This study presents the rheological properties of sewage sludge after conditioning with the application of biomass ash. The impact of sewage sludge pre-treatment on its viscosity, flow curves and thixotropy was investigated. The increase of shear stress and the decrease of viscosity were observed with the increase of shear rate. Obtained results were compared with raw sewage sludge and the sludge after modification by means of polyelectrolyte in the dosage of 1.5 g (kg d.m.)-1. The findings proved that samples of raw and conditioned sewage sludge had thixotropic characteristics. The correlation between moisture content and capillary suction time reduction as well as selected rheological parameters were also determined. On the basis of the obtained results it was stated that the Ostwald de Vaele model best fits the experimental data.
This paper presents the results of experimental studies and numerical simulations of the ratcheting for the PA6 aluminum. In the initial determination of the material hardening parameters, the samples were subjected to the symmetrical strain-controlled cyclic tension-compression test. The experimental stress-strain curve was compared with the numerical one obtained for non-linear Frederick-Armstrong and Voce models. For better fitting of both curves, the optimization procedure based on the least-square method and the fuzzy logic was applied. After establishing the hardening parameters, numerical simulations of the ratcheting were made. The boundary value problem was solved by means of discrete analysis. The data (force and displacement) obtained in numerical computations were used to control the ratchetting experiment. The results of experiments and numerical calculations were compared. Good convergence proves the reliability of the determination of material hardening data.