Brazing of two dissimilar structural materials; Zircaloy-4 and SS-316L was performed at 900oC under high vacuum conditions. The metallic glass ribbons (Zr55Cu30Al10Ni2Fe3-at. %) of 30 µm thickness, were used as an interlayer. The bonded region was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS) and microhardness testing. The metallurgical bond formation was due to compositional changes in the molten interlayer and later on its subsequent solidification. Assessment of the bonded zone (BZ) revealed three distinct regions (Region-I, Region-II and Region-III). Diffusion transformation was observed in Region-I and Region-III which were interface with base alloys SS-316L and Zircaloy-4 respectively. However, Region-II at the middle of the BZ was composed of isothermally and athermally solidified portions. The highest values of Microhardness were observed in Region-III which was due to the presence of hard phases. Moreover, a crack parallel to BZ was observed in Region-III and was attributed to differential contraction of base alloys during cooling. Maximum shear stress acting on the BZ was calculated and correlated to the brittle phase cracking.

The paper presents the results of experimental investigations performed by the authors on the casting position factor. It was proved that at the height of reinforced concrete elements there are different bond conditions. Moreover, the bond depends on concrete mechanical properties, element height as well as concrete mix composition and consistency. The experiments also showed the advisability of determining the casting position factor separately for bars from normal concrete and those from high–performance concrete (HPC). The analysis of investigation results has shown that “good” bond conditions are a relative concept and depend on, among other things, element height. The higher the element the better the concrete to lower bars bond. Consequently, elements of considerable height (higher than 600 mm) demonstrate a bigger difference between concrete to upper bars bond and concrete to lower bars bond.