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The strategic importance of the adoption of innovative processing technologies was analyzed for building products businesses. This study examined the two components of wood building products businesses: the structural panel industry and the softwood Iumber industry. To ensure that the relevance of adopting of innovative processing technologies was examined within an accurate contextual environment, additional important strategies and performance were also measured. A mail survey of the seventy-five largest North American producers of these two products provided the primary data necessary to investigate the strategic importance of process technology adoption, forward vertical integration, relative market share, grade sector focus, and investment intensity on firm performance as measured by profitability surrogates and changes in relative market share. This survey collected direct measures of the proportion of 1987 production produced by respondent firms that used controlled distribution channels and each of twentythree processes indicative of innovative technologies in the manufacture of building products. Information concerning the other strategic and performance factors was collected from secondary data sources. Results indicate that the adoption of innovative processing technologies has a positive impact on firm profitability. Investment intensity and grade sector focus also contributed to superior profitability. Forward vertical integration, and relative market share had no impact in differences between performance levels for the firms studied. Technologies were examined for underlying dimensions that group different process technologies together. Firms were clustered according to their level of adoption of innovative processing technologies and these clusters were then described according to a variety of firm-dependent characteristics, strategies, and performance measures. A strategy-performance model was developed for standardized, industrial product-markets and empirically tested using the data collected for the building products industry as an industry representative of this type of competitive environment. / Ph. D.

A significant share of the global climate change impacts can be attributed to the construction sector. One mitigation strategy is increasing the use of biobased materials. Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to demonstrate the benefits of this, but forest complexities create uncertainty due to omission of key aspects. The aim of this thesis is to enhance understanding of the effects of increasing use of biobased materials in climate change mitigation of construction works with a life cycle perspective. Non-traditional LCA methodology aspects were identified and the climate impact effects of increasing the use of biobased materials while accounting for these was studied. The method applied was dynamic LCA combined with forest carbon data under multi-approach scenarios. Diverse case studies (a building, a small road bridge and the Swedish building stock) were used. Most scenarios result in impact reductions from increasing the use of biobased materials in construction. The inclusion of non-traditional aspects affected the results, but not this outcome. Results show that the climate mitigation potential is maximized by simultaneously implementing other strategies (such as increased use of low-impact concrete). Biobased building materials should not be generalised as climate neutral because it depends on case-sensitive factors. Some of these factors depend on the modelling of the forest system (timing of tree growth, spatial level approach, forest land use baseline) or LCA modelling parameters (choice of the time horizon, end-of-life assumptions, service life). To decrease uncertainty, it is recommended to use at least one metric that allows assessment of emissions based on their timing and to use long-term time horizons. Practitioners should clearly state if and how non-traditional aspects are handled, and study several methodological settings. Technological changes should be accounted for when studying long-term climate impacts of building stocks. / Irreversibel global påverkan på klimat och miljö måste undvikas och olika strategier som begränsar klimatförändringarna kan utnyttjas för att hantera denna utmaning. En betydande andel av de globala utsläppen av växthusgaser kan hänföras till byggsektorn i allmänhet och cementproduktion i synnerhet, och begränsningsstrategier söker alternativ till fossil- och mineralbaserade resurser, med mindre påverkan, som exempelvis en ökad användning av biobaserade material i byggandet. Livscykelanalys (LCA) har använts för att demonstrera klimatnyttan av denna ökning, men skogens komplexiteter i samband med biogent koldioxid skapar osäkerhet i resultaten då de som genomför LCA-studier traditionellt utelämnar viktiga nyckelaspekter. Denna avhandling syftar till att öka förståelsen för effekterna av en ökad användning av biobaserade material för begränsning av byggandets klimatpåverkan i ett livscykelperspektiv. Forskningsfrågorna formulerades med fokus på att identifiera icke-traditionell LCA-metodik, samt att bedöma miljöeffekterna av en ökad användning av biobaserade material med redovisning av dessa aspekter på olika nivåer, gällande enstaka konstruktioner och byggnadsbeståndet som helhet. Den metodik som används är dynamisk LCA i kombination med data om skogskolbalans, med analyser av flera scenarier med olika metodologiska antaganden. Fallstudier med olika kännetecken användes, nämligen en byggnad, en bilvägsbro och en uppskattning av det svenska byggnadsbeståndet på lång sikt. Resultaten bekräftar att en ökad användning av biobaserade material minskar klimatpåverkan av byggandet – en tydlig majoritet av de scenarier som analyserats för alla fallstudier resulterar i sänkt klimatpåverkan. Införandet av icke-traditionella LCA-aspekter påverkar resultatet, men förändrar inte att en ökad användning av biobaserade material resulterar i lägre långsiktig och kumulativ klimatpåverkan. Resultaten visar också att den maximala klimatbegränsningspotentialen endast nås genom att samtidigt införa andra tekniska lösningar med lägre klimatpåverkan. När det gäller LCA-metodik visar resultaten att antagandet att biobaserade byggnadsmaterial är klimatneutrala är en överförenkling eftersom deras klimatpåverkan beror på fallspecifika faktorer och därför bör inga generaliseringar göras. Några av dessa klimatpåverkande faktorer beror på modellering av skogssystemet i en dynamisk LCA; såsom när skogstillväxten antas börja i förhållande till avverkningen, den geografiska upplösningen för att analysera de biogena kolflödena dvs. som ett avverkningsbestånd eller på landskapsnivå och vad utgångsläget sätts till vid analys av skogens markanvändning. Andra faktorer beror på LCA-modellering, nämligen valet av integrerad tidshorisont för beräkning av klimatpåverkan, det antagna scenariot för avfallshantering och lagringsperioden för det biogena kolet i tillverkade produkter. För att minska osäkerheten i bedömning av klimatpåverkan av biobaserade byggmaterial rekommenderas användning av minst en mätmetod som gör det möjligt att bedöma koldioxidutsläppen baserat på tidpunkten på dessa, samt att tillämpa mätvärden med långa tidsperspektiv. Redovisning av icke-traditionella aspekter har en betydande effekt på klimatpåverkan av biobaserade byggmaterial. Utförare av analyser rekommenderas därför även att redovisa hur dessa aspekter hanteras och att ställa upp flera olika scenarier och analysera dessa med flera olika metodologiska inställningar. Slutligen rekommenderas att ta hänsyn till den tekniska utvecklingen vid analyser av långsiktig klimatpåverkan av byggnadsbeståndet som genomförs med dynamiska värden för processer som äger rum i framtiden. / Para evitar impactos irreversibles a nivel global, es necesario mitigar el cambio climático. Una parte significativa de las emisiones globales de gases efecto invernadero puede atribuirse al sector de la construcción y la producción de cemento. Entretanto, se busca implementar estrategias de mitigación de bajo impacto, tal es el caso de incrementar el uso de materiales de origen forestal. El análisis de ciclo de vida (ACV) se aplica con frecuencia para demostrar los beneficios climáticos de este incremento, pero las complejidades relacionadas con el bosque y el carbono biogénico crean incertidumbre ya que los autores normalmente omiten ciertos aspectos clave. Esta tesis busca mejorar la comprensión de los efectos de un incremento en el uso de materiales de origen forestal en la mitigación del cambio climático en el sector de la construcción, bajo una perspectiva de ciclo de vida. Para ello se han formulado preguntas de investigación centradas en la identificación de los aspectos metodológicos no tradicionales del ACV que pueden afectar el resultado, así como en la evaluación de los efectos ambientales del aumento del uso de materiales biológicos en construcciones o en la construcción en existencia, mientras se toman en cuenta dichos aspectos. Los métodos aplicados incluyen el ACV dinámico en combinación con modelos del balance de carbón en el bosque, además del análisis de múltiples escenarios con diferentes configuraciones metodológicas y asunciones. Se utilizaron casos de estudio con diferentes características y sus respectivos productos equivalentes de referencia; un edificio, un puente para carretera pequeño y la construcción en existencia en Suecia a largo plazo. Los resultados confirman que el aumento del uso de materiales de origen forestal disminuye el impacto climático de la construcción, ya que la gran mayoría de los escenarios analizados para todos los casos de estudio resultan en reducciones del impacto climático. La inclusión de aspectos no tradicionales del ACV ha influido en los resultados, sin afectar el hecho de que incrementar el uso de material biológico se traduce en menores impactos climáticos acumulados a largo plazo. Los resultados también muestran que el potencial máximo de mitigación climática sólo se alcanza mediante la implementación simultánea de otras tecnologías de bajo impacto. En cuanto a la metodología del ACV, la tesis ilustra que la hipótesis de que los biomateriales de construcción son neutrales respecto a sus impactos climáticos es una simplificación excesiva, y demuestra también que los flujos de carbono biogénico deben ser tenidos en cuenta. El balance de carbono de los materiales de construcción de origen forestal depende de factores relacionados con el sistema forestal que son sensibles las circunstancias del caso de estudio; por lo que no deberían hacerse generalizaciones. De dichos factores, algunos dependen de los modelos usados para simular el sistema forestal; tales como la contabilización del punto temporal de ocurrencia de los flujos de carbono biogénico, la perspectiva espacial para medir estos flujos y la línea de base trazada para el sistema forestal. Otros factores dependen del modelo usado para el ACV, como la elección del horizonte temporal integrado para el cálculo del impacto, el escenario de disposición final y el período de almacenamiento del carbono biogénico en los productos. Para obtener conclusiones más robustas, se recomienda que los autores de estudios utilicen al menos un método adicional al GWP que les permita evaluar las emisiones de carbono basadas en el punto temporal de su ocurrencia, así como que se apliquen horizontes temporales a largo plazo en el uso de dichos métodos. Tener en cuenta los aspectos no tradicionales estudiados en esta tesis en estudios de ACV de materiales de construcción de origen forestal puede tener una influencia significativa en su impacto climático, por lo que se recomienda que los autores expongan claramente si estos aspectos se incluyen y cómo se incluyen. También se recomienda que se analicen múltiples escenarios con una variedad de configuraciones metodológicas alternativas. Por último, se recomienda tener en cuenta los cambios tecnológicos en los análisis a largo plazo de los impactos climáticos de la construcción en existencia, utilizando factores de impacto dinámico para los procesos que trascurran en el futuro. / <p>QC 20170517</p> / EnWoBio - Engineered Wood and Biobased Building Materials Laboratory

Traiter de la construction dans le monde romain, et plus particulièrement dans le cas d’une cité ou d’une colonie, constitue un exercice souvent ardu tant les angles d’approches sont nombreux. Pourtant, Lugdunum constitue une exception dans ce domaine, tant par la richesse de sa documentation archéologique et épigraphique, que par son statut de colonie romaine précocement dévolue en Gaule. Ce travail doctoral s’est donné pour objectif de traiter de l’architecture domestique à Lugdunum, à travers le prisme de la construction, en s’appuyant sur une approche globale, tant par les matériaux étudiés que par les méthodologies mises en place. En suivant les différentes étapes de la construction, l’objectif est de définir les différents approvisionnements des chantiers, l’évolution typologique et chronologique des matériaux et des techniques mises en œuvre, ou encore la diversité des formes de l’habitat, afin de dresser une image la plus précise possible de « l’art de bâtir » à Lyon, et des artisans qui y participent. À ces différentes questions, l’analyse des matériaux, des techniques de construction et des plans, ainsi que d’un corpus d’inscription, apporte des réponses très concrètes et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives de recherche.Dans le cadre d’un Master mené entre 2007 et 2009, l’étude des toitures en tuiles de terre cuite, en Gaule du Centre-est, et plus particulièrement à Lyon, a révélé une évolution typologique des tegulae et imbrices qui se prête à l’établissement d’une typo-chronologie détaillée, permettant de les dater au demi-siècle prés. En m’appuyant sur la méthodologie mise en place au cours de ce master, une analyse exhaustive des fragments de brique, de quart de colonne, de tomette d’opus spicatum ou encore de tubuli a été menée afin, de caractériser une éventuelle évolution de leur morphologie, ou de leur utilisation dans la mise en œuvre des bâtiments. Une attention particulière a également été portée à la nature des moellons (granite, gneiss, calcaire...), aux pierres d’importation (marbres et calcaire), ainsi qu’aux mortiers mis en œuvre dans l’architecture des maisons lyonnaises. Ces études, couplées à une analyse géomorphologique du territoire colonial, permettent de livrer une image complète de l’approvisionnement en matériaux de construction de Lugdunum. Le second axe de recherche concerne les techniques de construction employées pour édifier les domus de la colonie de Lyon. Les maçonneries (fondation et élévation) ont donc été analysées selon des critères techniques et typologiques, en parallèle de l’étude des matériaux (moellons, mortier, TCA). L’architecture en terre crue nous offre un autre angle d’approche. Cette technique de construction est omniprésente à Lyon pour l’architecture domestique et reste cependant peu étudiée. Nous aborderons donc les modalités de sa mise en œuvre, ainsi que sur les différentes formes d’architecture dans laquelle elle intervient (adobe, pans de bois, torchis…), au travers des vestiges découverts en place, ou des restes carbonisés qui nous sont parvenus. Enfin, nous aborderons la question du plan des maisons lyonnaises en reprenant la classification proposée par E. Delaval en 1995. L’apport de l’archéologie préventive et programmée à Lyon a en effet permis de renouveler le corpus des bâtiments à vocation domestique et/ou artisanale, mettant en lumière de nouveaux types d’édifice. Nous élargirons cette réflexion grâce aux comparaisons possibles avec les autres cités et colonies de Gaule et du monde romain. Pour conclure, ce travail doctoral focalisé sur l’évolution des techniques et des matériaux de construction, mais également des plans des édifices domestiques de Lyon, révèle la richesse d’une analyse menée à partir d’une grande variété de matériaux, souvent peu considérés par une partie de la communauté scientifique – à savoir les briques, les tuiles, les moellons, le mortier.... / Deal with the topic of construction in the Roman world, mostly for a civitates or a colonia, become a difficult exercise because of the many perspectives for this subject. However, Lugdunum is an exception in this field, both its rich archeological or epigraphic documentations and its status of early roman colony in Gaul. This doctoral research has set itself the objective of dealing of domestic architecture in Lugdunum. This work is built on a global approach, based on the studies of construction techniques and building materials as well as new methodology. Following the step of a construction site, the purpose of this work is to characterize the different chains of supply, the typological and chronological evolution of building materials or the diversity of the domestic architecture. The analysis of building materials, construction techniques, typology of the domus, as well as group of funeral inscriptions bring very concrete answers and opens new research opportunities.As part of a Master conducted between 2007 and 2009, studying the terracotta tiled roofs in Gaul, particularly in Lyon, allowed the establishment of a typology of tegulae and imbrices, permitting to date this type of artifact to nearly half a century. Based on the methodology developed in this master, a comprehensive analysis of fragments of brick, column quarter, bricks of opus spicatum or tubuli was conducted in order to characterize any changes in their morphology, or for use in the construction of buildings. Particular attention was also paid to the nature of rubble stone (granite, gneiss, limestone…), as well as the mortar used in the roman houses of Lyon. These studies, coupled with geomorphologic analysis of the colonial territory, allow delivering a complete picture of the supply of Lugdunum in building materials.The second research axis concerns the construction techniques used to build the domus of the colony. Masonry (foundation and elevation) were therefore analyzed using technical and typological criteria, in parallel to the study of materials (rubble stone, mortar, terracotta materials). The mud brick architecture and earth structures offering another angle of approach. This construction technique is ubiquitous in Lyon for domestic architecture and remains poorly studied. We will discuss the modalities of its implementation, as well as the various forms of architecture in which it operates (adobe, wood-framed, mud ...), through the remains found in place, or the carbonized artifacts discovered in the colony.Finally, we will discuss the issue of Roman houses plan in Lyon, incorporating the classification proposed by E. Delaval in 1995. The contribution of preventive archeology these past years in Lyon has allowed to renew the corpus of domestic buildings, highlighting new types of building. We will extend this thinking through the possible comparisons with other cities and colonies of Gaul and in the Roman world.In conclusion, this doctoral work focused on the evolution of techniques and building materials, but also plans of domestic buildings in Lyon, reveals the richness of an analysis from a variety of materials, often not considered by a part of the scientific community. At the scale of a colony, these various lines of research provide a better understanding for the concepts of manufacturing and material supply, but also to improve our knowledge of construction techniques. These different aspects, treated in a comprehensive manner and diachronic way, open to historical and sociological reflection concerning the organization of workshops (role of corporations, degree of independence) or evolving status of craftsmen of the Lugdunum colony working in construction site. These conclusions are based on an original corpus of funerary inscriptions of Lyon craftsmen.

Este trabalho busca otimizar a utilização de biomassa de macrófitas aquáticas na produção de adobe (tijolos de terra crua, secos ao sol), baseado na determinação e estudo de suas características físicas e mecânicas, assim como nas características físicas e químicas destas plantas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no reservatório de Salto Grande, no município de Americana - SP. Este lago está localizado em uma área com déficit de habitações de interesse social, apresentando altos índices de urbanização e industrialização, o que acarreta no seu avançado processo de eutrofização artificial, decorrente das ações antrópicas. As macrófitas aquáticas predominantes no reservatório (Brachiaria arrecta, Eichhornia crassipes e Pistia stratiotes) apresentam níveis elevados de metais pesados e nutrientes (nitrogênio e fósforo), o que torna inviável sua utilização como forragem ou fertilizante. A utilização desta biomassa em materiais de construção é aqui apresentada como uma alternativa de manejo integrado do lago, na forma de encapsulamento (ou solidificação / estabilização) destas substâncias químicas, além de possibilitar a autoconstrução de habitações de baixo custo. Uma outra função do uso da biomassa no adobe é a estabilização do solo, que apresenta alto teor de argila (59 %, com 21 % de silte e 20 % de areia, classificado como A-7-6 HRB) e sofreria grandes retrações durante o processo de secagem, com surgimento de fissuras excessivas e conseqüente redução de resistência mecânica dos tijolos. A adição da biomassa contribuiu com a redução destas fissuras e da massa específica dos tijolos. Os resultados demonstraram ser esta utilização perfeitamente viável, com expressiva retirada de biomassa (juntamente com os metais e nutrientes) do sistema, além de significativas melhorias na qualidade do adobe, tanto físicas como mecânicas. Em linhas gerais, Eichhornia crassipes se mostrou a mais eficiente neste aspecto. Além de tudo, os resultados da pesquisa mostram que, apesar do adobe ser talvez o mais antigo material de construção manufaturado, sua aplicação se mostra perfeitamente viável, numa perspectiva mais ampla de sustentabilidade, se apresentando como um material completamente ecológico e adequado para regiões tropicais. / This work intends to optimise the utilization of aquatic macrophyte biomass in the adobe (a sun-dried mud brick) production, based on the study of the physical and mechanical characteristics of these bricks and the macrophytes biomass estimate as well as their chemical characteristics. The research was developed in the Salto Grande Reservoir region, in Americana (a town in São Paulo State, Brazil). This lake is located in an area of high urbanization and industrialization level, with common dwelling deficit, which is in advanced artificial eutrophication process by human activity action. The aquatic macrophytes found in that place (Brachiaria arrecta, Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes) present a high level of heavy metals and nutrients that make impracticable their utilization as forage or fertilizer. The biomass utilization in the construction of materials appears here as an alternative of integrated management of the lake in the stabilization/solidification (or “encapsulation") of these chemical substances, in addition to the fact that it makes possible the self-building of low cost dwellings. The other biomass function is to stabilize the soil that has a high clay concentration (59%, with 21% silt and 20% sandy) and would suffer a large drawing back during the drying process, with the introduction of excessive fissures. This biomass addition was made to reduce these fissures and the specific mass of the bricks. Besides, the research results show that, even though the adobe bricks are perhaps the oldest manufactured building material, their application persists practicable mainly in the sustainability hopes for being a completely ecological building material and adequate for the tropical regions.

Este trabalho busca otimizar a utilização de biomassa de macrófitas aquáticas na produção de adobe (tijolos de terra crua, secos ao sol), baseado na determinação e estudo de suas características físicas e mecânicas, assim como nas características físicas e químicas destas plantas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no reservatório de Salto Grande, no município de Americana - SP. Este lago está localizado em uma área com déficit de habitações de interesse social, apresentando altos índices de urbanização e industrialização, o que acarreta no seu avançado processo de eutrofização artificial, decorrente das ações antrópicas. As macrófitas aquáticas predominantes no reservatório (Brachiaria arrecta, Eichhornia crassipes e Pistia stratiotes) apresentam níveis elevados de metais pesados e nutrientes (nitrogênio e fósforo), o que torna inviável sua utilização como forragem ou fertilizante. A utilização desta biomassa em materiais de construção é aqui apresentada como uma alternativa de manejo integrado do lago, na forma de encapsulamento (ou solidificação / estabilização) destas substâncias químicas, além de possibilitar a autoconstrução de habitações de baixo custo. Uma outra função do uso da biomassa no adobe é a estabilização do solo, que apresenta alto teor de argila (59 %, com 21 % de silte e 20 % de areia, classificado como A-7-6 HRB) e sofreria grandes retrações durante o processo de secagem, com surgimento de fissuras excessivas e conseqüente redução de resistência mecânica dos tijolos. A adição da biomassa contribuiu com a redução destas fissuras e da massa específica dos tijolos. Os resultados demonstraram ser esta utilização perfeitamente viável, com expressiva retirada de biomassa (juntamente com os metais e nutrientes) do sistema, além de significativas melhorias na qualidade do adobe, tanto físicas como mecânicas. Em linhas gerais, Eichhornia crassipes se mostrou a mais eficiente neste aspecto. Além de tudo, os resultados da pesquisa mostram que, apesar do adobe ser talvez o mais antigo material de construção manufaturado, sua aplicação se mostra perfeitamente viável, numa perspectiva mais ampla de sustentabilidade, se apresentando como um material completamente ecológico e adequado para regiões tropicais. / This work intends to optimise the utilization of aquatic macrophyte biomass in the adobe (a sun-dried mud brick) production, based on the study of the physical and mechanical characteristics of these bricks and the macrophytes biomass estimate as well as their chemical characteristics. The research was developed in the Salto Grande Reservoir region, in Americana (a town in São Paulo State, Brazil). This lake is located in an area of high urbanization and industrialization level, with common dwelling deficit, which is in advanced artificial eutrophication process by human activity action. The aquatic macrophytes found in that place (Brachiaria arrecta, Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes) present a high level of heavy metals and nutrients that make impracticable their utilization as forage or fertilizer. The biomass utilization in the construction of materials appears here as an alternative of integrated management of the lake in the stabilization/solidification (or “encapsulation”) of these chemical substances, in addition to the fact that it makes possible the self-building of low cost dwellings. The other biomass function is to stabilize the soil that has a high clay concentration (59%, with 21% silt and 20% sandy) and would suffer a large drawing back during the drying process, with the introduction of excessive fissures. This biomass addition was made to reduce these fissures and the specific mass of the bricks. Besides, the research results show that, even though the adobe bricks are perhaps the oldest manufactured building material, their application persists practicable mainly in the sustainability hopes for being a completely ecological building material and adequate for the tropical regions.

Pavement foundations for major roads in the UK were historically designed on an empirical basis, related to a single design chart, restricting the incorporation of superior performing materials or materials for which the empirical data sets were not available. The adoption of performance based specifications was promoted as they are perceived to 'open up' the use of alternative materials (including 'local' sources of primary materials) or techniques, and allow for the incorporation of superior performance into the overall pavement design. Parallel developments to the performance based design of pavement foundations (allowing for superior performance) and in situ testing required the support of laboratory based performance tests. These laboratory based tests were required to determine material performance parameters (elastic modulus and resistance to permanent deformation) for both unbound and hydraulically bound pavement foundation materials. A review of the available laboratory apparatus indicated that they were either; unrealistic (and hence unable to provide the required material performance parameters), or overly complex and more suited to fundamental research. Therefore, the requirement for developmental research work was identified. The research reported herein details the development, manufacture and initial evaluation of simplified laboratory apparatus (the Springbox for unbound materials and static stiffness test for hydraulically bound mixtures) designed to produce the performance parameters of elastic modulus and relative resistance to permanent deformation for pavement foundation materials. The equipment and test procedure evaluation was undertaken across a range of materials, giving initial guidance on likely in situ performance. The innovative laboratory apparatus and materials guidance (including the potential to use recycled and secondary aggregates) was incorporated into key Highways Agency specification and guidance documents, which in turn influence construction practice outside of motorways and major trunk roads. This research concludes by outlining a number of recommendations for continued development and evaluation, including feeding back data sets from long term in situ performance testing for subsequent refinement of assumptions.

En Europe, le secteur du bâtiment représente près de la moitié de la consommation énergétique totale (dont 60 % pour le chauffage et la climatisation) et des rejets de CO2. Ainsi, une maîtrise de la consommation énergétique dans différents secteurs (bâtiment, transports et industrie) est nécessaire. L’utilisation de matériaux « super-isolants » thermiques tels que les panneaux isolants sous vide (PIV) dans la rénovation et dans de nouvelles constructions à très faible consommation énergétique sont prometteurs. Un PIV est composé d’un matériau de cœur thermoscellé dans une enveloppe hermétique mise sous vide. Le cœur est constitué d’un empilement de nano poudres de silices à très forte porosité (> 90%) et à très fine structure poreuse (< 200 nm). Deux types de silices sont utilisés : les silices pyrogénées (FS) avec lesquelles on obtient des PIV manipulables pour une densité de cœur de 160 kg/m3 après compaction contre 250 kg/m3 pour les silices précipitées (PS). Les PIV à base de silices FS sont plus efficaces thermiquement et mécaniquement que ceux à base de silice PS, mais restent plus coûteux. Cette étude propose de comprendre les différences de propriétés mécaniques entre les compacts de silice FS et PS. Ainsi, les comportements en compression œdométrique et en indentation sphérique d’une silice pyrogénée Konasil 200 et de deux silices précipitées Tixosil 43 et 365 ont été analysés. Ceux-ci sont complétés par des observations structurales en microscopie électronique à transmission (MET) et en diffusion de rayons X aux petits angles (SAXS). Le couplage de ces résultats à l’étude du vieillissement et de la structure multiéchelles des poudres permet d'identifier les causes des écarts des propriétés observées entre silices FS et PS. Ainsi, l’impact de la chimie de surface et de l’organisation multiéchelles entre les objets observés est mis en évidence pour expliquer les différences de propriétés mécaniques entre silices FS et PS. / Buildings account for almost the half of the total energy consumption (60% for heating and cooling) and CO2 emissions in Europe. Thus, the control of energy consumption in building appears as critical. In that perspective, "super-thermal insulating" materials such as vacuum insulation panels (VIP) are promising, both for buildings renovation, and for new energy-efficient constructions. A VIP is composed by a sealed core material in which vacuum is established. The core is made of an open nanoporous stack of silica powders with very high porosity (> 90%) and very fine porous structure (< 200 nm). Two types of silica are typically used: first fumed silica (FS) which enable to process panels with a sufficient compression strength for handling for a density as low as 160 kg/m3, second precipitated silica (PS) which enable to process denser panels with a minimal density of about 250 kg/m3. VIPs made of FS powders are more efficient in terms of thermal and mechanical properties as compared of VIP made of PS powders. However, their price is higher. This study aims at understanding the differences in mechanical properties noted between compacted FS and PS powders. Oedometric compression tests and spherical indentation test were carried out on compacts of Konasil 200 FS silica and on compacts of Tixosil 43 and 365 PS silica. In addition, structural observations of the powders were made using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). These results permit to identify the parameters leading differences between FS and PS powders. Thus, surface chemistry, multiscale organization and interactions forces are highlighted to explain the differences in mechanical properties between compacts of FS and PS silica.

A key dimension to improving urban economic and environmental sustainability is the efficient use of resources through recycling. A thriving recycling system requires not only effective institutional policies and community-wide diversion efforts, but also a competent local and regional recycling industry. Although the recycling industry has traditionally been recognized as a local service and fringe industry, it has noticeably transformed into an integral segment of industrial production systems as manufacturers have increasingly begun to adopt the principle of extended producer responsibility. Despite such changes, urban and regional theory and planning research has largely disregarded the industrial aspect of recycling, contributing to the dearth of information about the organizational and spatial patterns of the recycling industry and the impact of the establishment of recycling systems on local and regional scales. Given the knowledge gap, this dissertation addresses two questions: 1) What is the logic of the industry organization and spatial pattern of recycling industry in different institutional contexts? and 2) How is the economic and environmental impact of recycling systems determined in cases of construction and demolition waste recycling and waste carpet recycling? To answer the first question, this research develops a theoretical model that explains how recycling industrial activities are spatially distributed in light of institutional and organizational theories. The theoretical model characterizes organizational decisions pertaining to recycling functions and suggests spatial patterns of recycling systems. With respect to the second question, this research constructs a regional environmental input-output model on the metropolitan scale. It estimates regionalized energy use coefficients and greenhouse gas emission coefficients using various sources of data mainly compiled from the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey 2006, the State Energy Consumption Estimates, and the Commodity Flow Survey 2007. Based on regional input-output tables coupled with the regionalized environmental coefficients, this research quantifies, through simulations, the net economic and environmental impact of a localized construction and demolition waste recycling system in the San Francisco metropolitan area and regional carpet recycling systems in the Atlanta and Seattle metropolitan areas. Results of the simulations reveal that 1) the localized construction and demolition waste recycling system provides moderate economic benefits because of the limited job creation potential of mechanized recycling processes and yields relatively small environmental benefits with respect to the total weight processed; 2) wider adoption of the deconstruction technique expands job opportunities, increases energy savings, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions during the course of construction and demolition waste recycling; 3) regional-scale waste carpet recycling systems, in particular recycled nylon 6 production, create sizable new job opportunities and provides environmental benefits of energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reduction despite the long-distance transportation of waste carpet. These results suggest that policies that promote recycling industrial activities can significantly contribute to the economic and environmental sustainability of metropolitan areas.

As more owners seek to develop sustainable buildings, the construction industry is adapting to new requirements in order to meet owner's concerns. Material selection has been identified as an area where designers and contractors can have a significant impact on the sustainable performance of a building. Objective factors such as design considerations and cost constraints can play a role in the selection of materials. However, there may be subjective factors that could also impact the selection of materials. Building upon the potential impact of sustainability perceptions in an optimization model that can be used to help decision makers to select materials, this study defines and tests an instrument to identify and measure such perceptions. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a conceptual instrument that measures the user-based assessment of product sustainability and validates decision-maker's perceptions in order to evaluate the contribution of subjective characteristics in materials selection. A survey of design and construction students and practitioners is carried out to capture the subjective factors included in the instrument. A Factor Analysis approach is used to refine and validate the measurement instrument and predict decision-makers' sustainability appraisal due to the factors considered.