Amorphous and polycrystalline microwires cast from ferromagnetic Fe-based or Co-based alloys in glass envelope demonstrate unique magneto-anisotropic and high frequency impedance properties that make them very attractive for sensor applications. Magnetic anisotropies of different types result from the inverse magnetostriction effect (positive or negative) at the interface between the glass shell and the metal core, in the presence of the residual stresses induced during the Taylor-Ulitovski casting method. Therefore, the glass shell is not just isolation, but also is one of most important factors that defines the physical properties of microwires. In particular, magnetic anisotropy allows high frequency impedance to be tuned by external stimuli such as magnetic field, tensile stress, or temperature. In the project, these effects are explored for the creation of low density microwire inclusions that might introduce tuneable microwave properties to polymer composite materials. The project aims to study high frequency impedance effects in ferromagnetic wires in the presence of tensile stress, temperature, and magnetic field. The integration of microwave equipment with mechanical and thermal measurement facilities is a very challenging task. In the project, we develop new experimental techniques allowing comprehensive study of composite materials with electromagnetic functionalities. The wire surface impedance recovered from such measurements can then be used to model the microwave response from wire-filled composites in free space. The obtained results significantly expand the horizon of potential applications of ferromagnetic wires for structural health monitoring.

This thesis is part of Project of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No P504/11/1151, focused on the role of plants in the balance of carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases produced in the ecosystem of a sedge fen, which is situated on the study site Wet Meadows near Třeboň. The thesis deals with the growth dynamics of the dominant sedge, Carex acuta. The samples were taken using the method of successive harvests near the automatic meteorological station of Czech Globe, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. During the growing season nine harvests were accomplished on 25.3, 15.4, 6.5, 5.6., 9.7., 5.8., 9.9., 21.10., 25.11.. On each date eight replicates were taken, i.e., a total of 72 samples within the vegetation season. The seasonal dynamic of the above ground biomass was compared between C. acuta and the other plant species on the experimental area. Both live and dead biomass, was harvested and subsequently sorted to single botanic species, dried, weighed and the values were processed using the MS Excel tables. The seasonal maximum of aboveground biomass of all plant species (both live and dead parts) was found on 9.7. (1452,72 g.m-2). Among plant species the highest values of aboveground biomass were attained by Calamagrostis canescens (1257,93 g.m-2) and C. acuta (1163,49 g.m-2). C. acuta displayed the highest density of all shoots on 15.4 (300 m-2),and the highest average weight of one shoot. The maximum length of the longest live shoot of Carex acuta was very consistent among the measurememnts.

The theoretical part summarizes pieces of knowledge about the most common defects and wood pests including their impact on the properties of the material. The following practical part describes the destructive testing of wood - its course, calculation and evaluation of results. The final section is devoted to the structural and chemical wood protection. There are introduced basic principles and methods of protection and in the last chapter there are some examples of companies in our region that performs chemical protection.

Nous proposons une nouvelle procédure de mesure permettant de tracer la courbe de résistivité en fonction de l'écartement électrode de courant-électrode de potentiel relié à la profondeur d'investigation et au gradient de teneur en eau. Les mesures de résistivité au droit des armatures sont réalisées et une procédure d'inversion permettant de remonter au gradient de résistivité est mise en place. Deux types de mesures ont été effectués expérimentalement, sur des dalles en béton armé et non armée. Deux types de gradient sont étudiés : le séchage et l'humidification. La présence de l'armature diminue significativement la résistivité à cause d'un effet de court-circuit. Les mesures montrent l'intérêt de la procédure pour l'étude du gradient de teneur en eau. Pour la partie numérique la simulation a montré que la mesure de résistivité permet effectivement de déterminer le gradient de résistivité et de définir les paramètres électrochimiques de l'acier via le modèle de Butler-Volmer. / We propose a new measurement procedure that allows drawing a resistivity curve as a function of the spacing between current electrode and potential electrode which is linked to the investigation depth and the water content gradient. The resistivity measurements above the rebars are performed and an inversion procedure to assess the resistivity gradient is carried out. For the experimental part two kinds of measurement are performed on concrete slabs (reinforced and unreinforced). Two gradient types are studied: drying and wetting. The presence of the reinforcement significantly decreases the measurement of the resistivity. The measurements show the interest of the proposed procedure for the study of the water content gradient. Two measurement results were considered in numerical analyses. The simulation shows that it is possible to assess the resistivity gradient and the electrochemical parameters of the rebar via the Butler-Volmer model.

La méconnaissance de la géométrie réelle d'une structure mène à une évaluation incorrecte de son état. Par conséquent, une estimation imprécise de sa capacité portante, sa durabilité, sa stabilité et la nécessité de mettre en place une réparation ou un renforcement. En outre, l'optimisation du temps requis pour le processus de réparation a besoin de bien connaître les différentes parties de la structure à évaluer et également pour éviter les zones critiques telles que les aciers, les câbles, etc., lors de la réparation. Par conséquent, il est nécessaire d'utiliser des techniques d'évaluation non destructive (END) afin de connaître la géométrie réelle de la structure, notamment l'emplacement des armatures dans les structures en béton armé. Le GPR est considéré comme une technique non-destructive idéale pour détecter et localiser les renforts. Cependant, sa précision de localisation est limitée. Le but de ce projet de recherche a donc été d'accroître la précision du GPR en matière de reconnaissance géométrique interne de structures en béton armé. L'objectif principal de cette étude est de localiser précisément le positionnement des armatures dans le plan ausculté ainsi qu'en profondeur. Pour atteindre cet objectif, une nouvelle méthodologie de mesures et du traitement des signaux GPR a été proposée dans cette étude. Plusieurs configurations d'acquisition de données en utilisant des signaux simulés sont testées pour proposer et développer un algorithme d'imagerie du milieu de propagation afin de définir sa géométrie interne et de localiser précisément les barres de renforcement. Des traitements supplémentaires sont appliqués pour améliorer la précision de la détection et pour identifier les différentes interfaces dans le milieu testé. L'algorithme et le traitement sont appliqués aux signaux simulés. Des validations expérimentales ont ensuite été appliquées aux signaux réels acquis sur différentes dalles en béton armé. L'objectif est de tester la capacité de l'algorithme d'imagerie proposé pour localiser différents objets enfouis. Les résultats encourageants montrent que cet algorithme est capable d'estimer la position de différents objets enfouis et pas uniquement les armatures avec une erreur d'estimation de (0-1) mm. Les performances de l'algorithme ont été comparées à celles d'une méthode de migration et aux résultats de mesure obtenus avec un pachomètre. Ces comparaisons ont systématiquement révélé une meilleure précision de la localisation avec l'algorithme développé.Une autre étude a été proposée dans ce travail en testant l'algorithme avec des signaux réels modifiés. Ces signaux sont produits en réduisant le gain le moins possible. La conclusion la plus évidente de cette étude est que l'algorithme proposé est capable de localiser les différents objets même si les signaux réfléchis par eux sont de faible amplitude. / Lack of acquaintance in the real geometry of a structure leads to incorrect evaluation of its state. Consequently, this will lead to inaccurate estimation of bearing capacity, durability, stability and moreover, the need for repair or strengthening. Furthermore, optimization of the required time for repair process needs to well recognize the parts of structure to be assessed and also to avoid the critical zones such as reinforcing bars, cables, etc., during repairing. Therefore; it becomes necessary to use a non-destructive testing (NDT) method in order to know the real geometry of structure in particular, the location of reinforcements in reinforced concrete structures. GPR is considered as an ideal non-invasive technique in detecting and locating these reinforcements. However, its accuracy in localization is limited. The aim of this research project has therefore been to increase the accuracy of GPR in recognizing the internal geometry of reinforced concrete structures. The main objective of this study is to locate accurately the position of reinforcements into three dimensions. To achieve this purpose, a new methodology for GPR measurement and processing is proposed in this study.Several configurations of data acquisition using simulated signals are tested to propose and develop an appropriate imaging algorithm for the propagation medium to imagine its internal geometry and to locate accurately the reinforcing bars. Further processing are applied to improve the accuracy of detection and to identify the different interfaces in the tested medium. Both algorithm and processing are applied on simulated signals. Subsequent experimental validations have been applied using real signals acquired from different real reinforced concrete slabs. The goal is to test the ability of proposed imaging algorithm for the localization of different targets. The encouraging results indicate that this algorithm is able to estimate the position of different buried targets and not only the reinforcing bars with an estimation error of (0-1)mm.The performance of proposed algorithm has compared to those of migration method and to the results obtained from pachometer. These comparisons have systematically revealed a better localization accuracy using the developed algorithm.Another study has been proposed in this work by testing the algorithm using modified real signals. These signals are produced by reducing the gain as less as possible. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that the proposed algorithm is able to localize the different goals even if the signals reflected by them are of low amplitude.

Les Lasers à Cascade Quantique (QCL) sont de "nouvelles" sources THz dont les progrès en termes de puissance, température de fonctionnement et qualité de faisceau sont remarquables. Les QCL sont utilisés dans des dispositifs d'imagerie THz continue pour le Contrôle Non Destructif de matériaux. Une première application de CND sur des matériaux composites permet de mettre en évidence de manière qualitative les défauts d'imprégnation des fibres par la résine ou les dommages causés par un impact. Des images à 3,8 THz, en transmission et ré flexion, ont pu être comparées avec une technique de CND par ultrasons. Une seconde application quantitative porte sur la concentration d'eau dans deux matériaux polymères à tendance hydrophobe : le polystyrène et le polypropylène. L'établissement d'une relation entre la transmittance de l'échantillon et sa prise de masse d'eau permet d'établir une cartographie quantifiée de la concentration d'eau. Ces cartographies sont nécessaires à la connaissance du processus de diffusion de l'eau dans les matériaux polymères. / Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) are "new" THz sources that have enjoyed remarkable progress in terms of power, operating temperature and beam quality. QCLs are used in continuous wave THz imaging setups applied to Non Destructive Testing of materials. A first qualitative application of NDT allows us to highlight defects in the fibers impregnation by resin or damages caused by an impact on composite materials. Transmission and reflection images at 3.8 THz are compared with a NDT ultrasonic technique. A second quantitative application relates to the water concentration in two hydrophobic polymeric materials: polystyrene and polypropylene. Establishing a relationship between the transmittance of the sample and mass water content enables us to draw up a quantified mapping of the latter. These maps are necessary for the understanding of the water diffusion process in polymeric materials.

This thesis is part of Project of the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic No P504/11/1151, focused on the role of plants in the greenhouse gas budget of a sedge fen. The thesis deals with the growth dynamics of the dominant sedge, Carex acuta L., on the study site, Wet Meadows near Třeboň, Czech Republic. The seasonal changes in aboveground biomass were followed using successive harvests during vegetation seasons of 2010 and 2011. The seasonal maximum of aboveground biomass of Carex acuta L. (both live and dead parts) was 321,44 g.m-2 and 357,97 g.m-2 in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The seasonal maximum of total aboveground biomas sof all species was 558,22 g.m-2 and 522,38 g.m-2 in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The seasonal maximum of shoot density was 485 ks.m-2 and 435 ks.m-2 in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Ensaio não destrutivo é uma ferramenta essencial quando um equipamento, dispositivo ou componente não pode ser submetido a procedimentos destrutivos ou invasivos devido a razões de segurança, alto custo ou outras restrições físicas ou logísticas. Dentro deste quadro radiografias por transmissão com raios gama e nêutrons térmicos são técnicas singulares para inspecionar um objeto e desvendar sua estrutura interna devido à capacidade de atravessar uma vasta gama de materiais utilizados na indústria. Grosso modo, raios gama são mais atenuados por materiais pesados enquanto nêutrons térmicos são mais atenuados por materiais mais leves, tornando-as ferramentas complementares. Este trabalho apresenta os resultados obtidos na inspeção de vários componentes mecânicos, através da radiografia por transmissão com nêutrons térmicos e raios gama. O fluxo de nêutrons térmicos de 4,46x105 n.cm-2.s-1 disponível no canal principal do reator de pesquisa Argonauta do Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear foi usado como fonte para as imagens radiográficas com nêutrons. Raios dekeV emitidos pelo 198Au, também produzido no reator, foram usados como fonte de radiação para radiografias . Imaging Plates, especificamente produzidos para operar com nêutrons térmicos ou com raios X, foram empregados como detectores e dispositivos de armazenamento e captação de imagens para cada uma dessas radiações. Esses dispositivos exibem varias vantagens quando comparados ao filme radiográfico convencional. Com efeito, além de maior sensibilidade e serem reutilizáveis não são necessários câmaras escuras e processamento químico para a revelação. Em vez disso, ele é lido por um feixe de laser que libera elétrons armadilhados na rede cristalina durante a exposição à radiação, fornecendo uma imagem final digital. O desempenho de ambos os sistemas de aquisição de imagens, assim constituído, foi avaliado com respeito à sensibilidade, resolução espacial, linearidade e range dinâmico, incluído uma comparação com sistemas radiográficos com nêutrons empregando filmes e folhas de gadolínio como conversor de nêutrons em partículas carregadas. Além desta caracterização, diversos equipamentos e componentes foram radiografados com ambos os sistemas visando-se avaliar suas capacidades de desvendar a estrutura interna desses objetos e detectar estruturas e estados anormais. Dentro desta abordagem, uma neutrongrafia detectou a presença de material cerâmico remanescente empregado como molde no processo de fabricação nos canais de refrigeração de uma aleta do estator de uma turbina tipo turbo-fan, que deveria estar livre desse material. O reostato danificado de um sensor de pressão automotivo, foi identificado por neutrongrafia, embora nesse caso a radiografia também conseguiu realizar essa tarefa com melhor resolução, corroborando assim as curvas de resolução espacial obtidas na caracterização dos dois sistemas. A homogeneidade da distribuição do material encapsulado em uma gaxeta explosiva de chumbo utilizada na indústria aeroespacial foi igualmente verificada por neutrongrafia porque esse metal é relativamente transparente para nêutrons, mas suficientemente opaco para o explosivo rico em hidrogênio. Diversos outros instrumentos e componentes tais como variômetro, altímetro, bússola aeronáutica, injetor automotivo de combustível, foto-camera, disco rígido de computador, motor de passo, conectores eletrônicos e projéteis foram radiografados com ambos os sistemas visando avaliar suas habilidades em desvendar diferentes peculiaridades em função do agente interrogador. / Non-destructive testing is an essential approach whenever a piece of equipment, device, or component should not be submitted to a destructive or invasive procedure due to safety reasons, high costs or other physical or logistics constraints. Within this frame, transmission radiography with gamma-rays and thermal neutrons are unique techniques to inspect an object and unveil its inner structure thanks to their capability to pass through a wide range of materials employed in the manufacturing industry. Roughly, as a rule of thumb, gamma-rays are more attenuated by heavy materials, while thermal neutrons are attenuated by the light ones, making them complementary tools. This work presents the results obtained in the inspection of several mechanical components through neutron and gamma-ray transmission radiography. The 4.46 x 105 n.cm-2.s-1 thermal neutron flux available at the main port of the Argonauta research reactor in Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear has been used as source for the neutron radiographic imaging. The 412 keV gamma-ray emitted by 198Au, also produced in that reactor, has been used as interrogation agent for the gamma radiography. Imaging Plates - IP specifically designed to operate with thermal neutrons or with X-rays have been employed as detectors and storage devices for each of these radiations. These devices exhibit several advantages with regard to the conventional radiographic film. Indeed, besides a higher sensitivity and reusability, a dark chamber and a cumbersome chemical processing is not required for the development. Instead, it is carried out by a laser beam which interrogates the electric state of the crystal lattices of the IP, yielding a final digital image. Performances of both Image Acquisition Systems so constituted have been evaluated with regard to sensitivity, spatial resolution, linearity and dynamic range, including a comparison with the neutron radiographic system employing films and a Gd foil as neutron-to-charged particle converter. Besides this characterization, several pieces of equipment, have been radiographed with both systems aiming at the evaluation of their capability to unveil the inner features of these components and to detect abnormal structures or states. Within this frame, a neutron radiography detected the presence of remaining ceramic material - employed as a mold during the manufacturing process - in the cooling channels of a turbo-fan stator blade, which should be free of it. Neutron and gamma-ray radiographs have also shown the damaged rheostat of an automotive pressure probe, but the last one exhibited a better spatial resolution corroborating thus the results obtained during the characterization of both systems. The homogeneity of distribution of the stuff encapsulated in an explosive lead-gasket used in the aero-space industry has also been verified by neutron radiography, for this metal is fairly transparent to neutrons but opaque enough to the hydrogen-bearing explosive material. A diversity of other instruments and components such as variometer, altimeter, aeronautical compass, automotive fuel injector, photo-camera, computer hard disk, step-motor, electronic connectors and bullets have been as well radiographed with both systems addressing their ability to unveil different features according to the type of the employed interrogating agente.

L’évaluation des caractéristiques structurelles des chaussées permet l’optimisation de leur maintenance. La mesure de déflexion est une mesure de base de cette évaluation. Aujourd’hui,seuls la déflexion maximale et le rayon de courbures ont analysés. Pourtant, le curviamètre et le déflectographe relèvent le bassin de déflexion complet dont l’analyse permettrait d’extraire des paramètres plus sensibles à l’endommagement des chaussées. Actuellement, l’interprétation des mesures est seulement qualitative et aucun calcul inverse de l’état de dommage de la structure n’est réalisé. La thèse vise à améliorer l’interprétation des mesures de déflexion. Le fonctionnement des appareils a montré que leurs hypothèses de mesure conduisent à des biais de mesure. Pour pallier ce problème, une procédure de correction des mesures a été mise en place. La comparaison avec des bassins théoriques a montré que la méthode de correction était satisfaisante. Ensuite, une étude numérique visant à déterminer la sensibilité du bassin de déflexion à la présence de différents défauts a été conduite. Celle ci a montré que les indicateurs classiques de la mesure de déflexion étaient peu sensibles à un endommagement dans la chaussée. Une méthodologie a donc été développée pour la création d’indicateurs optimisés à un type de défauts spécifiques. L’étude sur cas théoriques a conduit à l’obtention de résultats concluants. L’ensemble de ces travaux a ensuite été validé sur sites expérimentaux pour des mesures de répétabilité, mais également sur site avec la présence avérée de défauts. Finalement, la thèse a envisagé l’utilisation des travaux précédents sur des mesures réelles recueillies sur itinéraire. / The evaluation of the structural characteristics of pavements is involved in their maintenance. The measurement of deflection is a key indicator of this evaluation. Currently, only the maximum deflection and the radius of curvature are analyzed. However, the curviameter and the deflectograph are able to record the whole deflection bowl and the parameters deduced from thismeasurement could help to better characterized damages on pavements. The interpretation of the measurements is only qualitative and back calculation of pavement layer moduli gives unsatisfactory results. The thesis aims to improve the interpretation of deflection measurements. The working principle of these apparatus and the measurement assumptions introduce several measurement biases.To overcome these issues, a correction process has been developed. The comparison with theoretical basins has given satisfactory results on bituminous or flexible pavements. Then, a numerical study has been conducted to determine the influence of pavements damages on the deflection measurement. By this study, it has been showed that the usual indicators of the deflection measurement are notable to detect all damages. So, a methodology hasbeen developed in order to create an optimized indicator specified to a special defect. A study on numerical results has been conducted to validate the implementation of these indicators. Then, the correction method and these new indicators have been tested on experimental sites with and without damages. At last, the research works have been studied at network level.

Alguns saberes têm se destacado no estudo da autolesão, entre eles a medicina, (notadamente a psiquiatria), a psicologia e a psicanálise. Estes campos do conhecimento diferenciam os atos de ferir a si mesmo como parte de uma cultura específica ou ritual religioso das práticas autolesivas que são atribuídas a patologias ou disfunções. Estas últimas são consideradas como atos de autodestruição produzidos por pessoas que precisam de intervenções de especialistas para que deixem de ferir-se. Partimos do pressuposto de que a autolesão é um modo de subjetivação construído e transformado por diferentes discursos dependendo do contexto sociocultural em que acontece. Assim, a intenção deste trabalho é analisar, à luz da perspectiva pós-estruturalista, mensagens de pessoas que se autolesionam e discutem a sua experiência em comunidades virtuais da rede social Orkut. Resultados indicam que além dos discursos em comum com os citados campos de saber e com a religião, há ainda quem defina a autolesão como arte, maneira privilegiada de expressão das emoções ou mesmo fonte de prazer. Alguns internautas reivindicam o corpo como território de intervenção pertencente unicamente a si próprios, reclamando o direito de utilizá-lo como bem entendem, no que se pode caracterizar como um movimento de resistência à norma de ter que apresentar um corpo dócil. Por fim, compreende-se que os sujeitos envolvidos nessa prática relacionam-se com seu corpo e com as comunidades de que participam enquanto locais de produção de identidades. / Some fields of knowledge have been highlighted in the study of self-harm, such as medicine (especially psychiatry), psychology and psychoanalysis. These areas differentiate the acts of harming oneself as part of a specific culture or religious ritual from those recognized as pathologies or dysfunctional behavior. The last ones are considered as acts of self-destruction produced by individuals who need assistance so that they can stop self-injuring. Partimos do pressuposto de que a autolesão é um modo de subjetivação construído e transformado por diferentes discursos dependendo do contexto sociocultural em que acontece. Assuming that self-harm is a form of subjectivity produced and transformed by different speeches, depending on the social context in which it takes place, this study intends to analyze, using the post-structuralism perspective, messages left on Orkut virtual communities by people who self-harm and discuss their experiences in that social network. Results indicate discourses in common with the aforementioned fields of knowledge and with religion, as well as definitions of self-harm as art, a privileged way of expressing emotions or even a source of pleasure. Some internet users claim for the right to use their bodies as they please since it is meant to be their territory of intervention and their only, what can be understood as a movement of resistance to the rule of having a docile body. In conclusion, it is understood that the subjects involved with self-harm relate to their bodies and with virtual communities as means of producing identities.