In this master work the influence of calcium ions on the cadmium mobility in the sandy and clay soils was investigated. Work subject - samples of Orthieutric Fluvisol and Calcaric-Endohypogleyic Luvisol topsoils taken from arable lands in Balbieriskis distirict. Work objective - to investigate the influence of calcium ions on the cadmium adsorption-desorption processes in the model systems of different kind of soil-Cd(NO3)2-Ca(NO3)2 simulating pH, Cd2+ and Ca2+ amounts. Work methods - the investigated soil samples were agitated for 1 hour with Cd(NO3)2 and Ca(NO3)2 solutions of various concentrations. The solutions were made in the 0.03M NaNO3 for the constant ionic strength maintaining. The Cd amounts in the equilibrium solution after the adsorption were determined with atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The Cd desorption was investigated in the samples after adsorption using 0.05M NH4-EDTA (pH 7) solution as extractant. The Cd amount in extract was determined with AAS. Work results - results of the research showed that in the clay soil were accumulated more mobile Cd ions under the influence of Ca ions than in the sandy soil. The clay soil adsorbed for 25 % less and desorbed for 77 % more mobile Cd ions than sandy soil. When soil contamination with Cd was increased from 8 till 40 mg/kg, the Cd adsorption increased about 17 % in both alkaline (pH 8) and acidic (pH 4) medium, while in the sandy soil it decreased about 7 % at pH 8 and increased about 3 % at pH 4. The... [to full text]

Esta dissertação apresentou um estudo dos mecanismos de transporte de sódio, fosfato e amônio em colunas indeformadas de material inconsolidado residual de arenitos da Formação Adamantina. Em campo foi realizada caracterização táctil visual do material, alem de ensaios de condutividade hidráulica. Em laboratório, realizou-se ensaio de coluna em material indeformado, para que fossem obtidos os parâmetros de fluxo de água: velocidade linear media, velocidade de Darcy, vazão e condutividade hidráulica. Também foram obtidos os coeficientes de dispersão hidrodinâmica dos três íons estudados por meio de quatro métodos. Os fatores de retardamento dos íons foram obtidos por meio de três métodos. Para auxiliar nas analises, o solo foi caracterizado mineralógica, química, física e físico-quimicamente. Adicionalmente foram feitas analises da poro simetria e estudo das trajetórias de transporte. As informações foram integradas para que fosse possível analisar os parâmetros de transporte de solutos no solo. Com esta pesquisa percebeu-se que o uso dos parâmetros de transporte em modelagem do transporte de contaminantes deve ser feito com cautela, observando tanto as características do solo (mineralógicas, físicas, físico-químicas) quanto os modelos conceituais e as limitações dos métodos utilizados. / This research aimed to study the transport mechanisms of sodium, phosphate and ammonium in undisturbed columns of unconsolidated residual material of the sandstones from the Adamantina Formation. At field, visual and tactile characterization of the material were performed as well as hydraulic conductivity tests . At laboratory, there were made column tests in undisturbed samples to obtain the parameters of water flow, i.e., average linear velocity, Darcy velocity, flow rate and hydraulic conductivity. Hydrodynamic dispersion coefficients of every studied ion were determined using four methods. The retardation factors of the three ions were obtained using three methods. To assist the analysis, the soil was mineralogical, chemistry, physically and physic-chemically characterized. We also analyzed the water retention curve, mercury intrusion porosimetry and solute transport trajectories. All available data were integrated for analyzing the parameters of solute transport in soil. The results showed that the use of transport parameters in modeling of contaminant transport should be done with caution, observing soil characteristics, the conceptual models and the limitations of the methods used.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:01:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LuizAN_DISSERT.pdf: 1380946 bytes, checksum: dc4e735e97a7eeceeab1f285f4673933 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-21 / The underground reservoirs of fuel retailing system represent an environmental threat, because once in bad conservation, these tanks allow fuel leakage and infiltration. For soil contaminated with fuel, such as diesel oil, the present study introduces the microemulsion systems used by the method of washing. In tests carried out in column with a sample of sandy soil artificially contaminated and previously characterized as to its void level to porosity, to permeability which is an important parameter concerning the study of the method of washing. While microemulsions were characterized for their viscosity and wettability, a variation of active matter was also done departing from the original formulation. The hydraulic diffusivity of the microemulsion was studied so as the injection of such fluid in a soil with sandy characteristics. The results of the extractions revealed the excellent performance of these systems which get to remove around 95% of diesel fuel. This proves the efficiency of the microemulsion in the process of removal of diesel fuel from the soil with the advantage of being a system easily obtainable and less aggressive to the environment when compared to organic solvents. / Os reservat?rios subterr?neos do sistema retalhista de combust?veis representam uma amea?a ambiental, pois em mau estado de conserva??o esses tanques permitem o vazamento e infiltra??o do combust?vel. Para solo contaminado com combust?veis como o ?leo diesel este trabalho apresenta os sistemas microemulsionados aplicados pelo m?todo de lavagem. Em ensaios feitos em coluna com amostra de solo arenoso contaminado artificialmente e previamente caracterizado quanto ao seu ?ndice de vazios, ? porosidade, ? permeabilidade que s?o par?metros importantes no tocante ao estudo do m?todo de lavagem. Enquanto as microemuls?es foram caracterizadas por sua viscosidade e sua molhabilidade, tamb?m foi realizada a varia??o de mat?ria ativa partindo da formula??o original. A difusividade hidr?ulica da microemuls?o foi estudada a fim de que seja avaliada a inje??o deste fluido num solo com as caracter?sticas de arenoso. Os resultados das extra??es mostraram excelente desempenho desses sistemas chegando a retirar em torno de 95% do ?leo diesel. O que comprova a efici?ncia da microemuls?o no processo remo??o do ?leo diesel do solo com a vantagem de ser um sistema de f?cil obten??o e menos agressivo ao meio ambiente quando comparado aos solventes org?nicos.

As restingas constituem um complexo de tipos vegetacionais que ocorrem sobre cordões arenosos ao longo da costa brasileira. Sua diversidade fisionômica, florística e estrutural contrasta com grande número de fatores ambientais limitantes, incluindo a disponibilidade de água e nutrientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a dinâmica do nitrogênio, bem como os atributos foliares relacionados ao uso do nitrogênio e da água, em três formações vegetais inseridas no \"complexo vegetacional da restinga\", as quais ocorrem ao longo de um gradiente de precipitação que varia de cerca de 800 a 2.600 mm anuais. Para tanto, foram avaliados parâmetros relacionados à ciclagem do nitrogênio e alguns atributos foliares funcionais relacionados às estratégias de uso de água e nutrientes nas principais espécies botânicas que nelas se desenvolvem. O primeiro capítulo compara a variação na disponibilidade e na composição isotópica de nitrogênio (?15N) nestas três formações de restinga que ocorrem sob regimes hídricos distintos. Foram analisados e comparados parâmetros relacionados à disponibilidade e às taxas de transformação do nitrogênio nos solos e sua assimilação e uso pelas plantas. Os solos das três áreas, arenosos e ácidos, apresentam deficiência nutricional, sendo o nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH4 +) a principal forma disponível. Suas taxas líquidas de transformação foram baixas e variáveis, com prevalência de imobilização, sobretudo nas restingas sob menor precipitação média anual (PMA). Na vegetação, o aumento na PMA refletiu em maiores concentrações foliares de nitrogênio e fósforo, juntamente com menores razões C/N e massas foliares por unidade de área (MFA). Os valores de ?15N foliar foram baixos e variáveis, ocorrendo enriquecimento gradual em 15N com o aumento na PMA. As concentrações foliares de nitrogênio e fósforo, bem como a MFA e a razão C/N mostraram-se diretamente relacionadas; já a MFA relacionou-se inversamente à concentração foliar de nitrogênio. O aumento da PMA ao longo do gradiente, juntamente com variações nas condições edáficas e nas comunidades bióticas, pareceu contribuir para o aumento da disponibilidade de nitrogênio, refletindo na redução gradual da conservação do mesmo. O segundo capítulo compara as restingas quanto aos atributos foliares de gêneros por elas compartilhados. As maiores diferenças foram observadas entre os gêneros das restingas seca e úmida, com a última apresentando maiores concentrações de nitrogênio e fósforo foliares e menor razão C/N. Seus gêneros ainda apresentaram menores MFA e composição isotópica de carbono (?13C), além de maior ?15N que aqueles das restingas seca e intermediária. As relações entre os atributos foliares dos pares congenéricos das restingas seca e úmida, assim como dos contrastes filogeneticamente independentes (CFIs), mostraram que a concentração de nitrogênio relaciona-se diretamente à concentração de fósforo e inversamente ao ?15N, enquanto que a concentração de fósforo relaciona-se diretamente com o ?15N e inversamente com a razão C/N. A grande diferença entre as restingas e a similaridade nas correlações - utilizando-se tanto os pares congenéricos e os CFIs - fortalece a distinção quanto à economia foliar da restinga úmida e as demais, enfatizando a importância das condições ambientais no ajuste dos atributos analisados, independente do grau de parentesco filogenético das espécies. / Restingas are consisted of a complex of vegetation types that occur on sand ridges along the Brazilian coast. Their physiognomic, floristic and structural diversity contrasts with a large number of environmental limiting factors, including the availability of water and nutrients. The aim of this study was to compare the dynamics of nitrogen, as well as leaf traits related to the use of nitrogen and water at three vegetation types inserted in the \"restinga vegetation complex\", and occur along a precipitation gradient ranging from about 800 to 2600 mm annually. Accordingly, parameters related to nitrogen cycling were assessed, as well as some functional leaf traits related to strategies for use of water and nutrients from the main plant species that occur therein. The first chapter compares the variation in nitrogen availability and its isotopic composition (?15N) at these three restinga formations that occur under different water regimes. It was analyzed and compared parameters regarding nitrogen availability and transformation rates in soils, and also its uptake and use by plants. The sandy and acidic soils of the three areas have high nutritional deficiency, and ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH4 +) is the major available form. Its net rates of transformation were low and variable, with the prevalence of immobilization, especially at the restingas under lower mean annual precipitation (MAP). At the vegetation, MAP increase reflected in higher leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, along with lower C/N ratios and leaf mass per area (LMA). Leaf ?15N values were low and variable, observing gradual 15N-enrichment with MAP increase. Nitrogen and phosphorus leaf concentrations, as well as LMA and C/N ratio were directly related, whereas LMA was inversely related to leaf nitrogen concentration. The increase in MAP along the gradient, jointly to variations in soil conditions and biota, seemed to contribute to an increment on nitrogen availability, reflecting in the gradual reduction of its conservation. The second chapter compares the restingas in relation to leaf traits of genera shared by them. The largest differences were observed between genera from dry and wet restingas, with the latter having higher leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and lower C/N ratio. Their genera also had lower LMA and carbon isotopic composition (?13C), as well as greater ?15N than those from dry and intermediate restingas. Relationships between leaf traits of the congeneric pairs from dry and wet restingas, and also of the phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs), showed that nitrogen concentration is directly related to phosphorus and inversely to ?15N, whilst phosphorus concentration is directly related to ?15N and inversely to C/N ratio. The bulky difference amongst restingas, and the similarity in correlations - using both congeneric pairs and PICs - reinforces the distinction regarding leaf economy between wet restinga and the others, emphasizing the importance of environmental conditions on the adjustment of the analyzed leaf traits, apart from of the degree of species phylogenetic relatedness.

Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2017-03-10T14:09:02Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Jamilly Alves de Barros.pdf: 1194573 bytes, checksum: 75742892e248d2018b9529d59b784af4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-10T14:09:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jamilly Alves de Barros.pdf: 1194573 bytes, checksum: 75742892e248d2018b9529d59b784af4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / Natural ecosystems have suffered great human interventions and one of them is the conversion of forests into agricultural land, and the TDF (FTS) one of the most affected in the world. Changes in land use can be reflected by biological, biochemical, chemical and physical parameters, the first two being the fastest and most sensitive to changes in soil quality. This study evaluated how the conversion of FTS in pasture with different levels of conservation acts on the community and microbial activity in Neossolos Regolíticos. The characterization of the microbial community and enzymatic activities of sandy soils of the semiarid region of Pernambuco in areas of drought and forest disturbed. In the first chapter, the study was conducted in the city of Saint John and the selected areas were: FTS = dry tropical forest, PP = preserved and PD = degraded pasture pasture. In the second chapter were selected five cities of Pernambuco semiarid region, which were collected two composite soil samples, one in FTS and another in area with human intervention. For Chapter 1 were determined analysis of the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), total organic carbon (TOC), the fatty acid profiles of the microbial community (FAMEs) and absolute and specific enzymatic activities. In chapter 2 were determined profiles of fatty acids and enzymes absolute. FTS conversion to pasture with different levels of conservation affected the microbial community and enzymatic activities of Entisol. And the type of vegetation is shown as one of the main factors responsible for the variation of the microbial community. Quantification of FAMEs in different areas analyzed demonstrated that populations of fungi are sensitive to changes in land use that bacterial populations, because these showed a faster metabolism, ie, unable to adapt to disturbances in the ecosystem. The evaluation of specific enzymes showed how these are influenced by the TOC and MBC, where enzymes by CBM unit expressed higher values. / Os ecossistemas naturais vêm sofrendo grandes intervenções humanas e uma delas é a conversão de florestas em terras agrícolas, sendo as florestas tropicais secas (FTS) uma das mais afetadas no mundo. Alterações no uso do solo podem ser refletidas por parâmetros biológicos, bioquímicos, químicos e físicos, sendo os dois primeiros os mais rápidos e sensíveis a alterações na qualidade do solo. O presente trabalho avaliou como a conversão de FTS em pasto com diferentes níveis de conservação age sobre a comunidade e atividade microbianas em Neossolos Regolíticos. A Caracterização da comunidade microbiana e atividades enzimáticas de solos arenosos do Semiárido de Pernambuco em áreas de floresta seca e antropizada. No primeiro capítulo, o estudo foi realizado no município de São João e as áreas selecionadas foram: FTS=floresta tropical seca, PP= pasto preservado e PD= pasto degradado. No segundo capítulo foram selecionadas 5 cidades do semiárido pernambucano, onde foram coletadas duas amostras compostas de solo, uma em FTS e outra em área com intervenção antrópica. Para o capítulo 1 foram determinadas as análises do carbono da biomassa microbiano (CBM), o carbono orgânico total (COT), os perfis de ácidos graxos da comunidade microbiana (FAMEs) e atividades enzimáticas absolutas e específicas. No capítulo 2 foram determinados os perfis de ácidos graxos e as enzimas absolutas. A conversão de FTS em pasto com diferentes níveis de conservação afetou a comunidade microbiana e as atividades enzimáticas de Neossolo Regolítico. Sendo que o tipo de vegetação se mostrou como um dos principais fatores responsável pela variação da comunidade microbiana. A quantificação do FAMEs nas diferentes áreas analisadas demonstrou que as populações de fungos são mais sensíveis a alterações no uso do solo que as populações bacterianas, devido estas apresentaram um metabolismo mais rápido, ou seja, conseguirem se adaptar a perturbações no ecossistema. A avaliação das enzimas específicas mostrou o quanto estas são influenciadas pelo COT e CBM, onde as enzimas por unidade de CBM expressaram valores mais elevados.

As restingas constituem um complexo de tipos vegetacionais que ocorrem sobre cordões arenosos ao longo da costa brasileira. Sua diversidade fisionômica, florística e estrutural contrasta com grande número de fatores ambientais limitantes, incluindo a disponibilidade de água e nutrientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a dinâmica do nitrogênio, bem como os atributos foliares relacionados ao uso do nitrogênio e da água, em três formações vegetais inseridas no \"complexo vegetacional da restinga\", as quais ocorrem ao longo de um gradiente de precipitação que varia de cerca de 800 a 2.600 mm anuais. Para tanto, foram avaliados parâmetros relacionados à ciclagem do nitrogênio e alguns atributos foliares funcionais relacionados às estratégias de uso de água e nutrientes nas principais espécies botânicas que nelas se desenvolvem. O primeiro capítulo compara a variação na disponibilidade e na composição isotópica de nitrogênio (?15N) nestas três formações de restinga que ocorrem sob regimes hídricos distintos. Foram analisados e comparados parâmetros relacionados à disponibilidade e às taxas de transformação do nitrogênio nos solos e sua assimilação e uso pelas plantas. Os solos das três áreas, arenosos e ácidos, apresentam deficiência nutricional, sendo o nitrogênio amoniacal (N-NH4 +) a principal forma disponível. Suas taxas líquidas de transformação foram baixas e variáveis, com prevalência de imobilização, sobretudo nas restingas sob menor precipitação média anual (PMA). Na vegetação, o aumento na PMA refletiu em maiores concentrações foliares de nitrogênio e fósforo, juntamente com menores razões C/N e massas foliares por unidade de área (MFA). Os valores de ?15N foliar foram baixos e variáveis, ocorrendo enriquecimento gradual em 15N com o aumento na PMA. As concentrações foliares de nitrogênio e fósforo, bem como a MFA e a razão C/N mostraram-se diretamente relacionadas; já a MFA relacionou-se inversamente à concentração foliar de nitrogênio. O aumento da PMA ao longo do gradiente, juntamente com variações nas condições edáficas e nas comunidades bióticas, pareceu contribuir para o aumento da disponibilidade de nitrogênio, refletindo na redução gradual da conservação do mesmo. O segundo capítulo compara as restingas quanto aos atributos foliares de gêneros por elas compartilhados. As maiores diferenças foram observadas entre os gêneros das restingas seca e úmida, com a última apresentando maiores concentrações de nitrogênio e fósforo foliares e menor razão C/N. Seus gêneros ainda apresentaram menores MFA e composição isotópica de carbono (?13C), além de maior ?15N que aqueles das restingas seca e intermediária. As relações entre os atributos foliares dos pares congenéricos das restingas seca e úmida, assim como dos contrastes filogeneticamente independentes (CFIs), mostraram que a concentração de nitrogênio relaciona-se diretamente à concentração de fósforo e inversamente ao ?15N, enquanto que a concentração de fósforo relaciona-se diretamente com o ?15N e inversamente com a razão C/N. A grande diferença entre as restingas e a similaridade nas correlações - utilizando-se tanto os pares congenéricos e os CFIs - fortalece a distinção quanto à economia foliar da restinga úmida e as demais, enfatizando a importância das condições ambientais no ajuste dos atributos analisados, independente do grau de parentesco filogenético das espécies. / Restingas are consisted of a complex of vegetation types that occur on sand ridges along the Brazilian coast. Their physiognomic, floristic and structural diversity contrasts with a large number of environmental limiting factors, including the availability of water and nutrients. The aim of this study was to compare the dynamics of nitrogen, as well as leaf traits related to the use of nitrogen and water at three vegetation types inserted in the \"restinga vegetation complex\", and occur along a precipitation gradient ranging from about 800 to 2600 mm annually. Accordingly, parameters related to nitrogen cycling were assessed, as well as some functional leaf traits related to strategies for use of water and nutrients from the main plant species that occur therein. The first chapter compares the variation in nitrogen availability and its isotopic composition (?15N) at these three restinga formations that occur under different water regimes. It was analyzed and compared parameters regarding nitrogen availability and transformation rates in soils, and also its uptake and use by plants. The sandy and acidic soils of the three areas have high nutritional deficiency, and ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH4 +) is the major available form. Its net rates of transformation were low and variable, with the prevalence of immobilization, especially at the restingas under lower mean annual precipitation (MAP). At the vegetation, MAP increase reflected in higher leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, along with lower C/N ratios and leaf mass per area (LMA). Leaf ?15N values were low and variable, observing gradual 15N-enrichment with MAP increase. Nitrogen and phosphorus leaf concentrations, as well as LMA and C/N ratio were directly related, whereas LMA was inversely related to leaf nitrogen concentration. The increase in MAP along the gradient, jointly to variations in soil conditions and biota, seemed to contribute to an increment on nitrogen availability, reflecting in the gradual reduction of its conservation. The second chapter compares the restingas in relation to leaf traits of genera shared by them. The largest differences were observed between genera from dry and wet restingas, with the latter having higher leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and lower C/N ratio. Their genera also had lower LMA and carbon isotopic composition (?13C), as well as greater ?15N than those from dry and intermediate restingas. Relationships between leaf traits of the congeneric pairs from dry and wet restingas, and also of the phylogenetically independent contrasts (PICs), showed that nitrogen concentration is directly related to phosphorus and inversely to ?15N, whilst phosphorus concentration is directly related to ?15N and inversely to C/N ratio. The bulky difference amongst restingas, and the similarity in correlations - using both congeneric pairs and PICs - reinforces the distinction regarding leaf economy between wet restinga and the others, emphasizing the importance of environmental conditions on the adjustment of the analyzed leaf traits, apart from of the degree of species phylogenetic relatedness.

Liquefaction is a phenomenon in which soil loses a large percentage of its shear resistance due to increased pore water pressure and flows like a liquid. Undrained cyclic loading conditions during earthquakes cause liquefaction of soils, which can lead to catastrophic failures such as bearing capacity failures, slope failures and lateral spreads. The concepts and mechanisms of liquefaction were studied extensively by many researchers. Though the factors affecting the liquefaction response of soils during earthquakes are well documented in literature, there are still some gray areas in understanding the individual and combined effects of factors like frequency, gradation, fines content and surcharge pressure on the initiation of liquefaction. The objective of this thesis is to study the influence of ground motion, soil and site parameters on the initiation of liquefaction in saturated sand beds through laboratory shaking table model tests and numerical studies. Shaking table tests are carried out using a uniaxial shaking table on sand beds of 600 mm thickness. The initiation of liquefaction was observed and identified by measuring the pore water pressure developed during the sinusoidal cyclic loading. Free field liquefaction studies are carried out on sand beds to study the influence of ground motion parameters, namely, input acceleration and frequency of shaking on liquefaction. These studies revealed that acceleration is one of the important parameters that can affect the initiation of liquefaction in sands. Increase in acceleration reduces the liquefaction resistance of sand and a small increase in acceleration can trigger liquefaction. Frequency of shaking did not affect the initiation of liquefaction at lower frequencies but a threshold frequency which triggered instant increase in the excess pore pressures is observed. Liquefaction caused slight initial amplification followed by de-amplification of accelerations due to the stiffness reduction in soils during liquefaction, the effect being more pronounced in the top layers of the sand bed. Pore water pressure ratios during dynamic loading decreased with depth below the surface of the sand bed due to the low initial effective vertical stress and upward transmission of pore pressure during undrained loading. Shaking table tests are carried out to study the influence of soil parameters such as relative density, thickness of dry overlying sand layer and gradation. Relative density of sand can influence the liquefaction potential of sand to a great extent, about 10% increase in relative density bringing down the probability of liquefaction by about 50%. With the increase in height of dry overlying sand layer, liquefaction potential has decreased nonlinearly. Change in grain size altered the pattern of liquefaction and pore pressure development and it is observed that the liquefaction in finer sands is influenced by the frequency of shaking to a larger extent. Surcharge pressure from building loads increased the liquefaction potential and heavier structures got liquefied at lower pore water pressure ratios. Significant post-liquefaction de-amplification was observed in sand beds with surcharge pressure. Parametric numerical analyses are carried out using finite difference program FLAC (Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua) with FINN model to measure pore water pressures in the sand bed. Results from numerical analyses with change in the acceleration, surcharge pressure and thickness of dry overlying layer agreed well with the experimental results. However, effect of frequency in numerical studies did not match with the experimental observations, because of the inherent boundary effects in the experimental models. Results from this thesis provided important insights into the development of pore water pressures in sand beds during cyclic loading events, apart from enhancing the understanding towards the effect of various ground motion, site and soil parameters on the initiation of liquefaction in sand beds.

The soil strata is often subjected to various kinds of vibrations such as that caused by earthquakes, water waves, traffic loads, wind power plants, construction related equipments, pile driving and vibratory machines. The strains induced in a soil mass due to the vibrations generated by these different sources often lie in a range of 0.0001% - 0.1%. The estimation of the shear modulus (G) and damping (D) of soils in this strain range becomes an important aspect for performing the analysis and design of various geotechnical structures subjected to different kinds of vibrations. Strain amplitude, effective confining stress, void ratio/relative density, number of vibration cycles and cyclic strain history are some of the key parameters that influence the modulus and damping characteristics of sands. Although, the effects of strain amplitude, confining pressure and relative density have been studied quite extensively in literature, only limited studies seem to have been reported in literature to examine the effects of the cyclic strain history and the vibration cycles on these dynamic properties. The objective of this thesis is to study the effects of the cyclic strain history and the number of vibration cycles on the shear modulus and damping ratio of dry sands in a strain range of 0.0001% to 0.1%. A number of resonant column tests have been performed on dry sand specimens to examine the effect of the cyclic shear strain history, by including both increasing and decreasing strain paths, on the shear modulus and damping ratio for different combinations of relative densities (Dr) and confining pressures (σ3); an increasing strain path intends to simulate a situation when a vibratory machine is just started before reaching a steady state of vibration, and on the other hand, the decreasing strain path matches a condition when the machine is shut down after running continuously in a steady state for some time. The specimen has been subjected to a series of cycles of increasing and decreasing shear strain paths approximately in a shear strain range of 0.0006% - 0.1%. For chosen values of relative density and confining pressure, two different series of tests beginning with either (i) an increasing strain path or (ii) a decreasing strain path, were performed. In addition, the influence of the numbers of the vibration cycles which are used to measure the resonant frequency of the specimen, referred to as the cycle constant, on the values of shear modulus has also been analyzed. Irrespective of the strain path adopted to commence the test or the cycle constant used to perform a resonant column test, for a given strain amplitude, the shear modulus along the increasing strain path has been found to be always greater than the corresponding modulus value along the decreasing strain path. For the series of tests which were commenced with the increasing strain path, the shear modulus corresponding to the first increasing strain path becomes always the highest as compared to the subsequent strain paths. For a given strain cycle, irrespective of relative density of sand, the difference between the values of G associated with the increasing and decreasing strain paths becomes always the maximum corresponding to a certain shear strain level. The maximum reduction in the shear modulus, due to the cyclic variation of the shear strain, was noted to be approximately one fourth of the maximum shear modulus (G0). This reduction in the shear modulus, on account of the cyclic variation of the shear strain, increases generally with decrease in the values of both relative density and confining pressure. The damping ratio for a given shear strain for the increasing strain path was noted to be lower than the corresponding value for the decreasing strain path except for the first increasing strain path. For a particular strain level, the series of tests started with the decreasing strain path resulted in a lower value of shear modulus for all the cyclic strain paths as compared to the tests which were commenced with the increasing strain path. The modulus reduction curve for the first increasing strain path was noted to be more or less the same irrespective of the value of the chosen cycle constant. For the subsequent strain paths, an increment in the cycle constant value caused a reduction in the shear modulus at a particular shear strain level. In order to match a situation when the machine is running continuously in a steady state of vibration, resonant column tests were conducted in a torsional mode by inducing a large number of the vibration cycles with the shear strain amplitude in a range of 0.0005%-0.05%. Corresponding to a given input voltage of the drive mechanism, the specimens were subjected to a number of vibration cycles ranging from 1,000 to 50,000. The values of shear modulus and damping ratio, before and after the application of vibration cycles, were determined for several input voltages ranging from 0.001 V (minimum) to 0.3 V (maximum). The tests were carried out for different combinations of relative densities and confining pressures. For the chosen relative densities, hardly any influence of vibration cycles on the values of G and D were noted for the strain amplitude below the threshold strain level (0.0024% - 0.0044%). Beyond the threshold strain level, an induction of the vibration cycles leads to a continuous increment in the shear strain which eventually causes (i) a decrease in the shear modulus, and (ii) an increase in the damping ratio. This effect was found to become especially more significant for lower values of relative densities as well as confining pressures. The percentage changes in the values of (i) shear strain, (ii) shear modulus, and (iii) damping ratios after the introduction of vibration cycles were noted to increase with an increment in the number of vibration cycles. However, for a given increment of the vibration cycles, the changes in the values of shear modulus and damping ratio were generally noted to subside with an increase in the number of the vibration cycles. At various strain levels, the magnitude of the shear modulus was observed to increase continuously with an increase in the values of both relative density and confining pressure. For the shear strain greater than the threshold strain (0.0024% - 0.0044%), a reduction in the damping ratio values was also noted with an increase in the magnitudes of the confining pressure. On the other hand, the influence of relative density on the damping ratio was found to be relatively negligible. The shear modulus reduction curves from the present tests' data were found to compare reasonably well with the empirical curves proposed in the literature, especially for low values of the confining pressure. A deviation of the present modulus reduction curves from the empirical curves was observed generally at large shearing strains. However, the damping values obtained from the present study were noted to be lower than the values predicted by the existing empirical correlations, particularly for low values of the confining pressure. An attempt has also been made to improve the accuracy of the measurement of the arrival times of both primary (P) waves and shear (S) waves while conducting bender/extender element tests. For this purpose, a series of laboratory tests were performed on dry sand at different frequencies, varying between 1 kHz and 10 kHz, for medium dense and very dense sands with different values of the confining pressures. While determining the times of arrival of both P and S waves, two corrections have been proposed to incorporate (i) the presence of an initial offset in the input signal, and (ii) the time lag due to an existence of peripheral electronics between the input and received signals when the source and receiver elements are kept in direct contact with each other. The absolute magnitude of the resultant of these two corrections was found to reduce with an increase in the frequency of the input signal. The determination of the P-wave arrival time does not pose much difficulty. It has been noted that it becomes equally accurate to measure the arrival times of the S-wave provided the proposed corrections are incorporated. The maximum shear modulus values measured from the resonant column tests and the bender element tests by incorporating these two corrections were found to compare reasonably well with each other. The thesis brings out the effects of the cyclic strain history and the vibration cycles on the shear modulus and damping ratio of dry sand. The results obtained are expected to be useful while doing the analysis and design of geotechnical structures subjected to different kinds of vibrations.

MSc (Botany) / Department of Botany / See the attached abstract below

Ziel der Arbeit ist die Gesamtbilanzierung der Treibhausgasemissionen eines Anbausystems unter Bewässerung auf einem Sandboden. Die dazu aufgestellte Treibhausgasbilanz basiert auf langjährigen Datenreihen zu Erträgen und Corg-Vorräten eines Dauerfeldversuchs sowie auf zweijährigen im Feldversuch durchgeführten N2O-Messungen. Die durchgeführten Untersuchungen zum Einfluss der Bewässerung auf die Corg-Vorräte zeigen, dass der Einsatz von mineralischem Stickstoffdünger und Bewässerung auf einem leichten Standort unter den klimatischen Bedingungen Nord-Ost-Deutschlands positive Effekte hat. Die N2O-Emissionen eines Sandbodens unter den klimatischen Bedingungen Brandenburgs sind sehr niedrig. Die Applikation von mineralischem Stickstoffdünger hat nur schwache und Bewässerung hat aufgrund der der hohen Bodendurchlüftung des Sandbodens keine Effekte auf die Höhe der N2O-Emissionen. Die direkten und indirekten Emissionen aus dem Maschinen- und Betriebsmitteleinsatz erhöhen sich bei Bewässerung und steigender Stickstoffdüngung deutlich. Bei den indirekten Treibhausgasemissionen nehmen die Emissionen der Herstellung des mineralischen Stickstoffdüngers einen bedeutenden Anteil der Gesamttreibhausgasemissionen ein. Bewässerung führt durch den erhöhten Dieselverbrauch hauptsächlich zu einer Erhöhung der direkten Emissionen. Unter Bewässerung kann jedoch ein Teil der Emissionen durch zunehmende Corg-Vorräte kompensiert werden. Somit sind in einigen Fällen die Gesamttreibhausgasemissionen pro Hektar bei Bewässerung geringer als ohne Bewässerung. Die aus Stickstoffdüngung und Bewässerung resultierenden Ertragserhöhungen führen dazu, dass die Gesamttreibhausgasemissionen bezogen auf die Ertragseinheit in den meisten bewässerten Varianten deutlich geringer sind als in den unbewässerten. Daraus lässt sich ableiten, dass Bewässerung auf einem Sandboden zu einer Verminderung der Treibhausgasemissionen beitragen kann. / The aim of this work is the estimation of the net greenhouse gas emissions by a greenhouse balance for an irrigated cropping system on a sandy soil in north-east Germany under various nitrogen fertilizer intensities. The balances are based on data of yields and SOC stocks of an irrigated long term field experiment as well as on results of N2O-measurements over two years. The results of the analysis of the long term response of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization have shown that irrigation and mineral nitrogen fertilization led to significant increases in yields and harvest residues. The increased carbon inputs from above ground harvest residues had positive effects on the SOC stocks. The results of N2O measurements indicated that N2O emissions from a sandy soil are very low. Mineral nitrogen fertilization had only marginal effects. Irrigation showed no effects on the amount of N2O emissions. On the one hand the analysis of the prepared greenhouse gas balances showed that irrigation and increased nitrogen fertilization lead to a strong increase of direct and indirect emissions from machinery and maintenance resource use. The indirect emissions of nitrogen fertilizer production took up a main part of the net greenhouse gas emissions. Irrigation mainly increased greenhouse gas emissions of fuel use and fuel production as well as the emissions of the machinery production. On the other hand the increasing SOC stocks especially in the fertilized variants under irrigation led to a compensation of a huge part of the additional emissions. Thus, in many cases the net greenhouse gas emissions per unit area was lower under irrigation. Due to the increased yields under irrigation the net greenhouse gas emissions per unit yield were lower than that under non-irrigated conditions.