Ferdous, Wahid and Manalo, Allan and Aravinthan, Thiru and Van Erp, Gerard (2015) Optimal polymer matrix coating for composite railway sleeper – analytic hierarchy process. In: Joint conference of the 12th International Symposium on Fiber Reinforced Polymers for Reinforced Concrete Structures (FRPRCS-12) & the 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Fiber Reinforced Polymers in Structures (APFIS-2015), 14-16 Dec 2015, Nanjing, China.
Abstract
The deterioration of the mechanical properties due to environmental exposures is now becoming an issue in the use of fibre composite materials in civil infrastructure. In this study, seven polymer mixes with different percentages of epoxy resin-to-filler ratio has been considered as a coating material for composite railway sleepers. Selecting a particular one from the seven mixes has become a major challenge as the variation on the filler content enhanced some of the physical and mechanical properties of the polymer matrix but degrade some important properties at the same time. To obtain the most suitable polymer coating and to utilise its maximum benefits, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was implemented to select the optimal polymer mix for coating of a composite railway sleeper. Initially, three suitable mixes were shortlisted out of total seven based on their satisfaction of the performance requirements of a timber replacement composite railway sleeper. The AHP method was then applied to select the best suited mix out of three alternatives based the thermal, physical, mechanical, durability and cost properties. The results of this analysis found the polymer mix with a resin-to-filler ratio of 70:30 is the most preferred coating when mechanical properties are given the highest priority followed by cost, durability, thermal and physical properties for composite sleeper application.
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| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Commonwealth Reporting Category E) (Paper) |
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| Refereed: | Yes |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Faculty / Department / School: | Current - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Aug 2016 05:51 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Jan 2017 07:05 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Polymer matrix, Optimal design, Analytic hierarchy process, Railway sleeper |
| Fields of Research : | 09 Engineering > 0905 Civil Engineering > 090506 Structural Engineering |
| Socio-Economic Objective: | E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970109 Expanding Knowledge in Engineering |
| URI: | http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/29590 |
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