La stabilité à court terme et à long terme sont deux aspects importants dans l'analyse de la stabilité des pentes. L'objectif de cette étude est de proposer des modèles numériques pour simuler le comportement mécanique à court terme et à long terme de la matrice rocheuse et joints rocheux. Pour la matrice rocheuse, un modèle élasto- endommagement qui prend les deux situations, de compression et de traction en compte est utilisé. Un paramètre est introduit pour mettre l'accent sur l'influence de la pression de confinement. Et puis un modèle de fluage de la matrice rocheuse qui compte le paramètre de dommages comme une variable dépendant du temps est proposé. Les résultats des simulations montrent un exact accord avec les résultats expérimentaux. Généralement, joints rocheux sont la partie la plus fragile dans les structures rocheuses. Pour joints rocheux, l'aspérité de la surface commune est représentée par un paramètre JRC. Ce paramètre est lié à l'angle de frottement, et donc affecte la rigidité en cisaillement de joint. Dans ce travail, un modèle constitutif est employé sur la base de cette théorie présentée, et le paramètre JRC est proposé comme une variable dépendante du temps, ce qui représente la dégradation de l’aspérité avec le passage du temps. Une simulation est réalisée et vérifiée que ce modèle est capable de décrire les phénomènes de fluage. Extended finite element method (XFEM) est introduit et appliqué dans le modèle de joint de décrire exactement l'état réel des joints. Une simulation d'une structure complexe est effectuée à la fin pour vérifier la capacité de simuler de ces modèles. / Short-term and long-term stability are two important aspects in analyzing slope stability. The objective of this study is to propose the numerical models to simulate the short and long-term mechanical behaviour of rock matrix and rock joint. For rock matrix, one elasto-damage model which takes both the compressive and tensile situations into account is employed. One parameter is introduced to emphasize the influence of confining pressures. And then one creep model for rock matrix which considering the damage parameter as a time-dependent variable is proposed. The simulation results show great agreement with experimental results. Generally, rock joints are the most fragile part in rock structures. For rock joint, the asperity of joint surface is represented by a parameter JRC. This parameter is related to the friction angle, and then affects the shear stiffness of joint. In this work, a constitutive model is employed based on this theory, and then the parameter JRC is proposed to be a time-dependent variable, which represents the graduate degradation of joint asperity with time passage. One simulation is performed and verified that this model is capable to describe creep phenomena. The extended finite element (XFEM) theory is introduced and applied in the joint model to exactly describe the real condition of joint. A simulation of one complicated structure is performed at last to verify the simulating ability of these models.

L’acier 55Cr3 est mis en œuvre dans la fabrication des barres stabilisatrices cambrées (BSC) utilisées dans l’industrie automobile. Le procédé consiste en un cintrage à chaud suivi d’un traitement thermique de trempe/revenu. Les barres ainsi mises en forme subissent ensuite un grenaillage de précontrainte avant peinture et livraison au client final. L’objectif de ce travail est de fiabiliser cette fabrication en vue de garantir des performances optimales quelle que soit la provenance de l’acier. Deux lots d’acier de nuance 55Cr3 élaborés respectivement par la filière électrique et la filière fonte ont été caractérisés métallurgiquement et mécaniquement à chaque étape de la fabrication. Les résultats indiquent une légère différence de trempabilité, conduisant à des écarts inférieurs à 5% de la limite élastique à l’issue du revenu. Le nombre de cycles à rupture d’éprouvettes sollicitées en traction uniaxiale et en torsion est bien corrélé avec les limites élastiques, contrairement aux résultats obtenus sur BSC sur banc de fatigue représentatif des sollicitations de service. L’évaluation des contraintes résiduelles par diffraction des rayons X met en évidence une différence de réponse au grenaillage, qui a été reliée à la microstructure initiale, à réception de l’acier. Un modèle numérique de couplage métallo-thermo-mécanique permettant de simuler le formage des BSC et tenant compte des transformations de phase liées à la trempe a été développé. Ce modèle permet de mettre en évidence l’influence des paramètres matériaux, du process et géométriques et de calculer les contraintes résiduelles introduites par l’opération de trempe. Ceci contribue à l’amélioration de la fiabilité. / 55Cr3 steel grade is used for the manufacturing of stabilizer bars in the automotive industry. Steps in the process are hot bending followed by quench and tempering. After such forming, the bars are submitted to shotpeening before painting and final customer delivering. This work aims at improving the manufacturing reliability in order to get the best performance whatever the steel supply.In this purpose, the microstructure and mechanical properties resulting from each step of the manufacturing process have been characterized for two batches of bars made of 55Cr3 steel grade respectively elaborated by blast furnace route and by electric arc furnace route. A slight difference in quenchability has been found, which is responsible for a 5% variation in the yield strength. Samples fatigue tested under uniaxial tensile stress and torsional stress have reached an amount of cycles to failure that is in agreement with the respective yield strength. Different results have been obtained by fatigue testing complete manufactured bars under representative complex service stresses. The determination of residual stresses by X-ray diffraction shows that both steels respond differently to shotpeening, which results from differences in the as-received microstructure.A metallo-thermo-mechanics coupling model based on finite element method has been created which takes into account phase transformations during the quenching process. This model can simulate the forming process of stabilizer bar, in order to analyze the influence of material properties, processing parameters and sample geometry, to calculate the residual stresses induced by the quenching process, and improve process reliability.

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L'utilisation des matériaux polymères dans les applications de l'ingénierie augmente de plus en plus da part le monde. L'utilisation du polyéthylène (PE) dans la construction de canalisations est l'un des exemples les plus courant. Ceci exige de nouvelles méthodes afin d'évaluer la capacité du matériau à supporter des chargements mécaniques. Dans la présente thèse, le comportement contrainte-déformation en grandes déformations du PE haute densité (PEHD) a été examinée dans différentes configurations de triaxialité. Un large domaine de conditions de chargements (traction, compression et cisaillement simple) a été exploré. L'investigation a été réalisée à partir d'échantillons découpés dans des canalisations en PEHD. Les essais de traction ont été faits à partir d'échantillons sabliers présentant plusieurs rayons de courbure afin de fixer différents états de contrainte dans la section médiane. Une attention particulière a été portée à l'évolution de la déformation volumique résultant de l'endommagement par cavitation. L'effet de la triaxialité sur la déformation à rupture a pu également être dégagé. La méthode des éléments finis (EF) a été utilisée pour simuler le comportement en grandes déformations du PEHD. De plus, le phénomène d'endommagement par croissance de vide a été étudié à partir de cellules unitaires soumises à différentes conditions de triaxialité. Afin d'évaluer le comportement à la rupture du PEHD, une méthode expérimentale basée sur l'hypothèse de la séparation de la charge a été élaborée. En outre, une analyse numérique par EF a été réalisée pour le calcul des paramètres de rupture. L'investigation a été réalisée dans les directions longitudinale et radiale. / The use of thermoplastic materials in engineering applications is growing more and more all over the world. The use of polyethylene (PE) in pressure vessels and pipelines is one of the most common examples. This issue demands new methodologies in order to assess the material capability to withstand loads. In the present thesis, the stress-strain response under large plastic deformation of high density PE (HDPE) was investigated in different triaxiality frameworks. A wide range of loading conditions (tension, compression and simple shear) was explored. Investigation was performed using specimens cut from HDPE pipes. The tensile tests were achieved on hourglass-shaped specimens with different curvature radii in order to set different stress states in the median cross-section. The tests were achieved by means of an optical measuring system. A particular attention was given on the evolution of volumetric strain resulting from cavitation damage. The effect of stress triaxilality on the fracture strain was also examined. The finite element (FE) method was used to simulate the large deformation bahaviour of HDPE material when subjected to tensile loading. Moreover, the damage phenomenon by void growth was studied using an axisymmetric representative volume element with different triaxiality conditions. In order to evaluate the fracture behaviour of HDPE pipe, an experimental method based on load separation assumption was developed. Furthermore, a numerical analysis using FE method has been conducted for calculating the fracture parameters. The investigation of fracture parameters and bahaviour of HDPE was performed in longitudinal and radial directions.

Cette thèse porte sur l’optimisation en termes de microstructure et de composition des propriétés électrochimiques du composé Ca3Co4O9+δ pour une application comme cathode pour Pile à Combustible à Oxyde. En utilisant la sérigraphie comme technique de dépôt, la Résistance Surfacique Spécifique a été diminuée jusqu’à 0.5 Ωcm² à 700°C pour un matériau composé de 50% en masse d’oxyde de cérium dopé au gadolinium et Ca3Co4O9+δ. Par ailleurs, des techniques telles que le spin-coating et l’électro-spray apparaissent comme prometteuse pour l’amélioration des performances. Nous avons tenté d’étudié l’impact de la substitution partielle sur le site calcium sur les performances électrochimiques pour différents dopants (Sr, Pb, Bi, La). Du fait que les performances électrochimiques dépendent fortement de la préparation et de la faible concentration en dopant contrainte par la faible solubilité du plomb en site calcium, il n’a pas été possible de tirer des conclusions claires sur l’impact d’un tel dopage, de même pour les propriétés de transport de l’oxygène. Par contre, l’analyse par échange Isotopique Pulsé de la composition (Ca0.90Sr0.10)3Co4O9+δ a permis de confirmer les très bonnes cinétiques d’échange de l’oxygène pour les composés partiellement substitués par du strontium, montrant par ailleurs que ni l’adsorption en surface de l’oxygène ni son incorporation dans le solide sont des étapes limitantes dans le mécanisme d’échange en surface. / In this PhD thesis, the electrochemical performances of the misfit layered oxide Ca3Co4O9+δ used as a cathode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell were tentatively optimised by optimisation of the electrode microstructure and composition. Using screen printing as a deposition technique, the Area Specific Resistance was decreased to 0.5 Ωcm2 at 700°C for a composite made of 50% in weight of cerium gadolinium doped oxide and Ca3Co4O9+δ. Spin coating and electro-spray deposition were also tested as promising technique to improve the performances. The impact of partial substitution of the calcium site on the electrochemical performances was tentatively studied with a wide range of dopant (Sr, Pb, Bi, La). It was difficult to draw conclusions since their performances depend strongly on the sample preparation. Moreover, due to the low amount of the dopant, imposed by the low solubility of lead in the calcium site, it was not possible to derive a clear tendency of the substituent’s impact on the oxygen transport properties. However, by pulse isotopic exchange, high surface exchange kinetics were confirmed for the (Ca0.90Sr0.10)3Co4O9+δ composition and it was shown that neither the oxygen adsorption of the surface nor the oxygen incorporation in the solid were the limiting step in the oxygen transfer.

The aim of this investigation was to clone, characterize and express the gene that encodes the outer capsid protein, VP2, of African horsesickness virus (AHSV), with a view to the evaluation of this protein as a subunit vaccine. The VP2 gene of AHSV serotype 3 (AHSV-3) was cloned as incomplete cDNA fragments of the genome segment 2 double-stranded (ds)RNA, sequenced in its entirety and compared with previously published cognate sequences of AHSV-4, Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV)-l and various bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes. AHSV-3 genome segment 2 was shown to be 3221 nucleotides in length, encoding a protein of 1057 amino acids with a 50.5% identity to AHSV-4 VP2. Two areas of high variability (approximately 65%) were identified adjacent to the conserved termini. The N-proximal region (amino acids 128-309) exhibited significant hydrophilicity, suggesting a possible role in the determination of the serotype-specific immune response. Orbivirus interserogroup comparisons of VP2 amino acid sequences revealed extreme variability, although an overall structural conservation was demonstrated. Oligonucleotide primers derived from the AHSV-3 genome segment 2 terminal nucleotide sequences were used for PCR amplification and cloning of full length segment 2 cDNA. The cloned gene was expressed in a baculovirus expression system and the expressed VP2 protein was shown to react specifically with anti AHSV-3 serum in Western blots. Although the yields of VP2 in the baculovirus system were low, due to a possible toxic effect on the host cells, sufficient antigen was obtained for further future investigations into the efficacy of VP2 as a possible subunit vaccine against AHSV. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Genetics / unrestricted

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T23:02:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo4260_1.pdf: 1556243 bytes, checksum: 9062eb76fd488be821a97ff41b95233f (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nos últimos anos tem se aumentado o interesse pelo estudo cada vez mais detalhado dos processos patológicos envolvidos nas doenças inflamatórias intestinais, em especial a retocolite ulcerativa idiopática. Visando oferecer um método que auxilie o diagnóstico diferencial ou mesmo que seja indicador da transformação neoplásica, a galectina-3 surge como um potencial marcador da fisiopatologia de diversos tipos de câncer, entre eles o câncer colorretal. Para este estudo, o perfil imunohistoquímico foi avaliado em tecido intestinal de pacientes com retocolite ulcerativa (n=20) e sua respectiva contraparte normal, de ambos os sexos e idade média de 55 anos. Os tecidos foram fixados em formalina a 10% e submetidos à histoquímica da reação de Schiff (PAS) para visualizações das inclusões citoplasmáticas de glicosaminoglicanos, e tricrômico de Masson para visualização das fibras colágenas. Fragmentos de tecido (4 &#956;m) foram submetidos à técnica de imunohistoquímica para a proteína galectina-3. Os perfis de marcação tecidual foram analisados através de uma estação de trabalho contendo um microscópio óptico equipado com uma câmera digital ambos acoplados a um computador contendo o software OPTIMAS®. Os resultados obtidos demonstram uma diminuição da expressão da galectina-3 no sitio inflamatório da retocolite ulcerativa. Houve um aumento significativo (p<0.022) no número de células caliciformes dos pacientes tratados clinicamente, porém com redução do conteúdo glandular. Os dados sugerem que a atividade glandular juntamente com a redução da expressão da galectina-3 possam auxiliar o diagnóstico e o monitoramento desses pacientes

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência de dietas suplementadas com semente de linhaça (ricas em ácido alfa-linolênico, LNA, ômega3) e antioxidantes naturais, provenientes do orégano e do alecrim, sobre o nível de incorporação dos ácidos graxos poliinsaturados ômega 3 (PUFA ômega3) em ovos e tecidos de aves. Para isto, 192 galinhas poedeiras da linhagem comercial Babcock de 22 semanas, foram alimentadas durante 30 dias com dietas constituídas de 0 (zero) e 5% de óleo de linhaça. Foram definidos 8 tratamentos: 4 grupos com 5% de óleo de linhaça (controle/sem antioxidante; BHA+BHT, 100+100 ppm; orégano, 200 ppm; alecrim, 200 ppm) e 4 grupos sem óleo de linhaça, mas utilizando os mesmos antioxidantes. A amostragem dos ovos foi realizada durante o experimento nos períodos 0, 10, 20 e 30 dias e dos tecidos das aves (sobrecoxa, coxa, asa, peito, coração, tecido adiposo e fígado) no tempo final do experimento. Os ácidos graxos foram determinados por cromatografia gasosa e o grau de oxidação lipídica através do teste do ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBA). De acordo aos resultados obtidos, verificou-se aumento significativo dos ácidos graxos alfa-linolênico (LNA) e docosahexaenóico (DHA) nas gemas de ovo das aves que receberam 5% de óleo de linhaça nos tratamentos controle, BHA+BHT, orégano e alecrim, nos diferentes tempos (10, 20 e 30 dias), quando comparados com a dieta 0% linhaça. Além disso, a incorporação máxima dos ácidos LNA e DHA nas gemas de ovo foi obtida aos 20 dias de alimentação das aves, com um índice de incorporação de 15 a 30 e de 2,5 a 4,5 vezes o grupo controle, respectivamente. Na avaliação do grau de oxidação lipídica nas gemas de ovo, foi verificada diferença significativa na redução dos valores de absorbância nas 2 dietas, em todos os tratamentos com antioxidantes, quando relacionados ao seu respectivo controle. Com relação aos tecidos das aves, também houve incorporação significativa dos ácidos LNA e DHA, quando comparadas as duas dietas, sendo o fígado o tecido que apresentou a maior concentração destes ácidos graxos. Também foi possível verificar a eficácia dos antioxidantes naturais na proteção contra a oxidação lipídica nos tecidos sobrecoxa, coxa, asa e peito. Portanto, os extratos das especiarias, alecrim e orégano, podem ser utilizados satisfatoriamente para se obter ovos e tecidos de aves enriquecidos com PUFA ômega-3, melhorando a estabilidade lipídica. Considerando que os PUFA ômega-3 têm um interesse considerável na saúde humana, o fornecimento de dietas ricas em ácido alfa-linolênico presente na linhaça, para galinhas poedeiras, permitiu a obtenção de ovos e tecidos enriquecidos, os quais tornam-se uma fonte alternativa de PUFA ômega-3. / The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of diets containing flaxseed (rich in alpha-linolenic acid, LNA, omega-3) and natural antioxidants from oregano and rosemary on the level of incorporation of the polyunsaturated fatty acids omega 3 (PUFA omega-3) in eggs and tissues of poultry. For this purpose, 192 laying hens at 22 weeks of age, of commercial lineage Babcock, were fed for 30 days with diets containing 0 (zero) or 5% of flaxseed oil. The hens were divided in 8 groups: 4 groups received diets with 5% of flaxseed oil (control / no antioxidant; BHA+BHT, 100+100 ppm; oregano, 200 ppm; rosemary, 200 ppm) and 4 groups received no flaxseed oil, but the same antioxidants. The sampling of the eggs was accomplished in 4 periods (0, 10, 20 and 30 days) and of the tissues of poultry (upper thigh, thigh, wing, breast, heart, adipose tissue and liver) at the end of experiment. The fatty acids were analysed by gas chromatography and the lipid oxidation was determined by thiobarbituric acid test (TBA). The results showed that the levels of alpha-linolenic (LNA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids increased in egg yolks from hens of the 4 groups fed diets with 5% flaxseed oil after 10, 20 and 30 days, when compared with diets 0% flaxseed oil. In addition, the maximum incorporation of LNA and DHA in egg yolks was obtained after 20 days, with an index of incorporation ranging from 15 to 30 and from 2.5 to 4.5, respectively. Also, a significant decrease of lipid oxidation in egg yolks for all groups receiving antioxidants was observed, when related with control. In the tissues of the hens, there was also significant incorporation of the LNA and DHA acids, when comparing the 2 diets, with the liver presenting the major concentration of these fatty acids. It was also possible to verify the effectiveness of the natural antioxidants in the protection against lipid oxidation in upper thigh, thigh, wing and breast tissues. Therefore, rosemary and oregano can be used satisfactorily to obtain eggs and tissues of poultry enriched with PUFA omega-3, improving the lipid stability. Considering that the PUFA omega-3 have considerable interest in the human health, the administration of diets rich in alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed to laying hens allows the eggs and tissues enrichment as an alternative source of PUFA omega-3.

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