This study investigates corrosion initiation and propagation in instrumented specimens obtained from segments of dry-cast reinforced concrete pipes. Potential, LPR and EIS measurements were carried out. During the propagation stage in different exposures, reinforcement eventually reached negative potentials values, which suggest mass transfer limitations. So far these specimens show no visual signs of corrosion such as cracks or corrosion products with one exception; where corrosion products have reached the surface. Moreover, the apparent corrosion rate values obtained suggest high corrosion rate. No crack appearance so far, could be explained by the high porosity of the specimens; the corrosion products are filling these pores. It is speculated that although, there might be mass transfer limitations present, the current demanded by the anode is being balanced by a larger cathode area due to macrocell effects, since the high moisture conditions likely reduced the concrete resistivity and increased the throwing power. / by Hariharan Balasubramanian. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

Instrumented dry-cast reinforced concrete pipe (DC-RCP) specimens in which corrosion of the reinforcing steel had initiated were selected to accelerate the corrosion. Type C and type F DC-RCP were used. An anodic current density of various magnitudes (0.5 μA/cm2, 1 μA/cm2 and 2.5 μA/cm2) was applied during the corrosion propagation stage. The specimens were placed in high humidity and selected specimens were later covered with wet sand. Selected specimens were terminated for visual examination and gravimetric analysis. Typically, the reinforcement potentials during the accelerated corrosion period were more negative for F specimens compared to C specimens. The C specimens experienced ~2× more corrosion than the F specimens. The accumulated corrosion products did not cause cracks. A method was developed that allows for modest corrosion acceleration during the corrosion propagation stage of DC-RCP. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The corrosion propagation stage of D-CRP (types F and C) was tested under immersion in water, high humidity, and covered with wet sand. The half-cell potential, linear polarization test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed. Selected specimens were terminated after 300 days of exposure and visually inspected. Based on corrosion potential measurements obtained during the corrosion propagation observation, and calculated corrosion rate based on LPR measurements: all specimens were actively corroding. Additionally, EIS-Rc values were calculated for FS, CS and CH specimens. The Rc_EIS were generally greater than Rc_LPR values. EIS spectra for CI and FI specimens usually included mass transport limitations, as these specimens were immersed. Both type of specimens immersed in water (FI and CI), appeared to have higher corrosion rate based on LPR-Rc. However, upon autopsy it was revealed that a more modest amount of corrosion occurred on the reinforcing steel of FI and CI terminated specimens. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Steel corrosion in reinforced concrete is a major concern to transportation agencies nationwide because of the expenses incurred for repair and ultimate shortening of bridge life. Cathodic protection (CP), as a remedy, has been applied to reinforced bridges in the US since 1974. However, application of this technique is largely empirical, lacking fundamental understanding. In order to optimize the performance of a CP system, it is important to monitor the rebar potential with respect to a reliable reference electrode. Moreover, because of potential variation in the concrete, reference cell placement is fundamental to ensure effective protection. The work plan was divided into two parts: laboratory scale experimentation and computer simulation. In the experimentation section, the response of graphite probes was compared to that of an Orion silver-silver chloride electrode. Graphite probes behaved as well as the standard electrode. Furthermore, the home-made graphite probes behaved the same as the commercial ones. This will allow much greater experimental latitude since the home-made probes are much more economical than the commercial ones. A finite difference code was developed to assess the performance of cathodic protection. The potential distribution in a two dimensional geometry of a concrete block with a sprayed zinc anode at one boundary and an iron cathode at the other side was calculated under cathodic protection. The equations were solved by means of a Gauss-Seidel iterative method with the help of an overrelaxation factor. An interval halving method was used to solve for nonlinear boundary condition at the iron. The effects of concrete pore saturation, concrete cover, and applied potential were studied to determine the degree of protection and proper placement of the reference electrode in concrete. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was performed versus input parameters: concrete conductivity, oxygen mass transfer coefficient, and oxygen reduction polarization parameters. The results of the simulation showed that the center of the rebar is less protected than the other locations. Therefore, the reference electrode should be located as close to the center as possible. / Graduation date: 1995

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003-02-24Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:45:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 andrade_fa_dr_botfca.pdf: 616832 bytes, checksum: d929135b0db5c4636a9f23638d0dd9e3 (MD5) / Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo de biodegradação de tocos de Eucalyptus grandis por fungos, com o intuito de se desenvolver uma metodologia alternativa para o processo de destoca em povoamentos de Eucalyptus spp.. Para tal, foram utilizadas cinco espécies de fungos, Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, Pleurotus sajor caju (Fr.) Singer, Polyporus guiannensis Mont., Pycnoporus sangüineus e Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat., testados em laboratório e em campo. Para a avaliação da eficiência destas espécies quanto à degradação, verificou-se a velocidade de crescimento em placas de petri e em tubos contendo serragem, perdas de massa de corpos de prova de madeira e os teores de lignina, celulose e holocelulose, antes e após a ação dos fungos. As maiores médias de crescimento diário foram alcançadas por Polyporus guiannensi. Nos testes de degradação com corpos de prova, foi observada maior eficiência pelo do fungo Ganoderma applanatum. Nos testes de campo, realizados para a avaliação da degradação de tocos, os fungos anteriormente descritos foram inoculados seguindo a metodologia adaptada de inoculação utilizada no cultivo do cogumelo comestível Lentinula edodes (shiitake), em tocos do último corte, em 3 regiões distintas: Luiz Antonio, Capão Bonito e Jacareí (todas no estado de São Paulo), na presença e ausência de câmara umida. Após 5 meses da inoculação, verificou-se que para as regiões Luiz Antonio e Capão Bonito os tratamentos com câmara úmida apresentaram melhores resultados quanto à degradação dos tocos. As espécies Ganoderma aplanatum e Pycnoporus sangüineus apresentaram maior eficiência quanto à degradação dos tocos no campo. Nas condições em que se realizaram os testes de patogenicidade em plantas jovens e adultas, os fungos aqui testados não indicaram ser patogênico.

This dissertation presents a novel procedure to select explanatory variables, without the influence of human bias, for deterioration model development using National Bridge Inventory (NBI) data. Using NBI information, including geometric data and climate information, candidate explanatory variables can be converted into normalized numeric values and analyzed prior to the development of deterministic or stochastic deterioration models. The prevailing approach for explanatory variable selection is to use expert opinion solicited from experienced engineers. This may introduce human influenced biases into the deterioration modeling process. A framework using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) penalized regression and covariance analysis are combined to compensate for this potential bias. Additionally, the cross validation analysis and solution path is used as a standard for the selection of minimum number of explanatory variables. The proposed method is demonstrated through the creation of deterministic deterioration models for deck, superstructure, and substructure for Wyoming bridges and compared to explanatory variables using the expert selection method. The comparison shows a significant decrease in error using the presented framework based on the L2 relative error norm. The final chapter presents a new method to develop stochastic deterioration models using logistic regression. The relative importance amongst explanatory variables is used to develop a classification tree for Wyoming bridges. The bridges in a subset are commonly associated with several explanatory variables, so that the deterioration models can be more representative and accurate than using a single explanatory variable. The logistic regression is used to introduce the stochastic contribution into the deterioration models. In order to avoid missing data problems, the binary categories condition rating, either remaining the same or decreased, are considered for logistic regression. The probability of changes in bridges’ condition rating is obtained and the averages for same condition ratings are used to create transition probability matrix for each age group. The deterioration model based on Markov chain are developed for Wyoming bridges and compared with the previous model based on percentage prediction and optimization approach. The prediction error is analyzed, which demonstrates the considerable performance of the proposed method and is suitable for relatively small data samples.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 C64 / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / abstract / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Dans un environnement urbain pollué, les altérations qui affectent les verres du patrimoine dépendent de facteurs intrinsèques, extrinsèques et temporels. Afin de caractériser les altérations atmosphériques résultant des interactions entre ces différents facteurs une stratégie de recherche prenant en compte un environnement multiphasique, le matériau (composition et surface) et le temps a été mise en place. Pour ce faire une étude complémentaire est menée sur des verres de vitraux exposés plusieurs centaines d'année et de verres modèles exposés en site réel et altéré artificiellement en laboratoire. Une approche multi-instrumentale et multi-échelle a été mise en place. Elle a permis d'identifier des mécanismes d'évolution de la couche d'altération (CA) notamment par la formation de lamines concentriques de ~10 nm (anciens fronts d'altération probables). L'exploration de l'impact des eaux de ruissellement montre que l'évolution de l'épaisseur de CA est dépendante à la fois d'une cinétique de diffusion (√t) et de dissolution (t). Enfin l'influence indirecte des produits néoformés sur l'altération semble jouer un rôle majeur à la fois en condition de ruissellement, avec la présence de CaCO3 qui précipite le détachement des écailles, et en milieu abrité, où la présence de K2CO3 est mise en cause dans la dissolution du réseau vitreux / In a polluted urban environment, alterations affecting heritage glasses depend on intrinsic and extrinsic factors as well as time. In order to characterize the atmospheric alteration resulting from the interactions occurring between these factors, a research strategy has been set up, taking into account the multi-phase environment, the material (composition and surface) and time. In order to do so, a complementary study was conducted on stained glasses displaying several hundred years of alterations and model-glasses exposed in-situ for a few years or artificially altered in the lab. A multi-instrument and multi-scale approach was used in this study. It allowed the identification of the mechanisms responsible for the evolution of the leached layer (LL), especially the presence of concentric 10nm thick laminae (probable traces of alteration front). The exploration of the run-off impact on alteration shows a dependency of LL thickness on both diffusion type kinetics (√t) and dissolution kinetics. Finally, the indirect impact of neoformed alteration products seems to take a major part both in run-off conditions, CaCO3 hastens the scaling, and in sheltered conditions, where K2CO3 can be cause for glass network dissolution

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo quantificar estatisticamente a ocorrência de falhas geradas pelos erros de projeto e execução das construções. Para isso, elaborou-se um checklist que se subdividiu em duas partes: a primeira contendo informações desde a concepção à geração de um edifício e a segunda para verificação da estrutura \"in loco\" em edifícios habitacionais em construção na cidade de São Carlos. Quantificou-se as incidências patológicas observadas por elemento estrutural e finalmente se traçou um panorama da atual realidade dos edifícios sob a ponto de vista das patologias geradas pela falta de controle de qualidade nas construções. Através dos dados obtidos pôde-se verificar a existência de várias patologias, destacando-se a segregação do concreto de pilares e paredes, cobrimento inadequado do concreto em vigas e problemas advindos da falta de estanqueidade de fôrmas em lajes. / The goal of this work is the quantify statistically the occurrance of failure generated by carelessness with the project and execution of the constructions. A check-list was proposed was subdivided in two parts: the first with information since the conception to generation of a building and the second by the verification of the building structure \"in loco\" in São Carlos town. It was quantified the pathological incidences observed by structural element and finally it was designed a panorama of the actual reality of the buildings under the view of the pathologies generated by the lack of control and quality in the constructions. Through the obtained data it could be verified the existence of several patologies, highlighting the segregation of concrete in pillars and walls, inadequate covering of concrete in beams and problems from the lack of stanching of moulds in flagstone.