Unlike the conventional "lock-and-key" sensor design in which one sensor is finely tuned to respond to one analyte, the sensor array approach employs multiple sensors in which one sensor responds to many analytes. Consequently, signal processing algorithms must be used to identify the analyte present from the array's response. The analyte identification process becomes significantly more complicated when a mixture of analytes is presented to the sensor array. Conventional methods that are employed in gas mixture identification are plagued by several design issues like: complexity, scalability, and flexibility. This thesis derives and develops a novel method, fingerprint-based ICA (FICA), to extract and identify individual analytes from a sensor array's response to a gas mixture of the analytes. FICA is a simple, flexible, and scalable signal processing system that employs independent components analysis (ICA) to extract and identify individual analytes present in a gas mixture; separation and identification of gas mixtures using ICA has not been investigated previously. FICA takes a fundamentally different approach that reflects the underlying property of gas mixtures: gas mixtures are composed of individual analyte responses. Conventional signal processing methods that identify gas mixtures have been developed and implemented in this work; this helps us understand the drawbacks in the conventional approach. FICA's performance is compared to the performance of conventional methods using metric like error rate and false positives rate. Properties like flexibility, scalability, and the data requirements for both conventional methods and FICA are examined. Results obtained in this work indicates that FICA results in lower error rates, and it's performance is better than conventional methods like multi-stage multi-stage support vector machines, and PCR. Furthermore, FICA provides the most simple, scalable, and flexible signal processing system. / Master of Science

Yes / Three equations of state with a group contribution model for binary interaction parameters were employed to calculate the vapor-liquid equilibria of synthetic and real natural gas mixtures with heavy fractions. In order to estimate the binary interaction parameters, critical temperatures, critical pressures and acentric factors of binary constituents of the mixture are required. The binary interaction parameter model also accounts for temperature. To perform phase equilibrium calculations, the heavy fractions were first discretized into 12 Single Carbon Numbers (SCN) using generalized molecular weights. Then, using the generalized molecular weights and specific gravities, the SCN were characterized. Afterwards, phase equilibrium calculations were performed employing a set of (nc + 1) equations where nc stands for the number of known components plus 12 SCN. The equations were solved iteratively using Newton's method. Predictions indicate that the use of binary interaction parameters for highly sour natural gas mixtures is quite important and must not be avoided. For sweet natural gas mixtures, the use of binary interaction parameters is less remarkable, however.

Neste trabalho são apresentados dois modelos para o ensaio de destilação ASTM D-86, desenvolvidos no simulador EMSO e validados por dados experimentais de frações de petróleo disponíveis na literatura. Estes modelos apresentam índice algébrico-diferencial igual a um, diferentemente do primeiro modelo proposto na literatura que apresentava índice algébrico-diferencial igual a 2, o qual não possibilitava ser resolvido pelos simuladores atuais. As predições obtidas com os modelos propostos geraram resultados com desvio médio em torno de 0,6 % em relação aos dados experimentais da literatura. Em seguida, foi estudado o método proposto para determinação de mistura substituta de componentes reais e foram propostas algumas alterações. Esta metodologia pode ser dividida em duas etapas consecutivas. A primeira etapa determina um conjunto de componentes reais e a segunda calcula a composição da mistura substituta de componentes reais de modo a caracterizar misturas complexas de composição desconhecida, como frações de petróleo, substituindo o conceito de pseudo-componentes. Para isso, o algoritmo se baseia em dados experimentais tais como a curva PEV, o °API, a massa molar média da mistura e outras propriedades globais disponíveis. Foram obtidos resultados que se mostraram satisfatórios. Para finalizar este trabalho, foi proposto um novo método para determinação da mistura substituta que utiliza a primeira etapa do algoritmo de determinação de mistura substituta e modificado por este trabalho. Em seguida, é realizada uma estimação dinâmica de parâmetros de condição inicial utilizando um dos modelos desenvolvidos neste trabalho para o ensaio de destilação ASTM D-86. A estimação é baseada principalmente na curva experimental da destilação ASTM D-86 e na densidade à 60°F (ou °API). Os resultados desta nova metodologia foram comparados com outros métodos de determinação de mistura substituta e constatou-se uma melhora na aproximação das suas propriedades quando comparadas com a mistura original de composição desconhecida. / This work presents two models for the assay of distillation ASTM D-86, developed in the EMSO Simulator and validated using experimental data of petroleum fractions available in the literature. These models showed differential-algebraic index equal to one, differently from the first model proposed in the literature that showed differential-algebraic index equal to two. Problems with an index higher than one are usually impossible to solve by modern simulators. The predictions obtained with the proposed models generated results with average deviation of about 0,6% in relation to those in the literature. After this, a method proposed in the literature to determinate the substitute mixture of real compounds for petroleum fractions was studied and slightly modified. This methodology can be divided in the two following steps. The first one determines a group of real components and the second one calculates the composition of the substitute mixture of the real components in order to characterize a complex mixture of unknown composition, as petroleum fractions. This methodology aims at replace the pseudo-components concept. To make this, the algorithm is based in experimental data as the TBP curve, the °API, the average molar mass of the mixture and others global properties available. The obtained results showed to be suitable. Finally, this work proposes a new method to determine the substitute mixture that uses the first step of the algorithm of determination of substitute mixture and modified in this work. Next, it was used a dynamic estimation of parameters in initial conditions using one of the models proposed in this work for the distillation assay ASTM D-86. The estimation is mainly based on distillation experimental curve ASTM D-86 and the density at 60°F (or °API). The results of this new methodology were com pared to other methods of determination of substitute mixture and it was found an evolution in the similarity of its properties when compared to the original mixture with unknown composition.

Neste trabalho são apresentados dois modelos para o ensaio de destilação ASTM D-86, desenvolvidos no simulador EMSO e validados por dados experimentais de frações de petróleo disponíveis na literatura. Estes modelos apresentam índice algébrico-diferencial igual a um, diferentemente do primeiro modelo proposto na literatura que apresentava índice algébrico-diferencial igual a 2, o qual não possibilitava ser resolvido pelos simuladores atuais. As predições obtidas com os modelos propostos geraram resultados com desvio médio em torno de 0,6 % em relação aos dados experimentais da literatura. Em seguida, foi estudado o método proposto para determinação de mistura substituta de componentes reais e foram propostas algumas alterações. Esta metodologia pode ser dividida em duas etapas consecutivas. A primeira etapa determina um conjunto de componentes reais e a segunda calcula a composição da mistura substituta de componentes reais de modo a caracterizar misturas complexas de composição desconhecida, como frações de petróleo, substituindo o conceito de pseudo-componentes. Para isso, o algoritmo se baseia em dados experimentais tais como a curva PEV, o °API, a massa molar média da mistura e outras propriedades globais disponíveis. Foram obtidos resultados que se mostraram satisfatórios. Para finalizar este trabalho, foi proposto um novo método para determinação da mistura substituta que utiliza a primeira etapa do algoritmo de determinação de mistura substituta e modificado por este trabalho. Em seguida, é realizada uma estimação dinâmica de parâmetros de condição inicial utilizando um dos modelos desenvolvidos neste trabalho para o ensaio de destilação ASTM D-86. A estimação é baseada principalmente na curva experimental da destilação ASTM D-86 e na densidade à 60°F (ou °API). Os resultados desta nova metodologia foram comparados com outros métodos de determinação de mistura substituta e constatou-se uma melhora na aproximação das suas propriedades quando comparadas com a mistura original de composição desconhecida. / This work presents two models for the assay of distillation ASTM D-86, developed in the EMSO Simulator and validated using experimental data of petroleum fractions available in the literature. These models showed differential-algebraic index equal to one, differently from the first model proposed in the literature that showed differential-algebraic index equal to two. Problems with an index higher than one are usually impossible to solve by modern simulators. The predictions obtained with the proposed models generated results with average deviation of about 0,6% in relation to those in the literature. After this, a method proposed in the literature to determinate the substitute mixture of real compounds for petroleum fractions was studied and slightly modified. This methodology can be divided in the two following steps. The first one determines a group of real components and the second one calculates the composition of the substitute mixture of the real components in order to characterize a complex mixture of unknown composition, as petroleum fractions. This methodology aims at replace the pseudo-components concept. To make this, the algorithm is based in experimental data as the TBP curve, the °API, the average molar mass of the mixture and others global properties available. The obtained results showed to be suitable. Finally, this work proposes a new method to determine the substitute mixture that uses the first step of the algorithm of determination of substitute mixture and modified in this work. Next, it was used a dynamic estimation of parameters in initial conditions using one of the models proposed in this work for the distillation assay ASTM D-86. The estimation is mainly based on distillation experimental curve ASTM D-86 and the density at 60°F (or °API). The results of this new methodology were com pared to other methods of determination of substitute mixture and it was found an evolution in the similarity of its properties when compared to the original mixture with unknown composition.

Les Interfaces Cerveau-Machine (ICM) sont des systèmes qui permettent à des patients souffrant d'un handicap moteur sévère d'utiliser leur activité cérébrale pour contrôler des effecteurs, par exemple des prothèses des membres supérieurs dans le cas d'ICM motrices. Les intentions de mouvement de l'utilisateur sont estimées en appliquant un décodeur sur des caractéristiques extraites de son activité cérébrale. Des challenges spécifiques au déploiement clinique d'ICMs motrices ont été considérés, à savoir le contrôle mono-membre ou séquentiel multi-membre asynchrone et précis. Un décodeur, le Markov Switching Linear Model (MSLM), a été développé pour limiter les activations erronées de l'ICM, empêcher des mouvements parallèles des effecteurs et décoder avec précision des mouvements complexes. Le MSLM associe des modèles linéaires à différents états possibles, e.g. le contrôle d'un membre spécifique ou une phase de mouvement particulière. Le MSLM réalise une détection d'état dynamique, et les probabilités des états sont utilisées pour pondérer les modèles linéaires.La performance du décodeur MSLM a été évaluée pour la reconstruction asynchrone de trajectoires de poignet et de doigts à partir de signaux electrocorticographiques. Il a permis de limiter les activations erronées du système et d'améliorer la précision du décodage du signal cérébral. / Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) are systems that allow severely motor-impaired patients to use their brain activity to control external devices, for example upper-limb prostheses in the case of motor BCIs. The user's intentions are estimated by applying a decoder on neural features extracted from the user's brain activity. Signal processing challenges specific to the clinical deployment of motor BCI systems are addressed in the present doctoral thesis, namely asynchronous mono-limb or sequential multi-limb decoding and accurate decoding during active control states. A switching decoder, namely a Markov Switching Linear Model (MSLM), has been developed to limit spurious system activations, to prevent parallel limb movements and to accurately decode complex movements.The MSLM associates linear models with different possible control states, e.g. activation of a specific limb, specific movement phases. Dynamic state detection is performed by the MSLM, and the probability of each state is used to weight the linear models. The performance of the MSLM decoder was assessed for asynchronous wrist and multi-finger trajectory reconstruction from electrocorticographic signals. It was found to outperform previously reported decoders for the limitation of spurious activations during no-control periods and permitted to improve decoding accuracy during active periods.

Neste trabalho são apresentados dois modelos para o ensaio de destilação ASTM D-86, desenvolvidos no simulador EMSO e validados por dados experimentais de frações de petróleo disponíveis na literatura. Estes modelos apresentam índice algébrico-diferencial igual a um, diferentemente do primeiro modelo proposto na literatura que apresentava índice algébrico-diferencial igual a 2, o qual não possibilitava ser resolvido pelos simuladores atuais. As predições obtidas com os modelos propostos geraram resultados com desvio médio em torno de 0,6 % em relação aos dados experimentais da literatura. Em seguida, foi estudado o método proposto para determinação de mistura substituta de componentes reais e foram propostas algumas alterações. Esta metodologia pode ser dividida em duas etapas consecutivas. A primeira etapa determina um conjunto de componentes reais e a segunda calcula a composição da mistura substituta de componentes reais de modo a caracterizar misturas complexas de composição desconhecida, como frações de petróleo, substituindo o conceito de pseudo-componentes. Para isso, o algoritmo se baseia em dados experimentais tais como a curva PEV, o °API, a massa molar média da mistura e outras propriedades globais disponíveis. Foram obtidos resultados que se mostraram satisfatórios. Para finalizar este trabalho, foi proposto um novo método para determinação da mistura substituta que utiliza a primeira etapa do algoritmo de determinação de mistura substituta e modificado por este trabalho. Em seguida, é realizada uma estimação dinâmica de parâmetros de condição inicial utilizando um dos modelos desenvolvidos neste trabalho para o ensaio de destilação ASTM D-86. A estimação é baseada principalmente na curva experimental da destilação ASTM D-86 e na densidade à 60°F (ou °API). Os resultados desta nova metodologia foram comparados com outros métodos de determinação de mistura substituta e constatou-se uma melhora na aproximação das suas propriedades quando comparadas com a mistura original de composição desconhecida. / This work presents two models for the assay of distillation ASTM D-86, developed in the EMSO Simulator and validated using experimental data of petroleum fractions available in the literature. These models showed differential-algebraic index equal to one, differently from the first model proposed in the literature that showed differential-algebraic index equal to two. Problems with an index higher than one are usually impossible to solve by modern simulators. The predictions obtained with the proposed models generated results with average deviation of about 0,6% in relation to those in the literature. After this, a method proposed in the literature to determinate the substitute mixture of real compounds for petroleum fractions was studied and slightly modified. This methodology can be divided in the two following steps. The first one determines a group of real components and the second one calculates the composition of the substitute mixture of the real components in order to characterize a complex mixture of unknown composition, as petroleum fractions. This methodology aims at replace the pseudo-components concept. To make this, the algorithm is based in experimental data as the TBP curve, the °API, the average molar mass of the mixture and others global properties available. The obtained results showed to be suitable. Finally, this work proposes a new method to determine the substitute mixture that uses the first step of the algorithm of determination of substitute mixture and modified in this work. Next, it was used a dynamic estimation of parameters in initial conditions using one of the models proposed in this work for the distillation assay ASTM D-86. The estimation is mainly based on distillation experimental curve ASTM D-86 and the density at 60°F (or °API). The results of this new methodology were com pared to other methods of determination of substitute mixture and it was found an evolution in the similarity of its properties when compared to the original mixture with unknown composition.

[pt] O fenômeno da fadiga é uma das falhas mais comuns em pavimentos asfálticos e se caracteriza pela aparição e posterior desenvolvimento de micro e macro trincas. As misturas asfálticas são compostas por agregados graúdos e por uma matriz circundante composta por ligante asfáltico, agregados miúdos e fíler, conhecida como Mistura Asfáltica Fina (MAF). Estudos indicam que os fenômenos que afetam as microfissuras se iniciam na mistura asfáltica fina. O presente trabalho investiga o comportamento em relação à fadiga das misturas asfálticas, utilizando como passo intermediário a análise de MAFs. Foram selecionadas três misturas asfálticas, compostas pelo mesmo ligante, porém com agregados distribuídos em três curvas granulométricas diferentes, variando seu tamanho máximo nominal. Para as MAFs, as granulometrias foram proporcionais às encontradas nas respectivas misturas asfálticas. As misturas e as MAFs seguiram programação experimental semelhante, com a caracterização viscoelástica linear e realização de ensaios dinâmicos uniaxiais de fadiga. Para interpretação dos resultados, foi utilizado o modelo simplificado de viscoelasticidade do dano contínuo (S-VECD) e os critérios de ruptura G(R) e D(R), que descrevem satisfatoriamente o comportamento em relação à fadiga das misturas e MAFs estudadas. Foi analisada a resistência ao dano das MAFs, bem como a influência da variação do tamanho máximo nominal no seu desempenho a fadiga. Estudou-se a relação entre as deformações encontradas nas misturas asfálticas e na parcela fina das misturas asfálticas. As misturas com maior presença de mistura asfáltica fina apresentaram melhor desempenho a fadiga e os fatores de proporcionalidade de deformação foram maiores para as misturas com tamanhos máximos nominais maiores. / [en] Fatigue is one of the most common problems in asphalt pavements and it is characterized by the appearance and subsequent development of micro and macro cracks. Asphalt mixtures are composed of large aggregates and a matrix that surrounds these aggregates, composed of asphalt binder, small aggregates and filler, known as Fine Aggregate Mixture (FAM). Studies indicate that the phenomena that affect micro cracks starts in the FAM. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the fatigue behavior of the Asphalt mixtures, using as intermediate means an analysis of the FAM. To achieve this objective, three asphalt mixtures were selected. They are composed of the same binder, but with aggregates distributed according to three different aggregate gradation curves, varying their maximum nominal size. The FAM had gradation curves proportional to that applied in asphalt mixtures. Mixtures and MAFs followed similar experimental programming with linear viscoelastic characterization and dynamic uniaxial fatigue tests. In order to interpret the results it was used the Simplified Viscoelastic Continuum Damage (S-VECD) model, G(R) and D(R) failure criteria, which presented a good prediction of the fatigue behavior of the Mixtures and MAFs studied. The MAF s tolerance to damage was analyzed as well as the influence of the maximum nominal size variation. A relation between strains in the asphalt mixtures and the strain in the fine portion of the asphalt mixtures was studied. The asphalt mixtures with higher content of fine asphalt mixture showed better fatigue performance and the strain proportionality factors were higher for mixtures with larger nominal maximum sizes.

Buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] is a warm season, perennial grass native to the Great Plains from southern Canada to Mexico (Beetle, 1950). This newly developed, low input, turf-type grass is recommended for use on low maintenance sites (Falkenberg-Borland and Butler, 1982; Pozarnsky, 1983; Wu and Harivandi, 1989; Shearman et al., 2005). Recently, the use of buffalograss as a turfgrass has increased due to its drought tolerance, low nutrient requirements, and low growing height (Harivandi and Wu, 1995; Frank et al., 2004). It is an excellent choice in California where water use is limited. Unsightly winter dormancy of buffalograss can be overcome by growing mixtures of buffalograss and fine fescue (Festuca spp.). Overtime species composition can be overtaken by the fine fescue, unintentionally converting the mixed turfgrass stand to a fine fescue monostand (Severmutlu, et al., 2005). Research on buffalograss establishment in fine leaved fescues from seed or by vegetative methods was completed from 2007 to 2009 at the California Polytechnic State University Horticulture Unit in San Luis Obispo, California. Comparisons were made between mixtures of eight cultivars of buffalograss (Prairie, Prestige, UC Verde, 609, Bowie, Cody, Texoka, and Bison) and three fine leaved fescue species [hard fescue (Festuca trachyphylla Thuill.), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L), and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.)] to determine which combination and establishment strategy provides the highest quality turf for the California central coast region. Evaluations made on buffalograss establishment and competitive ability when grown in pre-existing fine fescue turfgrasses showed seeded cultivars (Bowie, Cody, Texoka, and Bison) were unsuccessfully established (zero percent coverage in two growing seasons), and vegetative cultivar (Prairie, Prestige, 609 and UC Verde) establishment was greatly dependent on the type of cultivar planted. After two growing seasons, buffalograss cultivar UC Verde had the highest establishment rate (38.6 percent living ground cover) and Prestige had the lowest (11.4 percent living ground cover). Results from this study do not recommend establishing seeded buffalograss cultivars into pre-existing fine leaved fescue turfgrass stands. Vegetative buffalograss cultivars can be established into pre-existing fine leaved fescue turfgrass stands; however, this process is too slow for most turfgrass practitioners and is quite unsightly in winter dormancy during the establishment process.

Various convex analysis of mixtures (CAM) based algorithms have been developed to address real world blind source separation (BSS) problems and proven to have good performances in previous papers. This thesis reported the implementation of a comprehensive software CAM-Java, which contains three different CAM based algorithms, CAM compartment modeling (CAM-CM), CAM non-negative independent component analysis (CAM-nICA), and CAM non-negative well-grounded component analysis (CAM-nWCA). The implementation works include: translation of MATLAB coded algorithms to open-sourced R alternatives. As well as building a user friendly graphic user interface (GUI) to integrate three algorithms together, which is accomplished by adopting Java Swing API. In order to combine R and Java coded modules, an open-sourced project RCaller is used to handle the establishment of low level connection between R and Java environment. In addition, specific R scripts and Java classes are also implemented to accomplish the tasks of passing parameters and input data from Java to R, run R scripts in Java environment, read R results back to Java, display R generated figures, and so on. Furthermore, system stream redirection and multi-threads techniques are used to build a simple R messages displaying window in Java built GUI. The final version of the software runs smoothly and stable, and the CAM-CM results on both simulated and real DCE-MRI data are quite close to the original MATLAB version algorithms. The whole GUI based open-sourced software is easy to use, and can be freely distributed among the communities. Technical details in both R and Java modules implementation are also discussed, which presents some good examples of how to develop software with both complicate and up to date algorithms, as well as decent and user friendly GUI in the scientific or engineering research fields. / Master of Science

Scrap tyres provide numerous advantages from the viewpoint of civil engineering practices. Scrap tyres are light weight, have high vibration absorption, high elastic compressibility, high hydraulic conductivity, and temperature isolation potential. Scrap tyres have a thermal resistivity that is about seven times higher than soil; they produce low earth pressure and absorb vibrations. Many new techniques have emerged with time to utilize these advantageous characteristics for practical purposes in civil engineering. Though current reuse and recovery of scrap tyres has reduced the amount of landfills, but still there is a need for developing additional practices for the reuse of scrap tyres. Moreover, most of present practices do not use its vibration absorption capacity efficiently. To use the scrap tyres as individual material or mixed with soil in civil engineering applications, the systematic understanding of static and dynamic properties of sand-rubber mixtures (SRM) are of prime importance. In the present study an attempt has been made to characterize the SRM to use them as low-cost isolation material for low-to-medium rise buildings. Proposal of this isolation system using SRM is addressed in this study in four parts; in the first part, the estimation of shear strength and volumetric characteristics of the SRM were carried out. A total of seven different rubber sizes (six sizes of granulated rubber; 2 - 1 mm; 4.75 - 2 mm; 5.6 - 4.75 mm; 8 - 5.6 mm; 8 - 9.5 mm; 12.5 - 9.5 mm and one size of tyre chips; 20 - 12.5 mm) were considered for characterizing the SRM, and the rubber size which has higher shear strength characteristics is identified as optimum size for further studies. Second part deals with the effect of reinforcement on SRM with higher rubber content (50% and 75% rubber by volume). In the third part, dynamic properties of selected SRM combination with and without reinforcement were generated from experimental studies. In the last part, the numerical analysis was carried out using finite element program Strand7 to find out optimum dimension of proposed isolation scheme and reduction of spectral accelerations. In addition, the laboratory model tests were also carried out on square footing supported on unreinforced and reinforced SRM. The relative performances of reinforcement on settlement characteristics of SRM for 50% and 75% SRM have been compared with unreinforced SRM. Engineering behaviour of SRM has been studied by considering different rubber sizes and compositions by carrying out large scale direct shear test and Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) triaxial test. The shear strength characteristics such as peak shear stress, cohesion, friction angle, secant/elastic modulus, volumetric strain, failure and ultimate strength, ductility/brittleness index, and energy absorption capacity of sand and SRM were determined. The optimum percentage rubber content based on maximum shear strength and energy absorption capacity has been arrived. The granulated rubber size (12.5 - 9.5 mm) and percentage ratio, 30% by volume is found to be optimum size and content, which gives the maximum energy absorption capacity and lower brittleness index values compared to other rubber sizes. This chapter also describes the applicability of concept of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to identify an approximate response surface model from experimental investigations on the engineering properties of sand and SRM. The experimental data were quantitatively analyzed by multiple regression models by correlating response variables with input variables in this study. To consume more tyres in SRM, rubber mix of 50 % and 75 % mixes are studied and these SRM results in lower shear strength and higher volume change when compared to 30 % SRM. To improve shear strength and reduce compressibility, geosynthetic reinforcement study has been carried out for 50% and 75% rubber by volume. Here geotextile, geogrid and geonets were used as reinforcement and number of layers and spacing between layers were varied. Finally type of reinforcement, number of layers and optimum spacing are arrived for the optimum rubber size of 12.5 - 9.5 mm for reinforced SRM. This study found that 4 layers with equal spacing of geotextile for 50 % SRM and geonet for 75 % SRM shows better strength when compared to other combinations. Further dynamic properties such as shear modulus and damping values at different strain level are estimated for red soil, sand, 30 % SRM and unreinforced and reinforced 50 % and 75 % SRM by carrying out resonant column tests and cyclic triaxial tests. The normalized shear modulus and damping ratio curves have been developed for these materials. The experimental results indicate that, shear modulus increases for 30% rubber by volume when compared to sand, thereafter the shear modulus values decreased with a further increase in rubber content in SRM. Whereas the damping ratio increases with increasing rubber content in SRM. For sand and SRM, with an increase in confining pressure shear modulus increases and damping ratio decreases. Based on the comprehensive set of experimental results, a modified hyperbolic model has been proposed. These properties are further used in the numerical analysis to find out the effectiveness of SRM as isolation material. Numerical dynamic analysis has been carried out on a 2-D finite element model of the soil-foundation-structure system. The building model has been generated considering the typical G+2 building resting on 20 m thick soil followed by rock depth and foundation is placed at 2.0 m below ground level. The beams and columns in the superstructure are modeled using 2-D frame elements. The soil column has been modeled using 4-noded 2-D plane strain plate elements. Considering the transmitting boundary condition, viscous dampers are implemented at the base of the computational soil domain in order to mitigate the reflective effects of waves. The Newmark family method (average acceleration method) has been used to calculate the displacement, velocity and acceleration vectors. Comprehensive numerical simulations have been carried out on the soil-foundation-structure system by varying rubber content in SRM (30%, 50% and 75% granulated rubber by volume), depth and thickness of SRM around footing and considering two input earthquake acceleration time history. It was found that earthquake vibrations are considerably reduced for SRM with higher rubber content. The optimum dimension of SRM giving maximum reduction in shaking level is found to be 3B below the footing and 0.75B (where B is the width of footing) on the side of the footing. Generally, the shaking levels at different floor can be reduced by 30-50%, with the use of 75% SRM. The results also indicated that the effectiveness of proposed system would depend on the characteristics of ground motion. To study the bearing capacity of square footing on SRM, laboratory model tests were carried out on square footing supported on unreinforced and reinforced SRM. The SRM combination which have been used for numerical studies are used in this model studies to know the bearing capacity and settlement characteristics. The optimum dimension of SRM around footing has been constructed. Model tests results show that, the bearing capacity decreases and settlement increases steadily with the increase in rubber content in SRM. Addition of reinforcement to SRM significantly improved the bearing capacity and reduced settlement characteristics. Reinforced SRM may be used as an effective low cost isolation scheme to reduce earthquake vibrations.