Cette recherche vise à analyser et à identifier, par des essais, le comportement au fluage d'une argile de type kaolinite sous un état de contraintes triaxial. Une investigation fine de l’état microstructural, avant et après fluage, a par ailleurs été réalisée. Les résultats macroscopiques ont permis de constater que des phénomènes de dilatance et de contractante s’amplifient pendant le fluage. Les résultats montrent également que la position, sur le plan des contraintes (p'-q), du niveau de contrainte vis-à-vis des différents domaines volumétriques, contrôle le développement de la déformation au fluage et du taux de déformation. Les résultats de MEB ont montré que l'évolution microstructurale de l'argile, après le chargement mécanique, dépend fortement de l'histoire du chargement. / The objective of this research is to analyze the creep behavior of a typical clay along triaxial tests, moreover, to analyze the microstructural mechanisms of creep. Analysis on the macroscopic results ascertained that both dilatancy and contractancy phenomena could occur during creep. The magnitude of the dilatancy/contractancy during creep was guided by the test conditions: stress level and the over consolidation ratio, which specifically governed the direction of the volumetric strain variations. The results of SEM indicated that the microstructural evolution of the clay after the mechanical loading depend on the stress history. Afterwards, the structural evolution in creep phase depends on the structural pattern developed in monotonic loading

L’évolution actuelle du contexte socio-économique oblige les différents acteurs du secteur des travaux publics à s’adapter aux problématiques du développement durable. Dans le domaine des ouvrages en terre, les entreprises doivent proposer des solutions techniques de valorisation des matériaux situés dans l’emprise des projets afin de limiter les emprunts extérieurs et la mise en dépôt des sols non utilisés. Les techniques de traitement des sols constituent une possibilité de valoriser ces matériaux. Cette étude se focalise sur quatre produits de traitement (kaolinite, bentonite, chaux et ciment) ainsi que sur leurs effets sur le comportement hydromécanique et la résistance à l’érosion interne d’un limon fin. Un dispositif d’érosion interne HET optimisé a été spécialement conçu dans le cadre de ce travail pour déterminer les caractéristiques d’érosion des sols traités notamment à la chaux et au ciment. Au-delà de la caractérisation des effets du traitement sur le comportement hydromécanique à court terme des sols, le travail de cette étude s’étend sur la durabilité des traitements et l’évolution du comportent hydromécanique à long terme des sols traités soumis à des sollicitations hydriques de séchage-humidification. Cette étude de la durabilité est effectuée à travers une approche multi-échelle fondée sur des données d’études en laboratoire sur des éprouvettes de sol traité et des investigations in situ sur des ouvrages hydrauliques en sol traité. L’étude montre que les sollicitations hydriques peuvent dégrader les performances du sol traité. Cette dégradation se traduit par une augmentation de la conductivité hydraulique, une diminution de la résistance mécanique et aussi une diminution de la contrainte critique qui exprime une diminution de la résistance à l’érosion interne. La cinétique de perte de performances est conditionnée par la nature du produit de traitement et son dosage utilisé, et aussi par le niveau d’exposition, le nombre et l’intensité des cycles hydriques. Cependant, l’étude in situ montre qu’il est possible de diminuer la cinétique de dégradation des performances de sols à travers des dispositions constructives adaptées. / The current evolution of the social and economic context requires from the different actors of the public works sector to adapt their practices to the challenges of sustainable development. In the field of earthworks, companies must offer technical solutions to reuse the materials located in the vicinity of the projects in order to limit the borrowing materials and unused soils deposits. Soil treatment may allow the reuse of these materials. This study was focused on four treatment products (kaolinite, bentonite, lime and cement) as well as their effects on the hydro-mechanical behavior and internal erosion resistance of a fine silt. An enhanced HET device was designed in the framework of this study to determine the internal erosion characteristics of treated soils especially with lime and cement. Beyond the characterization of treatment effects on short-term hydro-mechanical behavior of soils, the work of this study extends to the durability of treatment and the evolution of long-term hydro-mechanical behavior of treated soils subjected to drying-wetting cycles. This study of sustainability was carried out through a multi-scale approach based on laboratory study data on soil samples and field investigations on hydraulic structures made of treated soil. The study showed that hydraulic conditions variations can decrease the performance of treated soils. These degradations result on an increase in hydraulic conductivity, a decrease of the mechanical strength and also a reduction in the critical shear stress which expresses a decrease of the internal erosion resistance. The kinetic of performance loss depends to the nature of the treatment product and percentage used as well as the exposure level, the number and amplitude of the hydraulic variations. However, the field study showed that it is possible to reduce the kinetic degradation of the soil performance through an appropriate construction design.

Zeolites are among the least-known products for environmental pollution control, separation science and technology. Due to their unique porous properties, they are used in various applications in petrochemical cracking, ion-exchange and separation and removal of gases and solvents. The preparation of synthetic zeolites from chemical reagents is expensive. Therefore, in order to reduce costs, zeolite researchers are seeking cheaper aluminosilicate bearing raw materials, such as clay minerals, to produce synthetic zeolites. This research concerns the synthesis of zeolites and zeotypes derived from low-cost materials like kaolinite (KAO), natural clinker (NC) and fly ash (FA). The motivation for using these sources as the starting materials in zeolite synthesis is driven by factors, such as they are cheap and available in bulk quantities, are currently under-utilized, have high workability, and require less water (or solution) for activation. The raw materials were activated by two different routes: (1) classic alkaline hydrothermal synthesis and (2) alkaline fusion prior to hydrothermal synthesis. In the first method, the synthesis of zeolitic materials was carried out generally in alkaline media, although KAO or its calcination product, metakaolinite (MTK), was also activated in the presence or absence of structure directing agents (SDAs) and additional silica (precipitated SiO2), with the last one determining the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of the reaction mixture and the time given for zeolitization. Synthesis in fluoride- and calcium-bearing media was also used to activate kaolinite. The process of synthesis was optimized by applying a wide range of experimental conditions with a wide range of reaction temperature, time, mineralizer concentration and solid/solution ratio. In the second approach, an alkaline fusion step was conducted prior to hydrothermal treatment, because it plays an important role in enhancing the hydrothermal conditions for zeolite synthesis. On the other hand, this approach was adopted because it can dissolve more aluminosilicates. The main synthesis products obtained after activation of KAO in NaOH solutions included zeolite LTA (LTA), sodalite (SOD), cancrinite (CAN), faujasite (FAU), zeolite Na-P1 (GIS), JBW-type zeolite (JBW), analcime (ANA), whereas the activation of KAO in KOH solutions produced chabazite (CHA), zeolite Barrer-KF, phillipsite (PHI) and K-feldspar. The hydrothermal conversion of kaolinite in fluoride media did not produce successful results, although traces of FAU, GIS, CHA, SOD and CAN crystallized. The activation of KAO in the system CaO-SiO2-Al2O3-H2O promoted the formation of different calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phases, including hydrogarnet (HYD) and tobermorite (TOB). Following the fusion approach, the main zeolitic phases obtained using NaOH as mineralizer were LTA and CAN. The main as-synthesized zeolites obtained from NC by the conventional hydrothermal treatment method include PHI, SOD and CAN. Using the fusion approach, FAU and LTA were obtained with NaOH as an activator, whereas non-zeolitic material crystallized when KOH was used. The main as-synthesized zeolitic materials obtained by hydrothermal reaction of FA include PHI, zeolite Barrer-KF, CHA and SOD with traces of TOB, ANA, zeolite LTF (LTF) and herschelite (HER), appearing occasionally. By the fusion approach, FAU was obtained with NaOH as activator, whereas no zeolitic material crystallized using KOH. Experimental results indicate that the method, mineralizer, concentration and time have strong effects on the type and degree of crystallinity of the synthesis products. On the other hand, the type and chemical composition of the as-synthesized products are strongly dependent on the chemical composition of the starting material. The chemistry of zeolite synthesis was subject to perturbations caused by the presence of impurities in the raw materials, which may remain insoluble during crystallization and cause undesired species to nucleate, developing mixtures of different types of zeolites. However, other physicochemical factors may play a very important role in the thermodynamics and kinetics of zeolite formation. The raw materials have very high contents of SiO2 and Al2O3, with SiO2/Al2O3 ratios appropriate for the synthesis of low-Si zeolitic materials with high crystallinity and cation exchange capacity (CEC). However, although zeolites’ CEC represents a very important characteristic quality in the removal of undesired species from polluted effluents, it is not the deciding factor in determining zeolite performance during ion exchange processes, since numerous other factors also need to be considered. Finally, the potential application of the raw materials and their as-synthesized products as low-cost sorbents in the remediation of metal ions and ammonium from wastewater effluents was investigated. PHI showed a lower efficiency than FAU. Selectivity of FAU for metal removal was, in decreasing order, Fe>As>Pb>Zn>Cu>Ni>Cr. Based on these results, the use of these materials has the potential to provide improved methods for the treatment of contaminated effluents.

Manguezais são ecossistemas de transição entre ambientes continental e marinho. Estão amplamente distribuídos ao longo da costa brasileira, sob grande variabilidade de condições climáticas, oceanográficas, geológicas e geomorfológicas. A mineralogia dos solos reflete e interfere nos processos de formação de solos e no comportamento biogeoquímico de nutrientes e potenciais substâncias poluentes, orgânicas e inorgânicas. O presente estudo avaliou a composição mineralógica dos solos de oito manguezais, do litoral sul ao norte do país, por meio de DRX, infravermelho e MET, das frações finas (silte, argila total e argila fina). A assembléia mineralógica da fração argila é composta, predominantemente, por caulinita, esmectita, ilitas férricas e traços de quartzo e gibbsita. Na argila fina, observou-se a presença de grandes quantidades de caulinita e esmectitas, provavelmente férricas, associadas a algum mineral 2:1 HE além de ilita de baixa cristalinidade interestratificada com minerais expansivos. Dados de semi-quantificação e características cristalográficas de caulinitas e ilitas revelam que a geologia das áreas continentais adjacentes aos manguezais influencia diretamente a assembléia mineralógica dos solos desses ambientes. Sob esse olhar, três padrões de manguezais foram identificados ao longo da costa: manguezais influenciados diretamente por sedimentos derivados de solos desenvolvidos sobre materiais geológicos do escudo cristalino pré-cambriano, com caulinitas pouco cristalinas, ilitas originadas das micas presentes nas rochas correspondentes e esmectitas autigênicas; manguezais próximos a áreas dos tabuleiros terciários do grupo Barreiras, com caulinitas mais cristalinas e menores teores de minerais 2:1; e aqueles sob influência de materiais advindos do clima semi-árido nordestino (menos alterados), com grande quantidade de minerais 2:1 neoformados e herdados dos solos dessas áreas adjacentes, o que pode ser apoiado pelas maiores quantidades de ilitas, com cristalinidade menor. Estudos mais específicos acerca da composição química dos minerais e de seus mecanismos geoquímicos de formação devem ser realizados futuramente, para melhor entendimento dos processos propostos e sua relação com a dinâmica biogeoquímica de importantes elementos nesses ambientes, especialmente do Fe presente nos filossilicatos. / Mangroves are transitional ecosytems between continental and marine environments. Its widely distributed along Brazilian coast under great variability of climatic, oceanographic, geological and geomorphological conditions. Its soil mineralogy has a relevant role in the pedogenic processes and biogeochemical behavior of nutrients and potential inorganic and organic pollutants substances. The present study evaluated the mineralogical composition of fine fractions (silt, clay and fine clay) of eight Brazilian mangrove soils of south to north coast using XRD, infrared spectrometry and TEM analyses. The mineralogical assemblage of clay fraction consists on kaolinite, smectite, ferric illite and traces of quartz and gibbsite. In fine clay fraction it can be observed great amounts of kaolinite and smectites, probably ferric, associated with 2:1 hydroxy interlayered minerals beyond poorly crystalline illite-smectite interstratified minerals. Semi-quantification data and kaolinite/illite crystallographic characteristics reveal the importance of geological materials of continental adjacent areas for mineralogical composition of mangrove soils. Thus three different patterns were identified along the coast: mangrove influenced directly by sediments derived from soils developed on geological materials of Pre-Cambrian basement rocks, with poorly crystalline kaolinites, illite transformed from diagenetic mica present in Pre-Cambrian and authigenic smectites; mangroves next to Tertiary Barreiras Group sediments, with better crystalline kaolinites and less amounts of 2:1 phyllosilicates; and mangroves under influence of sediments that come from soils developed under northeastern semi-arid climate (less weathered), evidenced by great amounts of inherited and neoformed 2:1 phyllosilicates and poorly-crystalline illite. More specific studies about clay minerals chemical composition and its geochemical formation mechanisms should be performed in future, for better understanding of proposed processes and its relation with the biogeochemical dynamics of certain elements in this environment, specially the iron present in phyllosilicates.

Com o objetivo de desenvolver novos revestimentos mais protetores e quantificar a resistência à corrosão resultante, estudou-se a adição de caulinita em novos revestimentos híbridos a base de silanos sobre a liga de alumínio AA7075. Os revestimentos com silanos aqui estudados diferem dos relatados anteriormente na literatura, os quais usualmente contém cargas minerais apenas para a liberação de inibidores de corrosão, enquanto que os revestimentos desenvolvidos no presente estudo contém caulinita lamelar com a finalidade de barreira de difusão para espécies corrosivas. Para tanto, estudou-se primeiramente a esfoliação da caulinita e produção de filmes finos (2-3μm) por diferentes rotas de preparação pelo processo sol-gel, obtendo-se os melhores resultados com o processo envolvendo acidificação final. Os revestimentos e as partículas de caulinita processada foram caracterizados por microscopia ótica, microscopia de varredura eletrônica e difração de raios-X. A resistência à corrosão foi estudada por voltametria cíclica e cronoamperometria, em potencial aplicado entre o potencial de pite e o de repassivação. A maior resitência à corrosão por pites foi obtida para os revestimentos contendo 3% em massa de caulinita, seguido dos com 33% em massa. Estudou-se também preliminarmente a permeação de H2O no revestimento por medidas rápidas de capacitância, após exposição cíclica em soluções contendo cloreto seguidas de secagem, sendo esta metodologia empregada até o momento apenas para tintas bem mais espessas (≈ 300μm). Observou-se que o método é aplicável para medidas no primeiro ciclo de absorção de H2O, concluindo-se que após a primeira exposição, o cloreto continua difundindo, diminuindo o tempo de resistência ao pite. / Aiming to develop more protective new coatings and to quantify the resulting corrosion resistance, new hybrid coatings based on silanes with the addition of kaolinite were produced and applied on the AA7075 aluminum alloy. The studied silane coatings differ from those reported previously in the literature that usually contain mineral fillers to release corrosion inhibitors, since we here developed silane coatings contain lamellar kaolinite as a barrier against the diffusion of corrosive species. For this, we first studied the exfoliation of kaolinite, and production of thin coating (2-3μm) by different preparation routes of the sol-gel process, obtaining the best results with the process of final acidification. Coatings and processed kaolinite particles were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The corrosion resistance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry at potentials between that of the repassivation and of the pitting of the substrate alloy. The greatest pitting resistance was obtained for coatings with 3% kaolinite addition, followed by the ones with 33%. The permeation of H2O into the coating was also preliminarily studied by fast capacitance measurements after cyclic exposure to solutions containing chloride followed by drying, a methodology that up to date was only used for much thicker paints (≈ 300μm). It was concluded that in chloride media this method is only applicable for measurements in the first cycle, as after the first exposure, chloride ions continuously permeate into the coating during the drying phase, greatly reducing the time to pit nucleation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:42:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LuizCDB_DISSERT.pdf: 2635764 bytes, checksum: a9af996a27546dc8a59f234cdabe7aad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-14 / In this work were synthesized matrix-based commercial white clay in its composition having large amounts of kaolinite and quartz, with a certain percentage of iron oxide for use as an adsorbent for hydrogen sulfide (H2S). To characterize the effect of initial matrix techniques were used to characterize XRD, FTIR, XRF and TG. The initial clay mineral matrix was placed in contact with 0.1 molar solutions of the salts of Co2+, Ni2+, Cr3+ and a solution 0.1 g / 100ml rhodamine B. During the synthesis process, the solutions were placed in contact with the initial matrix for a period of 48 hours in order to have ion exchange with the clay mineral. To check the amount of exchanged metals, we used the technique of X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). After synthesis was initiated the process of adsorption of H2S, where the arrays were placed in the reactor, then by passing a stream of hydrogen sulfide. The matrix along with the reactor was weighed before and after to measure the amount of gas adsorbed. Based on the gravimetric data the matrix which had the highest performance of the adsorption matrix was exchanged with Ni2+ ions, obtaining a result of 11.13 mg H2S / g matrix, then the matrix coated with rhodamine B which was reached 10.13 mg H2S / g matrix / Neste trabalho foram sintetizadas matrizes a base de argila branca comercial que possui em sua composi??o grande quantidade de caulinita e quartzo, com certo percentual de ?xido de ferro, para uso como adsorvente de sulfeto de hidrog?nio (H2S). Para efeito de caracteriza??o da matriz inicial foram utilizadas as t?cnicas de caracteriza??o DRX, FTIR, FRX e TG. A matriz argilomineral inicial foi colocada em contato com solu??es 0,1 molar dos sais de Co2+, Ni2+, Cr3+ e com uma solu??o 0,1 g/ 100ml de rodamina B. Durante o processo de s?ntese, as solu??es foram colocadas em contato com a matriz inicial por um per?odo de 48 horas a fim de haver troca i?nica com o argilomineral. Para verificar a quantidade de metais trocados, foi utilizada a t?cnica de Fluoresc?ncia de Raios X (FRX). Ap?s a s?ntese foi iniciado o processo de adsor??o de H2S, onde as matrizes foram colocadas no reator, passando em seguida por um fluxo cont?nuo de sulfeto de hidrog?nio. A matriz juntamente com o reator foi pesada antes e depois para aferir a quantidade de g?s adsorvida. Com base nos dados gravim?tricos a matriz que obteve o maior desempenho de adsor??o foi a matriz trocada com ?ons Ni2+, obtendo um resultado de 11,13 mg de H2S/ g de matriz, seguida pela matriz recoberta com rodamina B a qual chegou-se a 10,13 mg de H2S/ g de matriz

Manguezais são ecossistemas de transição entre ambientes continental e marinho. Estão amplamente distribuídos ao longo da costa brasileira, sob grande variabilidade de condições climáticas, oceanográficas, geológicas e geomorfológicas. A mineralogia dos solos reflete e interfere nos processos de formação de solos e no comportamento biogeoquímico de nutrientes e potenciais substâncias poluentes, orgânicas e inorgânicas. O presente estudo avaliou a composição mineralógica dos solos de oito manguezais, do litoral sul ao norte do país, por meio de DRX, infravermelho e MET, das frações finas (silte, argila total e argila fina). A assembléia mineralógica da fração argila é composta, predominantemente, por caulinita, esmectita, ilitas férricas e traços de quartzo e gibbsita. Na argila fina, observou-se a presença de grandes quantidades de caulinita e esmectitas, provavelmente férricas, associadas a algum mineral 2:1 HE além de ilita de baixa cristalinidade interestratificada com minerais expansivos. Dados de semi-quantificação e características cristalográficas de caulinitas e ilitas revelam que a geologia das áreas continentais adjacentes aos manguezais influencia diretamente a assembléia mineralógica dos solos desses ambientes. Sob esse olhar, três padrões de manguezais foram identificados ao longo da costa: manguezais influenciados diretamente por sedimentos derivados de solos desenvolvidos sobre materiais geológicos do escudo cristalino pré-cambriano, com caulinitas pouco cristalinas, ilitas originadas das micas presentes nas rochas correspondentes e esmectitas autigênicas; manguezais próximos a áreas dos tabuleiros terciários do grupo Barreiras, com caulinitas mais cristalinas e menores teores de minerais 2:1; e aqueles sob influência de materiais advindos do clima semi-árido nordestino (menos alterados), com grande quantidade de minerais 2:1 neoformados e herdados dos solos dessas áreas adjacentes, o que pode ser apoiado pelas maiores quantidades de ilitas, com cristalinidade menor. Estudos mais específicos acerca da composição química dos minerais e de seus mecanismos geoquímicos de formação devem ser realizados futuramente, para melhor entendimento dos processos propostos e sua relação com a dinâmica biogeoquímica de importantes elementos nesses ambientes, especialmente do Fe presente nos filossilicatos. / Mangroves are transitional ecosytems between continental and marine environments. Its widely distributed along Brazilian coast under great variability of climatic, oceanographic, geological and geomorphological conditions. Its soil mineralogy has a relevant role in the pedogenic processes and biogeochemical behavior of nutrients and potential inorganic and organic pollutants substances. The present study evaluated the mineralogical composition of fine fractions (silt, clay and fine clay) of eight Brazilian mangrove soils of south to north coast using XRD, infrared spectrometry and TEM analyses. The mineralogical assemblage of clay fraction consists on kaolinite, smectite, ferric illite and traces of quartz and gibbsite. In fine clay fraction it can be observed great amounts of kaolinite and smectites, probably ferric, associated with 2:1 hydroxy interlayered minerals beyond poorly crystalline illite-smectite interstratified minerals. Semi-quantification data and kaolinite/illite crystallographic characteristics reveal the importance of geological materials of continental adjacent areas for mineralogical composition of mangrove soils. Thus three different patterns were identified along the coast: mangrove influenced directly by sediments derived from soils developed on geological materials of Pre-Cambrian basement rocks, with poorly crystalline kaolinites, illite transformed from diagenetic mica present in Pre-Cambrian and authigenic smectites; mangroves next to Tertiary Barreiras Group sediments, with better crystalline kaolinites and less amounts of 2:1 phyllosilicates; and mangroves under influence of sediments that come from soils developed under northeastern semi-arid climate (less weathered), evidenced by great amounts of inherited and neoformed 2:1 phyllosilicates and poorly-crystalline illite. More specific studies about clay minerals chemical composition and its geochemical formation mechanisms should be performed in future, for better understanding of proposed processes and its relation with the biogeochemical dynamics of certain elements in this environment, specially the iron present in phyllosilicates.

De nos jours le développement durable et les mesures de protection pour l'environnement se développent avec des conséquences importantes pour la gestion des ressources naturelles. Les aménagements du territoire, et particulièrement les travaux de terrassements, sont directement concernés par ces nouvelles directives avec un objectif de " zéro apport-zéro déchet " de matériaux. Cependant les sols naturels, et notamment les sols argileux, ne satisfont pas les critères géotechniques. Plusieurs chantiers de terrassements dans le Nord-Ouest de la France rencontrent des difficultés avec des sols fins résultants de l'altération de sédiments du massif Armoricain ne satisfaisant pas les exigences mécaniques et de stabilité, même traités classiquement avec de la chaux et / ou des liants hydrauliques. L'approche multi-échelle mise en œuvre dans ce travail nous a mené à caractériser la forte sensibilité à l'eau de ces matériaux, propriété critique pour la réalisation de déblais notamment. Un effet composite entre les minéraux de kaolinite et de muscovite à l'origine de cette sensibilité à l'eau a été mis en évidence par l'étude des interactions en suspension de ces deux minéraux. Les gains de cohésion des matériaux développés lors de leur traitement à la chaux permettent d'envisager leur valorisation sur chantier en respectant quelques précautions. La discussion de la nature des différentes forces de cohésion dans les matériaux naturels et traités permet de proposer plusieurs hypothèses pour expliquer l'évolution particulière des performances mécaniques de ces matériaux par rapport aux sols développant classiquement de bonnes performances.

Objective of this project was the study of interaction processes between humic substances, U(VI), Np(V) and kaolinite KGa-1b. It contributed to the attainment of a better process understanding, the improvement of the knowledge on the interaction of humic substances and metal ions and the enhancement of the thermodynamic database. With a synthetic humic acid (HA), N-containing functional groups of HA were characterized by 15N-NMR spectroscopy. Based on these results, model studies of the influence of amino groups on the complexation behavior of HA were performed. Spectroscopic studies with amino acids show that the amino group do not contribute to the U(VI) complexation at pH 4. The impact of kaolinite on the formation of HA and humic substance-kaolinite-sorbates was studied in model syntheses. The results exhibit that the presence of kaolinite during the syntheses mainly influences the yields on HA and their elemental compositions. Synthetic humic substance-kaolinite-sorbates were isolated. Under exclusion of CO2, the U(VI) complexation by HA was investigated at pH 7 by means of the conventional time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and TRLFS with ultrafast pulses. Complexation parameters for the ternary complex UO2(OH)HA(I) were determined. Studies of the Np(V) reduction in presence of HA with different functionalities under anaerobic conditions have shown that Np(V) is reduced to Np(IV) by HA. The redox capacity depends on the HA functionality. Applying a modified HA it was verified that phenolic/acidic OH groups play a dominating role in the Np(V) reduction. The influence of HA on the U(VI) and Np(V) sorption onto kaolinite was investigated in batch experiments. In dependence on the experimental conditions, HA effects the sorption and consequently the mobility of U(VI) and Np(V). From studies of the U(VI) sorption onto synthetic humic substance-kaolinite-sorbates it was concluded that the structure and functionality of sorbed/associated humic substances considerably influence the sorption behavior of U(VI). The structure of U(VI)-kaolinite-surface complexes in presence of HA was studied by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and TRLFS and compared to those of U(VI)-kaolinite-complexes. Investigations of the migration of HA and U(VI) in the laboratory system kaolinite-water were carried out in diffusion experiments. The migration of HA in compacted clay is governed by diffusion and influenced by its colloidal properties. Humic substances exert an immobilizing effect on the U(VI) transport in compacted kaolinite.

The trajectory and capacity are key components of the design of drag embedment anchor and drag-in vertically loaded anchors. This experimental testing program quantifies two factors that describe the anchor trajectory and capacity: the equilibrium bearing factor (Ne) and the tangential bearing factor (Ne). These factors can aid in the development of a numerical model of anchor behavior. A magnetometer device is used to track the orientation and location of the anchor during drag embedment. The results of the experimental testing program were compared with the results from a predictive model. The experimental program consisted of drag embedment tests with various testing conditions including different anchor line diameters and different initial pitch orientations. The results with the different anchor lines indicated that thinner anchor lines cause the anchor to dive deeper in the soil. The different initial pitch results indicate that regardless of the initial pitch of the anchor, the anchor rotates to a unique pitch trajectory within 2 fluke lengths. / text