Optimization of Polymer Concrete Composites. Final Report.
Optimization of Polymer Concrete Composites. Final
Report.
(4165 K)
Czarnecki, L.; Garbacz, A.; Lukowski, P.; Clifton, J. R.
NISTIR 6361; 63 p. August 1999.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900.
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB99-159642
Keywords:
concretes; composite materials; combustibility; epoxy
resins; flammability; material design; microfiller;
optimization; overall desirability; polymer concrete;
polyester resin
Abstract:
The objective of this project was the development of a
method for the design and optimization of polymer
concrete composites, using a fundamental approach based
on material models of polymer concrete. The important
technical properties and the statistical evaluation of
the heterogeneity of polymer concrete are presented.
Some aspects of the statistical design of experiments
are described. It was shown that a material model based
on quadratic functions formed a suitable basis for the
optimization of polymer concrete. A comparative analysis
of the material models of the two main types of polymer
concrete, epoxy and polyester concrete, was carried The
objective of this project was the development of a
method for the design and optimization of polymer
concrete composites, using a fundamental approach based
on material models of polymer concrete. The important
technical properties and the statistical evaluation of
the heterogeneity of polymer concrete are presented.
Some aspects of the statistical design of experiments
are described. It was shown that a material model based
on quadratic functions formed a suitable basis for the
optimization of polymer concrete. A comparative analysis
of the material models of the two main types of polymer
concrete, epoxy and polyester concrete, was carried out.
Graphical examples of model applications are presented
and the conclusions from the analyses are given. The
overall desirabilify function was then used as the
metric for the multi-criteria optimization of polymer
concrete. This optimization process was applied to
several particular polymer concrete composites,
including polyester concrete with silica fume,
highly-filled polyester concrete to reduce material
costs, and epoxy concrete of low flammability and
combustibility. Experimental validation of the results
of the optimization process was carried out. Specific
problems were solved using the computer program MOS
developed as part of this joint project. The manual for
this user-friendly program, which should be a generally
useful tool for polymer concrete designers, has been
published separately.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899