The diploma thesis is focused on polymercement materials with dispersed reinforcement. The aim of this work is development of suitable polymercement mixture and monitoring of the impact of dispersed reinforcement on the course of maturation of these materials and physico-mechanical properties. The effect of high temperatures on the properties of the mortar is also examined. Emphasis is placed on the use of alternative resources and byproducts. Mixed binder of cement and slag and admixture of microsilica was used. Recycled cellulose was used as dispersed reinforcement and was compared with commercial polypropylene fibers.

To attain a sustainable development in the field of building materials, it is necessary to consider environmental, economic, and social aspects of the industrial production. This thesis addresses the first two aspects. Both theoretical and practical research were implemented in order to study the possibility to replace the commonly used RDPs, that are being used in the dry-mix mortar industry as a primary additive, with the industrially processed elastomer waste materials, such as recycled tire rubber. The review of the scientific literature processed within the theoretical research discloses the state of the art in the field of polymer modification of the mortar products and the effect of the commonly used modifiers and elastomer fillers on the performance of mortar and concrete products. The experimental research was implemented to study the possibility of the replacement of the RDPs for the elastomer fillers. The performance of fresh and hardened mortar containing various amounts of elastomer particles was studied. The results indicate, that the partial replacement could be feasible without worsening the performance of the product.

The diploma thesis deals with the use of recycled asphalt with aggregate in a hydraulically bound mixtures. The mixture is determined in the base or sub-base course of the pavement. The theoretical part of the diploma thesis describes the base course of the pavement, the production of recyclates from construction demolition waste, the acquisition and processing of recycled asphalt, the road reuse and recycling. The thesis is enriched by a contribution from the implementation of recycled asphalt laying into the base course of the communication company SKANSKA a.s. and ČNES a.s. The next chapter describes detailed experiences with recycling abroad. The thesis also contains a description of laboratory tests, which are important for evaluating the properties of mixtures with recycled asphalt. The practical part verifies the suitability of the mixture of recycled asphalt and aggregate for the road surface by testing the transverse tensile strength, compressive strength and frost and water resistance. The mixtures used are found to be suitable for pavement base course.

[pt] A Construção Civil é uma das indústrias que mais geram resíduos sólidos no mundo. Os agregados reciclados (RCD), como opção aos agregados obtidos por exploração de jazidas, derivam de materiais reprocessados que foram anteriormente utilizados na construção e demolição. Como o reaproveitamento de RCD vem crescendo em âmbito mundial, mas a qualidade e a padronização do material ainda são um impedimento à utilização em maiores escalas, faz-se necessário uma investigação das propriedades deste material. No presente estudo a microtomografia computadorizada (microCT) foi utilizada a fim de gerar imagens bidimensionais e tridimensionais para observar a estrutura porosa do material e, através de uma rotina computacional, as imagens obtidas foram avaliadas de forma qualitativa e quantitativa. Inicialmente, a rotina de processamento das imagens aconteceu para que fossem reduzidos os efeitos de ruídos provenientes da obtenção das imagens no microtomógrafo, além de uma padronização dos histogramas de todas as camadas. As imagens das amostras foram segmentadas e quantificadas para que a porosidade (poros e canais porosos) pudesse ser identificada e analisada. De forma complementar foram utilizadas também as técnicas de microscopia óptica e a microscopia eletrônica de varredura para análise da porosidade. Os resultados de volume, razões de aspecto e esfericidade dos poros dos concretos com e sem agregados reciclados foram analisados e comparados com as suas respectivas resistências à compressão. Os resultados mostraram, como esperado, uma porosidade maior nos corpos de prova com adição de RCD. Com uma diferença de quase 50 por cento no volume da porosidade, é importante destacar que a resistência à compressão de ambas as amostras foi satisfatória e dentro de uma faixa próxima de valores (31,4MPa para o concreto de referência e 25,73 MPa para o concreto com adição de RCD). Este resultado pode ser explicado pela necessidade de se eliminar os objetos menores de 1 voxel, o que pode ter causado uma alteração nos valores dos volumes encontrados, ou seja, eliminou-se mais poros menores de 1voxel nos CP s de referência. / [en] Civil Construction is one of the industries that generate the most solid waste in the world. Recycled aggregates (RCD), as an option to aggregates obtained by mining deposits, derive from reprocessed materials that were previously used in construction and demolition. As the reuse of RCD has been growing worldwide, but the quality and standardization of the material are still an impediment to its use on larger scales, it is necessary to investigate the properties of this material. In the present study, computerized microtomography (microCT) was used in order to generate two-dimensional and three-dimensional images to observe the porous structure of the material and, through a computational routine, the images obtained were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Initially, the image processing routine was carried out to reduce the noise effects resulting from the acquisition of the images in the microtomograph, in addition to a standardization of the histograms of all layers. The images of the samples were segmented and quantified so that the porosity (pores and porous channels) could be identified and analyzed. In a complementary way, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques were also used for porosity analysis. The results of volume, aspect ratios and pore sphericity of concretes with and without recycled aggregates were analyzed and compared with their respective compressive strengths. The results showed, as expected, a higher porosity in the specimens with the addition of RCD. With a difference of almost 50 percent in the porosity volume, it is important to highlight that the compressive strength of both samples was satisfactory and within a range close to values (31.4MPa for the reference concrete and 25.73 MPa for the concrete with the addition of RCD). This result can be explained by the need to eliminate objects smaller than 1 voxel, which may have caused a change in the values of the volumes found, that is, more pores smaller than 1 voxel were eliminated in the reference CPs.

La litière de fumier recyclé (LFR) est utilisée dans les fermes laitières québécoises depuis quelques années, et ce, malgré le manque de connaissances scientifiques quant aux risques reliés à l’utilisation de ce produit pour la santé des animaux. Le premier objectif de cette thèse était de décrire les méthodes de production de LFR dans un contexte québécois et les pratiques de régie associées. Le deuxième objectif du projet consistait à déterminer le potentiel de recroissance de certaines espèces bactériennes dans la LFR lorsqu’elle est contaminée. Par la suite, le niveau de propreté et la prévalence de lésions aux jarrets chez les vaches laitières exposées ou non à ce produit ont été estimés. Finalement, l’association entre l’utilisation de LFR et l’incidence de mammite sous-clinique et clinique a été évaluée. Des études observationnelles cohorte ou transversale (selon l’objectif de recherche) ont été réalisées en 2018-2019 sur 27 fermes utilisant de la LFR et 61 fermes utilisant de la litière de paille, à titre comparatif. Les visites de fermes ont permis de constater que les méthodes utilisées pour produire de la LFR n’étaient pas standardisées et qu’elles ne permettaient pas un réel compostage de la fraction solide du fumier. Les essais de recroissance ont permis de démontrer que les différentes LFR (traitée en tas, contenant fermé ou cuve rotative) ne réagissaient pas de la même façon à une inoculation par des coliformes. La LFR de cuve rotative contenait une plus faible concentration initiale de Klebsiella spp. et a montré une croissance bactérienne significative dans les premières 24 h post-inoculation. Les LFR conditionnées dans des tas ou contenants avaient quant à elles une concentration initiale importante de Klebsiella spp. et n’ont pas démontré de croissance bactérienne significative suivant leur inoculation, ce qui suggère un effet de saturation de croissance bactérienne. Au cours de l’étude transversale, 30 vaches par troupeau, en moyenne, ont été notées à l’aide d’un score de propreté sur trois zones du corps ainsi que d’un score sur l’état des jarrets, afin d’estimer leur propreté et la présence de lésions aux jarrets. Le score de propreté attribué à chaque zone du corps des vaches allait de 1 à 4, 1 étant très propre et 4 très sale. Nous avons observé que les vaches logées sur LFR avaient, en général, une meilleure propreté du pis et du bas des pattes que celles logées sur paille. La LFR avait un effet protecteur pour le risque d’avoir un score de propreté du pis ≥ 3 (rapport de cotes (RC) : 0,43) ou d’avoir un score de 4 (RC : 0,29). Les vaches logées sur LFR avaient aussi le bas des membres plus propres que celles logées sur paille avec de plus faibles cotes d’avoir un score ≥ 2 (RC : 0,45), un score ≥ 3 (RC : 0,16) ou un score de 4 (RC : 0,07). Cependant, nous n’avons pas trouvé de différence entre les deux groupes d’animaux au niveau de la propreté du flanc et du haut des pattes. Lors de leur évaluation pour la propreté, les vaches ont aussi été notées à l’aide d’un score de lésions aux jarrets allant de 0 à 3. Un score de 0 représentait un jarret parfaitement sain alors qu’un score de 3 était attribué à un jarret présentant une enflure de plus de 2,5 cm. Les deux jarrets étaient évalués et le jarret ayant reçu le score le plus élevé était inclus dans les analyses. Nous n’avons pas identifié de différence quant aux scores de jarret entre les deux groupes d’animaux. Afin d’évaluer la santé de la glande mammaire, une étude cohorte d’une durée d’un an a été mise en place à partir de la visite de la ferme. Les dynamiques de comptages de cellules somatiques ont été suivies sur 11 031 vaches durant cette période afin d’analyser l’incidence de mammite sous-clinique. Nous n’avons pas été en mesure de détecter une différence d’incidence entre les deux groupes d’animaux. Au cours de l’étude cohorte, les producteurs laitiers ont identifié et fait parvenir au laboratoire 1 144 échantillons de lait provenant de vaches atteintes de mammites cliniques. L’incidence totale de mammite clinique n’était pas plus élevée dans les fermes LFR qu’au sein des fermes paille. Cependant, lorsque nous avons analysé l’incidence de mammite clinique par agent pathogène spécifique, nous avons pu constater que les vaches logées sur LFR étaient 7,0 fois plus à risque d’expérimenter une mammite clinique causée par Klebsiella pneumoniae que celles du groupe comparatif. / Recycled manure solids (RMS) bedding has been used on Quebec dairy farms for a number of years, despite the lack of scientific knowledge about the health risks associated with the use of this product for animals. The first objective of this thesis was to describe the RMS production methods in a Quebec context and the associated management practices. The second objective of the project was to determine the potential for regrowth of certain bacterial species in the RMS when it is contaminated. Subsequently, the level of cleanliness and prevalence of hock lesions in dairy cows exposed or not to this product were estimated. Finally, the association between RMS use and the incidence of subclinical and clinical mastitis was evaluated. Observational cohort or cross-sectional studies (depending on the research objective) were conducted in 2018-2019 on 27 farms using RMS and 61 farms using straw bedding for comparison. The farm visits highlighted that the methods used to produce RMS were not standardized and did not allow for true composting of the manure solid fraction. The regrowth trials showed that different RMS (treated in heap, closed container or rotating drum) did not react in the same way to coliform inoculation. The rotating drum RMS contained a lower initial concentration of Klebsiella spp. and experienced significant bacterial growth in the first 24 hours post-inoculation. The heap or closed container RMS had a high initial concentration of Klebsiella spp. and did not show significant bacterial growth following inoculation, suggesting a saturation effect on bacterial growth. In the cross-sectional study, an average of 30 cows were measured using a cleanliness score on three body areas as well as a hock lesion score to estimate their cleanliness and the presence of hock lesions. The cleanliness score assigned to each area of the cows' body ranged from 1 to 4, with 1 being very clean and 4 being very dirty. We found that cows housed on RMS generally had better udder and lower leg cleanliness than those housed on straw. Recycled manure solids bedding had a protective effect for the risk of having an udder cleanliness score ≥ 3 (odds ratio (OR): 0,43) or having a score of 4 (OR: 0,29). Cows housed on RMS also had cleaner lower legs than those housed on straw with lower odds of having a score ≥ 2 (OR: 0,45), a score ≥ 3 (OR: 0,16) or a score of 4 (OR: 0,07). However, we found no difference between the two groups of animals in flank and upper leg cleanliness. When they were evaluated for cleanliness, cows were also measured using a hock lesion score ranging from 0 to 3. A score of 0 represented a perfectly healthy hock, while a score of 3 was assigned to a hock with swelling greater than 2.5 cm. Both hocks were scored and the hock with the higher score was included in the analyses. We did not identify any difference regarding hock lesions between the two groups of animals. To assess mammary gland health, a one-year cohort study was set up from the farm visit. Somatic cell count dynamics were followed on 11 031 cows during this period to analyze the incidence of subclinical mastitis. We were not able to detect a difference in incidence between the two groups of animals. During the cohort study, dairy farmers identified and sent to the laboratory 1 144 milk samples from cows with clinical mastitis. The total incidence of clinical mastitis was not higher on RMS farms than on straw farms. However, when we analyzed the incidence of clinical mastitis by specific pathogen, we found that cows housed on RMS were 7.0 times more likely to experience clinical mastitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae than those in the comparison group.

Sverige har historiskt sett haft en god tillgång till sötvatten. Under de senaste åren har dock problematiken kring torka och vattenbrist ökat och periodvis blivit ett problem i vissa regioner. Torka och vattenbrist förväntas bli mer förekommande till följd av klimatförändringar, vilket i bland annat Skåne blir problematiskt eftersom tillgången till sötvatten redan är begränsad. Problematiken ökar i kombination med att det finns ett stort vattenbehov, eftersom det är en folktät region med mycket verksamheter och jordbruk. Som följd har intresset för alternativa vattenkällor ökat, såsom återvinning av avloppsvatten. Syftet med studien var att undersöka utvecklingen av vattenåtervinning i Skåne. Mer specifikt ämnade studien att ta reda på vad skånska aktörer som initierat och påbörjat projekt kring återvinning av vatten stött på för hinder och drivkrafter. Ett kriteriestyrt urval samt snöbollsurval användes för att hitta lämpliga respondenter för de semistrukturerade intervjuerna. Respondenterna bestod av kommunala och regionala tjänstepersoner samt forskare som varit involverade i lokala projekt kring vattenåtervinning i Skåne. Genom induktiv kvalitativ kodning visade resultaten att de främsta drivkrafterna för att utveckla vattenåtervinning i Skåne var vattenbrist, engagemang hos olika aktörer samt tillgång till finansiella och tekniska resurser. Följande visade resultaten att lagstiftning och andra juridiska aspekter, ekonomiska aspekter och infrastruktur utgör de främsta hindren för utvecklingen av vattenåtervinning i Skåne. Slutsatsen visade att VA-systemet och utvecklingen av återvinning av vatten i Skåne befinner sig i en sorts lock-in, på grund av path dependency, där olika system såsom lagstiftning, infrastruktur och ekonomi hämmar utvecklingsmöjligheter. Dock framkom också slutsatsen att engagerade nyckelaktörer såsom VA-organisationer, myndigheter och politiker eller stora kriser såsom torka och vattenbrist harförmågan att agera som focusing events eller path break-outs och bryta den lock-in som finnsoch därmed driva utvecklingen framåt inom vattenåtervinning. Det etiska perspektivet av intergenerationell rättvisa bör integreras vid planeringen av ny VA-infrastruktur. / Sweden has historically had sufficient access to freshwater. However, during the last years drought and water scarcity has increased and periodically become a problem in some regions. Drought and water scarcity is expected to occur more often due to climate change, which in Scania becomes problematic as the access to freshwater is already limited. Combined with thelarge need for water, the issue increases due to how the region is densely populated with numerous industries and agriculture. Consequently, alternative water sources, such as the recycling of wastewater, have gotten more interest. The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of water recycling in Scania, Sweden. More specifically, the aim was to determine what barriers and drivers actors in Scania, who have initiated or participated in projects related to water recycling, have encountered. A criteria-driven selection and snowball selection was used to find appropriate respondents for the semi-structured interviews. The respondents consisted of municipal and regional public-officials as well as researchers who have been involved in local water recycling projects in Scania. Through inductive qualitative coding, results showed that the major drivers of water recycling were water shortage, dedication of different actors and availability of financial and technical resources. Furthermore, the results showed that laws and other juridical aspects, economic aspects and infrastructure were the major barriers of the development of water recycling in Scania. In conclusion, the water and wastewater system and development of water recycling in Scania is in a lock-in face, in accordance with path dependency theory. The study revealed how several systems have contributed to this lock-in, and how legislation, infrastructure and economy therefore prevent development possibilities. However, another conclusion is that dedicated key-actors such as wastewater organisations, government agencies and politicians or major crises like drought or water shortage have the ability to act as focusing events or pathbreak-outs. They have the capability to break the lock-in and therefore act as drivers for further development of water recycling. The ethical perspective of intergenerational justice should be integrated in the planning of new wastewater infrastructure.