Using recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) as a replacement for natural aggregate in new concrete is a promising way to increase the overall sustainability of new concrete. This has been hindered, however, by a general perception that RCA is a sub-standard material due to the lack of technical guidance, specifically related to long-term durability, on incorporating RCA into new concrete. The goal of this research project was to determine whether current testing methods could be used to assess the potential alkali-silica reactivity of concrete incorporating RCA. The test methods investigated were ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 for assessing natural aggregate susceptibility to alkali-silica reactivity (ASR), and the ability of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to mitigate ASR, respectively. Seven different RCA sources were investigated. It was determined that ASTM C1260 was effective in detecting reactivity but expansion varied based on RCA processing. Depending on the aggregate type and the extent of processing, up to a 100% increase in expansion was observed. Replicate testing was performed at four university laboratories to evaluate repeatability and consistency of results. The authors recommend modification to the mixing and aggregate preparation procedures, when testing the reactivity of RCA using ASTM C 1260. This study also investigated the efficacy of replacing portland cement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), known to mitigate alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in concrete with virgin aggregates, to control ASR in concrete incorporating reactive RCA. The SCMs investigated as part of this study included: fly ash (class F), silica fume, and metakaolin. The results of modified alkali-silica reactivity tests, ASTM C1260 and ASTM C1567 (AMBT), are presented for two different recycled concrete aggregates when using 100% portland cement, binary blends of portland cement and fly ash, and ternary blends of portland cement, fly ash and metakaolin or silica fume. The results indicate that SCMs can effectively mitigate ASR in concrete made with RCA. A 40% replacement of portland cement with class F fly ash was able to reduce expansions to below 0.10% in the AMBT for concrete containing 100% of a highly reactive recycled concrete aggregate. A ternary blend, however, of portland cement with a class F fly ash and metakaolin was most effective for both RCAs tested in this study. Higher levels of mitigation may be required for some RCAs, compared to the level required to mitigate ASR in concrete made with their original natural aggregates, depending on the age and composition of the RCA. / Graduation date: 2012

The wood-based building products industry has experienced significant turbulence over the past several decades as a function of multiple forces including among others globalization, product and process innovation, and shifting customer and consumer interest and demands. Collectively, these changes have challenged the historical tenets which have defined industry strategy and competition in the realm of basic products and contributed to consolidation and labor reductions. Consequently, an onus has been placed on industry participants to better understand and adapt to the new competitive landscape or risk loss of competitive advantages built on the practices suited to historical tradition. However, a limited range of work that considers the machinations of turbulence and resulting strategic implications has been directed toward the industry particularly where differentiation of products is limited. A contributing factor for this deficiency is the relative stability that has defined the industry for generations due in part to limited strategic variation beyond cost and production, limited cycles of technological and product innovation, commodity nature of many products, and passive manner of consumption. Accordingly, there is value in work that takes a critical and empirical view of industry changes in the context of both strategic and competitive implications, how participating firms address challenges, and what factors influence consumer purchase decisions. This work addresses this need through examination of each element, industry, firm, and consumer, in the context of turbulence, competition, and strategy and delineates previously unidentified considerations for competing in the new landscape. At the industry level, drivers of industry turbulence and subsequent strategic challenges, adaptations, and opportunities are identified and reviewed. Analysis suggests that improved strategy which considers organizational and product differentiation beyond cost and production efficiencies permits greater stability and increased leverage in the turbulent competitive environment. Recognizing a need for improved strategy, the firm level analysis employs a primary qualitative approach to isolate previously unidentified firm qualities analogous to successful deployment of a market orientation strategy using the resource based view of the firm as a framework for analysis. Connecting strategy to the consumer and product, theoretical consumer behavior constructs (consumption, behavior, and involvement) were connected to conceptualize dimensions of product differentiation capable of holding consumer appeal and acting as behavioral drivers in the passively consumed arena of primary wood-based building products. Taken together this work provides a view of strategic considerations within the wood-based building product industry that extends beyond previous work in several ways. First, by considering industry environment, firm strategy, and consumer behavior and product differentiation collectively in the manner described, this work provides a more vertically complete strategic perspective for industry participants. Second, within each chapter, findings and case based examples relevant to each element are presented. / Graduation date: 2012

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

Bibliography: leaves 172-182. / viii, 183 leaves, [96] p. : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Proposes that there are fundamental and inadequately recognised differences between architectural practice and the basis of much design advice about environmental issues in house design. Concludes by discussing the implications of these differences for understanding how environmental issues are currently addressed in house design in Australia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Architecture, 2000

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

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A utilização de materiais que envolvam menor quantidade de energia no processo produtivo, que sejam mais facilmente reabsorvidos pela natureza e que gerem menos poluentes e resíduos é de grande interesse para o futuro do planeta e de seus habitantes. Neste trabalho são apresentados temas da área da sustentabilidade para a construção civil, como as potencialidades e viabilidade técnica de um material emergente no Brasil, o bambu, que se encaixa perfeitamente na questão, pois é um material que detém boas propriedades de engenharia e com grande disponibilidade no meio rural. Além deste, os blocos de solo-cimento, tão bem empregados em edificações atuais, também destinados às construções sustentáveis, fazem parte da pesquisa. Em um experimento que pretendeu unir o ensinamento acadêmico com a prática, foi desenvolvido um protótipo de parede em blocos de solo-cimento estruturado com varas de bambu. Como objetivos, a avaliação das resistências dos blocos de solo-cimento à compressão, do bambu à compressão axial e à flexão, e do conjunto paredes de blocos de solocimento/bambu também à compressão, foram os elementos principais da pesquisa. Obtiveram-se resultados de carga de ruptura de 153 kN para as paredes e de tensão normal de ruptura de 7,45 MPa para os blocos de solo cimento nos ensaios de compressão. Nos ensaios de compressão do bambu, os valores obtidos resultaram em tensões normais de ruptura de 119,09 MPa e de 96,21 Mpa para corpos de prova com e sem nós, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos nos testes desenvolvidos com os materiais separadamente e também do conjunto mostraram que ambos satisfazem perfeitamente ao proposto neste trabalho, o que permite considerar adequada a metodologia utilizada na confecção dos corpos de provas bem como na execução dos ensaios relacionados. / The use of materials that involve less energy in the production process, are more easily absorbed by nature and generate less pollutants and waste is of great interest for the future of the planet and its inhabitants. This paper presents themes of sustainability for civil construction, such as the potentialities and technical feasibility of an emerging material in Brazil, bamboo, which fits perfectly in the question, since it is an element that has good engineering properties and with great availability in rural areas. In addition to this, soil-cement blocks, so well used in today's buildings, also intended for sustainable buildings, are part of the research. In an experiment that sought to unite the academic teaching with practice, a prototype of wall in blocks of soil-cement structured with bamboo sticks was developed. The main elements of the research were the evaluation of the strengths of the compression-conditioned soilcement blocks, of bamboo to axial compression and bending, and of the combination of soil-cement / bamboo blocks. Results of 153 kN were obtained for the walls and 7.45 MPa for the soil cement blocks in the compression tests. In the bamboo compression tests, the obtained values resulted in 119.09 MPa and 96.21 MPa for test bodies with and without nodes, respectively. The results obtained in the tests developed with the materials separately and also from the set showed that both perfectly fit the one proposed in this work, which allows to consider adequate the methodology used in the preparation of the test bodies as well as in the execution of the related tests.

O cimento Portland (CP) é um produto industrializado que não é só consumidor de energia e de matérias-primas, mas também responsável por grandes emissões de CO2. Além do impacto ambiental, a presença de alguns compostos hidratados que em contato com os sulfatos, produzem fases expansivas que reduzem a vida útil das estruturas. Adições minerais, como as escórias de alto-forno, têm sido adicionadas para reduzir o clínquer e aumentar a resistência aos sulfatos, porém nem todas as escórias conferem empregabilidade como adição devido a sua composição química. Cimentos com adições apresentam ganho de resistência muito lento nas primeiras idades, tornando-se desinteressante para a cadeia produtiva da construção civil. Assim, as limitações que o CP apresenta, somada ao aumento dos resíduos, incentivaram a busca por aglomerantes isentos de clínquer. A álcali ativação proporcionou a possibilidade de reaproveitamento de diversos subprodutos, pois a cinética de reação é similar ao CP, devido à semelhança química e liberação de calor. Pesquisas ligadas à durabilidade dos cimentos álcali ativados (CAT) ainda são bastante reduzidas, principalmente a eficácia dos métodos empregados para avaliação da resistência aos sulfatos em ambientais laboratoriais. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar o comportamento das pastas de escórias ativadas com 5% de NaOH e CP resistente a sulfatos (CPIV-RS) em ambientes sulfatados através do método NIST e comparar com o método acelerado em argamassas proposto pela NBR 13583:2014. As avaliações incluíram as análises microestruturais (DRX/MEV/DTG) e macroestrutural através de inspeções visuais, variação dimensional, variação de massa e resistência à compressão. Os resultados indicaram que nas condições ensaiadas, os métodos acelerados de avaliação da resistência aos sulfatos não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as pastas e argamassas. Os CATs apresentaram desempenho superior antes e depois da exposição ao Na2SO4 comparados aos CPIV-RS, favorecendo a hidratação e a resistência à compressão. Por outro lado, a formação da gipsita parece ser o principal produto de degradação dos CATs na solução de MgSO4, originado pela descalcificação do C-S-H, afetando fortemente as propriedades físicas, químicas e mecânicas dos cimentos álcali ativados. / Portland cement (PC) is an industrialized product that is not so consuming of energy and raw materials, but also responsible for large CO2 emissions. Besides the environmental impact, the presence of some hydrated compounds that in contact with the sulfates, produce expansive phases that reduce the useful life of the structures. Minerals additions, such as blast furnace slag, have been added to reduce clinker and increase resistance to sulphates, but not all slags confer employability as addition because of their chemical composition. Cements with additions show very low resistance gain in the early ages, making it uninteresting for the productive chain of civil construction. Thus, the limitations that PC presents, together with the increase of residues, have encouraged the search for clinker-free binders. Alkali-activation provided the possibility of reuse of several by-products, because the reaction kinetics is similar to PC, due to chemical similarity and heat release. Researches related to the durability of alkaliactivated cements (AAC) are still very low, mainly the efficacy of the methods used to evaluate the resistance to sulfates in laboratory environments. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the behavior of slag pastes activated with 5% NaOH and sulfate resistant PC (PCIV-SR) in sulphated environments using the NIST method and to compare with the accelerated mortar method proposed by NBR 13583:2014. The evaluations included microstructural analysis (XRD/SEM/DTG) and macrostructural analysis through visual inspection, dimensional variation, mass variation and compressive strength. The results indicated that under the conditions tested, the accelerated methods of sulfate resistance evaluation did not present significant differences between pastes and mortars. The AACs presented better performance before and after exposure to Na2SO4 compared to PCPIV-SR, favoring hydration and compressive strength. On the other hand, the formation of gypsum appears to be the main degradation product of the AACs in the MgSO4 solution, caused by the C-S-H decalcification, strongly affecting the physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the activated alkali cements.

Com o surgimento da tecnologia da pré-fabricação, a construção civil tem adquirido elevada agilidade, reduzindo os prazos de construção e maior qualidade no controle de execução. Dentre as diversas peças pré-fabricadas, a telha em concreto protendido autoportante tem por característica cobrir vãos de até 25 m, sem a existência de estrutura de apoio intermediária. Sendo um produto esbelto, exige um aprimoramento constante para aumentar a durabilidade da estrutura quanto à corrosão da armadura e manter sua adequação ao uso. O objetivo desse trabalho é reduzir a permeabilidade das telhas pré-fabricadas, além de analisar a influência desse parâmetro na durabilidade do concreto frente às classes de agressividade da norma NBR 9062/2006. A norma estabelece um fator a/c máximo de 0,45 e resistência característica à compressão mínima de 40 MPa, enquadrando-se como classe de agressividade ambiental II - Urbana. Para tal, foram escolhidas algumas adições minerais existentes na região da grande Curitiba (metacaulim e filler), além de um aditivo impermeabilizante interno, comparando com o traço de referência preexistente em linha de produção. As dosagens foram definidas com base no empacotamento de partículas e caracterizadas quanto à resistência mecânica à compressão, absorção de água por imersão e por capilaridade e, penetração de água sob pressão, além dos ensaios de porosimetria por intrusão de mercúrio (PIM), carbonatação e penetração de íons cloreto. Em termos de resistência mecânica à compressão, a dosagem referência apresentou os melhores resultados (em função da menor relação água/cimento e maior consumo de cimento), seguido pelo concreto com aditivo impermeabilizante e com metacaulim. Para a absorção de água, todas as dosagens apresentaram-se como concretos duráveis, com destaque para o metacaulim e filler+aditivo impermeabilizante. Quanto à absorção capilar, todas as dosagens apresentaram baixa permeabilidade. Para a penetração de água sob pressão todas se apresentam como impermeáveis em condições agressivas, com destaque para o uso do metacaulim e do aditivo impermeabilizante. O ensaio de PIM mostra que a dosagem com filler possui uma concentração maior de poros e que a dosagem com metacaulim apresenta o menor diâmetro máximo de poros, com uma tendência ao refinamento em diâmetros menores. Quando analisado o resultado de carbonatação, o metacaulim apresentou o melhor resultado, possibilitando um menor cobrimento da armadura para uma vida útil de 50 anos. Quanto à penetração de cloretos, a dosagem com metacaulim, apresentou uma redução maior em relação às demais dosagens pela sua atividade pozolânica, contribuindo para a durabilidade do concreto. Em linhas gerais, é possível melhorar a impermeabilidade do concreto com o acréscimo de 8% do metacaulim sobre o peso do cimento, ainda com uma redução de 5,2% de cimento, com bons resultados também para o uso de 1% de aditivo impermeabilizante. Quanto à durabilidade, a otimização da curva granulométrica dos agregados e o uso do metacaulim possibilitam a utilização de telhas pré-fabricadas em regiões de classe de agressividade III - Industrial ou Marinha, observando o cobrimento mínimo da armadura. / With the emerging precast concrete technology, the civil construction has acquired high agility, reducing construction time and greater quality control in execution. Among several precast pieces, tile in prestressed concrete is characterized by selfsupporting spans of up to 25 m, without the existence of an intermediate support structure. Being a slim product, requires an improvement in increasing the durability of the structure because of the steel corrosion and maintain their fitness for use. The objective of this research is to reduce the permeability of the precast tiles, and analyzing their influence in the durability of the concrete face of the aggressiveness classes constants in the NBR 9062/2006, that establish the a/c ratio up to 0,45 and minimum compressive strength characteristic of 40 MPa, positioning themselves as a class of environmental aggressiveness II - Urban. For this, were selected a few mineral admixture from Curitiba/Paraná and a waterproof internal admixture, comparing with the concrete mix pre-existing in production line. The concrete dosages were defined by packing particles and were analysed for mechanical compressive strength, water absorption by immersion and by capillarity and water penetration under pressure, in addition to tests of mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), carbonation and chloride ion penetration. About the mechanical compressive strength, the dosage reference showed the best results (due to lower water / cement ratio and higher cement consumption), followed by concrete with waterproofing admixture and metakaolin. For water absorption, all measurements fall as durable concrete, especially the metakaolin additive and filler + waterproofing. For the water absorption, all dosages presented low permeability. For the water penetration under pressure all fall as impervious to several conditions, especially with metakaolin and waterproofing admixture. The MIP test shows that the dosage with filler has a higher concentration of pores and the dosage with metakaolin has the smallest maximum diameter of pores, with a tendency towards refinement in smaller diameters. When analyzing the carbonation, the metakaolin showed the best results, allowing a smaller reinforcement cover for a lifetime of 50 years. As the penetration of chlorides ions, the metakaolin, showed a greater reduction comparing with other dosages for its pozzolanic activity, contributing to the concrete durability. In general, it is possible to improve the concrete impermeability with the addition of 8% of metakaolin by weight of cement, with 5,2% of cement reduction, showing good results also using 1% of waterproofing admixture. As for durability, the optimizing of aggregates granulometric curve and the use of metakaolin enables the use of prefabricated tiles in regions of class of environmental aggressiveness III - Industrial or Marine, observing the minimum concrete cover of reinforcement.