To test the influence of binder strength, porous concretes with 4 binder strengths between 30.0-135.0 MPa and 5 void ratios between 15%-35% were tested. The results indicated that for the same aggregate, the rates of ...To test the influence of binder strength, porous concretes with 4 binder strengths between 30.0-135.0 MPa and 5 void ratios between 15%-35% were tested. The results indicated that for the same aggregate, the rates of strength reduction due to the increases in void ratio were the same for binders with different strengths. To study the influence of aggregate size, 3 single size aggregates with nominal sizes of 5.0, 13.0 and 20.0 mm (Nos. 7, 6 and 5 according to JIS A 5001) were used to make porous concrete. The strengths of porous concrete are found to be dependent on aggregate size. The rate of strength reduction of porous concrete with small aggregate size is found to be higher than that with larger aggregate size. At the same void ratio, the strength of porous concrete with large aggregate is larger than that with small aggregate. The general equations for porous concrete are related to compressive strength and void ratio for different binder strengths and aggregate sizes.展开更多
In recent years, the rationalization of concrete mix ratios which batches equal volumes of sand and gravel in building projects has been gaining grounds in the Cameroon construction industry. The main objective of thi...In recent years, the rationalization of concrete mix ratios which batches equal volumes of sand and gravel in building projects has been gaining grounds in the Cameroon construction industry. The main objective of this study is therefore to investigate if the concrete produced with rationalized mix ratio can be adopted as conventional mix ratio in terms of minimum required compression strength of concrete for buildings. Specifically this work compared the conventional mix ratio of 350 kg of cement: 400 liters of sand: 800 liters of gravel for a cubic meter and the rationalized batch of 350 kg of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of 5/15 gravel, 15/25 gravel and a combination of 5/15 + 15/25 gravel. Average compressive tests’results for both the conventional and the rationalized mix ratios were found to meet the minimum compressive strength of 65% at 7 days, 90% at 14 days and 99% at 28 days for gravel size combination 5/15 + 15/25. Single size gravel of 5/15 and 15/25 did not meet the minimum required compressive strength of 20 N/mm<sup>2</sup> for the rationalized mix ratio at 28 days curing based on the minimum compressive strength required, this study arrives at the conclusion that the equal volumes of sand and gravel mix ratio of 350 kg/m<sup>3</sup> of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of gravel mix ratio can be adopted as a conventional concrete mix ratio for gravel size 5/15 + 15/25.展开更多
The prediction model for mechanical properties of RAC was established through the Bayesian optimization-based Gaussian process regression(BO-GPR)method,where the input variables in BO-GPR model depend on the mix ratio...The prediction model for mechanical properties of RAC was established through the Bayesian optimization-based Gaussian process regression(BO-GPR)method,where the input variables in BO-GPR model depend on the mix ratio of concrete.Then the compressive strength prediction model,the material cost,and environmental factors were simultaneously considered as objectives,while a multi-objective gray wolf optimization algorithm was developed for finding the optimal mix ratio.A total of 730 RAC datasets were used for training and testing the predication model,while the optimal design method for mix ratio was verified through RAC experiments.The experimental results show that the predicted,testing,and expected compressive strengths are nearly consistent,illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.展开更多
Biaxial compression tests are performed on 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm cubic specimens of plain high-strength highperformance concrete (HSHPC) at seven kinds of stress ratios, σ2:σ3 =0 : - 1, -0.20 : - 1...Biaxial compression tests are performed on 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm cubic specimens of plain high-strength highperformance concrete (HSHPC) at seven kinds of stress ratios, σ2:σ3 =0 : - 1, -0.20 : - 1, -0.30 : - 1, -0.40 : - 1, -0.50 : -1, -0. 75 : - 1, and - 1.00 : - 1 after exposure to normal and high temperatures of 20, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 ℃, using a large static-dynamic true triaxial machine. Frictionreducing pads are three layers of plastic membranes with glycerine in-between for the compressive loading plane. Failure modes of the specimens are described. The two principally static compressive strengths are measured. The influences of the temperatures and stress ratios on the biaxial strengths of HSHPC after exposure to high temperatures are also analyzed. The experimental results show that the uniaxial compressive strength of plain HSHPC after exposure to high temperatures does not decrease completely with the increase in temperature; the ratios of the biaxial to its uniaxial compressive strengths depend on the stress ratios and brittleness-stiffness of HSHPC after exposure to different high temperatures. The formula of the Kupfer-Gerstle failure criterion modified with the temperature and stress ratio parameters for plain HSHPC is proposed.展开更多
This experimental study aims to examine the influence of many crucial parameters on the workability and compressive strength of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC). The study utilized two distinct varieties of superplasticizers ...This experimental study aims to examine the influence of many crucial parameters on the workability and compressive strength of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC). The study utilized two distinct varieties of superplasticizers obtained from the local market. The fine aggregates utilized in this study were sourced from Sylhet sand, whereas the coarse aggregates were comprised of boulder crushed stone chips. The experimental procedures adhered to the requirements outlined by ASTM. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on a range of concrete compositions that used diverse chemical admixtures. The slump test was performed at regular intervals of 15 minutes until the slump value reached or fell below 3 cm after the mixing of the concrete. In the scenario involving two-stage admixture dosage, the second stage of admixture was introduced once the slump reached or dropped below 3 cm, following which the casting process was initiated. The process of curing concrete specimens consists of two distinct stages: the main stage and the final stage. Cylindrical specimens, with a diameter of 4 inches and a height of 8 inches, were manufactured for the purpose of evaluating their compressive strength at both 7 and 28 days. During the experimental trials, the water-cement (w/c) ratio was kept consistent, while different dosages of admixture were applied. The findings of the study indicate that the utilization of a two-stage dose of admixture resulted in enhanced and extended workability, along with higher strength of the concrete in comparison to specimens that did not incorporate any admixture. This research study enhances the comprehension of optimizing qualities of ready-mix concrete (RMC) by varying the superplasticizer, providing useful insights for the building sector.展开更多
Using the detection principle of infrared thermal imaging technique and the detection principle of DRH thermal conductivity tester laboratory,we investigated the infrared thermal image inspection,coefficient of therma...Using the detection principle of infrared thermal imaging technique and the detection principle of DRH thermal conductivity tester laboratory,we investigated the infrared thermal image inspection,coefficient of thermal conductivity,apparent density,and compressive strength test on C80 high-strength concrete(HSC) in the presence and absence of polypropylene fibers under completely heated conditions.Only slight damages were detected below 400 ℃,whereas more and more severe deterioration events were expected when the temperature was above 500 ℃.The results show that the elevated temperature through infrared images generally exhibits an upward trend with increasing temperature,while the coefficient of thermal conductivity and apparent density decrease gradually.Additionally,the addition of polypropylene fibers with appropriate length,diameter,and quantity contributes to the improvement of the high-temperature resistance of HSC.展开更多
A series of compression tests were conducted on 150 groups of cement paste specimens with side lengths ranging from 40 mm to 200 mm. The specimens include cube specimens and prism specimens with height to width ratio ...A series of compression tests were conducted on 150 groups of cement paste specimens with side lengths ranging from 40 mm to 200 mm. The specimens include cube specimens and prism specimens with height to width ratio of 2. The experiment results show that size effect exists in the cubic compressive strength and prismatic compressive strength of the cement paste, and larger specimens resist less in terms of strength than smaller ones. The cubic compressive strength and the prismatic compressive strength of the specimens with side length of 200 mm are respectively about 91% and 89% of the compressive strength of the specimens with the side length of 40 mm. Water to binder ratio has a significant influence on the size effect of the compressive strengths of the cement paste. With a decrease in the water to binder ratio, the size effect is significantly enhanced. When the water to binder ratio is 0.2, the size effects of the cubic compressive strength and the prismatic compressive strength of the cement paste are 1.6 and 1.4 times stronger than those of a water to binder ratio of 0.6. Furthermore, a series of formulas are proposed to calculate the size effect of the cubic compressive strength and the prismatic compressive strength of cement paste, and the results of the size effect predicted by the formulas are in good agreement with the experiment results.展开更多
Based on the high sulfur content in titanium gypsum,the concept of the calcium-silicon-sulfur(Ca/Si/S)ratio was proposed.The Ca/Si/S ratio of concrete was adjusted by changing the titanium gypsum,fly ash,and cement co...Based on the high sulfur content in titanium gypsum,the concept of the calcium-silicon-sulfur(Ca/Si/S)ratio was proposed.The Ca/Si/S ratio of concrete was adjusted by changing the titanium gypsum,fly ash,and cement con-tent.The effects of different Ca/Si/S ratios on the mechanical properties,hydration products,and concrete micro-structure were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance,uniaxial compression,and scanning electron microscopy.The result shows:(1)The compressive strength of concrete mixed with titanium gypsum increases first and then decreases with the Ca/Si/S ratio decrease.When the Ca/Si/S ratio is 1:0.85:0.10,the strength reaches the peak and is lower than the blank group.(2)The microstructure indicates the addition of titanium gypsum can effectively stimulate the activity of fly ash.Still,too much or too little titanium gypsum will hamper concrete strength development.(3)Titanium gypsum concrete’s nuclear magnetic resonance T2 spectrum has two characteristic peaks.With the Ca/Si/S ratio decreasing,the micropores in the concrete expand towards the macropores.The compressive strength is negatively correlated with the proportion of macropores and is positively correlated with the proportion of no-capillary pores.展开更多
To explore the stabilization effect of stabilizing agent GX07 on treating organic soil and the influence of organic matter on the strength development of stabilized soil,artificial organic soil with various organic ma...To explore the stabilization effect of stabilizing agent GX07 on treating organic soil and the influence of organic matter on the strength development of stabilized soil,artificial organic soil with various organic matter content was obtained by adding different amounts of fulvic acid into non-organic clay,and then liquid-plastic limit tests were carried out on the artificial organic soil.Meanwhile,unconfined compressive strength(UCS) tests were performed on cement-only soil and composite stabilized soil,respectively.The test results indicate that the plastic limit of soil samples increases linearly,and the liquid limit increases exponentially as the organic matter content increases.The strength of stabilized soil is well correlated with the organic matter content,cement content,stabilizing agent content and curing time.When the organic matter content is 6%,as the cement content varies in the range of 10%-20%,the strength of cement-only soil increases from 88.5 to 280.8 kPa.Once 12.6% GX07 is added into the mix,the strength of stabilized soil is 4.93 times compared with that of cement-only soil.GX07 can obviously improve the strength of cemented-soil and has a good economic applicability.A strength model is proposed to predict strength development.展开更多
An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of waste tire chips on the strength characteristics of two soils. A cohesive clayey silt soil and a cohesionless free sand soil were used. A program of sta...An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of waste tire chips on the strength characteristics of two soils. A cohesive clayey silt soil and a cohesionless free sand soil were used. A program of standard Proctor tests, unconfined compression tests and California bearing ratio tests was carried out on specimens of the cohesive soft-tire mixtures, by varying tire chips content from 5% to 20% by weight of the soil. Vibratory compaction tests and direct shear tests were conducted on the cohesioliless soft-tire mixtures by adding tire chips varying from 10% to 50% by weight. The results showed that 13% and 30% chip contents, respectively by weight, were optimum for composite strength of the two reinforced soil mixtttres.展开更多
The effects of water/binder ratio (w/b) on the toughness behavior, compressive strength and flexural strength of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) were investigated. The w/b ratios of 0.25, 0.31, 0.33 and 0...The effects of water/binder ratio (w/b) on the toughness behavior, compressive strength and flexural strength of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) were investigated. The w/b ratios of 0.25, 0.31, 0.33 and 0.37 were selected and the specimens were tested at the ages of 7 d and 28 d. The experimental results showed that there was a corresponding increase in first cracking strength, modulus of rupture, compressive strength and flexural strength with the decrease of w/b. Within the w/b range of 0.25-0.37, higher w/b was found to have improved effects on deflection, strain hardening index and toughness index of ECC. In the permission of meeting the requirement of compressive strength grade, selecting higher w/b in mix design will help to obtain robust ECC.展开更多
Quasi-static and compressive fatigue tests on the closed cell Al-Si-Ca alloy foam specimens with three different aspect ratios were performed. It turned out that the onset of cyclic shortening of foam with a lower asp...Quasi-static and compressive fatigue tests on the closed cell Al-Si-Ca alloy foam specimens with three different aspect ratios were performed. It turned out that the onset of cyclic shortening of foam with a lower aspect ratio took place earlier and the fatigue strength was lower compared with the specimen with a higher aspect ratio, although all the dimensions of specimen satisfied the seven times the cell size criterion, while the quasi-static stress-strain curves were almost same having same Young's modulus, yield stress and plateau stress. Therefore, the seven times the cell size criterion for the quasi-static compression behavior was not applicable to the fatigue analysis of Al-Si-Ca alloy foam.展开更多
文摘To test the influence of binder strength, porous concretes with 4 binder strengths between 30.0-135.0 MPa and 5 void ratios between 15%-35% were tested. The results indicated that for the same aggregate, the rates of strength reduction due to the increases in void ratio were the same for binders with different strengths. To study the influence of aggregate size, 3 single size aggregates with nominal sizes of 5.0, 13.0 and 20.0 mm (Nos. 7, 6 and 5 according to JIS A 5001) were used to make porous concrete. The strengths of porous concrete are found to be dependent on aggregate size. The rate of strength reduction of porous concrete with small aggregate size is found to be higher than that with larger aggregate size. At the same void ratio, the strength of porous concrete with large aggregate is larger than that with small aggregate. The general equations for porous concrete are related to compressive strength and void ratio for different binder strengths and aggregate sizes.
文摘In recent years, the rationalization of concrete mix ratios which batches equal volumes of sand and gravel in building projects has been gaining grounds in the Cameroon construction industry. The main objective of this study is therefore to investigate if the concrete produced with rationalized mix ratio can be adopted as conventional mix ratio in terms of minimum required compression strength of concrete for buildings. Specifically this work compared the conventional mix ratio of 350 kg of cement: 400 liters of sand: 800 liters of gravel for a cubic meter and the rationalized batch of 350 kg of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of 5/15 gravel, 15/25 gravel and a combination of 5/15 + 15/25 gravel. Average compressive tests’results for both the conventional and the rationalized mix ratios were found to meet the minimum compressive strength of 65% at 7 days, 90% at 14 days and 99% at 28 days for gravel size combination 5/15 + 15/25. Single size gravel of 5/15 and 15/25 did not meet the minimum required compressive strength of 20 N/mm<sup>2</sup> for the rationalized mix ratio at 28 days curing based on the minimum compressive strength required, this study arrives at the conclusion that the equal volumes of sand and gravel mix ratio of 350 kg/m<sup>3</sup> of cement: 600 liters of sand: 600 liters of gravel mix ratio can be adopted as a conventional concrete mix ratio for gravel size 5/15 + 15/25.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51908183)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(No.E2023202101)。
文摘The prediction model for mechanical properties of RAC was established through the Bayesian optimization-based Gaussian process regression(BO-GPR)method,where the input variables in BO-GPR model depend on the mix ratio of concrete.Then the compressive strength prediction model,the material cost,and environmental factors were simultaneously considered as objectives,while a multi-objective gray wolf optimization algorithm was developed for finding the optimal mix ratio.A total of 730 RAC datasets were used for training and testing the predication model,while the optimal design method for mix ratio was verified through RAC experiments.The experimental results show that the predicted,testing,and expected compressive strengths are nearly consistent,illustrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
文摘Biaxial compression tests are performed on 100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm cubic specimens of plain high-strength highperformance concrete (HSHPC) at seven kinds of stress ratios, σ2:σ3 =0 : - 1, -0.20 : - 1, -0.30 : - 1, -0.40 : - 1, -0.50 : -1, -0. 75 : - 1, and - 1.00 : - 1 after exposure to normal and high temperatures of 20, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 ℃, using a large static-dynamic true triaxial machine. Frictionreducing pads are three layers of plastic membranes with glycerine in-between for the compressive loading plane. Failure modes of the specimens are described. The two principally static compressive strengths are measured. The influences of the temperatures and stress ratios on the biaxial strengths of HSHPC after exposure to high temperatures are also analyzed. The experimental results show that the uniaxial compressive strength of plain HSHPC after exposure to high temperatures does not decrease completely with the increase in temperature; the ratios of the biaxial to its uniaxial compressive strengths depend on the stress ratios and brittleness-stiffness of HSHPC after exposure to different high temperatures. The formula of the Kupfer-Gerstle failure criterion modified with the temperature and stress ratio parameters for plain HSHPC is proposed.
文摘This experimental study aims to examine the influence of many crucial parameters on the workability and compressive strength of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC). The study utilized two distinct varieties of superplasticizers obtained from the local market. The fine aggregates utilized in this study were sourced from Sylhet sand, whereas the coarse aggregates were comprised of boulder crushed stone chips. The experimental procedures adhered to the requirements outlined by ASTM. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on a range of concrete compositions that used diverse chemical admixtures. The slump test was performed at regular intervals of 15 minutes until the slump value reached or fell below 3 cm after the mixing of the concrete. In the scenario involving two-stage admixture dosage, the second stage of admixture was introduced once the slump reached or dropped below 3 cm, following which the casting process was initiated. The process of curing concrete specimens consists of two distinct stages: the main stage and the final stage. Cylindrical specimens, with a diameter of 4 inches and a height of 8 inches, were manufactured for the purpose of evaluating their compressive strength at both 7 and 28 days. During the experimental trials, the water-cement (w/c) ratio was kept consistent, while different dosages of admixture were applied. The findings of the study indicate that the utilization of a two-stage dose of admixture resulted in enhanced and extended workability, along with higher strength of the concrete in comparison to specimens that did not incorporate any admixture. This research study enhances the comprehension of optimizing qualities of ready-mix concrete (RMC) by varying the superplasticizer, providing useful insights for the building sector.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51278325)the Shanxi Province Natural Science Foundation(No.2011011024-2)
文摘Using the detection principle of infrared thermal imaging technique and the detection principle of DRH thermal conductivity tester laboratory,we investigated the infrared thermal image inspection,coefficient of thermal conductivity,apparent density,and compressive strength test on C80 high-strength concrete(HSC) in the presence and absence of polypropylene fibers under completely heated conditions.Only slight damages were detected below 400 ℃,whereas more and more severe deterioration events were expected when the temperature was above 500 ℃.The results show that the elevated temperature through infrared images generally exhibits an upward trend with increasing temperature,while the coefficient of thermal conductivity and apparent density decrease gradually.Additionally,the addition of polypropylene fibers with appropriate length,diameter,and quantity contributes to the improvement of the high-temperature resistance of HSC.
基金Project(51408213)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘A series of compression tests were conducted on 150 groups of cement paste specimens with side lengths ranging from 40 mm to 200 mm. The specimens include cube specimens and prism specimens with height to width ratio of 2. The experiment results show that size effect exists in the cubic compressive strength and prismatic compressive strength of the cement paste, and larger specimens resist less in terms of strength than smaller ones. The cubic compressive strength and the prismatic compressive strength of the specimens with side length of 200 mm are respectively about 91% and 89% of the compressive strength of the specimens with the side length of 40 mm. Water to binder ratio has a significant influence on the size effect of the compressive strengths of the cement paste. With a decrease in the water to binder ratio, the size effect is significantly enhanced. When the water to binder ratio is 0.2, the size effects of the cubic compressive strength and the prismatic compressive strength of the cement paste are 1.6 and 1.4 times stronger than those of a water to binder ratio of 0.6. Furthermore, a series of formulas are proposed to calculate the size effect of the cubic compressive strength and the prismatic compressive strength of cement paste, and the results of the size effect predicted by the formulas are in good agreement with the experiment results.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(5210090341)Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(202300410270)Fund of Innovative Education Program for Graduate Students at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power,China(Grading No.YK-2021-39).
文摘Based on the high sulfur content in titanium gypsum,the concept of the calcium-silicon-sulfur(Ca/Si/S)ratio was proposed.The Ca/Si/S ratio of concrete was adjusted by changing the titanium gypsum,fly ash,and cement con-tent.The effects of different Ca/Si/S ratios on the mechanical properties,hydration products,and concrete micro-structure were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance,uniaxial compression,and scanning electron microscopy.The result shows:(1)The compressive strength of concrete mixed with titanium gypsum increases first and then decreases with the Ca/Si/S ratio decrease.When the Ca/Si/S ratio is 1:0.85:0.10,the strength reaches the peak and is lower than the blank group.(2)The microstructure indicates the addition of titanium gypsum can effectively stimulate the activity of fly ash.Still,too much or too little titanium gypsum will hamper concrete strength development.(3)Titanium gypsum concrete’s nuclear magnetic resonance T2 spectrum has two characteristic peaks.With the Ca/Si/S ratio decreasing,the micropores in the concrete expand towards the macropores.The compressive strength is negatively correlated with the proportion of macropores and is positively correlated with the proportion of no-capillary pores.
基金Project(50678158) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘To explore the stabilization effect of stabilizing agent GX07 on treating organic soil and the influence of organic matter on the strength development of stabilized soil,artificial organic soil with various organic matter content was obtained by adding different amounts of fulvic acid into non-organic clay,and then liquid-plastic limit tests were carried out on the artificial organic soil.Meanwhile,unconfined compressive strength(UCS) tests were performed on cement-only soil and composite stabilized soil,respectively.The test results indicate that the plastic limit of soil samples increases linearly,and the liquid limit increases exponentially as the organic matter content increases.The strength of stabilized soil is well correlated with the organic matter content,cement content,stabilizing agent content and curing time.When the organic matter content is 6%,as the cement content varies in the range of 10%-20%,the strength of cement-only soil increases from 88.5 to 280.8 kPa.Once 12.6% GX07 is added into the mix,the strength of stabilized soil is 4.93 times compared with that of cement-only soil.GX07 can obviously improve the strength of cemented-soil and has a good economic applicability.A strength model is proposed to predict strength development.
文摘An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of waste tire chips on the strength characteristics of two soils. A cohesive clayey silt soil and a cohesionless free sand soil were used. A program of standard Proctor tests, unconfined compression tests and California bearing ratio tests was carried out on specimens of the cohesive soft-tire mixtures, by varying tire chips content from 5% to 20% by weight of the soil. Vibratory compaction tests and direct shear tests were conducted on the cohesioliless soft-tire mixtures by adding tire chips varying from 10% to 50% by weight. The results showed that 13% and 30% chip contents, respectively by weight, were optimum for composite strength of the two reinforced soil mixtttres.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.50872127)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry
文摘The effects of water/binder ratio (w/b) on the toughness behavior, compressive strength and flexural strength of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) were investigated. The w/b ratios of 0.25, 0.31, 0.33 and 0.37 were selected and the specimens were tested at the ages of 7 d and 28 d. The experimental results showed that there was a corresponding increase in first cracking strength, modulus of rupture, compressive strength and flexural strength with the decrease of w/b. Within the w/b range of 0.25-0.37, higher w/b was found to have improved effects on deflection, strain hardening index and toughness index of ECC. In the permission of meeting the requirement of compressive strength grade, selecting higher w/b in mix design will help to obtain robust ECC.
基金supported by Chungnam Automotive Technology Education Center(NURI)and BK 21.
文摘Quasi-static and compressive fatigue tests on the closed cell Al-Si-Ca alloy foam specimens with three different aspect ratios were performed. It turned out that the onset of cyclic shortening of foam with a lower aspect ratio took place earlier and the fatigue strength was lower compared with the specimen with a higher aspect ratio, although all the dimensions of specimen satisfied the seven times the cell size criterion, while the quasi-static stress-strain curves were almost same having same Young's modulus, yield stress and plateau stress. Therefore, the seven times the cell size criterion for the quasi-static compression behavior was not applicable to the fatigue analysis of Al-Si-Ca alloy foam.