Traffic signals are very cost effective tools for urban traffic management in urban areas. The number of intersections in Sweden controlled by traffic signals has increased since the seventies, but efforts to study the traffic performance of the employed strategies are still lacking. The LHOVRA technique is the predominant isolated traffic signal control strategy in Sweden. Past-end green was originally incorporated as part of LHOVRA (the “O” function) and was intended to reduce the number of vehicles in the dilemma zone. Coordinated signal control in Sweden is often fixed-time with local vehicle actuated signal timing adjustments and bus priority. This research study was undertaken to increase the knowledge of the traffic performance impacts of these strategies. The aim was to evaluate the following control strategies using Stockholm as a case study: 1. The LHOVRA technique with a focus on the “O” function; 2. Fixed time coordination (FTC); 3. Fixed time coordination with local signal timing adjustment (FTC-LTA); 4. FTC-LTA as above + active bus priority (PRIBUSS); 5. Self-optimizing control (SPOT). Field measurements were used for study of driver behavior and traffic impacts as well as for collecting input data needs for simulation. The results from low speed approaches showed a higher proportion of stopped vehicles after receiving green extension. Moving the detectors closer to the stop line, and/or making the detectors speed dependent were suggested as measures to solve these problems. The VISSIM simulation model calibrated and validated with empirical data was used to study traffic performance and safety impacts of the LHOVRA technique as well as to test the suggested improvements. The simulation experiment results from these design changes were shown to reduce accident risk with little or no loss of traffic performance. TRANSYT was used to produce optimized fixed signal timings for coordinated intersections. HUTSIM simulations showed that local signal timing adjustment by means of past-end green was beneficial when applied to coordinated traffic signal control in the study area. Both delays and stops were reduced, although not for the main, critical intersection which operated close to capacity. To study the impacts of strategies for coordinated signal control with bus priority, extensive field data collection was undertaken during separate time periods with these strategies in the same area using mobile and stationary techniques. A method to calculate the approach delay was developed based on the observed number of queuing vehicles at the start and end of green. Compared to FTC-LTA, the study showed that PRIBUSS reduced bus travel time. SPOT reduced both bus and vehicle travel time. Future research efforts for the development of signal control strategies and their implementation in Sweden should be focused on strategies with self-optimization functionality. / QC 20100408

No description available.

A new approach to the absolute measurement of two-dimensional optical path differences is presented in this thesis. The method, which incorporates a white light interferometer and a hyperspectral imaging system, is referred to as Hyperspectral Interferometry. A prototype of the Hyperspectral Interferometry (HSI) system has been designed, constructed and tested for two types of measurement: for surface profilometry and for depth-resolved displacement measurement, both of which have been implemented so as to achieve single shot data acquisition. The prototype has been shown to be capable of performing a single-shot 3-D shape measurement of an optically-flat step-height sample, with less than 5% difference from the result obtained by a standard optical (microscope) based method. The HSI prototype has been demonstrated to be able to perform single-shot measurement with an unambiguous 352 (m depth range and a rms measurement error of around 80 nm. The prototype has also been tested to perform measurements on optically rough surfaces. The rms error of these measurements was found to increase to around 4× that of the smooth surface. For the depth-resolved displacement field measurements, an experimental setup was designed and constructed in which a weakly-scattering sample underwent simple compression with a PZT actuator. Depth-resolved displacement fields were reconstructed from pairs of hyperspectral interferograms. However, the experimental results did not show the expected result of linear phase variation with depth. Analysis of several possible causes has been carried out with the most plausible reasons being excessive scattering particle density inside the sample and the possibility of insignificant deformation of the sample due to insufficient physical contact between the transducer and the sample.

This dissertation presents the contributions and the research conducted in developing and implementing Microwave Tomography (MWT) systems. MWT is an imaging modality which aims to interrogate an object of interest by microwave energy, and quantitatively “find” the interior spatial distribution of its dielectric properties using field measurements taken outside the object. Due to the inherent non-linearity of the MWT problem, a substantial amount of electromagnetic scattering data is required to ensure a robust inversion and quantitatively accurate imaging results. This research benefits a variety of applications including biomedical imaging, industrial non-destructive testing, and security applications. Developing a MWT system, requires many critical components including the bandwidth and polarization purity of the collected fields as well as calibration of the fields scattered by the object of interest. Two generations of MWT systems were designed, implemented, calibrated and tested at the University of Manitoba (UM). These systems aim different approaches for near-field measurements which are referred to as the direct and indirect methods. With regard to the antenna design, a novel methodology applicable to broadband planar antennas is introduced. This technique is based on a combination of field modelling, herein, the finite element method and transmission line modelling. In the first generation of the UM MWT systems, a suitable antenna system was utilized. The system under study was a prototype, where twenty-four co-resident antennas encircle the object of interest to directly measure the fields. In the second generation of the UM MWT systems, the feasibility of using a novel technique to indirectly measure the fields by a secondary array of near-field scatterer probes was studied. The technique is based on the Modulated Scatterer Technique (MST). In this system, antennas are called ``collectors", since the role of antennas are changed to collecting probes' scattered fields. A number of PIN diodes were utilized to activate the probes. Finally, the capability of the probe system was investigated and its performance with the previously constructed tomography systems was compared. Various dielectric phantoms were utilized to test the accuracy of the systems.

This dissertation presents the contributions and the research conducted in developing and implementing Microwave Tomography (MWT) systems. MWT is an imaging modality which aims to interrogate an object of interest by microwave energy, and quantitatively “find” the interior spatial distribution of its dielectric properties using field measurements taken outside the object. Due to the inherent non-linearity of the MWT problem, a substantial amount of electromagnetic scattering data is required to ensure a robust inversion and quantitatively accurate imaging results. This research benefits a variety of applications including biomedical imaging, industrial non-destructive testing, and security applications. Developing a MWT system, requires many critical components including the bandwidth and polarization purity of the collected fields as well as calibration of the fields scattered by the object of interest. Two generations of MWT systems were designed, implemented, calibrated and tested at the University of Manitoba (UM). These systems aim different approaches for near-field measurements which are referred to as the direct and indirect methods. With regard to the antenna design, a novel methodology applicable to broadband planar antennas is introduced. This technique is based on a combination of field modelling, herein, the finite element method and transmission line modelling. In the first generation of the UM MWT systems, a suitable antenna system was utilized. The system under study was a prototype, where twenty-four co-resident antennas encircle the object of interest to directly measure the fields. In the second generation of the UM MWT systems, the feasibility of using a novel technique to indirectly measure the fields by a secondary array of near-field scatterer probes was studied. The technique is based on the Modulated Scatterer Technique (MST). In this system, antennas are called ``collectors", since the role of antennas are changed to collecting probes' scattered fields. A number of PIN diodes were utilized to activate the probes. Finally, the capability of the probe system was investigated and its performance with the previously constructed tomography systems was compared. Various dielectric phantoms were utilized to test the accuracy of the systems.

L’amélioration du caractère prédictif des simulations numériques requiert une meilleure maîtrise des modèles constitutifs. Des procédures d’identification exploitant des mesures de champs ont été développées afin de valider les modèles et d’identifier un jeu de paramètres constitutifs à partir d’un nombre réduit d’essais hétérogènes. Bien évidemment, les résultats de telles procédures dépendent grandement des incertitudes des mesures. Dans cette thèse, une stratégie d’identification de paramètres constitutifs à partir de mesures de champs par corrélation d’images numériques éléments finis (CIN-EF) multi-échelles est proposée et développée. Une variante régularisée du recalage par éléments finis (FEMU-R) est adaptée à cette approche multi-échelles. Elle exploite des champs de déplacements mesurés par CIN-EF d'une part à l’échelle de la structure (fournissant les conditions aux limites pour la simulation EF) et d’autre part à une échelle plus locale (fournissant des champs de déplacements mieux résolus pour la comparaison essais/calculs). Un algorithme de recalage d’images est développé pour faire le lien entre les échelles. D’abord validée à l’aide d’images de synthèse, la procédure est ensuite appliquée à un essai de traction sur plaque trouée réalisé sur un composite stratifié verre/époxy. On montre qu’une telle stratégie permet de diminuer nettement non seulement les incertitudes de mesure mais également les incertitudes d’identification. Finalement, la question d’un mouchetis adapté à cette approche multi-échelles est évoquée et des éléments de solutions sont proposés et testés. / Improving the prediction of numerical simulations requires a better control of constitutive models. Identification methods exploiting full-field measurements have been developed in order to validate models and to identify a set of constitutive parameters from a reduced number of heterogeneous tests. The results of those methods largely depends on measurement uncertainties. In this PhD thesis, a strategy is proposed and developed for the identification of constitutive parameters from full-field measurements obtained by multiscale finite element digital image correlation (FE-DIC). A Regularised Finite Element Model Updating method (FEMU-R) is adapted to this multiscale approach. It exploits displacement fields measured by FE-DIC at a structural scale (in order to obtain the boundary conditions for FE simulation)and at a local scale (giving a better resolution on the displacement field for the comparison between experiment and simulation). An image registration algorithm is developed to bridge these scales. First validated on synthetic images, the multiscale approach is then applied to an open-hole tensile test of a glass/epoxy composite laminate. It is shown that such a strategy allows to reduce not only the measurement uncertainties but also the identification uncertainties. Finally the question of a speckle pattern suitable for this approach is discussed and some first technical solutions are proposed and tested.

Ce travail de thèse a été réalisé dans le cadre du projet de l'ANR DEMETHER lancé en 2011. L'objectif du projet était d'élaborer un matériau composite d'origine bio-sourcée pour l'isolation thermique des bâtiments existants. Ces biocomposites sont constitués de broyats de tiges de tournesol liés par une biomatrice à base de chitosane. Mon travail s'est concentré essentiellement sur la caractérisation et la modélisation des propriétés mécaniques des broyats et du biocomposite. La première phase du travail a permis de mettre en évidence l'influence de la zone de prélèvement des échantillons dans la tige ainsi que celle de l'humidité relative sur le module d'Young. Une approche statistique a également permis de prendre en considération le caractère diffus des tiges sur leurs propriétés mécaniques. Par la suite, un travail d'homogénéisation basé sur la morphologie et les caractéristiques des constituants de l'écorce a conduit à une estimation des propriétés élastiques globales de celle-ci. La deuxième phase du travail a permis de caractériser mécaniquement le biocomposite en compression par une méthode de mesures de champs sans contact développée au laboratoire. Le caractère hétérogène des champs de déformation a ainsi été directement relié aux constituants et au taux de chitosane. / This thesis was carried out within the framework of the project Demether started in 2011. The objective of this project is to develop a bio-based composite material for thermal insulation of existing buildings. These biocomposites consist of shredded sunflower stems linked by a chitosan-based biomatrix. My work is mainly focused on the characterization and the modeling of the mechanical properties of both the sunflower stem and the biocomposite. The first part of this work highlighted the influence of both the specimen sampling location and the conditioning relative humidity on the Young's modulus of sunflower stem. A statistical approach enabled us to take into account the diffuse nature of the stems on their mechanical properties. Thereafter, a homogenization work was carried out. It led to an estimate of the elastic property of the bark based on the morphology and the characteristics of the constituents. In the second phase of the work, the mechanical behavior of the biocomposite under compression was characterized by applying a full-field measurement technique. The heterogeneous nature of the deformation fields was directly linked to the constituents and the chitosan mass percentage of the biocomposite.

Les enrobés bitumineux sont des matériaux composites complexes constitués de plusieurs phases : granulats, liants bitumineux et vides. L'assemblage de ces phases définit une microstructure très complexe qui pilote la réponse macroscopique des enrobés. Classiquement, les réponses mécanique et thermique des enrobés sont caractérisées par des essais à l'échelle macroscopique en supposant que le matériau est homogène et isotrope. À l’échelle des constituants, la caractérisation de ces matériaux nécessite d’utiliser une technique de mesure disposant simultanément d’une bonne résolution spatiale et d’une bonne résolution de mesure. L’enjeu de ce travail est d’une part d’évaluer les possibilités d’utilisation de la méthode de la grille (MG) pour l’analyse des propriétés thermo-mécaniques des enrobés bitumineux, et d’autre part de caractériser, grâce à l’apport de cette méthode, l’effet de l’introduction d’agrégats d’enrobés (AE). L’étude expérimentale comprend des essais de compression et de traction ainsi que des essais de gel-dégel. Les champs cinématiques issus de la MG ont permis d'étudier la réponse de ces matériaux à des échelles allant de l’échelle du constituant jusqu’à celle de l’éprouvette. Les résultats obtenus ont également permis de valider une approche expérimentale innovante pour l’analyse des enrobés en permettant d’accéder à des informations fiables et riches à l’échelle de la microstructure. Certains aspects liés à l'impact du recyclage sur le comportement local de l’enrobé sont également fournis. / Asphalt mixtures are complex composite materials constituted of several phases, namely aggregates, bituminous binder and voids. The assembly of these phases defines a highly complex microstructure, which drives the macroscopic response of asphalt mixtures. Classically, both the mechanical and the thermal responses of asphalt materials are characterized by using experiments at the scale of the mixture assuming that the material is homogeneous. At the scale of their constituents, these materials require a measurement technique featuring simultaneously both a good spatial resolution and a good strain resolution. To date, there are only few experimental studies available in the literature that describe the thermal and mechanical behavior of bituminous mixes at the scale of the constituent. The aim of this work is, on the one hand, to evaluate the possibilities of using the grid method (GM) for the analysis of the thermo-mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures and, on the other hand, to characterize the effect of the recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) inclusion on the local behavior of these materials. Full-field measurements provided by GM allow to study the response of these materials at scales ranging from the component to the mixture itself. These results enable us to validate an innovative experimental approach for the analysis of asphalts. It gives access to reliable and rich information at the scale of the microstructure. Some aspects related to the impact of RAP on the local behavior of asphalt were also provided.

Pour soutenir la demande en denrées alimentaires d’une population mondiale croissante, les rendements des productions en céréales, notamment du blé, doivent être améliorés par sélection végétale. À cause du changement climatique et de l’épuisement des ressources fossiles, les systèmes racinaires des futures variétés de blé devront être adaptés aux épisodes de sécheresse et aux sols peu fertiles. Il est donc crucial de développer des outils de mesure de traits racinaires au champ répondant aux exigences de la sélection variétale. Ainsi, la pertinence des minirhizotrons et de l’impédance électrique des plantes a été évaluée en essai agronomique sur des variétés de blé, conçu pour obtenir un panel varié d’enracinement. Nous avons montré que les minirhizotrons fournissent une quantification dynamique et pertinente de la longueur de racines profondes, qui jouent rôle majeur dans les rendements obtenus en conditions pluviales. Malgré une sous-estimation de la partie superficielle des systèmes racinaires, la conversion volumétrique des données issues des minirhizotrons basée sur une profondeur de champ, et à l’aide de prélèvements pour les horizons de surface, a permis une estimation du ratio de masse racinaire sur masse aérienne.À travers une étude méthodologique en laboratoire, nous avons déterminé le montage optimal de mesure d’impédance électrique sur des plants de blé. Son application au champ montre que la qualité de l’estimation diminue au cours de la croissance et dépend de l’humidité du sol.Nous avons montré que l’impédance des plants de blé est décrite par un modèle de condensateur plan, les tissus végétaux formant un diélectrique imparfait. Ainsi, la réactance est un prédicteur de la masse racinaire, uniquement dans les couches superficielles et sèches du sol. / Ensuring the food supply of an increasing world population could be achieved by improvingcrop yields through plant breeding. Due to the climate change and the rarefaction of fossilresources, the root systems of the future wheat cultivars should be adapted to low soilmoisture and low soil fertility. Developing tools for in situ root traits measurements fulfilling the high through put requirement of modern breeding is crucial. For this purpose, anagronomic trial was conducted on wheat cultivars to evaluate the relevance of minirhizotrons and plant electrical impedance on assessing varied rooting architecture.We showed that minirhizotrons provide dynamic and relevant quantifications of deep rootlengths, which was a key factor in crop yield under rainfed conditions. In spite ofunderestimated lengths in the shallow part of the root systems, a volumetric conversion ofminirhizotron data using a depth-of-field criterion, coupled with auger sampling for surfacelayers, allowed fairly estimation root to shoot ratio at different growth stages.We determined the optimal setup of plant impedance measurements by a methodological study performed under laboratory conditions. The application of this optimal set up to an in situ survey showed that the quality of the predictions decreased at later growth stages andunder low soil wetness. The plant impedance was described by an imperfect parallel-platecapacitor mode, where plant tissues acted as the separating medium. Consequently, electrical reactance is a root biomass sensor, but only in surface soil layers at low water content.

The dry deep mixing method is widely used to improve a soft clay soil to increase the shear strength as well as to reduce the time for consolidation. It is a mechanical mixing process that makes parts of the soil stiffer than its original strength. It is mainly applicable to soft clay or peat soil.   In this master thesis, the objective was set to perform a comparative analysis on the prediction of the settlements of a clay soil improved by lime/cement columns (LCC). The theoretical settlement predictions were made using two analytical and numerical modeling. A case study was carried out on a part of Stockholm bypass project where LCC was applied to improve soft clay for a foundation of a concrete trough. Field measurements of the vertical deformation of the improved soil were performed using settlement plates to compare the analytical and numerical results. The first analytical method was performed based on the recommendation of TK Geo 13 (2013) while the second method was performed based on the concept of a composite ground. In the case of the numerical method, FEA was performed using 2D plane strain model in Plaxis simulation. The performance of the geometry and combined matching models were investigated to convert the axisymmetric to plane strain model. The variation in stiffness of the columns were taken into consideration by applying two stiffness values 30 and 33 MPa for the upper and lower half of the column respectively. A preload of 58 kPa was applied on the improved clay soil to simulate the time-dependent consolidation settlement due to the stress addition. A comparison was carried out between the results obtained from the analysis and a field measurement. The two analytical methods produced a better agreement with the field measurement regarding long-term consolidation settlement and a reasonable agreement concerning the rate of consolidation. The numerical analysis showed a good agreement with the benchmark concerning both the long-term consolidation settlement as well as the rate of consolidation. The geometry matching model gave a reasonable result regarding correctness of the result compared with the combined matching. Based on the results obtained in this study, the numerical methods had a better agreement with the measurements. / Jordförstärkning med kalkcementpelare är en vanlig metod för förstärkning av lösa jordar genom ökning av den blandade jordens hållfasthet samt minskning av konsolideringstiden. Metoden är en mekanisk process som ökar jordens styvhet och är främst tillämpbar i lös leror men även organiska jordar.   Detta examensarbete har syftat till att jämföra sättningsberäkningar i lera som är förstärk med KC-pelare. De teoretiska beräkningarna har utförts genom två analytiska modeller samt numerisk modellering. En fallstudie har utförts på del av Förbifart Stockholm där jordförstärkning av lös lera med KC-pelare har använts inför grundläggning av ett betongtråg. Resultat från fältmätningar av installerade markpeglar har jämförts med resultat från de teoretiska sättningsberäkningarna.   Den första beräkningsmetoden utfördes i enlighet med rekommendationer från TK Geo 13 (2013) och den andra metoden är baserad på principer för kompositjordar. Den numeriska beräkningen har utgjorts av FEM-modellering i 2D i programmet Plaxis. För att anpassa en plan-töjningsmodell till en axialsymmetrisk modell har inverkan av geometrin samt kombinerad anpassning av modell studerats. Hänsyn har tagits till KC-pelarnas styvhet genom att använda två olika värden (30 resp. 33 MPa) för KC-pelarnas övre respektive undre del. En överlast om 58 kPa applicerades på KC-pelarförstärkt området för att påskynda den tidsberoende konsolideringssättningarnas förlopp som orsakas av överlastens tillskottspänningar.   Baserat på resultat från uppmätta sättningar jämfört med beräkningar, har följande slutsatser dragits. Jämförelser mellan resultaten har visat på en rimlig överrensstämmelse mellan de två analytiska metoderna och utförda fältmätningar avseende långtids konsolideringssättningar. Den numeriska beräkningen har visat en god överensstämmelse med fältmätningar med hänsyn till både konsolideringssättningar och konsolideringsgraden. Den geometriskt anpassade modellen visade ett rimligare resultat i förhållande till den kombinerade anpassade modellen. Sammanfattningsvis bedöms det att den numeriska modelleringen stämmer bättre överens med resultaten från uppmätta sättningar i förhållande till analytiska beräkningar.