For fatigue design of welded hollow structural sections connections, the “hot spot stress method” in CIDECT Design Guide 8 is widely used. This method forms the basis of various national and international design standards. This thesis sought to address some contemporary design issues where the existing approaches cannot be directly applied. Modified design approaches were proposed for various practical design details. For galvanizing of welded tubular steel trusses, sufficiently large holes to allow for quick filling, venting and drainage must be specified. These holes, quite often specified at the hot spot stress locations, will inevitably affect connection fatigue behaviour. In Chapter 1, six rectangular hollow section (RHS) connections were tested under branch axial loading. The stress concentration factors (SCFs) obtained from the experimental investigation were compared with those calculated using the formulae in CIDECT Design Guide 8. It was shown that the predictions based on the current formulae were unsafe. Hence, finite element (FE) models were developed and validated by comparison with the experimental data. A subsequent parametric study was conducted, including 192 FE models with different hole locations and non-dimensional parameters [branch-to-chord width (β), branch-to-chord thickness (τ), and chord slenderness (2γ) ratios]. SCF formulae for RHS connections with vent/drain holes at different locations were established based on the experimental and FE data. In Chapter 2, by modifying the 192 parametric models in Chapter 1, FE analysis was performed to examine the existing SCF formulae in CIDECT Design Guide 8 for RHS T-connections under branch in-plane bending. The parametric study showed that the existing SCF formulae can lead to unsafe predictions. Critical hot spot stress locations were thus identified. The effects of both branch in-plane bending and chord loading were studied. New design formulae that take the vent and drain holes into account were proposed. The design rules in CIDECT Design Guide 8 assumes sufficient chord continuity on both sides of connection. Therefore, the existing formulae cannot be directly applied to RHS-to-RHS connections situated near a truss/girder end. Chapter 3 sought to develop new approach for calculation of SCFs in such connections. 256 FE models of RHS-to-RHS X-connections, with varied chord end distance-to-width (e/b0) and non-dimensional parameters were modelled and analyzed. The analysis was performed under quasi-static axial compression force(s) applied to the branch(es) and validated by comparison of strain concentration factors (SNCFs) to SNCFs obtained from full-sized connection tests. For all 256 connections, SCFs were determined at five critical hot spots on the side of the connection near the open chord end. The SCFs were found to vary as a function of e/b0, 2γ and β. Existing formulae in CIDECT Design Guide 8 to predict SCFs in directly welded RHS-to-RHS axially loaded X-connections were shown to be conservative when applied to a connection near an open chord end. SCF reduction factors (ψ), and a parametric formula to estimate ψ based on e/b0, 2γ and β, were derived. For RHS-to-RHS connections situated near a truss/girder end, reinforcement using a chord-end cap plate is common; however, for fatigue design, formulae in current design guidelines [for calculation of SCFs] cater to: (i) unreinforced connections, with (ii) sufficient chord continuity beyond the connection on both sides. Chapter 4 sought to develop definitive design guidelines for such connections. The parametric models in Chapter 3 were modified to simulate such connections. Existing SCF formulae in CIDECT Design Guide 8 were shown to be inaccurate if applied to cap plate-reinforced end connections. SCF correction factors (ψ), and parametric formulae to estimate ψ based on e/b0, β, τ and 2γ, were derived. The same methodology was used in Chapter 5 to study the SCFs in square bird-beak (SBB) and diamond bird-beak (DBB) tubular steel X-connections situated at the end of a truss or girder. A comprehensive parametric study, including 256 SBB and 256 DBB connection models, covering wide ranges of chord end distance-to-width (e/b0) and non-dimensional parameters, was performed. Two sets of correction factor (ψ) formulae for consideration of the chord end distance effect were derived, for SBB and DBB X-connections, respectively. / Graduate

Com o intuito de estudar a resposta da Plataforma Continental Sudeste, e particularmente na Plataforma Continental de São Paulo (PCSP), aos ventos sinóticos, foram realizadas simulações numéricas através do modelo sECOM. As simulações prognósticas consideraram campos estratificados de temperatura e salinidade. Como forçante externa, foi introduzido o cisalhamento do vento de nordeste, típicos do centro de Alta Pressão do Atlântico Sul, e ventos sinóticos de sudoeste de um sistema frontal de baixa pressão (frente fria). Os resultados obtidos com a forçante vento atuando apenas no sul da PCSE mostraram que os ventos remotos são capazes de excitar perturbações do nível do mar sob a forma de Ondas de Plataforma Continental (OPC), principalmente na PCI e na PCM da PCSP. A velocidade de propagação da OPC foi entre 9.2 e 10.2 ms -¹ na região sul da PCSE. Na região norte, com maior variabilidade, os valores foram entre 2.4 e 5.0 ms -¹. O vento remoto de sudoeste foi capaz de inverter o sentido da corrente superficial de nordeste para sudoeste e, após a inversão, a corrente apresentou oscilação natural com período de 30 horas nas regiões próximas da atuação do vento. Nos experimentos com o vento atuando em toda a plataforma, as correlações do nível do mar entre as radiais de estudo foram máximas na PCI e na PCM da região sul da PCSE, com OPCs se propagando a 15.3 ms -¹. Na região norte, as OPCs apresentatam velocidades de 3.6 a 7.2 ms -¹, dependendo da velocidade das frentes frias. As simulações ainda revelaram ressonância da corrente superficial associada com a velocidade de propagação dos sistemas frontais, com correntes na região de Cananéia se amplificando com frentes se deslocando a 11.4 ms -¹. A região de Santos e Ubatuba apresentou corrente máxima com frentes se propagando a 9.5 ms -¹. As correntes superficiais geradas nas simulações de vento em toda a plataforma também apresentaram oscilações inerciais na PCM e PCE da PCSE, após a inversão dos ventos. / Numerical simulations were made using the sECOM model to study the response of the South Brazilian Bight (SBB), especially the São Paulo Continental Shelf (SPCS), to synoptic winds. Prognostic simulations were performed using a stratified sanility and temperature fields as initial conditions. Two different wind shear forcing were included: the northeast winds derived from the South Atlantic High, and the southweast synoptic winds from low pressure frontal systems. Results from the wind forcing experiments only in the south of SBB showed that the remote winds are capable of exciting sea level disturbances in the form of continental shelf waves (CSW), mainly in the inner and middle shelf of SPCS. Phase speed between 9.2 and 10.2 ms -¹ were found at southern of the SBB. The northern region showed high variability, with values between 2.4 e 5.0 ms -¹. Southwest remote wind was able to reverse the direction of the surface current from northeast to southweast. Such the inversion promoted natural oscillation of surface current with period of 30 hours in regions close to the wind action. In the wind experiments acting over the SBB, the cross correlation between the sea level of differents stations were highest at the southern portion of the inner and middle shelf, displaying CSW phase speed of 15.3 ms -¹. In the northern region, CSW phase speed ranges from 3.6 to 7.2 ms -¹, depending on the velocity of the frontal systems propagation. Numerical simulations results revealed the resonance of the surface current associated with the speed propagation of the frontal systems. Currents off Cananéia amplified when fronts propagate at speeds of 11.4 ms -¹. Continental shelf regions off Santos and Ubatuba exhibit maximum currents with fronts moving at 9.5 ms -¹. Surface currents resulting from local wind forcing showed the occurrence of inertial oscillations after the inversion of the winds, mainly in middle shelf and outer shelf of SBB.

Com o intuito de estudar a resposta da Plataforma Continental Sudeste, e particularmente na Plataforma Continental de São Paulo (PCSP), aos ventos sinóticos, foram realizadas simulações numéricas através do modelo sECOM. As simulações prognósticas consideraram campos estratificados de temperatura e salinidade. Como forçante externa, foi introduzido o cisalhamento do vento de nordeste, típicos do centro de Alta Pressão do Atlântico Sul, e ventos sinóticos de sudoeste de um sistema frontal de baixa pressão (frente fria). Os resultados obtidos com a forçante vento atuando apenas no sul da PCSE mostraram que os ventos remotos são capazes de excitar perturbações do nível do mar sob a forma de Ondas de Plataforma Continental (OPC), principalmente na PCI e na PCM da PCSP. A velocidade de propagação da OPC foi entre 9.2 e 10.2 ms -¹ na região sul da PCSE. Na região norte, com maior variabilidade, os valores foram entre 2.4 e 5.0 ms -¹. O vento remoto de sudoeste foi capaz de inverter o sentido da corrente superficial de nordeste para sudoeste e, após a inversão, a corrente apresentou oscilação natural com período de 30 horas nas regiões próximas da atuação do vento. Nos experimentos com o vento atuando em toda a plataforma, as correlações do nível do mar entre as radiais de estudo foram máximas na PCI e na PCM da região sul da PCSE, com OPCs se propagando a 15.3 ms -¹. Na região norte, as OPCs apresentatam velocidades de 3.6 a 7.2 ms -¹, dependendo da velocidade das frentes frias. As simulações ainda revelaram ressonância da corrente superficial associada com a velocidade de propagação dos sistemas frontais, com correntes na região de Cananéia se amplificando com frentes se deslocando a 11.4 ms -¹. A região de Santos e Ubatuba apresentou corrente máxima com frentes se propagando a 9.5 ms -¹. As correntes superficiais geradas nas simulações de vento em toda a plataforma também apresentaram oscilações inerciais na PCM e PCE da PCSE, após a inversão dos ventos. / Numerical simulations were made using the sECOM model to study the response of the South Brazilian Bight (SBB), especially the São Paulo Continental Shelf (SPCS), to synoptic winds. Prognostic simulations were performed using a stratified sanility and temperature fields as initial conditions. Two different wind shear forcing were included: the northeast winds derived from the South Atlantic High, and the southweast synoptic winds from low pressure frontal systems. Results from the wind forcing experiments only in the south of SBB showed that the remote winds are capable of exciting sea level disturbances in the form of continental shelf waves (CSW), mainly in the inner and middle shelf of SPCS. Phase speed between 9.2 and 10.2 ms -¹ were found at southern of the SBB. The northern region showed high variability, with values between 2.4 e 5.0 ms -¹. Southwest remote wind was able to reverse the direction of the surface current from northeast to southweast. Such the inversion promoted natural oscillation of surface current with period of 30 hours in regions close to the wind action. In the wind experiments acting over the SBB, the cross correlation between the sea level of differents stations were highest at the southern portion of the inner and middle shelf, displaying CSW phase speed of 15.3 ms -¹. In the northern region, CSW phase speed ranges from 3.6 to 7.2 ms -¹, depending on the velocity of the frontal systems propagation. Numerical simulations results revealed the resonance of the surface current associated with the speed propagation of the frontal systems. Currents off Cananéia amplified when fronts propagate at speeds of 11.4 ms -¹. Continental shelf regions off Santos and Ubatuba exhibit maximum currents with fronts moving at 9.5 ms -¹. Surface currents resulting from local wind forcing showed the occurrence of inertial oscillations after the inversion of the winds, mainly in middle shelf and outer shelf of SBB.

Global warming is currently a major challenge faced by the world. Reduction of carbon emissions is of paramount importance in the context of global warming. There are widespread ongoing efforts to find satisfactory ways of surmounting this challenge. The basic objective of all such efforts can be summarized as conception and formation of protocols to reduce the pace of global carbon levels. Countries and global companies are now engaged in understanding systematic ways of achieving well defined emission targets. In this dissertation, we explore the specific problem faced by a global industry or global company in allocating carbon emission reduction units to its different divisions and supply chain partners in achieving a required target of reductions in its carbon reduction program. The problem becomes a challenging one since the divisions and supply chain partners are often autonomous and could exhibit strategic behavior. Game theory and mechanism design provide a natural modeling tool for capturing the strategic dynamics involved in this problem. DSIC (Dominant Strategy Incentive Compatibility), AE (Allocative Efficiency), and SBB (Strict Budget Balance) are the key desirable properties for carbon reduction allocation mechanisms. But due to an impossibility result in mechanism design, DSIC, AE, and SBB can never be simultaneously achieved. Hence in this dissertation, we offer as contributions, two elegant solutions to this carbon emission reduction allocation problem. The first contribution is a mechanism which is DSIC and AE. We first propose a straightforward Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) mechanism based solution to the problem, leading to a DSIC and AE reverse auction protocol for allocating carbon reductions among the divisions. This solution, however, leads to a high level of budget imbalance. To reduce budget imbalance, we use redistribution mechanisms, without affecting the key properties of DSIC and AE. The Cavallo-Bailey redistribution mechanism, when applied to the above reverse auction protocol leads to reduced budget imbalance. To reduce the imbalance further, we propose an innovative forward auction protocol which achieves less imbalance when combined with the Cavallo-Bailey redistribution mechanism. The forward auction protocol also has the appealing feature of handsomely rewarding divisions that reduce emissions and levying appropriate penalties on divisions that do not participate in emission reductions. The second contribution is a DSIC and SBB mechanism. Even though the first mechanism tries to reduce the budget imbalance, there is always a surplus which cannot be distributed among divisions and is wasted. So, in this part, by slightly compromising on efficiency, we propose a mechanism which is DSIC and SBB. The SBB property guarantees that there is no need for any monetary support from an external agency for implementing the mechanism and there is no leakage of revenue.