MODELLING OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS 2011

th

The 4 International conference

Faculty of Mechanical engineering, Technical university of Koice

COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR DYNAMIC YOUNGS

MODULUS DETERMINATION IN GYPSUM MATERIALS
Hana Nmcov1, Tom Plach2, Pavel Tesrek3, Andrea Hjkov4,
Michal Polk5
Abstract: The paper deals with dynamic Youngs modulus determination
using two nondestructive methods: the resonant method and the ultrasound
method. The first method is based on measurement of natural frequencies of
gypsum specimen and the second method is based on measurement of wave
propagation time in the gypsum specimen. The results of both methods will be
compared and advantages and disadvantages will be discussed.
Keywords: Impact Excitation Method, Ultrasound Method, Resonant
Frequency, Youngs Modulus

1. Introduction
Gypsum can be added to the group of low-energy materials that can be used in the
construction industry not only because of its economic advantages, but also due to its
possibility to be recycled repeatedly. In some cases it can be used also for load-bearing
structures. However, in that case some modifications of this material are necessary which are
supposed to enhance its original properties and increase its service life. For instance, use of
plasticizers or fiber reinforcement can increase the mechanical strength of gypsum products.
Therefore, it is necessary to determine the properties of gypsum, e.g. bending and
compressive strengths, modulus of elasticity, before starting to use it as a part of the loadbearing structure.
In this paper, measurements of Young's modulus of two types of waste chemo-gypsum
modified by adding plasticizers and hydrophobizers are performed. Two different
experimental methods were used to determine the dynamic Young's modulus of elasticity: the
impact excitation method and the ultrasound method. Both of these methods are
nondestructive, allowing us to measure repeatedly the same sample and another advantage is
that this method can be applied to samples of different shapes and sizes.

2. Material and specimens

The gypsum blocks of dimension 600x300x165 mm were used for the purpose of this test.
As a basic material for gypsum blocks was used the gypsum binder Grey, produced by
1

Hana Nmcov, Ing. DiS., Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University
in Prague, Thkurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic;hana.nemcova@fsv.cvut.cz
2
Tom Plach, Ing. Ph.D., Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical
University in Prague, Thkurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic; plachy@fsv.cvut.cz
3
Pavel Tesrek, Ing. Ph.D., Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University
in Prague, Thkurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic; tesarek@fsv.cvut.cz
4
Andrea Hjkov, Ing., Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical University in
Prague, Thkurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic; hop.hop@seznam.cz
5
Michal Polk,doc. Ing. CSc., Department of Mechanics, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Czech Technical
University in Prague, Thkurova 7, 166 29 Prague 6, Czech Republic; polak@fsv.cvut.cz
Modelling of Mechanical and Mechatronic systems 2011, September 20 22, 2011 Herany, Slovak Republic

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MODELLING OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS 2011

th

The 4 International conference

Faculty of Mechanical engineering, Technical university of Koice

Gypstrend, s.r.o., after Czech standard (SN 72 2301 Plaster binders. Classification.
Common technical requirements. Testing methods) this binder was classified as G2B II. For
modification of material properties of studied gypsum block, block were denoted as MS 84
and MS 86, follow admixtures and hydrophobization admixture MH 1107, Polyfor and
expanded Perlite EP 150 and Perlite EP 180 were used.

3. Impulse excitation method

The test procedure was performed in accordance with ASTM C215 [3]. At first, the
dimensions of all specimens were measured and the mass were weighed. The dynamic
modulus of elasticity was calculated twice. The first calculation was done based on measured
basic longitudinal resonant frequency (Fig.1) and the second one was done based on measured
basic transversal resonant frequency.
The dynamic modulus of elasticity Edl based on longitudinal vibration can be determined
using the relation:
4lmf l 2
E dl =
(1)
bt ,
where l [m] is the length of the specimen, m [kg] is the mass of the specimen, fl [Hz] is
the basic resonant frequency of the longitudinal vibration of the specimen, b [m] is the width
of the specimen and t [m] is the thickness of the specimen.

Fig. 1 The test arrangement for measurement of the

basic longitudinal resonant frequency.

Fig. 2 The measurement line control notebook,

vibration control station Bruel&Kjaer Front-end
3560-B-120, impact hammer Bruel&Kjaer of
Type 8206

The dynamic modulus of elasticity Edf based on the transversal vibration can be
determined using the relation:
0.9465ml 3T1 f f2
(2)
E df =
bt 3
,
where ff [Hz] is the basic resonant frequency of the traverse vibration of the specimen and
T1 is the correction factor for the basic flexural natural mode to account for finite thickness of
a bar, Poissons ratio , and so forth. If the Poissons ratio is not known a priory, an iterative
procedure should be applied for determination of Edf and .
The dynamic shear modulus Gd based on the basic torsional resonant frequency can be
determined using the relation
Modelling of Mechanical and Mechatronic systems 2011, September 20 22, 2011 Herany, Slovak Republic

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MODELLING OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS 2011

th

The 4 International conference

Faculty of Mechanical engineering, Technical university of Koice

Gd =

4lmf t 2
[B / (1 + A)]
bt
,

(3)

where ft [Hz] is the basic torsional resonant frequency of the specimen, A is an empirical
correction factor dependent on the width-to-thickness ratio of the specimen defined in [4] and
B is defined as

b/t + t /b
B=
2
6
4(t / b) 2.52(t / b) + 0.21(t / b) .

(4)

The dynamic Poissons ratio d can be calculated for an isotropic as

E
d = d 1
2Gd
.

(5)

4. The ultrasound method

The second used method for Dynamic Youngs modulus determination was the
ultrasound method was used. Ultrasonic pulse tester Matest was used for measuring the
required time [s] by the ultrasonic impulse to go through the tested material, which depends
on the physical and material properties of the tested samples. The samples were measured
three times and an average value was then calculated. After ultrasonic measuring, samples
were weighted and dimensions of samples were provided.
Dynamic Youngs modulus E [MPa] was calculated using followed equation:
E = v2

(6)

Bulk density [kg.m-3] of the samples was calculated using a basic equation. Velocity v
[km.s-1] was calculated based on measured time and the length of samples.

5. Results
After testing 22 samples the average value of dynamic Young's modulus were found 1.47
GPa from longitudinal vibration and 1.48 GPa from transversal vibration (Fig.3). The
dynamic shear modulus was determined too, the average value was 0.604 GPa (Fig.4).

Dynamic Youngs Modulus

2.0
1.8
1.6

Ed [GPa]

1.4
1.2
1.0

Edl - resonance m.

0.8

Edu - ultrasound m.

0.6

Edf - resonance m.

0.4
0.2
0.0
0

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Block number

Fig. 3 The dynamic Youngs modulus of the gypsum blocks.

Modelling of Mechanical and Mechatronic systems 2011, September 20 22, 2011 Herany, Slovak Republic

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MODELLING OF MECHANICAL AND MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS 2011

th

The 4 International conference

Faculty of Mechanical engineering, Technical university of Koice

Poissons ratio -
0.30
0.25

0.20
0.15

mpod
dl
mpr
df

0.10
0.05
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Block number

Fig. 4 Poissons ratios of the gypsum blocks.

The Poissons ratios were calculated from dynamic Young's modulus and dynamic shear
modulus, the average values were 0.23 evaluated from Edl and 0.22 evaluated from Edf
(Fig.4). The values evaluated from ultrasound method were a little bit higher. The average
value was 1.59 GPa (Fig. 4).

6. Conclusion
The work presents two methods for non-destructive determination of material properties
of gypsum blocks. The values obtained from the resonance method are a little bit lower and
also the dissipation of values is better than for ultrasound method. The next advantage of the
resonance method is also the possibility of determination the dynamic Young's modulus by
two different ways, Edl and Edf (Fig.4) and thus to check the rightness of values. Both
methods are very quick and simple to use. The dynamic values are a little bit higher than
static values, so these methods are suitable especially for comparative studies of sample series
as in this case.

Acknowledgement
This project has been supported by Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports under
the project No. MSM 6840770031.

References
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]

[5]

SN 72 2301 Plaster binders, Classification, Common technical requirements, Testing

methods
KUECHLER, R., NOACK, K., ZORN T., Investigation of gypsum dissolution under saturated
and unsaturated water conditions, Ecological Modelling, 2002, vol. 176, Issues 1-2, p. 1-14
ASTM C215 (2008) Standard Test Method for Fundamental Transverse, Longitudinal, and
Torsional Frequencies of Concrete Specimens, DOI: 10.1520/C0215-08, pp.
PADEVT, P., ZOBAL O., Change of Material Properties of the Cement Paste CEM I, In
Proceeding of Experimental Stress Analysis 2010. Olomouc: Palacky University, 2010, ISBN
978-80-244-2533-7, p. 307-310
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Timber, In Proceeding of Experimental Stress Analysis 2010. Olomouc: Palacky University,
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