This thesis examines methods for designing and analyzing kinetic turbines based on blade element momentum (BEM) theory and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The underlying goal of the work was to assess the potential augmentation of power production associated with enclosing the turbine in an expanding duct. Thus, a comparison of the potential performance of ducted and non-ducted turbines was carried out. This required de ning optimal turbine performance for both concepts. BEM is the typical tool used for turbine optimization and is very well established in the context of wind turbine design. BEM was suitable for conventional turbines, but could not account for the influence of ducts, and no established methodology for designing ducted turbines could be found in the literature. Thus, methods were established to design and analyze ducted turbines based on an extended version of BEM (with CFD-derived coe cients), and based on CFD simulation. Additional complications arise in designing tidal turbines because traditional techniques for kinetic turbine design have been established for wind turbines, which are similar in their principle of operation but are driven by flows with inherently different boundary conditions than tidal currents. The major difference is that tidal flows are bounded by the ocean floor, the water surface and channel walls. Thus, analytical and CFD-based methods were established to account for the effects of these boundaries (called blockage effects) on the optimal design and performance of turbines. Additionally, tidal flows are driven by changes in the water surface height in the ocean and their velocity is limited by viscous effects. Turbines introduced into a tidal flow increase the total drag in the system and reduce the total flow in a region (e.g. a tidal channel). An analytical method to account for this was taken from the eld of tidal resource assessment, and along with the methods to account for ducts and blockage effects, was incorporated into a rotor optimization framework. It was found that the non-ducted turbine can produce more power per installed device frontal area and can be operated to induce a lesser reduction to the flow through a given tidal channel for a given level of power production. It was also found that by optimizing turbines for array con gurations that occupy a large portion of the cross sectional area of a given tidal channel (i.e. tidal fences), the per-device power can be improved signi cantly compared to a sparse-array scenario. For turbines occupying 50% of a channel cross section, the predicted power improves is by a factor of three. Thus, it has been recommended that future work focus on analyzing such a strategy in more detail. / Graduate

In my thesis I address improvement of safety system of an international airport in Brno-Turany. I perform an analysis of current legislative safety needs and description of EU airport issues. I define particular safety requirements in reference to Brno-Turany airport. In the last part of my paper I suggest safety system that takes advantage of up to date technologies and recommendation to secure safety.

Silt fence is one of the most widely used perimeter control devices and is considered an industry standard for use in the control of sediment transport from construction sites. Numerous research studies have been conducted on the use of silt fence as a perimeter control, including a number of studies involving controlled laboratory flume tests and outdoor tests performed in the field on construction sites with actual monitored storm events. In field tests, due to the random and uncontrollable nature of real storm events and field conditions, studies have shown difficulty in evaluating silt fence performance. These field studies have shown the need for performance testing of silt fence in a more controlled environment, which can also simulate the actual use and performance in the field. This research, which is a continuation of ongoing research on silt fence fabrics at UCF Stormwater and Management Academy, was conducted in order to evaluate silt fence performance under simulated field conditions. Presented in this thesis are evaluation of two silt fence fabrics, a woven (ASR 1400) fabric and nonwoven (BSRF) fabric. Both fabrics were installed separately on a tilted test bed filled with a silty-sand soil and subjected to simulated rainfall. Previous field studies on the performance of silt fence fabrics have evaluated the turbidity and sediment removal efficiencies only after the rain event, with the assumption that the efficiency values represent the true overall performance of silt fence. The results of this study revealed that the turbidity and suspended sediment performance efficiencies of silt fence were significantly affected by the time of sampling. The performance efficiencies during rainfall remained less than 55 percent, however, after the rainfall event ended, the performance efficiencies increased over time, reaching performance efficiency upwards of 90 percent. The increase in efficiency after rainfall was due to the constant or decreasing ponding depth behind the silt fence, increased filtration due to fabric clogging, and sedimentation of suspended particles. The nonwoven fabric was found to achieve higher removal efficiencies and flow-through rates both during and after the rain event when compared with the woven fabric. However, over the entire test duration (during and after rainfall combined), the projected overall efficiencies of both fabrics were similar. The projected overall average turbidity performance efficiencies of the woven and nonwoven silt fence fabrics was 80 and 78 percent, respectively. Both fabric types also achieved comparable overall average suspended sediment concentration efficiencies of 79 percent. This result leads to the conclusion that silt fence performance in the field is dependent on three main processes: filtration efficiency occurring during the rain event, filtration and sedimentation efficiency occurring after the rainfall event, and flow-through rate of the silt fence fabrics. Decreases in the flow-through rate lead to increases in the overall efficiency. This thesis quantifies the different mechanisms by which these processes contribute to the overall efficiency of the silt fence system and shows how these processes are affected by different conditions such as the degree of embankment slope and rainfall intensity.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been intensively studied across their range. However, many aspects of the white-tailed deer’s ecology have not been studied or are difficult to study. The advent of global positioning system (GPS) collar technology and molecular genetics techniques now allows researchers to collect fine-scale and cryptic phenomena. In addition, selective harvest of male white-tailed deer, based on antler size, has not been critically evaluated. Thus, development and use of quantitative genetics models will be useful for elucidating the effects of selective harvest on mean population antler size. I used GPS collar technology to further understand white-tailed deer movement ecology. First, I determined the efficacy and influence of a high-tensile electric fence (HTEF) on deer movements. The HTEF controlled deer movements when properly maintained and had little influence on deer spatial dynamics, making it a safe and cost-effective alternative to traditional fencing. Second, I studied fine-scale deer movements using GPS collars collecting locations every 15 minutes. Hourly deer movements were greatest in the morning and evening. Parturition and rut influenced movements of females and males, respectively whereas weather and moon phase had minimal influence on movements. Molecular genetics techniques are becoming more widespread and accessible, which may allow insight into the link between genetics and antler size. I found deer in 3 diverse populations from Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas were relatively heterozygous and unrelated. Groups of deer with similar antler characteristics did not appear to be inbred or share common ancestors. In addition, there was not a strong link between individual multi-locus heterozygosity and antler points or score. Selective harvest has been implicated in causing negative evolutionary and biological responses in several ungulate species. To better determine how selective harvest (i.e., culling; the removal of deer with inferior antlers) affects white-tailed deer antler size, I used quantitative genetic models to simulate response of deer antlers to selection. In simulated controlled breeding situations response to selection was rapid, resulting in improvement in antler size. In simulated free-ranging populations response of antler size to selection was slow and only resulted in minimal increases in antler points after 20 years.

No description available.

The recent revival of debates concerning livestock development in Africa follows the more widespread acceptance of paradigm shifts within rangeland science, and maintaining pastoral mobility is now recognised as fundamental for the future survival of pastoralism and sustainability of dryland environments. However, in southern Africa communal pastoral drylands continue to be enclosed and dissected by large-scale barrier fences designed to control livestock diseases, thus protecting lucrative livestock export agreements. This interdisciplinary research examines the extent to which these veterinary cordon fences have changed people’s access to, and effective management of, natural resources in northern Botswana and how fence-restricted resource use by livestock, wildlife and people has changed the natural environment. Critical political ecology informed the approach, given its emphasis on socio-political and historical influences on resource access, mobility and user relationships. This enabled the biophysical effects of social changes to be investigated fully, thereby moving beyond a tradition of discipline-based studies often resulting in severely repressive rangeland policies. The research demonstrates how enclosure by veterinary cordon fences restricts patterns of resource access and mobility within pastoral drylands, with serious implications for both social and environmental sustainability. Enclosure increases the vulnerability of people to risks and natural hazards, while resource access constraints and pastoral adaptations to enclosure have favoured the increasing commercialisation of livestock production, thus obstructing pathways into pastoralism. While widespread environmental change in livestock areas cannot be attributed thus far to enclosure, the curtailment of wild migratory herbivores at the wildlife–livestock interface has caused some large-scale structural vegetation changes and there are indications that fence induced sedentarisation could be accentuating existing degradation trends. Given these changes, future rangeland policies in Africa should be aware of the social and environmental impacts associated with export-led disease management infrastructure and consider alternative, less intrusive, approaches to livestock development and disease control in extensive pastoral drylands.

I pull from what I see in my urban surroundings. There is always a sense of dread fused with optimism that prevails. Is it beautiful? Fragments of low-riders and tricked-out cars become symbols of desire and the glowing red lens of a stop light becomes a Cyclops poised to defend his garden. Candy-coated, blooming, dripping and seductively slick confronts you with the obvious warning: STOP! You could be next… …The grass really is greener on The Other Side of the Fence. At least until winter comes.

Apesar dos elevados teores de matéria orgânica nos resíduos domiciliares e da implantação da compostagem para os resíduos sólidos orgânicos ser prevista pela Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (Lei n° 12.305/10), a adoção da prática como forma de tratamento ainda apresenta ações incipientes no país. Este trabalho teve como proposta a coleta seletiva da fração orgânica dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (FORSU) produzida em 19 estabelecimentos comerciais de São Carlos para a realização da compostagem e vermicompostagem. A primeira etapa do trabalho consistiu na verificação da adaptação dos proprietários dos estabelecimentos em relação ao sistema de segregação proposto e na avaliação da percepção dos mesmos em relação à separação dos resíduos orgânicos e da compostagem, sendo esta análise realizada através da aplicação de questionários. Na segunda etapa, foi realizada a compostagem em quatro leiras cilíndricas de alambrado de 1,2 m de diâmetro e 1 m de altura. Testou-se os seguintes tratamentos em cada leira: trituração e revolvimento, não trituração e revolvimento, não trituração e não revolvimento (controle) e não trituração e não revolvimento com tubos de PVC. Verificou-se, através do monitoramento dos parâmetros físicos, químicos e microbiológicos e de análises estatísticas, as diferenças e similaridades entre os tratamentos. A terceira etapa iniciou-se após a estabilização dos compostos. Foram inoculadas 500 minhocas da espécie Eisenia foetida em uma quantia entre 20-25 kg de composto retirado das leiras revolvidas e os mesmos parâmetros da etapa anterior foram monitorados na vermicompostagem. Os resultados encontrados na etapa 1 indicaram que: os estabelecimentos realizaram a correta segregação dos resíduos, mostrando-se bem adaptados; quase a metade dos entrevistados desconheciam a técnica de compostagem; e, embora a maioria realizasse a separação da FORSU, a mesma era coletada de forma não diferenciada e encaminhada diretamente ao aterro. Na etapa 2, constatou-se que: o revolvimento influenciou na manutenção da temperatura termofílica por períodos mais prolongados, na correção da umidade, nos valores de pH , nitrogênio, relação C/N, CRA, metais, macro e micro nutrientes e granulometria; em relação à trituração, com exceção da granulometria, os demais parâmetros monitorados foram similares a leira não triturada, demostrando pouca influência de sua adoção no processo de compostagem; na leira composta por tubos de PVC, os registros de temperatura foram menores que as demais, de forma que o dispositivo ocasionou um resfriamento excessivo. Concluiu-se que somente a etapa 2 foi suficiente para o atingimento dos limites legais estabelecidos para os fertilizantes orgânicos, sendo os benefícios da adoção da vermicompostagem na etapa 3 relacionados aos incrementos das propriedades agronômicas de fertilidade de solo. / Despite the presence of high levels of organic matter in household wastes and the implementation of composting for organic wastes provided by the National Policy on Solid Waste (Law No. 12,305/10), the composting practice as a treatment is still incipient in Brazil. This study aimed at the selective collection of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) produced in 19 establishments in São Carlos city for use in composting and vermicomposting techniques. The first stage of the study consisted in an investigation on the adaptation to the segregation system proposed and evaluation of the owners\' perceptions regarding the separation of organic waste and composting through questionnaires. The second stage was devoted to the composting. The collected waste was deposited onto four cylindrical piles of 1.2 m diameter and 1 m height. The treatments evaluated in each pile were trituration and turning, no trituration and turning, no trituration and no turning (control), and no trituration and no turning of PVC pipes. The monitoring and statistical analysis of the physical, chemical and microbiological parameters revealed differences and similarities in each treatment. The third stage started after the stabilization of the compost. Five hundred earthworms of Eisenia foetida specie were inoculated in 20-25 kg of compost taken from two piles and the same parameters of the previous step were monitored. In step 2, the turning influenced the maintenance of the thermophilic stage for longer periods, humidity correction, values of pH, nitrogen, C/N relation, WRC, metals, micro and macronutrient and particle size. Except for the particle size, trituration exerted little influence on the parameters. The lowest temperatures were recorded in a pile composed of PVC pipes. It can be concluded that only the second step was sufficient for the achievement of legal limits for organic fertilizers and the benefits of vermicomposting as a post treatment technique (step 3) are related to the increase in the agronomic properties of soil fertility.

Investigating flow and turbulence structure around a barrier mounted on the ground or placed in its vicinity is a fundamental problem in wind engineering because of many practical applications related to protection against adverse effects induced by major wind storms (e.g., hurricanes) and snow events (e.g., snow fences used to reduce adverse effects of snow drifting on the roads). In this work the focus is on the case when the obstacle/barrier is porous and the shape of the obstacle is close to a high-aspect-ratio rectangular cylinder situated in the vicinity of the ground. The study employs a range of numerical and experimental techniques to achieve this goal that include 3D LES and 2D RANS numerical simulations, and RTK survey and 3D photogrammetry techniques to measure ground elevations and snow deposits in the field. In the first part of the study, high-resolution large eddy simulations are used to understand the fundamental flow physics of flow past 2D solid and porous vertical plates with a special focus on describing the unsteady wind loads on the obstacle, vortical structure of the turbulent wake, spectral content of the wake, the separated shear layers and of the characteristics of the large-scale vortex shedding behind the plate, if present. Results show that LES can accurately predict mean flow and turbulence statistics around solid/porous cylinders. Then, a detailed parametric study of flow past vertical solid and porous plates situated in the vicinity of a horizontal bed is performed for the purpose of understanding changes in the mean flow structure, turbulence statistics and dynamics of large scale coherent structures as a function of the main nondimensional geometrical parameters (bottom gap for solid and porous plates, and porosity and average hole size of porous plates) and flow variables (e.g., bed roughness) that affect the wake flow. In particular, the LES flow fields allowed clarifying how the interactions between the bottom and the top separated shear layers change with increasing bottom gap and what is the effect of the bleeding flow on the interactions between the separated shear layers that determine the coherence of the large-scale eddies at large distances from the wake. In the second part of the thesis, a novel methodology based on field monitoring of the snow deposits and RANS numerical simulations is proposed to improve the design of snow fences and in particular the design of lightweight plastic snow fences that are commonly used to protect roads in the US Midwest against the snow drifting. The goal of the design optimization procedure is to propose a snow fence design that can retain a considerable amount of snow within a shorter downwind distance compared to fences of standard design. A major contribution of the present thesis was the development of a novel non-intrusive image-based technique that can be used to quantitatively estimate the temporal evolution of the volume of snow trapped by a fence over long periods of time. This technique is based on 3-D close range photogrammetry. Results showed that this technique can produce estimations of the snow deposits of comparable accuracy to that given by commonly used methods. This is the first application of this type of techniques to measurements of the snow deposits.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Wood is an organic material which may decompose or deteriorate. To avoid this, the wood needs to go through preservative treatments, ensuring a higher durability to the treated pieces. This research aimed to evaluate the efficiency of methods that combine sap substitution treatment and distribution in Eucalyptus grandis, using a mixture of preservative substances copper base, chromium and boron. The material was collected in 10 years old existing heterogeneous plantations at the Federal University of Santa Maria. After conducting an inventory in the population, there were taken randomly, 2 trees per treatment, and each tree removed 3 pieces measuring 2 meters each. There were felled 12 trees to perform 6 treatments. The methods used were diffusion, sap replacement and combined method between diffusion and replacement of sap. At the end of the treatments there were removed 1 disk of the base position, middle and top for penetration analysis. At the penetration analysis, disks were sanded on both sides, one for determination of copper with Cromoazurol S and the other for boron with Polyvinyl alcohol and Metallic Iodine with Potassium Iodine, further there were included treatable sapwood measures and treatable sapwood, and the classification of the way it distributes the preservative in different positions of the treated piece. The results showed that the influence of climatic conditions with minimum temperatures presented a high correlation with the first two days of absorption of preservative and inverse correlation with precipitation in relation to preservative absorption. In preservative distribution assessments, the element copper is more efficient on the part of the base position and the element boron in the middle and top positions. The assessments of distribution treatment were satisfactory in the base position for all treatments. In the middle position and the top part of the treatments there were distribution difficulties. In the penetration reviews the results of the base position were satisfactory. The middle position showed low penetration. According to the study results, the methods combined with longer times showed significant improvements in penetration of preservatives in Eucalyptus grandis. / A madeira é um material orgânico que está sujeita à decomposição ou deterioração. Para que isso não ocorra, a madeira necessita passar por tratamentos preservativos os quais proporcionam uma maior durabilidade às peças tratadas, garantindo assim uma maior vida útil para as peças tratadas. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de métodos que associam tratamentos de substituição de seiva e difusão em madeira de Eucalyptus grandis, com a utilização de uma mistura de substâncias preservativas a base de cobre, cromo e boro. O material foi coletado em plantios heterogêneos existentes no campus da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, com 10 anos de idade. Após a realização de um inventário no povoamento, foram abatidas aleatoriamente, sendo 2 árvores por tratamento e, de cada uma delas foram cortadas 3 peças de 2 metros de comprimento. Os métodos utilizados foram difusão, substituição de seiva e uma combinação entre difusão e substituição de seiva que foram realizados com tempos distintos. Ao término dos tratamentos retirou-se um disco de cada uma das posições base, meio e topo, para análises de penetração. Na análise de penetração os discos foram lixados em suas duas faces, uma para determinação do Cobre com Cromoazurol S e outra para o boro com álcool Polivinílico e Iodo Metálico com Iodeto de Potássio, além disso, foram incluídas as medidas de alburno tratável e alburno tratado, e a classificação da forma como se distribui o preservativo nas diferentes posições da peça tratada. Os resultados mostraram que a influência das condições climáticas com as temperaturas mínimas apresentou uma correlação alta com os dois primeiros dias de absorção do preservativo e correlação inversa com a precipitação em relação à absorção de preservativo. Nas avaliações de distribuição do preservativo, o elemento cobre mostrou-se mais eficiente na posição da base da peça e o elemento boro nas posições meio e topo. As avaliações de distribuição do preservativo por tratamento teve avaliações satisfatórias na posição da base para todos os tratamentos. Na posição do meio e topo da peça os tratamentos apresentaram dificuldades de distribuição. Nas avaliações de penetração os resultados da posição base foram satisfatórios, da posição meio apresentou baixa penetração. De acordo com os resultados do estudo, os métodos combinados com maiores tempos apresentaram ganhos significativos nas penetrações de preservativos em Eucalyptus grandis.