Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 241-249). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 265-276).

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Memorial University of Newfoundland. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 137-147. Also available online.

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes special study report entitled : Influence of vegetation on slope stabilization and landscape development on slope. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 355-372).

Movimentos de massa são episódios de grande impacto, resultantes da ação de fatores geológicos, geomorfológicos e antrópicos e que têm causado enormes prejuízos materiais e de vidas humanas em diversas partes do mundo e, em especial, na cidade do Recife. Dentre os movimentos de massa existentes, serão abordados, nessa dissertação, os deslizamentos, que têm como características principais, os movimentos rápidos de solo ou sedimento ao longo de uma encosta, e que podem causar, em alguns casos, a perda de vida de habitantes que residem nesses ambientes. Esta realidade está presente no cotidiano de uma grande parcela da população recifense, devido ao rápido crescimento populacional sem uma infra-estrutura adequada, cujo reflexo é um grande número de problemas ambientais, em especial aqueles associados a processos geológicos. Esta dissertação pretende analisar a influência da declividade em laboratório, de dois tipos de solos diferentes, que compõem as encostas no bairro da Guabiraba, zona norte do Recife. Para que ocorram os deslizamentos que têm tem como principal agente deflagrador a chuva, como também, a declividade da encosta e outros fatores desencadeantes. No Instituto Federal de Pernambuco, no laboratório de solo, simularemos algumas condições naturais, como chuva e declividade, que permitirão analisar a ocorrência de deslizamento . Um outro ponto, que merece registro nessa dissertação diz respeito a permanente monitoração das áreas de encostas, cujo o seu grau de risco é alto.. Durante o período inverno a Defesa Civil do Recife deve mantêm-se em alerta constante, para ajudar a retirar os habitantes que residem nas encostas dos morros, independente do seu grau de risco. Algumas medidas simples como não plantar bananeiras, não promover cortes aleatórios nas encostas e não canalizar as águas servidas para as áreas de encostas são ações que contribuem para uma maior segurança da população. / Breve

Specialized techniques are needed to solve global optimization problems, due to the existence of multiple local optima or numerical noise in the objective function. The complexity of the problem is aggravated when discontinuities and constraints are present, or when evaluation of the objective function is computationally expensive. The global (minimization) programming problem is defined as finding the variable set for which the objective function obtains not only a local minimum, but also the smallest value, the global minimum. From a mathematical point of view, the global programming problem is essentially unsolvable, due to a lack of mathematical conditions characterizing the global optimum. In this study, the unconstrained global programming problem is addressed using a number of novel heuristic approaches. Firstly, a probabilistic global stopping criterion is presented for multi-start algorithms. This rule, denoted the unified Bayesian stopping criterion, is based on the single mild assumption that the probability of convergence to the global minimum is comparable to the probability of convergence to any other local minimum. This rule was previously presented for use in combination with a specific global optimization algorithm, and is now shown to be effective when used in a general multi-start approach. The suitability of the unified Bayesian stopping criterion is demonstrated for a number of algorithms using standard test functions. Secondly, multi-start global optimization algorithms based on multiple local searches, com¬bined with the unified Bayesian stopping criterion, are presented. Numerical results reveal that these simple multi-start algorithms outperform a number of leading contenders. Thirdly, parallelization of the sequential multi-start algorithms is shown to effectively re¬duce the apparent computational time associated with solving expensive global programming problems. Fourthly, two algorithms simulating natural phenomena are implemented, namely the rel¬atively new particle swarm optimization method and the well known genetic algorithm. For the current implementations, numerical results indicate that the computational effort associated with these methods is comparable. Fifthly, the observation that no single global optimization algorithm can consistently out¬perform any other algorithm when a large set of problems is considered, leads to the de¬velopment of a parallel competing algorithm infrastructure. In this infrastructure different algorithms, ranging from deterministic to stochastic, compete simultaneously for a contri¬bution to the unified Bayesian global stopping criterion. This is an important step towards facilitating an infrastructure that is suitable for a range of problems in different classes. In the sixth place, the constrained global programming problems is addressed using con¬strained algorithms in the parallel competing algorithm infrastructure. The developed methods are extensively tested using standard test functions, for both serial and parallel implementations. An optimization procedure is also presented to solve the slope stability problem faced in civil engineering. This new procedure determines the factor of safety of slopes using a global optimization approach. / Dissertation (MEng (Mechanical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

Heavy rainfall on the evening of January 9 and morning of January 10, 1983 triggered debris avalanches and debris torrents at Smith Creek, western Whatcom County, Washington, USA. Nine debris avalanches are back analyzed in detail. Conclusions are drawn concerning, 1) climatic controls on debris avalanches and debris torrents; 2) debris avalanche characteristics; 3) hillslope hydrology; 4) slope stability. Rainfall data show that the January 9-10, 1983 storm had a 71-year recurrence interval in the 12-hour duration, with less than 6-year recurrence intervals in 1, 2, and 3-hour durations. In contrast, rainfall during a torrent event on January 29-30, 1971 had recurrence intervals of less than 2 years in all durations, but snowmelt was a contributing factor. The types of debris torrents produced by these contrasting storms are discussed. Four distinct failure geometries are defined, based on avalanche descriptions: 1) wedges; 2) drainage depressions; 3) logging roads; 4) discontinuity surfaces. Three scour zones are also distinguished, based on slope segment types observed. To model storm water table levels a one-dimensional, vertical, transient, saturated-unsaturated finite difference infiltration program is linked to a kinematic wave equation. Rainfall duration and intensity, initial conditions, soil hydraulic conductivity, and soil depth are factors controlling vertical soil discharge rates. January, 1983 discharges are clearly distinguishable from comparison storm discharges at all avalanches. Kinematic wave results help differentiate Coulomb shear and washout type failures, and provide pore pressures for stability analyses. The modified Mohr-Coulomb strength equation is used to outline factors controlling debris avalanche initiation. The factors are: 1) slope angle; 2) soil depth; 3) soil density; 4) vegetative cover; 5) bedrock surface characteristics; 6) snow. These factors are quantitatively assessed. Infinite slope analyses show limiting slope angles of 29.7° for Group I vegetation, and 24.6° for Group III vegetation. Vegetative cover and soil depth are the two controlling factors that change significantly over the short term. A root cohesion parameter, Cr, is used to assess the shear strength provided by vegetation. Four vegetative covers are distinguished, three of which were logged between 1918 and 1950: Group I - relatively weak understory vegetation (Cr range: 1.6 -2.0 kPa); Group II - understory plus stunted trees (Cr range: 2.3 - 2.6 kPa); Group III - understory plus mixed, regenerating forest (Cr range: 2.6 - 3.0 kPa); Group IV - old-growth forest of higher root strength. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-01T18:20:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_completa_Antonio_Cruz.pdf: 15120120 bytes, checksum: 0342dbeae037263388f6580c330a303f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-08 / Breve / Movimentos de massa são episódios de grande impacto, resultantes da ação de fatores geológicos, geomorfológicos e antrópicos e que têm causado enormes prejuízos materiais e de vidas humanas em diversas partes do mundo e, em especial, na cidade do Recife. Dentre os movimentos de massa existentes, serão abordados, nessa dissertação, os deslizamentos, que têm como características principais, os movimentos rápidos de solo ou sedimento ao longo de uma encosta, e que podem causar, em alguns casos, a perda de vida de habitantes que residem nesses ambientes. Esta realidade está presente no cotidiano de uma grande parcela da população recifense, devido ao rápido crescimento populacional sem uma infra-estrutura adequada, cujo reflexo é um grande número de problemas ambientais, em especial aqueles associados a processos geológicos. Esta dissertação pretende analisar a influência da declividade em laboratório, de dois tipos de solos diferentes, que compõem as encostas no bairro da Guabiraba, zona norte do Recife. Para que ocorram os deslizamentos que têm tem como principal agente deflagrador a chuva, como também, a declividade da encosta e outros fatores desencadeantes. No Instituto Federal de Pernambuco, no laboratório de solo, simularemos algumas condições naturais, como chuva e declividade, que permitirão analisar a ocorrência de deslizamento . Um outro ponto, que merece registro nessa dissertação diz respeito a permanente monitoração das áreas de encostas, cujo o seu grau de risco é alto.. Durante o período inverno a Defesa Civil do Recife deve mantêm-se em alerta constante, para ajudar a retirar os habitantes que residem nas encostas dos morros, independente do seu grau de risco. Algumas medidas simples como não plantar bananeiras, não promover cortes aleatórios nas encostas e não canalizar as águas servidas para as áreas de encostas são ações que contribuem para uma maior segurança da população.

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science