Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plasterboards' humidity absorption on their performance. Specimens' hydration procedure consisted of consecutive immersing in water and subsequent drying at room temperature. Such a procedure was performed to increase the content of moisture within the material volume. The microstructural observations of five different plasterboard types were performed through optical and scanning electron microscopy. The deterioration of their properties was evaluated by using a three-point bending test and a subsequent ultrasonic (ultrasound testing (UT)) longitudinal wave velocity measurement. Depending on the material porosity, a loss of UT wave velocity from 6% to 35% and a considerable decrease in material strength from 70% to 80% were observed. Four types of approximated formulae were proposed to describe the dependence of UT wave velocity on board moisture content. It was found that the proposed UT method could be successfully used for the on-site monitoring of plasterboards' hydration processes.

plasterboards, moisture content, hydration processes, mechanical properties, ultrasound measurements

The aim of the present study was to investigate the degradation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of fiber cement board (FCB), which was exposed to environmental hazards, resulting in thermal impact on the microstructure of the board. The process of structural degradation was conducted under laboratory conditions by storing the FCB specimens in a dry, electric oven for 3 h at a temperature of 230 °C. Five sets of specimens, that differed in cement and fiber content, were tested. Due to the applied heating procedure, the process of carbonization and resulting embrittlement of the fibers was observed. The fiber reinforcement morphology and the mechanical properties of the investigated compositions were identified both before, and after, their carbonization. Visual light and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray micro tomography, flexural strength, and work of flexural test Wf measurements were used. A dedicated instrumentation set was prepared to determine the ultrasound testing (UT) longitudinal wave velocity cL in all tested sets of specimens. The UT wave velocity cL loss was observed in all cases of thermal treatment; however, that loss varied from 2% to 20%, depending on the FCB composition. The results obtained suggest a possible application of the UT method for an on-site assessment of the degradation processes occurring in fiber cement boards.

cement-based composites, fiber cement boards, durability, ultrasound measurements

The microscopic analysis of the different cellulose fibre cement composites is presented. The observations of the fibres in optical microscope in transmitted light and in scanning electron microscope are described. The micro computed tomography (micro-CT) and SEM were used to determine the distribution of the fibres in the matrix. The investigated fibre cement boards were produced by extrusion process and panels were cured in natural conditions. The main goal of the research was application of different microscopic methods to analyze the fibres distribution as a result of a different methods of their production. Micro-CT was used for 3D visualization of fibres distribution in three different fibre cement boards. It was possible to determine the average diameter of the fibres and their concentration using the high-resolution mode of micro-CT scanning procedure. Finally, a procedure which can be applied as a useful tool for analysis of the different procedures used in production of fibre cement boards is described. This procedure can be successfully used in the quality control system of cellulose fibre distribution in cement composites

Cellulose fibre reinforced cement boards, Microstructure, Fibre distribution, X-ray microtomography, SEM-EDS analysis

Fiber cement boards (FCB) microstructure and methods of fabrication are described. The method of X-ray microtomography in application for investigating of FCB microstructure is presented. The cellulose fibers constituting the remarkable reinforcement of the FCB are colorless and too small to be seen applying the standard optical methods. The X-ray microtomography method however enabled the authors to realize three goals within the investigation of the properties of FCB. The length and shape of the fibers could be assessed on specimens' cross-sections. Applying the pseudo 3D visualization it was possible to visualize the cracked regions inside the specimen volume. The case of non-uniform fibers distribution in respect to the board thickness which was impossible to recognize applying the standard visual inspection, was also performed by merging the multiple cross-section images into a single graph

The paper concerns the role of cellulose reinforcements in overall mechanical toughness of fiber concrete panels applied as facade building material. The results of mechanical tests performed on specimens in as delivered state as well as on specimens which underwent the procedure of destruction of internal fiber network structure due to pyrolysis are presented. The results of mechanical tests let the authors to calculate the work of fracture for six different mechanical conditions. Moreover the analysis of registered Acoustic Emission (AE) signal had revealed that the investigated process of destruction begins with the brittle crack generation and growth while major damages of reinforcement system appears in later phase of the process.

Fiber cement panels, Cellulose fibers, Brittle crack, Acoustic Emission

In this paper a method of X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) was employed for a direct insight into a microstructure of fibre cement boards of different quality. Four specimens were subjects of examination. Two parameters were determined to characterize the level of compaction of fibres in concrete matrix: mean-square displacement of migrating virtual particles after 500,000 of time steps and a diffusive tortuosity. The results of the investigation had revealed that fibre cement boards differing in density produce different images after processing with micro-CT method. The effect of microstructure tightening due to saturation using dying agent was also detectable.

Fibre cement boards, Delamination of fibres, Computational modelling, X-ray microtomography

W artykule przedstawiona została możliwość lokalizacji delaminacji w płycie włóknisto-cementowej za pomocą specjalnie do tego celu skonstruowanego urządzenia wykorzystującego metodę ultradźwiękową i fale podłużne. Przeprowadzono badania na trzech rodzajach płyt. Stwierdzono, że proponowana metoda diagnostyczna umożliwia wykrywanie lokalnych nieciągłości, np. obszarów o obniżonej zwartości, czy delaminacji w płytach włóknisto-cementowych na obszarze średnicy wiązki metodą estymacji prędkości fali ultradźwiękowej. Zaletami metody są niewielkie wymiary urządzenia i krótki czas badania

płyty włóknisto-cementowe, badania nieniszczące, ultradźwięki

The paper describes two different techniques of ultrasound measurements performed in fibre cement boards, the material widely applied in building technology. An in-house device dedicated for fibre-cement board testing is also presented. To overcome the difficulty of determining the arrival time of the waveform of a longitudinal wave travelling across a thin and inhomogeneous body, a cross-correlation method of signal processing was proposed and applied

ultrasound, fibre-cement board, waveform cross correlation coefficient