are numerically simulated using the Improved Delayed Detached-Eddy Simulation (IDDES) in combination with the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) analogy. Instead of resolving the detailed flow features through the wire mesh, a recently proposed numerical model is used to represent the effect of the wire-mesh fairing. The simulated flow fields and the far-field noise spectra are validated against the experiments conducted in an anechoic wind tunnel. The superiority of the recently proposed wire-mesh model over a classical wire-mesh model in modelling both the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic effects of the wire mesh is demonstrated. Results also show that the dense wire-mesh fairing functions very similarly to the solid fairing and that significant noise can be reduced through the installation of a solid fairing or a wire-mesh fairing upstream of the landing gears. For the baseline landing gear, the torque link and the brakes are identified noise sources. With the aerodynamic penalty of a 50% increase in drag, both fairings mitigate the pressure fluctuation on the torque link and brakes, resulting in the reduction of surface noise sources. The noise directivity shows that a solid fairing or a dense wire-mesh fairing contributes to a noise reduction of 4-6 dB in all radial directions. The findings in this study pave the way for the low-noise design of aircraft landing gears. • A solid fairing and a dense wire-mesh fairing are investigated for the noise mitigation of a LAGOON-like landing gear. • A new model for dense wire meshes is evaluated in landing-gear flows, showing good aerodynamic and aeroacoustic predictions. • The fairing-induced noise-reduction mechanism is explored for a landing gear equipped with brakes and a torque link. • The add-on fairings effectively mitigate pressure fluctuations on the torque link and brakes, reducing surface noise sources. • The simulations agree well with the experiment, making the present numerical tool valuable for low-noise landing gear design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional machining of composite material was challenging due to delamination, tool wear, fiber pull-out, spalling, fiber fraying, heat generation, and excessive stresses. The non-conventional machining process was preferred for high-strength materials to produce complicated shapes with a better surface finish. This research describes an experimental analysis of abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) on flax/wire mesh/hemp reinforced epoxy composite. In addition, recycling of waste carbon fiber composite (WCFC) was also practiced and reused as a filler particle along with the fabricated hybrid composite. The hybrid composite was fabricated using the hand layup technique with 20.3 wt% of fiber, 10.5 wt% of wire mesh, and 2 wt% of WCFC. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of standoff distance, traverse speed, and abrasive mass flow rate on the output responses such as kerf angle (θ) and surface roughness (Ra). The design of experiments found that surface finish was improved with optimum process parameters. It was detected that spalling defects, wear track, and micro-cutting were noteworthy in the machined hybrid composite concerning high standoff distance and abrasive mass flow rate. Morphological study in the cut surface of the hybrid composite was analyzed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the fiber characterization was done through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant protection spraying has been the main way to prevent crops from pests and diseases at present. However, the average utilization rate of pesticides is only 20% to 30% in manual sprayers and large-capacity rain spraying, particularly with water consumption of 600-1 200 L/hm2 . The current pesticide spraying cannot fully meet the requirement of intensive agriculture in recent years. Among them, a large number of droplets with small particle sizes are susceptible to drifting by ambient wind. In this study, the mesh atomization of droplets was applied to reduce the wind drift for the high utilization rate of pesticides in the process of plant protection spraying. A systematic optimization was also made to investigate the secondary atomization characteristics of the droplets and the deposition effect of the droplets after the spray hits the mesh. The experimental variables were set as the pore size and the distance between the nozzle and the mesh. Phase Doppler Anemometry (PDA) was used to measure the velocity and particle size distribution of droplets after secondary atomization. A high-speed camera was selected to capture the spray angle. A 0.5 g/L methyl orange aqueous solution was prepared as a spray solution. The water-sensitive and filter tests were carried out to determine the droplet coverage and deposition amount, in order to evaluate the droplet deposition characteristics of the mesh atomization. The test results showed that: 1) the mesh effectively reduced the speed of the droplets. The average velocities of the measurement points were 1.80, 2.02, and 1.67 m/s under the mesh with pore sizes of 461, 350, and 227 μm, respectively. There were 23.40%, 13.90%, and 29.00% lower than those without the mesh (2.35 m/s). 2) The mesh reduced the particle size of the droplets. The maximum average particle sizes of the measurement points were 155.0, 165.6, and 173.3μm under the mesh with the pore size of 461, 350, and 227 μm, respectively, which were 19.5%, 14%, and 10% lower than those without the mesh (192.5 μm). 3) The spray angle of the droplet was varied in the pore size of the mesh and the distance between the nozzle and the mesh. Specifically, the maximum spray angle was 84.179° for the secondary atomized droplets at the pore size of 461 μm and the 10cm distance between the nozzle and the mesh, which was 20.366° larger than that without the mesh. 4) There was a great influence of pore size on the uniformity and penetration of the droplet deposition. The coefficient of variation of the deposition rate was between 33.51% and 88.08% at the sampling point of the mesh with the pore size of 350 and 227 μm, respectively, indicating similar deposition uniformity. By contrast, the maximum coefficient of variation of the deposition rate was 162.98% at the sampling points in each mesh layer with a pore size of 461 μm, indicating relatively less deposition uniformity. The better penetration of droplets was achieved in the mesh with the pore size of 350 μm, where the coefficient of variation of deposition between layers was between 0.8 % and 10.08 %. The better deposition was obtained in the mesh with the pore size of 461 μm in this case, compared with the pore size of 461 and 227 μm. There was no significant effect of the distance between the nozzle and the grid on the droplet coverage and deposition volume. In terms of the grids and large spraying droplets, the average droplet drift in the non-target area was 7.58 % of the deposition in the target area, indicating better performance after optimization. This finding can provide a strong reference to select the spraying and mesh parameters for the combination of plant protection UAV spray and mesh atomization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bubble cutting was realized by installing a wire mesh in a micro-structured bubble column (MSBC) and studied experimentally with liquid viscosity range from 1 to 39.6 mPa·s. A non-intrusive high-speed camera method was used to determine bubble size and size distribution. The changes of gas holdup, bubble size, size distribution and Sauter mean diameter before and after cutting were systematically studied with mesh openings of 3.8 mm and 5.5 mm. Three novel bubble cutting behaviors with uniform cutting, detachment cutting and indirect cutting behavior were observed. In the presence of two wire meshes, the bubble size distribution roughly shows a Gaussian curve distribution and the peak tends to shift towards lower diameters. With increasing liquid viscosity and superficial gas velocity, the dominant peak tends to move towards higher diameters, resulting in poor mesh cutting effect. After cutting, in the case of two wire meshes, the Sauter mean diameter decreased by 33.5% and 22.2% and the gas holdup increased by 3.2–12.2% and 1.2–4.4%, respectively. For the case of 3.8 mm mesh opening, the interfacial area increased by 10–26%, which is much better than 5.5 mm mesh. The mean bubble size above the mesh will grow again and its growth rate depends on the liquid viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Sandwich beams are preferable for aerostructure and marine structures due to their high mechanical strength, durability, stiffness, and fatigue resistance. This paper presents a study on the flexural behavior of sandwich beams made of self-compacting concrete comprising a polystyrene inner core with wire mesh reinforcement. The effect of the design parameters such as the inner core area, percentage of tension reinforcement, and wire mesh on the moment carrying capacity and failure modes of sandwich beams was analyzed. Ten beams were cast and tested to failure with simply supported end conditions and they were classified into three different groups. The longitudinal section of the inner core area was varied by 0% (control beam), 25%, 50%, and 75% of the gross area. The tension reinforcement ratio varied between 0.6 and 1.5%. In addition, the effect of the wire mesh in shear and flexural resistance was studied. The load-carrying capacity of sandwich beams increased with flexural reinforcement. In addition, the welded wire mesh improved the sandwich beams' flexural and shear performance. The conventional expressions for the moment of resistance were valid for sandwich beams, whereas the shear strength expressions overestimated the capacity; therefore, modifications were suggested. The refined models had a significant agreement with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Porous Continuum method with local thermal non-equilibrium state and the P 1 approximation is adopted to analyse the potentialities of using staggered stack wire meshes in double, gradual-porosity air absorbers in the axial direction. A parametric study with 300 cases, is performed considering meshes with different geometrical properties and layer thickness ratios in order to achieve greater efficiency than that offered by single-porosity metallic volumetric absorbers. The parametric study considers three different arrangements: gradually decreasing porosity, absorbers with two different layers of similar porosity and gradually increasing porosity within the air flow. The study identifies 10 configurations exceeding 90% thermal efficiency at usual working conditions. Finally, the three best configurations of the parametric analysis are experimentally tested at a small-scale laboratory test-bed and the numerical method is validated successfully in three-dimensional simulations to account for the heterogeneous solar flux profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium composites are inevitable in the manufacture of aircraft structural elements owing to less weight, superior corrosion resistance and higher specific properties. These composites reduce the weight of the aircraft, improve the fuel efficiency and enhance the maintenance duration. This study proposes the development of dissimilar grade aluminium (aluminium 1100-aluminium 5052) composites with different reinforcement’s viz., stainless steel wire-mesh, silicon carbide (SiC) powders and SiC powder interspersed wire-mesh, by explosive cladding technique. Wire-mesh enhances the friction and restricts the movement of flyer plate to craft a defect free clad, while SiC particles form a band on the interface. Highest strength is obtained when SiC powder interspersed wire mesh is employed as reinforcement. The dissimilar aluminium explosive clad with SiC particle reinforcement results in lower strength, which is higher than that of the weaker parent alloy and that of the conventional dissimilar aluminium explosive clads without any reinforcement.