Orientador: George de Paula Bernardes / Banca: Eduardo Dell'Avanzi / Banca: Heraldo Luiz Giacheti / Resumo: A região das nascentes do ribeirão Guaratinguetá, localizada no contraforte da Serra da Mantiqueira, Vale do Paraíba, tem sido intensamente modificada por ações antrópicas criando condições que favorecem os movimentos de massa, princiapalmente devido à supressão da mata nativa. Estas ações, somada ao aumento a intensidade de chuvas sobre uma complexa geologia da região, têm potencializado os escorregamentos translacionais, de modo que foram registradas mais de 40 ocorrências, nas chuvas do final de 2008 e início de 2009. Neste contexto, as proposta desta dissertação é de identificar os mecanismos que geram essas instabilidades através da avaliação das características geotécnicas de dois escorregamentos característicos na bacia do ribeirão Guaratinguetá. Para isso, as atividades envolveram ensaios de laboratório e de campo. No laboratório foram realizados ensaios para a caracterização completa das amostras, ensaios de sucção, para determinação das curvas características, e ensaios de cisalhamento direto, para determinação dos parâmetros de resistência. No campo, foram determinadas as propriedades hidráulicas através do permeâmetro de Guelph e a resistência à penetração dos horizontes utilizando o Penetrômetro Dinâmico de Cone. O estudo dos possíveis processos de identificação de instabilidade foi realizado a partir de retro-análises dos dois escorregamentos estudados, através do software SLOPE/W, da GeoSlope, e de simulações de cenários, através do modelo matemático Shalstab. Nestas análises, foram consideradas diferentes hipóteses relativas à presença de água no subsolo, onde foram verificados os respectivos fatores de segurança. Os resultados das retro-análises indicam coerência entre as superfícies previstas e observadas no campo, para a condição de solo saturado acima da superfície de ruptura e solo na umidade residual... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The land degradation process as consequences of deforestation and farming activities at the northem part of the Guaratinguetá creek watershed, Paraíba Valley, is compromising the environmental balance of the region traduced by increase in the numbers of shallow landslides occurring during rain seasons. In summer 2009, more than 40 shallow landslides occurred during an intense rainfall with serious consequence for the local population. In this context, the purpose of this dissertation is to understand the mechanism that triggered the soil movement based on geotechnical investigation of two landslides in the Guaratinguetá creek watershed. The geotechnical profiles of two landslides and the hydraulic parameters were determined by field tests using Dynamic Cone Penetrometer and Guelph Permeameter. In laboratory, physical and mechanical soil properties were determined. The shear strength parameters were obtained by direct shear tests on undisturbed speciments for three initial gravimetric water contents (residual, natural and saturated). The instability process was inferrred by back-analysing these two landslides using the SLOPE/W, GeoSlope, and simulating scenarios using SHALSTAB model. These analyses took into account the physical properties and the shear strength parameters of the solis for different water contents. The predicted slip surfaces were in agreement with the observed ones when the analyses considered the soil parameters above the slip surface as saturated and the soil parameters below the slip surface as in residual water content condition. The susceptibility map using SHALSTAB were then carried out for the soil parameters for satured condition. The influence of the vegetation (root strength) was inserted in the analyses by a scale factor based onn Algebra Map Technique. The validation of the applied methodology was verified by crossing the predicted unstable... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

BASTOS, I. J. F. S. Uma proposta de envoltória de resistência ao cisalhamento para solos arenosos artificialmente cimentados na região metropolitana de Fortaleza. 2017. 128 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Engenharia Civil)-Centro de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil: Geotecnia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2017. / Submitted by Edineuza Silva (edineuza@deha.ufc.br) on 2017-07-03T12:19:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijfsbastos.pdf: 3287121 bytes, checksum: ac9e185b10ef5a4be2ce8b319db6b028 (MD5) / Rejected by Marlene Sousa (mmarlene@ufc.br), reason: Prezado Ícaro, Existe uma orientação para que normalizemos as dissertações e teses da UFC, em suas paginas pré-textuais e lista de referencias, pelas regras da ABNT. Por esse motivo, sugerimos consultar o modelo de template, para ajudá-lo nesta tarefa, disponível em: http://www.biblioteca.ufc.br/educacao-de-usuarios/1234-templates Vamos agora as correções sempre de acordo com o template: 1. Retirar a numeração das paginas pré-textuais. Elas são contadas, mas só devem ser numeradas a partir da introdução. 2. Na capa retire a área de concentração, assim como o nome do estado, apenas a cidade e o ano da defesa devem constar. 3. Na folha de rosto retire o nome do estado, apenas a cidade e o ano devem constar. 4. Na ficha catalográfica, no nome do programa coloque Geotecnia pois é sua área de concentração. 5. No sumário não faça recuo na margem. Observe o alinhamento a esquerda, conforme está no template. Observe também o uso de negrito, maiúsculo e itálico nas seções. 6. Na lista de REFERÊNCIAS a palavra deve ser centralizada na folha, toda maiúscula e em negrito. A ABNT recomenda que o titulo deve ser em negrito. No entanto, nas referencias de artigos de revistas o nome da revista é que fica em negrito. Deixe espaço depois das informações de volume, numero e páginas. Ex. v. 99, n. 1, p. 75-93 Corrija em toda a lista. Não precisa numerar as referencias, já que elas estão em ordem alfabética. Retire a numeração em toda a lista. Atenciosamente, Marlene Rocha 3366-9620 on 2017-07-19T14:27:10Z (GMT) / Submitted by Edineuza Silva (edineuza@deha.ufc.br) on 2017-07-28T17:38:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijfsbastos.pdf: 3287121 bytes, checksum: ac9e185b10ef5a4be2ce8b319db6b028 (MD5) / Rejected by Marlene Sousa (mmarlene@ufc.br), reason: Prezado Icaro, só posso liberar seu nada consta, se vc realizar as alterações que solicitei antes e que não foram efetuadas. sugerimos consultar o modelo de template, para ajudá-lo nesta tarefa, disponível em: http://www.biblioteca.ufc.br/educacao-de-usuarios/1234-templates. Vamos a elas: 1. Retirar a numeração das paginas pré-textuais. Elas são contadas, mas só devem ser numeradas a partir da introdução. 2. Na capa e folha de rosto: Colocar na parte inferior da folha apenas a cidade(sem o estado) e o ano da defesa. 3. No resumo e Abstract retire o paragrafo inicial. 4. O sumário deve ser em negrito, sem paragráfos e com o alinhamento da margem a esquerda, que deve ser igual ao que vc fez na lista de abreviaturas e siglas. De modo que quando aumentar o número de dígitos elas fiquem no mesmo alinhamento de quando tinham um dígito. As seções: Seção primária (com 1 dígito) devem ser todo em Maiúsculo e em negrito Ex. 1 INTRODUÇÃO Seção secundária (2 digitos) devem ser Maiúsculo-minúsculo, negrito Ex. 1.1 Objetivos da pesquisa Seção terciária (3 digitos) Maiúsculo-minúsculo, negrito, itálico Ex. 2.3.1 Solos Quando o título da seção não couber na mesma linha, sua continuação deve ficar na mesma margem da primeira letra da linha de cima. Ex. 6.1.2 proposta de......Fredlund deve ficar em baixo da letra P de proposta e não voltar para baixo do numeral como vc colocou. Atenciosamente, Marlene 3366-9620 on 2017-08-02T17:43:01Z (GMT) / Submitted by Edineuza Silva (edineuza@deha.ufc.br) on 2017-10-19T12:10:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijsbastos.pdf: 3284791 bytes, checksum: 6dbaa78d08bc2b77e896dc03b984486c (MD5) / Rejected by Marlene Sousa (mmarlene@ufc.br), reason: Neuza: CORRIJA o nome do arquivo para 2017_dis_ijfsbastos. Prezado Icaro, já solicitei anteriormente que vc realizasse as alterações de acordo com o template disponível em: http://www.biblioteca.ufc.br/educacao-de-usuarios/templates/ Gostaria de lembrar que o nada consta só poderá ser enviado após essas alterações serem realizadas. Só para esclarecimento, vou citar algumas dessas alterações: Na capa e folha de rosto não se coloca o estado. Apenas a cidade e o ano da defesa; A área de concentração não deve vir na capa; as referencias estão fora do padrão etc Aguardo envio do arquivo já com as alterações Att. Marlene Rocha mmarlene@ufc.br on 2017-10-20T16:34:11Z (GMT) / Submitted by Edineuza Silva (edineuza@deha.ufc.br) on 2017-10-20T18:12:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijsbastos.pdf: 3284791 bytes, checksum: 6dbaa78d08bc2b77e896dc03b984486c (MD5) / Rejected by Marlene Sousa (mmarlene@ufc.br), reason: Neuza alterar o nome do arquivo para 2017_dis_ijfsbastos Pedir autor para corrigir a dissertação novamente. Marlene mmarlene@ufc.br on 2017-10-23T11:40:57Z (GMT) / Submitted by Edineuza Silva (edineuza@deha.ufc.br) on 2017-11-01T13:18:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijfsbastos.pdf: 3289951 bytes, checksum: 1c62711f82b1402273c183fb9276d359 (MD5) / Rejected by Marlene Sousa (mmarlene@ufc.br), reason: Arquivo continua sem alterações. Devolver para ele corrigir o que já pedi. Marlene on 2017-11-07T12:52:08Z (GMT) / Submitted by Edineuza Silva (edineuza@deha.ufc.br) on 2017-11-07T17:20:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijfsbastos.pdf: 3300845 bytes, checksum: 8df1ac7ed19d649acf47060ed355e3c4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marlene Sousa (mmarlene@ufc.br) on 2017-11-07T17:47:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijfsbastos.pdf: 3300845 bytes, checksum: 8df1ac7ed19d649acf47060ed355e3c4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-07T17:47:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017_dis_ijfsbastos.pdf: 3300845 bytes, checksum: 8df1ac7ed19d649acf47060ed355e3c4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-14 / Soils are particulate materials, which are often characterized by low shear strength. This aspect generally justifies adaptations in the geotechnical design to this characteristic, which may be even more problematic with soft sands, usually what occurs in surface layers throughout the Fortaleza Metropolitan Area (RMF). Therefore, the soil improvement procedure with addition of small fractions of cement can be extremely important. The adopted cement content should be such as to bring, for instance, a more economically and viable alternative to the geotechnical design of a surface foundation. In this case, the foundation geometric design, for example a shallow, will mainly depend on its load capacity, which will also depend on terrain's resistance properties. In the load capacity calculations, it is used geotechnical models pioneered proposed by Terzaghi that consider the most suitable soil rupture criterion is the one from Mohr-Coulomb. However, regarding soils artificially improved with cement that presents a substantial strength gain for each cement content, new Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters like cohesion and friction angle were obtained. This research proposes a modified Mohr-Coulomb envelope for artificially cemented soils. The proposal is based on the creation of two different functions to relate cohesion and friction angle with the cement content, very similar to what Fredlund et (1978) proposed for unsaturated soils improved by suction. In order to assess the proposed functions, triaxial shear tests were performed in sand with several cement contents. Adjustments were very similar. In addition, the envelope was applied for other tests published in the literature, proving the validity of this research proposal. Ultimately, the resistance envelope for cemented soils was applied in two hypothetical situations, a surface foundation and a slope. In both cases the main focus was on identify the most viable cement content in terms of safety and economy. / Os solos são materiais particulados, o que muitas vezes caracteriza-se por uma baixa resistência ao cisalhamento. Esse aspecto justifica, na maioria das vezes, adaptar o projeto geotécnico à essa característica que pode ser ainda mais problemática no caso de areias fofas, como ocorre frequentemente em camadas superficiais em várias partes da região metropolitana de Fortaleza. Assim sendo pode ser extremamente importante o procedimento de melhoramento do solo com a adição de pequenas frações de cimento, o teor a ser adotado deve ser de tal forma a trazer uma alternativa mais viável economicamente ao projeto geotécnico de uma fundação superficial, por exemplo. Nesse caso o dimensionamento geométrico da fundação, por exemplo, uma sapata, dependerá principalmente de sua capacidade de carga que será função também das propriedades de resistência do terreno. No cálculo da capacidade de carga utilizam-se os modelos geotécnicos propostos pioneiramente por Terzaghi e consideram que o critério de ruptura do solo mais adequado é o de Mohr-Coulomb. Entretanto, no caso dos solos melhorados artificialmente com cimento que apresentam ganhos substanciais de resistência, para cada teor de cimento ter-se-ia novos parâmetros de resistência de Mohr-Coulomb, a coesão e o ângulo de atrito. A presente pesquisa propõe uma envoltória modificada de Mohr-Coulomb para solos artificialmente cimentados. A proposta tem como base a criação de duas funções para relacionar a coesão e o ângulo de atrito com o teor de cimento, sendo semelhante ao que propuseram Fredlund et al. (1978) para solos não-saturados melhorados pela sucção. Para aferir as funções propostas foram realizados ensaios de cisalhamento triaxial em uma areia com vários teores de cimento e os ajustes se mostraram bastante concordantes. Além disso, aplicou-se a envoltória para outros ensaios publicados na literatura, comprovando a validade da proposição. Por fim, aplicou-se a envoltória de resistência para solos cimentados a dois problemas hipotéticos, uma fundação superficial e um talude, ambos os casos com o objetivo de identificar o teor de cimento mais viável em termos de segurança e economia.

Sediment and nutrient loss from agricultural landscapes contributes to water quality impairment and has the potential to impact crop yield. Best management practices (BMPs) such as riparian buffers have been designed to combat these issues; however, concentrated flow paths (CFPs) reduce their effectiveness and are often overlooked in agricultural fields. Conventional management of CFPs is to fill and grade them, however this provides only a short term solution leading to their reformation and increased sediment loss. The objectives of this project were: i) to determine if the filling of CFPs influence crop growth (yield and biomass), ii) determine a distance at which crop growth is no longer influenced by CFPs, iii) assess the impact that topography and CFPs have on crop growth, iv) analyze water quality in surface runoff leaving crop fields via CFPs, and v) develop an economic analysis for CFP’s influence on crop returns. Six small agricultural catchments, CFPs, and topographic positions (i.e., depositional, backslope, and shoulder) were delineated using ArcGIS and LiDAR data. In each catchment, six 4 m2 plots were established along CFPs where crop biomass and crop yield were measured. Additionally, six plots with no influence from CFPs were established as reference plots. Surface water quality was assessed by taking edge-of-field grab samples at the CFP outlet during significant rain events (i.e., precipitation exceeding 2.5 cm). Water samples were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N), and nitrate-N (NO3- -N). Through this study it was shown that CFPs served as a conduit for transporting nutrient and sediment laden runoff to receiving waters, that increasing/decreasing distance from CFPs had an impact on crop yields, and that there was no crop yield advantage from the filling of CFPs vs. leaving them unfilled. Median values for NO3-N (1.85 mg L-1) and TSS (140 mg L-1) in the Fill catchments were higher than the No-Fill catchments (0.77 mg L-1 and 35.5 mg L-1, respectively), while DRP and TP concentrations were higher in the No-Fill catchments (1.31 mg L-1 and 2.37 mg L-1, respectively) compared to the Fill catchments (0.91 mg L-1 and 1.83 mg L-1, respectively) over the growing season. Crop biomass and yield results between the depositional and backslope positions were similar regardless of treatment, but were lower than the reference plots and shoulder position. Results from the economic analysis on the cost of farming in/near CFPs indicated that the economic return was greatly dependent on precipitation. CFPs are generally concave positions on the landscapes and have been eroded to a clayey subsoil, both resulting in greater water accumulation and retention than elsewhere in the field. During wetter years, an economic loss was incurred nearest to the CFP and during drier years, sites nearest to CFPs saw positive returns. Farmers and land managers may consider implementing stabilization measures, such as grassed waterways, in CFPs since crop yields are typically lower in wetter years, there’s increased cost to maintain these areas, and accelerated sediment loss can exacerbate the crop yield losses and impact on water quality.

Escorregamentos de taludes no Sudeste do Brasil são causados principalmente, pelo efeito da água proveniente das chuvas. Nos últimos anos, vem se incrementando o número de desastres naturais, ao passo são registradas mudanças climáticas, que podem exercer influência na ocorrência de chuvas extremas. Muitas encostas permanecem grande parte do ano com o solo em estado não saturado, porém variações nas condições ambientais podem ocasionar mudanças bruscas da sucção, reduzindo ou até mesmo eliminando-a e gerando pressões neutras positivas. A dissertação apresenta, um estudo sobre a influência das chuvas, consideradas extremas, no processo de infiltração e de este nos eventos de escorregamentos, considerados catastróficos pela sua dimensão, e que causaram prejuízos ambientais, econômicos e sociais no Brasil. Para o estudo foram selecionados dois eventos de escorregamentos translacionais rasos relativamente típicos, considerados catastróficos, um deles aconteceu na região da Serra de Cubatão em janeiro do ano 1985, e o outro na Região Serrana do Rio de Janeiro em janeiro de 2011. Estes dois eventos apresentaram características de precipitações e mecanismos de escorregamentos próprios, que permitem ilustrar os diferentes mecanismos atuantes em cada caso. / Landslide in southeastern Brazil, are mainly caused by the effect of water from rainfall in infiltration process, in recent years has been increasing the number of natural disasters, while climate change that may exercising influence on the occurrence of extreme rainfall are recorded . Many slopes remain a large part of the year with unsaturated soil condition; however, changes in environmental conditions can cause sudden changes of suction, reducing or even deleting it and generate positive pore pressures. This dissertation presents a study about the influence of rainfall, considered extreme in the infiltration process and this one in the events regarded by their size of catastrophic landslides, which caused environmental, economic and social losses in Brazil. For the study were selected two events of shallow translational landslides relatively typical, considered catastrophic, one of them occurred in the Serra de Cubatão region on January 1985 and the other in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro on January 2011. Both events exhibit characteristics of rainfall and sliding mechanisms themselves, allowing illustrate the different mechanisms active in each case.

Submitted by Geyciane Santos (geyciane_thamires@hotmail.com) on 2015-09-30T14:50:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Evailton Arantes de Oliveira.pdf: 7555305 bytes, checksum: 2c240f5c22ffe712c469fdbb9709b393 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-10-09T13:28:31Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Evailton Arantes de Oliveira.pdf: 7555305 bytes, checksum: 2c240f5c22ffe712c469fdbb9709b393 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Divisão de Documentação/BC Biblioteca Central (ddbc@ufam.edu.br) on 2015-10-09T13:37:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Evailton Arantes de Oliveira.pdf: 7555305 bytes, checksum: 2c240f5c22ffe712c469fdbb9709b393 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-09T13:37:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Evailton Arantes de Oliveira.pdf: 7555305 bytes, checksum: 2c240f5c22ffe712c469fdbb9709b393 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-02 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work aims at the realization of geogrid pullout tests in a typical soil of the city of Manaus, using a small laboratory equipment. The soil in natura used in the tests was collected within an Area of Permanent Protection (APP) at the Federal University of Amazonas campus, representing a wide area of topsoil from the city of Manaus, the clayeysilty- sandy composition. From the original sample mixture with the addition of 20%, 40% and 60% sand deposit by mass were prepared. The soil samples and mixtures were characterized by the writings of Grit, Real Density, Liquid Limit, Limit Plasticity, Compression (Standard Proctor), California Support Index (CSI) and Triaxial Compression. Subsequently, tensile testing of Tensar geogrids in pullout of small laboratory equipment, experimental in nature, in which they varied the type of soil were performed, aiming a comparison with the manufacturer's specifications, and the test speed and type geogrid. During the research, a computer program was developed to facilitate statistical analysis of the results of pullout tests and enable the design of reinforced embankments with geogrids. Those tests proved that the insertion of the geogrid coupled to sanding, the original soil increments the geotechnical performance of the assembly, opposite the pullout requests, in which the mixture of 60% sand that best represents the quality of the strength parameters for reinforced embankments. / Este trabalho visa à realização de ensaios de arrancamento de geogrelha em um solo típico da cidade de Manaus, utilizando um equipamento reduzido de laboratório. O solo in natura utilizado nos ensaios foi coletado dentro de uma Área de Proteção Permanente (APP), no campus da Universidade Federal do Amazonas, representando um solo superficial de vasta área da cidade de Manaus, de composição argilo-silto-arenosa. A partir da amostra original, foram confeccionadas misturas com a adição de 20%, 40% e 60% de areia de jazida, em massa. As amostras de solo e misturas foram caracterizadas através dos ensaios de Granulometria, Densidade Real, Limite de Liquidez, Limite de Plasticidade, Compactação (Proctor Normal), Índice de Suporte Califórnia (ISC) e Compressão Triaxial. Posteriormente, foram realizados ensaios de tração das geogrelhas, visando um comparativo com as especificações do fabricante, e ensaios de arrancamento das geogrelhas em um equipamento reduzido de laboratório, de cunho experimental, em que se variou o tipo de solo, a velocidade do ensaio e o tipo de geogrelha. Durante a pesquisa, um programa computacional foi desenvolvido, para facilitar a análise estatística dos resultados dos ensaios de arrancamento e possibilitar o dimensionamento de taludes reforçados com geogrelhas. Esses ensaios comprovaram que a inserção da geogrelha, aliada à aplicação de areia, ao solo original, incrementa o desempenho geotécnico do conjunto, frente às solicitações de arrancamento, sendo a mistura com 60% de areia a que melhor representa a qualidade dos parâmetros de resistência, para os taludes reforçados.

The slope-area method is a commonly used and widely accepted technique for estimating peak flood flows in rivers where direct discharge measurements could not be obtained during the flood. The method makes multiple assumptions to simplify calculations which include assuming uniform flow conditions between surveyed cross sections, and that losses of energy in the reach occur only due to bank friction. Even though flows in nature do not always exhibit these simplified conditions, this method has been proven to provide adequate results when compared to direct measurements and thus, has become the go-to approach. To conduct a slope-area computation, the hydrologist needs to make multiple assumptions in the field based on experience, judgment, and published resources as guides. One of these assumptions is determining where to locate cross sections for the slope-area computation such that they sufficiently represent the cross-sectional area and slope of the channel. Traditional methods suggest to place the cross sections at breaks in the water surface slope. This research focuses on the variability of results of computed discharge values when cross sections are located at many different locations in the reach. What has been found is that many combinations of cross sections in the reach, including sections not located at the breaks in water surface slope, produce similar results when compared to the traditional methods. In fact, 121 of these combinations of cross sections produce peak discharge calculations within plus or minus five percent of the traditional methodology. What also was found was that variability in channel geometry goes unnoticed when using the traditional locating method, and losses due to expansion and contraction of flow area at locations which would not have been traditionally surveyed are occurring at multiple cross sections in the reach. The results suggest that reaches be evaluated for changes in geometry and not overlooked, so that the changes in shape, and subsequent losses in energy, be considered in the computation.

L'objectif principal de ce travail était de mieux comprendre les processus et la dynamique d'érosion des sols sur pentes raides sous culture permanente (café sous arbres d'ombrage).Huit parcelles expérimentales ont été installées dans une plantation de café avec une pente moyenne de 65 % avec Erythrina sp. comme arbre d'ombrage. Le ruissellement superficiel a été mesuré chaque 5 min et collecté pour la mesure de la concentration en sédiments et l'évaluation de l'érosion.La pluviométrie annuelle a été de 2206, 1778 et 2220 mm en 2011, 2012 et 2013 respectivement avec une alternance marquée de saison sèche et saison des pluies. La lame ruisselée totale a été en moyenne de 103, 54 et 33 mm respectivement pour les trois années. La concentration moyenne en sédiments a été d'environ 1.3 g l-1 avec des variations temporelles réduites entre événements pluvieux et entre années. La perte de sol annuelle moyenne a diminué de 1.69 à 0.91 puis 0.58 t ha-1 an-1 de 2011 à 2013. La dynamique temporelle a été analysée à trois échelles de temps : annuel-mensuel, événement et intra-événement. Environ 60% de la pluie et 90% du ruissellement et de l'érosion s'est produit pendant les périodes d'octobre à aout, dont plus de la moitié en octobre. La hauteur de pluie de chaque événement et la teneur en d'eau du sol ont expliqué l'essentiel de la variabilité du ruissellement et de la perte en terre. Le stockage d'eau de sol hérité de l'année précédente a joué un rôle important sur le ruissellement. Un modèle d'infiltration simple (Diskin et Nazimov) a été utilisé pour évaluer la hauteur de ruissellement pendant une pluie.En 2012 quatre traitements ont été appliqués avec deux répétitions chacun : 1. traitement de référence avec renouvellement de mini-terrasses et désherbage manuel ; 2. idem 1 sans renouvellement de mini-terrasses ; 3. idem 1 sauf désherbage avec un herbicide ; 4. idem 1 avec taille réduite des arbres d'ombrage. On a considéré trois périodes : P1 avant application des traitements, P2 les deux mois suivants traitement et P3 l'année suivante (2013). Les différences significatives entre les ratios de traitements/référence pour les trois périodes indiquent une augmentation du ruissellement et de la concentration en sédiments après renouvellement des mini-terrasses avec un effet toujours présent pour P3. Le désherbage avec un herbicide n'a pas montré d'influence claire. Le traitement avec taille réduite des arbres d'ombrage a réduit l'érosion pour les conditions d'humidité de sol > 30 % seulement.Le ruissellement superficiel, la concentration en sédiments et la perte en terre ont été mesurés à l'exutoire d'un petit bassin versant (31 ha, de pente moyenne de 60 %) en 2012 et 2013. Seules les pluies de hauteur supérieure à 5 mm (169 événements) ont produit du ruissellement et l'essentiel des volumes ruisselés a été produit lors des fortes averses (> 40 mm). Les coefficients de ruissellement ont été faibles (0.9 %) aux deux échelles en 2013. Ils ont atteint 2.44 % pour les parcelles et 0.9 % pour le bassin versant en 2013. L'écoulement de base était également faible pour le bassin versant (13-16 % de la pluie totale) avec une grande partie de la pluie (environ 20 %) perdue par percolation. La concentration moyenne en sédiments a été d'environ 1.65 g l-1 à l'échelle de la parcelle avec des valeurs maximales de 5.64 g l-1. La concentration moyenne en sédiments à l'échelle du bassin versant a été de 0.51 g l-1. La perte de sol annuelle a été de 0.73 et 0.36 t ha-1 an-1 à l'échelle parcellaire (tous traitements confondus) pour 2012 et 2013 respectivement et de 0.46 et 1.24 t ha-1 yr-1 à l'échelle du bassin versant pour les mêmes années.Le système caféier étudié a présenté une perte en terre modérée liée à une protection importante de la surface du sol par la végétation. / The main objective of this work was to better understand soil erosion processes and dynamics on steep lands cultivated with a permanent crop (shade coffee).Eight large experimental plots were installed in a 65% average slope coffee plantation with Erythrina sp. as shade tree. The superficial runoff was measured every 5 min. and collected for sediment concentration measurement and soil loss assessment.Rainfall depth was 2206, 1778 and 2220 mm in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively with a marked succession of dry season and rainy season. Total runoff was 103, 54 and 33 mm along those three years. Annual average sediment concentration at plot scale was about 1.3 g l-1 with reduced temporal variations between years or rainfall events. The plots' average annual soil loss (under normal management) decreased from 1.69 to 0.91 and 0.58 t ha-1 from 2011 to 2013. An analysis of the temporal dynamics was performed in three time scales: annual-monthly, event and intra-event. Around 60% of rainfall and 90% of runoff and soil loss occurred each year during the August-October periods and more than half of it in October. Total event rainfall and soil water content explained most of surface runoff and soil loss dynamics, while inherited soil water storage from previous year played an important role on the relationship between rainfall and runoff dynamics the following year. A simple infiltration model (Diskin and Nazimov) was used to estimate runoff during a rainfall event.In 2012 four treatments were applied with two replicates each: no mini-terraces renewal, weed control with herbicide, reduced pruning pressure on shade trees and reference management. Three periods were considered: P1 before treatment application, P2 the next two months afterwards and P3 the year after (2013). The significant differences between treatments/reference ratios for the three periods suggested higher runoff and sediment concentration when mini-terraces were renewed and the effect decreased but was still present in P3. Chemical weed control did not show a clear trend. The reduced pruning treatment reduced erosion only for superficial soil moisture >30%.Superficial runoff, average sediment concentration and soil loss were monitored at the outlet of a small watershed (31 ha, 60% average slope) during 2012 and 2013. Rainfall events greater than 5 mm (169 events) produced runoff at both scales and most of runoff amount was produced for strong rainfalls (> 40 mm). The runoff coefficients were very low (0.9%) at both scales in 2013. But it was 2.44% for plots and 0.9% for watershed in 2013. The base flow was also very low on this watershed (13-16% of total rainfall) with a large part of the rainfall (about 20%) being lost by percolation. The average sediment concentration at the plots was about 1.65 g l-1 and the maximum value was 5.64 g l-1. The average sediment concentration at watershed scale was 0.51 g l-1. Estimated annual soil loss were 0.73 and 0.36 t ha-1 yr-1 at plots scale (all managements included) for 2012 and 2013 respectively and 0.46 and 1.24 t ha-1 yr-1 at watershed scale for thesame years.The shade coffee system studied showed a tolerable soil loss compared to the potential erosion due to the efficient vegetal surface protection.

This thesis reports a detailed investigation into the use of the Shear Strength Reduction (SSR) method to determine factor of safety values in discontinuum models using the Universal Distinct Element Code. The SSR method depends on the definition of failure within the model and two different criteria were compared: the numerical unbalanced force definition and a more qualitative displacement-monitoring based method. A parametric study was first undertaken, using a simple homogeneous rock slope, with three different joint networks representing common kinematic states. Lessons learned from this study were then applied to a more complex case history used for validation of the SSR method. The discontinuum models allow for the failure surface to propagate based on constitutive models that better idealize the rockmass than simpler methods such as limit equilibrium (e.g. either method of slices or wedge solutions) and even numerical continuum models (e.g. finite difference, finite element). Joints are explicitly modelled and can exert a range of influences on the SSR result. Simple elasto-plastic models are used for both the intact rock and joint properties. Strain-softening models are also discussed with respect to the SSR method. The results presented highlight several important relationships to consider related to both numerical procedures and numerical input parameters. The case history was modelled similar to how a typical forward analysis would be undertaken: i.e. simple models with complexities added incrementally. The results for this case generally depict a rotational failure mode with a reduced factor of safety due to the presence of joints within the rockmass when compared to a traditional limit equilibrium analysis. Some models with large persistence of steeply dipping joints were able to capture the actual failure surface. Softening models were employed in order to mimic the generation and propagation of joints through the rockmass in a continuum; however, only discontinuum models using explicitly defined joints in the model were able to capture the correct failure surface. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

More than 1100 debris flows were mobilized from shallow landslides during a rainstorm from 9 to 13 September 2013 in the Colorado Front Range, with the vast majority initiating on sparsely vegetated, south facing terrain. To investigate the physical processes responsible for the observed aspect control, we made measurements of soil properties on a densely forested north facing hillslope and a grassland-dominated south facing hillslope in the Colorado Front Range and performed numerical modeling of transient changes in soil pore water pressure throughout the rainstorm. Using the numerical model, we quantitatively assessed interactions among vegetation, rainfall interception, subsurface hydrology, and slope stability. Results suggest that apparent cohesion supplied by roots was responsible for the observed connection between debris flow initiation and slope aspect. Results suggest that future climate-driven modifications to forest structure could substantially influence landslide hazards throughout the Front Range and similar water-limited environments where vegetation communities may be more susceptible to small variations in climate.

Background: During incremental exercise, systolic blood pressure (SBP) increases due to increasing cardiac output. However, the impact of workload on SBP has often been overlooked. Indexing the increase in SBP to the increase in workload could provide a way of accounting for this. Athletes often reach higher maximal SBP (SBPmax) than untrained subjects, which has been attributed to their superior cardiac capacity. How this affects the relation between SBP and workload is not established. Aim: We sought to characterise the novel metrics SBP/VO2-slope and SBP/Watt-slope in endurance athletes and to analyse possible correlations between these metrics and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in a population of endurance athletes and healthy, non-athletic subjects. We also sought to compare the SBP response of athletes to values predicted by newly published reference equations accounting for workload. Methods: In 24 endurance athletes and 5 healthy non-athletes we assessed the workload-indexed blood pressure response during a graded bicycle ergometer test. SBPmax was defined as the last SBP during exercise, VO2max as the mean of the two highest consecutive VO2 measurements at end of exercise. Results: The mean SBP/VO2-slope was 31.1 ± 9.7 mmHg/l/min and the mean SBP/Watt-slope was 0.28 ± 0.08 mmHg/Watt. We found no significant correlation between VO2max and the SBP/VO2-slope or the SBP/Watt-slope, nor with SBP at 50 W or at 200 W. In males there was a significant correlation between VO2max and SBPmax. The endurance athletes had less steep SBP/Watt-slopes and higher SBPmax than predicted by reference equations.  Conclusion: The SBP/VO2-slope offers a precise way of indexing blood pressure to workload and could provide a valuable tool in future studies investigating the SBP response to exercise. Our results suggest that different reference equations than in the general population might be needed when evaluating the SBP response in athletes.