In this thesis technical and economic analysis of Fiber Reinforced Composite Polymer (FRPC) bridges was performed. Current condition and main issues of conventional bridges in the world and in Lithuania are assessed, main defects are indicated. In this thesis FRPC is considered as an alternative solution for bridge construction. Application range of FRPC for bridge construction is classified and actual bridge examples are analysed. Further, main properties of FRPC are introduced, taking into account influence of material composition, manufacturing technology, long term effects and advantages over conventional materials. Load-deformation, failure behavior analysis of FRPC bridge decks and bridges revealed advantages over conventional bridge solutions and design issues. In addition, existing codes for FRPC bridge design are analysed, design peculiarities are emphasized and current problems are identified. Performed Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis revealed financial viability of FRPC bridges. Finally, main conclusions and problems to be solved are stated and FRPC application potential for bridges construction in Lithuania is suggested. Performed analysis revealed that FRPC application for bridges construction is technically and economically viable solution. / Šiame magistriniame darbe atlikta Pluoštais Armuotų Polimerinių Kompozitinių (PAPK) tiltų techninė ir ekonominė analizė. Nagrinėjama esama pasaulio ir Lietuvos tiltų būklė, nustatytos būdingos problemos bei defektai. Šiame darbe PAPK yra svarstoma kaip alternativi medžiaga tiltų statybai. Atlikta PAPK panaudojimo klasifikacija tiltų statybai, analizuojami esami PAPK tiltų pavyzdžiai bei jų paplitimas. Toliau nustatomos mechaninės bei fizinės PAPK savybės, atsižvelgiant į medžiagos sandarą, gamybos būdą, ilagalaikius veiksnius ir privalumus lyginant su plienu ir gelžbetoniu. Pagal atliktą PAPK tiltų ir perdangų apkrovos-deformacijų, suirimo analizę nustatyta elementų elgsena, pateiktos pagrindinės problemos bei privalumai palyginus su tradiciniais tiltų sprendiniais. Taip pat išnagrinėtos PAPK tiltų projektavimų normos, pateikti skaičiavimų ypatumai bei problemos. Paskutiniame skyriuje atlikta Gyvavimo Ciklo Kainos analizė parodė PAPK tiltų finansinį įgyvendinamumą. Darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos pagrindinės išvados, rezultatai, spręstinos problemos bei PAPK tiltų panaudojimo rekomendacijos Lietuvoje. Atlikta techninė ir ekonominė analizė parodė, jog PAPK panaudojimas tiltų statybai yra techniškai ir ekonomiškai efektyvus sprendimas.

Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) is a Gram-negative commensal bacterium colonizing nasopharynx of about 10 % of healthy individuals, which can cause invasive diseases, such sepsis and meningitis, upon occasional penetration into bloodstream. Pathogenesis of N. meningitidis appears to be directly related to conditions of limited iron availability. Under these conditions two proteins of unknown function: FrpC and FrpD, are synthesized. FrpD is a highly conserved lipoprotein of N. meningitidis anchored to the bacterial outer membrane. It is known that FrpD tightly binds the FrpC protein, which belongs to the Repeat-in-Toxin (RTX) protein family and may act as bacterial exotoxin. However, the mechanism of FrpD-FrpC interaction and the exact function of this complex are unknown due to the absence of structural information on these proteins. Therefore, we set out to determine the structure of FrpD and provide insights into its interaction mechanism with FrpC and structure-functional relationships of these two proteins. We determined the first crystal and solution structures of the FrpD protein. We found that atomic structures of FrpD reveal a novel protein fold. We uncovered the structure-function relationships underlying the mechanism of interaction between the FrpD and FrpC proteins and tested the putative function of the FrpD-FrpC1-414 complex in vitro. Finally, we proposed the putative function of the FrpD-FrpC1-414 complex as a new minor adhesin of N. meningitidis, which mediates the bacterial adhesion to the host epithelial cells and facilitate the colonization. Our work constitutes the first step in clarifying the molecular basis of the FrpD-FrpC interaction and sets the base for further investigation of the role of FrpD and FrpC in the virulence mechanism of N. meningitidis.

Nous nous intéressons dans ce travail à la mise en précontrainte par pré-tension d'éléments en Béton Fibré Ultra Performant (BFUP) par des renforts en Polymères Renforcés de Fibres de Carbone (PFRC). L'association de ces deux matériaux doit permettre de réaliser des éléments précontraints présentant une haute résistance mécanique et une grande durabilité. Cette étude à forte composante expérimentale s'est déroulée en trois phases. La première phase concerne l'étude de l'adhérence entre les PFRC et le BFUP au cours de laquelle des configurations de surface optimales des renforts (joncs) sont présentées. Dans la deuxième phase nous proposons un système d'ancrage permettant de mettre en tension les joncs de précontrainte. Ce système permet de conserver l'intégralité de la résistance en traction des joncs PFRC. La troisième phase est dédiée à une campagne expérimentale d'essais de flexion 4 points menée sur des poutres BFUP précontraintes par des joncs PFRC et des torons acier. Le comportement global des poutres précontraintes en flexion est analysé en termes de rigidité, de suivi de la fissuration, de pertes de la précontrainte, de capacité portante et de ductilité. Les résultats obtenus sont très encourageants et ouvrent des perspectives pour l'utilisation des PRFC en tant que renforts actifs pour la précontrainte / We are interested at this work in the prestressing by pre-tensioning of Ultra High-Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) with Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer bars (CFRP). The combination of these two materials should allow to produce prestressed members with high strength and durability. This intensive experimental study was conducted in three phases. The first phase involves the study of bond between the PFRC and UHPC at which the optimal configurations of surface reinforcements (rods) are presented. In the second phase we propose an anchoring system for pretensioning of CFRP bars. This system keeps all of the tensile strength of PFRC bars. The third phase is devoted to an experimental campaign of 4 points bending tests conducted on UHPC beams prestressed by CFRP bars and steel strands. The overall behavior of prestressed beams in bending is analyzed in terms of stiffness, followed by cracking, loss of prestresse, bearing capacity and ductility. The results are very encouraging and open up prospects for the use of CFRP as reinforcement for prestressing