L'objectif de la thèse est la caractérisation expérimentale du frottement entre l'acier et un matériau fragile. Les pressions et les vitesses de glissement qu'on cherche à atteindre sont respectivement de l'ordre de 10 à 100 MPa et l'ordre de 10 à 100 m/s. Les tribomètres classiques ne peuvent pas être utilisés car les pressions qu'on cherche à atteindre sont suffisamment élevées pour mener le matériau fragile à rupture. Pour pallier cette difficulté, le matériau doit être confiné. Un échantillon cylindrique du matériau est alors inséré dans un tube en acier qui fait à la fois office de confinement et de surface de frottement. Avec cette configuration, comme nous ne pouvons pas effectuer de mesures directes au niveau de l'interface, les paramètres de frottement sont identifiés à partir de mesures indirectes et de modèles analytique et numérique. Deux types de dispositifs ont été conçus pour effectuer à la fois des essais d'orientation en quasistatique et des essais sur barres de Hopkinson. Les essais quasi-statiques permettent une identification fiable du frottement et montrent que des pressions de 100 MPa peuvent être obtenues avec notre configuration sans dégrader le matériau fragile. En revanche, les essais sur barres de Hopkinson ne donnent pas satisfaction. Un dispositif spécifiquement adapté à la dynamique rapide a alors été conçu. Il permet d'identifier le frottement sous des pressions de 100 MPa et des vitesses de10 m/s.

Ce mémoire de thèse s'intéresse au comportement du béton sous chargement triaxial sévère. L'étude est réalisée dans le contexte plus général de la compréhension du comportement du béton sous impact, ce qui induit des états de contraintes triaxiales de très haute intensité. Afin de reproduire des niveaux de contraintes très élevés avec des chemins de chargement bien contrôlés, des essais triaxiaux statiques sont réalisés sur des échantillons de béton au moyen d'une presse triaxiale de très grande capacité. Nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence des granulats, qui occupent environ 40% du volume du béton. Plus précisément, les effets de la forme et de la composition chimique des granulats sont étudiés pour des compression triaxiale entre 0 et 650 MPa de confinement . On considère à la fois la réponse macroscopique et les modes de rupture. La forme des granulats semble peu influencer le comportement du béton, alors que les effets de leur composition sont assez importants, quelque soit le confinement. La deuxième partie de la thèse est consacrée à une modélisation numérique du béton. L'objectif principal de ce travail numérique est de développer un modèle très simple en termes de lois d'interaction et d'introduire l'hétérogénéité du béton au niveau mésoscopique. Un modèle mésoscopique du béton est ainsi établi dans le cadre des éléments discrets. On étudie l'influence des propriétés des granulats et de l'interface graulats/mortier sur les courbes contrainte-déformation et les mécanismes d'endommagement. D'autre part, l'influence des vides est étudiée en utilisant des échantillons mono-phasiques avec différentes caractéristiques des vides. Un comportement complexe non linéaire, résultant de la présence, des vides est observé. Par ailleurs, les résultats numériques complètent, et permettent de mieux comprendre, les résultats expérimentaux.

Performance of bridges during previous earthquakes has demonstrated that many structural failures could be attributed to seismic deficiencies in bridge columns. Lack of transverse reinforcement and inadequate splicing of longitudinal reinforcement in potential plastic hinge regions of columns constitute primary reasons for their poor performance. A number of column retrofit techniques have been developed and tested in the past. These techniques include steel jacketing, reinforced concrete jacketing and use of transverse prestressing (RetroBelt) for concrete confinement, shear strengthening and splice clamping. A new retrofit technique, involving fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) jacketing has emerged as a convenient and structurally sound alternative with improved durability. The new technique, although received acceptance in the construction industry, needs to be fully developed as a viable seismic retrofit methodology, supported by reliable design and construction procedures. The successful application of externally applied FRP jackets to existing columns, coupled with deteriorating bridge infrastructure, raised the possibility of using FRP reinforcement for new construction. Stay-in-place formwork, in the form of FRP tubes are being researched for its feasibility. The FRP stay-in-place tubes offer ease in construction, convenient formwork, and when left in place, the protection of concrete against environmental effects, including the protection of steel reinforcement against corrosion, while also serving as column transverse reinforcement. Combined experimental and analytical research was conducted in the current project to i) improve the performance of FRP column jacketing for existing bridge columns, and ii) to develop FRP stay-in-place formwork for new bridge columns. The experimental phase consisted of design, construction and testing of 7 full-scale reinforced concrete bridge columns under simulated seismic loading. The columns represented both existing seismically deficient bridge columns, and new columns in stay-in-place formwork. The existing columns were deficient in either shear, or flexure, where the flexural deficiencies stemmed from lack of concrete confinement and/or use of inadequately spliced longitudinal reinforcement. The test parameters included cross-sectional shape (circular or square), reinforcement splicing, column shear span for flexure and shear-dominant behaviour, FRP jacket thickness, as well as use of FRP tubes as stay-in-place formwork, with or without internally embedded FRP crossties. The columns were subjected to a constant axial compression and incrementally increasing inelastic deformation reversals. The results, presented and discussed in this thesis, indicate that the FRP retrofit methodology provides significant confinement to circular and square columns, improving column ductility substantially. The FRP jack also improved diagonal tension capacity of columns, changing brittle shear-dominant column behavior to ductile flexure dominant response. The jackets, when the transverse strains are controlled, are able to improve performance of inadequately spliced circular columns, while remain somewhat ineffective in improving the performance of spliced square columns. FRP stay-in-place formwork provides excellent ductility to circular and square columns in new concrete columns, offering tremendous potential for use in practice. The analytical phase of the project demonstrates that the current analytical techniques for column analysis can be used for columns with external FRP reinforcement, provided that appropriate material models are used for confined concrete, FRP composites and reinforcement steel. Plastic analysis for flexure, starting with sectional moment-curvature analysis and continuing into member analysis incorporating the formation of plastic hinging, provide excellent predictions of inelastic force-deformation envelopes of recorded hysteretic behaviour. A displacement based design procedure adapted to FRP jacketed columns, as well as columns in FRP stay-in-place formwork provide a reliable design procedure for both retrofitting existing columns and designing new FRP reinforced concrete columns.

When compared to traditional concrete, steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) shows several enhancements in performance, including improved tensile resistance, toughness and ductility. One potential application for SFRC is in columns where the provision of steel fibres can improve performance under axial and lateral loads. The use of SFRC can also allow for partial replacement of transverse reinforcement required by modern seismic codes. To improve workability, self-consolidating concrete (SCC) can be combined with steel fibres, leading to highly workable SFRC suitable for structural applications. Recent advances in material science have also led to the development of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concretes (UHPFRC), a material which exhibits very high compressive strength, enhanced post-cracking resistance and high damage tolerance. In heavily loaded ground-story columns, the use of UHPFRC can allow for reduced column sections. This thesis presents the results from a comprehensive research program conducted to study the axial behaviour of columns constructed with highly workable SFRC and UHPFRC. As part of the experimental program, twenty-three full-scale columns were tested under pure axial compressive loading. In the case of the SFRC columns, columns having rectangular section and constructed with SCC and steel fibres were tested, with variables including fibre content and spacing of transverse reinforcement. The results confirm that use of fibres results in improved column behaviour due to enhancements in core confinement and cover behaviour. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that the provision of steel fibres in columns can allow for partial replacement of transverse reinforcement required by modern codes. The analytical investigation indicates that confinement models proposed by other researchers for traditional RC and SFRC can predict the response of columns constructed with SCC and highly workable SFRC. In the case of the UHPFRC columns, variables included configuration and spacing of transverse reinforcement. The results demonstrate that the use of appropriate detailing in UHPFRC columns can result in suitable ductility. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the improved damage tolerance of UHPFRC when compared to traditional high-strength concrete. The analytical investigation demonstrates the need for development of confinement models specific for UHPFRC.

Evolution of measured profiles of densities, temperatures and velocities in the edge pedestal region between successive ELM (edge-localized mode) events are analyzed and interpreted in terms of the constraints imposed by particle, momentum and energy balance in order to gain insights regarding the underlying evolution of transport processes in the edge pedestal between ELMs in a series of DIII-D discharges. The data from successive inter-ELM periods during an otherwise steady-state phase of the discharges were combined into a composite inter-ELM period for the purpose of increasing the number of data points in the analysis. These composite periods were partitioned into sequential intervals to examine inter-ELM transport evolution. The GTEDGE integrated modeling code was used to calculate and interpret plasma transport and properties during each interval using particle, momentum, and energy balance. Variation of diffusive and non-diffusive (pinch) particle, momentum, and energy transport over the inter-ELM period are examined for discharges with plasma currents from 0.5 to 1.5 MA and inter-ELM periods from 50 to 220 ms. Diffusive transport is dominant for ρ< 0.925, while non-diffusive and diffusive transport are very large and nearly balancing in the sharp gradient region 0.925 <ρ <1.0. Transport effects of ion orbit loss are significant for ρ > 0.95, and are taken into account. During the inter-ELM period, diffusive transport increases slightly more than non-diffusive transport, increasing total outward transport. Both diffusive and non-diffusive transport have a strong inverse correlation with plasma current. Weakening the electromagnetic pinch may increase outward particle transport, and enable control over the rebuilding of the edge pedestal between ELMs.

Appropriate transverse confinement can significantly improve strength, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of reinforced concrete columns, therefore enhancing their seismic resistance. This study is conducted to evaluate the seismic behaviour of concrete columns transversely confined by steel spirals, ties or fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping. In the experimental program of this study, fifteen circular concrete columns of 356 mm (14 in.) diameter and 1473 mm (58 in.) length were tested under lateral cyclic displacement excursions while simultaneously subjected to constant axial load thus simulating earthquake loads. Eight columns were solely confined by various amounts of steel spirals, while seven other columns containing only minimal steel spirals were retrofitted by external FRP wrapping. Test results revealed that the increased transverse confinement can improve the energy dissipation capacity, ductility, deformability and flexural strength of concrete columns. The required transverse confinement should also be enhanced with the increase of axial load level to satisfy certain seismic design criterion. A computation program was developed to conduct monotonic pushover analysis for confined concrete columns, which can predict the envelope curves of moment vs. curvature and shear vs. deflection hysteresis loops with reasonable accuracy for columns subjected to simulated seismic loading. Based on extensive numerical analysis, expressions were developed for the relationships between the amount of transverse confinement and different ductility parameters, as well as the strength enhancement of confined columns. Finally, design procedures to determine the amount of transverse confinement were developed for concrete columns to achieve a certain ductility target. The enhancement of flexural strength of columns due to transverse confinement was also evaluated.

Appropriate transverse confinement can significantly improve strength, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of reinforced concrete columns, therefore enhancing their seismic resistance. This study is conducted to evaluate the seismic behaviour of concrete columns transversely confined by steel spirals, ties or fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) wrapping. In the experimental program of this study, fifteen circular concrete columns of 356 mm (14 in.) diameter and 1473 mm (58 in.) length were tested under lateral cyclic displacement excursions while simultaneously subjected to constant axial load thus simulating earthquake loads. Eight columns were solely confined by various amounts of steel spirals, while seven other columns containing only minimal steel spirals were retrofitted by external FRP wrapping. Test results revealed that the increased transverse confinement can improve the energy dissipation capacity, ductility, deformability and flexural strength of concrete columns. The required transverse confinement should also be enhanced with the increase of axial load level to satisfy certain seismic design criterion. A computation program was developed to conduct monotonic pushover analysis for confined concrete columns, which can predict the envelope curves of moment vs. curvature and shear vs. deflection hysteresis loops with reasonable accuracy for columns subjected to simulated seismic loading. Based on extensive numerical analysis, expressions were developed for the relationships between the amount of transverse confinement and different ductility parameters, as well as the strength enhancement of confined columns. Finally, design procedures to determine the amount of transverse confinement were developed for concrete columns to achieve a certain ductility target. The enhancement of flexural strength of columns due to transverse confinement was also evaluated.

En återkommande debatt rörande kriminalvården är hur man ska kombinera de två grundprinciperna i fängelserna: vård och straff. Om isolering är ett straff i straffet, hur ser då vården ut i anslutning till denna? Få eller inga andra former av frihetsberövande skapar så mycket psykologiskt trauma, med så många symptom på psykisk sjukdom, som isolering gör. I studien undersöktes vilka effekter ofrivillig isolering, under minst två månader, hade på den psykiska och fysiska hälsan, samt vilket stöd tidigare fängelseintagna fått under och efter sin tid av isolering. Dessutom undersöktes vilket stöd den intagne själv hade önskat att få. Resultatet bygger på semistrukturerade intervjuer med tidigare fängelseintagna som ofrivilligt blivit isolerade. Resultatet analyserades med hjälp av tidigare forskning och begreppen ångest, depression, avsaknad av social interaktion samt sociala band till andra. Två av tre respondenter visade tecken på att isoleringen påverkat deras psykiska hälsa mycket negativt. Den tredje respondenten visade vissa negativa effekter men tycks ha klarat tiden i isoleringen förhållandevis väl. Ångest och depression var tydliga symptom som isoleringen lett till. Avsaknad av social interaktion skapade stort lidande både under och efter isoleringen och ledde till såväl social tillbakadragenhet som rädsla för att skapa nya kontakter. / A recurrent debate within the correctional treatment, is how to combine the two fundamental principles: rehabilitation and controle. If solitary confinement is a punishment within the punishment, then what does the support in association to it look like? There are few or no other forms of detainment that creates as much psychological trauma, with so many symptoms of mental illness as seen in isolated inamtes. This study examined the effects of involuntary solitary confinement during at least two months, to the psychological and physical health, and the support that former inmates got during and after their time of isolation. It also examined what kind of support the inmates had wanted. The result is based on interviews with persons who previously have been imprisoned and then have been involuntarily placed in solitary confinement. The result was analyzed using previous research and the concepts anxiety, depression and lack of social interaction. Two of the three respondents showed signs of very negative effects on their psychological health from the solitary confinement. The third respondent showed some negative effects but seemed to have coped with the isolation relatively well. Anxiety and depression were obvious symptoms that the solitary confinement had caused. Lack of social interaction had created considerable suffering during and after the solitary confinement and had caused social seclusion as well as fear of making new contact

Anisotropic molecules confined on a spherical or other curved surface can display coupled positional and orientational orderings, which make possible applications in physics, chemistry, biology, and material science. Therefore, controlling the order of such system has attracted much attention recently. Several distinct conformations of rod-like or chain-like molecules confined on a spherical surface have been predicted, including states such as tennis-ball, rectangle, and cut-and-rotate splay. These conformations have four +1/2 defects and are suggested to dominate over the splay conformation that has two +1 defects. For the purpose of investigating the conformations of 2-fold anisotropic molecules confined on the spherical surface, the author of this thesis utilizes the Onsager model to study the system of rigid rods and conducts Monte Carlo simulations on the bead-bond model to research the system of semiflexible polymer chains. At low surface coverage density, no particular pattern of the molecules would form. However, coupled positional and orientational ordering begins to emerge beyond a transition density. On the basis of the numerical solutions of the Onsager model of rigid rods, the splay conformation is shown to be the only stable state. On the other hand, Monte Carlo simulations on a polymer system indicate that the ordered state always accompanies the tennis-ball symmetry. With comparison to the continuous isotropic-nematic transition of a fluid of hard rods embedded in a flat two-dimensional space, the disorder-order transition for both the system of rigid rods and the system of polymer chains confined on the spherical surface has first-order phase-transition characteristics.

Thesis (M.Eng. (Chemical Engineering)) -- Universiteit van Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.