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Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is an innovative composite material, which is being intensely and practice-oriented investigated on national and international level. In the last few years this material has gained increasing importance in the field of civil engineering. In the context of the collaborative research project SFB 532 at the RWTH Aachen University, research was carried out to understand and to predict the behaviour of different yarn structures in fine grained concrete. Based on the results, innovative commingling yarns were made of alkali-resistant glass fibres and water soluble PVA. These hybrid yarns have an open structure, which improves the penetration of the textile reinforcement by the concrete matrix. Hence, the load bearing capacity of TRC structural elements was significantly improved. This paper presents a technique for the production of such commingling yarns for concrete applications. The mechanical properties of the new yarns are determined due to tensile stress tests. The bond behaviour of the commingling yarns was investigated by pull-out- and tensile stress tests on TRC-specimens. The results of the different tests are being presented and briefly discussed.

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is an innovative composite material, which is being intensely and practice-oriented investigated on national and international level. In the last few years this material has gained increasing importance in the field of civil engineering. In the context of the collaborative research project SFB 532 at the RWTH Aachen University, research was carried out to understand and to predict the behaviour of different yarn structures in fine grained concrete. Based on the results, innovative commingling yarns were made of alkali-resistant glass fibres and water soluble PVA. These hybrid yarns have an open structure, which improves the penetration of the textile reinforcement by the concrete matrix. Hence, the load bearing capacity of TRC structural elements was significantly improved. This paper presents a technique for the production of such commingling yarns for concrete applications. The mechanical properties of the new yarns are determined due to tensile stress tests. The bond behaviour of the commingling yarns was investigated by pull-out- and tensile stress tests on TRC-specimens. The results of the different tests are being presented and briefly discussed.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Mark E. Casada / Ronaldo G. Maghirang / The United States grain handling infrastructure is facing major challenges to meet worldwide customer demands for wholesome, quality, and safe grains and oilseeds for food and feed. Several challenges are maintaining grain quality during handling; reducing dust emissions for safety and health issues; growing shift from commodity-based to specialty (trait-specific) markets; proliferation of genetically modified crops for food, feed, fuel, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses; and threats from biological and chemical attacks. This study was conducted to characterize the quality of grain and feed during bucket elevator handling to meet customer demand for high quality and safe products. Specific objectives were to (1) determine the effect of repeated handling on the quality of feed pellets and corn; (2) characterize the dust generated during corn and wheat handling; (3) develop and evaluate particle models for simulating the flow of grain during elevator handling; and (4) accurately simulate grain commingling in elevator boots with discrete element method (DEM). Experiments were conducted at the research elevator of the USDA-ARS Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (CGAHR) to determine the effect of repeated handling on the quality of corn-based feed pellets and corn. Repeated handling did not significantly influence the durability indices of feed pellets and corn. The feed pellets, however, had significantly greater breakage (3.83% per transfer) than the corn (0.382% per transfer). The mass of particulate matter < 125 μm was less for feed pellets than for corn. These corn-based feed pellets can be an alternative to corn in view of their handling characteristics. Another series of experiments was conducted in the same elevator to characterize the dust generated during corn and wheat handling. Dust samples were collected from the lower and upper ducts upstream of the cyclones in the elevator. Handling corn produced more than twice as much total dust than handling wheat (185 g/t vs. 64.6 g/t). Analysis of dust samples with a laser diffraction analyzer showed that the corn samples produced smaller dust particles, and a greater proportion of small particles, than the wheat samples. Published data on material and interaction properties of selected grains and oilseeds that are relevant to DEM modeling were reviewed. Using these material and interaction properties and soybeans as the test material, the DEM fundamentals were validated by modeling the flow of soybean during handling with a commercial software package (EDEM). Soybean kernels were simulated with single- and multi-sphere particle shapes. A single-sphere particle model best simulated soybean kernels in the bulk property tests. The best particle model had a particle coefficient of restitution of 0.6; particle static friction of 0.45 for soybean-soybean contact (0.30 for soybean-steel interaction); particle rolling friction of 0.05; normal particle size distribution with standard deviation factor of 0.4; and particle shear modulus of 1.04 MPa. The single-sphere particle model for soybeans was implemented in EDEM to simulate grain commingling in a pilot-scale bucket elevator boot using 3D and quasi-2D models. Pilot-scale boot experiments of soybean commingling were performed to validate these models. Commingling was initially simulated with a full 3D model. Of the four quasi-2D boot models with reduced control volumes (4d, 5d, 6d, and 7d; i.e., control volume widths from 4 to 7 times the mean particle diameter) considered, the quasi-2D (6d) model predictions best matched those of the initial 3D model. Introduction of realistic vibration motion during the onset of clear soybeans improved the prediction capability of the quasi-2D (6d) model. The physics of the model was refined by accounting for the initial surge of particles and reducing the gap between the bucket cups and the boot wall. Inclusion of the particle surge flow and reduced gap gave the best predictions of commingling of all the tested models. This study showed that grain commingling in a bucket elevator boot system can be simulated in 3D and quasi-2D DEM models and gave results that generally agreed with experimental data. The quasi-2D (6d) models reduced simulation run time by 29% compared to the 3D model. Results of this study will be used to accurately predict impurity levels and improve grain handling, which can help farmers and grain handlers reduce costs during transport and export of grains and make the U.S. grain more competitive in the world market.

A presente tese versa sobre o fenômeno da confusão patrimonial nas sociedades isoladas e nos grupos societários. A tese propõe-se a: conceituar patrimônio social, examinando as suas principais características, funções e sua interatividade com o capital social; situar a pessoa jurídica como técnica de separação patrimonial; tentar alcançar um conceito de confusão patrimonial, diferenciando-a da confusão de esferas e apontando as insuficiências do estado atual da dogmática jurídica sobre a questão; examinar as principais características da confusão patrimonial, a saber a sua natureza, suas causas e seus efeitos (mais especificamente, os efeitos sobre os credores); caracterizar as diferentes formas pelas quais o fenômeno da confusão patrimonial se manifesta, bem como trabalhar com as exteriorizações desse fenômeno (indícios); apontar elementos que possam contribuir para a constatação judicial da confusão patrimonial; e apresentar e examinar algumas soluções para tutelar o interesse dos credores das sociedades que se encontram em situação de promiscuidade patrimonial. / This thesis discusses the phenomenon of commingling of assets in isolated companies and in groups of companies. It proposes to: define a concept of corporate asset, examining its main characteristics, roles and interaction with shareholders\' equity; assert the legal entity as a technique of separation of assets; attempt to reach a concept of commingling of assets, differentiating it from the mingling of spheres and pointing out current inefficiencies of the existing legal doctrine on the same issue; examine the leading characteristics of commingling of assets, namely its nature, causes and effects (more specifically, the effects on creditors); describe the different ways in which the phenomenon of commingling of assets is manifested, as well as discuss the materialization of this phenomenon (indicia); point out elements that may contribute to judicial analysis of issues related to commingling of assets; and, finally, propose and examine a number of solutions to safeguard creditors\' interests that find themselves in situations of asset promiscuity.

In this dissertation I evaluate the potential of the morphology of the petrous portion of the human temporal bone as seen on axial CT scans of the head as a means to generate identifications of fragmentary human skeletal remains. The specific goals are threefold: (1) To investigate variability in the shape of the petrous portion of the human temporal bone using two-dimensional morphometric analysis; (2) to evaluate the reliability of the resultant method in forensic identification; and (3) to consider the results within the framework of Bayesian theory in light of recent rulings regarding the admissibility of forensic testimony. The data used in this research were collected from axial CT images of the cranium. Two sets of images were collected for each of the 115 individuals in the sample so that Euclidean distance comparisons could be made between images of the same individual and images from different individuals. I collected two-dimensional coordinate data from 36 landmarks on each of the CT images and calculated the distances between each of the coordinate points to generate the data used in the statistical analyses. I pared down this set of measurements using two different models (referred to as the biological and PCFA models). The measurement sets of both models were then compared to one another using nearest neighbor analysis, to test their relative efficiency in matching replicate images to one another. The results of both models were highly accurate. Three incorrect nearest neighbor matches resulted from the biological model and 5 from the PCFA model. The errors appear to have been the result of variation in the axial plane between the first and second scans. The results of the nearest neighbor comparisons were then considered within the context of Bayes' Theorem by calculating likelihood ratios and posterior probabilities. The likelihood ratios and posterior probabilities were very high for both models, indicating that: 1) there is significant individual variability in the measurements of the petrous portion used in this research, and 2) this variation represents a high level of potential accuracy in the application of this method in the identification of forensic remains.

A presente tese versa sobre o fenômeno da confusão patrimonial nas sociedades isoladas e nos grupos societários. A tese propõe-se a: conceituar patrimônio social, examinando as suas principais características, funções e sua interatividade com o capital social; situar a pessoa jurídica como técnica de separação patrimonial; tentar alcançar um conceito de confusão patrimonial, diferenciando-a da confusão de esferas e apontando as insuficiências do estado atual da dogmática jurídica sobre a questão; examinar as principais características da confusão patrimonial, a saber a sua natureza, suas causas e seus efeitos (mais especificamente, os efeitos sobre os credores); caracterizar as diferentes formas pelas quais o fenômeno da confusão patrimonial se manifesta, bem como trabalhar com as exteriorizações desse fenômeno (indícios); apontar elementos que possam contribuir para a constatação judicial da confusão patrimonial; e apresentar e examinar algumas soluções para tutelar o interesse dos credores das sociedades que se encontram em situação de promiscuidade patrimonial. / This thesis discusses the phenomenon of commingling of assets in isolated companies and in groups of companies. It proposes to: define a concept of corporate asset, examining its main characteristics, roles and interaction with shareholders\' equity; assert the legal entity as a technique of separation of assets; attempt to reach a concept of commingling of assets, differentiating it from the mingling of spheres and pointing out current inefficiencies of the existing legal doctrine on the same issue; examine the leading characteristics of commingling of assets, namely its nature, causes and effects (more specifically, the effects on creditors); describe the different ways in which the phenomenon of commingling of assets is manifested, as well as discuss the materialization of this phenomenon (indicia); point out elements that may contribute to judicial analysis of issues related to commingling of assets; and, finally, propose and examine a number of solutions to safeguard creditors\' interests that find themselves in situations of asset promiscuity.

O trabalho trata das situações de incerteza na técnica processual civil, analisando causas, efeitos e, principalmente, meios adequados para o tratamento dessas situações. Defende a idéia de que os litigantes não podem ter seus direitos processuais cerceados pela falta de objetividade na técnica processual, circunstância na qual deverá ser privilegiada a eficácia dos atos das partes. Nos três primeiros capítulos, é estudada a função do processo perante o direito material (aspecto positivo da instrumentalidade do processo), seu formalismo e sua flexibilidade, acentuando-se a aplicação da instrumentalidade das formas e do dever de saneamento das irregularidades processuais (aspecto negativo da instrumentalidade do processo). No capítulo quarto, são identificadas as crises de certeza no direito processual, suas fontes e os melhores meios de se evitá-las. No capítulo quinto, é justificada, à luz do direito processual vigente, a necessidade de manutenção da eficácia dos atos processuais realizados em zonas de incerteza. Por fim, nos capítulos seis e sete, o trabalho trata da fungibilidade recursal e da incerteza relativa aos pressupostos formais da ação rescisória, propondo meios de se permitir que os atos processuais realizados em zonas de incerteza produzam todos os seus efeitos, ainda que a opção dos litigantes divirja daquela adotada pelo juiz. / The present dissertation deals with the uncertainty about Brazilian civil procedure techniques, analyzing causes, effects and, chiefly, adequate means of treatment of such issues. It argues that the litigants may not have their procedural rights suppressed by the lack of objectivity on procedural law, situation in which the efficacy of their acts must be privileged. In the first three chapters, it studies the function of the procedural Law considering the substantive Law (positive aspect of procedural instrumentality), its formalism and its flexibility, enhancing the applicability of the norm of instrumentality of the forms and the judges obligation of remedying procedural irregularities (negative aspect of procedural instrumentality). In chapter four, crises of uncertainty of procedural law are identified, its sources as well as the best ways to avoid them. In chapter five, the needs of maintaining the efficacy of the parties acts in situations of uncertainty are justified considering the current procedural Law. At last, in chapters six and seven, the study addresses the rule of commingling remedies and the matter of uncertainty related to the procedural requisites of the termination action, proposing that the procedural acts performed in zones of uncertainty will produce all their effects, even if the option made by the litigants be different from that made by the judge.

O trabalho trata das situações de incerteza na técnica processual civil, analisando causas, efeitos e, principalmente, meios adequados para o tratamento dessas situações. Defende a idéia de que os litigantes não podem ter seus direitos processuais cerceados pela falta de objetividade na técnica processual, circunstância na qual deverá ser privilegiada a eficácia dos atos das partes. Nos três primeiros capítulos, é estudada a função do processo perante o direito material (aspecto positivo da instrumentalidade do processo), seu formalismo e sua flexibilidade, acentuando-se a aplicação da instrumentalidade das formas e do dever de saneamento das irregularidades processuais (aspecto negativo da instrumentalidade do processo). No capítulo quarto, são identificadas as crises de certeza no direito processual, suas fontes e os melhores meios de se evitá-las. No capítulo quinto, é justificada, à luz do direito processual vigente, a necessidade de manutenção da eficácia dos atos processuais realizados em zonas de incerteza. Por fim, nos capítulos seis e sete, o trabalho trata da fungibilidade recursal e da incerteza relativa aos pressupostos formais da ação rescisória, propondo meios de se permitir que os atos processuais realizados em zonas de incerteza produzam todos os seus efeitos, ainda que a opção dos litigantes divirja daquela adotada pelo juiz. / The present dissertation deals with the uncertainty about Brazilian civil procedure techniques, analyzing causes, effects and, chiefly, adequate means of treatment of such issues. It argues that the litigants may not have their procedural rights suppressed by the lack of objectivity on procedural law, situation in which the efficacy of their acts must be privileged. In the first three chapters, it studies the function of the procedural Law considering the substantive Law (positive aspect of procedural instrumentality), its formalism and its flexibility, enhancing the applicability of the norm of instrumentality of the forms and the judges obligation of remedying procedural irregularities (negative aspect of procedural instrumentality). In chapter four, crises of uncertainty of procedural law are identified, its sources as well as the best ways to avoid them. In chapter five, the needs of maintaining the efficacy of the parties acts in situations of uncertainty are justified considering the current procedural Law. At last, in chapters six and seven, the study addresses the rule of commingling remedies and the matter of uncertainty related to the procedural requisites of the termination action, proposing that the procedural acts performed in zones of uncertainty will produce all their effects, even if the option made by the litigants be different from that made by the judge.

Fibre reinforced composites have higher specific strength and stiffness in comparison to metals. However, composites are susceptible to impact damage resulting in degradation of mechanical properties especially compression strength. Numerous studies have been conducted to improve the impact damage tolerance of composite laminates using modified resin systems, thermoplastic matrices, 3-D fibre architectures and through thickness reinforcement. This work is primarily focussed on incorporating non dissolvable polypropylene fibres (PP) in a thermoset matrix for improving the damage tolerance. Commingling and wrapping techniques have been investigated. PP fibres have been incorporated at the preform stage and hence do not adversely affect the viscosity of the resin during infusion. The healing effect of PP fibres on impact damaged composite laminates when heating is introduced has also been studied. High velocity impact test results showed that using commingled glass/PP fibres increased the total energy absorption of composite laminates by 20% due to the extensive plastic deformation of the PP fibres and through the use of toughening mechanisms in the form of resin cracking and delamination. It has been found that PP fibres provide protection to the glass fibres during low velocity impact loading, so fewer fibre breakages occur which lead to improved residual properties compared with pristine glass laminates. Compression after impact (CAI) tests showed that the residual strength as a percentage of non-impacted strength increased with percentage of PP fibres used. For impact of 20-50J, glass/epoxy laminates retained 32 45% of their compressive strength while laminates with 7%, 13% and 18% PP fibres retained 37 50%, 42-52% and 43-60% of their compressive strength, respectively. It was also observed that glass/PP woven laminates had better compressive strength retention (62 83%) than the glass/PP non-crimp laminates (37-50%). Composite laminates with high-modulus PP fibres (Innegra) exhibited higher residual compression strengths in comparison to laminates with lower modulus PP fibres. For 15-50J impact, glass/Innegra laminates showed residual compression strength of 50 63% in comparison to 39-60%; laminates without thermoplastic fibres exhibited 33 43% residual compression strength. Modulus of thermoplastic fibres appears to be important at higher energy levels. Healing of damaged commingled laminates produced a significant reduction in the damage area and a corresponding increase in CAI strength after heating at 200ºC; CAI strength of healed laminates is about 85% of undamaged samples in comparison to 60% for non-healed samples. A novel micro-wrapping technique, developed in this work, demonstrated significant reduction in damage area (46%) in comparison to the commingling method. Core wrapped laminates had higher residual strength (43-60%) than glass laminates (33-43%). Better PP distribution in core-wrapped composites helped to decrease the PP rich areas and the impact damage did not propagate easily in comparison to commingled composites. However due to the reduction in damage area, impact energy absorption in core wrapped laminates was lower than for commingled.