< Back to previous page

Project

Time Machine: a multi-functional test unit for coupled mechanical and physico-chemical degradation.

From the moment structures are put in service, they are subjected to mechanical and physico-chemical ageing. These degradation processes may give cause to lifetime reduction and safety concerns, and need to be investigated for efficient asset management and to trigger the development of new sustainable materials. Mostly, ageing phenomena occur combined and accelerate each other’s effect, leading to negative synergetic effects. Performing accelerated ageing tests in laboratory and thus “cheating time” requires dedicated setups to study these coupled effects. Goal of this application is developing a unique Time Machine for mechanical-physico-chemical ageing tests to investigate coupled degradation phenomena in cementitious materials, metallic structures and composites. The infrastructure considered in this application will support highly realistic testing at the scale of materials and structural components (up to 2m). The Time Machine consists of a highly flexible servo-hydraulic test bench to allow static and fatigue testing in various loading regimes and in-house developed physico-chemical ageing units that are to be coupled with the test bench.
Date:1 Jan 2021 →  31 Dec 2022
Keywords:time machine, coupled loading, degradation, structural materials, lifetime assessment
Disciplines:Construction materials