O conhecimento do comportamento mecânico do material é vital para a previsão da durabilidade e atendimento aos requisitos iniciais de projeto. Por meio de ensaios experimentais é possível mensurar esse comportamento e utilizar como parâmetro de entrada em simulações numéricas. Nesse ponto a temperatura altera significativamente as propriedades mecânicas estáticas e dinâmicas do material. Testes de fadiga devem ser considerados na caracterização do material mesmo que um alto custo e tempo sejam necessários. Assim o objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o comportamento termo-mecânico do policloropreno em tração e fadiga. Este estudo se fez necessário para prever a durabilidade em diversas temperaturas em mancais de rolamento de cardans que exigem rigidez e durabilidade. A abordagem proposta consiste em formular equações constitutivas que considerem as constantes dependentes da temperatura para a situação estática (ensaio de tração) e dinâmica (ensaio de fadiga). Foram estudados 4 modelos constitutivos já consagrados na literatura. Corpos de prova normatizados foram utilizados para a avaliação experimental do material tanto em tração quanto em fadiga. Pode-se concluir que esta abordagem conseguiu modelar adequadamente o comportamento mecânico em ambas as situações estudadas. / Mechanical behavior of materials is vital for predicting durability and compliance with initial requirements of the project. Through experimental tests can measure this behavior and use as an input parameter in numerical simulations. At this point temperature significantly changes static and dynamic mechanical properties of the material. Fatigue tests should be considered in material characterization even if a high-cost and time are required. So the aim of this study is evaluate the thermo-mechanical behavior of polychloroprene in tension and fatigue. This study was necessary to predict durability in various temperatures in driveshafts of rolling bearings that requires rigidity and durability. The proposed approach is formulating constitutive equations to consider the dependent constant temperature for static situation (tensile test) and dynamic (fatigue test). Four constitutive models already established in literature were studied. Standardized test specimens were used for the experimental evaluation of the material both in tension and in fatigue. It can be concluded that this approach could adequately model the mechanical behavior in both cases studied.

A deposição de filmes finos resistentes ao desgaste é uma prática realizada com bastante frequência para melhorar o comportamento tribológico (atrito, desgaste, lubrificação) de diferentes peças e componentes. Afim de se garantir o adequado funcionamento do sistema revestido (substrato+filme), é importante avaliar o comportamento mecânico do mesmo. Um método para avaliação e estudo do comportamento mecânico destes sistemas é o ensaio de riscamento. O ensaio é utilizado para analisar a fratura superficial do revestimento (falha chamada coesiva), ou a resistência à adesão (falha chamada adesiva), e os modos de falha de revestimentos duros (HV>=5 GPa) e finos (<=30 ?m), depositados sobre substratos cerâmicos ou metálicos. A caracterização de alguns modos de falha nos sistemas revestidos está relacionada com modelos qualitativos de tensões presentes na região de contato e nas bordas do riscamento. Neste trabalho, foi estudado o comportamento das tensões Sxx e Szz desenvolvidas durante o riscamento de sistemas compostos por combinações de revestimentos/substratos. O trabalho foi baseado no desenvolvimento de modelos de simulação em 3D e 2D, utilizando o método dos elementos finitos (MEF), nos quais, uma partícula rígida com características de indentador Rockwell C, aplica carga progressiva até 2 N, ao longo de uma distância de 0,5 mm. No estudo, variou-se a dureza, traduzida em valores de tensão de escoamento do revestimento e do substrato, da mesma forma, analisou-se o efeito da tensão residual do revestimento, o efeito da espessura, o atrito, e a rugosidade, na superfície e na interface do sistema. O fato de obter valores de tensão que ultrapassam o valor do escoamento do revestimento pressupõe a possível ocorrência de falhas nos sistemas revestidos. Os resultados obtidos por simulação indicaram que as combinações de revestimento com tensão de escoamento baixa (Sy<3000 MPa) levam a experimentar tensões ao nível da tensão de escoamento do revestimento. Os revestimentos com tensão de escoamento Sy>5000 MPa apresentaram valores de tensão inferiores aos da tensão do revestimento, bem como o uso de tensão residual de -3 GPa no revestimento, assim como o aumento da espessura do revestimento têm grande importância nos sistemas revestidos, em particular nos casos em que a tensão de escoamento no revestimento é Sy>=5000MPa. O efeito do coeficiente de atrito leva à obtenção de valores de tensão (Sxx ou Szz) suficientemente altos na maioria das combinações, sendo esta a variável de estudo que levou ao maior número de vezes que foi atingido o valor da tensão de escoamento do revestimento. Da mesma forma, a rugosidade afeta os valores de tensão Sxx (interior do sulco). Ao aumentar a rugosidade do sistema aumenta a possibilidade de ultrapassar valores da tensão do revestimento na superfície e na interface do conjunto. Finalmente, pela complexidade do número de variáveis que afetam o ensaio, a simulação numérica sugere que o fato de analisar unicamente a dureza dos materiais, assim como as diferentes variáveis de forma isolada, não permite a reprodução de um mapa de falhas próximo ao proposto na literatura. / The deposition of wear resistant thin films is a common practice to improve the tribological behavior (friction, wear, lubrication) of several mechanical components. In order to guarantee the adequate performance of the coated systems, it is important to evaluate the mechanical behavior. A method for evaluation and study of the coated systems is the scratch test. The test is used to analyze the fracture of the coating (cohesive failure), or the adhesion of the coating (adhesive failure), and the failure modes of hard coatings (HV>=5 GPa) and thin (<=30 ?m) deposited on ceramic or metallic substrates. The characterization of some failure modes in coated systems is related to qualitative stress models at the contact region and the scratch edges. In this work, the behavior of the Sxx and Szz stresses developed during the scratch test was analyzed in different combinations of coatings/substrates. The work was based on the development of 3D and 2D simulation models using the finite element method (FEM). In the simulation, a rigid particle (with the geometry of Rockwell C indenter) applied progressive load to 2N along a 0.5 mm distance. In the study, the hardness was expressed as yield stress values in the coating and the substrate. In addition, it was examined the effect of coating residual stress (-3 GPa), as well as the effect of the thickness, the friction coefficient, and roughness of the surface and interface in the stresses behavior. The fact of obtaining tension values, which exceed the yield stress of coating implies the possible occurrence of failure. The results obtained by simulation indicated that the coating combinations with low yield stress (Sy < 3000 MPa) lead to Sxx and Szz stress values in the level of the coated yield stress. The coatings with yield stress Sy > 5000 MPa enable to obtain low Sxx and Szz values. The use of the residual stresses (-3 GPa) as well as increasing the thickness of the coating are very important factors in the coated systems, especially in the case of coatings with Sy > 5000 MPa. The effect of the friction coefficient leads to stress values (Sxx or Szz) sufficiently high in most of the combinations. This factor is the most important variable leading to the greater number of times that the value of the coating yield stress was reached. The roughness is responsible for Sxx stress values (inside groove). Increasing the roughness of the system increased the possibility of exceeding stress values in the surface and interface coating. Finally, by the complexity of the number of variables that affect the scratch test, the numerical simulation suggests that the fact of only analyzing the hardness of materials, as well as other isolated variables of the scratch test does not allow reproduction of a map of failures similar to that proposed in the literature.

Neste trabalho buscou-se propor e implementar um modelo de material capaz de prever o comportamento mecânico de estruturas em compósitos poliméricos reforçados (CPR). Inicialmente fez-se um levantamento bibliográfico sobre os modos de danificação intralaminar e falhas interlaminares bem como sobre formas de abordagem (analítica e numérica) para tratar esses problemas. Em seguida, foram apresentadas em detalhes as etapas experimentais executadas, descrevendo todo o procedimento de fabricação dos corpos-de-prova e os resultados obtidos a partir dos ensaios quase-estáticos de tração, compressão, cisalhamento e flexão. Com base nesses resultados e em informações provenientes da literatura, propõem-se alguns modelos de material que foram implementados em sub-rotinas FORTRAN. Tais modelos são posteriormente compilados em conjunto com um programa de elementos finitos (ABAQUS®) a fim de serem avaliados e terem seus parâmetros calibrados. Numa primeira fase, através de simulações computacionais dos ensaios de tração e compressão avaliou-se os modelos de material implementados. Numa segunda fase, os parâmetros foram calibrados tomando como base três estudos de caso (flexão, endentação e teste de impacto) envolvendo seqüências de empilhamento distintas. Após a simulação computacional desses estudos, apresentou-se a proposta de uma metodologia para avaliar problemas de impacto a baixa velocidade em estruturas laminadas. Conclui-se assim que o presente projeto de pesquisa traz contribuições inovadoras, mas também apresenta várias perspectivas de trabalhos futuros. / In this work, material models were proposed to predict the mechanical behavior of composite structures. First of all, it was done a study about damage intra-ply and inter-ply (delamination) on composite materials and about analytical and numerical approaches to solve problems of progressive damage on composite structures was performed. After, many specimens were manufactured and experimental tests (tensile, compression, shear and flexural tests) were carried out. Experimental results and information from literature were used to develop some material models, which were implemented using FORTRAN compiler. These material models were compiled with a commercial finite element program (ABAQUS®) in order to evaluate and calibrate parameters of the models. In the first step, computational simulations of tensile and compression test were carried out to evaluate material models implemented. In the second step, the parameters of the material models were calibrated using three case studies (flexural, indentation and impact test) with some staking sequences. After that, a methodology was proposed to evaluate impact problems on composite structures under low velocity. Therefore, this research project not only shows new contributions but also suggests many future investigations.

A indústria de papel e celulose representa um dos mais expressivos setores industriais do mundo, sendo de grande importância para a economia mundial. Na América do Sul, devido à grande disponibilidade de recursos florestais, O Brasil e o Chile são os maiores produtores de celulose. O Brasil produz em torno de 6 milhões de toneladas de polpa por ano, dos quais 98% são branqueadas, segundo pesquisas da Unicamp (2004). A produção de papel passou por evoluções ao longo dos anos, que possibilitou o melhoramento da qualidade e velocidade de produção, fazendo com que este setor industrial gerasse um aumento na capacidade produtiva, acarretando um aumento do volume de resíduos gerados pela indústria de papel e celulose. O alto consumo de papel e seus métodos de produção endossam o rol das atividades humanas mais nocivas ao planeta. Para produzir 1 tonelada de papel são necessárias 2 a 3 toneladas de madeira, uma grande quantidade de água (mais do que qualquer outra atividade industrial) e muita energia (está em quinto lugar na lista das que mais consomem energia). O principal objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar resultados da avaliação, em laboratório, de propriedades físicas e mecânicas de misturas constituídas de solo, cal e resíduo da fabricação de papel, visando sua utilização na construção rodoviária. Os ensaios de compactação foram realizados na energia equivalente ao Proctor Normal e o comportamento mecânico das misturas foi avaliado mediante os resultados obtidos dos ensaios de compressão simples, compressão diametral e triaxial cíclico. Para a realização destes ensaios escolheram-se os teores de 0 e 40% de resíduo e os teores 0,5 e 10% de cal. Avaliou-se, também, a rigidez do material mediante o módulo tangente inicial (Eo) e módulo de resistência (Mr). Os corpos-de-prova foram ensaiados sem imersão e após imersão em água por 4 horas, decorridos 7 dias de cura em câmara úmida. Posteriormente, analisou-se a influência do tempo de cura para 0, 2, 7, 28 84 dias de permanência em câmara úmida. Para determinar a periculosidade do resíduo foram executados ensaios ambientais de lixiviação e solubilização. Os resultados mostraram que a adição do resíduo e a influência da água agiram como agentes redutores das propriedades mecânicas. Entretanto, as misturas de solo-cal e solo-resíduo-cal atendem às especificações técnicas da State of the art 5 - Lime stabilization (TRB, 1987), oferecendo uma solução viável para a utilização destas misturas na construção rodoviária. Observou-se, também, que o aumento do tempo de cura e teor de cal conduziu a valores crescentes de resistência e rigidez. Os ensaios ambientais realizados no solo, resíduo da fabricação de papel e na mistura solo-resíduo-cal foram essenciais para se obter parâmetros que permitam acompanhar o desequilíbrio que possa surgir no meio ambiente decorrente da aplicação deste resíduo em camadas de base e sub-base de pavimentos. / The paper and pulp industry represent one of the most expressive industrial sector around the world, being of great importance to the world economy. In South America, because of the wide forest resources, Brazil and Chile are the largest pulp-producing. Brazil produces around 6 million tons of pulp per year, among which 98% of the pulp are produced by the bleaching process, according to research from Unicamp (2004). The paper production has undergone changes through the years, which enabled the improvement of the quality and speed of production. It made that this industrial sector has an increase of productive capacity and of waste\'s volume produced for the paper and pulp industry. The high consumption of paper and its productions ways increase the contingent of human most harmful activities o the planet. To produce 1 ton of paper are necessary from 2 to 3 tons of wood, a lot of water (more than any other industrial activity) and a lot of energy (it is in the fifth place in the list of industries that consume more energy). The main goal of this paper is present results of assessment, in laboratory, of physical and mechanical properties of mixtures of soil, lime and residue from the manufacture of paper, for their use in road construction. The compaction tests were made in the equivalent energy to the normal Proctor and the mechanical behavior of the mixtures was evaluated on the strength of the results of tests for unconfined compressive strength, diametrical compression and cyclic loading triaxial. For these tests have been chosen the levels of 0 and 40% of waste and the levels 0,5 and 10% of lime. It was evaluated also the stiffness of the material by the initial tangent modulus (Eo) and resilient modulus (Mr). The samples were tested without immersion and after immersion in water for 4 hours, after 7 days of cure in a moist chamber. Subsequently, it was analyzed the influence of curing time for 0, 2, 7, 28 and 84 days of stay in a moist chamber. To determine the dangerousness of the residue were performed environmental testing of leaching and solubility. The results showed that the addition of waste and the influence of water acted as reducing agents of mechanical properties. However mixtures of soil-lime and soil-residue-lime meet the technical specifications of the State of the art 5 - Lime stabilization (TRB, 1987), providing a feasible solution to the use of such mixtures in road construction. Observed also that increasing the curing time and content of lime led to increasing values of strength and stiffness. The environmental testing conducted in the soil residue from the manufacture of paper and the mixture soil-residue-lime were essential for obtaining parameters for monitoring the imbalance that may arise in the environment resulting from the application of this waste in layers of base and sub base\'s pavements.

Buscando evitar as anomalias surgidas nos revestimentos de argamassa, muitos projetistas e construtores têm procurado soluções alternativas, dentre as quais aparece o emprego de argamassas com adição de fibras. Porém, o conhecimento sobre o comportamento deste compósito é empírico, principalmente no Brasil, onde inexistem pesquisas sistêmicas sobre o assunto. A partir deste contexto, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo investigar a influência da adição de fibras de polipropileno em argamassas para revestimento, no que se refere ao seu comportamento reológico e mecânico. Para avaliar o comportamento reológico, foram empregadas as técnicas de ensaio dropping ball e squeeze flow, e a avaliação da aplicabilidade quanto à execução do revestimento, utilizando o conhecimento de um operário experiente. Para avaliar o comportamento mecânico, foram utilizados ensaios relativos a resistência à tração na flexão, resistência à compressão e módulo de elasticidade dinâmico. Os compósitos de argamassa produzidos no trabalho apresentam variação na matriz e no teor de fibras. A variação na matriz compreendeu o tipo de argamassa e a dosagem de água. Foram utilizadas duas argamassas, largamente empregadas no mercado da Construção Civil, uma com baixo teor de ar incorporado (da ordem de 5%) e outra com alto teor (da ordem de 30%) e foram utilizados seis teores de água. Quanto à fibra, empregou-se um único tipo, com 6mm de comprimento, variando-se o seu teor na mistura, com cinco dosagens distintas. Como resultado, constatou-se que a adição de fibras influencia na reologia das argamassas devido (não somente) às suas características físicas e mecânicas, mas também porque ao serem introduzidas, modificam fortemente as características da matriz original, como por exemplo, as alterações do teor de ar incorporado. Assim, constatou-se que a adição de fibras na argamassa com baixo teor de ar elevou este teor; enquanto na com alto teor de ar, a adição de fibras reduziu o teor de ar. Estas alterações conferiram condições de aplicabilidade particulares a cada tipo de argamassa. O comportamento mecânico das argamassas também foi alterado. Dentre os “modificadores reológicos” estudados, o teor de fibras na argamassa com baixo teor de ar incorporado foi o que mais contribuiu com a alteração da propriedade mecânica; enquanto para a argamassa com alto teor de ar, o teor de água é o que mais afeta o comportamento mecânico. / Many designers and constructors have been looking for alternative solutions trying to avoid types of anomalies in the mortar rendering. One of these solutions is the application of mortar with fibres’ addition. However, the knowledge concerning the composite behavior is very empirical, mainly in Brazil where there are no systematic researches about this subject. From this context, the objective of this job is to investigate the influence of the polypropylene fibres’ addition in the rheological and mechanical behavior of the mortar applied in rendering. For the study of the rheological behavior, laboratory evaluations were done using the following methods: dropping ball and squeeze flow. Furthermore, for the applicability evaluation, the knowledge of an expert was taken into account. For the study of the mechanical behavior, laboratory evaluations were done using the following methods: evaluation of the flexural strength, compressive strenght and dynamic elastic modulus. In this job, the mortar composites present variation in the matrice and fibre. The variation in the matrice involves the mortar type and the water dosage. Two mortars widely used in the civil construction market were used in this present work: one with low air voids formation (about 5%) and other with high air voids formation (about 30%). Six water percentages were also used in the matrice variation. Polypropylene fibres with length 6mm were used in the fibre variation. Five different fibre percentages were used in the mixes. As results, the fibres’ addition evidenced alterations in the mortars rheological due (not only) to physicals and mechanicals characteristics, but also because when the fibres were inserted, they modified the characteristics of the original matrice strongly, as for example, the alteration of the incorporated air percentage. So, the fibres’ addition in the mortar with low air voids formation increased the air formation; while in the mortar with high air voids formation, the fibres’ addition decreased the air formation. These alterations evidenced the specifics applicability conditions for each type of mortar. The mortar mechanical behavior also was altered. Inside the “rheological modifications” studied, the fibre percentage in the mortar with low air voids formation was what more contributed with the alteration of the mechanical property; while that the mortar with high air voids formation, the water percentage is what more affected the mechanical behavior.

In recent times, composite materials have gained mainstay acceptance as a structural material of choice due to their tailorability and improved thermal, specific strength/stiffness and durability performance. Carbon-Carbon (C/C) composites are used for high temperature applications such as exit nozzles for rockets, leading edges for missiles, nose cones, brake pads etc. Mechanical property estimation of C/C composites is challenging due to their highly heterogeneous microstructure. Computed Tomography (CT) images (volumetric imaging) coupled with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) reveal a highly heterogeneous microstructure comprised of woven C-fibers, amorphous C-matrix, irregularly shaped voids, cracks and other inclusions. The images also disclose structural hierarchy of the C/C composite at different length scales. Predicting the mechanical behavior of such complex hierarchical materials like C/C composites forms the motivation for the present work. A systematic study to predict the effective mechanical properties of C/C Composite using numerical homogenization has been undertaken in this work. The Micro-Meso-Macro (MMM) principle of ensemble averages for estimating the effective properties of the composite has been adopted. The hierarchical length scales in C/C composites has been identified as micro (single fiber with matrix), meso (fabric) and macro (laminate). Numerical homogenization along with periodic boundary conditions (PBCs) have been used to estimate the effective engineering properties of the material at different length scales. Concurrently, mechanical testing has also been carried out at macro (compression tests) and micro scale (using nano-indentation studies) to characterize the mechanical behavior of C/C composites.

Surface roughness exists at many length scales-from atomic dimensions to meters. At sub-micron scale, the distribution of roughness is largely dependent on the process that generates the surface through the mechanisms of material removal/addition involved and the process parameters. The focus of the research is to quantitatively characterize the evolution of sub-micron scale surface roughness in the mechanical, chemical and electrochemical material removal techniques and study the influence of roughness on the mechanical behavior of surfaces. High purity aluminum surfaces are subjected to surface dissolution techniques such as electropolishing, chemical etching and anodization. Owing to the lack of sufficient lateral resolution in conventional roughness measurement techniques and appropriate scale independent roughness characterization techniques, the effect sub-micron scale electrochemical inhomogeneities present on the surfaces have on the roughness evolution at various length scales has not been understood. In this work, the power spectral density method of roughness characterization is used to quantitatively evaluate the roughness length scales affected in the surface generation processes as a function of time. Results indicate that in the case of electropolishing, roughness is not uniformly reduced at all length scales. Further, cut-off frequencies are suggested to optimize the electropolishing process. In chemical etching, the nature of roughness produced is found to be dependent on the nature of the starting surface. The nature of surface and sub-surface structures produced in the initial stage of the anodization process, and the transition from a disordered to an ordered structure are studied. In order to study the mechanical behavior of surfaces as a function of surface roughness, a single asperity indentation is modeled using nanoindentation of micropillar produced by focused ion beam machining of aluminum surfaces. Load-displacement curves are constructed to show the transition from a single asperity deformation to bulk deformation as function of indentation depth. Additionally, indentation responses of polymer coated surfaces with varying degree of roughness that were produced by the aforementioned surface generation processes are studied. it is shown how high interface roughness gives rise to high scatter both in loading and unloading portions of the load-displacement curves. Finally, porous alumina surface generated by the anodization process discussed above is indented to simulate a multi-asperity interaction.

Le présent travail porte sur le comportement des plates-formes ferroviaires anciennes en France. Tout d'abord, une étude statistique a été menée sur les problèmes survenus dans l'ensemble du réseau ferroviaire français. L'analyse montre l'importance particulière de la qualité du sol support pour la performance de la sous-structure et pour la tenue géométrique des voies. Ensuite, une ligne ferroviaire ancienne située à l'Ouest de la France a été étudiée spécifiquement. Les analyses montrent que la vitesse de dégradation de cette ligne est en corrélation avec les différents paramètres tels que la nature de sol support, l'épaisseur des couches de la sous-structure. Une tendance d'augmentation de la vitesse de dégradation avec la diminution de l'épaisseur de la couche intermédiaire est identifiée. Cette couche as un impact positif puisqu'elle réduit les contraintes appliquées au sol support. Le comportement hydromécanique du sol de la couche intermédiaire dans des conditions différentes (teneur en eau, teneur en particules fines, charge, nombre de cycles) a été étudié. Des essais triaxiaux et des essais de colonne d'infiltration ont été réalisés à cette fin. En analysant les propriétés de résistance au cisaillement, la déformation axiale permanente et le module réversible, on a constaté que les effets de la teneur en eau et de la teneur en fines doivent être pris en compte ensemble. Une augmentation de teneur en fines dans la couche intermédiaire présente un impact positif à l'état non saturé grâce à l'effet de la succion, mais un impact négatif à l'état saturé. Les essais de colonne d'infiltration avec des cycles de séchage/humidification ont montré que la conductivité hydraulique du sol est gouvernée par la fraction de fines et qu'elle ne change pas significativement avec la teneur en fines. Afin d'étudier les mécanismes de la création de la couche intermédiaire et de remontée boueuse, un modèle physique de 550 mm de diamètre intérieur a été développé. Des échantillons de sol qui représentent la sous-structure ferroviaire ancienne avec une couche de ballast posée sur une couche de limon artificielle (mélange de sable concassé et du kaolin) ont été testés. Les effets des charges monotones et cycliques, de la teneur en eau et de la masse volumique sèche du sol support ont été étudiés. Il a été constaté que la pression interstitielle développée dans le sol support et la rigidité du sol support sont des facteurs clés pour la migration des particules fines ou la création de la couche intermédiaire/la remontée boueuse. L'eau est la condition nécessaire, mais c'est la compressibilité du sol support qui gouverne le phénomène à se produire / The present work deals with the behavior of ancient railway sub-structure in France. A statistical study was firstly undertaken on problems occurred in the whole ancient French railway network. The analysis evidenced the particular importance of sub-grade quality for the performance of the sub-structure and the track geometry. Afterwards, an ancient railway line in the West of France was investigated. The analysis showed that the degradation speed of this line was correlated with different parameters such as the nature of sub-grades and the thickness of different layers. An increase trend of degradation speed with the increase in interlayer thickness was identified. The interlayer has a positive impact since it reduces the train-induced stress applied to the sub-grade. The hydro-mechanical behavior of interlayer soil under different conditions (water content, fines content, stress, number of cycles) was investigated. A set of triaxial tests and infiltration tests were performed for this purpose. By analyzing the shear strength properties, the permanent axial strain and the resilient modulus of interlayer soil, we found that the water content and the fines content must be considered together. Adding more fines into the interlayer presents a positive impact under unsaturated conditions thanks to the suction effect, but a negative impact under saturated conditions. The infiltration column tests with drying/wetting cycles showed that the hydraulic conductivity of interlayer soil is governed by fines fraction but did not change significantly with fines content. In order to study the mechanism of interlayer creation and mud pumping, a physical model of 550 mm inner diameter was developed. Soil samples representing the ancient French railway substructure with a ballast layer overlying an artificial silt layer (mixture of crushed sand and kaolin were tested. The effects of monotonic and cyclic loadings, water content and dry unit mass of sub-soil were investigated. It was found that the pore water pressure developed in the sub-soil and the sub-soil stiffness are the key factors for the migration of fine particles or the creation of interlayer/mud pumping. Water is the necessary condition, but it is the soil compressibility that governs the phenomenon to occur

Thss thesis presents the results of an experimental programme on the static mono-tonic response of cohesive-frictional granular materials. The purpose of this experimental programme was to gain insight into the mechanical behaviour of uncemented sands, and sands with small percentages of cementation. With this objective in sight, the research involved understanding and delineating the e ects of four variables: the intermediate principal stress, stress inclination, cohesion (or cementation), and particle morphology. The hollow cylinder torsion (HCT) apparatus, which allows control over both the magnitude and direction of principal stresses, was used in this study to carry out a series of elemental tests on the model materials. The test results were analysed in a plasticity theory based framework of critical state soil mechanics. Drained and undrained HCT tests were conducted on a model angular sand to understand the combined influence of intermediate principal stress ratio (b) and principal stress inclination ( ). Sand specimens were reconstituted to a given density and confining pressure, and were sheared to large strains towards a critical state. The stresses at the critical state with varying `b' were mapped on an octahedral plane to obtain a critical state locus. The shape of this locus closely resembles a curved triangle. Also these specimens showed increased non-coaxiality between the stress and strain increment directions at lower strains. This non-coaxiality decreased significantly, and the response at the critical state was by and large coaxial. The effect of `b' and ` ' on the flow potential, phase transformation, and critical state was also investigated. At phase transformation, ` ' plays a more dominant role in determining the flow potential than `b'. The shape and size of the critical state locus remained the same immaterial of the drainage conditions. Next, small amounts of cohesion (using ordinary Portland cement) was added to this sand ensemble to study the mechanical behaviour of weakly cemented sands. The peak in the stress strain curve was used to signal the breakdown of cohesion further leading to a complete destructuring of the sand at the critical state. The response of the cemented sand changes from brittle to ductile with increase in confining pressure, while reverses with increase in density and `b'. Stress-dilatancy response for the weakly cemented materials shows the non coincidence of peak stress ratio and maximum value of dilation unlike purely frictional materials. This mismatch in peak stress ratio and maximum dilation diminishes with increase in confining pressure. The peak stress (cemented structured sand) locus and the critical state (destructured) locus were constructed on the octahedral plane from these HCT tests. The critical state locus of the cemented sand when it is completely destructured almost coincides with the critical state locus of the clean sand. Using this experimental data set, some important stress-dilatancy relationships (like Zhang and Salgado) and failure criteria (Lade's isotropic single hardening failure criteria and SMP failure criteria) were benchmarked and their prediction capabilities of such models were discussed in detail. The effect of particle morphology was also investigated in this testing programme. Rounded glass ballotini and angular quartzitic sand which occupy two extreme shapes were selected, and a series of HCT tests at different `b' values were con-ducted. A larger sized CS locus was obtained for angular particles and it encompassed the critical state locus of the spherical glass ballotini. Spherical particles exhibit a predominantly dilative behaviour, however present a lower strength at the critical state. The mobilization of strength as a result of rearrangement of angular particles and the consequent interlocking is higher. Even with contractive behaviour which is reflected in the higher values of critical state friction angle and the larger size of the yield locus for sand. Finally, a series of unconfined compression tests were performed to understand if there exists a scale separation in cohesive frictional materials. Specimens were reconstituted to a range of sizes while maintaining a constant aspect ratio and density. As the specimen size increased, the peak strength also increases, counter to an idea of a generalized continuum for all model systems. The observed secondary length scale (in addition to the continuum length scale) is obverse to the one observed in quasi-brittle materials such as concrete, rock. In order to ascertain the reason behind this phenomenon, a series of tomography studies were carried out on these contact-bound ensembles. The presence of cohesion between the grains brings about an \entanglement" between the grains, which contributes to increase in strength, with increase in the size of the sample. This in e ect bringing forth a second length scale that controls the behaviour of these cohesive frictional granular materials. This experimental data set provides quantification of various aspects of the me-chanical response of both cemented and uncemented granular materials under myriad stress conditions. This data set is also extremely useful in developing and bench-marking constitutive models and simulations.

Des mousses de polymères modèles sont élaborées à partir d’émulsions afin d’en étudier les propriétés. De telles mousses sont intéressantes dans des applications variées d’amortisseurs (sécurité passive), de filtres ou d’isolation. Les objectifs de cette étude sont de comprendre l’origine des propriétés mécaniques des mousses et d’identifier les paramètres structuraux les plus pertinents. Pour cela, la première étape consiste en la fabrication de mousses de morphologies contrôlées à partir d’émulsions monodisperses très concentrées. Par polymérisation de la phase continue des émulsions, des mousses solides modèles à taille de cellules contrôlées et de porosité ouverte sont obtenues. Ensuite la structure de ces matériaux poreux est analysée et comparée à celle des émulsions initiales. Enfin, ces mousses sont caractérisées mécaniquement en compression. Nous présentons les résultats obtenus en variant de manière contrôlée la taille des pores et leur fraction volumique et les confrontons aux modèles existants. / Polymer foams are cellular materials commonly used for safety applications in many industrial sectors (aeronautic, passive safety, gears…). To even improve their performances, the link between their structural parameters (cell sizes, density...) and their mechanical behaviour should be better understood and modelled. A way of producing such foams is to polymerize the continuous phase of highly concentrated emulsions. The advantage of such an emulsion-based strategy is that it becomes possible to take advantage of the good control over emulsion parameters (drop size, dispersed phase volume fraction, continuous phase composition) to elaborate model foams with cells and pores having narrow size distributions. The production of model foams makes it possible to determine independently the influence of each parameter on the compression modulus and to compare the results with existing models.