The shear behaviour of rough rock joints was investigated by both laboratory testing and numerical simulation. The most powerful servo-controlled direct shear box apparatus in the world with normal forces up to 1000 kN, shear loading up to 800 kN and frequencies up to 40 Hz under full load was used to investigate the shear strength of schistose rock blocks with dimensions of up to 350 x 200 x 160 mm in length, width and height, respectively. The experiments were performed to study the behaviour of rough rock joints under constant normal load, constant normal stiffness and dynamic boundary conditions. The joint surface of rock specimen was scanned 3-dimensional at the initial stage before shearing by new 3D optical-scanning equipment. The 3D-scanner data were used to estimate the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) and to reconstruct rough surface of rock discontinuities in numerical models. Three dimensional numerical models were developed using FLAC3D to study the macro and micromechanical shear behaviour of the joints. Numerical simulation results were compared to experimental results. Three dimensional characteristic of the joint surface including micro-slope angle, aperture, contact area and normal stress distribution were determined and analyzed.

The shear behaviour of rough rock joints was investigated by both laboratory testing and numerical simulation. The most powerful servo-controlled direct shear box apparatus in the world with normal forces up to 1000 kN, shear loading up to 800 kN and frequencies up to 40 Hz under full load was used to investigate the shear strength of schistose rock blocks with dimensions of up to 350 x 200 x 160 mm in length, width and height, respectively. The experiments were performed to study the behaviour of rough rock joints under constant normal load, constant normal stiffness and dynamic boundary conditions. The joint surface of rock specimen was scanned 3-dimensional at the initial stage before shearing by new 3D optical-scanning equipment. The 3D-scanner data were used to estimate the joint roughness coefficient (JRC) and to reconstruct rough surface of rock discontinuities in numerical models. Three dimensional numerical models were developed using FLAC3D to study the macro and micromechanical shear behaviour of the joints. Numerical simulation results were compared to experimental results. Three dimensional characteristic of the joint surface including micro-slope angle, aperture, contact area and normal stress distribution were determined and analyzed.

Körperliche Aktivität während der Schwangerschaft wirkt sich positiv auf die Gesundheit von Mutter und Kind aus. Trotzdem werden Schwangere häufig gewarnt, sich aufgrund der abnehmenden Muskelkraft, den nachgiebigeren Bändern und Sehnen sowie der verschlechterten Stabilität beim Sport verletzen zu können. Um Verletzungen während der Schwangerschaft vorbeugen zu können, wird in dieser Arbeit erstmalig der Einfluss von Schwangerschaft auf den Muskel-Sehnen-Komplex der unteren Extremitäten untersucht. Weiterhin werden der Effekt auf das statische Gleichgewicht und der Einsatz eines Schwangerschaftsgurtes als potentielle Präventionsmaßnahme gegen Sturzunfälle überprüft. Zur Untersuchung des Muskel-Sehnen-Komplexes wurde die Morphologie des m. vastus lateralis, die Muskelkraft der Knieextensoren und die Eigenschaften der Patellasehne am Anfang und am Ende der Schwangerschaft sowie ein halbes Jahr nach der Entbindung mittels Ultraschall und Dynamometrie analysiert. Das Gleichgewicht wurde anhand der Grenzen der Stabilität nach anterior und posterior und anhand des Körperschwankens im ruhigen Stand auf einer Kraftmessplatte bei Schwangeren in den unterschiedlichen Schwangerschaftstrimestern und bei Nicht-Schwangeren mit und ohne Schwangerschaftsgurt beurteilt. Diese Arbeit liefert relevante Erkenntnisse, die für die Beurteilung des Verletzungsrisikos von Schwangeren und für die Entwicklung geeigneter präventiver Maßnahmen nützlich sind. Es wurde zum wiederholten Male bestätigt, dass Schwangerschaft zu einer Verschlechterung der posturalen Stabilität führt. Ein Schwangerschaftsgurt stellt jedoch keine geeignete Methode zur Verbesserung der Stabilität dar. Während Muskelmorphologie und Sehnensteifigkeit keinen negativen Einfluss zeigen, könnte die zunehmende Sehnenruhelänge zu einer vergrößerten Gelenkbeweglichkeit beitragen und das Risiko für Verletzungen und Stürze erhöhen. / Physical activity during pregnancy has beneficial effects on maternal and fetal health. However, pregnant women are frequently cautioned when exercising since a loss in muscle strength, an increased compliance of ligaments and tendons as well as impairments in postural stability are assumed to lead to injuries in pregnant women. This thesis investigates for the first time the effect of pregnancy on the muscle-tendon unit of the lower extremities for the prevention of injuries during pregnancy. Furthermore, this thesis analyzes the effect of pregnancy on static postural stability and examines whether a maternity support belt is an appropriate method for fall prevention in pregnant women. To investigate the muscle-tendon unit, the morphology of the vastus lateralis muscle, muscle strength of the knee extensors and the properties of the patellar tendon were analyzed in the early and late stage of pregnancy as well as six months after delivery by means of ultrasound and dynamometry. Balance ability was assessed determining the limits of stability in the anterior and posterior directions and the postural sway during motionless upright standing on a force plate in pregnant women in different trimesters of pregnancy and in non-pregnant women with and without maternity support belt. This thesis provides relevant evidence for the assessment of the risk of injury in pregnant women and the development of appropriate prevention strategies. It confirmed that pregnancy is accompanied by impaired postural stability. However, a maternity support belt is not an appropriate method to improve stability. While muscle morphology and tendon stiffness were not negatively affected during pregnancy, the increase in tendon rest length might contribute to an increased joint mobility that may increase the fall and injury risk.