The technical and economic feasibility of an inverted pavement has been proven abroad and in Brazil, but there are still doubts relating to the parameters that may affect the performance of this type of pavement, particularly in Brazil. There is a lack of studies that identify and characterize the variables that are directly related to the structural behaviour of the cement-treated layer and the contribution of each layer (thickness and elastic modulus) to inverted pavement performance as a whole. Furthermore, the main Brazilian specifications allow designers to make most decisions based on their experience, often generating doubts and uncertainties ranging from the design of the structure to the execution of quality control, directly reflecting on the pavement’s service life. Two test sections designed as inverted pavements, which were evaluated in Brazil, are assessed to identify and characterize the variables directly related to the structural behaviour of inverted pavements. In addition, a comparative analysis of the design, materials, construction, and quality control methods for Brazilian and South African inverted pavements is assessed. Both test sections were built based on the same design principles, but have been presented through different structural performances since their implementation in 2001. Each test section was monitored with deflection measurements between 2003 and 2016. In 2017, two inspection pits were opened in each test section. Samples were collected from all layers, and sent to the laboratory. Additionally, the tests carried out in the laboratory and in-situ in both sections during their construction in 2001, requested in the quality control, were also analysed in this study. The test results from the quality control and the test results obtained exclusively for this study (alongside the available literature) were compared and analysed against each other. Based on the analyses and discussions carried out throughout this research, it is possible to conclude that both the thickness and elastic modulus variables of the unbound base and the cement-treated layer played the most important roles in the behaviour of the inverted pavement, besides the support provided to the cement-treated layer by the underlying layer. Furthermore, the difference in the behaviour of both test sections can be linked to these three variables in addition to the constructive techniques adopted. No direct correlations were found for obtaining resilient modulus through CBR, and obtaining CBR values through DCP tests may vary according to the type of soil. The back-calculated modulus are good and reliable indicators of resistance, however, it is essential to apply adjustment factors. Furthermore, it was possible to identify a linear function with R² = 0.845, where ITS varies as a function of USC, according to the tests result carried out in 2001. However, unfortunately, no satisfactory correlations were found between UCS and ITS, UCS and ft, and ITS and ft from the results obtained in 2017. It is possible that these results are due to the specimens being damaged. / Dissertation (MSc (Transportation Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / Civil Engineering / MSc (Transportation Engineering) / Unrestricted

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Given the promise of the Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) technology for eRoad applications, the potential challenges for a successful integration of dynamic IPT technology into the physical road structure are explored extensively in this research work. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is selected for studying the structural performance of an eRoad under operational conditions. In this, an energy-based finite strain constitutive model for asphalt materials is developed and calibrated, to enable the detailed investigation of the structural response and optimization of the considered eRoad. In the context of enabling both dynamic charging and autonomous driving for future electric vehicles, the influences to the pavement (rutting) performance by the changed vehicle behaviour are investigated as well. Moreover, to study the effect on the IPT system by the integration, the potential power loss caused within eRoad pavement materials is further examined by a combined analytic and experimental analysis. The direct research goal of this Thesis is therefore to enhance the possibility of a sustainable implementation of the eRoad solutions into the real society. At the same time, it aims to demonstrate that the road structure itself is an important part of smart infrastructure systems that can either become a bottleneck or a vessel of opportunities, supporting the successful integration of these complex systems. / Givet de förutsättningar som induktiv energiöverföring (IPT Inductive Power Transfer) har för eRoad applikationerna, utforskas möjligheterna för en framgångsrik integration av dynamisk IPT i den fysiska vägkonstruktionen på en djupgående nivå i detta forskningsarbete. Speciellt har finita elementmetoden använts för att studera det strukturella beteendet hos en e-väg under driftsmässiga förhållanden. Inom detta har en energibaserad konstitutiv model för stora töjningar utvecklats och kalibrerats för att möjliggöra detaljerade undersökningar av strukturell respons och optimering av de föreslagna e-vägarna. I samband med att möjliggöra både dynamisk laddning och autonom körning för framtida elektriska fordon, har beläggningars (spårbildnings)egenskaper studerats utifrån de laddande fordonen beteende. Dessutom för att studera effekten av IPT-systemet har den potentiella energiförlusten inom e-vägars beläggningsmaterial undersökts genom en kombinerad analytisk och experimentell undersökning. Som sådant är det direkta forskningsmålet med denna avhandling att utöka möjligheterna för en hållbar implementering av eRoad systemet inom det verkliga samhället. Samtidigt är målet att visa att vägkonstruktionen i sig själv är en viktig del av det smarta infrastruktursystemet som antingen kan bli en flaskhals eller en bärare av möjligheter, stödjande en framgångsrik implementering av dessa komplexa system. / <p>QC 20161108</p>

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The thesis examines the relationship between performance (measured by return on assets, return on equity and profit margin) and capital structure (measured by indebtedness) in Czech manufacturing companies and how this relationship has changed with respect to the world financial crisis. In order to address the issue of heterogeneous sectors present in manufacturing industry and to provide a universally applicable conclusion, the key variables were transformed according to the percentile rank within a given manufacturing sector in a given year. The general conclusion is that the examined relationship is not the same for all levels of indebtedness. The relationship is positive until it reaches a certain level of indebtedness and above this threshold the relationship is negative. This threshold differs across different industry sectors, time and with the usage of different performance measures. The only exception is a model using time period before the financial crisis and profit margin as a performance measure, which predicts the relationship to be negative for all levels of indebtedness. Regarding the development of the examined relationship over time, the optimal indebtedness decreased during and after the financial crisis when the performance was measured by return on assets or return on equity....

This study presents a ground-motion selection and scaling procedure that preserves the inherent uncertainty in the modified recordings. The proposed procedure provides a set of scaled ground-motion records to be used in the response estimation of structural systems for a pre-defined earthquake hazard level. Given a relatively larger ground-motion dataset, the methodology constrains the selection and scaling of the accelerograms to the differences between individual records and corresponding estimations from a representative ground-motion predictive model. The procedure precisely calculates the distribution parameters of linear structural systems whereas it provides estimations of these parameters for nonlinear structural response. Thus this method is not only useful for ground-motion selection and scaling but also for probability based performance assessment studies. The proposed procedure is also capable of matching with a pre-defined target elastic response spectrum and corresponding variance over a period range. Case studies that compare the performance of the proposed procedure with some other record selection and scaling methods suggest its usefulness for the accurate verification of structural systems and rapid loss estimation studies.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / A história da construção civil está ligada ao desenvolvimento do homem e têm obtido avanços na área habitacional. Em função desse avanço, o conceito de desempenho de edificações vem sendo estudado, e pode ser entendido como o comportamento em uso das construções ao longo da vida útil. A ABNT NBR 15575:2013 introduziu vários requisitos de desempenho. Esse trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar requisitos de desempenho em paredes de concreto com ar incorporado. Essa avaliação foi feita através de ensaios de corpo mole e corpo duro, e ensaios de choque térmico. Foram utilizados três tipos de concreto com teores diferentes de aditivo incorporador de ar. Os grupos amostrais foram formados por três protótipos de casas com quatro paredes mais 9 painéis que foram moldados em fôrmas de madeira nas mesmas condições dos protótipos, além da moldagem de 24 cp’s cilíndricos (10 cm x 20 cm), de cada tipo de concreto. Dessa maneira, a variável de entrada foi o teor de aditivo incorporador de ar e as variáveis de saída foram: massa específica, teor de ar e composição real do concreto no estado fresco; e resistência ao impacto de corpo mole e corpo duro, resistência ao choque térmico, módulo de elasticidade, resistência à compressão e massa específica do concreto no estado endurecido. Nos ensaios de corpo mole e corpo duro, os resultados indicaram que o deslocamento instantâneo gerado pelo ensaio de impacto de corpo mole correspondeu a h/13320 (h=2720 mm) e não houve sinais de falhas; os deslocamentos mantiveram uma correlação negativa com o teor de ar e positiva em relação à energia do impacto, representada pela altura de lançamento do saco cilíndrico; a profundidade das mossas foi inferior a 0,085 mm para todas as paredes e protótipos e o SVVE pode ser classificado com nível de desempenho S de acordo com a ABNT NBR 15575:2013. Nos painéis, o teor de ar no concreto influenciou positivamente os resultados da ação do choque térmico; a incorporação de ar reduziu as curvaturas durante a ação do calor e de acordo com a ABNT NBR 15575:2013 o SVVE ensaiado possui nível de desempenho M. / The history of the building is linked to the development of man and have obtained advances in the housing area. Given this progress, the concept of building performance has been studied, and can be understood as the behavior in use of buildings along the lifespan. The ABNT NBR 15575:2013 implemented various performance requirements. This study aims to evaluate performance requirements in concrete walls with incorporated air. This assessment was made by soft body tests, hard body, and thermal shock tests. It has been used three types of concrete with various levels of air additive developer. The sample groups were formed for three prototypes of houses with four walls each, plus 9 panels that were shaped in wooden molds in the same conditions of prototypes, and with the addition of 24 cp’s cylindrical molding's (10 cm x 20 cm), of each type of concrete. Thus, the input variable is the content of air incorporator additive, and the output variables are: specific mass, air content and real concrete composition in the fresh state; impact resistance soft body and hard body, thermal shock resistance, elastic modulus, compressive resistance and the specific mass of the concrete in the hard state. In soft body tests and hard body, the results indicated that the instantaneous displacement generated by the soft body impact test corresponding to h/13320 (h = 2720 mm) and no failures signals; displacements maintained a negative correlation with air content and positive regarding the impact energy, represented by the release height of the cylindrical bag; the depth of the dents is less than 0.085 mm for the walls and prototypes and SVVE can be rated performance level S according to ABNT NBR 15575:2013. The panels, the air content in the concrete positively influenced the results of the thermal shock action; the incorporation of air reduced the curvatures during the action of heat and according to NBR 15575:2013 the SVVE tested has performance level M. / Dissertação (Mestrado)

Considera-se neste trabalho o projeto de estruturas de concreto para edifícios de múltiplos andares, com fundação profunda, levando-se em conta a interação solo-estrutura. Essa interação é analisada por meio de um método numérico em que a superestrutura (lajes, vigas e pilares) e os elementos estruturais de fundação (blocos e estacas) são considerados uma estrutura única, modelada pelo método dos elementos finitos e implementada no código computacional PEISE (Pórtico Espacial com Interação Solo-Estrutura), desenvolvido nesta pesquisa. O maciço de solos é representado por um modelo geotécnico proposto por Aoki e Lopes, em 1975, que utiliza a solução de Mindlin para o cálculo de deslocamentos em meio semi-infinito, elástico, contínuo e isótropo, e que considera a existência de uma superfície indeslocável, abaixo da qual as deformações do maciço podem ser desprezadas. A resposta elástica da interação solo-estrutura é subordinada a valores limites, observados em ensaios de capacidade de carga das estacas. Como forma de validar o programa e mostrar sua aplicação em problemas práticos de engenharia, resultados de exemplos foram comparados com os obtidos por outras metodologias presentes na literatura. Também, acompanhou-se o desempenho estrutural de um edifício de 26 pavimentos, com fundação em estaca hélice contínua, em sua fase construtiva, com o monitoramento de recalques e a medida de deformações em pilares, para obtenção indireta de suas solicitações normais. Os recalques foram obtidos por meio de nivelamento ótico de precisão, e as solicitações normais nos pilares foram avaliadas indiretamente, pela variação de seu comprimento, utilizando-se extensômetro mecânico removível e considerando-se as variações dos fatores ambientais e a reologia do concreto. / Design of concrete structures for multi-story buildings with deep foundation is considered in this work, taking in account the soil-structure interaction. This interaction is analysed with a numerical method where the superstructure (slabs, beams, and columns), and the foundation structural elements (blocks and piles) are considered a unique structure, modeled by the finite element method and implemented in the PEISE (soil-structure interaction in spatial frame), software that was developed in this search. The geo-technical model proposed by Aoki and Lopes (1975) represents the soil, where Mindlin\'s solution is used to calculate displacements in a semi-infinite, elastic, continuous, and isotropic environment. This solution also considers the existence of an unmovable surface, under which the soil deformations shall be neglected. The elastic response of soil-structure interaction is subordinated to limit values observed in \"in situ\" loading capacity piles tests. The examples elaboration proves the developed formulation validity through results comparison with others methodologies. Also the structural performance of a 26 story building with augercast piles was observed during the construction by measurement of settlements and columns length variation. Settlements were measured by means of optical level. Loads over columns were indirectly evaluated through column length variation, using a demountable mechanical extensometer and considering corrections due to the variation of environmental conditions and to the concrete\'s rheology.

Considera-se neste trabalho o projeto de estruturas de concreto para edifícios de múltiplos andares, com fundação profunda, levando-se em conta a interação solo-estrutura. Essa interação é analisada por meio de um método numérico em que a superestrutura (lajes, vigas e pilares) e os elementos estruturais de fundação (blocos e estacas) são considerados uma estrutura única, modelada pelo método dos elementos finitos e implementada no código computacional PEISE (Pórtico Espacial com Interação Solo-Estrutura), desenvolvido nesta pesquisa. O maciço de solos é representado por um modelo geotécnico proposto por Aoki e Lopes, em 1975, que utiliza a solução de Mindlin para o cálculo de deslocamentos em meio semi-infinito, elástico, contínuo e isótropo, e que considera a existência de uma superfície indeslocável, abaixo da qual as deformações do maciço podem ser desprezadas. A resposta elástica da interação solo-estrutura é subordinada a valores limites, observados em ensaios de capacidade de carga das estacas. Como forma de validar o programa e mostrar sua aplicação em problemas práticos de engenharia, resultados de exemplos foram comparados com os obtidos por outras metodologias presentes na literatura. Também, acompanhou-se o desempenho estrutural de um edifício de 26 pavimentos, com fundação em estaca hélice contínua, em sua fase construtiva, com o monitoramento de recalques e a medida de deformações em pilares, para obtenção indireta de suas solicitações normais. Os recalques foram obtidos por meio de nivelamento ótico de precisão, e as solicitações normais nos pilares foram avaliadas indiretamente, pela variação de seu comprimento, utilizando-se extensômetro mecânico removível e considerando-se as variações dos fatores ambientais e a reologia do concreto. / Design of concrete structures for multi-story buildings with deep foundation is considered in this work, taking in account the soil-structure interaction. This interaction is analysed with a numerical method where the superstructure (slabs, beams, and columns), and the foundation structural elements (blocks and piles) are considered a unique structure, modeled by the finite element method and implemented in the PEISE (soil-structure interaction in spatial frame), software that was developed in this search. The geo-technical model proposed by Aoki and Lopes (1975) represents the soil, where Mindlin\'s solution is used to calculate displacements in a semi-infinite, elastic, continuous, and isotropic environment. This solution also considers the existence of an unmovable surface, under which the soil deformations shall be neglected. The elastic response of soil-structure interaction is subordinated to limit values observed in \"in situ\" loading capacity piles tests. The examples elaboration proves the developed formulation validity through results comparison with others methodologies. Also the structural performance of a 26 story building with augercast piles was observed during the construction by measurement of settlements and columns length variation. Settlements were measured by means of optical level. Loads over columns were indirectly evaluated through column length variation, using a demountable mechanical extensometer and considering corrections due to the variation of environmental conditions and to the concrete\'s rheology.

No description available.