The new beam-like specimen is able to provide any combination of the mode-II and mode-III strain energy release rates.
It can be noted, in general, that all the tested specimens were able to recover the original strength (and even achieving higher values).
All specimens are able to absorb most of the kinetic energy under impact velocity of 4.62 m/s, since the basalt textile is mainly pulled out from the matrix.
The results indicate that the maleated polyethylene/nylon 6 blend specimens are able to show good shape memory effect under normal experimental conditions.
None of the DLC coated specimens were able to withstand the corrosion effects of the acidic and alkaline artificial perspiration solutions.
The experiments were designed specifically to prove that block specimens are able to gradually absorb different levels of impact energy and to examine the applicability of using such blocks in the design of cross-drainage culverts.
In the cyclic tests, most specimens were able to complete 20 cycles with target strain amplitudes of ±2.5%, ±5.0%, ±7.5%, and ±10.0%, under loading frequencies of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 Hz.
It emerged that strengthened specimens are able to resist out-of-plane bending moments almost 4 5 times greater than those of plain specimens; moreover they can overcome deflections more than 25 times higher, due to the presence of the GFRP mesh, which contrasts the opening of cracks.
Although the second specimen failed from the threaded area of the tensile bolts, due to increased coupling beam strength, the specimens were able to sustain large nonlinear displacements without significant damage in the connection to the wall pier regions; representing that this connection configuration would require little repair, if any, after a severe earthquake.
Though plants are usually killed by a severe fire, mature specimens are able to resprout.
