The review outlines modern trends in theoretical developments, novel designs and modern applications of sandwich structures. The most recent work published at the time of writing of this review is considered, older sources are listed only on as-needed basis. The review begins with the discussion on the analytical models and methods of analysis of sandwich structures as well as representative problems utilizing or comparing these models. Novel designs of sandwich structures is further elucidated concentrating on miscellaneous cores, introduction of nanotubes and smart materials in the elements of a sandwich structure as well as using functionally graded designs. Examples of problems experienced by developers and designers of sandwich structures, including typical damage, response under miscellaneous loads, environmental effects and fire are considered. Sample applications of sandwich structures included in the review concentrate on aerospace, civil and marine engineering, electronics and biomedical areas. Finally, the authors suggest a list of areas where they envision a pressing need in further research.

Review of current trends in research and applications of sandwich structures

Disposal of waste tire rubber has become a major environmental issue in all parts of the world. Every year millions of tires are discarded, thrown away or buried all over the world, representing a very serious threat to the ecology. It was estimated that almost 1000 million tires end their service life every year and out of that, more than 50% are discarded to landfills or garbage without any treatment. By the year 2030, there would be 5000 million tires to be discarded on a regular basis. Tire burning, which was the easiest and cheapest method of disposal, causes serious fire hazards. Temperature in that area rises and the poisonous smoke with uncontrolled emissions of potentially harmful compounds is very dangerous to humans, animals and plants. The residue powder left after burning pollutes the soil. One of the possible solutions for the use of waste tire rubber is to incorporate into cement concrete. This paper presents an overview of some of the research published regarding the fresh and hardened properties of rubberized concrete. Studies show that there is a promising future for the use of waste tire rubber as a partial substitute for aggregate in cement concrete. It was noticed from literatures that workable concrete mixtures can be made with scrap tire rubber and it is possible to make light weight rubber aggregate concrete for some special purposes. Rubberized concrete shows high resistance to freeze-thaw, acid attack and chloride ion penetration. Use of silica fume in rubberized concrete enables to achieve high strength and high resistance to sulfate, acid and chloride environments.

A comprehensive review on the applications of waste tire rubber in cement concrete

Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges

Workability and mechanical properties of alkali-activated fly ash-slag concrete cured at ambient temperature

Waste tyres and their accumulation is a global environmental concern; they are not biodegradable, and, globally, an estimated 1.5 billion are generated annually. Waste tyres in landfill and stockpiles are renowned for leaching toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment, acting as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and fuelling inextinguishable fires. The properties of waste tyre rubber and engineering applications have been previously reported in a range of publications with respect to the environmental, economic, and technical factors. This study compiles and reviews this research with a focus on geotechnical engineering applications, such as earthworks and infrastructure construction. The applications of waste rubber in construction materials includes cementitious concrete, asphalt concrete, and granular materials for earth structures. Crumb rubber, when used as a sand replacement in flowable concrete fill, improved ductility and strength-to-weight ratio. A 40 MPa concrete mix with 0.6% rubber crumb content exhibited optimal strength and air entrainment capabilities, displaying minimal damage after 56 freeze/thaw cycles. Rubber, as a partial replacement for aggregate in road base and sub-base layers, adversely affected the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of the graded aggregate base course. Rubber-soil mixtures as the interface of foundation and structure yielded a 60–70 % reduction in vertical and horizontal ground accelerations when subjected to earthquake simulation modelling. There is concern regarding the toxicity of waste rubber incorporated products due to leachates of heavy metals and other chemicals common in tyres. Further comprehensive studies in this area are needed. Leachate studies should be conducted under different pH and liquid to solid ratios.

Recycling waste rubber tyres in construction materials and associated environmental considerations: A review

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP), as a new alternative construction material compared to conventional materials like concrete and steel, has been introduced into civil infrastructure area for centuries and gained increasing interests by many researchers and contractors. FRP exbits several property advantages, such as high strength-to-mass ratio, ease of handling, and relatively high resistance to corrosion. However, one problem that hinders this material from wider acception in civil infrastructure application is the durability of FRP subjected to harsh complicated environmental conditions has not been fully investigated yet. This paper is aim to study the performance of the polyester-based glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) subjected to combined cement alkaline solution, freeze-thaw cycles, wet-dry cycles, heating-cooling cycles, and sustained mechnical load. Concrete was poured into GFRP tube to make concrete-filled FRP tube (CFFT) cylinders, and the cylinders were put into environmental chamber with sustained axial load on. The concrete core of the CFFT cylinders was removed after 72-day’s conditioning, and the outer GFRP tube was cut into ring specimens to conduct hoop tensile tests. Test results indicated that the conditioned GFRP was slightly degraded in strength, but had significant decrease in strain. Sustained load had negligible effect on the strength of GFRP specimens, but did further deteriorate the strain of loaded specimens compared to unloaded specimens.

Durability of Polyester-Based GFRP Subjected to Hybrid Environmental and Mechanical Loads

Bending and Buckling Behavior of Hollow-Core FRP-Concrete-Steel Columns

Durability of Class C Fly Ash-Based Alkali Activated Concrete

The effect of interface material on the dynamic behavior of free rocking blocks

The aim of the present study was to assess female sexual function in an obese group (250 women) and to compare it with a control group (100 women), among 25-35-year-old uncircumcised Egyptian women, using female sexual function index (FSFI) score. FSFI total score of ⩽ 26.55 was considered diagnostic of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). The percentage of FSD in the obese group was 73.6% while it was 71% in the control group, which was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). The difference between both groups regarding the total (FSFI) score was insignificant (P > 0.05), but arousal and satisfaction domains scores were significantly lower in the obese group. In the obese group, a strong negative correlation between body mass index and arousal, orgasm and the total FSFI score was found. Women with excessive obesity had the lowest total FSFI score. In the obese group, college graduates had the highest total scores and all domain scores of FSFI followed by high school graduates while the least educated women had the lowest scores and when these subgroups were compared, significant differences were found among them. We conclude that in uncircumcised 25-35-year-old Egyptian women, obesity is not a major detrimental factor for FSD, but it may affect some sexual domains such as arousal and satisfaction, although excessive obesity is associated with FSD. Also, educational and cultural factors may have an impact on perception of sex and pleasure.

Mohamed A. ElGawady

Papers

Durability of Polyester-Based GFRP Subjected to Hybrid Environmental and Mechanical Loads

Bending and Buckling Behavior of Hollow-Core FRP-Concrete-Steel Columns

Durability of Class C Fly Ash-Based Alkali Activated Concrete

The effect of interface material on the dynamic behavior of free rocking blocks

Assessment of female sexual function in a group of uncircumcised obese Egyptian women