O presente trabalho trata do desenvolvimento de formulações numéricas para avaliar o comportamento mecânico de estruturas compostas planas, no contexto de elasticidade linear e mecânica da fratura não linear. As formulações propostas são baseadas no Método dos Elementos de Contorno (MEC), por meio das representações integrais singular e hiper singular dos problemas elastostáticos. A técnica de multi-regiões é considerada para acoplar a interface de sólidos multifásicos. O MEC é uma técnica numérica robusta e precisa para analisar o fenômeno da fratura em sólidos. Esse método numérico apresenta uma natural redução na dimensionalidade do problema, tornando mais simples a modelagem das superfícies de fratura. Além disso, essa redução de dimensionalidade faz também com que o tratamento de interfaces materiais em estruturas compostas seja uma tarefa menos árdua. Com o uso da solução fundamental de Kelvin nas representações integrais, materiais isotrópicos podem ser considerados para constituir as estruturas compostas. Por outro lado, utilizando a solução fundamental de Cruse & Swedlow, também é possível lidar, de maneira geral, com materiais anisotrópicos em estruturas compostas. Nessas estruturas, as fraturas são assumidas como ocorrendo ao longo das interfaces e o comportamento não linear é introduzido pelo modelo coesivo de fratura, o qual é aplicável a materiais quase frágeis. Nessas análises, o sistema não linear de equações pode ser solucionado utilizando dois distintos algoritmos de resolução iterativa. O primeiro sempre leva em consideração a rigidez elástica da estrutura e é, portanto denominado Operador Constante (OC). Já o segundo é denominado Operador Tangente (OT), pois considera uma rigidez tangente à resposta estrutural não linear, o que resulta em melhores taxas de convergência em comparação ao OC. Como aplicações das formulações, estruturas compostas teóricas foram analisadas em regime elástico. Além disso, testes experimentais de fratura em espécimes de concreto e madeira também foram simulados. A comparação dos resultados com as referências demonstrou que, as formulações foram efetivas e precisas para avaliar respostas mecânicas de estruturas, seja em regime elástico linear ou nos testes de fratura quase frágil. / The present work deals the development of numerical formulations to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of plane composed structures, in the context of linear elasticity and nonlinear fracture mechanics. The proposed formulations are based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM), through its classical singular and hyper singular integral equations. The multi-region technique is adopted to couple the interfaces of non-homogeneous multiphase bodies. The BEM is a robust and accurate numerical technique to analyse fracture phenomena in solids. This numerical method presents a mesh dimensionality reduction, which makes easier the modelling of cracks surfaces. Besides, this dimensionality reduction also makes the treatment of interfaces in composed structures a less complex task. Considering the use of Kelvin fundamental solutions at the integrals equations, isotropic materials can be represent as parts of the composed structures. On the other hand, using Cruse & Swedlow fundamental solution it is also possible to deal with general anisotropic materials. At the composed structures, cracks can propagate along the materials interfaces and the cohesive crack model is responsible for the nonlinear structural behaviour of the quasi-brittle failures. The nonlinear system of equations at the fracture analyses is solved using two different algorithms for iterative resolution. The first always takes into account the structure elastic strength and, hence it is called Constant Operator (CO). On the other hand, the second is denominated Tangent Operator (TO) due to the fact that it considers strengths at the tangent directions of the nonlinear structural response. Therefore, convergence rates are faster when compared with the CO. As applications, composed structures were analysed with the developed formulations in linear elastic range. In addition, experimental fracture testes performed in concrete and wood specimens were also analysed. The confront of obtained results with the reference ones show that, the formulation was effective and accurate to evaluate the mechanical responses of composed structures in linear elastic range, and also to perform nonlinear quasi-brittle fracture tests.

Whether it is based on current emissions data or future projections of further growth, the building sector currently represent the largest and singular most important contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. This notion is also supported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change based on projection scenarios for 2030 that emissions from buildings will be responsible for about one-third of total global emissions. As such, improving the energy efficiency of buildings has become a top priority worldwide. A significant majority of buildings that exist now will still exist in 2030 and beyond; therefore the greatest energy savings and carbon footprint reductions can be made through retrofit of existing buildings. A wide range of retrofit options are readily available, but methods to identify optimal solutions for a particular abatement project still constitute a major technical challenge. Investments in building energy retrofit technologies usually involve decision-making processes targeted at reducing operational energy consumption and maintenance bills. For this reason, retrofit decisions by building stakeholders are typically driven by financial considerations. However, recent trends towards environmentally conscious and resource-efficient design and retrofit have focused on the environmental merits of these options, emphasising a lifecycle approach to emissions reduction. Retrofit options available for energy savings have different performance characteristics and building stakeholders are required to establish an optimal solution, where competing objectives such as financial costs, energy consumption and environmental performance are taken into account. These key performance parameters cannot be easily quantified and compared by building stakeholders since they lack the resources to perform an effective decision analysis. In part, this is due to the inadequacy of existing methods to assess and compare performance indicators. Current methods to quantify these parameters are considered in isolation when making decisions about energy conservation in buildings. To effectively manage the reduction of lifecycle environmental impacts, it is necessary to link financial cost with both operational and embodied emissions. This thesis presents a novel deterministic decision support system (DSS) for the evaluation of economically and environmentally optimal retrofit of non-domestic buildings. The DSS integrates the key variables of economic and net environmental benefits to produce optimal decisions. These variables are used within an optimisation scheme that consists of integrated modules for data input, sensitivity analysis and takes into account the use of a set of retrofit options that satisfies a range of criteria (environmental, demand, cost and resource constraints); hierarchical course of action; and the evaluations of ‘best’ case scenario based on marginal abatement cost methods and Pareto optimisation. The steps involved in the system development are presented and its usefulness is evaluated using case study applications. The results of the applications are analysed and presented, verifying the feasibility of the DSS, whilst encouraging further improvements and extensions. The usefulness of the DSS as a tool for policy formulation and developments that can trigger innovations in retrofit product development processes and sustainable business models are also discussed. The methodology developed provides stakeholders with an efficient and reliable decision process that is informed by both environmental and financial considerations. Overall, the development of the DSS which takes a whole-life CO2 emission accounting framework and an economic assessment view-point, successfully demonstrates how value is delivered across different parts of the techno-economic system, especially as it pertains to financial gains, embodied and operational emissions reduction potential.

Using a narrow-band resonant fluorescence spectra from a nano-cell with a thickness of L= [lambda]/2, and VSOP resonances formed at a thickness L =[lambda] ([lambda] is the wavelength of the resonant radiation), for the first time it was experimentally investigated the behaviour of the frequency and intensity (transition probabilities) of the atomic hyperfine structure transitions between the 85Rb, 87Rb, D1 and D2 lines Zeeman sublevels in external magnetic fields in range 5 - 7000G. The behaviour of tens of previously unstudied atomic transitions was analyzed and it is demonstrated that the intensities of these lines can both greatly increase, and decrease (tenfold). For the first time it is demonstrated that, in the case of partial pressure of neon buffer gas up to 6~torr into the nano-cell of thickness L = [lambda] filled with Rb, VSOP resonances are recorded confidently, while the addition of 0.1~torr neon buffer gas in a cell of a centimeter thickness leads to the complete disappearance of VSOP resonances formed with the help of the widely used technique of saturated absorption. It is demonstrated for the first time that the spectral width of the resonant fluorescence spectra of the rubidium nano-cell with thickness L= [lambda]/2, for all values of the neon buffer gas pressures is much narrower (6-8 times) compared with the resonant fluorescence spectra of an ordinary centimeter cell containing rubidium with the same pressures of neon

L’effet de la transparence induite électromagnétiquement est observée à l’aidede cellules nanométriques et de cellules micrométriques. La résonance EIT avec de bons paramètres (fort contraste et faible largeur du signal à mi-hauteur) est obtenue dans des cellules étroites. L' éclatement de la résonance EIT dans un champ magnétique est observé pour les raies D1 du 85Rb et 87Rb. Nous présentons un modèle théorique qui explique la dépendance du déplacement en fréquence des composantes de la résonance EIT en fonction de l’intensité du champ magnétique. Les résultats théoriques et expérimentaux sont comparés et démontrent un bon accord.Pour la première fois une résonance de type N est obtenue dans une micro-cellule. Nous obtenons de bons paramètres (fort contraste et faible largeur du signal à mi-hauteur) dela résonance N à l’aide d’une micro-cellule. Cela nous permet d’observer le comportement d’une résonance N dans un champ magnétique. L’éclatement de la résonance N dans unchamp magnétique est observé pour les raies D1 du 85Rb et 87Rb. Nous présentons les calculs théoriques qui expliquent la dépendance du déplacement en fréquence des composantes dela résonance N en fonction de l’intensité du champ magnétique. Les résultats théoriques et expérimentaux sont comparés et démontrent un bon accord. Le comportement de la résonance N en régime hyperfin Paschen-Back est présenté et expliqué. Enfin une comparaison des résonances EIT et N est faite / The effect of electromagnetically induced transparency is observed, using nanocelland microcell. The EIT-resonance with good parameters (high contrast and small FWHM) is obtained in thick cells. The EIT-resonance splitting in magnetic field is observed for the cases of D1-line of 85Rb and 85Rb. The theoretical model, explaining the EIT-resonance components frequency shift dependence on magnetic field strength is presented. The theoretical and experimental results are compared and good agreement is shown. Also the EIT-resonance behavior in hyperfine Paschen-Back regime is presented and explained. For the first time the N-type resonance in microcell is observed. Good parameters of theN-type resonance in microcell are obtained. It allows us to observe the N-type resonance behavior in magnetic field. The N-resonance splitting in magnetic field is observed for the cases of 85Rb and 85Rb. The theoretical calculations of the N-resonance components frequency shift dependence on magnetic field is presented. The theoretical and experimental results are compared and good agreement is shown. Also the N-resonance behavior in hyperfine Paschen-Back regime is presented and explained. Simultaneous observation of N- and EIT-resonance is shown. Comparison of EIT- and N-resonance is made

A l'aide d'un spectre de fluorescence de résonance à bande étroite obtenu avec une nano-cellule d'épaisseur L= [lambda]/2 et des résonances VSOP formées pour une épaisseur L =[lambda] ([lambda] est la longueur d'onde de la radiation résonnante), cette thèse présente pour la première fois une étude expérimentale du comportement en fréquence et en intensité (probabilités de transition) des transitions atomiques de la structure hyperfine entre sous-niveaux Zeeman des raies D1 and D2 pour le 85Rb et le 87Rb en présence de champs magnétiques extérieurs compris entre 5 et 7000 G. Le comportement d'une dizaine de transitions atomiques inétudiées à ce jour a été analysé et nous avons démontré que l'intensité de ces raies peut montrer alternativement de grandes variations : jusqu'à un facteur 10 de taux de croissance ou de décroissance. Pour la première fois, nous avons parfaitement enregistré des résonances VSOP dans le cas où un gaz tampon (néon de pression partielle 6 torr) est introduit dans la nano-cellule d'épaisseur L =[lambda], alors que l'addition d'un gaz tampon (néon) même à une pression partielle de 0,1 torr, dans une cellule d'épaisseur centimétrique conduit à une complète disparition de ces résonances VSOP obtenues par la méthode usuelle d'absorption saturée. Enfin, nous avons montré pour la première fois que la largeur spectrale d'un spectre de fluorescence de résonance d'une nano-cellule de rubidium d'épaisseur L= [lambda]/2, quelques soient les pressions du gaz tampon (néon), est beaucoup plus étroite (6 à 8 fois) que celle obtenue avec une cellule centimétrique de rubidium pour les mêmes valeurs de pressions / Using a narrow-band resonant fluorescence spectra from a nano-cell with a thickness of L= [lambda]/2, and VSOP resonances formed at a thickness L =[lambda] ([lambda] is the wavelength of the resonant radiation), for the first time it was experimentally investigated the behaviour of the frequency and intensity (transition probabilities) of the atomic hyperfine structure transitions between the 85Rb, 87Rb, D1 and D2 lines Zeeman sublevels in external magnetic fields in range 5 - 7000G. The behaviour of tens of previously unstudied atomic transitions was analyzed and it is demonstrated that the intensities of these lines can both greatly increase, and decrease (tenfold). For the first time it is demonstrated that, in the case of partial pressure of neon buffer gas up to 6~torr into the nano-cell of thickness L = [lambda] filled with Rb, VSOP resonances are recorded confidently, while the addition of 0.1~torr neon buffer gas in a cell of a centimeter thickness leads to the complete disappearance of VSOP resonances formed with the help of the widely used technique of saturated absorption. It is demonstrated for the first time that the spectral width of the resonant fluorescence spectra of the rubidium nano-cell with thickness L= [lambda]/2, for all values of the neon buffer gas pressures is much narrower (6-8 times) compared with the resonant fluorescence spectra of an ordinary centimeter cell containing rubidium with the same pressures of neon