Thesis (M.S.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Research was carried out to increase the current knowledge on sunburn development and its control in apples. In addition to its chief causes, viz. high irradiance and high temperatures, water stress has long been thought to contribute to sunburn susceptibility. Certain fruit chemical and textural characteristics have also been suspected to increase sunburn, while it is not clear how factors such as crop load affect sunburn in relation to other fruit quality parameters. In red and blushed cultivars, sunburn could be underestimated due to masking by the red colour overlay. Half and total irrigation water were withheld for two weeks in ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples while in a concomitant trial, mulching with vermicompost (plus a thin layer of woodchips), woodchips, plant compost and black geotextile were used to regulate plant water by reducing soil evaporative loss. Sunburn increased with an increase in moisture stress. Mulching had no effect on plant water status, but it generally enhanced plant photochemistry, reducing fruit surface temperature (FST) and sunburn. Chemical and textural characteristics of exposed, but non-burned ‘Cripps’ Pink’ apples were compared with that of fruit with induced and naturally occurring sunburn. Flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA) of induced and naturally occurring sunburnt fruit did not differ from each other, but were significantly different from the non-burnt fruit. Based on this, we concluded that sunburn induces textural and compositional changes in sunburnt fruit rather than some fruit being predisposed to develop sunburn due to their texture and chemical composition. Differences in heat stress tolerance, flesh texture and chemical composition of sun exposed and shaded fruit sides seem to relate to their light exposure history. The effect of crop load on sunburn and fruit quality were assessed on a fruit cluster level in 2008-09 and on a whole tree basis in 2009-10 in ‘Cripps’ Pink’. In 2008-09, sunburn, red colour and the proportion of first grade fruit decreased with an increase in number of fruit per cluster. Crop load did not have an effect on sunburn and fruit colour in 2009-10 although the lowest thinning severity seemed to increase sunburn severity while the proportion of first grade fruit was highest for the highest thinning severity. Fruit number per cluster had no effect on fruit size, while at the whole tree level, fruit size decreased with increasing crop load. Flesh firmness, starch breakdown, TA and TSS were neither affected by the number of fruit per cluster nor the crop load of the tree as a whole. Green ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Golden Delicious’, blushed ‘Royal Gala’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Braeburn’ and ‘Cripps’ Pink’, and full red ‘Topred’ were used to assess how red colour (anthocyanins) masks superficial sunburn browning and bleaching. The greater reduction in superficial sunburn, but not in sunburn necrosis in red and blushed compared to green cultivars with increasing red colour a month towards harvest seemed to confirm the effect of masking. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing is verrig ter uitbreiding van die huidige kennis oor die ontwikkeling en beheer van sonbrand in appels. Addisioneel tot die hoof oorsake van sonbrand, naamlik hoë irradiasie en hoë temperatuur, word waterstres gesien as bydraend tot sonbrandsensitiwiteit. Daar word ook vermoed dat sekere chemiese en teksturele eienskappe van die vrug sonbrand kan verhoog terwyl daar nie duidelikheid is oor hoe faktore soos oeslading sonbrand relatief tot ander vrugkwaliteitparameters kan affekteer nie. Die omvang van sonbrand in rooi en bloskultivars kan dalk onderskat word vanweë maskering deur die oorliggende rooi pigmentasie. Besproeiing is vir twee weke gehalveer of gestop in ‘Cripps’ Pink’ appels. Sonbrand het toegeneem met ‘n toename in vogstres. ‘n Deklaag van vermikompos (plus ‘n dun laag houtstukkies), houtstukkies, plantkompos en ‘n swart geotekstiel is toegedien om die plant waterstatus te reguleer deur evaporasie vanuit die grond te beperk. Die deklae het geen effek op die plant waterstatus gehad nie, maar het wel die blaar fotochemie bevorder en terselftertyd die vrugoppervlaktemperatuur verlaag en sonbrand verminder. Die chemiese en tekturele eienskappe van sonligblootgestelde ‘Cripps’ Pink’ appels sonder sonbrand is vergelyk met vrugte met geïnduseerde sonbrand en vrugte met sonbrand wat natuurlik ontwikkel het. Vrugvleisfermheid, totale oplosbare vastestowwe (TOV) en titreerbare suur (TS) van vrugte met natuurlik en geïnduseerde sonbrand het nie onderling verskil nie, maar het wel betekesnisvol verskil van vrugte sonder sonbrand. Ons het gevolglik afgelei dat sonbrand teksturele en komposisionele veranderinge teweeg bring eerder as dat sekere vrugte gepredisponeer word om sonbrand te ontwikkel vanweë hul tekstuur en chemiese samestelling. Dit kom voor dat verskille in hittestres toleransie, tekstuur en chemiese samestelling tussen die sonligblootgestelde en skadu kante van appels verband hou met hul verskil in sonligblootstelling. Die effek van oeslading op sonbrand en vrugkwaliteit in ‘Cripps’ Pink’ is ge-evalueer op trosvlak in 2008-09 en op ‘n per boom basis in 2009-10. Sonbrand, rooi kleur en die proporsie eersteklas vrugte het afgeneem met ‘n toename in die aantal vrugte per tros. Op ‘n per boom basis is rooi kleur en sonbrand egter nie deur oeslading geaffekteer nie. Die laagste vlak van vruguitdunning het wel oënskynlik die graad van sonbrand verhoog terwyl die hoogste vlak van vruguitdunning tot ‘n toename in die proporsie eersteklas vrugte gelei het. Die aantal vrugte per tros het geen effek op vruggrootte gehad nie terwyl vruggrootte afgeneem het met oeslading op ‘n heelboombasis. Vrugvleisfermheid, styselafbraak, TOV en TS is nie deur aantal vrugte per tros of die oeslading per boom geaffekteer nie. Groen ‘Granny Smith’ en ‘Golden Delicious’, rooiblos ‘Royal Gala’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Braeburn’ en ‘Cripps’ Pink’, en volrooi ‘Topred’ is gebruik om die maskering van oppervlakkige sonbrandverbruining en –verbleiking deur rooi antosianien te bestudeer. Oppervlakkige sonbrand het minder toegeneem in die maand voor oes in die rooi- en bloskultivars as in die groen kultivars terwyl vrugkleur skynbaar nie die aanwesigheid van die meer sigbare sonbrandnekrose geaffekteer het nie. Maskering speel dus ‘n rol in die aanwesigheid van sigbare sonbrand.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-08Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:44:42Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lopes_abrc_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 812380 bytes, checksum: ddab19b874f77950395dc0a6733cba09 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Para avaliar os efeitos da ensilagem e da preservação química dos grãos úmidos de milho e sorgo sobre as modificações no endosperma e nos grânulos de amido, foram estudados os seguintes tratamentos (T): T1- Milho seco (variedade A) inteiro; T2- Milho seco (variedade A) moído; T3- Milho úmido (variedade A) moído e ensilado, T4- Milho úmido(variedade A) moído, acidificado com 1,2% de propionato de cálcio e ensilado; T5- Milho úmido (variedade B) moído e ensilado; T6 - Milho úmido (variedade B) moído e preservado quimicamente (2,4% de propionato de cálcio); T7- Sorgo seco (baixo tanino) moído, T8- Sorgo seco (alto tanino) moído; T9- Sorgo úmido (baixo tanino) moído e ensilado;. T10- Sorgo úmido (alto tanino) moído e ensilado. Os processamentos de ensilagem e preservação química dos grãos úmidos, determinaram redução no teor de amido em relação ao milho ou sorgo secos. No processo de ensilagem ocorreu rompimento da matriz protéica que envolve os grânulos de amido e alterações estruturais nos grânulos, como aumento no diâmetro dos poros e concavidade central, semelhante ao que ocorre nos processos de digestão enzimática, sendo que estas alterações foram mais intensas nos grânulos de amido de milho do que de sorgo. A temperatura máxima no interior do silo não é suficiente para geleificar o amido. / To evaluate the effect of ensiling or chemical preservation of high-moisture corn and sorghum grain on the modifications occurring in the endosperm and starch granules, the following treatments (T) were studied were studied: T1 - whole dry corn grain (variety A); T2 - ground dry corn grain (variety A); T3 - high-moisture corn grain(variety B), ground and ensiled; T4 - high-moisture corn grain (variety A), ground, acidified with 1.2 % calcium propionate and ensiled; T5 - high-moisture corn grain (variety B), ground and ensiled; T6 - high-moisture corn grain (variety B), ground and chemically preserved with 2.4 % calcium propionate; T7 - dry and ground low-tannin sorghum; T8 - dry and ground high-tannin sorghum; T9 - high-moisture, low-tannin sorghum, ground and ensiled; T10 - high-moisture, high-tannin sorghum, ground and ensiled. Ensiling or chemically preserving reduced the starch content, as compared to dry corn or sorghum. A rupture of the protein matrix (which covers the starch granules) was observed during the ensiling process; structural changes were also detected, such as the increase in pore diameters and in the central concavity, similar to what occurs during enzymatic digestion. These changes were more intense in the corn starch granules than in the sorghum granules. Even the highest temperature detected inside the silos was not enough to gelatinize starch.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:37:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05379.pdf: 4344136 bytes, checksum: b82d5226e24d569d19317b8dc8a173fd (MD5) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

The Swedish company ThermoGaia AB has sole sales rights in the Nordic region for ThermoShield® brand, which the company markets under its own brand Termoskydd. The paint is marketed with properties such as energy savings by heat reflection and solves moisture problems because the paint can both be diffusion open or closed due to climatic conditions and function like a variable vapor barrier. These unique features come from a combination of a special binder with ceramic beads. The unique properties of the color at varying humidity conditions are in particular of interest to study and evaluate, which is also the purpose of the this study. By experimentally creating two different closed climates with differentiated relative humidity between both sides of a material, concentration differences will occur in the prevailing vapor concentrations provided that constant temperature prevails. Variations in vapor levels create pressure differences that become the driving force of the moisture transport that takes place in the form of diffusion that occurs onedimensional. The method used in the study is a modified version of the standardized cup method. Periodic measurements of weight differences continued until stationary conditions were reached. The collected measurement data is then used to calculate the water vapor migration. The result of the study shows that the color has the ability to have a lower resistance if the surrounding climate has low relative humidity, the greater the concentration difference between the vapors. When the surrounding climate instead has a high relative humidity, the color showed a higher resistance when the greatest concentration difference occurs. The study's conclusion from the problem formulation is that the causal relationship between the relative humidity and water vapor migration for the color tends to change the resistance, depending on the vapor content of ambient air, provided that stationary conditions prevail.

La vapeur d’eau convergeant vers les régions polaires se condense en nuages quiretiennent la chaleur terrestre. Ces nuages donnent lieu à des précipitations, qui adoucissent les océans polaires et épaississent les calottes de glace. Sans changement des vents, le transport de vapeur d’eau est appelé à augmenter dans un climat plus chaud et donc les chutes de neige sur les calottes aussi. Le surplus d’humidité risque cependant de rétroagir sur le réchauffement de surface.Afin de contraindre les projections futures, cette thèse se propose d’évaluer la variabilité actuelle du cycle de l’eau dans les hautes latitudes. Elle s’appuie sur sept réanalyses globales et des observations par radiosondages allant de 1979 à 2013. Leurs biais intrinsèques et les approximations de calcul n’entament pas les conclusions principales de cette étude.En Arctique, mise à part une légère surestimation, le transport d’humidité dans les réanalyses est remarquablement proche des observations, aussi bien dans le temps que dans l’espace. Dans toutes les réanalyses, les vents dominants n’advectent qu’une fraction de la vapeur d’eau, de 6 à 11%, au profit des perturbations. D’après la plupart des sources, évaporation, précipitation et humidité atmosphérique augmentent en accord avec l’élévation des températures. Toutefois, les flux de vapeur d’eau ne suivent pas la loi de Clausius-Clapeyron car humidité et vents sont moins corrélés, notamment près de la surface.En Antarctique, le manque d’observations se fait sentir : la convergence de vapeur d’eau sur la calotte varie de 117 à 156 mm par an selon les réanalyses. Le transport côtier, très variable dans l’espace, résulte de l’alternance entre vents catabatiques et passage de perturbations. Sur la côte, les radiosondages signalent une augmentation significative des flux d’humidité vers le Sud. À l’échelle du continent en revanche, les réanalyses ne font étatde quasiment aucune tendance.Enfin, le rôle des phénomènes météorologiques d’échelle courte est évalué de nouveau, selon plusieurs méthodes. En particulier, les cyclones extratropicaux laissent dans les flux de vapeur d’eau une empreinte caractéristique qui peut être détectée et quantifiée. / The water vapour converging to the polar regions condenses into heat-trappingclouds and eventually precipitates, freshening the polar oceans and thickening the ice-sheets. Modulo circulation changes, the moisture transport is expected to increase in a warmer climate. While the extra precipitation could dampen the ice sheets’ contribution to sea level rise, the surplus of moisture could also feed back on the surface warming. However, the present variability of the polar moisture budgets must be known precisely before they can be projected with confidence into the future.This study examines the atmospheric water cycle of both the Arctic and the Antarctic in seven global reanalyses and in radiosonde observations covering the 1979-2013 period. The impacts of known model and assimilation flaws and of the various numerical approximations were evaluated and proven to be limited, at least for the moisture flux variable and the more recent reanalyses.In the Arctic, aside from a slight overestimation, the northward fluxes in reanalyses exhibit a remarkable agreement with the radiosoundings in terms of spatial and temporal patterns. In all reanalyses, transient eddies provide the bulk of the mid-latitude moisture imports – 89-94% at 70◦ N. In most datasets, evaporation, precipitation and precipitable water increase in line with what is expected from a warming signal. However fluxes do not scale with the Clausius-Clapeyron relation because the increasing humidity is not correlatedwith the meridional wind, particularly near the surface.The representations of the Antarctic atmospheric water cycle in reanalyses suffer from the scarcity of observations : the moisture convergence estimations vary from 117 to 156 mm per year. On the coast, the mean moisture flux results from the interplay between transient eddies and katabatic winds, which are particularly sensitive to the orography. The coastalradiosonde sites report significant increases of the southward moisture fluxes but otherwise there are practically no trends in reanalyses on a continental scale.Finally, the share of transient eddies in moisture advection is qualified using alternate methods. In particular, extratropical cyclones leave a characteristic imprint on the transport field, which can be detected and quantified.

abstract: Early-age cracks in fresh concrete occur mainly due to high rate of surface evaporation and restraint offered by the contracting solid phase. Available test methods that simulate severe drying conditions, however, were not originally designed to focus on evaporation and transport characteristics of the liquid-gas phases in a hydrating cementitious microstructure. Therefore, these tests lack accurate measurement of the drying rate and data interpretation based on the principles of transport properties is limited. A vacuum-based test method capable of simulating early-age cracks in 2-D cement paste is developed which continuously monitors the weight loss and changes to the surface characteristics. 2-D crack evolution is documented using time-lapse photography. Effects of sample size, w/c ratio, initial curing and fiber content are studied. In the subsequent analysis, the cement paste phase is considered as a porous medium and moisture transport is described based on surface mass transfer and internal moisture transport characteristics. Results indicate that drying occurs in two stages: constant drying rate period (stage I), followed by a falling drying rate period (stage II). Vapor diffusion in stage I and unsaturated flow within porous medium in stage II determine the overall rate of evaporation. The mass loss results are analyzed using diffusion-based models. Results show that moisture diffusivity in stage I is higher than its value in stage II by more than one order of magnitude. The drying model is used in conjunction with a shrinkage model to predict the development of capillary pressures. Similar approach is implemented in drying restrained ring specimens to predict 1-D crack width development. An analytical approach relates diffusion, shrinkage, creep, tensile and fracture properties to interpret the experimental data. Evaporation potential is introduced based on the boundary layer concept, mass transfer, and a driving force consisting of the concentration gradient. Effect of wind velocity is reflected on Reynolds number which affects the boundary layer on sample surface. This parameter along with Schmidt and Sherwood numbers are used for prediction of mass transfer coefficient. Concentration gradient is shown to be a strong function of temperature and relative humidity and used to predict the evaporation potential. Results of modeling efforts are compared with a variety of test results reported in the literature. Diffusivity data and results of 1-D and 2-D image analyses indicate significant effects of fibers on controlling early-age cracks. Presented models are capable of predicting evaporation rates and moisture flow through hydrating cement-based materials during early-age drying and shrinkage conditions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2011

The expected increase in precipitation and temperature in Scandinavia, and especially short-time heavy precipitation, will increase the frequency of flooding. Urban areas are the most vulnerable, and specifically, the road infrastructure. The accumulation of large volumes of water and sediments on road-stream intersections gets severe consequences for the road drainage structures. The need for a tool to identify characteristics that impacts the occurrence of flooding, and to predict future event is thus essential. This study integrates the spatial and temporal soil moisture properties into the research about flood prediction methods. Soil moisture data is derived from remote sensing techniques, with focus on the soil moisture specific satellites ASCAT and SMOS. Furthermore, several physical catchments descriptors (PCDs) are used to identify catchment characteristics that are prone to flooding and an inventory of current road drainage facilities are conducted. Finally, the index of sediment connectivity (IC) by Cavalli, Trevisani, Comiti, and Marchi (2013) is implemented to assess the flow of water and sediment within the catchment. A case study of two areas in Sweden, Västra Götaland and Värmland, that was affected by severe flooding in August 2014 are included. The results show that the method with using soil moisture satellite data is promising for the inclusion of soil moisture data into estimations of flooding and the index of sediment connectivity. / De förväntade ökningarna i nederbörd och temperatur i Skandinavien, och speciellt extrem korttidsnederbörd, kommer att öka frekvensen av översvämningar. Urbana områden är de mest sårbara, och speciellt väginfrastrukturen. Ackumuleringen av stora volymer av vatten och sediment där väg och vattendrag möts leder till allvarliga konsekvenser för dräneringskonstruktionerna. Behovet av ett verktyg för att identifiera egenskaper som påverkar förekomsten av översvämningar, och för att förutsäga framtida händelser är väsentligt. Studien integrerar markfuktighet både rumsligt och tidsmässigt i forskningen om metoder för översvämningsrisker. Markfuktighetsdata är inkluderat från fjärranalysteknik, med fokus på de specifika satelliterna för markfuktighet, ASCAT och SMOS. Vidare är flertalet faktorer (PCDs) inkluderade för att identifiera egenskaper i avrinningsområden som är benägna till översvämning samt en inventering av nuvarande vägdräneringskonstruktioner. Slutligen är ett index med sediment connectivity (Cavalli et al., 2013) implementerat för att se flödet av vatten och sediment inom avrinningsområdet. En fallstudie med två områden i Sverige, Västra Götaland och Värmland, som drabbades av allvarliga översvämningar i augusti 2014 är inkluderat. Resultaten visar att metoden att använda markfuktighet från satellitdata är lovande för inkludering i uppskattningar av översvämningsrisk och i indexet med sediment connectivity.

abstract: A recent joint study by Arizona State University and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) was conducted to evaluate certain Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) properties in the laboratory. WMA material was taken from an actual ADOT project that involved two WMA sections. The first section used a foamed-based WMA admixture, and the second section used a chemical-based WMA admixture. The rest of the project included control hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixture. The evaluation included testing of field-core specimens and laboratory compacted specimens. The laboratory specimens were compacted at two different temperatures; 270 °F (132 °C) and 310 °F (154 °C). The experimental plan included four laboratory tests: the dynamic modulus (E*), indirect tensile strength (IDT), moisture damage evaluation using AASHTO T-283 test, and the Hamburg Wheel-track Test. The dynamic modulus E* results of the field cores at 70 °F showed similar E* values for control HMA and foaming-based WMA mixtures; the E* values of the chemical-based WMA mixture were relatively higher. IDT test results of the field cores had comparable finding as the E* results. For the laboratory compacted specimens, both E* and IDT results indicated that decreasing the compaction temperatures from 310 °F to 270 °F did not have any negative effect on the material strength for both WMA mixtures; while the control HMA strength was affected to some extent. It was noticed that E* and IDT results of the chemical-based WMA field cores were high; however, the laboratory compacted specimens results didn't show the same tendency. The moisture sensitivity findings from TSR test disagreed with those of Hamburg test; while TSR results indicated relatively low values of about 60% for all three mixtures, Hamburg test results were quite excellent. In general, the results of this study indicated that both WMA mixes can be best evaluated through field compacted mixes/cores; the results of the laboratory compacted specimens were helpful to a certain extent. The dynamic moduli for the field-core specimens were higher than for those compacted in the laboratory. The moisture damage findings indicated that more investigations are needed to evaluate moisture damage susceptibility in field. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering 2011

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-09-13T11:28:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ROSINALDO DO RIO MEDEIROS - TESE (PPGEP) 2009.doc: 40662016 bytes, checksum: 19de7f51f29e605072615b107e5da0c9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-13T11:28:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ROSINALDO DO RIO MEDEIROS - TESE (PPGEP) 2009.doc: 40662016 bytes, checksum: 19de7f51f29e605072615b107e5da0c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-17 / Capes / A expansão por umidade (EPU) consiste na expansão sofrida por alguns materiais cerâmicos quando em contato com água na forma líquida ou de vapor. O processo de EPU quando desenvolvido em blocos cerâmicos pode acarretar o aparecimento de trincas em alvenarias ou mesmo danos estruturais mais severos. Nos últimos anos, os estudos desenvolvidos sobre EPU e resistência mecânica, estão centrados em materiais para revestimentos cerâmicos, com poucos dados relativos ao comportamento mecânico de blocos cerâmicos sujeitos à EPU. Neste contexto, este trabalho objetiva estudar a influência do teor de quartzo na EPU e no comportamento mecânico de massas cerâmicas para uso em blocos furados. Para tanto, foram analisadas amostras de massas usadas na fabricação de blocos cerâmicos, oriundas de Parelhas-RN. À argila plástica foi adicionado quartzo nos teores de 10, 20 e 30%. Os corpos de prova, moldados por extrusão, queimados nas temperaturas de 850, 900 e 950º C, foram submetidos ao ensaio de aceleração de EPU por autoclavagem com pressão de 0,7 MPa por 5 h e resistência mecânica à flexão com carregamento em três pontos. A EPU foi determinada por dilatometria a 600oC. Os resultados indicam que a adição de quartzo finamente moído, nos teores especificados e nas condições estudadas, de uma forma geral, pouco influenciou nos resultados de EPU, exceto para a adição de 30%, e que a adição de quartzo fino em proporções mais elevadas reduz o comportamento mecânico dos blocos cerâmicos. / The Moisture Expansion (EPU) is the expansion experienced by some ceramic materials when in contact with water in liquid or vapor. The process developed EPU when bricks can cause the appearance of cracks in masonry or even more severe structural damage. In recent years, studies done on EPU and mechanical strength, focus on materials for ceramic tiles, with few data on the mechanical behavior of ceramic blocks subject to the EPU. In this context, this work aims at studying the influence of quartz content in the EPU and the mechanical behavior of ceramic bodies for use in blocks bored. To that end, samples were analyzed mass used in the manufacture of ceramic bricks, coming from Parelhas-RN. In plastic clay was added in the quartz contents of 10, 20 and 30%. The samples, cast extrusion, burned at temperatures of 850, 900 and 950 ° C, were tested on accelerating EPU by autoclaving at a pressure of 0.7 MPa for 5 h and flexural loading with three points. The EPU was determined by dilatometry to 600 °C. The results indicate that the addition of finely ground quartz, the levels specified under the conditions studied, in general, had little influence on the results of public schools and that the addition of fine quartz in higher rates reduces the mechanical behavior of ceramic blocks.