Reinforced concrete deep beams (RCDBs) investigations are often complex because of the highly disturbed zones which may aggravate the shear performance under variable loadings. The shear capacity enhancement of RCDB using different aggregate sizes of 19 mm, 25 mm, and 50 mm has been investigated under three-point monotonic loading. Nine RCDBs with 750 × 170 × 225 mm dimensions were considered, and the beam was loaded at a 1.4 shear span to depth ratio. Three of the beams were designed without web reinforcement, and six were designed for web reinforcement with varied aggregate sizes. There was no significant difference in the shear strength of RCDBs considered however, a 50 mm aggregate beam was found capable of reducing the multiple crack propagations when compared to other aggregate-size beams. Additionally, the shear reinforcement increased the ductility and strength by over 30% and 20%, respectively. The applicability of 3-dimensional FEM extended to the investigation acceded with the shear response of the experiment exercising shear stiffening behavior. The estimated model from the modified ACI 318:05 can predict the shear capacity of the RCDB with higher accuracy. Since aggregate resists the load by aggregate interlock action, it is crucial to choose the right aggregate when building concrete structural components. The results of this study will help engineers choose the best aggregate for a certain structural element.

The main goal of this research is to compare the various optimization strategies (Response Surface Methodology, Taguchi, and Teaching Learning Based Optimization) for orthogonal turning of Hard to Machine materials. The workpiece material in this work is Ti6Al4V alloys. After selecting cutting speeds in the High-Speed Machining range, orthogonal turning tests are performed on the material for a specific combination of machining parameters – Depth of Cut, Cutting Speed, and, Feed Rate. A Lathe Tool Dynamometer is used to record the cutting forces from the trials. After combining Johnson Cook Material and Damage models, a comprehensive Finite Element Model is created to model the Orthogonal Turning of Ti6Al4V alloys. Experiments conducted previously validate the developed model. Three different strategies, namely RSM, Taguchi, and TLBO, were used to optimise machining parameters for minimal Cutting Force. The approaches are compared for the best combination of machining parameters and the best Cutting Force value. Analysis of Variance is used to study the impact of machining factors on Cutting Force.