Ce mémoire présente une étude théorique et expérimentale de joints annulaires à bague flottante ainsi que de joints rainurés segmentés, destinés à assurer l’étanchéité dynamique au sein de machines tournantes à haute vitesse dans les domaines aéronautique et aérospatial. Des joints annulaires à bague flottante ont été testés sur un banc d’essais dédié au sein de l’institut Pprime pour de multiples configurations de vitesse de rotation et de différence de pression étanchée. La réponse dynamique des joints par rapport aux vibrations du rotor a été étudiée pour différentes amplitudes de l’excitation. Certains résultats issus de cette étude ont été confrontés à une modélisation numérique basée sur les équations de mouvement d’un joint soumis aux forces d’inertie, aux forces hydrodynamiques dans son étanchéité principale et aux forces de frottement à l’étanchéité secondaire. Le coefficient de frottement à l’étanchéité secondaire a été estimé à partir du modèle de Greenwood et Williamson, appliqué au cas d’un régime de lubrification mixte. Les comparaisons réalisées valident le modèle numérique utilisé, qui reproduit le comportement d’un joint soumis à une excitation rotorique donnée. Un autre modèle est proposé pour le cas des joints rainurés segmentés. Les écoulements au sein des différentes parties d’un tel joint ont été modélisés par des méthodes distinctes. Les forces de frottement sont étudiées par un modèle similaire à celui utilisé dans le cas des bagues flottantes. Une étude paramétrique sur différentes caractéristiques géométriques et de fonctionnement du joint a été menée. / This thesis presents a theoretical and experimental study of floating ring annular seals and radial segmented seals. These seals are designed to prevent leakage inside high-speed rotating machinery used in aeronautics and aerospace applications. Floating ring annular seals were tested on a dedicated test rig inside the Institut Pprime. Various rotation speed and pressure difference configurations were used. The behavior of the floating rings when submitted to rotor vibrations was studied for different excitation amplitudes. Results from this study were confronted to a numerical model based on the equations of motion of the seal. The seal is driven by inertia forces, hydrodynamic forces in the main seal and friction forces on the secondary seal. The friction coefficient on the secondary seal was estimated by Greenwood and Williamson’s model for mixed lubrication. The analysis validates the theoretical model, which reproduces the dynamic behavior of a seal driven by a given rotor excitation. Another model was used to study segmented seals. The flow in each part of such a seal was modeled with various methods. Friction forces were studied with a model similar to that used for floating rings. A parametric study was performed on various geometric and operating parameters.

La grande diversité des applications, dans tous les domaines industriels, des plus simples aux plus complexes, que ce soit pour un usage quotidienne ou pour des applications high-tech, nécessite la conception continue de systèmes d'étanchéité de plus en plus performants. Les vérins pneumatiques sont des éléments fondamentaux de l'automatisation dans des domaines industriels très variés : les dispositifs de levage, la robotique, l'aérospatial, les systèmes respiratoire, etc. Cependant, un dysfonctionnement d'étanchéité conduit à des performances plus faibles et même à des disfonctionnements. Inversement, une meilleure connaissance des phénomènes aux interfaces, permettra l’amélioration du rendement, la prolongation de la durée de vie et de la fiabilité des différentes applications pneumatiques.Ce travail de thèse est focalisé sur l'étude expérimentale et numérique des systèmes d'étanchéité par joints pneumatiques. Un banc d'essais modulable a été conçu et réalisé pour permettre l'investigation expérimentale de différents types de joints pneumatiques, pour une large gamme de conditions de fonctionnement, en termes de vitesse linéaire, pression pneumatique et solutions constructives. Il permet principalement de caractériser le frottement des joints mais aussi la visualisation des phénomènes physiques au niveau de la zone d'étanchéité et de son environnement.En parallèle, un modèle théorique ElastoHydroDynamique, incluant la prise en compte des conditions de lubrification mixte et le comportement rhéologique non-newtonien de lubrifiant (graisse) a été développé. Il est basé sur le couplage d'un logiciel de calcul non-linéaire (permettant la prise en compte du comportement mécanique hyperélastique des joints) et un modèle d'écoulement en film mince. Les comparaisons de mesures expérimentales avec les prédictions numériques ont permis de valider le modèle théorique ainsi que d'améliorer la compréhension des conditions de fonctionnement et d'alimentation de la zone d'étanchéité. / The great diversity of applications in all industrial fields, from the simplest to the most complex, whether for everyday use or for high-tech applications, requires the continuous design of increasingly efficient sealing systems. Pneumatic cylinders are fundamental elements of automation in a wide variety of industrial fields: lifting devices, robotics, aerospace, respiratory systems, etc. However, a sealing failure leads to lower performance and even malfunctions. Conversely, a better knowledge of the phenomena at the interfaces will allow the improvement of efficiency, the extension of the service life and of the reliability of the various pneumatic applications.This thesis work focuses on the experimental and numerical study of pneumatic seal systems. A modular test bench has been designed and built to allow the experimental investigation of different types of pneumatic seals, for a wide range of operating conditions, in terms of linear velocity, pneumatic pressure and constructive solutions. It mainly allows to characterize the friction of the joints but also the visualization of physical phenomena at the level of the sealing zone and its environment.In parallel, an ElastoHydroDynamic theoretical model, including the consideration of mixed lubrication conditions and the non-Newtonian rheological behaviour of lubricant (grease) has been developed. It is based on the coupling of a non-linear comercial software (allowing the modelling of the hyperelastic mechanical behaviour of the joints) and a thin film flow model. Comparisons of experimental measurements with numerical predictions validated the theoretical model and improved the understanding of the operating and supply conditions of the sealing area.

O câncer de próstata é um problema de saúde pública no Brasil, sendo a segunda causa de óbitos por câncer em homens, superado apenas pelo câncer de pulmão. Entre os possíveis tratamentos disponíveis para o câncer de próstata encontra-se a braquiterapia, onde, pequenas sementes contendo o radioisótopo 125I são implantadas na próstata. A semente consiste de uma cápsula de titânio selada de 0,8 mm de diâmetro externo e 4,5 mm de comprimento, contendo um fio de prata com 125I adsorvido. A soldagem por arco plasma é uma das técnicas viáveis para selagem, o equipamento tem um custo menor que o de outros processos. Constituem os objetivos deste trabalho o desenvolvimento e a validação do procedimento de selagem utilizando processo de soldagem plasma e a elaboração de rotinas para selagem segundo as Boas Práticas de Fabricação. O desenvolvimento do trabalho apresentou as seguintes fases: corte e limpeza do material, determinação dos parâmetros de soldagem, desenvolvimento de dispositivos para fixação do tubo de titânio durante o processo de soldagem, ensaios de validação de fontes seladas conforme norma ISO 2919 Sealed Radioactive Sources General Requirements and Classification, ensaios de estanqueidade conforme norma ISO 9978 Sealed Radioactive Sources Leakage Test Methods e ensaio metalográfico. O procedimento desenvolvido para a selagem das sementes de 125I mostrou-se eficiente, atendendo a todos os requisitos estabelecidos na norma ISO 2919. Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho possibilitaram a elaboração de rotinas de fabricação segundo as orientações apresentadas na resolução RDC nº 59 Boas Práticas de Fabricação de Produtos Médicos da ANVISA - Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. / The prostate cancer, which is the second cause of death by cancer in men, overcome only by lung cancer, is a problem of public health in Brazil. Brachytherapy is among the possible available treatments for prostate cancer, in which small seeds containing 125I radioisotope are implanted in the prostate. The seed consists of a titanium sealed capsule with 0.8 mm external diameter and 4.5 mm length, containing a central silver wire with adsorbed 125I. The plasma arc welding is one of the viable techniques for the sealing process. The equipment used in this technique is less costly than in other processes. The main objective of this work was the development and the validation of the welding procedure using plasma welding process and the elaboration of a sealing routine according to Good Manufacturing Practices. The development of this work has presented the following phases: cut and cleaning of the titanium material, determination of the welding parameters, development of a device for holding the titanium tube during the welding process, validation of sealed sources according to ISO 2919 Sealed Radioactive Sources - General Requirements and Classification, leakage test according to ISO 9978 Sealed Radioactive Sources - Leakage Test Methods and metallographics assays. The developed procedure, to seal 125I seeds using plasma welding process, has shown to be efficient, satisfying all the established requirements of ISO 2919. The results obtained in this work have given the possibility to establish a routine production process according to the orientations presented in resolution RDC nº 59 - Good Manufacturing Practices to Medical Products of the ANVISA - National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance.

A extração cada vez maior de recursos da natureza e o grande volume de lixo descartado nos aterros sanitários alertam para a necessidade de se promover a reciclagem e a reutilização de resíduos para se gerarem novos materiais, inclusive, no setor da construção civil. Com base nisso e a partir de um estudo sobre as obras arquitetônicas em que Shigeru Ban construiu painéis de vedação com tubos de papelão, este trabalho desenvolveu uma proposta de painéis de vedação vertical de tubos de papelão e fez uma avaliação do seu desempenho estrutural visando a sua utilização no Brasil. Foram realizados ensaios técnicos para avaliar o painel de vedação vertical de tubos de papelão proposto, no que se refere à sua resistência mecânica e ao seu comportamento quando submetido às principais ações sofridas por um painel de vedação vertical. Também foi construída uma célula-teste para avaliar o desempenho técnico e estrutural do painel de vedação vertical de tubos de papelão proposto quando submetido a situações reais de exposição. Os dados obtidos em ambas as avaliações foram levados em consideração para verificar o desempenho geral do painel que se propôs, possibilitando concluir se este é apto ao seu emprego na construção civil no Brasil, e sugerir alguns usos e aplicações para o mesmo. / The increasing extraction of nature resources and the large volume of waste discarded in landfills call for the need to promote recycling and reuse of waste to create new materials, inclusive in the construction industry. Considering this aspect and from a study of the architectural masterpieces where Shigeru Ban built sealing cardboard tubes panels, this study developed a proposal for vertical sealing cardboard tubes panels and assessed their structural performance having in mind their use in Brazil. Technical tests were conducted to evaluate the proposed vertical sealing cardboard tubes panel regarding its mechanical resistance and behavior when submitted to the main actions suffered by a vertical sealing panel. A test cell was also built to evaluate the structural and technical performance of the proposed vertical sealing cardboard tubes panel when submitted to real exposure situations. Data obtained in both evaluations were taken into consideration to verify the general performance of the proposed panel, allowing to conclude whether this is suitable for being used in civil construction in Brazil, and to suggest some usage and applications for it.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2017-10-16T13:23:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Andréia Grasiela Führ_.pdf: 1188946 bytes, checksum: 1e639f31e0753bea5b50ab2319cc96a4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-16T13:23:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andréia Grasiela Führ_.pdf: 1188946 bytes, checksum: 1e639f31e0753bea5b50ab2319cc96a4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-19 / Nenhuma / É crescente a preocupação com o desempenho das edificações concomitantemente com os danos causados ao meio ambiente durante a execução de uma obra. No âmbito do conceito do tripé da sustentabilidade é de extrema importância analisar os materiais que compõem uma edificação, pois estes influenciam os fatores que podem reduzir custos, melhorar o desempenho da edificação e minimizar os impactos ambientais. Com o intuito de melhorar o desempenho térmico, reduzir o peso próprio e reduzir custos com a estrutura, podem ser utilizados painéis monolíticos com núcleo de poliestireno expandido (EPS) como vedações verticais. Os painéis monolíticos são compostos por um núcleo de EPS, envolto por malha metálica e camadas interna e externa de revestimento argamassado, composto por fibras de polipropileno. Foi analisada a influência no dimensionamento da estrutura e nos custos da obra com painéis monolíticos em EPS e paredes convencionais de alvenaria de blocos cerâmicos. Esta análise foi realizada a fim de verificar a redução do volume de concreto, do peso de aço e no custo total da obra, ao utilizar este sistema. Para tal finalidade, foi utilizado um projeto de uma edificação multiresidencial de 4 pavimentos com área total de 1432,00m² e outro projeto de um condomínio horizontal com área total de 600,43m², avaliando duas tipologias. A partir destes projetos foi dimensionada cada edificação com as vedações verticais em blocos cerâmicos e painéis monolíticos em EPS. Os modelos de cálculo foram analisados, para quantificar o total de concreto e aço em cada opção. Através da análise do quantitativo de concreto observou-se uma redução de 10,69% na edificação de 4 pavimentos e 7,23% no condomínio horizontal com os painéis monolíticos de EPS. Já no quantitativo de aço, a diferença foi um pouco menor, de 6,02% na edificação de 4 pavimentos e 1,69% no condomínio horizontal. Os painéis monolíticos em EPS também apresentaram vantagens em relação ao orçamento total da estrutura e vedações e em relação ao tempo de execução da obra. O orçamento da edificação de 4 pavimentos com vedações verticais em EPS ficou 4,92% mais barata, o que representa uma economia de R$ 30.698,08. E o tempo de execução foi reduzido em 19 dias, adotando este sistema. Já no orçamento do condomínio horizontal, a diferença foi semelhante, de 4,90%, o que representa uma economia de R$ 12.227,74. E o tempo de execução desta edificação seria reduzido em 18 dias. / There is growing the concern about the performance of buildings concorcomitantly with the damage caused to the environment during the execution of a work. Under the concept of the triple bottom line, it is extremely important to analyse the materials that make up a building, as they influence the factors that can reduce costs, improve performance of the building and minimize environmental impacts. In order to improve thermal performance, reduce your weight and reduce costs with the structure can be used monolithic panels in EPS and vertical seals. Monolithic EPS panels comprise a core of expanded polystyrene (EPS), surrounded by metal mesh and a coating layer. It will be consideration to influence of the structure and cost of the work is the masonry walls were replaced by monolithic panels in EPS. For this purpose, it will be used a design of a building of 4 floors with área of 1342,00 m² and another project of a horizontal condominium with a total area of 600,43m², evaluating two typologies. From this projects was dimensioned the structure with walls in ceramic blocks and monolithic panels in EPS. The calculation models were analyzed to quantify the total concrete and steel in each option. The concrete quantitative analysis showed a reduction of 10,69% in the building of 4 floors ans 7,23% in the condominium with the monolithic panels of EPS. In the quantity of steel, the difference was slightly lower, of 6,02% in the building of 4 floors and 1,69% in the horizontal condominium. EPS monolithic panels also had advantages over the total budget of the structure and fences and in relation to the execution time of the work. The budget os the building with 4 floors was 4,92% cheaper, wich represents a saving of R$ 30.698,08. And the execution time was reduced by 19 days, adopting this system. In the horizontal condominium budget, the difference was similar, of 4,90%, wich represents a saving of R$ 12.227,74. And the execution time of this building would be reduced in 18 days.

Le remodelage osseux est un processus physiologique de renouvellement de l’os ancien par de l’os nouveau. Les ostéoclastes sont des cellules multinucléées géantes dont la fonction principale est de dégrader la matrice osseuse, première étape de ce remodelage. Le travail réalisé s’inscrit dans une thématique d’expertise de notre laboratoire, celle de l’organisation du cytosquelette d’actine dans les ostéoclastes résorbants. Nous avons pu élucider le rôle de la formation des podosomes et de leur organisation collective sur l’adhérence et la migration ostéoclastique. Nos résultats ont démontré que l’assemblage de podosomes sous forme de structures circulaires dites « anneaux » exerce une force centripète sur le substrat et ainsi déclenche la migration de l’ostéoclaste. L’alternance entre apparition et disparition de ces anneaux au sein de la cellule résulte en une migration saltatoire universelle pour tous les ostéoclastes.L’objectif principal de cette thèse était de trouver de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans l’organisation des podosomes. Nous avons mis en place une analyse transcriptomique comparant les ostéoclastes avec d’autres cellules multinucléées géantes qui présentent des podosomes mais sont incapables de résorber l’os. Parmi la liste de six gènes établie par cette méthode, nous avons étudié RhoE. En exploitant la culture d’ostéoclastes primaires déplétés de RhoE, nous avons démontré que ce gène est essentiel pour la migration ostéoclastique et la résorption osseuse. Nous avons ensuite établi que RhoE agit comme antagoniste de la voie de Rock pour assurer le renouvellement d’actine au sein des podosomes, ce qui entretien la fonction ostéoclastique. / Bone remodeling is a physiological process by which old bone is replaced by new bone. Osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells of the monocytic lineage. Their function is bone resorption, the first step of bone remodeling. The work of this thesis is in continuity with a theme long developed in our laboratory, that of the actin cytoskeleton organization in bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Our first study investigated the role of the podosome organization in osteoclast spreading, adhesion and migration. Our results showed that podosome patterning into rings exerted outward tension upon the substrate and thereby triggered cell migration. Through cycles of assembly, growth and alternating disassembly, rings promote a saltatory mode of migration universal to all osteoclasts.The main objective of this thesis, however, was dedicated to finding new genes that govern podosome patterning in resorption-related processes such as osteoclast migration and sealing zone formation. To find such new genes, we employed a differential transcriptomic analysis of osteoclasts and osteoclast-like cells that exhibit podosomes but are unable to resorb bone. Among a list of six genes highly and exclusively expressed in osteoclasts, we chose to investigate RhoE, a constitutively active GTP-binding protein known for its regulation of actin structures. We provided evidence, using primary RhoE-deficient osteoclasts, that RhoE activity is essential to bone resorption. We unveiled a new role for RhoE in the control of actin turnover in podosomes through a Rock-antagonistic function. Finally, we demonstrated that the role of RhoE in osteoclasts is essential to their migration and sealing zone formation.

The present master’s thesis deals with the appropriate measuring methods to determine the technical state of the machine tool for production of pressure tanks of Common Rail injection system. The main topic of this thesis is also a constructional adjustment of problem clamping components whose function affects the quality of the pressure tank.

[pt] O propósito deste estudo in vitro foi avaliar a qualidade de obturações endodônticas em relação ao selamento apical e marginal, comparando duas técnicas de obturação: Condensação Lateral (CL) e Condensação Vertical (CV) da guta-percha aquecida. Foram utilizadas 40 amostras que foram submetidas à penetração passiva de solução de nitrato de prata a 50% e divididas em dois grupos. Para cada grupo de amostras infiltradas foi utilizada uma metodologia diferente. O grupo 1, com cada metade das amostras obturadas com um tipo de técnica de obturação, foi preparado para microscopia Óptica (MO), processamento digital de imagens (PDI) e espectrometria de absorção atômica (EAA). O grupo 2, com metade das amostras obturadas por cada uma das técnicas, foi preparado para microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Através da MO e PDI, as amostras foram avaliadas quanto à qualidade das obturações, quantificando o percentual de guta-percha e cimento presentes. Através da utilização da EAA, a massa de prata infiltrada na obturação foi quantificada e finalmente, com o uso da MEV, a adaptação marginal dos materiais obturadores às paredes do canal radicular foi avaliada. Nas condições experimentais em que este trabalho foi conduzido e através da análise estatística, concluiu-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante em relação ao selamento apical produzido pelas duas técnicas de obturação avaliadas e quanto à qualidade de preenchimento das obturações. Nas observações ao MEV, a CV mostrou uma melhor adaptação do material obturador às paredes dentinárias quando comparada com a CL em algumas regiões do canal radicular. / [en] The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the quality of endodontics obturations in relation to apical and marginal sealing comparing two obturation techniques: lateral condensation and vertical condensation of warm gutta-percha. Forty samples were used and submitted to passive penetration of a 50% silver nitrate solution. The samples were divided in two equal-sized groups. For each group a different methodology was used. Group 1, with half of the samples obturated by each different technique, was prepared for optical microscopy (OM), digital image processing (DIP) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Group 2, again with half of the samples obturated by each technique, was prepared for scanning electron microscope (SEM). Using OM and DIP, the quality of the obturation was evaluated and the percent of gutta-percha and sealer present was quantified. Using AAS, the leakage of silver was quantified. Finally, the marginal adaptation of obturation materials in the root canal walls was evaluated with SEM. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in apical sealing produced by the two obturation techniques and in the quality of obturation fillings. In SEM observations, the vertical condensation method showed a better adaptation to the dentin walls when compared with lateral condensation at some regions of the root canal.

Aggregate breakdown is an important process controlling the availability of fine soil material necessary for structural sealing of soil surfaces under rainfall. It may be caused by slaking resulting from rapid soil wetting and by physical dispersion resulting from direct and indirect energetic raindrop impacts. Relationships have been proposed by others predicting steady infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity from final aggregate size following high energy rainfall on initially dry, uncovered soil surfaces. Under these extreme conditions, both rapid wetting and energetic raindrop impact result in maximum aggregate breakdown and surface sealing. Knowledge of the relative importance of these two agents under less severe conditions and knowledge of how increased aggregate stability due to conservative soil management may ameliorate them should improve prediction and management of aggregate breakdown and surface sealing. ¶ This study has isolated and quantified effects of rapid soil wetting and energetic raindrop impact on aggregate breakdown and surface sealing. Simulated rainfall was applied to re-packed soils from differing tillage treatments on light textured soils from near Cowra and Condobolin in New South Wales, Australia. Aggregate breakdown was assessed using aggregate size distribution, determined by wet sieving and summarised by a range of statistics. The degree of breakdown was assessed after 66 mm of simulated rainfall whilst the rate of change in aggregate size distribution was assessed by sampling after 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 mm. The degree of surface sealing was assessed using final surface hydraulic conductivity after 66 mm rainfall calculated from inferred infiltration and measured sub-seal soil water potential. The rate of surface sealing was assessed prior to ponding using cumulative rainfall volume at ponding and throughout the post-ponding phase by decline in surface hydraulic conductivity as a function of cumulative rainfall kinetic energy. Two levels of raindrop kinetic energy flux and three wetting treatments were used to isolate effects of these agents of aggregate breakdown and surface sealing. ¶ Significant surface aggregate breakdown was observed when either rapid soil wetting or highly energetic raindrop impact were allowed to occur. The majority of the data suggest a negative interaction between the two agents. When soil was initially dry rapid soil wetting was the dominant agent causing rapid aggregate breakdown, generally within the first 5 mm of rainfall. When rapid soil wetting was prevented by tension pre-wetting, energetic raindrop impact was the dominant agent and was able to cause aggregate breakdown of an almost equivalent degree. This breakdown occurred over a period lasting for up to 30 mm of rainfall. In contrast, the rate and degree of surface sealing were influenced primarily by raindrop kinetic energy with highly energetic impact leading to significant surface sealing, irrespective of soil wetting. For the soils studied, it was concluded that structural sealing of surface soil, could be significantly reduced by protecting the soil surface from energetic raindrop impact but that prevention of surface aggregate breakdown required amelioration of both processes. ¶ In addition to the negative interaction referred to above, a positive interaction was observed whereby energetic raindrop impact occurring concurrently with rapid soil wetting caused a greater degree of aggregate breakdown and a greater degree of surface sealing than energetic raindrop impact occurring subsequent to rapid soil wetting. The effect on surface sealing may be explained by the effect of lower sub-seal water potential that necessarily results from initially dry soil condition required for concurrent rapid wetting. However, the effect on aggregate breakdown remains unexplained. ¶ Notwithstanding the above, permeability was reduced under high kinetic energy rainfall even when soil wetting was reduced to very slow rates by tension pre-wetting. Likewise, surface sealing did occur under low kinetic energy rainfall for the least stable soil following rapid soil wetting. It was concluded that threshold soil wetting rates and threshold rainfall energy levels, proposed by others, are either not applicable to these soils or are negligible. ¶ The rate and degree of aggregate breakdown was also dependent on the soil with the Cowra soil being more stable than the Condobolin soil. Greater aggregate stability brought about by conservative tillage treatments at both soil locations retarded and reduced surface sealing. Unvalidated simulation modelling was used to illustrate possible effects for the soil water balance. In contrast to the conclusions of Loch (1994b), that were based on soils throughout eastern Queensland, the soil water balance simulations predicted that the residual benefits in ameliorating surface sealing resulting from improved aggregate stability could significantly reduce point runoff under the lower intensity winter rainfalls experienced in southern New South Wales. ¶ Limited testing with Condobolin soil following tension pre-wetting showed that rainfall intensity, varying over the range from 16.5 to 66 mm h-1, had little effect on the decline in surface hydraulic conductivity as a function of cumulative rainfall kinetic energy. This contrasts with greater seal permeability under higher rainfall intensities observed by Romkens et al. (1985) and others. It is proposed that an alternative explanation exists for the observations of Romkens et al. based on reduction in seal permeability due to lower sub-seal water potential under lower intensity rainfall. ¶ Post-ponding reduction in K[subscript sat] under high kinetic energy rainfall exhibited exponential decline as a function of cumulative raindrop kinetic energy as proposed by Moore (1981b). However, inferred rates of decline prior to ponding were more rapid than measured post-ponding rates suggesting that infiltration models using only a single exponential rate of surface K[subscript sat] decline based on post-ponding measurements may be in error. Potential for error is greatest at early times for loose soil that is highly susceptible to sealing. ¶ Pre-ponding decline in surface aggregation was also relatively more rapid than post-ponding decline. This discrepancy was evident irrespective of soil pre-wetting. From this it was concluded that the more rapid initial aggregate breakdown and surface sealing was due, at least in part, to processes other than aggregate slaking due to rapid soil wetting. An explanation has been proposed as follows. Raindrops initially fall on aggregates that have not been subjected to rainfall and therefore each drop has the capacity to cause greater aggregate breakdown than subsequent raindrops that fall on aggregates or soil fragments that have been strong enough to survive preceding rainfall impacts. Such a mechanism could provide an alternative explanation of the findings of Baumhardt et al. (1991) who found that less cumulative raindrop kinetic energy was necessary to achieve a given reduction in surface conductance when the cumulative energy was supplied through lower energy drops. ¶ Relationships predicting rates of surface sealing using aggregate breakdown under rainfall and aggregate stability were evaluated. Post-ponding infiltration rate and surface K[subscript sat] were related to aggregate size by exponential functions. The proportion of surface aggregates less than 0.125 mm in diameter provided slightly more consistent relationships. Parameters of fitted relationships differed among wetting pre-treatments suggesting that the influence of sub-seal water potential on surface K[subscript sat] must be considered whenever such relationships are developed or applied. Aggregate stability determined by wet sieving was related to rainfall volume required for ponding, final K[subscript sat] and final aggregate size but only for initially dry soil suggesting that such relationships may be unique to the rainfall, soils and flow conditions used to develop them. ¶ This study has established the relative importance of rapid soil wetting and energetic raindrop impact in both aggregate breakdown and surface sealing over a range of antecedent soil water and rainfall conditions. It has quantified the effectiveness of culturally induced aggregate stability in ameliorating effects of these two important agents and illustrated the potentially significant consequences for the soil water balance. It has quantified temporal patterns of surface sealing and aggregate breakdown and proposed an alternative mechanism explaining more rapid aggregate breakdown during the initial stages of rainfall. It has identified possible explanations for effects of rainfall intensity on surface sealing observed in other studies. It has also partially evaluated a mechanism proposed to explain important effects of subseal water potential on seal permeability found in this and other studies. These significant findings have been used with the findings of other studies to amend the conceptual model proposed by Le Bissonnias (1990). The amended model gives a more complete description of the relationships between parameters and processes determining aggregate breakdown and structural surface sealing under rainfall.

No description available.