Neste trabalho, são estudas as verificações da punção global segundo a revisão da NBR 6118. A partir da análise dos fenômenos físicos e com base nos estudos teóricos realizados, são feitas sugestões para serem contornadas algumas omissões da Norma. Também são propostas complementação que facilitem o entendimento das novas recomendações e, ainda, modificações que melhorem seus resultados. Sugerem-se métodos simplificados relacionados à punção excêntrica, e propõem-se algumas alterações quanto ao uso do &#947z como coeficiente majorador na avaliação da estabilidade global. Observa-se que as verificações, apesar de mais trabalhosas, apresentam melhorias significativas em relação à NBR 6118 (1978), mostrando-se mais detalhadas e eficientes. Ainda assim, considera-se importante a introdução de algumas complementações, como aquelas sugeridas neste trabalho. / This work presents an overview of the requirements for punching shear and global stability of buildings in the draft Brazilian Code for concrete structures. Suggestions are made for fulfilling some omissions of the Code, based on theoretical studies and physical phenomena analysis. Some complements and changes are also proposed to facilitate the understanding of the new recommendations and to improve their results. Simplified methods related to the eccentric punching and modifications in the use of &#947z as a first order effects magnifier are suggested. It is concluded that the new provisions are more detailed and efficient, presenting significant improvements on both topics, especially when compared to NBR 6118 (1978). Nevertheless, it is considered important the introduction of some complements, as those suggested in this work.

Feasible span-to-depth ratios for many modern bridge systems have been identified and documented in literature. No such parameters have been adequately identified in terms of proportioning bridge piers. This thesis includes a study of 22 existing reinforced concrete highway bridges and their respective pier systems to determine the state-of-the-art in design. The effect of different geometric and material parameters such as concrete strength, reinforcement ratio and slenderness ratio on the structural behavior of individual piers and multiple pier systems was examined. Approximate methods, which may be used for the purposes of preliminary design are discussed and reviewed. Serviceability and ultimate limit states design aids that can be used to identify appropriate preliminary cross-sectional pier dimensions and reinforcement ratios for individual piers given various slenderness ratios were developed. The structural behavior as well as an approach to the preliminary design of multiple pier bridge systems is presented.

Feasible span-to-depth ratios for many modern bridge systems have been identified and documented in literature. No such parameters have been adequately identified in terms of proportioning bridge piers. This thesis includes a study of 22 existing reinforced concrete highway bridges and their respective pier systems to determine the state-of-the-art in design. The effect of different geometric and material parameters such as concrete strength, reinforcement ratio and slenderness ratio on the structural behavior of individual piers and multiple pier systems was examined. Approximate methods, which may be used for the purposes of preliminary design are discussed and reviewed. Serviceability and ultimate limit states design aids that can be used to identify appropriate preliminary cross-sectional pier dimensions and reinforcement ratios for individual piers given various slenderness ratios were developed. The structural behavior as well as an approach to the preliminary design of multiple pier bridge systems is presented.

Despite its convenience, the process of self-report in personality testing can be impacted by a variety of cognitive and perceptual biases. One bias that violates local independence, a core criterion of modern test theory, is the order effect. In this bias, characteristics of an item response are impacted not only by the content of the current item but also the accumulated exposure to previous, similar-content items. This bias is manifested as increasingly stable item responses for items that appear later in a test. Previous investigations of this effect have been rooted in classical test theory (CTT) and have consistently found that item reliabilities, or corrected item-total score correlations, increase with the item's serial position in the test. The purpose of the current study was to more rigorously examine order effects via item response theory (IRT). To this end, the FACETS modeling approach (Linacre, 1989) was combined with the Generalized Partial Credit model (GPCM; Muraki, 1992) to produce a new model, the Generalized Partial Credit FACETS model (GPCFM). Serial position of an item serves as a facet that contributes to the item response, not only via its impact on an item's location on the latent trait continuum, but also its discrimination. Thus, the GPCFM differs from previous generalizations of the FACETS model (Wang&Liu, 2007) in that the item discrimination parameter is modified to include a serial position effect. This parameter is important because it reflects the extent to which the purported underlying trait is represented in an item score. Two sets of analyses were conducted. First, a simulation study demonstrated effective parameter recovery, though measurements of error were impacted by sample size for all parameters, test length for trait level estimates, and the size of the order effect for trait level estimates, and an interaction between sample size and test length for item discrimination. Secondly, with respect to real self-report personality data, the GPCFM demonstrated good fit as well as superior fit relative to competing, nested models while also identifying order effects in some traits, particularly Neuroticism, Openness, and Agreeableness.

Neste trabalho, são estudas as verificações da punção global segundo a revisão da NBR 6118. A partir da análise dos fenômenos físicos e com base nos estudos teóricos realizados, são feitas sugestões para serem contornadas algumas omissões da Norma. Também são propostas complementação que facilitem o entendimento das novas recomendações e, ainda, modificações que melhorem seus resultados. Sugerem-se métodos simplificados relacionados à punção excêntrica, e propõem-se algumas alterações quanto ao uso do &#947z como coeficiente majorador na avaliação da estabilidade global. Observa-se que as verificações, apesar de mais trabalhosas, apresentam melhorias significativas em relação à NBR 6118 (1978), mostrando-se mais detalhadas e eficientes. Ainda assim, considera-se importante a introdução de algumas complementações, como aquelas sugeridas neste trabalho. / This work presents an overview of the requirements for punching shear and global stability of buildings in the draft Brazilian Code for concrete structures. Suggestions are made for fulfilling some omissions of the Code, based on theoretical studies and physical phenomena analysis. Some complements and changes are also proposed to facilitate the understanding of the new recommendations and to improve their results. Simplified methods related to the eccentric punching and modifications in the use of &#947z as a first order effects magnifier are suggested. It is concluded that the new provisions are more detailed and efficient, presenting significant improvements on both topics, especially when compared to NBR 6118 (1978). Nevertheless, it is considered important the introduction of some complements, as those suggested in this work.

In this thesis, new design concepts for arch bridges using ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete are developed for spans of 50 to 400 m. These concepts are light-weight and efficient, and thus have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of construction. Lightness is achieved by the thinning of structural components and the efficient use of precompression in the arch, rather than by the decrease of bending stiffness. Using the advanced properties of the material, the design concepts were shown to reduce the consumption of concrete in arch bridges by more than 50% relative to arches built using conventional concrete technology. In addition to span length, other design parameters including span-to-rise ratio and deck-stiffening were considered, resulting in a total of seventy-two design concepts. Other important contributions made in this thesis include: (1) the development of a simple analytical model that describes the transition of shallow arches between pure arch behaviour and pure beam behaviour, (2) a comprehensive comparative study of 58 existing concrete arch bridges that characterizes the current state-of-the-art and serves as a valuable reference design tool, and (3) the development and experimental validation of general and simplified methods for calculating the capacity of slender ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete members under compression and bending. The research presented in this thesis provides a means for designers to take full advantage of the high compressive and tensile strengths of the concrete and hence to exploit the economic potential offered by the material.

São descritas as recomendações da Norma Brasileira NBR-6118/1978 e do Código Modelo do Comité Euro-internacional du Béton CEB-1990 para a verificação da estabilidade de pilares esbeltos de concreto armado com seção variável submetidos à flexão normal composta, empregando-se a teoria do método geral. Para a obtenção dos momentos de segunda ordem são descritos os métodos de Engesser-Vianello e da integração numérica das curvaturas das seções transversais ao longo do pilar. Para a determinação do momento fletor absorvido pelas seções em função da curvatura proveniente da flexão do pilar sob a ação de uma força normal, desenvolvem-se as expressões para seções retangulares e circulares (cheias e vazadas) com base nas relações de tensão-deformação dos materiais segundo a norma e o código supracitados. Apresenta-se também um programa para microcomputador, elaborado em linguagem PASCAL, destinado à verificação da estabilidade de pilares com opção de adoção dos critérios da NBR-6118/1978 ou do CEB-1190. Não foram abordados os efeitos decorrentes de vibrações, fazendo-se apenas a descrição dos métodos de consideração dos efeitos decorrentes da deformação lenta. / The recommendations of Brazilian Code NBR-6118/1978 and Comité Euro-Internacional du Béton Model Code CEB-1990 are described, for stability verification of concrete slender columns with variable cross sections, subjected to axial load and bending moment, using the exact method. To obtain the second order bending moments, the Engesser-Vianello method and the numeric integration of the cross section curvatures along the longitudinal axial of column method are described. To obtain of bending moment supported by the cross sections due to curvature resultant of the column flexure under axialload, expressions for rectangular and circular (full and hollow) cross sections are developed, using stress-strain relations for materials proposed by model codes above mentioned. It\'s also presented a software written in PASCAL language for microcomputer and destined to column stability verification, with option to adopt the NBR-6118/1978 or CEB-1990 model code recommendations. Effects due to vibrations were nor included. Methods to take in account creep effects were described.

A análise de segunda ordem global de edifícios é indispensável nos dias atuais, em que as estruturas são cada vez mais esbeltas. No mercado, há diversos sistemas computacionais que realizam essa análise, e alguns dos novos engenheiros estruturais podem não saber os conceitos em que ela se baseia. Portanto, este trabalho pretende: avaliar os efeitos de segunda ordem em edifícios por meio dos coeficientes \'gama\'z e FAVt, este desenvolvido pela TQS, e por meio do processo P-Delta; mostrar como este processo P-Delta funciona e como o sistema computacional CAD/TQS o considera; e analisar também os esforços de segunda ordem calculados a partir dos de primeira ordem multiplicados por O,95 \'gama\'z. Em relação à avaliação da estabilidade global, serão comparados os resultados obtidos com os parâmetros \'alfa\', \'gama\'z, FAVt e RM2M1, este último gerado a partir do processo P-Delta. Pretende-se, assim, fornecer subsídios para que os novos engenheiros tenham condições de atuar com base conceitual bem fundamentada, tanto na escolha do método quanto na análise dos resultados. / The overall second-order analysis of buildings is essential nowadays, in which the structures are each time more slender. In the market, there are several computer systems that perform this analysis, and some new structural engineers can not know the concepts on which it rests. Therefore, this study aims: to evaluate the second-order effects in buildings making use of the coefficients \'gama\'z and FAVt, this developed by TQS, and using P-Delta process; to show how this P-Delta process works and how the computer system CAD/TQS considers it; and also analyze the second order efforts obtained from the first-order ones multiplied by O,95 \'gama\'z. Regarding the evaluation of overall stability, will be compared the results obtained with the parameters \'alfa\', \'gama\'z, FAVt, and RM2M1, the latter generated from the P-Delta process. It is intended, therefore, to provide subsidies for new engineers to be able to work with well-founded conceptual base, both in the choice of method and analysis of results.

Neste trabalho são discutidos os procedimentos simplificados para a consideração da não linearidade física (NLF) e da não linearidade geométrica (NLG) na análise de edifícios de concreto armado. Deste modo, pretende-se estabelecer o grau de confiabilidade desses processos. Algumas prescrições para redução na inércia dos elementos estruturais são comparadas com os resultados obtidos através de modelos em elementos finitos, permitindo, assim, a avaliação destas prescrições. Um estudo detalhado do parâmetro &#947z, como majorador dos esforços em primeira ordem para a obtenção dos esforços finais em segunda ordem, é efetuada, de modo que se possa estabelecer, de forma mais clara, as vantagens e as limitações deste parâmetro. / This work shows some simplified procedures to consider physical non-linearity (FNL) and geometrical non-linearity (GNL), for reinforced concrete buildings, and discusses its reliability. For FNL, prescriptions for stiffness reduction of structural elements are compared with the results obtained from finite elements analysis, in order to verify its assessment. For GNL, a detailed study of the accuracy of &#947z parameter to evaluate final second order effects is made. The behavior of the parameter along the height of the building and for each effort considered is shown.

In this thesis, new design concepts for arch bridges using ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete are developed for spans of 50 to 400 m. These concepts are light-weight and efficient, and thus have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of construction. Lightness is achieved by the thinning of structural components and the efficient use of precompression in the arch, rather than by the decrease of bending stiffness. Using the advanced properties of the material, the design concepts were shown to reduce the consumption of concrete in arch bridges by more than 50% relative to arches built using conventional concrete technology. In addition to span length, other design parameters including span-to-rise ratio and deck-stiffening were considered, resulting in a total of seventy-two design concepts. Other important contributions made in this thesis include: (1) the development of a simple analytical model that describes the transition of shallow arches between pure arch behaviour and pure beam behaviour, (2) a comprehensive comparative study of 58 existing concrete arch bridges that characterizes the current state-of-the-art and serves as a valuable reference design tool, and (3) the development and experimental validation of general and simplified methods for calculating the capacity of slender ultra high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete members under compression and bending. The research presented in this thesis provides a means for designers to take full advantage of the high compressive and tensile strengths of the concrete and hence to exploit the economic potential offered by the material.