<p>Predmet ovog istraživanja je razvoj nove generacije<br />mineralnih dodataka, dobijenih termičkom i<br />mehanohemijskom aktivacijom kaolinske gline i ispitivanje<br />svojstava kompozita, u kojima je deo portland cementa<br />zamenjen dobijenim pucolanskim materijalima,<br />metakaolinom i amorfnim kaolinom, za različite režime<br />nege. Rezultati su pokazali da su termička i mehanohemijska<br />aktivacija kaolinske gline jednako pogodne metode za<br />dobijanje pucolanskih materijala. Pozitivni efekti na<br />čvrstoće pri pritisku postižu se primenom do 30 %<br />metakaolina u kompozitima pri normalnom režimu nege, a uz<br />dodatno mlevenje, sadržaj metakaolina se može povećati do<br />40 %, uz dodatak CH. Amorfni kaolin se može primeniti u<br />kompozitima, sa stepenom zamene portland cementa do 10 %,<br />pri normalnom i autoklaviranom režimu nege.</p> / <p>The subject of this research is development of a new generation<br />of mineral admixtures, obtained by thermal and<br />mechanochemical activation of kaolin clay, and testing of the<br />properties of the cement based composites, where a part of the<br />portland cement is replaced by pozzolanic materials, metakaolin<br />and amorphous kaolin, for different curing conditions. The<br />results showed that thermal and mechanochemical activation of<br />kaolin clay were equally suitable for obtaining pozzolanic<br />materials. Positive effects on the compressive strength could be<br />achieved by using up to 30 % of MK, and with additional grinding<br />after thermal activation, content of MK could be increased up to<br />40 %, with the addition of CH, under the normal curing<br />conditions. Amorphous kaolin could be used in composites with<br />a cement replacement level of 10 %, under the normal and<br />autoclave curing conditions.</p>

L'objectif de ce travail est d'obtenir, par homogénéisation périodique, des modèles macroscopiques de transfert hydrique dans les milieux poreux partiellement saturés à partir des équations de transfert de l'eau liquide et de vapeur d'eau écrites à une échelle microscopique. La dimensionnalisation des équations fait apparaître naturellement des nombres sans dimension caractérisant les problèmes de transfert hydriques dans les milieux partiellement saturés. Nous nous sommes intéressés à trois différents régimes de transfert (diffusion de vapeur prédominante, couplage diffusion/convection, convection de l'eau liquide prédominante). Pour chaque modèle homogénéisé, nous avons obtenu une expression différente du tenseur de diffusion hydrique homogénéisé. Nous avons ensuite calculé les tenseurs de diffusion hydrique homogénéisés obtenus dans les deux régions hygroscopique et super-hygroscopique, sur des géométries plus ou moins complexes décrivant la microstructure en 2D et 3D. Des comparaisons avec des valeurs expérimentales ont été ensuite effectuées. Pour finir, une résolution numérique de l'équation de transfert hydrique macroscopique homogénéisée a été effectuée en se basant sur les données expérimentales d'un béton BHP. / We propose in this work to construct, by periodic homogenization, macroscopic models of moisture transfer in unsaturated porous media. To do this, the liquid water and water vapor transport equations are averaged from the microscopic scale. The dimensional analysis of transport equations naturally lets appear dimensionless numbers characterizing the moisture transfer in unsaturated porous media. Three different transfer regimes are addressed (predominant water vapor diffusion, coupling diffusion / convection, predominant liquid water convection). For each transfer regime, the associated homogenized moisture diffusion tensor has a different expression. Then, the homogenized moisture diffusion tensors are calculated in both hygroscopic and super-hygroscopic regions on several geometries with varying complexity, describing 2D and 3D microstructures. Comparisons with experimental values are also addressed. Finally, based on experimental data of a BHP concrete, a numerical resolution of the homogenized macroscopic moisture transfer equation is performed.

La modélisation numérique du comportement des matériaux cimentaires sous l’action des sollicitations complexes constitue un point de vue alternatif pour identifier et évaluer les mécanismes internes qui ne peuvent être étudiés directement à travers les essais expérimentaux. A cet effet, le développement des outils de modélisation permettant la prise en compte des interactions entre la microstructure hétérogène de la pâte de ciment et le comportement macroscopique des matériaux cimentaires est fortement apprécié. Une telle approche numérique donne une meilleure description des processus physiques et évite la calibration répétitive des paramètres lorsque la microstructure change.Ce travail de thèse a pour objet de mettre au point une approche de modélisation de l’endommagement des matériaux cimentaires compte tenu des mécanismes physiques qui se produisent à l’échelle microscopique. Dans l’approche proposée, les principes de la construction d’une microstructure virtuelle de la pâte de ciment sont présentés et les paramètres micromécaniques des phases cimentaires sont identifiés. La capacité prédictive de l’approche est testée en comparant les résultats numériques aux résultats des essais expérimentaux réalisés dans ce travail et aux résultats tirés de la littérature. L’application de cette approche est ensuite illustrée à travers des simulations de la pâte de ciment sous fluage et cycles de gel-dégel. Cette approche ouvre la voie à une multitude d’applications, comme l’étude de l’effet du retrait, du fluage, des cycles de gel-dégel, de la fissuration thermique, de l’auto-cicatrisation et de la carbonatation sur les propriétés thermomécaniques des matériaux cimentaires. / Numerical modelling of the constitutivebehaviour of cementitious materials exposed to aggressive environment offers an alternative point of view for the identification and assessment of internal mechanisms which cannot be explicitly explored using standard experimental techniques. In this regard, the development of advanced modelling tools that take into account the interactions between the heterogeneous microstructure of cement paste and the macroscopic behaviour cementitious materials is highly valued. Such modelling approaches give a much better description of the physical processes and avoid recurrent parameter calibration when dealing with a different microstructure.The work presented in this PhD thesis proposes a numerical modelling approach of damage in cement based materials taking heed of the physical mechanics that can only be characterized at the microscopic level. In the proposed approach, the principles of constructing a virtual microstructure of cement paste are laid out and the micromechanical parameters of cement phases are identified. The predictive capacity of the micromechanical approach is put to the test by a comparison of numerical results with experimental data determined in the present study and found in the literature. Finally, the power of the approach is illustrated through simulations of creep and freeze-thaw behaviour at the microscopic scale of cement paste.This approach paves the way for a multitude of applications, such as the study of the effect of shrinkage, creep, freeze-thaw cycles, thermal cracking, self-healing and carbonation on the thermomechanical properties of cement-based materials.

A presente tese apresenta a utilização da fibra da casca do coco verde como reforço de matriz cimentícia para produção de fibrocimentos. Embora orgânico, o resíduo do coco verde apresenta difícil degradação e diminuí da vida útil de aterros sanitários e lixões. Para viabilizar o uso do resíduo do coco verde (fibra), como reforço de compósitos, optou-se por realizar tratamentos físico-químicos nas fibras e, substituir parcialmente o cimento Portland por material pozolânico de alta reatividade (cinza da casca de arroz (CCA)) para diminuir o ataque alcalino da matriz sobre a fibra vegetal. O experimento foi dividido em duas etapas, a primeira avaliou a fibra de coco verde com e sem tratamentos e os compósitos produzidos com elas. A segunda etapa analisou a influência de diferentes níveis de substituição do cimento Portland pela cinza da casca de arroz (CCA). Para preparação dos compósitos foi utilizada a técnica de dispersão das matérias-primas em solução aquosa, seguida de drenagem e prensagem, como uma simulação simplificada do processo Hatschek de fabricação industrial. Os compósitos foram analisados aos 28 dias (período de cura úmida) e após os processos de envelhecimento, 100 ciclos de imersão-secagem e 28 dias em banho térmico (65°C). Ensaios físicos e mecânicos avaliaram o desempenho, a resistência e a ductilidade dos compósitos. A termogravimetria permitiu observar o consumo da portlandita e a queda da alcalinidade da matriz com 50% de substituição do cimento Portland pela CCA, sem afetar a resistência do material. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a fibra do coco verde tem grande potencial para ser utilizada como reforço de fibrocimentos, desde que seja incorporada a uma matriz de alcalinidade reduzida. / This thesis studies the use of green coconut fiber as a reinforcer in the matrix cement for the production of fibre-cement. Besides being an organic material, the green coconut residues are not easily degradable, but can reduce the landfills lifespan. To evaluate the possibility of use of coconut residue fiber, as reinforcer in composites, physical-chemical treatments were carried out on the fibers, and partially replacing Portland cement with pozzolanic materials for high reactivity (rice husk ash (RHA)) was also added to decrease the alkaline attack matrix on the plant fiber. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first assessed the green coconut fiber with and without treatment and the composites produced with them. The second stage examined the influence reinforcer high reactivity to allow the use of coconut fiber as reinforcement in cementitious matrix. In the preparation of the composites, the technique of dispersing the materials in aqueous solution was used, followed by draining and pressing, as a simplified simulation Hatschek process of industrial manufacture. The composites were analyzed after 28 days and after an aging process, with 100 cycles of immersion-drying or heating in water for 28 days at 65°C). Physical and mechanical tests were used to e valuated the performance, traction resistance and ductility of the composites. A thermogravimetry test allowed the observation of the use of portlandita and the alkalinity reduction of the matrix with the addition of RHA, without affecting the resistance of the material. The results obtained indicate that the green coconut fiber has great potential to be used as a fibre-cement reinforcer, as long it is included in a matrix with reduced alkalinity.

A presente tese apresenta a utilização da fibra da casca do coco verde como reforço de matriz cimentícia para produção de fibrocimentos. Embora orgânico, o resíduo do coco verde apresenta difícil degradação e diminuí da vida útil de aterros sanitários e lixões. Para viabilizar o uso do resíduo do coco verde (fibra), como reforço de compósitos, optou-se por realizar tratamentos físico-químicos nas fibras e, substituir parcialmente o cimento Portland por material pozolânico de alta reatividade (cinza da casca de arroz (CCA)) para diminuir o ataque alcalino da matriz sobre a fibra vegetal. O experimento foi dividido em duas etapas, a primeira avaliou a fibra de coco verde com e sem tratamentos e os compósitos produzidos com elas. A segunda etapa analisou a influência de diferentes níveis de substituição do cimento Portland pela cinza da casca de arroz (CCA). Para preparação dos compósitos foi utilizada a técnica de dispersão das matérias-primas em solução aquosa, seguida de drenagem e prensagem, como uma simulação simplificada do processo Hatschek de fabricação industrial. Os compósitos foram analisados aos 28 dias (período de cura úmida) e após os processos de envelhecimento, 100 ciclos de imersão-secagem e 28 dias em banho térmico (65°C). Ensaios físicos e mecânicos avaliaram o desempenho, a resistência e a ductilidade dos compósitos. A termogravimetria permitiu observar o consumo da portlandita e a queda da alcalinidade da matriz com 50% de substituição do cimento Portland pela CCA, sem afetar a resistência do material. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a fibra do coco verde tem grande potencial para ser utilizada como reforço de fibrocimentos, desde que seja incorporada a uma matriz de alcalinidade reduzida. / This thesis studies the use of green coconut fiber as a reinforcer in the matrix cement for the production of fibre-cement. Besides being an organic material, the green coconut residues are not easily degradable, but can reduce the landfills lifespan. To evaluate the possibility of use of coconut residue fiber, as reinforcer in composites, physical-chemical treatments were carried out on the fibers, and partially replacing Portland cement with pozzolanic materials for high reactivity (rice husk ash (RHA)) was also added to decrease the alkaline attack matrix on the plant fiber. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first assessed the green coconut fiber with and without treatment and the composites produced with them. The second stage examined the influence reinforcer high reactivity to allow the use of coconut fiber as reinforcement in cementitious matrix. In the preparation of the composites, the technique of dispersing the materials in aqueous solution was used, followed by draining and pressing, as a simplified simulation Hatschek process of industrial manufacture. The composites were analyzed after 28 days and after an aging process, with 100 cycles of immersion-drying or heating in water for 28 days at 65°C). Physical and mechanical tests were used to e valuated the performance, traction resistance and ductility of the composites. A thermogravimetry test allowed the observation of the use of portlandita and the alkalinity reduction of the matrix with the addition of RHA, without affecting the resistance of the material. The results obtained indicate that the green coconut fiber has great potential to be used as a fibre-cement reinforcer, as long it is included in a matrix with reduced alkalinity.

The development of composite materials by combining two or more constituents with improved mechanical properties, when compared to either of the constituents alone, has existed since biblical times when straw or horse hair was mixed with clay or mud to produce bricks. During the second half of the twentieth century, modern composites known as fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) - consisting of a reinforcing phase (fibers) embedded into a matrix (polymeric resin or binder) - were developed to meet the performance challenges of space exploration and air travel. With time, externally-bonded FRP applications for strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures gained popularity within the construction industry. To date, the confinement of RC columns using FRP systems is a convenient and well established solution to strengthen, repair and retrofit structural concrete members. This technology has become mainstream due to its cost effectiveness, and relative ease and speed of application with respect to alternative rehabilitation techniques such as steel or concrete jackets. However, significant margins exist to advance externally-bonded composite rehabilitation technologies by addressing economic, technological, and environmental issues posed by the use of organic polymer matrices, some of which are addressed in this dissertation. Articulated in three studies, the dissertation investigates the development of a sustainable, reversible, and compatible fiber reinforced cement-based matrix (FRC) composite system for concrete confinement applications in combination with a novel test method aimed at characterizing composites under hydrostatic pressure. Study 1 develops and characterizes a FRC system from different fiber and inorganic matrix combinations, while evaluating the confinement effectiveness in comparison to a conventional FRP system. The feasibility of making the application reversible was investigated by introducing a bond breaker between the concrete substrate and the composite jacket in a series of confined cylinders. The prototype FRC system produced a substantial increase in strength and deformability with respect to unconfined cylinders. A superior deformability was attained without the use of a bond breaker. The predominant failure mode was loss of compatibility due to fiber-matrix separation, which points to the need of improving fiber impregnation to enable a more efficient use of the constituent materials. Additionally semi-empirical linear and nonlinear models for ultimate compressive strength and deformation in FRC-confined concrete are also investigated. Study 2 compares through a life cycle assessment (LCA) method two retrofitting strategies: a conventional organic-based, with the developed inorganic-based composite system presented in Study 1, applied to concrete cylinders by analyzing three life cycle impact indicators: i) Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, ii) embodied energy, and, iii) carbon foot print. Overall the cement-based composite provides an environmentally-benign alternative over polymer-based composite strengthening system. Results also provide quantitative information regarding the environmental and health impacts to aid with the decision-making process of design when selecting composite strengthening systems. Study 3 is divided into two parts, Part A presents the development of a novel "Investigation of Circumferential-strain Experimental" (ICE) methodology for characterization of circumferential (hoop) strain of composite laminates, while Part B uses the experimental data reported in Part A to explicitly evaluate the effect of FRP jacket curvature and laminate thickness on strain efficiency. Results showed that the proposed ICE methodology is simple, effective and reliable. Additionally, the ultimate circumferential strain values increased with increasing cylinder diameter, while being consistently lower when compared to similar flat coupon specimens under the same conditions. The ultimate FRP tensile strain was found to be a function of the radius of curvature and laminate thickness, for a given fiber ply density and number. The effect of these findings over current design guidelines for FRP confined concrete was also discussed.

La sûreté du stockage des déchets radioactifs repose en grande partie sur la capacité de confinement du conteneur et de l’ouvrage qui lui sont dédiés. Dans le cas des déchets radioactifs de Faible et Moyenne Activité à Vie Courte (FMA-VC), cette propriété de confinement, assurée par des matrices solides à base de matériaux cimentaires, est mesurée sur la base d’un essai de diffusion naturelle, consistant à faire traverser un traceur, de type radioactif, dans un échantillon représentatif, duquel on retire, a posteriori, un coefficient de diffusion. L’évolution de ces matériaux et les améliorations apportées à la fabrication de nouvelles enveloppes de confinement induisent des durées d’essai pouvant atteindre plusieurs années.L’objectif premier de ce travail consiste en la détermination du coefficient de diffusion effectif d’une espèce de référence, qui sera dans notre cas l’eau tritiée, dans un intervalle de temps réduit. L’approche théorique repose sur la compréhension du phénomène de transport d’espèces ioniques en solution soumises à un champ électrique. Sur les bases d’un protocole expérimental clairement établi et de la définition du facteur de formation, caractéristique topologique intrinsèque du réseau poreux, il a été possible de déterminer le coefficient de diffusion effectif de l’eau tritiée d’une gamme de bétons et de mortier d’intérêt, et cela en seulement quelques heures.Dans un second temps, la comparaison de l’essai de migration sous champ électrique constant, développé dans ce travail, avec l’essai classique de diffusion naturelle à l’eau tritiée a mis en exergue deux points cruciaux. La non-prise en compte de la décroissance radioactive du tritium dans l’interprétation de l’essai de diffusion naturelle à l’eau tritiée amène une sous-estimation non-négligeable de la valeur du coefficient de diffusion. La conservation, lors de leur phase de maturation, des matériaux d’essais dans des conditions inadaptées, induit des mesures selon la technique de migration sous champ électrique constant disparates et non répétables.Dans un dernier temps, la validation complète de la technique électrocinétique, sujet initial de ce travail, repose sur la vérification des hypothèses théoriques énoncées au préalable. Le facteur de formation, et a fortiori le coefficient de diffusion effectif, est une grandeur indépendante de la force ionique de la solution porale du matériau considéré, cela pour une gamme de solution courante dans le domaine des matériaux cimentaires. Le facteur de formation s’avère aussi indépendant de l’amplitude du champ électrique appliqué, aussi pour une gamme et des durées d’essai adaptées aux conditions de mesures définies dans le protocole. Enfin, lorsque les valeurs de coefficients de diffusion effectifs obtenues en migration et diffusion naturelle à l’eau tritiée sont comparées sur plusieurs formulations maîtrisées de matériaux cimentaires / The safety and the reliability of a radioactive waste repository rely essentially on the confinement ability of the waste package and the storing structure. In the case of the low-level and intermediate level short-lived radioactive waste, the confinement property, relying on solid matrices made of cement-based materials, is assessed through a natural diffusion test, using a radioactive tracer, from which an effective diffusion coefficient is deduced. The evolution of the materials and more particularly the enhancement of the confinement properties of cement-based materials lead to test duration from a couple of months to a couple of years.The main objective of the present work involves the determination of the effective diffusion coefficient of reference chemical species, in our case the tritiated water, within a shorter time. The theoretical foundation is based on the description of ionic species mass transfer under the effects of an electrical field. With the definitions of a precise experimental protocol and of a formation factor, considered as an intrinsic topological feature of the porous network, it is possible to determine the effective diffusion coefficient of tritiated water for various types of concretes and mortars, and this within a few hours only.The comparison between the developed accelerated test, based on the application of a constant electrical field, and the normed natural diffusion test, using tritiated water, underlined two critical issues. First, omitting the impact of the radioactive decay of tritium during a natural diffusion test, leads to a non-negligible underestimation of the effective diffusion coefficient. Second, maintaining samples in high relative humidity conditions after casting is essential in order to avoid contrasted and unrelated results when performing the electrokinetic tests.Eventually, the validation of the electrokinetics technique, main objective of this work, rests on the assessment of the theoretical hypothesis previously formulated. The formation factor, as well as the effective diffusion coefficient, does not depend on the ionic strength of the material pore solution, this being validated for solutions of different composition encompassing the cement materials pore solution diversity. The formation factor also does not vary when the amplitude of the applied electrical field varies, provided both the test duration and the electrical field amplitude are kept within acceptable boundaries. Finally, the comparison between the values of the effective diffusion coefficient obtained with both the constant field migration test and the natural diffusion techniques, for perfectly conditioned and prepared materials, leads us to invalidate the assumption that the effects of the double electrical layer are negligible

The topic of this PhD. thesis is the issue of determining fatigue characteristics of selected cement-based composites. First, the history of fatigue of metal is mentioned, and some basic notions related to fatigue are clarified. The thesis also summarizes current research in the field of cement-based composites fatigue, and failure mechanisms of plain concrete during static and dynamic tests are described. Furthermore, the thesis deals with the evaluation of static and dynamic experiments’ results with extensive series of C30/37 and C45/55 class concrete specimens. In order to achieve relevant fatigue test evaluation which takes into account the age of the specimens, a new correction procedure of the data measured based on the approximation of the basic fracture-mechanics parameters of tested materials over time was suggested and verified. The annexes of this thesis present complete data obtained during static and dynamic experiments.

[pt] Este trabalho discute experimentalmente a utilização de fibras naturais em compósitos cimentícios para o reforço de elementos estruturais de concreto. Para tal, foram analisadas a morfologia e a durabilidade de fibras de curauá, cânhamo e sisal, bem como suas propriedades mecânicas. Dentre as fibras estudadas, o curauá apresentou o melhor desempenho, o que justificou sua implementação como reforço nos compósitos cimentícios. Para o projeto do compósito, foi decidido que o volume de fibras seria aplicado dividido em três camadas paralelas, em um arranjo alinhado longitudinalmente, como um tecido unidirecional. Os compósitos cimentícios reforçados com tecido de curauá foram mecanicamente caracterizados por testes de tração, flexão, compressão e cisalhamento. Após a investigação no nível material, o compósito desenvolvido foi aplicado sobre a superfície das vigas estruturais como um laminado afim de aumentar a capacidade portante sob duas condições de carregamento: flexão e cisalhamento. Os resultados experimentais dos ensaios estruturais foram confrontados com modelos analíticos para comparação. Os compósitos apresentaram um comportamento mecânico de alta performance, tendo alcançado o comportamento strain-hardening em todos os casos. Como reforço estrutural, o compósito proporcionou às vigas aumentos de resistência e ductilidade. Foi observado também um atraso no escoamento dos vergalhões de aço. / [en] This work experimentally discusses the use of natural fibers in cement-based composites for the strengthening of concrete structural elements. For such, the morphology and durability of curauá, hemp, and sisal fibers were analyzed, as well as their mechanical properties. Among the studied fibers, the curauá presented the best performance, which justified its implementation as reinforcement for cement-based composites. For the composite design, it was decided that the volume of fibers would be applied splitted into three parallel layers, in a longitudinally aligned arrangement, like a unidirectional fabric. A layer of this fabric was performed under a tensile test aiming to better understand its mechanical behavior. The cement-based composites reinforced with curauá fabric were mechanically characterized by tensile, bending, combined load compression, and shear tests. After the investigation at the material level, the developed composite was applied over the surface of structural beams as laminates, seeking to provide its strengthening under two distinct loading conditions: bending and shear. The experimental results of the structural tests were confronted with analytical models for comparison. The composites showed a high mechanical performance, achieving the strain-hardening behavior in all cases. When used as a structural reinforcement, the composite provided to the beams increases of strength and ductility. It was also observed a yielding delay in the steel reabars.

In the past centuries, grouting has been one of the most common techniques in geotechnical engineering to strengthen and seal underground structures. Concerning increasing demands for tightness and cost efficiency, cement-based grout has been one the most frequent used materials. One of the first grouting operations is the work done by Charles Bérigny in France back in 1802 in order to repair a sluice by stabilizing the ground with liquid grout. Several studies have been then conducted in grouting, which have contributed into successful improvement of the grouting operations. The investigations have also extended the understanding of the factors such as choice of materials, choice of equipment, and the applied pressure type and magnitude, etc. that influencing the grout spread in rock fracture systems.   Among the factors, the applied pressure is one of the most significant ones influencing the spread of grout during grouting operations. Grouting at static pressure conditions is the most common method used in field, where in practice the injected grout can only penetrate into the rock fractures wider than 100 µm.   Recent investigations conducted on application of static and dynamic pressure conditions, using Short Slot and Varying Aperture Long Slot (VALS) in the lab have yielded an overall improvement of the grout spread under dynamic pressure conditions rather than the conventional static pressure conditions. However, the efforts conducted are just a beginning, especially in very fine micro factures smaller than 70 µm    The main objective of this investigation was therefore to improve the spread of grout by dynamic grouting into fractures smaller than 70 µm effectively, which could not be done with grouting at static pressure conditions.  Furthermore, the aim was to investigate filtration and erosion phenomena/ tendency of grout flow during static and dynamic pressure application using Varying Aperture Long Slot (VALS) in the lab. The durations of peak and rest periods used in the experiments were 2s/2s and 1s/5.5s, which were equivalent to 0.25 Hz and 0.15 Hz, respectively. The results of dynamic grouting showed up to 10 times improvement in the volume of passed grout through fracture apertures smaller than 70 µm. / Injektering är en av de vanligaste metoderna som använts för att förstärka och täta geotekniska konstruktioner. När det gäller ökande krav på täthet och kostnadseffektivitet har cementbaserade bruk varit ett populärt förbrukningsmaterial. Injektering användes förmodligen först av Charles Bérigny i en slussreparation i Frankrike under 1802 där marken stabiliserades med hjälp av flytande injekteringsmaterial. Flera studier har sedan dess utförts inom injekteringsteknik, vilket har bidragit till en framgångsrik förbättring av injekteringsoperationer. Dessa undersökningar har också utvidgat förståelsen av faktorer såsom materialegenskaper, val av utrustning, provprestanda, trycktyp och storhet som i sin tur påverkar brukets spridningsförmåga i bergets spricksystem.   Forskningen inom bergtätning fokuserar bland annat på att utveckla tillämpningen av statisk och dynamisk tryck vid injektering. Tillämpning av statiskt tryck är den vanligaste metoden för injektering ute i arbetsfält, där den injicerade bruket i praktiken endast kan tränga in i bergssprickor som är större än 100 μm.   De senaste undersökningarna med hjälp av Short Slot och Varying Aperture Long Slot (VALS) har visat en övergripande förbättring av inträngningen under dynamisk injektering jämfört med de konventionella statiska. Detta är bara en början och metoden behöver utvecklas mer, särskild för att åstadkomma bruksspridningen i mycket finare mikrosprickor, exempelvis sprickor mindre än 70 µm.   Syftet med detta arbete var att utveckla injekteringsmetoden där bruket kan tränga  i berg med sprickor mindre än 70 µm. Resultaten på de dynamiska tryckförhållanden visade att injekteringsbruket trängde bättre  i de smala sprickor  jämfört med de statiska tryckförhållanden. Upp till 10 gånger mer mängd av injekteringsbruk passerade sprickor med storlek mindre än 70 µm i VALS. Vidare har inloppsflödet och filtrerings- och erosionsfenomenen studerats med hjälp av laboratorieinstrumentet VALS. Varaktigheten av peak- och restperioder som användes i experimenten var 2s/2s och 1s 5.5s, vilka var ekvivalenta med 0.25 Hz respektive 0.15 Hz.