No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This work deals with the subject of global solar oscillations. These oscillations are observed as fluctuations in the diameter of the sun. A diameter is determined by a mathematical solar edge definition at the Santa Catalina Laboratory for Experimental Relativity by Astrometry (SCLERA) instrument. The oscillations have periods ranging from a few minutes to several hours and have amplitudes measured in millionths of a solar radius. These small amplitudes are observable only due to the unique properties of the edge definition. The properties of the observed solar oscillations are determined from the data; their statistical significance and repeatability are then tested. The possibility of using the observed oscillations as a seismic tool for understanding the solar interior and its motions is explored.

Until the last decade or so, our entire knowledge of planets around Sun-like stars consisted of those in our own Solar System. This is no longer the case. Over 200 planets have been discovered through radial velocity surveys and photometric studies, both of which depend on observing the planet's effects on its host star. Much of our knowledge of the planets orbiting these stars is uncertain, based on assumptions about the stars' masses and the planets' orbital inclinations. This dissertation is comprised of two main sections. The first involves measuring the angular diameters for a sample of exoplanet host stars using Georgia State University's CHARA Array in order to learn more about the nature of these stars. These direct angular measurements are not dependent on the exoplanet systems' inclinations or the masses of the stars. Improved angular diameters lead to linear diameters when combined with HIPPARCOS parallax measurements, which in turn tell us of the stars' ages and masses. Of the 82 exoplanet systems observable with the CHARA Array, 31 host stars were observed and stellar angular diameters were measured for 26 systems. In the special case of an exoplanet system with a transiting planet, this direct measurement of the star's angular diameter leads to a direct measurement of the planet's diameter, when the planet-to-star-radii ratio is known from photometric studies. This was done for HD 189733. The star's angular diameter is 0.377 +/- 0.024 mas, which produces a stellar linear radius of 0.779 +/- 0.052 R_Sun and a planetary diameter of 1.19 +/- 0.08 R_Jupiter. The second part of this project involved the inspection of the exoplanet systems for stellar companions masquerading as planets. From radial velocity studies alone, it is impossible to distinguish between a planet in a high-inclination orbit and a low-mass stellar companion in a low-inclination orbit. Using the CHARA Array, it was possible to rule out certain secondary spectral types for each exoplanet system observed by studying the errors in the diameter fit and searching for separated fringe packets. While no definitive stellar companions were found, two expolanet systems, upsilon Andromedae and rho Coronae Borealis, exhibited behavior that were not consistent with the host star being a simple limb-darkened disk.

This thesis presents an engineering project measuring the effective wavelength of the CHARA Classic beam combiner on the CHARA Array. Knowing the actual effective wavelength of light observed is very important because that value is necessary for determining astrophysical parameters of stars. Currently, the value used for CHARA Classic data comes from a model of the system and is based on numbers published by the manufacturer of the filter; it is not derived from measurements done on the system directly. We use two data collection methods to observe standard stars of different spectral types and calculate the wavelength of light recorded by the instrument for each star. We find the best estimate of the effective wavelength for the CHARA Classic K′-band configuration to be 2.138±0.003μm, a 0.56% decrease from the previously adopted value of 2.150μm. Our result establishes the first estimate of the uncertainty in the effective wavelength.

No description available.

Contribuir ao entendimento dos mecanismos que controlam o comportamento da interação estaca-solo, em estacas de grande diâmetro executadas em perfil arenoso, foi a principal motivação que levou a propor a criação de um campo experimental, concebido para realização de um programa de ensaios de provas de carga instrumentadas. Este processo deu inicio com o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, que descreve a caracterização geotécnica da área de estudo. As investigações geotécnicas iniciais foram compostas por ensaios de campo; ensaios de penetração padrão (SPT), ensaios dilatométricos (DMT) e ensaios de piezocone (CPTu), além de ensaios de laboratório de caracterização, representados por ensaios de umidade natural e ensaios granulométricos. Os ensaios de campo permitem obter parâmetros constitutivos do perfil da área de estudo, sendo possível junto à descrição geológica, fazer algumas inferências que foram determinantes para o processo de concepção das provas de carga instrumentadas. Uma revisão de aspectos geológicos foi realizada, caracterizando-se o contexto regional e a gênese das planícies costeiras do estado de Santa Catarina, área onde foi localizado o campo experimental. Ênfase é dada á instrumentação das estacas, sendo elementos essenciais para a realização das provas de carga e analises posteriores, incluindo, diversas recomendações para instrumentação tanto no topo como no fuste das estacas. Previsões de capacidade de carga através de três métodos de cálculo, dimensionamento do sistema de reação, metodologia de carregamento e instrumentação fazem parte das contribuições resultantes da realização desta pesquisa, subsidiando a execução das provas de carga de pesquisas futuras. Estes subsídios foram projetados em base a normativas nacionais e internacionais, além da recopilação de diferentes experiências relatadas na literatura, as quais estão incluídas na revisão bibliográfica. / Contributing to the understanding of the mechanism controlling the behavior of the pile-soil interaction in large diameter piles in sand was the main motivation of the present research. This led to the creation of an experimental testing site designed to test large diameter instrumented piles. This process has started with the development of this research, which describes the geotechnical characterization of the area. Geotechnical investigations comprised field test: standard penetration tests (SPT), dilatometer tests (DMT) and cone penetration tests (CPTu), as well as laboratory tests to determinate the natural moisture and soil granulometric curves. Field studies allow obtaining constitutive parameters of the profile of the study area that beside the geological description, allowed inferences regarding the instrumentation of piles. A review of geological features was held, characterizing the regional deposition and the genesis of the coastal area of the state of Santa Catarina, where the experimental field was located. Emphasis is given to the instrumentation of piles, essential for the analyses of test, including several recommendations for instrumentation in both the top and shaft. Estimation of load capacity by three methods of calculation, design of the reaction system, methodology of loading stages and instrumentation are part of the contributions resulting from this research, giving support to the load tests in future research. These contributions are based on national and international standards, support by the compilation of different experiences reported in the literature, which are included in the literature review.

Contribuir ao entendimento dos mecanismos que controlam o comportamento da interação estaca-solo, em estacas de grande diâmetro executadas em perfil arenoso, foi a principal motivação que levou a propor a criação de um campo experimental, concebido para realização de um programa de ensaios de provas de carga instrumentadas. Este processo deu inicio com o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, que descreve a caracterização geotécnica da área de estudo. As investigações geotécnicas iniciais foram compostas por ensaios de campo; ensaios de penetração padrão (SPT), ensaios dilatométricos (DMT) e ensaios de piezocone (CPTu), além de ensaios de laboratório de caracterização, representados por ensaios de umidade natural e ensaios granulométricos. Os ensaios de campo permitem obter parâmetros constitutivos do perfil da área de estudo, sendo possível junto à descrição geológica, fazer algumas inferências que foram determinantes para o processo de concepção das provas de carga instrumentadas. Uma revisão de aspectos geológicos foi realizada, caracterizando-se o contexto regional e a gênese das planícies costeiras do estado de Santa Catarina, área onde foi localizado o campo experimental. Ênfase é dada á instrumentação das estacas, sendo elementos essenciais para a realização das provas de carga e analises posteriores, incluindo, diversas recomendações para instrumentação tanto no topo como no fuste das estacas. Previsões de capacidade de carga através de três métodos de cálculo, dimensionamento do sistema de reação, metodologia de carregamento e instrumentação fazem parte das contribuições resultantes da realização desta pesquisa, subsidiando a execução das provas de carga de pesquisas futuras. Estes subsídios foram projetados em base a normativas nacionais e internacionais, além da recopilação de diferentes experiências relatadas na literatura, as quais estão incluídas na revisão bibliográfica. / Contributing to the understanding of the mechanism controlling the behavior of the pile-soil interaction in large diameter piles in sand was the main motivation of the present research. This led to the creation of an experimental testing site designed to test large diameter instrumented piles. This process has started with the development of this research, which describes the geotechnical characterization of the area. Geotechnical investigations comprised field test: standard penetration tests (SPT), dilatometer tests (DMT) and cone penetration tests (CPTu), as well as laboratory tests to determinate the natural moisture and soil granulometric curves. Field studies allow obtaining constitutive parameters of the profile of the study area that beside the geological description, allowed inferences regarding the instrumentation of piles. A review of geological features was held, characterizing the regional deposition and the genesis of the coastal area of the state of Santa Catarina, where the experimental field was located. Emphasis is given to the instrumentation of piles, essential for the analyses of test, including several recommendations for instrumentation in both the top and shaft. Estimation of load capacity by three methods of calculation, design of the reaction system, methodology of loading stages and instrumentation are part of the contributions resulting from this research, giving support to the load tests in future research. These contributions are based on national and international standards, support by the compilation of different experiences reported in the literature, which are included in the literature review.

Contribuir ao entendimento dos mecanismos que controlam o comportamento da interação estaca-solo, em estacas de grande diâmetro executadas em perfil arenoso, foi a principal motivação que levou a propor a criação de um campo experimental, concebido para realização de um programa de ensaios de provas de carga instrumentadas. Este processo deu inicio com o desenvolvimento desta pesquisa, que descreve a caracterização geotécnica da área de estudo. As investigações geotécnicas iniciais foram compostas por ensaios de campo; ensaios de penetração padrão (SPT), ensaios dilatométricos (DMT) e ensaios de piezocone (CPTu), além de ensaios de laboratório de caracterização, representados por ensaios de umidade natural e ensaios granulométricos. Os ensaios de campo permitem obter parâmetros constitutivos do perfil da área de estudo, sendo possível junto à descrição geológica, fazer algumas inferências que foram determinantes para o processo de concepção das provas de carga instrumentadas. Uma revisão de aspectos geológicos foi realizada, caracterizando-se o contexto regional e a gênese das planícies costeiras do estado de Santa Catarina, área onde foi localizado o campo experimental. Ênfase é dada á instrumentação das estacas, sendo elementos essenciais para a realização das provas de carga e analises posteriores, incluindo, diversas recomendações para instrumentação tanto no topo como no fuste das estacas. Previsões de capacidade de carga através de três métodos de cálculo, dimensionamento do sistema de reação, metodologia de carregamento e instrumentação fazem parte das contribuições resultantes da realização desta pesquisa, subsidiando a execução das provas de carga de pesquisas futuras. Estes subsídios foram projetados em base a normativas nacionais e internacionais, além da recopilação de diferentes experiências relatadas na literatura, as quais estão incluídas na revisão bibliográfica. / Contributing to the understanding of the mechanism controlling the behavior of the pile-soil interaction in large diameter piles in sand was the main motivation of the present research. This led to the creation of an experimental testing site designed to test large diameter instrumented piles. This process has started with the development of this research, which describes the geotechnical characterization of the area. Geotechnical investigations comprised field test: standard penetration tests (SPT), dilatometer tests (DMT) and cone penetration tests (CPTu), as well as laboratory tests to determinate the natural moisture and soil granulometric curves. Field studies allow obtaining constitutive parameters of the profile of the study area that beside the geological description, allowed inferences regarding the instrumentation of piles. A review of geological features was held, characterizing the regional deposition and the genesis of the coastal area of the state of Santa Catarina, where the experimental field was located. Emphasis is given to the instrumentation of piles, essential for the analyses of test, including several recommendations for instrumentation in both the top and shaft. Estimation of load capacity by three methods of calculation, design of the reaction system, methodology of loading stages and instrumentation are part of the contributions resulting from this research, giving support to the load tests in future research. These contributions are based on national and international standards, support by the compilation of different experiences reported in the literature, which are included in the literature review.