This thesis is concerned with a fundamental unit of the economy: Households. Even in advanced economies, upwards of 70% of the population live in households composed of multiple people. A large number of decisions are taken at the level of the household, that is to say, they are taken jointly by household members: How to raise children, how much and when to work, how many cartons of milk to purchase. How these decisions are made is therefore of great importance for the people who live in them and for their well-being.But precisely because household members make decisions jointly it is hard to know how they come about and to what extent they benefit individual members. This is why households are often viewed as unique decision makers in economics. Even if they contain multiple people, they are treated as though they were a single person with a single set of preferences. This unitary approach is often sufficient and can be a helpful simplification. But in many situations it does not deliver an adequate description of household behavior. For instance, the unitary model does not permit the study of individual wellbeing and inequality inside the household. In addition, implications of the unitary model have been rejected repeatedly in the demand literature.Bargaining models offer an alternative where household members have individual preferences and come to joint decisions in various ways. There are by now a great number of such models, all of which allow for the study of bargaining power, a measure of the influence a member has in decision making. This concept is important because it has implications for the welfare of individuals. If one household member’s bargaining power increases, the household’s choices will be more closely aligned with that member’s preferences, ceteris paribus.The three chapters below can be divided into two parts. The first part consists of Chapter 1, which looks to detect the influence of intra-household bargaining in a specific set of consumption choices: Consumption of the arts. The research in this chapter is designed to measure aspects of the effect of bargaining power in this domain, but does not seek to quantify bargaining power itself or to infer economic well-being of household members.Precisely this last point, however, is the focus of the second part of the thesis, consisting of Chapters 2 and 3. These focus specifically on the recovery of one measure of bargaining power, the resource share. Resource shares have the advantage of being interpretable in terms of economic well-being, which is not true of all such measures. They are estimated as part of structural models of household demand. These models are versions of the collective model of household decision making.Pioneered by Chiappori (1988) and Apps and Rees (1988), the collective model has become the go-to alternative to unitary approaches, where the household is seen as a single decision-making unit with a single well-behaved utility function. Instead, the collective model allows for individual utility functions for each member of the household. The model owes much of its success to the simplicity of its most fundamental assumption: That whatever the structure of the intra-household bargaining process, outcomes are Pareto-efficient. This means that no member can be made better off, without making another worse off. Though the model nests unitary models as special cases, it does have testable implications.The first chapter of the thesis is entitled “Household Decisions on Arts Consumption” and is joint work with Caterina Mauri, who has also collaborated with me on many other projects in her capacity as my girlfriend. In it, we explore the role of intra-household bargaining in arts consumption. We do this by estimating demand for various arts and cultural events such as the opera or dance performances using a large number of explanatory variables. One of these variables plays a special role. This variable is a distribution factor, meaning that it can be reasonably assumed to affect consumption only through the bargaining process, and not by modifying preferences. Such variables play an important role in the household bargaining literature. Here, three such variables are used. Among them is the share of household income that is contributed by the husband, the canonical distribution factor.The chapter fits into a literature on drivers of arts consumption, which has shown that in addition to such factors as age, income and education, spousal preferences and characteristics are important in determining how much and which cultural goods are consumed. Gender differences in preferences in arts consumption have also been shown to be important and to persist after accounting for class, education and other socio-economic factors (Bihagen and Katz-Gerro, 2000).We explore to what extent this difference in preferences can be used to shed light on the decision process in couples’ households. Using three different distribution factors, we infer whether changes in the relative bargaining power of spouses induce changes in arts consumption.Using a large sample from the US Current Population Survey which includes data on the frequency of visits to various categories of cultural activities, we regress atten- dance rates on a range of socio-economic variables using a suitable count data model.We find that attendance by men at events such as the opera, ballet and other dance performances, which are more frequently attended by women than by men, show a significant influence of the distribution factors. This significant effect persists irrespec- tively of which distribution factor is used. We conclude that more influential men tend to participate in these activities less frequently than less influential men, conditionally on a host of controls notably including hours worked.The second chapter centers around the recovery of resource shares. This chapter is joint work with Denni Tommasi, a fellow PhD student at ECARES. It relies on the collective model of the household, which assumes simply that household decisions are Pareto-efficient. From this assumption, a relatively simple household problem can be formulated. Households can be seen as maximizers of weighted sums of their members’ utility functions. Importantly the weights, known as bargaining weights (or bargaining power), may depend on many factors, including prices. The household problem in turn implies structure for household demand, which is observed in survey data.Collective demand systems do not necessarily identify measures of bargaining power however. In fact, the ability to recover such a measure, and especially one that is useful for welfare analysis, was an important milestone in the literature. It was reached by (Browning et al. 2013) (henceforth BCL), with a collective model capable of identi- fying resource shares (also known as a sharing rule). These shares provide a measure of how resources are allocated in the household and so can be used to study intra- household consumption inequality. They also take into account that households gen- erate economies of scale for their members, a phenomenon known as a consumption technology: By sharing goods such as housing, members of households can generate savings that can be used elsewhere.Estimation of these resource shares involves expressing household budget shares functions of preferences, a consumption technology and a sharing rule, each of which is a function of observables, and letting the resulting system loose on the data. But obtaining such a demand system is not free. In addition to the usual empirical speci- fications of the various parts of the system, an identifying assumption has to be made to assure that resource shares can be recovered in estimation. In BCL, this is the assumption that singles and adult members of households share the same preferences. In Chapter 2, however, an alternative assumption is used.In a recent paper, Dunbar et al. (2013) (hereafter DLP) develop a collective model based on BCL that allows to identify resource shares using assumptions on the simi- larity of preferences within and between households. The model uses demand only for assignable goods, a favorite of household economists. These are goods such as mens’ clothing and womens’ clothing for which it is known who in a household consumes them. In this chapter, we show why, especially when the data exhibit relatively flat Engel curves, the model is weakly identified and induces high variability and an im- plausible pattern in least squares estimates.We propose an estimation strategy nested in their framework that greatly reduces this practical impediment to recovery of individual resource shares. To achieve this, we follow an empirical Bayes method that incorporates additional (or out-of-sample) information on singles and relies on mild assumptions on preferences. We show the practical usefulness of this strategy through a series of Monte Carlo simulations and by applying it to Mexican data.The results show that our approach is robust, gives a plausible picture of the house- hold decision process, and is particularly beneficial for the practitioner who wishes to apply the DLP framework. Our welfare analysis of the PROGRESA program in Mexico is the first to include separate poverty rates for men and women in a CCT program.The third Chapter addresses a problem similar to the one discussed in Chapter 2. The goal, again, is to estimate resource shares and to remedy issues of imprecision and instability in the demand systems that can deliver them. Here, the collective model used is based on Lewbel and Pendakur (2008), and uses data on the entire basket of goods that households consume. The identifying assumption is similar to that used by BCL, although I allow for some differences in preferences between singles and married individuals.I set out to improve the precision and stability of the resulting estimates, and so to make the model more useful for welfare analysis. In order to do so, this chapter approaches, for the first time, the estimation of a collective household demand system from a Bayesian perspective. Using prior information on equivalence scales, as well as restrictions implied by theory, tight credible intervals are found for resource shares, a measure of the distribution of economic well-being in a household. A modern MCMC sampling method provides a complete picture of the high-dimensional parameter vec- tor’s posterior distribution and allows for reliable inference.The share of household earnings generated by a household member is estimated to have a positive effect on her share of household resources in a sample of couples from the US Consumer Expenditure survey. An increase in the earnings share of one percentage point is estimated to result in a shift of between 0.05% and 0.14% of household resources in the same direction, meaning that spouses partially insure one another against such shifts. The estimates imply an expected shift of 0.71% of household resources from the average man to the average woman in the same sample between 2008 and 2012, when men lost jobs at a greater rate than women.Both Chapters 2 and 3 explore unconventional ways to achieve gains in estimator precision and reliability at relatively little cost. This represents a valuable contribution to a literature that, for all its merits in complexity and ingenious modeling, has not yet seriously endeavored to make itself empirically useful. / Doctorat en Sciences économiques et de gestion / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

A durabilidade das estruturas de concreto tem se tornado um assunto de interesse mundial nas últimas duas décadas. Os custos econômicos associados a reparos de estruturas de concreto são cada vez maiores, e cada vez mais a incidência de insucessos nessas intervenções corretivas que não resultam adequadas é reportada. No Brasil a técnica de intervenção corretiva mais utilizada é a de reparos localizados com argamassas base cimento modificadas com polímeros. Uma das patologias mais comumente apresentada quando do uso deste tipo de intervenção é a fissuração associada à retração. O presente trabalho pretende avaliar a influência das variáveis mais importantes e até de alguns parâmetros de dosagem, na fissuração devido à retração de argamassas de reparo. Para tal foi estudada uma família de argamassas com mesma consistência de traços 1:1,0, 1:1,5, 1:2,2 e 1:3,0; utilizando para estas um teor fixo de polímero e de aditivo superplastificante com relação à massa do cimento. Foram também avaliadas três argamassas de base cimento modificadas com polímeros disponíveis no país e comercializadas para o reparo de estruturas de concreto, de modo a classificar e comparar estas quanto à fissuração, em relação àquelas dosadas em laboratório. Para avaliar a tendência à fissuração das argamassas foram realizados ensaios de retração potencial livre, resistência à tração na flexão, módulo de elasticidade e retração restringida. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o modelo εj - ftj/Ecj conseguiu acusar a fissuração das argamassas que realmente fissuraram no ensaio de retração restringida. Esse modelo considera todas as variáveis influentes na fissuração medidas no programa experimental. Verificou-se também que para um estudo mais simplificado pode ser utilizado um modelo que considera apenas a retração livre, porém este se coloca sempre a favor da segurança. Para argamassas de uma mesma família pode-se dizer que há um traço que apresenta a menor tendência à fissuração. / The durability of concrete structures has become an issue of interest worldwide especially during the last two decades. The expenditures associated to the repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures is becoming increasingly higher, and the amount of unsucceeded repairs on concrete structures has been reported as unacceptable. In Brazil, patch repair with cement-based polymer modified mortars is the most widely technique used. One of the main causes of distress when using this type of repair has been found to be shrinkage cracking. The target of this research is to evaluate the effect of some significant properties and also some mix-design parameters on the cracking potential due to shrinkage of repair mortars. Therefore, a family of mortars with the same consistency with cement:sand proportions of 1:1,0, 1:1,5, 1:2,2 and 1:3,0; with a constant polymer and superplasticizer content related to the cement weight. Also, three industrialized polymer modified repair mortars from different manufacturers were evaluated, thus allowing classifying and comparing their cracking potential with the laboratory prepared mortars. For evaluating the cracking potential of the mortars the following tests were selected, free-shrinkage, flexural strength, elasticity modulus and restrained shrinkage. The results obtained show that the model εj - ftj/Ecj was able to distinguish the mortars that cracked during the restrained shrinkage testing from the mortars that did not crack. This model considers all of the variables measured during the experimental program affecting shrinkage related cracking. It was also verified that a more simplified study can considering only the free-shrinkage of the mortars can be applied; being that this model will always be in favor of security. For mortars of a same family it can be concluded that there is one mix-proportion that will present the least cracking tendency.

Os resíduos de concreto apresentam grande potencial para serem reciclados quando comparados com outros resíduos, entretanto, o número de estudos realizados no Brasil é muito pequeno dificultando a utilização deste material em dosagens estruturais. Em virtude disso, desenvolveu-se um estudo teórico-experimental visando caracterizar algumas propriedades do agregado e do concreto reciclado; no estudo teórico exploraram-se aspectos relacionados à geração, deposição, processos para recuperação, britagem, casos práticos, pesquisas envolvendo reciclados de concreto e as recomendações normativas existentes. No desenvolvimento experimental, analisou-se a influência do período decorrido entre a moldagem e a reciclagem do concreto nas propriedades dos agregados e concretos. Os resultados indicam que resíduos reciclados logo após sua geração, contribuem positivamente para as propriedades mecânicas do concreto, devido à existência de grande quantidade de partículas não-hidratadas de cimento, tais concretos obtiveram resultados superiores para a resistência à compressão e tração quando comparados aos concretos com agregados naturais. / The concrete residues show a large potential to be recycled when compared with other residues; however, the number of studies in Brazil is very small hindering the use of this material in structural dosage. By virtue of that, it was developed a theoretical-experimental study to characterize some properties of aggregate and recycled concrete; in the theoretical study it was explored aspects related to the generation, deposition, processes for recovery, crushing, practical cases, researches involving recycled of concrete and the existent normative recommendations. In the experimental development, it was analyzed the influence of the period elapsed between the molding and the recycling of the concrete in the properties of the aggregates and concretes. The results indicate that residues recycled soon after generation, these contribute positively to the mechanical properties of the concrete due to the existence of large amount of nonhydrated cement particles, such concretes obtained results superiors for the compression strenght and tensile strenght when compared to the concretes with natural aggregates.

O problema ocasionado pela contração de polimerização é crítico, pois a resina composta deve conservar-se intimamente ligada à cavidade dentária enquanto ganha rigidez e diminui suas dimensões. Forçando-se o material restaurador a se distanciar, ou se separar das paredes da cavidade, a consequente ruptura levaria a uma microinfiltração marginal responsável por outros problemas tais como a cárie secundária, sensibilidade dolorosa pós-operatória, podendo até provocar alterações pulpares. Este processo induz a alteração volumétrica do composto, dado pela união de radicais na formação da macromolécula (polímero), causando uma diminuição em seu volume. Esse estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver novos compósitos experimentais, por meio da adição de nanocomponentes argilominerais em uma matriz polimérica a base de BisGMA/TEGDMA, para que assim se avalie a possibilidade de ocorrer um comportamento dimensional diferenciado no decorrer da polimerização. Foram utilizados nesse estudo matrizes poliméricas adicionadas com nanopartículas argilominerais MMT Cloisite 10A® (nas concentrações de 50, 55, 60, 65 e 70% em massa) e Cloisite 30B® (nas concentrações de 50, 55, 60 e 65% em massa) , que posteriormente foram comparados com o desempenho de compósitos experimentais adicionados com partículas micro-híbridas de Sílica Silanizada Aerosil® OX-50 ( nas concentrações de 50, 60, 65 e 70% em massa). Foram utilizados os métodos de caracterização: Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV), Análise Térmica-Mecânica (TMA), Análise de Termogravimetria (TGA), Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC), Espectroscopia de Absorção na Região do Infravermelho (FTIR), Difração de Raio-X (DRX), Micro Dureza Knoop, Técnica de Interferometria Holográfica (TIH), Holografia Digital (HD), Correlação de Imagem (CI) e Termografia. Foi observado que os compósitos experimentais adicionados com as nanopartículas argilominerais Cloisite 10A® e Cloisite 30B®, apresentaram um melhor desempenho nos ensaios que mensuraram a contração de polimerização (TMA, TIH/HD/CI) e a micro dureza (Knoop), em relação aos compósitos adicionados com a Sílica Aerosil®OX-50. Esses resultados podem estar relacionados pela interação polímero /argila e pela formação de nanocompósitos, observados pela análise de DRX. Entre as nanopartículas estudadas, a Cloisite 30B® apresentou os resultados mais expressivos em relação a nanopartícula Cloisite 10A® e isso pode ser atribuído a afinidade química e a natureza polar da referida nanopartícula. / The problem caused by polymerization shrinkage is critical, because the resin must to remain closely in the tooth cavity while gaining rigidity and decrease its dimensions. Forcing the restorative material to distance or to separate the walls of the cavity, the resulting disruption would lead to microleakage, responsible for other problems such as secondary caries, postoperative soreness and may even cause pulpal changes. This process induces the volumetric change of the compound, given by the union of radicals in the formation of the macromolecule (polymer), causing a decrease in volume. This study aimed to develop new experimental composites through the addition of nano components clay minerals in a polymer matrix-based BisGMA / TEGDMA, to evaluate the possibility of a different dimensional behavior during the polymerization. Were used in this study, experimental composites added nanoparticle clay MMT Cloisite ® 10A (at concentrations of 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 wt%) and Cloisite ® 30B (at concentrations of 50, 55, 60 and 65 wt%), which were then compared with the performance of the experimental composites added with micro-particles of silanized silica hybrid Aerosil OX-50 ® (at concentrations of 50, 60, 65 and 70 wt%). Was used the methods of characterization: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermal-Mechanical Analysis (TMA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Absorption Spectroscopy in the Region of the Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Micro Hardness Knoop, Holographic Interferometry Technique (HIT), Digital Holography (DH), Correlation Image (CI) and Thermography. It was observed that the experimental composites with nanoparticles added clay Cloisite ® 10A and Cloisite ® 30B, performed better on tests that measured the polymerization shrinkage (TMA, HIT / HD / IC) and the micro hardness (Knoop), in relation to composites added with Silica Aerosil OX-50®. These results may be related to the interaction polymer / clay and the nanocomposites formation, observed by XRD analysis. Among the nanoparticles studied, the Cloisite ® 30B showed the most significant results in relation to the nanoparticle Cloisite ® 10A and this can be attributed to chemical affinity and polar nature of that nanoparticle.

A estabilidade dimensional representa uma das mais importantes propriedades do papel, dentre aquelas que governam seu desempenho no uso final. Esta propriedade determina a funcionalidade do papel em processos de impressão, de conversão e, particularmente, na aplicação em máquina copiadoras e impressoras comerciais. O monitoramento da estabilidade dimensional oferece possibilidades de interferência em parâmetros do processo de fabricação, com a finalidade de estabelecer condições de produção de papel mais eficientes e econômicas, promovendo ainda, melhor suporte para atividades de assistência técnica ao usuário final. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma metodologia factível para avaliação da estabilidade dimensional de papel reprográfico, por meio da medição do perfil do encolhimento transversal (CD) diferencial, utilizando técnicas de processamento e análise de imagem, a fim de detectar marcas periódicas (da tela formadora) existentes na estrutura do papel. O método apresentado baseia-se em protocolos simplificados de amostragem e medição, que permitem simples implantação nos ambientes industriais das fábricas de papel. A partir da captação de imagens de amostras de papel coletadas na direção transversal de uma bobina jumbo, na saída da enroladeira da máquina de papel e utilização de técnicas de análise de imagem baseadas na transformada bidimensional rápida de Fourier (2D-FFT), obtiveram-se perfis relativos e absolutos do perfil de encolhimento transversal (CD) diferencial do papel, elemento chave para a análise e diagnóstico da estabilidade dimensional, dada a forte correlação encontrada, neste trabalho, entre o encolhimento e a higroexpansibilidade do papel. Para desenvolvimento da presente tese, foram examinadas amostras de papel reprográfico, com gramatura nominal de 75 g.m-², fabricado em máquina industrial com velocidades operacionais de 1256 m.m-¹ e 1362 m.min-¹, com larguras na enroladeira de 5278 mm e 5300 mm, respectivamente. Os resultados mostraram a viabilidade da aplicação do método, que se mostrou adequado para implementação em fábricas de papel e vantajoso com relação aos métodos tradicionais de medição, e.g., aqueles utilizados para medição de higroexpansibilidade do papel, dependentes de equipamentos sofisticados e demandantes de longos tempos de execução e retorno de resultados . Este trabalho oferece, adicionalmente, contribuições de diversas naturezas, tanto metodológicas, como o esclarecimento do processo de medição do encolhimento do papel por meio da detecção e medição das marcas de telas formadoras e o desenvolvimento de programa de análise de imagem específico, para automatização da busca de informações de interesse no espectro de freqüências de Fourier, como ainda, para aumentar a base de dados sobre o comportamento higroexpansivo do papel reprográfico fabricado totalmente com pasta branqueada de fibras de eucalipto do Brasil. / Dimensional stability represents on of the most important properties of paper, among the ones that controls its performance in end-use. This property fixes the paper functionality in printing and converting processes and, particularly, in copier machines and commercial printers applications. Dimensional stability monitoring can bring opportunities for interfering in manufacturing process parameters, in order to establish operating conditions suitable for a more efficient and economic production and better support for technical assistance to endusers. The objective of this work is to present a feasible methodology for evaluating the dimensional stability of reprographic paper by measuring the CD differential shrinkage profile of paper using image analysis and digital processing to detect periodic marks (from the forming fabric) in the structure of paper. The method presented is based on simplified sampling and measuring protocols, which allow for its simple introduction in the paper mill industrial environment. From digital images of paper samples acquired along the transverse direction of a jumbo reel at the end of the paper machine and by using image analysis techniques based on two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D-FFT), relative and absolute CD differential shrinkage profiles were obtained as the key element for analysis and diagnoses of the paper dimensional stability, given the strong correlation found out in this study, between shrinkage and hygroexpansivity of paper. For development of this thesis, reprographic paper with nominal basis weight of 75 g.m-², manufacture in industrial paper machine at operating speeds of 1256 m.m-¹ and 1362 m.min-¹ and having width of 5278 mm e 5300 mm, respectively, were investigated. The results showed the feasibility of the method, which proved to be suitable for implementation in paper mills and advantageous over traditional measurement methods, e.g., those used for paper hygroexpansivity measurement, which depend on sophisticated equipment and long lead times for getting it executed and having the measurement results. This work offers, in addition, contributions of various natures, such as methodological ones, like to elucidate the paper shrinkage measurement method by means of forming fabrics marks detection and develop of a specific image analysis computer program for automation of data searching in the Fourier frequency spectrum and yet, to improve the database related to higroexpansive behavior of reprographic paper manufactured totally from eucalyptus fiber bleached pulp from Brazil.

A presente pesquisa trata da investigação experimental do comportamento de pilares por meio de encamisamento com concreto de alta resistência. Os principais objetivos da pesquisa são estudar o comportamento ao longo do tempo e o efeito de précarregamento nos pilares reforçados. Foram ensaiados vinte modelos experimentais, variando-se a forma da seção transversal (circular e quadrada), a taxa de armadura transversal da camisa de reforço e a existência ou não de pré-carregamento. Foram também realizados ensaios complementares sobre pilares curtos de seção circular para observação dos efeitos de confinamento. Ensaios de caracterização dos concretos utilizados sob ações de longa duração foram realizados. Para estudar a influência da deformação lenta, simulou-se nesta pesquisa pilares de concreto armado submetidos a pré-carregamento, os quais foram mantidos durante um certo período de tempo numa câmara climatizada. Estes pilares foram reforçados sem que fosse retirada a força de pré-carregamento.Todos os pilares foram submetidos ensaios à compressão axial de curta duração por meio de uma máquina universal de ensaios servo-hidráulica, em modo de controle de deslocamento. Na análise dos resultados foram aplicados modelos de cálculo do efeito de confinamento, análise numérica pelo Método dos Elementos Finitos e outras formulações teóricas, para efeito de confrontação de resultados teóricos e experimentais. As principais conclusões são de que, no reforço por encamisamento de pilares, uma vez garantidas adequadas condições de confinamento: a capacidade resistente do pilar original pode ser totalmente considerada na avaliação da resistência do elemento reforçado; o efeito de pré-carregamento de um pilar reforçado não afeta a resistência última do elemento reforçado, mas pode afetar a sua deformabilidade. Além disso, na análise do comportamento dos pilares ao longo do tempo, pôde-se perceber que houve transferência de esforços entre o pilar original e a camisa de reforço, mas seu efeito foi pouco significativo em termos de alteração da capacidade resistente / The thesis presents an experimental investigation on the behavior of RC columns strengthened by high-performance concrete jackets. The main objectives are to analyze the immediate and time-dependant behavior of the elements and the preloading effect in its load capacity and deformability. Twenty columns were tested varying the transversal section shape (circular and square), transversal reinforcement ratio of the jacket and the preloading condition. Also complimentary tests were made on short circular section columns to observe confinement effects. A set of long-term tests was made to characterize the concrete immediate and time-dependant properties. To analyze the influence of time-dependant deformations, original columns were submitted to preloading forces and they were kept in a weather-controlled chamber during a certain period. The high-performance concrete jackets were applied to the original columns without removing the preloading forces. Every column was subjected to a monotonic axial compression test in a servohydraulic universal machine, in the displacement-controlled mode. In the analysis of the results theoretical models of concrete confinement, Finite Element Method simulations and other formulations were applied to examine the experimental results. The main conclusions are that, if adequate confinement conditions are maintained in the strengthened columns: the load capacity of the original column can be totally considered in strength evaluation; the preloading effect does not affect the ultimate load of the rehabilitated member, but it may affect the column deformability. Moreover, in the long-term behavior analysis, load transfer between the original column and jacket was observed. However, its effect was not significant in the load capacity of the strengthened member

Several recent empirical studies, particularly in the regional economic growth literature, emphasize the importance of explicitly accounting for uncertainty surrounding model specification. Standard approaches to deal with the problem of model uncertainty involve the use of Bayesian model-averaging techniques. However, Bayesian model-averaging for spatial autoregressive models suffers from severe drawbacks both in terms of computational time and possible extensions to more flexible econometric frameworks. To alleviate these problems, this paper presents two global-local shrinkage priors in the context of high-dimensional matrix exponential spatial specifications. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate the performance of the shrinkage priors. Results suggest that they perform particularly well in high-dimensional environments, especially when the number of parameters to estimate exceeds the number of observations. Moreover, we use pan-European regional economic growth data to illustrate the performance of the proposed shrinkage priors.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:22:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafael Baggio.pdf: 2179064 bytes, checksum: 054756974bbbe9db77284217ea63ed04 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of the stresses generated by the polymerization shrinkage of three composite resins [FiltekTM Z250 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA); FiltekTM Z350 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA) and P-90 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA)], with mechanical tests and finite element analysis (FEM). Ten samples of each composite resin were prepared in metal matrix of 25 X 2 X 2 mm and were tested in the flexural 3 points bend strength in a universal testing machine and a cross-head speed of 0.5 mm / min. After, more 10 samples of each composite resin were prepared in a metal matrix in the form of an hourglass measuring 10 x 3 x 1.5 mm with a central bottleneck of 1.5 mm were submitted to a tensile strength in an universal testing machine with a load cell of 10 N and a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm / min until material failure occurred. After, FEM analysis was made simulating the effects of a class V restoration. In the mechanical tests of tensile strength (MPa) and 3 points bend flexural strength (MPa) respectively, all composites obtained similar results, being to FiltekTM Z-250 (36.51 ± 8.14 and 158.51 ± 31.80), to FiltekTM Z-350 (34.43 ± 6.49 and 146.65 ± 18.83) and to FiltekTM P90 (37.35 ± 7.51 and 148.00 ± 26.24) with no statistical differences by Two-way ANOVA test andBonferroni (alpha = 0.05) post-hoc. In the FEM analysis, the silorane based resin (FiltekTM P90) showed lower values of tension produced by polymerization shrinkage and better able to dissipate it by the adjacent structures. / Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a distribuição de tensões geradas pela contração de polimerização de 3 resinas compostas [FiltekTM Z-250 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA); FiltekTM Z-350 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA) e P90 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA)], através de testes mecânicos e análise por meio do método de elementos finitos. Inicialmente, 10 cp de cada resina composta foram confeccionados em matrizes metálicas de 25 X 2 X 2 mm e submetidos ao ensaio de resistência flexural de 3 pontos em uma Máquina de Ensaios Universal à uma velocidade de 0,5 mm/min. Para o teste de resistência à tração, foram confeccionados 10 cp para cada grupo de resina composta, mas agora em uma matriz metálica em forma de ampulheta medindo 10 x 3 x 1,5 mm com um estrangulamento central de 1,5 mm. Em seguida, as amostras foram submetidas ao teste de resistência à tração em uma Máquina de Ensaios Universal com uma célula de carga de 10 N a uma velocidade de 1,0 mm/min até que ocorreu a fratura no material. Com os dados obtidos em laboratório, uma simulação computacional foi realizada através do MEF, simulando os efeitos de uma restauração classe V na região cervical da face vestibular de um pré-molar. Nos testes mecânicos, após análise de variância ANOVA dois critério e pós-teste de Bonferroni com alfa igual a 0,05, não foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas para a resistência à tração (MPa) e resistência flexural (MPa) respectivamente entre as resinas FiltekTM Z-250 (36,51 ± 8,14 e 158,51 ± 31,80), FiltekTM Z-350 (34,43 ± 6,49 e 146,65 ± 18,83) e FiltekTM P90 (37,35 ± 7,51 e 148,00 ± 26,24). Na análise pelo método de elementos finitos, a resina à base de silorano (FiltekTM P90) obteve menores valores de tensões produzidas pela contração de polimerização e conseguiu uma melhor dissipação da mesma pelas estruturas adjacentes.

Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos e do conhecimento disponível sobre o concreto e suas propriedades, muitas estruturas apresentam-se degradadas prematuramente. Assim, são necessárias frequentes intervenções para reparo havendo, em consequência, consumo de quantidades expressivas de materiais, com importantes impactos financeiros e ambientais. A preocupação crescente com o desempenho das estruturas de concreto tem incentivado vários segmentos da sociedade a buscarem soluções que assegurem sua durabilidade. Nesse sentido, muitas pesquisas acadêmicas vêm sendo desenvolvidas para melhor entender o comportamento do concreto frente a diferentes condições de uso, considerando-se suas propriedades mecânicas e de durabilidade. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar o desempenho de concretos frente à retração por secagem, após terem sido submetidos ao pré-carregamento. Foram utilizados os cimentos CP V ARI e CP IV, nas relações a/c 0,35, 0,50 e 0,70, e adotadas as idades de cura de 7 e 28 dias. Nas idades 1, 3 e 7 dias, os concretos foram submetidos a carregamentos de 25%, 50% e 75% da carga média de ruptura à tração na flexão (NBR 12142, ABNT, 2010). Realizou-se o ensaio para determinação da retração por secagem (ASTM C157/C157M-08, 2014e1), em concretos de referência e nos pré-carregados. Foram também realizadas análises complementares, como determinação da velocidade da onda ultrassônica (NBR 8802, ABNT, 2013), porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio e microtomografia de raios X. Comparando-se o desempenho dos concretos pré-carregados ao dos concretos de referência, o cimento CP V ARI apresentou redução da retração média, exceto para a relação a/c 0,35 com cura de 7 dias. Nos concretos com cimento CP IV, a retração média diminuiu para a relação a/c 0,70, com ambas as idades de cura. O pré-carregamento provocou, em maior ou menor grau, a associação de dois diferentes efeitos. Por um lado, a compactação ocasionou a quebra dos compostos menos resistentes da matriz, havendo um efeito físico de redução dos vazios capilares, além da exposição de grãos anidros. Em paralelo, ocorreu a microfissuração do concreto, favorecendo, também, a exposição de grãos anidros. A cura por imersão possibilitou a continuidade da hidratação, com a formação de novos produtos resistentes na matriz, reduzindo as porosidades total e efetiva e, portanto, a taxa da retração do concreto. Além da densificação da matriz, a cura prolongada possibilitou a hidratação dos grãos anidros de cimento expostos nas paredes das microfissuras, favorecendo a sua autocicatrização (self-healing), o que contribuiu com a recuperação da capacidade resistente dos concretos, frente aos esforços da secagem. Assim, a associação destes fatores promoveu a redução da retração por secagem nos concretos estudados, principalmente nos mais porosos. / The growing concern with the performance of structures has encouraged several segments of society to find solutions to improve concrete durability. Several studies have been made to provide a better understanding of the mechanical properties and concrete durability in different conditions. This study assessed the drying shrinkage performance of preloaded concrete. Cement types CP V ARI, equivalent to Portland type III (ASTM C150/C150M-16e1) and CP IV, equivalent to Portland type IP (ASTM C595/C595M-16) were used with w/b = 0.35, 0.50 and 0.70 and curing ages of 7 and 28 days. At the ages of 1, 3 and 7 days, concrete mixes were subject to loads of 25%, 50% and 75% of their mean ultimate flexural strength (Brazilian Standard NBR 12142, ABNT, 2010). Drying shrinkage in reference and preloaded concrete was determined according to ASTM C157/C157M-14e1. Additional tests included ultrasound pulse velocity (NBR 8802, ABNT, 2013), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and X-ray microtomography. Preloaded CP V ARI cement concrete showed a drop in mean shrinkage when compared with the reference mix, except for the mix with w/b = 0.35 cured for 7 days. For CP IV cement, mean shrinkage dropped with w/b =0.70 for both curing ages. Early loading caused a compaction effect, promoting the weakest compounds of the matrix to be broken, filling the capillary voids. In this process some unhydrous grains probably were exposed. On the other hand, microcracking also occurred, lefting unhydrated grains exposed in the microcracks walls. Due to immersion curing, the availability of water promoted the hydration continuity. New resistant hydrates filled the large voids and reduced the total and effective porosities in the cement matrix. The hydration of anhydrous grains in the microcracks walls had led to self-healing, with partial resistance capacity recovery. The combined effect of these factors promoted the drying shrinkage reducing, mainly for the more porous concrets.

Le séchage des matériaux cimentaires et le retrait induit ont des conséquences majeures sur le comportement structurel des dalles et chapes. Le retrait empêché est une des principales causes de la fissuration de ces ouvrages. En sus, si le séchage est unidirectionnel, le retrait différentiel favorise le tuilage qui traduit le soulèvement des coins et des bords des dalles minces. Afin de mieux cerner les phénomènes induits par les gradients d’humidité relative interne, des études expérimentales et numériques ont été menées conjointement, et de nouveaux dispositifs expérimentaux ont été développés. On montre que l’évolution du tuilage dépend principalement de la progression du front de séchage. L’influence prédominante du séchage impose donc de recourir à une cure adaptée. Grâce à sa forte capacité de rétention d’eau, une étude systématique a été conduite sur la chaux en vue d’étudier son potentiel effet de cure. La chaux hydraulique a permis, par son influence sur la microstructure et son effet de cure, de retarder et réduire le tuilage. Sur la base des résultats expérimentaux, deux approches différentes de modélisation du tuilage ont été développées : i/ un modèle analytique continu, et ii/ une modélisation par éléments discrets. Les calculs montrent que des retraits plus importants apparaissent en surface et entraînent une microfissuration qui permet de relaxer les contraintes internes. La chaux semble conduire à une profondeur d’endommagement plus importante, ce qui explique en partie son effet sur l’amplitude du tuilage. L’approche par éléments discrets est capable de reproduire l’évolution du tuilage aussi bien en cinétique qu’en amplitude à partir des seules mesures du retrait différentiel. La chaux s’est aussi révélée bénéfique quand elle est incorporée dans les bétons autoplaçants en agissant à la fois sur le retrait et sur les propriétés viscoélastiques. / Drying of cementitious materials and the induced shrinkage have major consequences on the structural behavior of slabs and screeds. The restrained shrinkage is one of the main causes of cracking. In addition, if the drying is unidirectional, the differential shrinkage leads to curling which is defined as the lifting of the corners and the edges of thin slabs.To understand the phenomena induced by internal relative humidity gradients, experimental and numerical studies have been jointly conducted, and new experimental devices have been developed. It is shown that the evolution of curling mainly depends on the progression of the drying front. The predominant influence of drying therefore requires the use of a suitable method for curing. Thanks to its high water retention capacity, a systematic study has been conducted on lime in order to study its potential curing effect. The hydraulic lime, through its influence on the microstructure and its curing effect, delayed and reduced curling. Based on the experimental results, two different approaches have been developed to model the curling of slabs: i / a continuous analytical model,and ii / a discrete element model. Calculations show that higher shrinkage appears on the surface and causes microcracking that may relax internal stresses. The lime seems to lead to a greater depth of damage, which partly explains its effect on the curling amplitude. The discrete element approach is able to reproduce the evolution of curling both in terms of kinetics and amplitude from the sole measurements of differential shrinkage. Lime is also shown to be beneficial when incorporated into self compacting concretes by acting on both shrinkage and viscoelastic properties.