Soil water movement and desorption studies were conducted on two agriculturally important soil series. The soils selected were the Norfolk soil (a fine loamy, siliceous, thermic, Typic Paleudult) and the Cecil soil (a clayey, kaolinitic, thermic, Typic Hapludult). Water desorption properties were investigated in the laboratory and in situ. The soil water desorption curves developed in the laboratory for both soils were relatively uniform. This observation was also true for most horizons for the desorption curves developed from the field data. The results for the B horizons of the Cecil soil showed the greatest variability, with the field data being the most variable. Comparisons of the field and laboratory water contents at given tensions show the field values were lower than laboratory values for horizons with over 40 percent sand and less than 30 percent clay. Field values were higher than laboratory values in the B horizons of both soils. In all other horizons, the field values were close to those obtained in the laboratory. The Norfolk soil was found to contain more plant available water than the Cecil soil. The selection of an upper limit for plant available water estimation is critical, especially for the Norfolk soil. The Cecil soil yielded little water between -.05 and -.30 bars, whereas the Norfolk soil yielded a relatively large amount of water (more than 3 times greater) in this range. This would nearly double the predicted plant available water for the Norfolk soil. Results of this study show that the irrigation management of the Cecil soil would require smaller amounts of water applied frequently, whereas the Norfolk soil could hold larger amounts of plant available water applied less frequently. This would allow more time between irrigations. / Master of Science

Master of Science

Effects of media, soil moisture, fertility rate, and plant growth regulators on plant growth were investigated for 13 taxa of succulents. Media: Liners were grown in five common greenhouse substrates: 80% peat, 60% bark + 30% peat moss, 80% pine bark/20% Permatil (v/v), 100% composted pine bark, or whole tree substrate until market ready. Overall, higher percentage bark mixes yielded smaller plants, with lower shoot dry weights, shoot heights and widths. Soil Moisture: Liners were potted into a 60% bark/30% peat soilless potting mix. In group 1 , irrigation to container capacity occurred when volumetric soil moisture content fell below 30%, 20%, or 10%,. Group two (seven species) irrigation thresholds were shifted to 35%, 25%, and 15%. Effects of irrigation rate were significant in three of the 13 species studied, and those effects were species-specific. Fertility Rate: Liners were potted into60% bark/30% peat substrate. Fertility reatments in group were 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg.L-1 nitrogen. Group 2 plants received treatments of 50, 150, 250, or 350 mg.L-1 nitrogen. Four of the 11 species studied were affected by nitrogen rate, with rates up to 200 mg.L-1 generally producing the largest plants. PGRs: Seven species were potted into a 60% bark/30% peat substrate. Group one plants were treated with a foliar application of benzyladenine (Configure) at rates of 0, 400, 800, or 1600 mg.L-1. Group 2 plants were treated either BA at 0, 250, 500, or 1000 mg.L-1, dikegulac sodium (Augeo) at 400, 800, or 1600 mg.L-1, or a tank mix of 500 mg.L-1 Configure and 800 mg.L-1 Augeo. BA caused an increase in branches leaders or offsets in two species. / Master of Science

The key to improving drying quality and reducing drying time and energy consumption lies in understanding and controlling moisture movement during drying. As wood dries, strains and stresses develop as a result of restraints imposed by moisture gradients and differential shrinkage in wood. So accurately measuring the moisture gradient in wood during drying will be helpful to improving drying quality. In this project, moisture gradients in red oak will be measured through four different techniques----<i><b>bandsaw slicing, Forstner bit layering, flaking and razor blade slicing</i></b>. The first two techniques are found in the literature. The last two are developed in this study. The results obtained with these four techniques were compared, and it was found that the newly developed techniques could get moisture gradients that were closer to the true value. The <i><b>thickness</i></b> of the slice was assumed to affect measuring the moisture gradient because of the environmental influences. So a thickness series was tested with the two new technique----flaking and razor blade slicing. The results showed that there was no slice or flake thickness effect on the moisture gradients.And an optimum slice and flake thickness was determined for the wood industries and research studies. Finally, the <i><b>directional</i></b> effect on transverse moisture movement during kiln drying was examined through measuring moisture gradients in the tangential and radial directions of wood. The results showed that moisture moved slightly faster in the radial direction than in the tangential direction during kiln drying and the moisture gradients in the tangential direction were slightly steeper than those in the radial direction. / Master of Science

Moisture migration is responsible for much damage in modern buildings. Air infiltrations were almost eliminated because of the use of various qualities of materials and insulation. Water is mainly transferred through building materials by diffusion, under three different phases (vapor, liquid and bound). Most of the time, indoor and outdoor conditions are different and strong gradients of humidity and temperature exist within the building walls. Many models describing moisture diffusion through capillary-porous materials exist, but none of them is universally accepted. The proposed work includes a presentation of these theoretical models which will be implemented and evaluated by a series of experiments. Data is obtained for Oriented Strand Board (OSB). The existing apparatus, developed by Crimm (1992) and Mosier (1994) consists of a wood-based sample, sealed between two environmental chambers. Each chamber has its own humidity and temperature control system. This apparatus is an alternative to the standard “cup” method to determine moisture permeability of wood samples. The relative humidity is not controlled by salt solutions. Forced air circulation at the surface of the specimen results in uniform conditions in the chamber and faster results. The experimental apparatus is upgraded for better control. The relative humidity is controlled in a range of 5- 75 percent, within 0.2 percent of the setpoint, and the temperature can be maintained within 0.05°C, in a range of 15-50°C. The apparatus operation is validated by comparing a series of isothermal data with published results. Good agreement is found between these data and those reported by two different authors. Several nonisothermal experiments are conducted to implement and evaluate the moisture diffusion theory. / Master of Science

Many buildings in Sweden have some kind of moisture problem and the reason for this can in a lot of cases be attributed to the production phase. A suggested measure by Boverket is to increase feedback to reduce errors in the production phase. This study will therefore contribute to the experience feedback by describing the process of moisture safety during the production phase at Skanska’s construction of Alster’s preschool. The starting point for this study is a moisture survey carried out on Alster’s preschool. The result from the moisture survey suggests that the work with moisture safety has been successful during the construction of Alster’s preschool. The aim of this study is therefore to make Alster’s preschool into an object of reference regarding moisture safety during the production phase. The method involved a theoretical study of building components and materials used in the construction of Alster’s preschool and the moisture aspects that must be taken into account. The method also involved an examination of Skanska’s documents from the construction of Alster’s preschool, supplemented with verbal conversations with Skanska employees. The result describes the process of moisture safety during the production phase at Alster’s preschool. The description includes how the construction was built, material management, examinations that were carried out and the anomalies that occurred. One conclusion that was drawn regarding the applicability of Alster’s preschool as an object of reference is that some similarities should coincide with the new building. Similarities such as supporting structures of wood, meet the passive house standard, one floor construction, and that the building is constructed in a similar climate. Another conclusion that was drawn is that the work with moisture safety in the production phase always should strive to keep building moisture levels below critical numbers. A measure taken in the disposal to make this possible was to achieve a favorable climate regarding moisture in the building. But it is important to consider the required air tightness in the construction before the heating process starts in the building.

The development, yield and water use of six sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) hybrids and their respective male and female parents were evaluated under stressed and well irrigated conditions during 1980 and 1981 at Tucson, Arizona. Changes in soil moisture storage were measured by neutron modulation on a semiweekly schedule. Transpiration, diffusive resistance and leaf-ambient temperature differentials were monitored biweekly using a steady state porometer. Meteorological data was collected on a daily basis. The 1980 season had higher maximum temperatures and pan evaporation than the 1981 season. Differences in soil moisture extraction among sorghum entries were not apparent within water treatments. Mean cumulative evapotranspiration (ET) for the stressed treatment was 270 and 261 mm, for 1980 and 1981, respectively. Mean cumulative ET for irrigated treatment was about twice that at 520 and 648 mm during 1980 and 1981, respectively. There were no apparent differences in cumulative ET for entries in the stressed treatment while genotypic differences were manifested under well irrigated conditions. Temperature differential demonstrated a significant and negative correlation with diffusive resistance especially under stressed conditions (r = -.64 in 1981). Temperature differential was positively correlated with transpiration (r = .70 in 1980 stressed treatment). Plant height was significantly affected by water level both years while stem weight was affected by water level only in 1980. Soil moisture treatments did not affect leaf area either year and genotypic differences were demonstrated only in 1981. Hybrids produced greater grain yield than their male parents under both water treatments. This was due to greater seed number for hybrids. Seed number was also more stable for hybrids under both moisture levels. Hybrids four and seven had the greatest grain yield in 1980 and 1981, respectively. Harvest index was improved with increased water application due to increased seed number. Hybrid four in 1980 and hybrid seven in 1981 were extremely efficient in water use exhibiting ET ratios of 283 and 378, respectively under high water application. Reduced water application had little affect on the performance of these entries.

O conforto é um aspecto muito importante ao se tratar de vestuário, por isso cada vez mais estão sendo desenvolvidos tecidos com características específicas para proporcionar conforto nas mais diversas situações de uso. Dentro desse contexto, o conforto térmico fisiológico tem papel fundamental e um dos seus pontos chave é a capacidade dos têxteis de gerenciar a umidade proporcionada pelo processo de suor do corpo. O equipamento Moisture Management Tester (MMT) foi desenvolvido para possibilitar uma avaliação prática e confiável dessa propriedade dos tecidos e permite calcular um índice que reflete a capacidade global de gestão de umidade (OMMC) das amostras analisadas. O objetivo desse trabalho é realizar uma avaliação dos resultados obtidos no equipamento MMT em tecidos de malha fabricados com diversos tipos de fios e de contexturas e comparar os resultados com outros métodos de medida de gerenciamento de umidade, para verificar a eficácia do equipamento em quantificar a diferença de comportamento entre os tecidos analisados. Através da análise estatística concluiu-se que a metodologia utilizada no MMT possui uma divisão mais equilibrada da influência dos fatores para os resultados encontrados, sendo mais fiel ao que acontece com o tecido na pratica, com resultados mais representativos, pois todos os fatores que interferem nos resultados são consideração de maneira equilibrada / Comfort is a very important aspect related to garments, that is why fabrics containing specific characteristics to provide comfort in all kinds of situations are being developed. Within this context, the physiological thermal comfort plays a crucial role and one of his key points is the ability of textile to manage moisture provided by the body sweat process. The Moisture Management Tester (MMT) methodology was developed to enable a practical and reliable evaluation of this property of fabrics and allows the calculation of an index that reflects the overall moisture management capacity (OMMC) of the samples. The objective of this was to provide an evaluation of the results obtained on MMT on different types of yarn and knits compared to other moisture management methods of measurement, and intending to verify the effectiveness of the equipment to quantify the difference in behavior among the analyzed fabrics. Through statistical analysis, it was concluded that the methodology used in MMT has a more balanced division of the factors influence in founded results, seen as more faithful to what happens to fabric in practice, with more representative results because all factors that interfere in the results are considered in a balanced way

A madeira quando seca é um excelente isolante elétrico, porém quando a umidade da madeira aumenta, essa característica diminui fazendo com que esta passe a conduzir a corrente elétrica. A determinação do teor de umidade permite um controle do custo de produção e qualidade da madeira, além de facilitar a utilização de tratamentos preservativos e pintura. O método de determinação do teor de umidade com o uso de estufa é o método mais exato, e por esta razão é utilizado como padrão para calibrar outras técnicas. Por outro lado, a verificação do teor de umidade por meio da estufa é muito demorado e danifica parte do componente a ser analisado. O objetivo deste trabalho é propor uma metodologia para calibrar medidores elétricos de umidade, utilizando espécies de dicotiledôneas nativas e coníferas de florestamento. Na experimentação realizada foi possível constatar que apesar da menor precisão na determinação de teores de umidade, o método que utiliza medidores de umidade do tipo resistência, permite com algumas correções, a obtenção de valores confiáveis para o controle de umidade de peças de madeira serrada. Para isso foram desenvolvidas expressões obtidas por meio de análise de regressão linear que possibilitam fazer as correções necessárias nas leituras realizadas com o medidor elétrico do tipo resistência. / Wood when dry is an excellent electric insulating material. However when the moisture content of wood increases, that feature decreases, which makes it conduct electric current. Determining the moisture content allows the control of the production cost and the quality of the timber, and also facilitates the use of preservative treatments and painting. The method for the determination of the moisture content using the kiln is the most exact method, and therefore it is used as standard to calibrate other techniques. On the other hand, the verification of the moisture content by means of the kiln takes toe much time and damages part of the component to be analyzed. The aim of this work is to propose a methodology to gauge electric moisture meters using species of tropical and forestation hardwood and softwood. The experiments made it possible to verify that, even having less accuracy in determining the moisture content, the method based on moisture electric meters allows, with some adjustments, a reliable data acquisition for the control of moisture content of sawed lumber. For this matter, equations were developed by means of linear regression analysis allowing the necessary corrections of the readings carried out with the electric measurer of the resistance type.

This doctoral thesis presents results of literature review on classical and contemporary aspects of stripping, as well as experimental investigations on moisture damage as influenced by bituminous materials. Previous research in the area of moisture damage was reviewed and synthesized into a state-of-the-art. Important parameters linked to moisture sensitivity, like bituminous material characteristics, dynamic loads from heavy vehicles, environmental factors, construction practice and nature of anti-stripping additives, are presented. The state-of-the-art in current test methods is summarized and given. The experimental work involved investigations of the influence of bitumen and aggregate composition on water susceptibility. The influence of aggregate mineralogy and chemistry was evaluated using eleven aggregates and one bitumen, followed by studying the interactive effect of four bitumens and four aggregates. Moisture sensitivity was evaluated in accordance with (EN 12697-12:2003) for conditioning, ASTM D 4123 for resilient modulus determination, and (EN 12697-23:2003) for indirect tensile strength testing. Furthermore, thermal stability of two liquid amine anti-stripping additives mixed with two bitumens of varied acidity was investigated using potentiometric titration and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. Lastly, a technique based on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) was developed and used for studying transport of water across thin bitumen films, as well as stripping at bitumen/substrate interfaces. Bitumens from different sources and three substrates (silicon, germanium and zinc selenide crystals) were used. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that aggregates containing sodium and potassium in alkali feldspars generally showed high moisture sensitivity. In contrast, presence of calcium, magnesium and iron was associated with aggregates with low moisture sensitivity. Contrary to several previous findings, one aggregate with practically 100% quartz exhibited low moisture sensitivity. No linear relationship between moisture sensitivity and the contents of SiO2 and Al2O3 in the aggregates studied was established. Results of the interactive influence of bitumen and aggregate composition showed that high acid and low penetration bitumens exhibited high dry strength for all the aggregates studied. On the other hand, for a given bitumen, the wet strengths were found to be aggregate specific. The results of tests on thermal stability of amine additives showed that usefulness of these additives reduces considerably, when the more alkaline additive was mixed with the high acid bitumen, followed by storing the blends under pronounced conditions of time and temperature (24 hours and 140ºC, or more, in this study). Much less interaction occurred when the less alkaline additive was blended with the low acid bitumen. Even if a correlation was found between the results of potentiometric titration and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, the latter was not considered good enough at detecting amine additives, especially at low dosages. The technique based on FTIR-ATR developed in this study distinguished between good and bad bitumens with regard to stripping. The effectiveness of amine-based additives in reducing stripping was also shown by the method. Three likely processes occurred during the test, namely water diffusion, film break, and displacement (stripping) of bitumen from the substrate surface. The results also indicated that the diffusion process of water into the bitumen/substrate interface does not obey Fick’s law. / QC 20100831