In the aerospace field, Carbon/Cork composites have been used for rocket propulsion systems as a light weight structural component with a high bending stiffness and high thermal insulation properties. For the fabrication of a carbon composite with a heat insulation cork part, the bonding properties between them are very important to determine the service life of the Carbon/Cork composite structure. In this study, the changes in the interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of Carbon/Cork composites under accelerated aging conditions were investigated. The accelerated aging experiments were performed with different temperatures and humidity conditions. The properties of the aged Carbon/Cork composites were evaluated mainly with the interfacial strength. Finally, the lifetime prediction of the Carbon/Cork composites was performed with the long-term property data under accelerated conditions.

Clogging of the filter media which is brought by physical, chemical, and biological factors tend to reduce the lifespan of filters and remains a challenge. In this study, a laboratory column test method was used to investigate the evolution of physical and biological clogging in a non-vegetated filter media system with layers of sand, gravel, and woodchip. Blank column tests using either sand or gravel were conducted and investigated. Several column setups with varying arrangements and particle sizes of sand and gravel were also prepared to identify the best filter media combination that is least susceptible to clogging without compromising the treatment capacity. Artificial stormwater runoff was introduced in the system at a specific hydraulic loading rate (HLR) and influent characteristics. The degree of clogging was quantified by monitoring the variations in the hydraulic head at different levels of the columns. Water samples were also collected, tested, and analyzed at the end of each test run in order to measure the treatment efficiency of the filter. The insights and results of this study can justify the physical and biological clogging formation in filter media and therefore be used to suggest some filter media particle size modifications that can help to improve the sediment removal and treatment performance. Moreover, it can also aid to reduce the maintenance frequency and costs of a stormwater filter system.