Standard methods for fire resistance testing require large-scale assemblies and are typically conducted on specialized furnaces at considerable cost. This research focused on developing a scaling methodology for a reduced-scale fire resistance test that reduces the size of the test article while maintaining the same thermal and structural response exhibited in the large-scale test. The developed scaling methodology incorporates uniform geometric scaling, Fourier number time scaling, and furnace boundary condition matching. The scaling laws were experimentally validated with fire exposure tests on gypsum wallboard samples at three scales (full-scale, 1/2-scale, and 1/6-scale). Next, these scaling laws were demonstrated for wood with combined thermo-structural loading. Dimensional lumber boards at ½-scale and ¼-scale were subjected to combined bending and thermal loading. Samples were placed in static three-point bending with the loading scaled to have structural similitude, while simultaneously, the bottom surface was exposed to a scaled fire exposure. Analytical modeling of wood pyrolysis demonstrated that, due to char kinetics as the heating rate is increased in the tests, equivalently less char is formed in the reduced-scale tests. Therefore, we developed a char timescale correction factor, calculated from both model predictions and measured charring rates, which modified the previous Fourier number time scaling laws. Finally, we investigated the effect of multi-orientation materials with a similar set of combined thermo-structural three-point bending tests on plywood samples. The stacking sequence of laminated wood significantly impacts the composite mechanical behavior of the material, especially when scaling down thermo-mechanical tests on plywood. A consequence of the different stacking sequences is that the data from the reduced-scale test cannot be directly scaled to predict the behavior of the larger-scale tests. Thus, modeling becomes essential to extrapolating the data from the reduced-scale test to predict the behavior of the larger-scale test. Reduced cross-sectional area models incorporating classical lamination theory were used to predict the mechanical response of the composite samples as the char front increased. / Doctor of Philosophy / How do we know that a structure will be safe during a fire? The response of structures to fire is typically evaluated using large-scale tests with combined thermo-structural loading: one side of the test sample is exposed to a furnace at standard gas temperatures, while at the same time the sample is loaded with a structural load. Fire resistance testing is essential to evaluating if building components can maintain structural integrity and allow people to egress a building safely during a fire. Standard methods for fire resistance testing require large-scale test samples and are typically conducted on specialized furnaces at national testing facilities at considerable cost. In order to support research and development efforts to design new fire-resistant structures, reduced-scale tests are more desirable because they are cost-effective. However, no reduced-scale test exists to evaluate fire resistance. This research focused on developing a methodology for reducing the size of a test with combined thermo-structural loading. The goal is to have a reduced-scale test that provides insight into the thermal and structural behavior of a similar sample in the large-scale test. The test scaling laws were demonstrated with both experiments and modeling. We developed a small-scale furnace setup to conduct combined thermo-structural tests on samples of different scales. To investigate material type, we tested samples made from gypsum wallboard, dimensional lumber, and plywood. This work will ultimately allow manufacturers to replace costly standard fire resistance tests with reduced-scale versions of these tests during the material screening phase.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo a validação do modelo numérico de manobras para navios utilizado pelo simulador chamado SMH - Simulador Marítimo Hidroviário, que foi desenvolvido no laboratório Tanque de Provas Numérico. Para tanto foram realizados ensaios experimentais de manobras com um modelo em escala reduzida da embarcação Alpha Crucis com o objetivo de criar dados de manobra que serviram como referência para validação do modelo numérico. Foram selecionados diversos tipos de manobras com o propósito de criar uma caracterização da manobrabilidade da embarcação em baixas velocidades e regime transitório, permitindo a medição de diversas características, que permitem quantificar as capacidades de manobra da embarcação. Através de experimentos numéricos foram, então, realizadas as mesmas manobras executadas pelo modelo físico em escala reduzida, de forma a reproduzir as mesmas condições iniciais e os mesmos comandos, procurando reproduzir as manobras para validação do modelo implementado no SMH. Os resultados obtidos apresentam a aderência das características de manobras do modelo implementado no SMH, através da comparação das características de manobra obtidas pelo modelo físico em escala reduzida e das obtidas pelo modelo numérico. A dissertação apresenta ainda um estudo de sensibilidade que mostra o efeito dos principais fatores utilizados no laboratório Tanque de Provas Numérico para a calibração dos modelos de embarcações, mostrando que para as manobras consideradas neste trabalho alguns dos efeitos possuem pouca influência nos resultados. Por fim o trabalho conclui que o modelo matemático utilizado pelo SMH representa a capacidade de manobra da embarcação de forma consistente para diversos tipos de manobra, e com um grau de aderência satisfatório. / This research aims to present a validation for the ship maneuvering simulator named SMH, anachronym in Portuguese for Maritime and Waterway Simulator, developed on Tanque de Provas Numérico laboratory. For this propose small scale tests were performed with a model of Alpha Crucis ship aiming to create maneuver data that was used as reference for the numerical model validation. Several types of maneuver where selected to create a characterization of the maneuverability of the ship at low speeds and transient regime, and the parameters that quantify the maneuverability were measured. Then were performed numerical experiments recreating the same maneuver executed with the experimental model, with the same initial conditions and propulsion/rudder controls, trying to reproduce the maneuvers to validate the model implemented on the SMH. The results showed that the maneuvering characteristics predicted by the SMH simulator are similar to measured values in the experiment. The dissertation also presents a sensitivity study that shows the effect of the main parameters used in the laboratory Tanque de Provas Numérico for the vessel model calibration, This study showed that for some maneuvers, the tuning parameters have less influence on the results. Finally, the work concludes that the mathematical model used by the SMH represents the ability of the vessel to maneuver consistently for several types of maneuvers, and with a satisfactory degree of accuracy.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo a validação do modelo numérico de manobras para navios utilizado pelo simulador chamado SMH - Simulador Marítimo Hidroviário, que foi desenvolvido no laboratório Tanque de Provas Numérico. Para tanto foram realizados ensaios experimentais de manobras com um modelo em escala reduzida da embarcação Alpha Crucis com o objetivo de criar dados de manobra que serviram como referência para validação do modelo numérico. Foram selecionados diversos tipos de manobras com o propósito de criar uma caracterização da manobrabilidade da embarcação em baixas velocidades e regime transitório, permitindo a medição de diversas características, que permitem quantificar as capacidades de manobra da embarcação. Através de experimentos numéricos foram, então, realizadas as mesmas manobras executadas pelo modelo físico em escala reduzida, de forma a reproduzir as mesmas condições iniciais e os mesmos comandos, procurando reproduzir as manobras para validação do modelo implementado no SMH. Os resultados obtidos apresentam a aderência das características de manobras do modelo implementado no SMH, através da comparação das características de manobra obtidas pelo modelo físico em escala reduzida e das obtidas pelo modelo numérico. A dissertação apresenta ainda um estudo de sensibilidade que mostra o efeito dos principais fatores utilizados no laboratório Tanque de Provas Numérico para a calibração dos modelos de embarcações, mostrando que para as manobras consideradas neste trabalho alguns dos efeitos possuem pouca influência nos resultados. Por fim o trabalho conclui que o modelo matemático utilizado pelo SMH representa a capacidade de manobra da embarcação de forma consistente para diversos tipos de manobra, e com um grau de aderência satisfatório. / This research aims to present a validation for the ship maneuvering simulator named SMH, anachronym in Portuguese for Maritime and Waterway Simulator, developed on Tanque de Provas Numérico laboratory. For this propose small scale tests were performed with a model of Alpha Crucis ship aiming to create maneuver data that was used as reference for the numerical model validation. Several types of maneuver where selected to create a characterization of the maneuverability of the ship at low speeds and transient regime, and the parameters that quantify the maneuverability were measured. Then were performed numerical experiments recreating the same maneuver executed with the experimental model, with the same initial conditions and propulsion/rudder controls, trying to reproduce the maneuvers to validate the model implemented on the SMH. The results showed that the maneuvering characteristics predicted by the SMH simulator are similar to measured values in the experiment. The dissertation also presents a sensitivity study that shows the effect of the main parameters used in the laboratory Tanque de Provas Numérico for the vessel model calibration, This study showed that for some maneuvers, the tuning parameters have less influence on the results. Finally, the work concludes that the mathematical model used by the SMH represents the ability of the vessel to maneuver consistently for several types of maneuvers, and with a satisfactory degree of accuracy.

Two different concepts and design procedures namely settlement reducing piles and piled raft foundations have been studied independently in this thesis. A laboratory study is conducted on model rafts with differing number of model settlement reducing piles. Pile length, pile diameter, type of soil and size of raft are kept constant and settlements are measured under sustained loading. Remolded kaolin is consolidated under controlled stresses before tests are performed in model boxes. The tests are conducted under two sustained loadings of 75 kPa and 40 kPa. 0(raft), 16 and 49 number of piles are used. During the tests, all of the skin friction is mobilized. Several tests are conducted for each combination to see the variability. It is concluded that increasing the pile number beyond an optimum value is inefficient as far as the amount of settlement is considered. Also an analytical procedure has been followed to calculate settlements with increasing number of piles. In the second part of this thesis, finite element analyse have been performed on a piled raft foundation model, using Plaxis 3D Foundation Engineering software. This analyse are supported with analytical methods. The piled raft model is loaded with 450 kPa raft pressure. The studies are conducted in two sets in which different pile lengths are used / 25 m and 30 m respectively. The numbers of piles are increased from 63 to 143. All other parameters are kept constant. The results showed that again an optimum number of piles will be sufficient to reduce the settlement to the acceptable level. The analytical methods indicate a similar behavior. The comparison and results are presented in the study.

Suction caissons with a smaller aspect (length to diameter) ratio are increasingly used for supporting offshore structures, such as wind turbines and oil and gas production facilities. The design of these stubbier foundations is usually governed by lateral loads from wind, waves, or currents. It is desired to have more physical understanding of the behavior of less slender suction caissons under cyclic lateral loading condition and to have robust design tools for analyzing these laterally loaded caissons. In this study, one-g model tests with 1:25 and 1:50 suction can foundation scale models with an aspect ratio of one are conducted in five different soil profiles: normally consolidated clay, overconsolidated clay, loose siliceous sand, cemented siliceous sand, and cemented calcareous sand. This test program involves monitoring settlements, lateral displacements (walking), tilt, lateral load and pore water pressures in the suction can during two-way cyclic lateral loading at one, three and five degrees of rotation. The model foundations are monitored during installation, axial load tests, and pullout tests. In one and two-degree (±0.5 and ±1 degree) rotation tests, the suction can does not have significant walking or settlement in all the five soil profiles after 1000 load cycles. However, more significant walking or settlement may occur at extreme conditions such as the 5-degree (±2.5 degrees) rotation tests. Gaps between the foundation wall and the soil may also form in these extreme conditions in overconsolidated clay, cemented siliceous sand, and cemented calcareous sand. Plastic limit analysis, finite element analysis, and finite difference analysis are used to evaluate the laterally loaded suction can in clay. The plastic limit analysis originally developed for more slender suction caissons appears to predict a lateral capacity close to the measured short-term static capacity of the caisson with an aspect ratio of one when undisturbed undrained shear strength of soil is used. However, this plastic limit model underestimates the long-term cyclic lateral load capacity of the caisson when the remolded undrained shear strength was used. The finite element model developed in this study can simulate the development and effect of a gap between the foundation and surrounding soil as observed in the experiments in overconsolidated clay. The lateral load-displacement response predicted by this finite element model matches well with the experimental data. Finally, finite difference analysis for a rigid caisson with lateral and rotational springs was developed by fitting the lateral load-displacement response of the suction can in clay. The calibrated p-y curves for rigid caisson are significantly stiffer and have higher ultimate resistance than the p-y curves recommended by API which is consistent with other studies. This finite difference model provides an efficient approach to analyze a laterally loaded caisson with a small aspect ratio in clay. / text

Over the last few decades, evaluating the performance of existing structures has become increasingly important, particularly as the number of bridges reaching their design life continues to rise. As a result, there is a growing need for effective and accurate procedures to guide the assessment of the current structures' capacity and safety levels to implement appropriate maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. Evaluating a structure's performance involves assessing its ability to carry loads, resist external forces, and maintain its functionality over time. This is a complex process that requires a deep understanding of the structure's behavior, as well as knowledge of the environmental conditions it is subjected to. In recent years, technological advances and an increased understanding of reliability concepts have allowed for the development of more sophisticated tools and methods for structural evaluation. Thus, engineers and researchers can obtain more accurate and reliable data about a structure's performance, which can inform decision-making processes related to maintenance, repair, and replacement. This study aims to present a methodology that guides the assessment of existing structures' performance effectively and accurately. Precisely, the performance is measured in terms of redundancy and robustness. Thus, a comparison of existing reliability- and risk-based indicators is performed through an example application presented in one of the appended papers. The comparison allows an overview of the difference between the available measures and the type of information provided by each one of them. Also, in one of the appended papers a new algorithm for evaluating the failure probability value is proposed. The algorithm is based on metamodel strategies and integrates the advantages of kriging, learning, and copula functions. The proposed algorithm aims to reduce the number of performance function evaluations, so the number of model runs is feasible when using Finite Element Modeling (FEM). By comparing the available redundancy and robustness indicators, it was possible to observe that each measure provides different insights into these two structural properties. Additionally, direct comparison between them is challenging since their units can differ, and the lack of a target or standard values makes their interpretation difficult. Therefore, when using a specific indicator, it is required to specify the definition adopted clearly. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm showed through the validation examples and the case study that it can obtain the failure probability accurately and effectively. Its application resulted in a more economical methodology, in terms of computational cost, compared to other existing reliability methods.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo fundamental a apresentação de análises e comparações, que visam fazer parte do processo de aprimoramento constante do método numérico de simulação de unidades flutuantes produtoras de petróleo, chamado TPN Tanque de Provas Numérico. Para tanto, foram executados ensaios com modelo em escala reduzida, cujos resultados foram comparados com o modelo numérico do TPN. A unidade padrão utilizada nos ensaios foi a plataforma semi-submersível ITTC-SR192, escala 1:105, ensaios estes realizados no tanque de provas do IPT Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo. Por meio de comparação com os resultados dos ensaios, foram verificadas as habilidades do TPN em reproduzir os movimentos do casco, a tração no topo das linhas de produção e o amortecimento induzido pelas mesmas. Importante destacar que os parâmetros verificados tiveram a finalidade adicional de confrontar os resultados numérico-experimentais com foco na investigação da influência das linhas de produção na própria dinâmica do sistema flutuante. Tendo em vista esse objetivo complementar, todos os ensaios foram realizados com e sem a presença de linhas de produção, no texto referenciadas apenas por risers, modeladas como um grupo de estruturas bastante flexíveis e de grande diâmetro, a fim de prover um aumento significativo no amortecimento do sistema. Sendo assim, o comportamento dinâmico dos casos com e sem risers foram comparados buscando observar as diferenças nos movimentos do sistema em ondas e correnteza. Além disso, utilizando o método recomendado pela API, referência [3] , doravante denominado apenas por método Near and Far, a tração de topo de um dos risers foi simulada numericamente com a imposição de movimentos obtidos nos experimentos, dando assim meios para comparação dos critérios de projeto, considerando a influência das linhas conectadas nas plataformas de petróleo. / This research aims to present analysis and comparisons, intended to make part of the constant improvement of the oil platform analysis software, called Numerical Offshore Tank (Tanque de Provas Numérico - TPN). For this purpose, small-scale model tests were performed, and the results compared with the numerical model in TPN. The standard unit used in these model tests was the semisubmersible ITTC-SR192, at scale 1:105, and the tests were performed at IPT (State of São Paulo Institute for Technological Research) towing tank. By means of the model tests results comparisons, the ability of the TPN in reproduce the hull motions, the risers top tensions and damping induced by these lines was evaluated. Importantly, these parameters were verified with the further purpose of comparing the numerical and the experimental results, focusing on the influence of the production lines in the dynamics of the floating system. Taking into account this additional objective, all the model tests were performed with and without production lines, i.e. risers, modeled as a group of highly flexible and large diameter structures, in order to provide a significant increment in the damping of the system. Thus, the dynamic behaviors of the cases with and without risers were compared, giving means to observe motion differences in waves and current. Moreover, using the method recommend by API, reference [3], hereinafter called Near and Far, the top tension of one riser was numerically simulated with the imposition of the motions obtained in the experiments, giving means to compare the riser design criteria, considering the influence of lines attached to the oil platforms.

Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo fundamental a apresentação de análises e comparações, que visam fazer parte do processo de aprimoramento constante do método numérico de simulação de unidades flutuantes produtoras de petróleo, chamado TPN Tanque de Provas Numérico. Para tanto, foram executados ensaios com modelo em escala reduzida, cujos resultados foram comparados com o modelo numérico do TPN. A unidade padrão utilizada nos ensaios foi a plataforma semi-submersível ITTC-SR192, escala 1:105, ensaios estes realizados no tanque de provas do IPT Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo. Por meio de comparação com os resultados dos ensaios, foram verificadas as habilidades do TPN em reproduzir os movimentos do casco, a tração no topo das linhas de produção e o amortecimento induzido pelas mesmas. Importante destacar que os parâmetros verificados tiveram a finalidade adicional de confrontar os resultados numérico-experimentais com foco na investigação da influência das linhas de produção na própria dinâmica do sistema flutuante. Tendo em vista esse objetivo complementar, todos os ensaios foram realizados com e sem a presença de linhas de produção, no texto referenciadas apenas por risers, modeladas como um grupo de estruturas bastante flexíveis e de grande diâmetro, a fim de prover um aumento significativo no amortecimento do sistema. Sendo assim, o comportamento dinâmico dos casos com e sem risers foram comparados buscando observar as diferenças nos movimentos do sistema em ondas e correnteza. Além disso, utilizando o método recomendado pela API, referência [3] , doravante denominado apenas por método Near and Far, a tração de topo de um dos risers foi simulada numericamente com a imposição de movimentos obtidos nos experimentos, dando assim meios para comparação dos critérios de projeto, considerando a influência das linhas conectadas nas plataformas de petróleo. / This research aims to present analysis and comparisons, intended to make part of the constant improvement of the oil platform analysis software, called Numerical Offshore Tank (Tanque de Provas Numérico - TPN). For this purpose, small-scale model tests were performed, and the results compared with the numerical model in TPN. The standard unit used in these model tests was the semisubmersible ITTC-SR192, at scale 1:105, and the tests were performed at IPT (State of São Paulo Institute for Technological Research) towing tank. By means of the model tests results comparisons, the ability of the TPN in reproduce the hull motions, the risers top tensions and damping induced by these lines was evaluated. Importantly, these parameters were verified with the further purpose of comparing the numerical and the experimental results, focusing on the influence of the production lines in the dynamics of the floating system. Taking into account this additional objective, all the model tests were performed with and without production lines, i.e. risers, modeled as a group of highly flexible and large diameter structures, in order to provide a significant increment in the damping of the system. Thus, the dynamic behaviors of the cases with and without risers were compared, giving means to observe motion differences in waves and current. Moreover, using the method recommend by API, reference [3], hereinafter called Near and Far, the top tension of one riser was numerically simulated with the imposition of the motions obtained in the experiments, giving means to compare the riser design criteria, considering the influence of lines attached to the oil platforms.

Experimental and numerical analysis of loads and responses for planing craft in waves is considered. Extensive experiments have been performed on a planing craft, in full-scale as well as in model scale. The test set-ups and significant results are reviewed. The required resolution in experiments on planing craft in waves, concerning sampling frequencies, filtering and pressure transducer areas, is investigated. The aspects of peak identification in transient signals, fitting of analytical cumulative distribution functions to sampled data, and statistical convergence are treated. A method for reconstruction of the momentary pressure distribution at hull-water impact, from measurements with a limited number of transducers, is presented. The method is evaluated to full-scale data, and is concluded to be applicable in detailed evaluation of the hydrodynamic load distribution in time-domain simulations. Another suggested area of application is in full-scale design evaluations, where it can improve the traceability, i.e. enable evaluation of the loads along with the responses with more confidence. The presented model experiment was designed to enable time-domain monitoring of the complete hydromechanic pressure distribution on planing craft in waves. The test set-up is evaluated by comparing vertical forces and pitching moments derived from acceleration measurements, with the corresponding forces derived with the pressure distribution reconstruction method. Clear correlation is found. An approach for direct calculations of loads, as well as motion and structure response, is presented. Hydrodynamic loads and motion responses are calculated with a non-linear time-domain strip method. Structure responses are calculated by applying momentary distributed pressure loads, formulated from hydrodynamic simulations, on a global finite element model with inertia relief. From the time series output, limiting conditions and extreme responses are determined by means of short term statistics. Promising results are demonstrated in applications, where extreme structure responses derived by the presented approach, are compared with responses to equivalent uniform rule based loads, and measured responses from the full-scale trials. It is concluded that the approach is a useful tool for further research, which could be developed into a rational design method.

<p>Experimental and numerical analysis of loads and responses for planing craft in waves is considered. Extensive experiments have been performed on a planing craft, in full-scale as well as in model scale. The test set-ups and significant results are reviewed. The required resolution in experiments on planing craft in waves, concerning sampling frequencies, filtering and pressure transducer areas, is investigated. The aspects of peak identification in transient signals, fitting of analytical cumulative distribution functions to sampled data, and statistical convergence are treated.</p><p>A method for reconstruction of the momentary pressure distribution at hull-water impact, from measurements with a limited number of transducers, is presented. The method is evaluated to full-scale data, and is concluded to be applicable in detailed evaluation of the hydrodynamic load distribution in time-domain simulations. Another suggested area of application is in full-scale design evaluations, where it can improve the traceability, i.e. enable evaluation of the loads along with the responses with more confidence.</p><p>The presented model experiment was designed to enable time-domain monitoring of the complete hydromechanic pressure distribution on planing craft in waves. The test set-up is evaluated by comparing vertical forces and pitching moments derived from acceleration measurements, with the corresponding forces derived with the pressure distribution reconstruction method. Clear correlation is found.</p><p>An approach for direct calculations of loads, as well as motion and structure response, is presented. Hydrodynamic loads and motion responses are calculated with a non-linear time-domain strip method. Structure responses are calculated by applying momentary distributed pressure loads, formulated from hydrodynamic simulations, on a global finite element model with inertia relief. From the time series output, limiting conditions and extreme responses are determined by means of short term statistics. Promising results are demonstrated in applications, where extreme structure responses derived by the presented approach, are compared with responses to equivalent uniform rule based loads, and measured responses from the full-scale trials. It is concluded that the approach is a useful tool for further research, which could be developed into a rational design method.</p>