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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]

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]

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]

This review examined the current developments in wire mesh reinforced natural fiber composites (WMRCs), emphasizing their material properties, applications, and production techniques. WMRCs provide a sustainable and economical alternative to conventional synthetic composites. Natural fibers (NF), including flax, jute, and hemp, offer superior mechanical characteristics and diminish environmental effects. The incorporation of wire mesh improves the structural integrity of the composite. WMRCs provide exceptional durability and wear resistance, rendering them appropriate for use in the automotive, aerospace, and construction sectors. They provide enhanced mechanical qualities relative to single-fiber reinforced composites. The attributes of the wire mesh, including type, orientation, and material, substantially affect the performance of the composite. This research examines optimum drilling settings for WMRCs utilizing techniques such as Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM). The primary fabrication techniques for WMRCs consist of hand layup and vacuum bag molding, with possibilities for compression molding and pultrusion. In conclusion, WMRCs offer a potential pathway for the advancement of composite materials. Subsequent study ought to concentrate on enhancing wire mesh reinforcement for particular applications, tackling water absorption challenges, and investigating novel wire mesh materials and manufacturing techniques.

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.

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]

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.

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.

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.

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

• A total of fifteen one-way slabs were tested in four-point bending scheme. • Nine slabs were strengthened with ferrocement jackets, three were strengthened with CFRP, and two were strengthened with GFRP jackets. • The study focused on preventing debonding of the strengthening layers, employing either mechanical or chemical anchors. • The use of chemical anchors demonstrated a superior ability to delay debonding and enhance ductility compared to mechanical anchors. • The orientation of the wire mesh also played a crucial role, with parallel orientation to the longitudinal axis of slabs yielding better performance. Existing research lacks focus on the structural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) one-way slabs reinforced with ferrocement, and there's a notable absence of comparative studies between fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) and ferrocement strengthening methods for these slabs. Given the cost-effectiveness and widespread use of ferrocement in structural reinforcement, this study aimed to address these gaps through an experimental program. Three sizes of wire mesh, categorized as Type-I (small), Type-II (medium), and Type-III (large), were employed in this study. Chemical or mechanical anchors were used to attach ferrocement jackets. Moreover, 6, 12, or 18 anchors were used to assess the effect of anchor configuration. The goal was to enhance the structural performance of slabs and compare them with slabs reinforced using FRP jackets. The study focused on preventing debonding of the strengthening layers, employing either mechanical or chemical anchors. All slabs exhibited ductile failure with flexural cracks. The peak load and ultimate deflection were enhanced by up to 49.00% and 109.07%, respectively, by the application of ferrocement jackets, whereas the dissipated energy was increased by up to 174.00 %. Notably, the use of chemical anchors demonstrated a superior ability to delay debonding and enhance ductility compared to mechanical anchors. Slabs reinforced with glass FRP (GFRP) showed delayed debonding relative to carbon FRP (CFRP) reinforced slabs, indicating the superior performance of chemical anchors with GFRP layers. Moreover, the type and size of wire mesh significantly influenced performance, with small and medium-sized mesh configurations enhancing ductility, while large-sized mesh exhibited relatively earlier debonding. The orientation of the wire mesh also played a crucial role, with parallel orientation to the longitudinal axis of slabs yielding better performance. [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.

Flexible systems anchored to the ground are low visual impact alternatives to be used in slope protection. With the aim of reducing their installation time and costs the mechanical union between layers of membranes is proposed to be done in warehouses instead of independent installations on site. The most appropriate component selection and linking method is selected using multi-criteria decision analysis, specifically using AHP, WASPAS and TOPSIS techniques. The criteria considered in order to take the decision are cost of materials, ease of sewing, transport and installation of the system, biodegradability of the secondary mat and its hydroseeding retention capacity that stimulates the revegetation. Due to the uncertainty on the data of biodegradability, four scenarios were analysed. The results indicate that the most suitable secondary membrane in all cases is the coconut fibre mesh and should be connected to the main membrane using a cable tie machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been extensively used to modify the structural response of masonry brick walls. The promising advantages of FRP composites are easy application, lightweight, and very high tensile strength. However, FRP composites are very expensive, and their availability is an issue, especially in developing countries. The use of bricks is widespread in developing countries due to their low price and easy availability. Recent earthquakes and research results have demonstrated the vulnerability of existing masonry structures. In this study, we aimed to investigate the use of low-cost and readily available strengthening materials, i.e., cement-sand mortar and wire mesh, to enhance the flexural capacity of cement-clay interlocking brick (CCIB) masonry walls. The proposed strengthening materials were applied in different configurations and thicknesses. The experimental results indicated that using CS mortar and wire mesh is promising to enhance the flexural capacity of CCIB masonry walls. The flexural capacity and energy absorption capacity of the CCIB masonry wall (strengthened with 20 mm thick CS mortar and three layers of wire mesh) were 87% and 46% higher than the reference CCIB masonry wall. The results of this study can be used to improve the performance of masonry structures against earthquakes in the developing regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Ice and snow shedding events on cable-supported bridges around the world have become more frequent in recent years. Although they pose a risk to bridge users and lead to lengthy bridge closures, the research so far has focused mainly on the development of various countermeasures and the aerodynamic behaviour of cables with ice or snow accretions. In this paper, a wind tunnel investigation aimed at simulating atmospheric conditions to reproduce natural accretion and shedding of ice and snow from different bridge cable surfaces is presented. The experimental investigation was carried out at two different climatic wind tunnel facilities and involved the use of two different solar simulators to simulate the effect of solar radiation on the melting and shedding process. It was found that both the colour of the cable surface and the surface modifications had a significant influence on the melting and shedding of ice and snow. Whilst the cable colour affected the heating rate of the cable surface and governed the shedding rate of smooth cable sections, the use of surface modifications such as steel wire mesh was more effective in retaining the accretions for longer and breaking them into smaller pieces. The analysis further revealed how the non-uniform heat transfer distribution around the cables affects the surface temperatures at specific locations and how much solar irradiance is approximately transmitted through the accretions onto the cable surface. These findings improve the fundamental understanding of ice shedding from bridge cables and demonstrate the performance benefits of cable surface modifications in terms of risk mitigation for bridge users. • Ice shedding was studied in two different wind tunnels with solar simulators. • Ice and snow melting rate increased on darker bridge cable sheaths. • Surface modifications impact ice shedding performance more than sheath colour. • Wire mesh on bridge cables can reduce ice shedding risk significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the shielding effectiveness (SE) prediction of the periodic aperture array on an infinite conductor plane against a plane electromagnetic wave with its wavelength much larger than the size of a unit cell of the array. Especially, the existing analytical expressions of SE are combined to cover the entire range of the aperture rate, which is defined as the ratio of the side length of the aperture to that of the unit cell. The combination is carried out by bridging the small aperture model and the wire mesh model. Then, a multi-stage model based on the piecewise function of the aperture rate is presented to calculate the SE for any aperture rate. The model is also extended to consider different wave polarization and incident angles. The results of the model are in good agreement with those from the full-wave simulation. The applicability of the model to a different thickness and aperture shape is discussed. In addition, the upper-limit frequency at which the model is no longer applicable is also analyzed.

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.

The research study focuses on different strengthening techniques for timber concrete composites (TCC) using different types of wire and wire mesh integrated with a layer of epoxy on a timber core embedded in concrete using experimental and analytical procedure. The impact of TCC on axial compression performance, modulus of elasticity, failure mode and post failure behavior and ductility were compared to reference concrete specimens. Different types of wire and wire mesh used in strengthening of the timber core, timber core size and reinforcement in the concrete cylinder were all parameters considered in this study. Timing of application of the epoxy on the wire strengthened timber core was very important. For structural applications, where the weight reduction and ductility as well as post failure endurance are essential, the development of this composite is recommended. The ratio of the ductility index to the weight is discussed. The light weight of the timber composite, and the increased ductility were noted in this study. An equation to estimate the axial compression capacity of the strengthened timber concrete composite was developed in this study. This study will pave the way for further applications for timber concrete composite aiming at reducing dead weight of concrete and the reducing the amount of concrete and steel in construction.

Traveling wave thermoacoustic-Stirling heat engine is a unique device that is used to convert heat energy to acoustic work. In this article, the thermoacoustic engine is modeled, manufactured and tested. The cyclic analysis is used to carry out the numerical analysis based on the Stirling cycle of the engine. This analysis has considered for study the physical property and characteristics of the regenerator matrix. The traveling acoustic wave produced from the prototype is measured using an audio-speaker as a linear alternator for extracting electrical power from acoustic power. The size and geometry of the regenerator mesh is defines the thermal penetration depth, pressure drop due to it, dead volume across the matrix and acoustic power produced. Hence, there is a need to optimize the mesh size for a given mesh material to maximize the power generated from the engine. The engine has tested with five combinations of mesh sizes. The results of the numerical analysis has shown that 50.1 W power is produced and the tested engine has developed 44.9 W electric-power with the thermal efficiency of 8.3% respectively for 304 wire mesh of SS having mesh size of 60 strands/inch. The results obtained from the numerical analysis and the experiments performed are presented in this paper.

Ferrocement gained an increasing research effort in the last decades due to its low weight and different uses in the developing countries. Ferrocement elements can be used as roofing, flooring elements, or either framed structures. This research presents an experimental and analytical study of the structural behavior of Ferrocement frames. The main objective of the research is to study the effect of combined actions as shear, flexure and normal on the structural behavior of Ferrocement joints. An experimental program including thirty test specimens in form of box shaped panels was conducted. The panels were classified into three groups to draw out the necessary conclusions from the studied parameters. The included parameters are reinforcement schemes and corner reinforcement ratios. The effects of the selected parameters are presented in form of cracking, failure loads and load deflection comparisons. From the study, it is observed clearly that there is significant influence of reinforcement on the overall panels. As the amount of reinforcement increases, the action load increases indicating a higher section capacity to resist more load and delay cracking and yielding of reinforcement. Moreover, the location of the reinforcement helps in enhancing the behavior.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a new application of microwave microscopy as a diagnostic of the painted lightning strike protection (LSP) mesh used in composite aircraft skins. A new flexible probe is presented. This probe can sweep over the surface of the composite skin and detect breaks in the LSP lying underneath. It is demonstrated that shielding of the probe feeding line leads to better balancing, and consequently highly improved immunity to the presence of nearby objects. With this new approach, it is possible to localize faults as small as one cut strand under the paint. Also, this technique features the possibility to measure the paint thickness with a resolution on the order of micrometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to find a suitable method for determining the in-plane shear characteristics of a type of "cellular metal" plain-woven stainless steel wire mesh. That no ready-made standard test exists for investigating the in-plane shear properties of the wire mesh must be noted. Two types of in-plane shear test methods that are normally used for shear tests of textile structures, that is, the bias-extension test and the picture-frame test, were conducted and employed in this work. To determine whether they can provide a pure and uniform shear region during a test, the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) approach is used as an auxiliary measurement of strain distribution for both methods. Based on the comparison and analysis of results from those two tests, a picture-frame test with a corners cut-off sample was found to be a more suitable method than a bias-extension test for determining the shear properties of the wire mesh. However, the bias-extension test can provide a simple and reliable method for determining the lock-angle of a wire mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement–clay Interlocking Hollow Brick Masonry (CCIHBM) walls are characterized by poor mechanical properties of bricks and mortar. Their performance is observed to be unsatisfactory under both gravity and seismic loads. There is an urgent need to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly, and low-cost strengthening materials to alter the structural behaviour of brick masonry walls in terms of strength and ductility. The results of an experimental investigation conducted on the diagonal compressive response of CCIHBM walls are presented in this study. In this experimental study, a total of six CCIHBM walls were constructed using cement–clay interlocking hollow bricks. One was tested as a control or reference wall, whereas the remaining walls were strengthened using cement mortar. In some walls, the cement mortar was also combined with the wire mesh. The research parameters included the type of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) (Type 1 and Type 2), thickness of cement mortar (10 mm and 20 mm), and layers of wire mesh (one and three layers). The experimental results indicate that control or unstrengthened CCIHBM walls failed in a very brittle manner at a very low ultimate load and deformation. The control CCIHBM wall, i.e., W-CON, failed at an ultimate load of 247 kN, and corresponding deflection was 1.8 mm. The strength and ductility of cement mortar and wire mesh-strengthened walls were found to be higher than the reference CCIHBM wall. For example, the ultimate load and deformation of cement-mortar-strengthened wall were found to be 143% and 233% higher than the control wall, respectively. Additionally, the ultimate failure modes of cement mortar and wire mesh strengthened were observed as ductile as compared to the brittle failure of reference wall or unstrengthened CCIHBM wall, which increased by 66% and 150% as compared with the control wall.

Electric field distribution analysis generated by ECCT in a human head model with or without brain cancer using wire mesh electrode has been conductedsuccessfully. The analysis of electric field distribution was done using simulation in a human head model with ECCT Apparel Helmet system type A which is three dimensional model. The electric field distribution was measured with and without a wire mesh electrode which was either passive or active using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2 software and was then processed using MATLAB R2010a. The aim of the research was to assess the performance of wire mesh electrode in detecting electric field distribution. ECCT which is utilized in brain cancer therapy with input 10 V is able to produce an electric field with an average of 178.8 V/m. The input voltage influences electric field distribution whereas the signal frequency does not affect the electric field distribution. Wire mesh electrode which is either active or passive can measure the electric field distribution generated by ECCT that neither the active nor the passive wire mesh electrode changed the pattern of the electric field distribution and the change in the measured electric field value is not significant.

One of the major challenges and contemporary research in the field of structural engineering is strengthening of existing structural elements using readily available materials in the market. Several investigations were conducted on strengthening of various structural components using traditional and advanced materials. Many researchers tried to enhance the reinforced concrete (RC) beams strength using steel plate, Glass and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (GFRP & CFRP). For the reason that high weight to the strength ratio and compatibility in strength between FRP composites and steel bars, steel plates and GFRP and CFRP composites are not used for strengthening works practically. Hence, in this present work the suitability of using wire mesh for the purpose of strengthening the RC flexural members is studied by conducting experimental works. New technique of strengthening system using wire mesh with a view to improve sectional properties and subsequently flexural strength of RC beams is adopted in this work. The results for experimental and theoretical analysis were compared and found that good correlation exists between them. The experimental results indicate that RC beams strengthened with steel wire mesh are easy technique for strengthening of existing flexural members.

The icing of helicopter rotor blades will lead to the destruction of its aerodynamic shape and seriously affect the flight quality. In order to improve the flexibility and fatigue resistance of helicopter rotor anti-icing system, the metal mesh braided with nickel alloy filaments is used as heating element, and the heating element is arranged in the blade in an extended way. Through the design, the diameter of wire and the size of mesh are determined. Combining with the existing composite material forming process, the electrical heating test pieces are prepared. The electrothermal performance test, mechanical property test and laboratory simulated deicing test of the prepared heating pad are carried out. The results show that the temperature rising speed of the heating pad is 2.5 ℃/s, the temperature uniformity in the plane is less than 2 ℃, and the simulated deicing effect in the laboratory is good.

Objective: The eButton takes frontal images at 4s intervals throughout the day. A three-dimensional manually administered wire mesh procedure has been developed to quantify portion sizes from the two-dimensional images. The present paper reports a test of the inter-rater reliability and validity of use of the wire mesh procedure.Design: Seventeen foods of diverse shapes and sizes served on plates, bowls and cups were selected to rigorously test the portion assessment procedure. A dietitian not involved in inter-rater reliability assessment used standard cups to independently measure the quantities of foods to generate the 'true' value for a total of seventy-five 'served' and seventy-five smaller 'left' images with diverse portion sizes.Setting: The images appeared on the computer to which the digital wire meshes were applied.Subjects: Two dietitians and three engineers independently estimated portion size of the larger ('served') and smaller ('left') images for the same foods.Results: The engineers had higher reliability and validity than the dietitians. The dietitians had lower reliabilities and validities for the smaller more irregular images, but the engineers did not, suggesting training could overcome this limitation. The lower reliabilities and validities for foods served in bowls, compared with plates, suggest difficulties with the curved nature of the bowls.Conclusions: The wire mesh procedure is an important step forward in quantifying portion size, which has been subject to substantial self-report error. Improved training procedures are needed to overcome the identified problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based analysis of bacteria suffers from the lack of a standard SERS detection protocol (type of substrates, excitation frequencies, and sampling methodologies) that could be employed throughout laboratories to produce repeatable and valuable spectral information. In this work, we have examined several factors influencing the spectrum and signal enhancement during SERS studies conducted on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species: Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. These factors can be grouped into those which are related to the structure and types of plasmonic systems used during SERS measurements and those that are associated with the culturing conditions, types of culture media, and method of biological sample preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• Increasing efficiency of solar desalination necessitates fundamental understanding of local evaporation process. • We focus on the local evaporation dynamics of pure and saline water on wire meshes subjected to low heat fluxes. • Wire mesh properties and ambient conditions affecting the local evaporation efficiency is explored via experiments and modeling. • Role of thin-film evaporation and thermocapillary convection on evaporation dynamics for low heat fluxes is delineated. • Issues with evaporation of saline water and subsequent salt crystallization on wire meshes is highlighted. It is known that evaporation efficiency of novel solar thermal vapor generation/desalination systems can potentially increase by incorporating interfacial heat localization techniques utilizing porous wicks. The ensuing efficiency is a strong function of the geometric and thermal properties of the wicks and the ambient operating parameters. We investigate the role of these critical process parameters on the evaporation dynamics of pure and saline water from a single-layered wire mesh operating at low heat fluxes (1 kW/m2, 5 kW/m2and 10 kW/m2), which are typical for devices working on solar energy. Evaporation rates of water from stainless steel and nylon meshes are determined using non-invasive infra-red thermography and digital microscopy. A finite element based computational model is developed to understand local transient evaporation phenomenon at the microscale. Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation is used to solve the coupled transport equations on a deforming computational grid, incorporating the Fick's law of diffusion at the evaporating water-air interface. With increasing heat fluxes, there is a deviation from purely diffusion-based transport. Higher evaporation rates are observed in meshes with smaller wire diameter and higher thermal diffusivity. In addition, the decisive role of local thin capillary films is exemplified. Simulations also indicate the diminutive role of thermocapillary convection during evaporation at such low input heat fluxes. Finally, we also investigate the effect of mesh size on the nature of salt crystallization. The evolution of salt concentration gradient at the microscale is computed that complements the experimental observations. Optimal exploitation of heat localization technique for enhanced evaporation necessitates understanding of microscale mesh level local transport effects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wrapping technology is one of the effective ways of strengthening concrete elements. Several researchers reported the effectiveness of Glass fiber reinforced polymers and carbon fiber reinforced polymers for improving the strength of the concrete elements. Wrapping on three sides is one of the effective methods for strengthening the beams supporting slabs. Available literatures on the strength enhancement of “U” wrapped concrete elements subjected to torsional loads do not give a detailed insight, whereas this investigation is an attempt to address the issues with ferrocement “U” wrap. Ferrocement “U” wraps are preferred over FRPs because of its cost factor. The “U” wraps are found to provide better torque carrying capacity under all states of torsion while under reinforced members provide better toughness over other states of torsion. Similarly completely over reinforced beams provide more torque resisting capacity than the others. Increase of torsional capacity is more prominent in states of torsion while improvement in torsional strength with number of mesh layers in ferrocement “U” wrap is minimal.

Highlights • A wire mesh was stretched against a flat plate to study the quenching process. • Single-layered wire mesh deteriorated the heat transfer rate from the surface. • Strong boiling was only observed on discrete locations on the meshed surface. • The bare surface had the lowest temperature gradients. Abstract Experiments were conducted on a flat plate to investigate the influence of the wire mesh on the jet impingement cooling rates. Three different mesh sizes were used to be compared to a bare surface. Inverse heat conduction technique was used to estimate the surface heat flux and temperature without interfering with the flow/boiling phenomena occurring on the surface. The heat flux ratio between the meshed and the bare surface was found to be always less than unity; from 0.6 up to 1.0, which indicated heat transfer deterioration. The bare surface was found to have the lowest temperature gradients due to the fast wetting and uniform heat transfer induced by the impingement process; the increase was found to be 5–25% when compared to bare surface. For the meshed surface, higher temperature gradients were observed due to the localized boiling phenomenon, resulting in non-uniform heat transfer on the surface. Three mesh numbers were Md w = 0.22, 0.28 and 0.34. At Md w = 0.28, better cooling rates (closer to the case with bare surface) than the other two cases. An optimum Md w at which the augmentation of heat transfer due to the wire mesh is not offsetted by the wetting resistance effects was noticed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferrocement has had a long history since it was first patented in 1856. Its significant benefits as construction material have been proven with numerous theoretical and experimental studies throughout the world for many years. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the studies on mechanical properties of ferrocement as used in precast and composite precast slabs. Additionally, this paper identifies and prioritizes the most advantageous designs for precast and composite precast ferrocement slabs and reviews the improved characteristics of ferrocement in comparison to traditional reinforced concrete concerning first crack load, ductility, capacity, whole-life cost benefits, and versatile application. Flexible options for different types of applications with its thin structural form provided by ferrocement and its contribution to the first crack load and ductility were discussed. The paper concludes by summarizing success-full uses and the advantages of ferrocement composite applications in precast structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]