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No description available.

Extremely huge quantities of mined ore materials are processed annually to obtain the various types of minerals being the barebones of industry. Impounding the waste materials (tailings) of the mined minerals behind a raised embankment is the major and most common method used for the disposal of theses materials. Due to its execution simplicity and low cost, the upstream raising method has been the most common method used for retaining the disposed tailings in spite of being the most failure-vulnerable one. The sophisticated hydromechanocal behavior of the upstream tailings disposal facilities (UTDFs) during the staged construction makes the traditional approaches of consolidation, stability, and seepage analyses inefficient for producing accurate and, in many situations, correct design and evaluation of the UTDFs. The major objective of this thesis is to propose a thorough procedure for realistically evaluating the hydromechanical response of the UTDFs during their staged construction. The procedure incorporates a numerical model that reflects the combination of important realistic features of the UTDFs, namely (i) the partially saturated flow characteristics under the transient state dominating the facility throughout its operation/construction life; (ii) the two dimensional consolidation response of the facility components under both the partially and fully saturated cases considering (a) the full coupled response between the fluid and the solid phases and (b) the large deformation-nature of the tailings; as well as (iii) the appropriate mechanical behavior of the facility materials including a model that can detect the inception of liquefaction in the liquefaction-susceptible zones of the facility. The influences of a number of operational/construction measures that have been reportedly critical for the stability of the UTDFs are investigated in the light of the proposed model. Moreover, the inappropriateness of the traditional approaches for realistically evaluating the UTDF hydromechanical response during its staged construction is substantiated in the analyses carried out in this work. / The conclusions and recommendations drawn from this thesis are paramount not only for the feasibility, preliminary design and risk assessment studies of the UTDF during its operation/construction life but also for the on going analytical investigations and monitoring/instrumentations plans carried out throughout such life.

A new microwave radiometer, the Mesoradiometer, was constructed and the meteorological information contained in its data were examined. This instrument is designed to measure the distribution of water vapor and liquid water in the atmosphere. / The Mesoradiometer uses 32 channels located on both sides of the 22.235 GHz water vapor absorption peak, as well as a narrow beam width antenna, and a pedestal giving the instrument the capacity to scan the atmosphere in order to detect water vapor. During the characterization of the instrument, a problem in maintaining the stability of the instrument's temperature was detected. / Even with this problem, the Mesoradiometer successfully measured atmospheric water vapor and liquid water. The instrument was capable of tracking the movements of clouds. This is possible thanks to its rapid scanning strategy, such tracking being impossible with traditional radiometers.

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The study of cost-saving measures involved in the fit-up of the kitchen is explored, and two strategies of cost-saving are identified: reducing kitchen area; and, simplifying construction materials and assembly techniques. Alternative area requirements, as well as alternative materials and assembly techniques are examined in an effort to reduce cost. The cost of a series of compact kitchen layouts are analysed with respect to alternative construction techniques. A method that assesses the functional requirements of the layouts and costs involved is applied and various cost effective designs are examined.

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No description available.

No description available.