Efficient and optimal use of composites in structures requires tools to monitor and capture the complex degradation that can occur within the laminates over time. Structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques uses sensors/actuators on the structure to progressively monitor the health of the structure with minimal manual intervention. Electrical tomography (ET) is a SHM technique that uses voltage measurements from the surface of the laminate to reconstruct a conductivity map of the structure. Since damage has been shown to modify the conductivity of the laminate, the conductivity map can provide an indirect measure of the damage within the material. Studies have shown the capability of ET to identify macroscale damage due to impact. But, little has been done to quantitatively assess damage using ET. In this work, we present a theoretical framework to link degradation mechanisms occuring at the microscale to the conductivity at the mesoscale through damage indicators. The mesoscale damage indicators are then shown to be intrinsic to the ply. Next, we use the knowledge obtained through mesoscale homogenization to study the detectability of transverse cracks. Last, we show how the mesoscale homogenization participates in regularization of the inverse problem and in the quantitative assessment of the reconstructed conductivity map. This is as such the first step towards turning ET into a viable quantitative health monitoring technique.

The main topics of this dissertation are the hardware and the software developments in magnetic induction tomography imaging techniques. In the hardware sections, all the tomography systems developed by the author will be presented and discussed in detail. The developed systems can be divided into two categories, according to the property of the target imaging materials: high conductivity materials and low conductivity materials. Each system has its own suitable application, and each will thus be tested under different circumstances. In terms of the software development, the forward and inverse problems have been studied, including the eddy current problem modeling, sensitivity map formulae derivation and iterative/non-iterative inverse solvers equations. The Biot-Savart Theory was implemented in the ‘two-potential’ method that was used in the eddy current model in order to improve the system’s flexibility. Many different magnetic induction tomography schemes are proposed for the first time in this field of research, their aim being to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of the final reconstructed images. These novel schemes usually involve some modifications of the system hardware and forward/inverse calculations. For example, the rotational scheme can improve the ill-posedness and edge detectability of the system; the volumetric scheme can provide extra spatial resolution in the axial direction; and the temporal scheme can improve the temporal resolution by using the correlation between the consecutive datasets. Volumetric imaging requires an intensive amount of extra computational resources. To overcome the issue of memory constraints when solving large-scale inverse problems, a matrix-free method was proposed, also for the first time in magnetic induction tomography. All the proposed algorithms are verified by the experimental data obtained from suitable tomography systems developed by the author. Although magnetic induction tomography is a new imaging technique, it is believed that the technique is well developed for real-life applications. Several potential applications for magnetic induction tomography are suggested. The initial proof-of-concept study for a challenging low conductivity two-phase flow imaging process is provided. In this thesis, a range of contributions have been made in the field of magnetic induction tomography, which will help the magnetic induction tomography research to be carried on further.

Orientador: Cesar Augusto Moreira / Resumo: A área de estudo está localizada próxima a Caçapava do Sul no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, ocorrência conhecida como Colônia Santa Barbara. A ocorrência está situada na Bacia do Camaquã, alocada estruturalmente em um bloco alto, na interseção de duas falhas com direções NE-SW e NW-SE, com litologias aflorantes pertencentes ao Complexo Metamórfico Bossoroca e Formação Hilário do Grupo Bom Jardim. Descrita entre 1960 e 1970, a pesquisa foi suspensa após análise geoquímica apontar teores de cobre insatisfatórios, não ultrapassando a 1%, sem interesse econômico. Atualmente com uso de aparelhos multi-cabos de aquisição automática é possível a realização de ensaios geoelétricos de diferentes arranjos em menor tempo e maior praticidade, o que impulsionou o desenvolvimento deste trabalho. Essa dissertação apresenta a análise comparativa dos dados de tomografia elétrica em arranjo Schlumberger, Wenner e Dipolo-Dipolo, para averiguar o resultado que descreva a morfologia mais realista esperada do jazimento, baseado no modelo magmático hidrotermal com forte controle estrutural. A análise comparativa entre os arranjos de tomografia elétrica proposta neste trabalho revelou a conformação de um corpo cônico de alta cargabilidade (2,7 mV/V) que engloba o núcleo vertical de alta resistividade (438 Ω.m), além de uma zona anelar de alta cargabilidade possivelmente correlacionada ao sistema de falhas que estruturam o alto estrutural (tufo vulcânico). A estrutura cônica observada é compatível com... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The study area is located near to Caçapava do Sul, at Rio Grande do Sul State, an occurrence known as Colônia Santa Barbara. The occurrence is in the Camaquã Sedimentary Basin, structurally allocated in a high block, at the two faults intersection with NE-SW and NW-SE directions, with outcropping lithologies belonging to Bossoroca Metamorphic Complex, and Hilario Formation. Described between 1960 and 1970, the research was suspended after geochemical analysis pointed to unsatisfactory copper levels, not exceeded 1%, without economic interest. Nowadays, with the use of automatic and multicable devices, like Terrameter Ls, it is possible to perform different arrangements geometric tests in a shorter time and greater practicality, fact that support this work development. This dissertation presents the electrical tomography arrays comparative analysis to Schlumberger, Wenner, and Dipolo-Diplo, to verify the result that describes the most realistic expected deposit morphology, based in a hydrothermal magmatic metallogenetic deposit with high structural control. The comparative analysis revealed a conical body with high chargeability conformation (2,7 mV/V) that encompasses the high resistivity vertical core (438 Ω/m ), as well as an annular portion with high chargeability possibly correlated to the fault zone that structures the central and high block (volcanic tuff). The conical structure observed is compatible with the dike, vertical and cylindrical morphology described for hydr... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Submitted by FERNANDA TELES GOMES ROSA null (fernandatgr1@gmail.com) on 2017-08-15T18:41:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ROSA-FERNANDA TELES.pdf: 6621510 bytes, checksum: 612dfbb5998d42a64bbd5c39628a8da0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Monique Sasaki (sayumi_sasaki@hotmail.com) on 2017-08-22T17:52:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 rosa_ftg_me_rcla.pdf: 6621510 bytes, checksum: 612dfbb5998d42a64bbd5c39628a8da0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-22T17:52:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rosa_ftg_me_rcla.pdf: 6621510 bytes, checksum: 612dfbb5998d42a64bbd5c39628a8da0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A água subterrânea quando objeto de consumo humano obedece a parâmetros de qualidade, determinados por órgãos responsáveis em cada região. Poços do tipo cacimba, de escavação manual, e por vezes não regulamentados, podem sofrer da alteração dos parâmetros geoquímicos e como consequência a diminuição da qualidade da água. Sob a problemática de alta salinidade evidenciada por parte dos moradores nos municípios de Corumbataí e Rio Claro no interior do estado de São Paulo, foram realizadas aquisições de dados geofísicos por meio do método eletrorresistivo e coletados dados físico-químicos das águas dos poços. A captação de água subterrânea nestes poços é sob a unidade geológica da Formação Corumbataí marcada pela presença de siltitos e argilitos. A quantificação de parâmetros como os sólidos totais dissolvidos, condutividade elétrica, pH e Eh e vazão, são determinantes para caracterização do ambiente hidrogeológico. Para este trabalho, foram coletados dados geoquímicos de 18 poços e realizadas aquisições geofísicas com a técnica de tomografia elétrica concomitantes, com o intuito de possível correlação entre os parâmetros. Em uma análise geral nos dados físico-químicos é possível notar que os dados referentes aos parâmetros de sólidos totais dissolvidos e condutividade elétrica medidos nos poços, são correlacionados diretamente, devido a facilidade ao trânsito de corrente elétrica em soluções salinas. O resultado do processamento das aquisições geofísicas foi divido em quatro grupos distintos, que variam de acordo com as características quanto ao parâmetro físico de resistividade. Com a realização de três arranjos de campo distintos, Schlumberger, Wenner e Dipolo-dipolo, a resposta geofísica é diferente para cada arranjo. Em determinadas linhas ocorrem diferenças entre as três seções para mesmo ambiente geológico, este efeito é devido à disposição dos eletrodos na superfície para a injeção de corrente e obtenção da diferença de potencial. Cada disposição diferente de eletrodos gera uma distorção do campo elétrico devido à forma de propagação de corrente em cada arranjo aplicado em campo, como é evidenciado em determinadas linhas, das quais os valores de resistividade obtidos na área de influencia do poço são amplamente discrepantes de um arranjo em comparação com os outros. / Groundwater when subject to human consumption obeys quality parameters, determined by responsible bodies in each region. cacimba wells, manually excavated, and sometimes unregulated, can suffer from the alteration of the geochemical parameters and as a consequence the decrease of water quality. Under the problem of high salinity evidenced by the residents in the municipalities of Corumbataí and Rio Claro in the interior of the state of São Paulo, geophysical data were acquired through the eletrorresistivo method and physicochemical data were collected from well water. The abstraction of groundwater in these wells is under the geological unit of the Corumbataí Formation marked by the presence of siltstones and argillites. The quantification of parameters such as total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, pH and Eh and flow rate are determinant for characterization of the hydrogeological environment. For this work, geochemical data were collected from 18 wells and geophysical acquisitions were carried out using the concomitant electrical tomography technique, with the aim of possible correlation between the parameters. In a general analysis of the physicochemical data it is possible to observe that the data concerning the parameters of total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity measured in the wells are directly correlated due to the ease of electric current transit in salt solutions. The result of the processing of the geophysical acquisitions was divided into four distinct groups, which vary according to the characteristics of the physical parameter of resistivity. With the realization of three distinct field arrangements, Schlumberger, Wenner and Dipole-dipole, the geophysical response is different for each arrangement. In certain lines there are differences between the three sections for the same geological environment, this effect is due to the arrangement of the electrodes on the surface for the current injection and obtaining the potential difference. Each different arrangement of electrodes generates a distortion of the electric field due to the form of current propagation in each array applied in the field, as evidenced in certain lines, of which the resistivity values obtained in the area of influence of the well are widely divergent from one arrangement compared to others.

Les processus gravitaires dans l’évolution de la morphologie des reliefs se produisent à de nombreuses échelles de temps et d’espace. Leur compréhension, fondamentale pour envisager la gestion des risques associés à ces phénomènes destructeurs, est subtile et complexe. En effet, les caractéristiques intrinsèques aux versants étudiés sont spécifiques et les facteurs externes agissant sur la dynamique de la déstabilisation présentent des temporalités et des intensités très variées. Afin de comprendre comment ces forçages influencent le comportement des instabilités de versant, une approche systémique a été adoptée dans ce travail pour mettre en perspective l’ensemble des processus en jeu dans l’évolution temporelle de leurs comportements. A travers deux cas d’étude situés dans les Alpes Maritimes (La Clapière à Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée et le Prat de Julian à Vence), véritables observatoires naturels disposant de plusieurs années de suivi multi-paramètres, la faculté de l’observation instrumentale à déterminer des paramètres comportementaux clés contrôlant l’évolution dynamique des versants instables a été explicitée. Des analyses multivariées intégrant l’état de surface (déplacements, déformations, perturbations) et interne (niveau piézométrique, résistivité électrique de la subsurface) ont permis de quantifier les liens entre l’état comportemental du versant étudié et les contributions météorologiques. Ce travail met finalement en avant l’importance des études observationnelles multi-paramètres dans l’élaboration des modèles descriptifs et prédictifs, ainsi que les systèmes d’alerte associés à ces risques majeurs. / Gravity processes occur at many scales of time and space in the evolution of landforms’ morphology. Their understanding is subtle and complex and it is fundamental to consider the management of the risks associated with these destructive phenomena. Indeed, the intrinsic characteristics of the studied slopes are specific and the external factors acting on the dynamics of the destabilization present a wide range of temporalities and intensities. In order to understand how these forcings influence the behavior of slope instabilities, a systemic approach has been adopted in this work to put into perspective all the processes involved in the temporal evolution of their behaviors. Through two study cases located in the Alpes Maritimes (La Clapière at Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée and the Prat de Julian at Vence, France), real natural observatories with several years of multi-parameter monitoring, we were able to clarify the ability of instrumental observation to determine key behavioral parameters controlling the dynamic evolution of unstable slopes. Multivariate analyzes integrating the surface (displacements, deformations, disturbances) and internal state (groundwater level, electrical resistivity of the subsurface) allowed to quantify the links between the behavioral state of the studied slope and the meteorological contributions. This work finally highlights the importance of multi-parameter observational studies in the development of descriptive and predictive models, as well as the alert systems associated with these major risks.

Orientador: Vania Silvia Rosolen / Resumo: No Brasil, a captação de água para irrigação é de aproximadamente 1000 m³/s, caracterizando o maior consumo de água do território nacional. Como possível ambiente de estoque natural de água que cobre quase 20% do território, as áreas úmidas vem sendo drasticamente reduzidas pela conversão do uso da terra. As áreas úmidas promovem a infiltração das águas superficiais e caracterizam áreas de recarga de aquíferos. Nesse sentido, medidas e modelos relacionados aos solos com propriedades hidromórficas e seu papel na recarga de aquíferos constituem um desafio para compreender a dinâmica entre solo e água, a fim de atender o desenvolvimento sustentável. Neste estudo, análises baseadas em sensoriamento remoto, com o uso de sensores ópticos de alta resolução espaço-temporal a bordo de Veículos Aéreos Não Tripulados (VANT), associadas ao uso de técnicas não invasivas que permitem o mapeamento da arquitetura subsuperficial dos sistemas pedológicos (ensaios geofísicos de Eletrorresistividade, por Tomografia Elétrica), foram aplicadas para compreender a relação água-solo superficial e subsuperficial em uma área úmida da chapada sedimentar do oeste mineiro. A integração destes dados com ensaios in situ de permeabilidade e de densidade e granulometria dos solos, permitiu uma abordagem ampla e tridimensional do comportamento dos parâmetros hidrogeológicos na área úmida. Os resultados permitiram determinar que a área úmida estudada é uma depressão que possui três compartimentos com distinções... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

La végétation arborée sur les digues ou les barrages en remblai est un facteur de fragilité pouvant favoriser l'apparition de mécanismes de détérioration par érosion. Définir la structure géométrique des systèmes racinaires ainsi que la nature des sols dans lesquels ils croissent, à partir de méthodes géophysiques non destructives, est nécessaire afin d'appréhender les conséquences de leur développement sur la sécurité d'un ouvrage hydraulique. Des expériences en laboratoire ont d'abord permis de déterminer les propriétés acoustiques et électriques intrinsèques d'échantillons racinaires menant à l'identification de signatures indispensables à la discrimination de l'anomalie liée à la racine sur le terrain. Le montage de supports expérimentaux adaptés nous a conduits à progressivement étudier des paramètres d'influences en conditions contrôlées. Des essais en conditions semi-contrôlées sur un dispositif d'arbres plantés dans un sol homogène ont permis d'évaluer la pertinence des différentes méthodologies d'acquisition, tels que l'utilisation de la polarisation provoquée en tomographie de résistivité complexe ou encore la géométrie des capteurs pour la tomographie acoustique. Des traitements innovants tels que l'analyse en ondelettes sont associés afin d'exploiter la richesse des enregistrements. Les résultats obtenus ont été validés par le relevé des positions réelles des racines. Enfin, des campagnes d'auscultation sur un ouvrage réel ont été réalisées et ont permis de mettre en évidence une variabilité spatiale du corps de digue associée à la présence d'arbres. Une méthodologie adaptée au diagnostic géophysique de la végétation sur les ouvrages a été mise en place. / Woody vegetation from earth dikes or dams is a fragility factor which can promote mechanisms of degradation such as erosion. An accurate assessment of root system structure, from geophysical non-destructive methods, of root position into the embankment (depth, extension), and a good knowledge of soil conditions are critical in order to anticipate the consequences of vegetation development for the hydraulic structure’s safety. Laboratory experiments allowed determining intrinsic acoustical and electrical root properties leading to identify relevant signatures and discriminate anomalies related to roots in the field. The establishment of adapted experimental devices led us progressively to assess different parameters (roots mass, water content. . . ) under controlled conditions. Experiments in semi-controlled conditions with trees planted into a homogenous soil, were conducted to assess the relevance of different methodologies, such as the use of temporal induced polarization in complex resistivity tomography or the geometry of sensors for acoustical tomography. Innovative data processing such as wavelet analysis were used to valorize the rich database. The results were validated by the determination of actual root position.Finally, field investigations into an embankment have been performed to highlight a spatial variability of dike structures associated with trees presence. A methodology adapted to the geophysical diagnostic of vegetation roots in embankments was developed.

La prospection géoélectrique est largement utilisée au Maroc pour des reconnaissances hydrogéologique. Le but de ce travail et de proposer de nouvelles techniques d’interprétation des sondages électriques verticaux en un temps réduit, et aussi de bien exploiter une base de données de sondages électriques, par l’établissement entre autre des images 2D horizontales et verticales de l’estimation de la distribution des résistivités électriques apparentes (modélisation géostatistique, inversion, etc.). Dans le but de caractériser électriquement le secteur d’étude (nord-est du Bassin de Saïss), une analyse statistique des résistivités apparentes de sondages électriques verticaux a été réalisée. Cette simple analyse descriptive est suivie par une étude statistique multidirectionnelle : analyse en composantes principales (ACP) et par une classification hiérarchique ascendante (CHA). (...) Les résultats des analyses statistiques et géostatistiques complétés par les inversions des sondages moyens pas classe, ont mis en évidence la fiabilité de ces techniques pour l’interprétation d’un nombre important de sondages électriques au lieu de la méthode ordinaire qui se base sur l’inversion des sondages un par un et les corréler ultérieurement pour construire la structure globale du domaine étudié. Avec les techniques utilisées, dans le cadre de ce travail, des résultats très satisfaisants en un temps plus réduit sont obtenus. Les profils étudiés et inversés à l’aide du logiciel RES2Dinv montrent tous les trois grandes structures définies auparavant (Résistant-Conductrice-Résistant), par contre on note des variations intra formations. De plus, l’organisation spatiale des formations permet de confirmer l’existence de failles cohérentes avec la structure en horst et graben du bassin. / The Geoelectric prospection is usually used in Morocco for hydrogeological recognition. The purpose of this work is to propose new techniques for interpreting vertical electric soundings in a reduced time, and also to fully exploit a database of stored electrical soundings by the establishment, amongst other things, of the horizontal and vertical 2D images, estimating the distribution of apparent electrical resistivity (geostatistic modeling, inversion, etc.). In order to characterize electrically the study area (north-east of the Saïss Basin), a statistical analysis of apparent resistivity of vertical electric soundings was performed. This simple descriptive analysis is followed by a statistical analysis (principal component analysis PCA and ascending hierarchical classification HAC.) (...)The results of statistical analysis and geostatistical supplemented by inversion of the average electric sounding per class, highlighted the reliability of these techniques to the interpretation of a large number of electrical soundings instead of the usual method which is based on the inversion of the electrical sounding one by one and correlate them later, to build the global structure of the area studied. With the techniques used in this work, very satisfactory results in a more reduced time, for interpreting vertical electric soundings, are obtained. VIThe studied profiles and inverted using the software RES2Dinv show all three structures defined previously (Resistant – Conductive - resistant), on the other hand, there are variations within the same formation. In addition, the spatial organization of the formation makes it possible to confirm the existence of faults coherent with the structure in horst and graben basin.

La digestion anaérobie en voie sèche représente une opportunité de développement de la méthanisation sur le territoire français au vu des gisements agricoles disponibles sur le territoire. Toutefois, l’importance des verrous scientifiques et technologiques de par leur nombre et leur complexité rend cette technologie non mature et peu développée sur le territoire français. Dans ces travaux de thèse, il a été étudié dans un premier axe la mise au point de la détermination de la demande chimique en oxygène (DCO) pour des substrats solides avec un kit commercial rendant celle-ci utilisable sans dilution des déchets et utilisant une faible quantité de réactifs. Cette méthode est un outil de suivi des installations. Un deuxième axe d’étude qui s’est attaché à l’étude de la phase d’acidification, verrou majeur de la méthanisation phase sèche, a démontré l’impact de la conservation et de l’origine des inocula sur leur capacité à gérer une phase d’acidification en présence de déchets facilement hydrolysables. L’inoculum est un paramètre majeur de la méthanisation voie sèche et est pourtant peu étudié. Un troisième axe de cette thèse concerne l’étude des transferts hydriques sur des substrats d’origine agricole par une méthodologie de traçage et de modélisation via le modèle à deux régions d’eau mobile et immobile. L’évolution des transferts hydriques a été étudiée au cours de la digestion anaérobie de fumier bovin en digesteur 60 L montrant une diminution de la perméabilité du massif après le deuxième pic de production de méthane. Par conséquent, tout l’inoculum recirculé passe par les côtés et non au sein du massif solide. Deux fréquences de recirculation ont été testées permettant d’obtenir une amélioration de la production de méthane d’environ 20 %. La caractérisation des transferts hydriques obtenus pour ces deux modalités sont identiques après 32 jours de dégradation anaérobie. Le gain de méthane obtenu se fait donc jusqu’au deuxième pic de production de biogaz par la recirculation. Les bilans hydriques et massiques effectués sur ces digesteurs 60 L démontrent que 36 % de la matière organique sont retrouvés dans le digestat montrant un procédé non optimisé. Le quatrième axe d’étude a été de comprendre et d’étudier la dynamique des populations méthanogènes au sein de digesteurs de méthanisation voie sèche de 60 L selon deux configurations. Des expérimentations modulant l’immersion du massif solide ont conduit à obtenir une amélioration de 13 % de production de méthane pour la condition favorisant l’immersion. Cette augmentation de production de méthane est induite par une plus forte quantité de Methanosarcinaceae. La dynamique des populations méthanogènes a été étudiée dans la phase solide et liquide au cours de la digestion anaérobie montrant un transfert microbien de la phase liquide à solide pour un ordre des bactéries hydrogénotrophes, une hiérarchie de ces « hydrogénotrophes » dans le milieu et un fort développement des « acétotrophes » dans le milieu solide servant de support. Dans un cinquième axe, la mise en oeuvre de la tomographie électrique sur un digesteur de 30 m3 a permis de valider son utilisation pour localiser la phase liquide, les zones de potentiels méthane et les zones dégradées dans un container en fonction des protocoles de remplissage et de vidange du digesteur. Cette méthode est disponible pour localiser les zones mortes et donc pour optimiser le procédé de méthanisation en voie sèche type batch. A travers ces expérimentations menées à différentes échelles et avec différentes problématiques, des méthodologies ont été adaptées pour la compréhension des mécanismes et le suivi du procédé de méthanisation par voie sèche. / The dry anaerobic digestion (AD) process is an opportunity to develop the methanization in France. Agricultural waste is abundant in France. However, many scientific and technical locks are complex and must be solved to develop the dry anaerobic digestion process in France. In this work, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) method was adapted for solid waste no implying waste dilution or a high quantity of reagent. This COD method was available to monitor and manage the dry AD process. The study of acidification phase, a major lock of the dry AD process, showed that the storage condition and the origin of inoculum influence the capacity to manage this phase. The inoculum is a major parameter of the dry AD process. But, the inoculum is few studied.On another part of experiments concerned the water transfers studied on agricultural waste with a tracing method. The modeling of the elution curves to determine the diffusion and the convective transfers was made with a model with two Mobile-Immobile regions. The evolution of water transfers was studied during the AD cycle showing a decrease about the permeability of solid phase after the second peak of methane production. Thus, the inoculum passes on the board of solid phase. Two recirculations were tested allowing to obtain an improvement the methane production about 20 % after the AD cycle. The water transfers of these two recirculations modalities were identical after the AD cycle. The improvement of methane production occurred after the second peak of the methane production. Water and mass balances made showing that 36 % of organic matter was find in the digestat. Consequently, the process was not optimized. Others experiments modulating the immerged part of solid phase showed an improvement of the methane production about 13 % with the increasing of immerged part. This methane improvement was induced by the development of Methanosarcinaceae. The methanogens dynamics were studied in the liquid and solid phases during the AD process showing (i) a population transfer between the liquid phase to the solid phase, (ii) a hierarchy of hydrogenotrophs methanogens in the media, and (iii) a strong development of acetotrophs methanogens in the solid phase. In the final part, the electrical tomography was implemented in a dry AD batch at full scale (30 m3). This method was adapted to localize the liquid phase, the zones of methane potential and the degraded zones according to filling and the emptying protocols. This method can detect the “dead” zones of process in dry AD process.Though, experiments carried out at different scales and with different problematic and several methodologies were adapted to understand the dry AD process. Moreover, the optimization of dry AD process was finding to increase the methane production.

The scope of this thesis is to reveal, identify and investigate promising routes for developing multifunctional composite structures with damage sensing capabilities towards the development of integrated non-destructive inspection (NDI) and structural health monitoring (SHM) capabilities. Two routes were identified and selected for further investigation; the enhancement of multifunctionality of composite systems through the use of nanotechnology and the development of novel damage sensing techniques based on the electrical properties of the composites. Both were selected in the view of better integration of NDI/SHM functionality. Initially, the use of nanotechnology to control the properties of polymer foam systems as part of multifunctional sandwich composite structures has been validated and proven feasible. Electrically conductive nano-composite foams were developed at a varying range of densities. The level of conductivity was controlled by the CNT concentration. The underlying mechanisms for the formation of the CNT network were analyzed closely and as a result a practical processing-structure-property map was proposed for describing the material capabilities. Towards the development of self-sensing functionality, the established electrical conductivity was studied as an index of strain and damage in nano-composite foams. A 1D electrical resistance sensing approach was followed during mechanical compression testing (Electrical Resistance Change Method – ERCM). The variations of the recordings revealed the strain and damage formation within the material. The distinct regions in the response curve were correlated to micro-structural strain and damage mechanisms, effectively demonstrating the capability to develop multifunctional structural materials with self-sensing capabilities. In the direction of novel sensing techniques, answering to the need for an electrical based approach that is transferable and scalable to 2D and even further to more complex 3D shell geometries, the concept of Electrical tomography and the ET inverse problem solution were proposed and studied as a tool for NDI and damage assessment of composite materials. The approach is based on the inherent electrical conductivity of the material and leads the step from conventional 1D electrical sensing to 2D imaging, offering a viable route for utilizing electrical sensing techniques in real applications. The technique delivers a conductivity change map which corresponds to the studied geometry and changes in conductivity are correlated with real damage. For each map, two features were extracted through automated algorithms; the Centre of Interest and the corresponding Region of Interest. It was found that the sensing principle was sensitive enough to extremely small variations of conductivity (less than 0.1% of the inspected area). The post-processing and feature extraction technique was effective in indicating to the location of the developed damage. Taking a step further, the knowledge of the composite material microstructure and expected failure modes have been translated and formulated into an additional mathematical constraint. The formulation is applied to constrain the solution of the ERT inverse problem greatly enhancing the solution and the damage localization in ERT. A concept for merging the two proposed routes for the development of multifunctional structures is then proposed and investigated. The establishment of a conductive 3D network of CNT is exploited using the previously formulated tomographic approaches. The development of a continuous artificial 3D CNT network within the matrix of a structural composite has been shown to provide electrical conductivity to previously non-conductive composites. This 3D network is used for the damage assessment of the composite as any structural damage introduced discontinuities in the 3D network which are located using tomographic approaches. ERT was applied providing 2D imaging for the NDI of composites based on electrical measurements taken from a CNT doped GFRP, effectively sensing variations in the electrical fields and identifying the location of the induced damage. Having shown that ERT can provide useful information on the health/damage state of composite materials, a step further was taken to identify the required steps to apply ERT to larger composite components with more complex geometry. The studied cylindrical component provided a case study to demonstrate the procedure for applying ERT to existing structural components while formulating the ERT inverse problem to cover cases that could not be covered with the up-to-date formulations. In parallel, an alternative approach for post-processing the electrical measurements taken using ET was proposed; the dipole technique. This observational technique was described, formulated and applied to the available experimental data. It was concluded that the dipole technique is effective in delivering a swarm of Damage Estimation Locations which formed convex Region of Interest, effectively locating the damage with small relative error and large inspection area suppression (reaching over 90%). Finally, a practical electrical-based approach was formulated for monitoring a real case of aeronautical component. The goal for monitoring the integrity of composite patch repair on an aluminium component was achieved by proposing a mapping technique to translate distributed 1D electrical measurements to a 2D damage probability map. The proposed approach was formulated theoretically and verified on experimental level under simulated service conditions. It was concluded that the technique can effectively identify the location of damage which was verified by thermographic imaging techniques. This final approach essentially bridges the area between 1D ERCM techniques on specimen level and the ERT approach proposed in this thesis. / Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η διερεύνηση, η αναλυτική μελέτη και η αποτίμηση της εφαρμογής νέων υλικών και μεθοδολογιών για την ανάπτυξη πολύ-λειτουργικών κατασκευών από Σύνθετα Υλικά (ΣΥ) με ικανότητα ανίχνευσης βλάβης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, προτείνονται και μελετώνται δύο κατευθύνσεις: η ανάπτυξη νέων λειτουργιών και η ενίσχυση της πολυ-λειτουργικότητας των συνθέτων υλικών με χρήση νανοτεχνολογίας, και η ανάπτυξη νέων μεθοδολογιών για την ανίχνευση της βλάβης που να είναι βασισμένες στις ηλεκτρικές ιδιότητες του υλικού. Αμφότερες επιλέχθηκαν με στόχο την καλύτερη ενσωμάτωση της ικανότητας ανίχνευσης βλάβης με καινοτόμες μη καταστροφικές μεθόδους. Αρχικά, η χρήση νανοτεχνολογίας και συγκεκριμένα Νανο-Σωλήνων Άνθρακα (ΝΣΑ) για τον έλεγχο των ιδιοτήτων παραγόμενων πολυμερών αφρών ως συνιστώσα πολυλειτουργικών ΣΥ τύπου sandwich προτάθηκε, μελετήθηκε και αποδείχτηκε εφικτή. Αναπτύχθηκε η μεθοδολογία για την παραγωγή και κατασκευή ηλεκτρικά αγώγιμων νανοσύνθετων πολυμερών αφρών ως φορέων πολύ-λειτουργικότητας. Με χρήση τεχνικών διασποράς παρήχθησαν νανοσύνθετου αφροί ενισχυμένοι με Νανο-Σωλήνες Άνθρακα (ΝΣΑ) σε διάφορες περιεκτικότητες ΝΣΑ και πυκνότητες. Η ηλεκτρική αγωγιμότητα των αφρών μελετήθηκε ως προς τους δύο αυτές μεταβλητές και με χρήση στατιστικών μοντέλων περιγράφηκε η τελική ιδιότητα των υλικών. Τέλος, προτείνεται ένας χάρτης συσχέτιση μεταξύ παραμέτρων επεξεργασίας-δομής-ιδιότητας. Έχοντας αναπτύξει ηλεκτρικά αγώγιμους αφρούς, στη συνέχεια μελετήθηκε η εφαρμογή ηλεκτρικών μεθόδων παρακολούθησης για την ανίχνευση παραμόρφωσης και βλάβης σε αυτά τα συστήματα υλικών. Η ευρέως χρησιμοποιούμενη μέθοδος ηλεκτρικής ανίχνευσης Electrical Resistance Change Method (ERCM) διερευνήθηκε και αποδείχθηκε αποτελεσματική για τη αξιολόγηση της αναπτυσσόμενης βλάβης κατά τη διάρκεια πειραμάτων συμπίεσης των αφρών. Βάσει των αποτελεσμάτων προτείνεται μια χαρακτηριστική καμπύλη για το συσχετισμό της ηλεκτρικής μέτρησης και των διαφορετικών σταδίων της μηχανικής απόκρισης. Η καμπύλη αυτή καλύπτει ένα σημαντικό εύρος πυκνοτήτων σε αφρούς. Στην κατεύθυνση των νέων μεθοδολογιών ανίχνευσης βλάβης προτείνεται μια μεθοδολογία που βασίζεται στη διαφοροποίηση του αναπτυσσόμενου ηλεκτρικού πεδίου παρουσία βλάβης και αξιοποιώντας ηλεκτρικές μεθόδους 1-Διάστασης (ERCM) προτείνεται μία μεθοδολογία με εφαρμογή στις 2-Διαστάσεις για την αξιολόγηση βλάβης σε σύνθετα υλικά. Η μέθοδος ERCM έχει χρησιμοποιηθεί με επιτυχία σε μια σειρά από μελέτες μικρής κλίμακας, αλλά οι πραγματικές εφαρμογές της απαιτούν εργαλεία απεικόνισης σε 2-Διαστάσεις και 3-Διαστάσεις για το Μη Καταστροφικό Έλεγχο (ΜΚΕ) των κατασκευών. Το πρόβλημα που τοποθετείτε και επιλύεται είναι αυτό της ανίχνευσης και του εντοπισμού βλάβης σε σύνθετα υλικά με συνεχείς ίνες άνθρακα με χρήση κατανεμημένων μετρήσεων του ηλεκτρικού πεδίου και μεθοδολογιών αντίστροφων προβλημάτων. Περιγράφεται η ιδέα της ηλεκτρικής τομογραφίας με την περιγραφή του ευθέως και του αντιστρόφου προβλήματος. Παρουσιάζεται το σύστημα που αναπτύχθηκε για τους σκοπούς της παρούσας εργασίας και εκτελείται τόσο θεωρητική όσο και πειραματική μελέτη του προβλήματος. Διατυπώνεται η μεθοδολογία επίλυσης του αντίστροφου προβλήματος ηλεκτρικής τομογραφίας και εφαρμόζεται η προκειμένου να υπολογιστούν 2-Δ χάρτες ελέγχου των σύνθετων τμημάτων ως εργαλεία για το ΜΚΕ τους. Η τεχνική αποδεικνύεται ευαίσθητη σε πολύ μικρές βλάβες (<0.1% της παρακολουθούμενης επιφάνειας) και ικανοποιητικά ακριβής στον εντοπισμό της βλάβης καθώς οι εκτιμήσεις της μεθοδολογίας επεξεργασίας αποκλίνουν περίπου 10% από την πραγματική θέση. Η περιοχή ενδιαφέροντος που προσδιορίζεται συμπιέζει έως και 90% την περιοχή ελέγχου. Έχοντας αναδείξει την ευαισθησία και την αποτελεσματικότητα της μεθόδου της Ηλεκτρικής Τομογραφίας στη συνέχεια μελετάται η δυνατότητα συγχώνευσης των δύο προτεινόμενων κατευθύνσεων δηλαδή της χρήση φάσης στη νανο-κλίμακα και ηλεκτρικών τεχνικών παρακολούθηση βλάβης. Διερευνώνται έτσι συνδυαστικές προσεγγίσεις που επιτρέπουν την ανάπτυξη δομικών συστημάτων με ικανότητα ανίχνευσης βλάβης αξιοποιώντας το 3-διάστατο ανεπτυγμένο δίκτυο ΝΣΑ εντός των ΣΥ μέσω ηλεκτρικής τομογραφίας. Η μεθοδολογία επεξεργασίας και διασποράς ΝΣΑ που αναπτύχθηκε προηγούμενα χρησιμοποιείται για την κατασκευή αγώγιμων δομικών πλακών με ίνες γυαλιού. Ηλεκτρική τομογραφία για την ανίχνευση και τον εντοπισμό βλάβης εφαρμόζεται και αξιολογείται η αποτελεσματικότητα της προσέγγισης για ΜΚΕ. Τα αποτελέσματα είναι εξίσου ενθαρρυντικά και επιτυχή αναδεικνύοντας την πρακτικότητα του συστήματος που προτάθηκε. Κατανοώντας την ανάγκη για εφαρμογή της προτεινόμενης τεχνικής ΜΚΕ σε κατασκευές από σύνθετα υλικά μεγαλύτερης κλίμακας και διαφορετικής γεωμετρίας, στη συνέχεια γίνεται μελέτη προς την κατεύθυνση της ωρίμανσης της μεθοδολογίας της Ηλεκτρικής Τομογραφίας. Η μεθοδολογία αναπτύσσεται και εφαρμόζεται σε πειραματικό επίπεδο σε κυλινδρικές δομές. Τα βήματα για τη μετάβαση αυτή από επίπεδες δομές ΣΥ προσδιορίζονται και περιγράφονται ως παράμετροι σχεδιασμού για το σύστημα Ηλεκτρικής Τομογραφίας. Παρουσιάζονται επίσης περιπτώσεις μελέτης μέσω προσομοίωσης καθώς και πειραματικά αποτελέσματα από την εφαρμογή της μεθοδολογίας σε κυλινδρικές δομές από ΣΥ. Μια εναλλακτική προσέγγιση επεξεργασίας των δεδομένων ηλεκτρικής τομογραφίας για τον υπολογισμό σημειακών εκτιμήσεων της θέσης βλάβης προτείνεται και αξιολογείται ακολούθως. Η προτεινόμενη μεθοδολογία βασίζεται στην τεχνική του Ηλεκτρικού Δίπολου και εφαρμόζεται για την ανίχνευση βλάβης στις περιπτώσεις που αναπτύχθηκαν και διερευνήθηκαν προηγούμενα. Γίνεται αναλυτική σύγκριση των αποτελεσμάτων που προέκυψαν με τα υπάρχοντα δεδομένα και αποτιμάται η αποτελεσματικότητα της προτεινόμενης μεθόδου και τα όρια της. Τέλος, η εμπειρία που αποκτήθηκε, τα εργαλεία που αναπτύχτηκαν και η μεθοδολογία που αναπτύχθηκε εφαρμόζεται σε μια πραγματική περίπτωση αεροπορικής δομής. Η περίπτωση που μελετάται είναι αυτή της δομικής ακεραιότητας επιθεμάτων από σύνθετα υλικά που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την επισκευή βλάβης σε μεταλλικές κατασκευές από Αλουμίνιο, με χρήση της μεθόδου της ηλεκτρικής τομογραφίας. Η τεχνική που προτείνεται και αξιολογείται χρησιμοποιεί κατανεμημένες ηλεκτρικές μετρήσεις αντίστασης και υπολογίζει έναν διδιάστατο χάρτη του επιθέματος που αποτυπώνει τη χωρική κατανομή της πιθανότητα ύπαρξης βλάβης. Η τεχνική εφαρμόζεται πειραματικά στο κατακόρυφο ουραίο τμήμα ενός ελικοπτέρου και τα αποτελέσματα αξιολογούνται σε σύγκριση με συμβατικές μεθόδους ΜΚΕ.