This dissertation addresses the possibility of using the 2+1 road arrangement in the Czech Republic. Given that there is no such 2+1 segment in the Czech Republic, it was necessary to find sections with similar characteristics, evaluate and measure the rate of accidents as well as sectional velocity. The accident rate was evaluated on 72 sections and based on this research the optimal length of 2+1 arrangement road sections was determined. Digital image analysis and license plate recognition was used to evaluate the sectional velocity. Eight selected sections was subjected to the additional sectional velocity measurement, which showed improvement in passenger vehicles travel time. Traffic model microsimulations were performed after the data analysis. 2+1 arrangement roads are suitable solution for increasing travel speeds on sections where building of four-lane road is not economically viable.

[pt] Nesta tese foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para caracterização tridimensional de espumas de poliuretano (PU) produzidas a partir de polióis de origem vegetal. Espumas obtidas a partir do caule e da folha da bananeira foram analisadas. Foi utilizada a microtomografia computarizada de raios x (μCT) associada a ensaios mecânicos in-situ e processamento e análise digital de imagens (PADI). Utilizou-se uma câmara de ensaios in-situ comercial e também foi desenvolvida uma câmara específica para esta tese. As imagens tridimensionais obtidas foram avaliadas por técnicas tradicionais de ADI e pela técnica de Correlação Volumétrica de Imagens (DVC). A sequência padrão envolveu a redução de ruídos e o método de watersheds para segmentar as células individuais que formam a estrutura das espumas. Assim, foi possível quantificar diferentes parâmetros de tamanho (volume, diâmetro médio) e forma (razão de aspectos, esfericidade) de cada célula em 3D e comparar estatisticamente as amostras. A técnica de DVC permitiu correlacionar sub volumes das espumas em diferentes estágios do processo de compressão, revelando alguns aspectos do mecanismo microscópico de concentração de tensões. Um ensaio de compressão tradicional permitiu escolher as duas amostras com maiores limites de resistência (CB8 e FB6). Estas amostras foram submetidas ao ensaio de compressão in-situ e analisadas para diferentes valores de deformação. A amostra FB6 apresentou cerca de 5 vezes mais células do que a amostra CB8, com diâmetro médio cerca de 2X menor. Considerando os primeiros estágios de deformação (0, 0,5 e 1 mm), que foram idênticos para as duas amostras, o número de células aumentou 5,9 porcento para CB8 e 1,7 porcento para FB6, enquanto o volume médio diminuiu 2,6 porcento e 1,9 porcento, respectivamente. As medidas de forma apontaram para células não equiaxiais (razão de aspectos e esfericidade próximos a 0,4), sem mudanças expressivas ao longo dos ensaios. / [en] In this thesis, a methodology was developed for the three-dimensional characterization of polyurethane (PU) foams produced from polyols of vegetable origin. Foams obtained from the banana stem and leaf were analyzed. X ray microtomography (μCT) associated with in-situ mechanical tests and digital image processing and analysis (PADI) was used. A commercial in situ test chamber was used and a specific chamber was also developed for this thesis. The three-dimensional images obtained were evaluated by traditional ADI techniques and by the Volumetric Image Correlation (CVD) technique. The standard sequence involved noise reduction and the watersheds method to segment the individual cells that make up the foam structure. Thus, it was possible to quantify different parameters of size (volume, average diameter) and shape (aspect ratio, sphericity) of each cell in 3D and to statistically compare the samples. The CVD technique made it possible to correlate subvolumes of the foams at different stages of the compression process, revealing some aspects of the microscopic stress concentration mechanism. A traditional compression test made it possible to choose the two samples with the highest strength limits (CB8 and FB6). These samples were submitted to the compression test in situ and analyzed for different strain values. The FB6 sample had about 5 times more cells than the CB8 sample, with an average diameter about 2X smaller. Considering the first deformation stages (0, 0,5 and 1 mm), which were identical for both samples, the number of cells increased 5,9 percent for CB8 and 1,7 percent for FB6, while the average volume decreased 2,6 percent and 1,9 percent, respectively. The shape measurements pointed to non-equiaxial cells (aspect ratio and sphericity close to 0,4), with no significant changes during the tests.

Compression fracture specimens are ideally suited for miniaturization down to tens of microns. Fracture testing of thermal barrier coatings, ceramics and glasses are also best accomplished under compression or indentation. Compression fracture specimen of finite size with constant form factor was not available in the literature. The finite-sized specimen of edge cracked semicircular disk (ECSD) is designed which has the property of constant form factor. The novel ECSD specimen is explored further using weight function concept. This thesis, therefore, is mainly concerned with the design, development and geometric optimization of compression fracture specimen vis a vis their characterization of form factors, weight functions and isotropic points in the uncracked geometry. Inspired by the Brazilian disk geometry, a novel compression fracture specimen is designed in the form of a semicircular disk with an edge crack which opens up due to the bending moment caused by the compressive load applied along its straight edge. This new design evolved from a set of photoelastic experiments conducted on the Brazilian disk and its two extreme cases. Surprisingly, normalized mode-I stress intensity factor of the semicircular specimen loaded under a particular Hertzian way, is found constant for a wide range of relative crack lengths. This property of constant form factor leads to the development of weight function for ECSD for deeper analysis of the specimen. The weight function of a cracked geometry does not depend on loading configuration and it relates stress intensity factor to the stress distribution in the corresponding uncracked geometry through a weighted integral. The weight function for the disk specimen is synthesized in two different ways: using the conventional approach which requires crack opening displacement and the dual form factor method which is newly developed. Since stress distribution in the uncracked specimen is required in order to use weight function concept, analytical solution is attempted using linear elasticity theory. Since closed form solution for stresses in the uncracked semicircular disk is seldom possible with the available techniques, a new semi-analytical method called partial boundary collocation (PBC), is developed which may be used for solving any 2-D elasticity problem involving a semi-geometry. In the new method, part of the boundary conditions are identically satisfied and remaining conditions are satisfied at discrete boundary points. The classical stress concentration factor for a semi-in finite plate with a semicircular edge notch re-derived using PBC is found to be accurate to the eighth decimal. To enhance the form factor in order to test high-toughness materials, edge cracked semicircular ring (ECSR) specimen is designed in which bending moment at the crack-tip is increased significantly due to the ring geometry. ECSR is analyzed using nite element method and the corresponding uncracked problem is analyzed by PBC. Constant form factor is found possible for the ring specimen with tiny notch. In order to avoid varying semi-Hertzian angle during practice and thereby ensure consistent loading conditions, the designs are further modified by chopping at the loading zones and analyzed. Photoelastic isotropic points (IPs) which are a special case of zeroth order fringe (ZOF) are often found in uncracked and cracked specimens. An analytical technique based on Flamant solution is developed for solving any problem involving circular domain loaded at its boundary. Formation of IPs in a circular disk is studied. The coefficients of static friction between the surfaces of disk and loading fixtures, in photoelastic experiments of three-point and four-point loadings, are explored analytically to confirm with experimental results. The disk under multiple radial loads uniformly spaced on its periphery is found to give rise to one isolated IP at the center. Splitting of this IP into a number of IPs can be observed when the symmetry of normal loading is perturbed. Tangential loading is introduced along with normal loading to capture the effect of the composition on formation of IPs. Bernoulli's lemniscate is found to fit fringe order topology local to multiple IPs. Isotropic points along with other low fringe order zones including ZOF are ideal locations for material removal for weight reduction. Making a small hole in the prospective crack path at the IP location in the uncracked geometry might provide dual benefits: 1. Form factor enhancement; 2. Crack arrestor. Thus, this thesis describes experimental, theoretical and computational investigations for the design, development and calibration of novel compact compression fracture specimens.