Terrorism has become a serious threat in the world, with bomb attacks carried out both inside and outside buildings. There are already many unreinforced masonry buildings in existence, and some of them are historical buildings. However, they do not perform well under blast loading. Aiming on protecting masonry buildings, retrofitting techniques were developed. Some experimental work on studying the effect of retrofitted URM walls has been done in recent years; however, these tests usually cost a significant amount of time and funds. Because of this, numerical simulation has become a good alternative, and can be used to study the behaviour of masonry structures, and predict the outcomes of experimental tests. This project was carried out to find efficient retrofitting technique under blast loading by developing numerical material models. It was based on experimental research of strengthening URM walls by using retrofitting technologies under out-of-plane loading at the University of Adelaide. The numerical models can be applied to study large-scaled structures under static loading, and the research work is then extended to the field of blast loading. Aiming on deriving efficient material models, homogenization technology was introduced to this research. Fifty cases of numerical analysis on masonry basic cell were conducted to derive equivalent orthotropic material properties. To study the increasing capability in strength and ductility of retrofitted URM walls, pull-tests were simulated using interface element model to investigate the bond-slip relationship of FRP plates bonded to masonry blocks. The interface element model was then used to simulate performance of retrofitted URM walls under static loads. The accuracy of the numerical results was verified by comparing with the experimental results from previous tests at the University of Adelaide by Griffith et al. (2007) on unreinforced masonry walls and by Yang (2007) on FRP retrofitted masonry walls. To study the de-bonding behaviours of retrofits bonded to masonry, and find appropriate solution to protect certain masonry walls against blast loading, various retrofitting technologies were examined. The simulation covers explosive impacts of a wide range of impulses. Based on this work, pressure-impulse diagrams for different types of retrofitted URM walls were developed as a design guideline for estimating the blast effect on retrofitted masonry walls. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the development of numerical simulation on modelling retrofitted URM walls, improving the technique for explosion-resistant of masonry buildings, and providing a type of guideline for blast-resistant design. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1349719 / Thesis (M.Eng.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, 2009

Terrorism has become a serious threat in the world, with bomb attacks carried out both inside and outside buildings. There are already many unreinforced masonry buildings in existence, and some of them are historical buildings. However, they do not perform well under blast loading. Aiming on protecting masonry buildings, retrofitting techniques were developed. Some experimental work on studying the effect of retrofitted URM walls has been done in recent years; however, these tests usually cost a significant amount of time and funds. Because of this, numerical simulation has become a good alternative, and can be used to study the behaviour of masonry structures, and predict the outcomes of experimental tests. This project was carried out to find efficient retrofitting technique under blast loading by developing numerical material models. It was based on experimental research of strengthening URM walls by using retrofitting technologies under out-of-plane loading at the University of Adelaide. The numerical models can be applied to study large-scaled structures under static loading, and the research work is then extended to the field of blast loading. Aiming on deriving efficient material models, homogenization technology was introduced to this research. Fifty cases of numerical analysis on masonry basic cell were conducted to derive equivalent orthotropic material properties. To study the increasing capability in strength and ductility of retrofitted URM walls, pull-tests were simulated using interface element model to investigate the bond-slip relationship of FRP plates bonded to masonry blocks. The interface element model was then used to simulate performance of retrofitted URM walls under static loads. The accuracy of the numerical results was verified by comparing with the experimental results from previous tests at the University of Adelaide by Griffith et al. (2007) on unreinforced masonry walls and by Yang (2007) on FRP retrofitted masonry walls. To study the de-bonding behaviours of retrofits bonded to masonry, and find appropriate solution to protect certain masonry walls against blast loading, various retrofitting technologies were examined. The simulation covers explosive impacts of a wide range of impulses. Based on this work, pressure-impulse diagrams for different types of retrofitted URM walls were developed as a design guideline for estimating the blast effect on retrofitted masonry walls. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the development of numerical simulation on modelling retrofitted URM walls, improving the technique for explosion-resistant of masonry buildings, and providing a type of guideline for blast-resistant design. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1349719 / Thesis (M.Eng.Sc.) - University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, 2009

Blast injury is a very serious lesion caused by the shock wave resulting from an explosion. Further secondary injuries can arise from burying under debris, pieces of shards from the explosive cover, at burning, poisonous gases created by chemical reactions during detonation. The injuries often happen to be fatal and the percentage of people who survive it depends on the fact how far from the epicentre they were situated. If the individual is very close, there is almost no chance to survive, if, however, the individual is situated further from the epicentre, a few tens of meters, the chance is higher. It is so called mass disaster, which includes more injured people at an explosion. Therefore it is necessary for nurses and the hospital staff to know what the procedures are at this incident and how to take medical and nursing care of higher number of such patients suffering from blast injury. The care itself is extremely demanding, since the injured are often in critical condition. The aim of this diploma thesis, the topic of which is multidisciplinary cooperation and the role of a nurse when taking care of the patients suffering from blast injury, was to find out the information based on the latest Czech and foreign literature and create a compact overview of the knowledge of this issue, for it is necessary to have this knowledge to carry out nursing care of such patients. The second aim of this diploma thesis was to map the role of a nurse in details when taking care of a patient suffering from blast injury. This aim was stated for the reason of the demanding character and complexity of nursing care at urgent reception and anaesthesiology and resuscitation unit because the nurses at these units are placed demands on high qualification and requirements. This diploma thesis was purely elaborated as theoretical thesis based on Czech and foreign sources. The given pieces of information were obtained from a great deal of professional and scientific publications, monographs, professional journals and internet sources for each chapter. The first part of the thesis was dedicated to the description of the given issue, pre-hospital care and classifying algorithms that are used at mass health losses in such way so that the injured people have a higher chance to survive. The crisis management at hospitals, the reception of the injured, the care at the urgent unit and finally the follow-up care at the anaesthesiology and resuscitation unit are worked out in the following part. Thereafter the theoretical part focuses on nursing care at the critical care department where the nursing care of a patient suffering from blast injury is described as well as the duties of a nurse. The needed competences of a nurse working at the urgent unit, anaesthesiology and resuscitation unit are also defined in this chapter. According to the valid Czech legislation, only specially trained nurses for intensive care should take care of the patients with blast injury because the extent of their competence for intensive care is many times higher than general nurses have. The last chapter deals with team and multidisciplinary cooperation among the doctors and hospital staff as well as the cooperation concerning the pre-hospital care of the emergency services at emergency incident, for their active and quality communication are the keys for good and well done work with the least consequences.

[pt] Ferramentas BLAST são normalmente utilizadas para efetuar comparações entre sequências de DNA, RNA e proteínas. No entanto, face ao crescimento exponencial das bases biológicas, existe uma preocupação quanto ao desempenho do BLAST, mesmo considerando os equipamentos de grande capacidade computacional hoje existente. Considerando tal fato, algumas ferramentas capazes de executar o BLAST em ambientes distribuídos, tais como clusters e grids, vêm sendo desenvolvidas de modo a acelerar consideravelmente a sua execução. No entanto, até o presente momento, não foi constatado, na literatura existente, nenhum estudo com o objetivo de comprar o desempenho entre essas ferramentas. A avaliação de desempenho dessas ferramentas é normalmente efetuada de forma isolada, considerando apenas o tempo de execução (elapsed time), em situações diversas, como, por exemplo, variando o número de nós em que a ferramenta BLAST é executada.. Almejando uma investigação mais detalhada, principalmente no que diz respeito a avaliação de desempenho do BLAST em ambientes distribuídos, a presente dissertação tem como um dos seus objetivos efetuar um estudo detalhado sobre como comparar o desempenho do BLAST em um ambiente distribuído, considerando para tal, a avaliação de três ferramentas BLAST, dentre elas balaBLAST, desenvolvida no Laborátorio de Bioinformática da PUC-RIO. O segundo objetivo é verificar a eficácia do balanceamento de carga efetuada pela ferramenta balaBLAST. / [en] BLAST tools are typically used to make comparisons between sequences of DNA, RNA and proteins. However, given the exponential growth of the biological databases, there is concern about the performance of BLAST, even considering the equipment of large computing power that exists today. Considering this fact, some tools to run BLAST in distributed environments such as clusters and grids, have been developed to greatly accelerate its performance. However, until now, has not been found in existing literature, no study in order to compare the performance between these tools. The performance evaluation of these tools is usually done in isolation, considering only the execution time (elapsed time) in different situations, for example, varying the number of nodes in the tool BLAST runs. Craving a more detailed investigation, especially with regard to performance evalution of BLAST in distributed environments, this dissertation has as one of your goals make a detailed study to compare the performance of BLAST in a distributed enviroment, considering for such the evaluation of three tools BLAST, among them the balaBLAST developed in the Bioinformatics Laboratory of PUC-Rio. The second objective is to verify the effectiveness of load balancing performed by the tool balaBLAST.

It is important to ensure that vulnerable structures (federal and provincial offices, military structures, embassies, etc) are blast resistant to safeguard life and critical infrastructure. In the wake of recent malicious attacks and accidental explosions, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that columns in structures are properly detailed to provide the ductility and continuity necessary to prevent progressive collapse. Research has shown that steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) can enhance many of the properties of concrete, including improved post-cracking tensile capacity, enhanced shear resistance, and increased ductility. The enhanced properties of SFRC make it an ideal candidate for use in the blast resistant design of structures. There is limited research on the behaviour of SFRC under high strain rates, including impact and blast loading, and some of this data is conflicting, with some researchers showing that the additional ductility normally evident in SFRC is absent or reduced at high strain loading. On the other hand, other data indicates that SFRC can improve toughness and energy-absorption capacity under extreme loading conditions. This thesis presents the results of experimental research involving tests of scaled reinforced concrete columns exposed to shock wave induced impulsive loads using the University of Ottawa Shock Tube. A total of 13 half-scale steel fibre reinforced concrete columns, 8 with normal strength steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) and 5 with an ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), were constructed and tested under simulated blast pressures. The columns were designed according to CSA A23.3 standards for both seismic and non-seismic regions, using various fibre amounts and types. Each column was exposed to similar shock wave loads in order to provide direct comparisons between seismic and non-seismically detailed columns, amount of steel fibres, type of steel fibres, and type of concrete. The dynamic response of the columns tested in the experimental program is predicted by generating dynamic load-deformation resistance functions for SFRC and UHPFRC columns and using single degree of freedom dynamic analysis software, RCBlast. The analytical results are compared to experimental data, and shown to accurately predict the maximum mid-span displacements of the fibre reinforced concrete columns under shock wave loading.

Recent events including deliberate terrorist attacks and accidental explosions have highlighted the need for comprehensive research in the area of structural response to blast loading. Research in this area has recently received significant attention by the civil engineering community. Reinforced Concrete (RC) water reservoir tanks are an integral part of the critical infrastructure network of urban centers and are vulnerable to blast loading. However, there is a lack of research and knowledge on the performance of RC reservoir walls under blast loading. The objective of this research study is to experimentally investigate the performance of reinforced concrete reservoir walls subjected to blast loading and to analyze the structural response. This study provides experimental test data on the performance of reinforced concrete reservoir walls under blast loading and complementary analytical predictions using the Singe-Degree-Of-Freedom (SDOF) analysis method. The reservoir walls in this study were designed according to the water volume capacity using the Portland Cement Association (PCA 1993) methodology. The design was validated using software SAP 2000. The experimental program involved the construction and simulated blast testing of two RC reservoir wall specimens with different support conditions: (1) two opposite lateral edges fixed, bottom edge pinned and top edge free; and (2) two opposite lateral edges fixed, and bottom and top edges free. The first boundary condition was intended to promote two-way bending action, while the second was dominated by one-way bending. The two specimens were each subjected to a total of six consecutive incrementally increasing blast tests. The experimental program was conducted in the shock tube testing facility that is housed in the University of Ottawa. Wall displacements, reinforcement strains, and reflected pressures and impulses were measured during testing. Analytical calculations were conducted using the equivalent SDOF method to simulate the dynamic response of the RC reservoir wall specimens under different blast loadings. Published tables, charts and coefficients contained in Biggs (1964) and UFC 3-340-02 (2008) were adopted in the equivalent SDOF calculations. The analytical results were compared against the ii experimental data. The SDOF method predicted smaller displacements than those recorded during testing. The approximate nature of the parameters and tables used in the equivalent SDOF calculations contributed to the discrepancy between the analytical and experimental results. Furthermore, assumptions regarding the support conditions and neglecting residual damage from previous blast tests contributed to the underestimation of the displacements.

Windows in building façade are vulnerable to blast pressures. When subjected to blast shock waves, glass windows may suffer failures, potentially causing serious injuries and casualties to the building occupants due to the flying glass shards and other projectiles. Protective films and laminated glass are widely used to protect windows against blast loads. These techniques have proven to reduce or prevent hazards associated with glass breakage. The use of steel or strengthened aluminum frames also reduce window blast hazards associated with frame failures. However, such measures are not always sufficient to mitigate the blast hazard if window retention anchors do not have sufficient resistance to blast pressures. Research on blast resistant windows is scarce in the literature. Therefore, a comprehensive research project was undertaken to address the behaviour, analysis, and design of window retention anchors. The research program consisted of combined experimental and analytical components. Three main phases were pursued, comprising of: i) Experimental research using a shock tube as blast simulator, ii) Numerical investigation based on three-dimensional finite element method (FEM) of analysis, and iii) Non-linear dynamic analysis of window systems based on a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) simplification. The experimental phase consisted of tests of 23 punched windows mounted on four different types of substrates consisting of structural steel, reinforced concrete, concrete block masonry, and stone masonry. The experimental parameters included window size and aspect ratio, glazing type, protective film thickness, substrate type, as well as the number and pattern of window retention anchors. Two levels of blast pressure-impulse combinations were used as per the recommendations of the U.S General Services Administration (GSA).The numerical phase involved FEM modelling and analysis of selected test windows. The FEM models were first validated against test results. The validated models were then employed to conduct an analytical parametric study. The parameters in this phase consisted of; substrate type, window frame rigidity, anchor fixity level in the substrate, window aspect ratio and size, anchor spacing, and blast pressure-impulse combination. The results demonstrated the significance of design parameters on window response, while also defining anchor force distribution along the window frame. A simplified SDOF method of analysis was developed for window systems, including the effects of anchor flexibility and substrate rigidity on non-linear response. The analysis approach includes the construction of window resistance functions in pre-break and post-break phases of response, where the latter stage of response is dominated by the membrane action of protective film. The analysis leads to the computation of anchor design forces, which have been validated against anchor shear and axial tension forces recorded experimentally. The SDOF analysis is recommended for use in designing blast-resistant window retention anchors on different substrates.

The current thesis focuses on estimating the damage levels and evaluating the out-of-plane behavior of fully-grouted reinforced masonry (RM) structural walls under blast loading, a load that they are typically not designed to resist. Twelve third-scale RM walls were constructed and tested under free-field blast tests. Three different reinforcement ratios and three different charge weights have been used on the walls, with scaled distances down to 1.7 m/kg1/3 and two different boundary conditions, to evaluate the walls’ performances. In general, the results show that the walls are capable of withstanding substantial blast load levels with different extents of damage depending on their vertical reinforcement ratio and scaled distance. It worth mention that the current definitions of damage states, specified in ASCE/SEI 59-11 (ASCE 2011) and CAN/CSA S850-12 (CSA 2012) standards, involve global response limits such as the component support rotations that are relatively simple to calculate. However, these quantitative damage state descriptors can be less relevant for cost–benefit analysis. Moreover, the reported experimental results showed that the use of quantitative versus qualitative damage descriptors specified by North American blast standards [ASCE 59-11 (ASCE 2011) and CSA S850-12 (CSA 2012)] can result in inconstancies in terms of damage state categorization. Therefore, revised damage states that are more suitable for a cost–benefit analysis, including repair technique and building downtime, were presented. These damage states are currently considered more meaningful and have been used to quantify the post-earthquake performance of buildings. In addition, a nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model is developed to predict the out-of-plane behavior of RM structural walls under blast loading. The proposed SDOF model is first verified using quasi-static and free-field blast tests and then subsequently used to extend the results of the reported experimental test results with different design parameters such as threat level, reinforcement ratio, available block width, wall height, and material characteristics. In general, brittle behavior was observed in the walls with a reinforcement ratio higher than 0.6%. This is attributed to the fact that seismically detailed structural masonry walls designed to respond in a ductile manner under in-plane loads might develop brittle failure under out-of-plane loads because of their reduced reinforcement moment arm. In addition, increased ductility can be achieved by using two reinforcement layers instead of a single layer, even if the reinforcement ratio is reduced. Also, it is recommended to consider the use of larger concrete masonry blocks for the construction of RM structural walls that are expected to experience blast loads in order to reduce the slenderness ratio and for the placement of two reinforcement layers. Finally, a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) framework is proposed in order to develop design basis threat (DBT) fragility curves for reinforced concrete block shear wall buildings, which can be utilized to meet different probabilities of failure targets. To illustrate the proposed methodology, an application is presented involving a medium–rise reinforced masonry building, under different DBT levels. The DBT fragility curves are obtained via Monte Carlo sampling of the random variables and are used to infer the locations, within the building premises, that are most suitable for the erection of barriers for blast hardening. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (BImTBI) is one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. BImTBI mechanisms are not well identified, as most previous blast-related studies were focused on the visible and fatal injuries. BImTBI is a hidden lesion and long-term escalation of related complications is considered a serious health care challenging due to lack of accurate data required for early diagnosis and intervention. The experimental studies presented in this thesis were performed to investigate aspects of blast shock wave mechanisms that might lead to mild traumatic brain injury. A compressed air-driven shock tube was designed and validated using finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental investigation. Two metal diaphragm types (steel and brass) with three thicknesses (0.127, 0.76, and 0.025mm) were utilized in the shock tube calibration experiment, as a new approach to generate shock wave. The consistency of generated shock waves was confirmed using a statistical assessment of the results by evaluating the shock waves parameters. The analysis results showed that the 0.127mm steel diaphragm induces a reliable shock waveform in the range of BImTB investigations. Evaluation of the shock wave impacts on the brain was examined using two sets of experiments. The first set was conducted using a gel brain model while the second set was performed using a physical head occupied with a gel brain model and supported by a neck model. The gel brain model in both the experimental studies was generated using silicone gel (Sylgard-527). The effects of tested models locations and orientations with respect to the shock tube exit were investigated by measuring the generated pressure wave within the brain model and acceleration. The results revealed that the pressure waveform and acceleration outcomes were greatly affected by the tested model orientations and locations in relation to the path of shock wave propagation. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Plant Pathology / Barbara S. Valent / Rice blast caused by the ascomycetous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae remains a threat to global sustainable agriculture and food security. This pathogen infects staple cereal crops such as rice, wheat, barley and millets, as well as turf grasses, in a distinct way among fungal plant pathogens, which we described in the first chapter. In addition to economical importance, rice blast is a model pathosystem for difficult-to-study biotrophic fungi and fungal-plant interactions. We are studying proteins that fungi secrete inside living cells to block plant defenses and control host cell processes; these proteins are called effectors. To date mechanisms for secretion and delivery of effectors inside host cells during disease establishment remain unknown. This step is critical to ensure the successful infection. So far, the only commonality found among all unique small-secreted blast effector proteins is their accumulation in a novel in planta structure called the biotrophic-interfacial complex (BIC). Identifying effectors and understanding how they function inside rice cells are important for attaining durable disease control. In the second chapter, we presented one approach to address this challenge. We characterized four candidate effector genes that were highly expressed specifically during the rice cell invasion. Using transgenic fungi that secrete fluorescently-labeled versions of each protein allowed me to follow them during invasion in vivo by live cell imaging. These candidates show distinct secretion patterns suggesting a spatially-segregated secretion mechanism for effectors. Results revealed a BIC-located strong candidate cytoplasmic blast effector, two putative cell-to-cell movement proteins and a putative extrainvasive hyphal membrane (EIHM)-matrix protein, which has become a valuable tool for assessing successful infection sites. In the third chapter, we test if normal secretion components of filamentous fungi are involved in accumulation of effectors into BICs. We report localization studies with M. oryzae orthologs of conserved secretion machinery components to investigate secretion mechanisms for effectors showing preferential BIC accumulation and for non-BIC proteins such as BAS4. Especially bright fluorescence adjacent to BICs from Mlc1p (Myosin Light Chain, a Spitzenkörper marker), from Snc1p (a secretory vesicle marker), and from Yup1p (a putative t-SNARE endosomal protein) suggest secretion actively occurs in the BIC-associated cells. Localization of Spa2p (a polarisome marker), as a distinct spot at the tips of the bulbous invasive hyphae (IH) in planta, suggests the existence of two secretion complexes after the fungus switches growth from the polarized filamentous primary hyphae to bulbous IH. In the final chapter on future perspectives, we present some strategies towards the molecular understanding of the M. oryzae secretion mechanism during biotrophic invasion, which will lead to novel strategies for disease control.