The effects of controlled environment strategies on the yield and quality of cherry tomato fruit production were studied between April, 2003 and September, 2004 at The University of Arizona Campus Agriculture Center; Tucson, AZ. Two cultivars of cherry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. var. cerasiforme) planted at 2.2 plants m-2 were grown hydroponically in coconut coir and drip fertigated with a low EC (2.4 dS m-1), high EC (4.5 dS m-1), mid day relief of high EC (2.4 dS m-1 or 4.5 dS m-1 over a 24 h period) or night time super high EC treatment (12 dS m-1). From April to October, 2003, the effects of mid day relief of high EC on cherry tomato fruit yield and quality were determined. From February through September, 2004 the effects of super high EC treatment, horizontal air flow (HAF) fan operation and/or delayed fertigation on cherry tomato fruit cracking were studied.

Sulfide Stress Cracking (SSC) resistance of the newly developed API-X100 High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel was investigated in the NACE TM0177 "A" solution. The NACE TM0177 "A" solution is a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) saturated solution containing 5.0 wt.% sodium chloride (NaC1) and 0.5 wt.% acetic acid (CH3COOH). The aim of this thesis was to study the effect of microstructure, non-metallic inclusions and alloying elements of the X100 on H2S corrosion and SSC susceptibility. The study was conducted by means of electrochemical polarization techniques and constant load (proof ring) testing. Microstructural analysis and electrochemical polarization results for X100were compared with those for X80, an older generation HSLA steel. Uniaxial constant load SSC testing was conducted using X100 samples and the results were compared with those reported for older generation HSLA steels. Addition of H2S to the NACE TM0177 "A" solution increased the corrosion rate of X100from 51.6 to 96.7 mpy. The effect of H2S on the corrosion rate was similar for X80. The corrosion rate for X80 increased from 45.2 to 80.2 mpy when H2S was added to the test solution. Addition of H2S enhanced the anodic kinetics by forming a catalyst (FeHSads) on the metal surface and as a result, shifted the anodic polarization curve to more current densities. Moreover, the cathodic half cell potential increased due to the decrease in pH, from 2.9 to 2.7, which shifted the cathodic polarization curve to more current densities. The increase in both the anodic and cathodic currents, after H2S addition, caused the rise in the corrosion current density. In H2S saturated NACE TM-0177 "A" solution, the X100 steel corrosion rate was higher than the X80 steel by 20%. Longer phase boundaries and larger nonmetallic inclusions in the X100 microstructure generated more areas with dissimilar corrosion potentials and therefore, a stronger driving force for corrosion. Higher density of second phase regions and larger nonmetallic inclusions acted as an increased cathode area on the X100 surface which increased the cathodic current density and consequently, increased the corrosion current density. Proof ring tests on the X100 gave a threshold stress value, C5th, of 46% YS, 343.1 MPa(49.7 ksi). The main failure was caused by SSC cracking. SSC nucleated at corrosion pits on the metal surface and microcracks in the metal body and propagated perpendicular to the applied stress. Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) was observed in the X100. HIC cracks nucleated at banded martensite-ferrite interfaces and propagated along the rolling direction parallel to the applied tensile stress through the softer ferrite phase. When compared to older HSLA grades, the X100 tested in this study had a high SSC susceptibility and therefore, is not be recommended for H2S service applications. The high X100 SSC susceptibility was caused by the material high corrosion rates in H2Smedia which formed corrosion pits that acted as crack initiation sites on the metal surface and provided more hydrogen that migrated into the steel. In addition, the X100 inhomogeneous microstructure provided a high density of hydrogen traps in front of the main crack tip which promoted SSC microcrack formation inside the metal. Microcracks in the metal body connected with the main crack tip that originated from corrosion pits which assisted SSC propagation.

Due to the use of refined ultimate state theories as well as high strength concrete and reinforcement, resulting in longer spans and smaller depths, the serviceability criteria often limits application of modern reinforced concrete (RC) superstructures. In structural analysis, civil engineers can choose between traditional design code methods and numerical techniques. In order to choose a particular calculation method, engineers should be aware of accuracy of differ-ent techniques. Adequate modelling of RC cracking and, particularly, post-cracking behaviour, as one of the major sources of nonlinearity, is the most im-portant and difficult task of deformational analysis. In smeared crack approach dealing with average cracking and strains, post-cracking effects can be modelled by a stress-strain tension-stiffening relationship. Most known tension-stiffening relationships have been derived from test data of shrunk tension or shear mem-bers. Subsequently, these constitutive laws were applied for modelling of bend-ing elements which behaviour differs from test members. Furthermore, such re-lationships were coupled with shrinkage effect. Therefore, present research aims at developing a technique for deriving a free-of-shrinkage tension-stiffening re-lationship using test data of shrunk bending RC members. The main objective of this PhD dissertation is to investigate shrinkage influence on deformations and tension-stiffening of RC members subjected to short-term loading. Present... [to full text] / Pastaraisiais metais vis plačiau taikant stiprųjį betoną bei armatūrą, konst-rukcijų perdengiamos angos didėja, o skerspjūviai mažėja. Todėl projektuojant standumo (įlinkių) sąlyga vis dažniau tampa lemiamu veiksniu. Inžinieriai gelž-betoninių konstrukcijų apskaičiavimams gali taikyti empirinius normų arba skai-tinius metodus. Vieno ar kito skaičiavimo metodo parinkimas turi būti pagrįstas statistiniais tikslumo analizės rezultatais. Yra žinoma, kad adekvatus gelžbetoninio elemento pleišėjimo (ypač plyšių vystymosi stadijos) modeliavimas yra vienas sudėtingiausių netiesinės mechani-kos uždavinių. Toks uždavinys gali būti išspręstas taikant vidutinių plyšių kon-cepciją, kai pleišėjimo proceso modeliavimui naudojama tempiamojo betono vidutinių įtempių ir deformacijų diagrama. Dauguma tokių diagramų gautos, naudojant tempimo arba šlyties bandymo rezultatus. Pabrėžtina, kad šių diagra-mų taikymas lenkiamųjų gelžbetoninių elementų modeliavime duoda nemažas paklaidas. Kitas svarbus aspektas yra tai, kad gelžbetoniniuose bandiniuose, iki juos apkraunant trumpalaike apkrova, vyksta betono susitraukimas. Šiame darbe buvo siekiama sukurti metodą, leidžiantį pagal eksperimentinius lenkiamųjų gelžbetoninių elementų duomenis gauti tempiamojo betono vidutinių įtempių ir deformacijų diagramas, įvertinant betono susitraukimo įtaką. Pagrindinis diser-tacijos tikslas yra įvertinti ikieksploatacinių betono susitraukimo ir valkšnumo poveikį gelžbetoninių elementų, apkrautų trumpalaike apkrova... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Pastaraisiais metais vis plačiau taikant stiprųjį betoną bei armatūrą, konst-rukcijų perdengiamos angos didėja, o skerspjūviai mažėja. Todėl projektuojant standumo (įlinkių) sąlyga vis dažniau tampa lemiamu veiksniu. Inžinieriai gelž-betoninių konstrukcijų apskaičiavimams gali taikyti empirinius normų arba skai-tinius metodus. Vieno ar kito skaičiavimo metodo parinkimas turi būti pagrįstas statistiniais tikslumo analizės rezultatais. Yra žinoma, kad adekvatus gelžbetoninio elemento pleišėjimo (ypač plyšių vystymosi stadijos) modeliavimas yra vienas sudėtingiausių netiesinės mechani-kos uždavinių. Toks uždavinys gali būti išspręstas taikant vidutinių plyšių kon-cepciją, kai pleišėjimo proceso modeliavimui naudojama tempiamojo betono vidutinių įtempių ir deformacijų diagrama. Dauguma tokių diagramų gautos, naudojant tempimo arba šlyties bandymo rezultatus. Pabrėžtina, kad šių diagra-mų taikymas lenkiamųjų gelžbetoninių elementų modeliavime duoda nemažas paklaidas. Kitas svarbus aspektas yra tai, kad gelžbetoniniuose bandiniuose, iki juos apkraunant trumpalaike apkrova, vyksta betono susitraukimas. Šiame darbe buvo siekiama sukurti metodą, leidžiantį pagal eksperimentinius lenkiamųjų gelžbetoninių elementų duomenis gauti tempiamojo betono vidutinių įtempių ir deformacijų diagramas, įvertinant betono susitraukimo įtaką. Pagrindinis diser-tacijos tikslas yra įvertinti ikieksploatacinių betono susitraukimo ir valkšnumo poveikį gelžbetoninių elementų, apkrautų trumpalaike apkrova... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Due to the use of refined ultimate state theories as well as high strength concrete and reinforcement, resulting in longer spans and smaller depths, the serviceability criteria often limits application of modern reinforced concrete (RC) superstructures. In structural analysis, civil engineers can choose between traditional design code methods and numerical techniques. In order to choose a particular calculation method, engineers should be aware of accuracy of differ-ent techniques. Adequate modelling of RC cracking and, particularly, post-cracking behaviour, as one of the major sources of nonlinearity, is the most im-portant and difficult task of deformational analysis. In smeared crack approach dealing with average cracking and strains, post-cracking effects can be modelled by a stress-strain tension-stiffening relationship. Most known tension-stiffening relationships have been derived from test data of shrunk tension or shear mem-bers. Subsequently, these constitutive laws were applied for modelling of bend-ing elements which behaviour differs from test members. Furthermore, such re-lationships were coupled with shrinkage effect. Therefore, present research aims at developing a technique for deriving a free-of-shrinkage tension-stiffening re-lationship using test data of shrunk bending RC members. The main objective of this PhD dissertation is to investigate shrinkage influence on deformations and tension-stiffening of RC members subjected to short-term loading. Present... [to full text]

Concrete marine structures are typically exposed to harsh marine environments where the ingress of chloride ions can lead to corrosion of steel reinforcing bars, reducing both strength and service life; therefore, concrete must be proportioned to resist these environments. Current recommendations for concrete mixtures and plastic shrinkage cracking both reduce the resistance to chloride ingress. The main objective of this thesis was to understand the benefits of fiber addition to concrete exposed to chlorides and quantify those benefits, which would lead to a concrete mixture suitable for marine structures in freeze thaw environments. The research program tested two different fibers in a total of nine concrete mixtures. The results demonstrated that fiber addition at dosages up to 0.33 % by volume resulted in significant reduction or elimination of plastic shrinkage cracking and the chloride tests determined that the ternary FRC mixtures had the best resistance to chloride diffusion.

Zirconium alloys are susceptible to engineering problems associated with the uptake of hydrogen throughout their design lifetime in nuclear reactors. Understanding of hydrogen embrittlement associated with the precipitation of brittle hydride phases and a sub-critical crack growth mechanism known as Delayed Hydride Cracking (DHC) is required to provide the engineering justifications for safe reactor operation. The nature of bulk zirconium hydrides at low concentrations (< 100 wt. ppm) is subject to several contradictory descriptions in the literature associated with the stability and metastability of γ-phase zirconium hydride. Due to the differing volume expansions (12-17%) and crystallography between γ and δ hydride phases, it is suggested that the matrix yield strength may have an effect on the phase stability. The present work indicated that although yield strength can shift the phase stability, other factors such as microstructure and phase distribution can be as or more important. This suggests that small material differences are the reason for the literature discrepancies. DHC is characterised by the repeated precipitation, growth, fracture of brittle hydride phases and subsequent crack arrest in the ductile metal. DHC growth is associated primarily the ability of hydrogen to diffuse under a stress induced chemical potential towards a stress raiser. Knowledge of the factors controlling DHC are paramount in being able to appropriately describe DHC for engineering purposes. Most studies characterise DHC upon cooling to the test temperature. DHC upon heating has not been extensively studied and the mechanism by which it occurs is somewhat controversial in the literature. This work shows that previous thermo-mechanical processing of hydrided zirconium can have a significant effect on the dissolution behaviour of the bulk hydride upon heating. DHC tests with γ-quenched, furnace cooled-δ and reoriented bulk hydrides upon heating and DHC upon cooling suggest that the amount of hydrogen in solution is the primary factor controlling the occurrence of DHC and consistent with the postulation that the stress induced chemical potential is the driving force for DHC. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-01-24 06:14:14.152

Thermal and fatigue cracking are pavement distresses that deteriorate asphalt pavements in Canada. However, the current AASHTO M320 standard specification protocol does not give satisfactory correlation between the properties measured in the laboratory to thermal and fatigue cracking performance of the asphalt in service. This thesis is aimed at validating the newly developed MTO LS-299 and LS-308 specification test methods for predicting pavement distress. A secondary objective is to determine how well laboratory-aged and field-aged binders correlate with each other in terms of their chemical and physical properties. Chemical testing using infrared (IR) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), as well as physical and mechanical testing using the regular bending beam rheometer (BBR), extended BBR (eBBR), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and double edge notched tension (DENT) tests were performed on laboratory-aged and recovered binders from Highway 417. Asphalt cements with significant amounts of waste engine oil residues as determined by XRF data were found to have cracked severely due to their high tendency for chemical aging. Western Canadian binders modified with styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer showed low affinity for both chemical and physical aging as determined from their carbonyl indices. Asphalt binders with smaller paraffinic structures exhibited insignificant pavement deterioration while the opposite occurred to those with low aromatic indices according to their IR data. The DSR data show that chemical aging occurs much faster in the laboratory-aged binders than the field-aged binders. The DENT test is able to separate superior performing binders from inferior ones with 86% accuracy according to their CTOD data. The regular BBR gave poor correlation between the laboratory test methods and the performance of the pavements. Good correlation exists between the laboratory test methods and the performance of the pavements in service according to the eBBR data. Pavements without any cracks showed lower grade losses, while pavements with severe thermal cracking recorded higher grade losses after three days of conditioning prior to testing. The study has shown that the eBBR and DENT tests are better tools for predicting pavement performance and provide good specification tests for the control of thermal and fatigue cracking in modern pavements. / Thesis (Master, Chemistry) -- Queen's University, 2012-02-28 13:16:02.222

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