Digital image acquisition can be a time consuming process for situations where high spatial resolution is required. As such, optimizing the acquisition mechanism is of high importance for many measurement applications. Acquiring such data through a dynamically small subset of measurement locations can address this problem. In such a case, the measured information can be regarded as incomplete, which necessitates the application of special reconstruction tools to recover the original data set. The reconstruction can be performed based on the concept of sparse signal representation. Recovering signals and images from their sub-Nyquist measurements forms the core idea of compressive sensing (CS). In this work, a CS-based data-guided statistical sparse measurements method is presented, implemented and evaluated. This method significantly improves image reconstruction from sparse measurements. In the data-guided statistical sparse measurements approach, signal sampling distribution is optimized for improving image reconstruction performance. The sampling distribution is based on underlying data rather than the commonly used uniform random distribution. The optimal sampling pattern probability is accomplished by learning process through two methods - direct and indirect. The direct method is implemented for learning a nonparametric probability density function directly from the dataset. The indirect learning method is implemented for cases where a mapping between extracted features and the probability density function is required. The unified model is implemented for different representation domains, including frequency domain and spatial domain. Experiments were performed for multiple applications such as optical coherence tomography, bridge structure vibration, robotic vision, 3D laser range measurements and fluorescence microscopy. Results show that the data-guided statistical sparse measurements method significantly outperforms the conventional CS reconstruction performance. Data-guided statistical sparse measurements method achieves much higher reconstruction signal-to-noise ratio for the same compression rate as the conventional CS. Alternatively, Data-guided statistical sparse measurements method achieves similar reconstruction signal-to-noise ratio as the conventional CS with significantly fewer samples.

Hydrate-bearing sediments may contribute to the availability of energy resources, affect climate change, or cause seafloor instability. The comprehensive study of hydrate-bearing sediments documented in this manuscript includes physicochemical aspects of hydrate nucleation near mineral surfaces, the validity of THF as a substitute guest molecule for the study of hydrate-bearing sediments, and the effects of hydrate formation on the electromagnetic and the mechanical properties of various soils with a wide range of specific surface. Natural marine sediments are included as part of this investigation to explore the effects of inherent fabric, salts, organic matter, and stress history on the geophysical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments. Experiments are designed to reproduce the state of effective stress in the field at the time of hydrate formation. A comprehensive set of instruments is deployed in this study, and the unprecedented development of electrical resistivity tomography for the study of hydrate formation and dissociation is also documented in detail. Results from this research have important implications for geophysical field characterization and monitoring processes such as production.

No description available.

Geopolymerization has been considered as a new technology to replace the ordinary Portland cement in construction industry. It provides an option to manage the industry waste and byproducts like fly ash, mine tailings. At the same time, the CO₂ emissions can be reduced about 80% compared to that of ordinary Portland cement. The present research includes three main parts. First part is applying mine tailings as construction materials using geopolymerization method. The study is focused on efficiently activating mine tailings, reducing alkali consumption, decreasing curing time and improving compressive strength. We investigate the activation temperature effects, the impacts of additives and effects of forming pressures. The results show that a 40 MPa unconfined compressive strength (UCS) can be achieved with the geopolymerization samples after mine tailings are activated by sodium hydroxide at 170°C for 1 hour with the addition of calcium hydroxide and alkali dissolved aluminium oxide, further compressed with a 10 MPa forming pressure and finally cured at 90°C for 3 days. To elucidate the mechanism for the contribution of additives to geopolymerization, microscopic and spectroscopic techniques including scanning electron microscopy/ energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy are used to investigate the micro/nanostructure and the elemental and phase composition of geopolymerization specimens. The stress-strain behavior was also characterized. The results shows that the mechanical behavior is similar with that of concrete and the dynamic modulus is 22 GPa, which is comparable with that of concrete. The Young's modulus of geopolymer product was also calculated and the value is in the range of 2.9 to 9.3 GPa. The findings of the present work provide a novel method for the geopolymerization of mine tailings as construction materials. Second section is applying fly ash as a high strength water-resistant construction material. Through the present investigation, a procedure has been studied. The experiment results indicate that the concentration of NaOH, water content, and curing condition can significantly affect the mechanical property of geopolymer matrix. At the same time, the chemical composition, especially the Si/Al ratio and calcium content, is also an important factor during geopolymerization. XRD results show that the amorphous feature can be observed for both high and low calcium fly ash. It is the key of the success of geopolymerizaton due to its high reactivity. XRD, FTIR and SEM tests were performed to study how experiment conditions and the properties of fly ash affect geopolymerization. The obtained compressive strength of the geopolymerization product can reach above 100 MPa. The stress-strain behavior was also characterized. The results shows that the dynamic modulus is 36.5 GPa. The product obtained from the present work shows very high water resistance without losing any compressive strength even after a one month soaking time. Third part is applying the mixture of class C fly ash and mine tailings as construction materials. Through the present investigation, a protocol has been set up. The experiment results of the present work also help set up the working conditions such as activation temperature and time, the concentration of NaOH, the addition of Ca(OH)₂, forming pressure, mine tailing to class C fly ash weight ratio, curing temperature and curing time. To elucidate the mechanism for the contribution of additives to geopolymerization, microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as SEM/EDX, X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy were used to investigate the micro/nanostructure and the elemental and phase composition of geopolymerization composite. The obtained compressive strength of the geopolymerization product can reach above 60 MPa. The stress-strain behavior of the geopolymer matrix of the mixture of mine tailing and fly ash were also characterized and the results show that the mechanical behavior is similar to that of concrete with a 24 GPa dynamic modulus. The Young's modulus of geopolymer product was also calculated and the value is in the range of 4.0 to 13.5 GPa. The findings of the present work provide a novel method for the geopolymerization of the mixture of mine tailings and class C fly ash as construction materials, such as bricks for construction and road pavement.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-05-14Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:35:18Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 valesilva_b_me_ilha.pdf: 3835531 bytes, checksum: acaf2d15090c471b1c668987fa04ee51 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O concreto armado fundamenta-se quase que essencialmente no trabalho conjunto do concreto e do aço, sendo a aderência entre estes um dos principais responsáveis pelo bom desempenho do concreto armado. Vários tipos de ensaios de aderência foram propostos ao longo dos anos. O mais usado, dada a sua simplicidade e eficiência, é o chamado pull-out test, proposto pela RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983). Vários pesquisadores têm estudado o fenômeno da aderência e aplicado este ensaio com sucesso, e tornou-se claro que a resistência à compressão de concreto é um parâmetro fundamental para determinar a tensão de aderência. Considerando satisfatória esta relação entre a resistência à compressão e tensão de aderência e, diante dos problemas conhecidos de confiabilidade associados com a moldagem, cura e ruptura dos corpos-de-prova de concreto para os ensaios de compressão, foi verificado e proposto por Lorrain e Barbosa (2008) uma inversão na forma de obtenção da resistência do concreto: a utilização do ensaio de arrancamento pull-out test enquanto ensaio de controle de qualidade do concreto, em situações previstas de ruptura. Este ensaio modificado a partir do pull-out test foi denominado de ensaio APULOT, e foi idealizado como uma alternativa simples e de baixo custo para os ensaios tradicionais de resistência à compressão, podendo ser realizado no próprio canteiro de obras, utilizando para fins de redução de custos, garrafas plásticas PET como moldes para os corpos-de-prova. Este trabalho prioriza a investigação da proposta feita por Lorrain e Barbosa (2008), controlando parâmetros em laboratório e comparando os dois tipos de ensaios de aderência aço-concreto: o ensaio padronizado pela RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983) (pull-out test) e o pull-out test modificado (APULOT). Para isto utilizou-se duas classes de resistência de concreto, barras de aço de diâmetros... / The reinforced concrete works as a structural material basically because there is a suitable bond mechanism between steel and concrete, which is the responsible for the good performance of a reinforced concrete. Various types of bonding tests have been proposed a long this years. The most widely used, given its simplicity and efficiency, is the so-called Pull-Out Test, proposed by RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983). Several researchers have applied and studied this test, and it has become clear that concrete compressive strength is a fundamental parameter in order to determine the bond stress. Considering the well-documented relation between compressive strength and bond stress, and aware of the well-known reliability issues associated with the casting, curing and testing of concrete specimens for concrete compressive tests, it was verified and proposed by Lorrain and Barbosa (2008) an inversion in the form of obtainment of the resistance of the concrete: the use of a modified Pull-Out test to estimate compressive strength, the main control parameter used in concrete technology control, in foreseen situations of rupture. This modified Pull-Out test procedure, denominated APULOT, was conceived as a simple and low-cost alternative to traditional compressive strength measurements, these could be carried out in loco, the test uses recycled PET bottles as moulds for reduce cost. This work prioritizes the research proposal by Lorrain, fixing parametres and comparing the two types bonding tests steel-concrete: the standardized test by RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983) (pull-out test) and pull-out test modified (APULOT). For this using two classes concrete compressive strength, steel bars of diameter 8.0 mm, 10.0 mm and 12.5 mm and ruptures of two tests were conducted at ages 3, 7 and 28 days. The results indicate that the correlation between the and middle bond stress and compressive strength of concrete ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Mônica Pinto Barbosa / Banca: André Luís Gamino / Banca: Luiz Carlos Pinto da Silva Filho / Resumo: O concreto armado fundamenta-se quase que essencialmente no trabalho conjunto do concreto e do aço, sendo a aderência entre estes um dos principais responsáveis pelo bom desempenho do concreto armado. Vários tipos de ensaios de aderência foram propostos ao longo dos anos. O mais usado, dada a sua simplicidade e eficiência, é o chamado pull-out test, proposto pela RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983). Vários pesquisadores têm estudado o fenômeno da aderência e aplicado este ensaio com sucesso, e tornou-se claro que a resistência à compressão de concreto é um parâmetro fundamental para determinar a tensão de aderência. Considerando satisfatória esta relação entre a resistência à compressão e tensão de aderência e, diante dos problemas conhecidos de confiabilidade associados com a moldagem, cura e ruptura dos corpos-de-prova de concreto para os ensaios de compressão, foi verificado e proposto por Lorrain e Barbosa (2008) uma inversão na forma de obtenção da resistência do concreto: a utilização do ensaio de arrancamento pull-out test enquanto ensaio de controle de qualidade do concreto, em situações previstas de ruptura. Este ensaio modificado a partir do pull-out test foi denominado de ensaio APULOT, e foi idealizado como uma alternativa simples e de baixo custo para os ensaios tradicionais de resistência à compressão, podendo ser realizado no próprio canteiro de obras, utilizando para fins de redução de custos, garrafas plásticas PET como moldes para os corpos-de-prova. Este trabalho prioriza a investigação da proposta feita por Lorrain e Barbosa (2008), controlando parâmetros em laboratório e comparando os dois tipos de ensaios de aderência aço-concreto: o ensaio padronizado pela RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983) (pull-out test) e o pull-out test modificado (APULOT). Para isto utilizou-se duas classes de resistência de concreto, barras de aço de diâmetros ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The reinforced concrete works as a structural material basically because there is a suitable bond mechanism between steel and concrete, which is the responsible for the good performance of a reinforced concrete. Various types of bonding tests have been proposed a long this years. The most widely used, given its simplicity and efficiency, is the so-called Pull-Out Test, proposed by RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983). Several researchers have applied and studied this test, and it has become clear that concrete compressive strength is a fundamental parameter in order to determine the bond stress. Considering the well-documented relation between compressive strength and bond stress, and aware of the well-known reliability issues associated with the casting, curing and testing of concrete specimens for concrete compressive tests, it was verified and proposed by Lorrain and Barbosa (2008) an inversion in the form of obtainment of the resistance of the concrete: the use of a modified Pull-Out test to estimate compressive strength, the main control parameter used in concrete technology control, in foreseen situations of rupture. This modified Pull-Out test procedure, denominated APULOT, was conceived as a simple and low-cost alternative to traditional compressive strength measurements, these could be carried out in loco, the test uses recycled PET bottles as moulds for reduce cost. This work prioritizes the research proposal by Lorrain, fixing parametres and comparing the two types bonding tests steel-concrete: the standardized test by RILEM/CEB/FIP RC6 (CEB, 1983) (pull-out test) and pull-out test modified (APULOT). For this using two classes concrete compressive strength, steel bars of diameter 8.0 mm, 10.0 mm and 12.5 mm and ruptures of two tests were conducted at ages 3, 7 and 28 days. The results indicate that the correlation between the and middle bond stress and compressive strength of concrete ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Jorge Luís Akasaki / Resumo: Aglomerantes ativados alcalinamente (AAA) são obtidos da combinação de um precursor solido (geralmente um aluminosilicato) e uma solução alcalina de alta concentração. As vantagens de utilizar este novo tipo de aglomerante comparado ao cimento Portland, um aglomerante convencional, são as menores emissões de CO2, menor consumo de energia e a possibilidade de utilizar matérias prima renováveis e/ou resíduos. Neste sentido, este trabalho apresenta um novo resíduo da indústria da cada de açúcar: a folha de cana de açúcar. A folha apresenta um poder calorífico interessante; portanto, ela pode ser utilizada como biomassa para produzir energia através um processo de queima. Depois deste procedimento, é gerado um novo resíduo: a cinza de folha de cana de açúcar (CF). Esta cinza não apresenta uma destinação correta, então este trabalho tem como intenção utilizar esta cinza como material prima em AAA. A CF foi avaliada de duas formas: como precursor solido e como matéria prima para produzir a solução alcalina. No primeiro modo, a CF foi utilizada em sistemas combinados com a escória de alto forno (EAF) ativado com ambas soluções de NaOH e NaOH/silicato de sódio. No segundo modo, a CF foi utilizada como fonte de sílica para produzir a solução alcalina com o NaOH em AAA baseados em EAF. Os sistemas foram estudados através da resistência a compressão de argamassas e pelo estudo da microestrutura de pastas. Ensaios realizados para avaliar a microestrutura foram a difração de raios-X (DRX)... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Les effets d’échelle sur la résistance mécanique des matériaux, i.e. le fait que plus un échantillon de matière est grand, plus, en moyenne, sa contrainte à rupture sera faible, déjà soulignées par Leonardo da Vinci et Edmée Mariotte il y a des siècles, demeurent de nos jours un problème crucial pour établir des règles de sécurité et de conception de grandes structures à partir de données de laboratoire. Ces effets d’échelle sont généralement expliqués soit par une approche déterministe qui prédit une résistance asymptotique non nulle mais, par construction, ne tient pas compte des fluctuations de la résistance moyenne et de leur dépendance vis-à-vis de la taille, ou d'une approche statistique basée sur la théorie du maillon le plus faible qui implique une résistance nulle pour un système de taille infini.Récemment, un cadre alternatif a été proposé sur la base d’une interprétation de la rupture en compression des matériaux hétérogènes comme une transition de phase critique entre un état intact et un état rompu. Cette interprétation libère les hypothèses de base de la théorie du maillon le plus faible comme la fragilité extrême et l’indépendance entre évènements de microfracturation et prédit qu’un système de taille infinie conservera une résistance mécanique non nulle (σ_∞ ) mais une variabilité associée de la résistance nulle. En appliquant ce cadre critique, les effets d’échelle statistique sur la résistance en compression du béton, un matériau quasi-fragile typique et important en génie civil, sont étudiés dans cette thèse.A partir d’une importante série d’expériences de compression uniaxiale (527 essais) qui a été réalisée sur des échantillons du béton de quatre tailles différentes et trois microstructures différentes, nous démontrons (i) l’échec de la théorie du maillon le plus faible dans ce cas ; et au lieu de cela (ii) la pertinence du cadre critique pour tenir compte des effets d’échelle sur la résistance à rupture en compression du béton, en termes de valeur moyenne, de fluctuation associées et de probabilité de défaillance. A partir d’une analyse détaillée de la microstructure de nos matériaux, nous montrons que la structure des pores, plutôt que les aggrégats, joue un rôle important sur les effets d’échelle sur la résistance à rupture en compression. Dans ce cadre, la résistance asymptotique (σ_∞ ) représente la véritable résistance caractéristique en compression (f_ck ), qui est une propriété essentielle pour la conception de structures à grande échelle et pour le contrôle de la qualité du béton.En conséquence du rôle important de la structure des pores sur les effets d’échelle sur la résistance en compression des bétons à faible porosité, lors de l'estimation de la résistance caractéristique à partir d'une série d'essais avec une seule taille d'échantillon, une condition sur cette taille par rapport à la taille caractéristique de la structure des pores est proposée. / Size effects on mechanical strength, i.e. the fact that larger structures fail under lower stresses than smaller ones, already highlighted by Leonardo da Vinci and Edmée Mariotte centuries ago, remain nowadays a crucial problem to establish structural design rules and safety regulations from an upscaling of laboratory data. These size effects are generally explained either from a deterministic energetic approach that predicts a non-vanishing asymptotic strength but, by construction, does not account for fluctuations around the mean strength and their size dependence, or from a statistical approach based on the weakest-link theory that implies a vanishing strength towards large scales.Recently, an alternative framework has been proposed based on an interpretation of compressive failure of heterogeneous materials as a critical transition from an intact to a failed state. This critical interpretation releases the underlying hypotheses of the weakest-link theory, pure brittleness and the independence of damage events, while predicting a non-vanishing asymptotic mean strength (σ_∞ ) but vanishing intrinsic fluctuations at large scales. The application this framework to the statistical size effects on compressive strength of concrete, a typical quasibrittle material of tremendous importance in civil engineering, is investigated in this thesis.From an extensive series of uniaxial compression experiments (527 tests) carried out on concrete samples with four different sizes and three different microstructures, we demonstrate (i) the failure of the weakest-link theory in this case, and instead (ii) the pertinence of the critical framework to account for size effects on compressive strength of concrete, in terms of average strength, associated fluctuations, and probability of failure. From a detailed analysis of the microstructural disorder of our materials, we show that the pore structure, rather than the concrete mix, plays a significant role on size effects on strength. In this framework, the asymptotic strength (σ_∞ ) represents the genuine characteristic compressive strength (f_ck ) of the material, a key property for the dimensioning large-scale structures from an upscaling of small-scale laboratory mechanical tests and for the quality control of concrete.As a consequence of the leading role of the pore structure in controlling the size effects on compressive strength of low-porosity concretes, when estimating the characteristic (asymptotic) strength from a series of tests with a single sample size, a condition on this size with respect to the characteristic scale of pore structure is proposed to be fulfilled.

abstract: Complex dynamical systems consisting interacting dynamical units are ubiquitous in nature and society. Predicting and reconstructing nonlinear dynamics of units and the complex interacting networks among them serves the base for the understanding of a variety of collective dynamical phenomena. I present a general method to address the two outstanding problems as a whole based solely on time-series measurements. The method is implemented by incorporating compressive sensing approach that enables an accurate reconstruction of complex dynamical systems in terms of both nodal equations that determines the self-dynamics of units and detailed coupling patterns among units. The representative advantages of the approach are (i) the sparse data requirement which allows for a successful reconstruction from limited measurements, and (ii) general applicability to identical and nonidentical nodal dynamics, and to networks with arbitrary interacting structure, strength and sizes. Another two challenging problem of significant interest in nonlinear dynamics: (i) predicting catastrophes in nonlinear dynamical systems in advance of their occurrences and (ii) predicting the future state for time-varying nonlinear dynamical systems, can be formulated and solved in the framework of compressive sensing using only limited measurements. Once the network structure can be inferred, the dynamics behavior on them can be investigated, for example optimize information spreading dynamics, suppress cascading dynamics and traffic congestion, enhance synchronization, game dynamics, etc. The results can yield insights to control strategies design in the real-world social and natural systems. Since 2004, there has been a tremendous amount of interest in graphene. The most amazing feature of graphene is that there exists linear energy-momentum relationship when energy is low. The quasi-particles inside the system can be treated as chiral, massless Dirac fermions obeying relativistic quantum mechanics. Therefore, the graphene provides one perfect test bed to investigate relativistic quantum phenomena, such as relativistic quantum chaotic scattering and abnormal electron paths induced by klein tunneling. This phenomenon has profound implications to the development of graphene based devices that require stable electronic properties. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Electrical Engineering 2012

Orientador: Antonio Carlos Artur / Banca: Antenor Braga Paraguassú / Banca: José Eduardo Rodrigues / Banca: Maria Heloisa Barros de Oliveira Frascá / Banca: Peter Christian Hackspacher / Resumo: Considerando um conjunto de 21 tipos de rochas utilizadas como revestimento e subdivididas em quatro conjuntos por afinidade da composição mineral (rochas carbonáticas, quartzosas, feldspáticas e quartzo-feldspáticas) foram realizados ensaios tecnológicos para a determinação do coeficiente de dilatação térmica linear e da resistência à compressão uniaxial, bem como a anisotropia dessas propriedades. Os dados tecnológicos obtidos foram correlacionados com informações petrográficas qualitativas e quantitativas referentes à composição mineral, variações texturais e estruturais determinadas em seções ortogonais entre si a partir de um sistema de referência (xyz) baseado na foliação e lineação macroscopicamente visíveis. A análise integrada dos dados utilizando estatística convencional e multivariada procurou apontar as variáveis petrográficas mais relevantes para as duas propriedades tecnológicas enfocadas e suas respectivas anisotropias. A dilatação térmica e sua anisotropia são influenciadas principalmente pela composição mineral e pela orientação preferencial dos minerais embora as microfissuras desempenhem papel importante em alguns casos. A tensão de compressão mostra sua variabilidade e anisotropia influenciadas pela granulação média, tipos de contatos minerais predominantes e padrões de microfissuras mais ou menos definidos por influência da foliação presente. Constatou-se que no conjunto analisado a presença da foliação não implica necessariamente em anisotropia das duas propriedades estudadas. / Abstract: The anisotropy of thermal expansion coefficient and compressive tensile strength were determined for 21 commercially used stones gathered in four set according the main mineral composition named carbonatic, quartz-rich, feldspar-rich and quartz-feldspar-rich rocks. Using a coordinate reference system (xyz) based on the macroscopic visible foliation and lineation the samples were submitted to normalized laboratorial analyses for determination of the both technological properties and the petrographical features such as mineral composition, texture and fabric. Additionally was carried out measurements of weathered area and microcrack quantification by image analysis and texture quantification by U-stage methods. In order to understand the relationship between the anisotropy measured and petrographical data it was applied traditional and multivariate statistical analysis. The results pointed to the great significance of mineral composition and the crystallographic preferred orientation for thermal expansion and respective anisotropy, especially to monomineralic and/or foliated rocks, in spite of some cases microcracks play this role. The compressive strength is mainly controlled by a complex interaction between grain size distribution, grain boundary and microcrack patterns related or not to foliation. / Doutor