Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Evaluations, otherwise known as ship shock trials, have been conducted in order to determine the seaworthiness of each new class of ship commissioned in the U.S. Fleet. While beneficial in determining the overall survivability of a ship and its mission essential equipment in a severe shock environment, these Navy-mandated tests pose serious danger to the crew, ship and environment. As an alternative to these labor intensive, costly and time consuming at-sea tests, the recent advances in computer processing power have made it possible to employ finite element methods involving complex geometries in the modeling and simulation of shock response for the ship and surrounding fluid. This thesis examines the accuracy of shock simulation predictions as compared to the ship shock trials conducted on USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL (DDG-81). An investigation of the effects of sensor location, damping and shot geometry is presented as validation of the Naval Postgraduate School modeling and simulation methodology. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in the accidental release of millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). Photo-induced toxicity following co-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one mechanism by which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from oil spills may exert toxicity. Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) are an important commercial and ecological resource in the Gulf of Mexico and their largely transparent larvae may make them sensitive to PAH photo-induced toxicity. Mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), an important fishery resource, have positively buoyant, transparent eggs. These characteristics may result in mahi-mahi embryos being at particular risk from photo-induced toxicity. Red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and speckled seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) are both important fishery resources in the GoM. They spawn near-shore and produce positively buoyant embryos that hatch into larvae in about 24 h. The goal of this body of work was to determine whether exposure to UV as natural sunlight enhances the toxicity of crude oil to early lifestage GoM species. Larval and embryonic organisms were exposed to several dilutions of water accommodated fractions (WAF) from several different oils collected in the field under chain of custody during the 2010 spill and two to three gradations of natural sunlight in a factorial design. Here, we report that co-exposure to natural sunlight and oil significantly reduced larval survival and embryo hatch compared to exposure to oil alone.

Det här examensarbetet går ut på att jämföra EKS 11 och SS-EN 1991-1-7 olika beräkningsmodeller för olyckslaster. Ifall en byggnad endast har ett trapphus som enda nödutgång krävs det att den dimensioneras för olyckslaster. Dessa olyckslaster delas upp i två olika grupper, kända- och okända olyckslaster. Kända olyckslaster är exempelvis påkörning när byggnaden ligger nära en väg och explosion ifall det finns exempelvis gasledningar i byggnaden. Okända olyckslaster är de laster där man inte kan dimensionera för ett exakt värde. Istället dimensionerar man för att minska konsekvenserna av lasten där främsta alternativet är att använda de krav som ställs på väsentliga bärverksdelar och applicera dem på de bärande konstruktionsdelarna. Alternativt när byggnaden inte har gasledningar så kan man beräkna för okända laster genom att dimensionera via värdet som uppkommer från en gasexplosion, 34 kN/m2. Dimensioneringen anpassas efter ett verkligt projekt konstruerat av Structor. Tidigare problem har uppstått vid tolkning av eurokodens beräkningsgång och därför har eks 11 kommit med förtydliganden och med mer triviala lösningar kring olyckslaster. Beräkningsgången för de olika olyckslasterna ser olika ut beroende på om man följer eks 11:s metod eller eurokodens metod. Målet med arbetet är att förtydliga skillnaderna mellan de olika beräkningsgångarna och se vad som ligger till grund för dom. För att kunna skapa en bredare förståelse kring olyckslaster har eurokoden, EKS 11, litteratur och Structor varit till stor hjälp. Examensarbetet är avgränsat till olyckslaster när det bara finns ett trapphus som enda utrymningsväg där det sker en jämförelse mellan EKS 11 och SS-EN 19911-7. Resultatet visar att de två olika beräkningsgångarna ger två olika svar vid beräkning av både kända- och okända laster. Ekvationerna för att räkna fram olyckslaster i de olika standarderna tar hänsyn till olika saker vilket leder till olika resultat. Slutsatsen som går att dra är att det alltid finns olika förutsättningar för varje projekt. Därför bör det göras en riskanalys i projekteringsskedet för att avgöra vilken standard som ska användas för det aktuella projektet. / This dissertation is based on a comparison between the two different procedures on accidental actions in the Swedish norm EKS 11 and SS-EN 1991-1-7. If a construction only has a stairwell as the only emergency exit it requires that accidental actions determines. These accidental actions are categorized mainly to known and unknown accidental actions. Known accidental actions are for example collision by a vehicle or a gas leak from a gas pipe in the building. Unknown accidental actions are those loads that cannot be completely determined. Instead an analyze how to decrease the damage by accidental actions are used. The main approach is to value members as key elements, in effect making them strong enough to withstand a prescribed hazard loading. An alternative if the construction does not have any gas pipes is to use the pressure of 34 kN/m2 to represent the static equivalent from a notional gas explosion. The values in the work are based from a project constructed by the Swedish company Structor. Previously difficulties have occurred while comprehending the Eurocode’s calculation procedures therefore the new Swedish norm EKS have clarified a lot about accidental actions. The calculation procedures results in two different answers between the Eurocode and the Swedish norm EKS. The aim with this dissertation is too clarify the differences between them and perceive the reasons behind it. To be able to have a wider understanding of the subject accidental actions a screening has occurred of the Eurocode, the Swedish norm EKS and literature. The Swedish company Structor has also shared a lot of knowledge on the subject. The dissertation has been limited to accidental actions on stairwells as the only emergency exit and a comparison between the Swedish norm EKS 11 and SS-EN1-7. The outcome of the two different calculations shows two different results of the known and unknown accidental actions. The equations for calculating accidental action in the different standards considerate different things which leads to different results. The conclusion is that there always are different conditions in every project. Therefor a risk assessment should be done before the construction begins to determine which standard is the most suitable for the project.

Neste trabalho, foi realizada a caracterização de ligninas de palha de cana-de-açúcar. O isolamento das ligninas se deu por acidólise branda e por polpação soda, precedida ou não por pré-tratamento com ácido diluído ou por explosão a vapor. A palha de cana e as ligninas foram caracterizadas por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE), Espectrometrias no Infravermelho (FT-IR) e no Ultravioleta (UV), por Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Prótons (1H RMN), Cromatografia de Permeação em Gel (GPC), Análise Termogravimétrica (TGA) e Calorimétrica (DSC), Análise Elementar e de Poder Calorífico Superior (PCS). A lignina técnica isolada por acidólise branda apresentou fórmula C9Har2,31Hal4,14O1,27(OH)ph0,58(OH)al1,19(OCH3)1,11 e relação H:G:S de 1 : 3,22 : 3,68, com 20% de condensação e massa molar média de 1908 Da. A cinética de termodegradação dessa lignina em atmosfera inerte se deu com energia de ativação de 13,90 kJ.mol-1, constante pré-exponencial 0,4799 min-1 e 42% em massa de carvão residual. Foram determinados, ainda, o coeficiente de extinção a 280 nm de 26,03 L.g-1 e o Poder Calorífico Superior de 23,72 kJ.g-1. A partir das informações obtidas em todas as análises, foi proposta uma estrutura para esta lignina. A deslignificação via polpação soda mostrou-se eficiente na remoção de lignina da matriz e foi verificado que, durante o processo, ocorre o rompimento de ligações entre a lignina e carboidratos, entretanto, algumas dessas ligações não são rompidas e o resíduo do processo, denominado lignina, contêm cerca de 17% carboidratos. A lignina soda apresentou poder calorífico superior de 25,14 kJ.g-1, 36% em massa de carvão residual e cinética de termodegradação com energia de ativação de 12,73 kJ.mol-1 e k0=0,4195 min-1. Foi verificado que as polpas soda que sofreram pré-tratamentos apresentaram um menor teor de lignina e maior solubilização de hemiceluloses. Estes tratamentos se mostraram eficientes na hidrólise dos complexos lignina-carboidrato e a ligninas obtidas apresentaram os menores teores de carboidrato residual e características estruturais diferentes das demais, mostrando-se mais condensadas em função das reações que ocorrem em meio ácido. Os coeficientes de extinção a 280 nm foram iguais a 24,2 L.g-1 e 23,3 L.g-1, respectivamente para as ligninas de explosão a vapor e pré-tratamento ácido e suas fórmulas estruturais determinadas por 1H RMN foram, respectivamente, C9Har1,59Hal4,12O0,84(OH)ph0,61(OH)al0,88(OCH3)1,51 e C9Har2,12Hal4,23O1,64(OH)ph0,83(OH)al0,58(OCH3)1,10. / In this work, the characterisation of lignins of sugarcane straw was made. The lignins were isolated by moderate acidolysis and soda process, preceded or not by either diluted acid or steam explosion pretreatments. The sugarcane straw and the lignins were characterised by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Infrared (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) Spectrometry, Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H1-RMN), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Thermogravimetrica analysis (TGA) and Differential Scattering Calormietry (DSC), Elemental Analysis and Heat Power (HP). The technical lignin isolated by moderate acidolysis has the formula C9Har2.31Hal4.14O1.27(OH)ph0.58(OH)al1.19(OCH3)1.11, H:G:S ratio of 1 : 3.22 : 3.68, is 20% condensed and its avarage molecular weight is 1908 Da. The thermal degradation kinetics analysis of this lignin in inert atmosphere was carried out, the results obtained were: activation energy of 13.80 kJ.mol-1, pre-exponential constant of 0.4799 min-1 and 42% residual char. The extinction coefficient obtained at 280 nm was 26.03 L.g-1 and the heat power 23.72 kJ.g-1. A structure was proposed for this lignin based on all the information obtained from these analyses. The delignification via soda process was efficient at removing lignin; during the process, the breaking of bonds between the lignin and carbohydrates was noticed, nevertheless, some of these bonds were not broken and the process residue, hereinafter called lignin, contains about 17% carbohydrates. The soda lignin has heat power of 25.14 kJ.g-1, 36% residual char and the thermal degradation kinetics ocurred with activation energy of 12.73 kJ.mol-1 and k0=0.4195 min-1. It was found that pretreated soda pulps have a lower lignin content and higher solubilisation of complexes, the lignins obtained had the lowest residual carbohydrates contents and different structural features from the untreated ones, being more condensed due to the reactions that occur in acid medium. The extinction coefficients at 280 nm obtained are 24.2 L.g-1 and 23.3 L.g-1, the structural formulas determined by 1H RMN are C9Har1.59Hal4.12O0.84(OH)ph0.61(OH)al0.88(OCH3)1.51 and C9Har2.12Hal4.23O1.64(OH)ph0.83(OH)al0.58(OCH3)1.10 for the steam explosion and acid pretreatment lignins, respectively.

O objetivo central desta dissertação é apresentar as folheações infinitesimalmente polares, fornecendo uma demonstração para o teorema que as caracteriza. Seguimos a abordagem original encontrada em Lytchak e Thorbergsson [25], de 2010. Diretamente da definição e do teorema principal obtem-se dois exemplos: folheações polares e folheações riemannianas singulares de codimensão 1 ou 2. Dedicamos especial atenção a um terceiro exemplo: folheações sem pontos horizontalmente conjugados. A demonstração deste resultado utiliza resultados obtidos anteriormente pelos mesmos autores em 2007, Lytchak e Thorbergsson [24]. Abordamos também, brevemente, as implicações do teorema caracterizador (que é um resultado local) sobre o quociente global de uma folheação infinitesimalmente polar. Variedades com folheações infinitesimalmente polares podem ser encaradas como um objeto que apresenta aspectos clássicos do teorema do toro maximal para grupos de Lie compactos, em um contexto mais amplo. / The present work aims at introducing infinitesimally polar foliations -- as defined by Lytchak and Thorbergsson [25] -- providing a proof for the classification theorem. Polar foliations and low codimension singular Riemannian foliations are two immediate examples. A third example is given by foliations without horizontally conjugate points. The proof of this assertion relies on previous results established by the same authors in Lytchak and Thorbergsson [24]. The classification theorem for infinitesimally polar foliations is a local result; we also derive from it some global consequences on the quotient space of such foliations. Infinitesimally polar foliations may be regarded as a generalised setting where one can find characteristic features from the maximal torus theorem for compact Lie groups.

O objetivo central desta dissertação é apresentar as folheações infinitesimalmente polares, fornecendo uma demonstração para o teorema que as caracteriza. Seguimos a abordagem original encontrada em Lytchak e Thorbergsson [25], de 2010. Diretamente da definição e do teorema principal obtem-se dois exemplos: folheações polares e folheações riemannianas singulares de codimensão 1 ou 2. Dedicamos especial atenção a um terceiro exemplo: folheações sem pontos horizontalmente conjugados. A demonstração deste resultado utiliza resultados obtidos anteriormente pelos mesmos autores em 2007, Lytchak e Thorbergsson [24]. Abordamos também, brevemente, as implicações do teorema caracterizador (que é um resultado local) sobre o quociente global de uma folheação infinitesimalmente polar. Variedades com folheações infinitesimalmente polares podem ser encaradas como um objeto que apresenta aspectos clássicos do teorema do toro maximal para grupos de Lie compactos, em um contexto mais amplo. / The present work aims at introducing infinitesimally polar foliations -- as defined by Lytchak and Thorbergsson [25] -- providing a proof for the classification theorem. Polar foliations and low codimension singular Riemannian foliations are two immediate examples. A third example is given by foliations without horizontally conjugate points. The proof of this assertion relies on previous results established by the same authors in Lytchak and Thorbergsson [24]. The classification theorem for infinitesimally polar foliations is a local result; we also derive from it some global consequences on the quotient space of such foliations. Infinitesimally polar foliations may be regarded as a generalised setting where one can find characteristic features from the maximal torus theorem for compact Lie groups.

Neste trabalho, foi realizada a caracterização de ligninas de palha de cana-de-açúcar. O isolamento das ligninas se deu por acidólise branda e por polpação soda, precedida ou não por pré-tratamento com ácido diluído ou por explosão a vapor. A palha de cana e as ligninas foram caracterizadas por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência (CLAE), Espectrometrias no Infravermelho (FT-IR) e no Ultravioleta (UV), por Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Prótons (1H RMN), Cromatografia de Permeação em Gel (GPC), Análise Termogravimétrica (TGA) e Calorimétrica (DSC), Análise Elementar e de Poder Calorífico Superior (PCS). A lignina técnica isolada por acidólise branda apresentou fórmula C9Har2,31Hal4,14O1,27(OH)ph0,58(OH)al1,19(OCH3)1,11 e relação H:G:S de 1 : 3,22 : 3,68, com 20% de condensação e massa molar média de 1908 Da. A cinética de termodegradação dessa lignina em atmosfera inerte se deu com energia de ativação de 13,90 kJ.mol-1, constante pré-exponencial 0,4799 min-1 e 42% em massa de carvão residual. Foram determinados, ainda, o coeficiente de extinção a 280 nm de 26,03 L.g-1 e o Poder Calorífico Superior de 23,72 kJ.g-1. A partir das informações obtidas em todas as análises, foi proposta uma estrutura para esta lignina. A deslignificação via polpação soda mostrou-se eficiente na remoção de lignina da matriz e foi verificado que, durante o processo, ocorre o rompimento de ligações entre a lignina e carboidratos, entretanto, algumas dessas ligações não são rompidas e o resíduo do processo, denominado lignina, contêm cerca de 17% carboidratos. A lignina soda apresentou poder calorífico superior de 25,14 kJ.g-1, 36% em massa de carvão residual e cinética de termodegradação com energia de ativação de 12,73 kJ.mol-1 e k0=0,4195 min-1. Foi verificado que as polpas soda que sofreram pré-tratamentos apresentaram um menor teor de lignina e maior solubilização de hemiceluloses. Estes tratamentos se mostraram eficientes na hidrólise dos complexos lignina-carboidrato e a ligninas obtidas apresentaram os menores teores de carboidrato residual e características estruturais diferentes das demais, mostrando-se mais condensadas em função das reações que ocorrem em meio ácido. Os coeficientes de extinção a 280 nm foram iguais a 24,2 L.g-1 e 23,3 L.g-1, respectivamente para as ligninas de explosão a vapor e pré-tratamento ácido e suas fórmulas estruturais determinadas por 1H RMN foram, respectivamente, C9Har1,59Hal4,12O0,84(OH)ph0,61(OH)al0,88(OCH3)1,51 e C9Har2,12Hal4,23O1,64(OH)ph0,83(OH)al0,58(OCH3)1,10. / In this work, the characterisation of lignins of sugarcane straw was made. The lignins were isolated by moderate acidolysis and soda process, preceded or not by either diluted acid or steam explosion pretreatments. The sugarcane straw and the lignins were characterised by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Infrared (FT-IR) and Ultraviolet (UV) Spectrometry, Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H1-RMN), Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Thermogravimetrica analysis (TGA) and Differential Scattering Calormietry (DSC), Elemental Analysis and Heat Power (HP). The technical lignin isolated by moderate acidolysis has the formula C9Har2.31Hal4.14O1.27(OH)ph0.58(OH)al1.19(OCH3)1.11, H:G:S ratio of 1 : 3.22 : 3.68, is 20% condensed and its avarage molecular weight is 1908 Da. The thermal degradation kinetics analysis of this lignin in inert atmosphere was carried out, the results obtained were: activation energy of 13.80 kJ.mol-1, pre-exponential constant of 0.4799 min-1 and 42% residual char. The extinction coefficient obtained at 280 nm was 26.03 L.g-1 and the heat power 23.72 kJ.g-1. A structure was proposed for this lignin based on all the information obtained from these analyses. The delignification via soda process was efficient at removing lignin; during the process, the breaking of bonds between the lignin and carbohydrates was noticed, nevertheless, some of these bonds were not broken and the process residue, hereinafter called lignin, contains about 17% carbohydrates. The soda lignin has heat power of 25.14 kJ.g-1, 36% residual char and the thermal degradation kinetics ocurred with activation energy of 12.73 kJ.mol-1 and k0=0.4195 min-1. It was found that pretreated soda pulps have a lower lignin content and higher solubilisation of complexes, the lignins obtained had the lowest residual carbohydrates contents and different structural features from the untreated ones, being more condensed due to the reactions that occur in acid medium. The extinction coefficients at 280 nm obtained are 24.2 L.g-1 and 23.3 L.g-1, the structural formulas determined by 1H RMN are C9Har1.59Hal4.12O0.84(OH)ph0.61(OH)al0.88(OCH3)1.51 and C9Har2.12Hal4.23O1.64(OH)ph0.83(OH)al0.58(OCH3)1.10 for the steam explosion and acid pretreatment lignins, respectively.

Ce travail, contribue à mieux comprendre les phénomènes complexes lors des tirs de mine afin d'approcher une conception optimisée. La première partie, concernant la détonation, est destinée à la compréhension des modèles numériques fondés sur la théorie de la propagation de détonation. La seconde partie, concernant la modélisation de la fracturation des roches, s'adresse à la simulation des tirs. Une nouvelle loi de comportement dynamique des roches (type élastique avec endommagement anisotrope) est proposée et est intégrée dans RADIOSS, un code de calcul des problèmes dynamiques transitoires. Ce modèle permet également de calculer les dimensions représentatives des fragments ; les calculs avec diverses modélisations (en 2-D et en 3-D, détonation/structure) sont effectués. La dernière partie est consacrée à l'optimisation des tirs à l'aide des traitements numériques avancés. La connaissance des mécanismes de la fragmentation des roches est approfondie notamment sur l'influence de certains paramètres de conception. Les exemples sur la recherche des règles par l'apprentissage automatique montrent l'efficacité de cette approche. L'exemple sur la recherche d'une conception optimisée montre la puissance et la perspective pratique de l'approche par algorithmes génétiques couplés avec l'apprentissage automatique.

Une formulation détaillée de la méthode de représentation des champs d'ondes sismiques, est donnée dans les cas P, SV, et SH, pour des milieux 2D dont la stratification est formée de couches latéralement irrégulières. Cette représentation est basée sur l'échantillonnage de l'espace des nombres d'onde et sur la résolution des conditions aux limites des champs de contraintes et de déplacements aux différentes interfaces. Cette méthode est appliquée au calcul des mouvements du sol à des distances de quelques kilomètres de la source et, à l' aide du théorème de réciprocité, à la simulation de ces mouvements pour des distances télésismiques. L'influence des différentes structures géologiques (e .g. topographies irrégulières, bassins sédimentaires) est mise en évidence sur les amplifications ct les atténuations des déplacements du sol. Les effets produits sur les champs de déplacements sont analysés en fonction de la position de la source par rapport aux irrégularités du milieu de propagation. Les variations de ces effcets sont également étudiées lorsque l'on change la forme des hétérogénéités. Sont étudiés à distances régionales: un mécanisme de défocalisation de l'énergie sur une structure anticlinale, l'allongement de la durée des mouvements du sol par rétropropagation des champs d'ondes dans un bassin sédimentaire, l'influence de la raideur (Ides reliefs et de la profondeur de la source sur les champs d'ondes diffractés par une explosion. A distances télésismique, une étude est menée qui précise l'incidence des structures hétérogènes se trouvant dans la région de la source, sur l'estimation de la magnitude.

The two main sources of biomass for energy generation are purpose-grown energy crops and waste materials. Energy crops, such as Miscanthus and short rotation woody crops (coppice), are cultivated mainly for energy purposes and are associated with the food vs. fuels debate, which is concerned with whether land should be used for fuel rather than food production. The use of residues from agriculture, such as barley, canola, oat and wheat straw, for energy generation circumvents the food vs. fuel dilemma and adds value to existing crops. In fact, these residues represent an abundant, inexpensive and readily available source of renewable lignocellulosic biomass. In order to reduce industrys operational cost as well as to meet the requirement of raw material for biofuel production, biomass must be processed and handled in an efficient manner. Due to its high moisture content, irregular shape and size, and low bulk density, biomass is very difficult to handle, transport, store, and utilize in its original form. Densification of biomass into durable compacts is an effective solution to these problems and it can reduce material waste. Upon densification, many agricultural biomass materials, especially those from straw and stover, result in a poorly formed pellets or compacts that are more often dusty, difficult to handle and costly to manufacture. This is caused by lack of complete understanding on the natural binding characteristics of the components that make up biomass. An integrated approach to postharvest processing (chopping, grinding and steam explosion), and feasibility study on lab-scale and pilot scale densification of non-treated and steam exploded barley, canola, oat and wheat straw was successfully established to develop baseline data and correlations, that assisted in performing overall specific energy analysis. A new procedure was developed to rapidly characterize the lignocellulosic composition of agricultural biomass using the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In addition, baseline knowledge was created to determine the physical and frictional properties of non-treated and steam exploded agricultural biomass grinds. Particle size reduction of agricultural biomass was performed to increase the total surface area, pore size of the material and the number of contact points for inter-particle bonding in the compaction process. Predictive regression equations having higher R2 values were developed that could be used by biorefineries to perform economic feasibility of establishing a processing plant. Specific energy required by a hammer mill to grind non-treated and steam exploded barley, canola, oat and wheat straw showed a negative power correlation with hammer mill screen sizes. Rapid and cost effective quantification of lignocellulosic components (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) of agricultural biomass (barley, canola, oat and wheat) is essential to determine the effect of various pre-treatments (such as steam explosion) on biomass used as feedstock for the biofuel industry. A novel procedure to quantitatively predict lignocellulosic components of non-treated and steam exploded barley, canola, oat and wheat straw was developed using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Regression equations having R2 values of 0.89, 0.99 and 0.98 were developed to predict the cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin compounds of biomass, respectively. The average absolute difference in predicted and measured cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in agricultural biomass was 7.5%, 2.5%, and 3.8%, respectively. Application of steam explosion pre-treatment on agricultural straw significantly altered the physical and frictional properties, which has direct significance on designing new and modifying existing bins, hoppers and feeders for handling and storage of straw for biofuel industry. As a result, regression equations were developed to enhance process efficiency by eliminating the need for experimental procedure while designing and manufacturing of new handling equipment. Compaction of low bulk density agricultural biomass is a critical and desirable operation for sustainable and economic availability of feedstock for the biofuel industry. A comprehensive study of the compression characteristics (density of pellet and total specific energy required for compression) of ground non-treated and steam exploded barley, canola, oat and wheat straw obtained from three hammer mill screen sizes of 6.4, 3.2 and 1.6 mm at 10% moisture content (wb) was conducted. Four preset pressures of 31.6, 63.2, 94.7 and 138.9 MPa, were applied using an Instron testing machine to compress samples in a cylindrical die. It was determined that the applied pressure (60.4%) was the most significant factor affecting pellet density followed by the application of steam explosion pre-treatment (39.4%). Similarly, the type of biomass (47.1%) is the most significant factor affecting durability followed by the application of pre-treatment (38.2%) and grind size (14.6%). Also, the applied pressure (58.3%) was the most significant factor affecting specific energy required to manufacture pellets followed by the biomass (15.3%), pre-treatment (13.3%) and grind size (13.2%), which had lower but similar effect affect on specific energy. In addition, correlations for pellet density and specific energy with applied pressure and hammer mill screen sizes having highest R2 values were developed. Higher grind sizes and lower applied pressures resulted in higher relaxations (lower pellet densities) during storage of pellets. Three compression models, namely: Jones model, Cooper-Eaton model, and Kawakita-Ludde model were considered to determine the pressure-volume and pressure-density relationship of non-treated and steam exploded straws. Kawakita-Ludde model provided the best fit to the experimental data having R2 values of 0.99 for non-treated straw and 1.00 for steam exploded biomass samples. The steam exploded straw had higher porosity than non-treated straw. In addition, the steam exploded straw was easier to compress since it had lower yield strength or failure stress values compared to non-treated straw. Pilot scale pelleting experiments were performed on non-treated, steam exploded and customized (adding steam exploded straw grinds in increments of 25% to non-treated straw) barley, canola, oat and wheat straw grinds obtained from 6.4, 3.2, 1.6 and 0.8 mm hammer mill screen sizes at 10% moisture content (wb). The pilot scale pellet mill produced pellets from ground non-treated straw at hammer mill screen sizes of 0.8 and 1.6 mm and customized samples having 25% steam exploded straw at 0.8 mm. It was observed that the pellet bulk density and particle density are positively correlated. The density and durability of agricultural straw pellets significantly increased with a decrease in hammer mill screen size from 1.6 mm to 0.8 mm. Interestingly, customization of agricultural straw by adding 25% of steam exploded straw by weight resulted in higher durability (> 80%) pellets but did not improve durability compared to non-treated straw pellets. In addition, durability of pellets was negatively correlated to pellet mill throughput and was positively correlated to specific energy consumption. Total specific energy required to form pellets increased with a decrease in hammer mill screen size from 1.6 to 0.8 mm and also the total specific energy significantly increased with customization of straw at 0.8 mm screen size. It has been determined that the net specific energy available for production of biofuel is a significant portion of original agricultural biomass energy (89-94%) for all agricultural biomass.