Världen och samhället utvecklas snabbare än någonsin och organisationer behöver utvecklas i samma snabba takt för att vara konkurrenskraftiga. Med syfte att bedriva framgångsrikt utvecklings- och förbättringsarbete är förhållningssätt enligt Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling att föredra.  I en optimal verksamhet kan tänkas att både tid och förutsättningar för att strukturerat bedriva Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling prioriteras högt. När författarna började ana att verkligen inte ser ut så intresserade de sig för att studera ämnet ur ett chefsperspektiv. Syftet med studien är således att undersöka tillämpningen av Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling, redogöra för chefers kvalitets- och förbättringsarbete samt ge generella förbättringsförslag till chefer och organisationer som vill utvecklas mot ett förhållningssätt i linje med Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Studiens teoretiska referensram baseras på fyra fundamentala perspektiv: Chefens roll och ansvar, Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling, Struktur och ledning, Arbetssätt och verktyg samt Förbättringsarbete. Datainsamling har gjorts genom en kvalitativ metod där personliga semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med 12 chefer från olika branscher, organisationsstorlekar och varierande erfarenhet. Studien fastslår att Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling inte är vedertaget. Författarna kan dock konstatera att chefernas förhållningssätt till kvalitetsutveckling varierar och att några av cheferna besitter kunskap inom området, utan att de själva definierar det som offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Något som verkar vara vanligt är att kvalitetsarbetet utgår från att kvalitet är något som i efterhand kan justeras, istället för att aktivt arbete förebyggande. En generell slutsats är dock att det i samtliga organisationer ändå förekommer enskilda värderingar, arbetssätt och verktyg som går att relatera till offensiv kvalitetsutveckling. Vidare konstaterar studien att cheferna anser att förbättringsarbete är viktig, att de ser det som en del av sitt ansvarsområde samt att de anser att de har bra förutsättningar för att bedriva förbättringsarbete. Resultatet visar däremot att enbart ett fåtal av cheferna arbetar strukturerat samt att det finns en generell förbättringspotential att gå från Adhoc till ett mer strukturerat arbetssätt. Studien indikerar också att det är svårt för cheferna att prioritera förbättringsarbete, vilket fastslås relateras till framförallt två faktorer: Den komplexa chefsrollen och ledningens förhållningssätt. Utifrån slutsatserna konstateras två olika perspektiv intressanta att framhäva och således även ge förbättringsförslag utifrån. Dels vad högsta ledningen kan göra på organisationsnivå för att skapa förutsättningar för Offensiv kvalitetsutveckling samt vad cheferna själva kan göra. Förbättringsförslagen presenteras i det sista avsnittet utifrån hörnstensmodellen och berör både värderingar, arbetssätt och verktyg. / The world is evolving faster than ever and organizations need to develop at the same rapid pace to be competitive. With the aim of conducting a strategic and structured method for development, Total Quality Management is preferred. The reality might be different from the theory, which motivated to further analyse the subject from a manager perspective. The purpose is to investigate the level of usage of Total Quality Management, describe the manager´s work with quality and provide general suggestions on how to develop towards Total Quality Management. The theoretical frame is based on five perspectives: The role and responsibility of the manager, Total Quality Management, Structure and management, Methods and tools and Development. The study conducts that the concept of Total Quality Management is not well known by the managers and the manager´s approach varies. There is a general improvement potential to go from an Adhoc way to a more structured way of working. Based on the conclusions, two different perspectives are interesting to provide improvement suggestions from: what the executive can do at an organizational level and what the managers can do themselves. The suggestions for improvement are presented in the final chapter.

Une cellule photovoltaïque organique est constituée d’une couche photoabsorbante comprise entre deux électrodes dont l’une au moins est transparente. Généralement, les cellules sont illuminées au travers de l’électrode inférieure transparente d’oxyde d’indium dopé à l’étain (ITO). Néanmoins, de nombreuses applications comme l’automobile nécessitant un éclairage par le dessus du module, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'élaboration de cellules photovoltaïques sur substrat flexible, avec l'électrode inférieure opaque et l'électrode transparente déposée sur le dessus de la cellule. Deux types d'architectures ont été développés. Dans le premier cas, la cellule solaire organique finale a été entièrement déposée par des techniques de dépôt en voie liquide avec les deux électrodes en PEDOT:PSS imprimées par jet d’encre. Dans le second cas, les cellules ont été élaborées sur électrode d'argent avec une électrode supérieure transparente tricouche oxyde/métal/oxyde (MoO3/Ag/MoO3) évaporée thermiquement. Les cellules solaires organiques réalisées selon la seconde architecture ont été connectées en série afin de créer un module photovoltaïque organique. Ce dernier a permis d’alimenter et de faire briller une LED. / An organic solar cell is made of a photoactive layer sandwiched between two electrodes among which one at least is transparent. Usually, solar cells are illuminated through the tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) bottom transparent electrode. Nevertheless, many applications like automobile requiring illumination from above the module, we designed photovoltaic cells on a flexible substrate, with an opaque bottom electrode and a top transparent one. Two types of architectures were developed. At first, the final organic solar cell was fully deposited by solution-process with both electrodes made of ink-jet printed PEDOT:PSS. Then the cells were elaborated on a silver bottom electrode with a transparent evaporated oxide/metal/oxide (MoO3/Ag/MoO3) top electrode. The organic solar cells made according to the second structure were connected in series to create an organic photovoltaic module. It allowed to power and shine a white LED.

In dieser Dissertation werden drei Messungen des Produktionswirkungsquerschnitts von Top-Quark-Antiquark-Paaren in Proton-Proton-Kollisionen bei einer Schwerpunktsenergie von 7 TeV vorgestellt. Die Daten wurden mit dem ATLAS-Experiment am Large Hadron Collider in den Jahren 2010 und 2011 aufgezeichnet. Für die Analyse werden Endzustände mit genau einem Myon oder Elektron, mindestens drei Jets sowie großem fehlenden Tranversalimpuls selektiert. Während eine Analyse ausschließlich kinematische Informationen für die Trennung von Signal- und Untergrundprozessen verwendet, nutzen die anderen beiden zusätzlich Informationen zur Identifizierung von Bottom-Quark-Jets. Mit Hilfe von multivariaten Methoden werden die präzisesten Messungen in dieser Ereignistopologie erreicht. Dies ist für zwei der Analysen insbesondere dank der Profile-Likelihood-Methode möglich, welche sorgfältig untersucht wird. Desweiteren wird zum ersten Mal ein sogenannter sichtbarer Wirkungsquerschnitt in Top-Quark-Ereignissen gemessen. Alle Ergebnisse sind in Übereinstimmung mit den theoretischen Vorhersagen in angenäherter nächstnächstführender Ordnung der Störungstheorie (approx. NNLO). / This doctoral thesis presents three measurements of the top quark-antiquark pair production cross section in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7TeV recorded in 2010 and 2011 with the ATLAS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. Events are selected in the single lepton topology by requiring an electron or muon, large missing transverse momentum and at least three jets. While one analysis relies on kinematic information only to discriminate the top quark-antiquark pair signal from the background processes, the other two also make use of b-tagging information. With the help of multivariate methods the most precise measurements in this topology are obtained. This is for two of the measurements in particular possible due to the use of a profile likelihood method which is studied in detail. For the first time a fiducial inclusive cross section measurement for top quark events is performed allowing a measurement almost independent of theoretical uncertainties. All measurements are in agreement with theory predictions performed in perturbation theory at approximate NNLO.

In dieser Dissertation wird ein Modell des visuellen Systems untersucht, basierend auf dem Prinzip des unüberwachten Langsamkeitslernens und des SFA-Algorithmus (Slow Feature Analysis). Dieses Modell wird hier für die invariante Objekterkennung und verwandte Probleme eingesetzt. Das Modell kann dabei sowohl die zu Grunde liegenden diskreten Variablen der Stimuli extrahieren (z.B. die Identität des gezeigten Objektes) als auch kontinuierliche Variablen (z.B. Position und Rotationswinkel). Dabei ist es in der Lage, mit komplizierten Transformationen umzugehen, wie beispielsweise Tiefenrotation. Die Leistungsfähigkeit des Modells wird zunächst mit Hilfe von überwachten Methoden zur Datenanalyse untersucht. Anschließend wird gezeigt, dass auch die biologisch fundierte Methode des Verstärkenden Lernens (reinforcement learning) die Ausgabedaten unseres Modells erfolgreich verwenden kann. Dies erlaubt die Anwendung des Verstärkenden Lernens auf hochdimensionale visuelle Stimuli. Im zweiten Teil der Arbeit wird versucht, das hierarchische Modell mit Top-down Prozessen zu erweitern, speziell für die Rekonstruktion von visuellen Stimuli. Dabei setzen wir die Methode der Vektorquantisierung ein und verbinden diese mit einem Verfahren zum Gradientenabstieg. Die wesentlichen Komponenten der für unsere Simulationen entwickelten Software wurden in eine quelloffene Programmbibliothek integriert, in das ``Modular toolkit for Data Processing'''' (MDP). Diese Programmkomponenten werden im letzten Teil der Dissertation vorgestellt. / This thesis examines a model of the visual system, which is based on the principle of unsupervised slowness learning and using Slow Feature Analysis (SFA). We apply this model to the task of invariant object recognition and several related problems. The model not only learns to extract the underlying discrete variables of the stimuli (e.g., identity of the shown object) but also to extract continuous variables (e.g., position and rotational angles). It is shown to be capable of dealing with complex transformations like in-depth rotation. The performance of the model is first measured with the help of supervised post-processing methods. We then show that biologically motivated methods like reinforcement learning are also capable of processing the high-level output from the model. This enables reinforcement learning to deal with high-dimensional visual stimuli. In the second part of this thesis we try to extend the model with top-down processes, centered around the task of reconstructing visual stimuli. We utilize the method of vector quantization and combine it with gradient descent. The key components of our simulation software have been integrated into an open-source software library, the Modular toolkit for Data Processing (MDP). These components are presented in the last part of the thesis.

La part de l’irrationnel dans les processus de sélection des futurs dirigeants des grandes entreprises françaises. Cette thèse explore la part d’irrationalité intervenant dans les processus de sélection des futurs dirigeants français. Examinant les profils des dirigeants français du début du 21ème siècle, elle souligne la persistance d’une doxa cartésienne, c’est-à-dire la croyance en l’autorité de la conscience et de la raison dans la détection, la sélection ou la génération d’élites et plus particulièrement de dirigeants dans les organisations, réalisant en particulier un biais de sélection sociale précoce pour l’accès à la direction des grandes entreprises. Combinant les apports des théories de l’agence, des échelons supérieurs, et de la rationalité limitée, ce travail construit une vision intégrative des enjeux et paramètres de la sélection des futurs dirigeants à plusieurs niveaux (individus, systèmes, réseaux, organisation, culture), et analyse comment des processus rationnels peuvent être modifiés par des formes d’irrationalité, des premiers moments de détection et de fabrique des talents à celle, à la fois plus symbolique et signifiante, de la dirigeance. Le cadre conceptuel du leader transcendant permet de représenter une vision intégrative du leadership, et d’explorer les « nouvelles » qualités que les processus de sélection devront identifier, illustrant l’inadéquation des processus traditionnels aux enjeux des entreprises modernes. Ce travail met en lumière la nécessité de réévaluer les pratiques de la sélection des dirigeants au travers d’une rationalité procédurale plus en adéquation avec la réalité opératoire, à la fois sur le plan de la rationalité sous-jacente (les valeurs et critères du leadership), de ses outils (les méthodes d’évaluation), et de son objet (une articulation intégrative et continue du développement et de la sélection assumant une part d’irrationnel). / The purpose of this research work is to investigate how irrationality plays a significant role in selecting top executives in French corporates. Upon an in-depth review of the making of top executives in France at the beginning of the 21st century, it appears that a Cartesian rationale still prevails, based on the sheer belief that conscience and reason must be the unique dimensions used in selecting, promoting, and thus, perpetuating elites, from the early school years to the appointment of the C-suite in large organisations. Three theories are central in this research work: the agency theory, the upper echelon theory, as well as the bounded rationality theory. Combining them in an integrative conceptual framework allows to understand how strong rational patterns might be affected by forms and mechanisms of irrationality all along the process of identifying and developing future leaders to the more significant moment when they are appointed. Ultimately, the outcome of this research work shows that the model of « transcendent leadership » seems more effective than others to address the challenges of identifying and selecting executives in modern organisations. This leads to examining how to build more robust systems of executive selection at three levels of progress: (a) underlying values and patterns of leadership, (b) assessment tools and processes and (c) conscious acceptance of irrationality as a significant part of talent and executive spotting and development.

Florações de microalgas potencialmente nocivas têm aumentado em termos globais e causado impactos na aquicultura, no turismo, na saúde humana e em vários aspectos do funcionamento dos ecossistemas. No Brasil, uma atenção cada vez maior tem sido dada ao tema, em virtude do elevado potencial de nossas águas para o cultivo de bivalves marinhos, um dos grupos de invertebrados mais afetados. Deste modo, a preocupação com a contaminação de consumidores humanos tem gerado projetos voltados para a detecção de espécies potencialmente nocivas e de suas toxinas, mas ainda há poucos estudos sobre interações alimentares entre as espécies de fitoplâncton e zooplâncton. No presente trabalho interações entre dinoflagelados potencialmente nocivos e organismos pertencentes ao zooplâncton marinho foram investigadas em dois capítulos. Capítulo 1: O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a influência do dinoflagelado potencialmente nocivo Alexandrium tamiyavanichii na alimentação e reprodução do copépode planctônico marinho Temora turbinata. Taxas de produção de ovos e sucesso de eclosão naupliar foram estimadas para fêmeas alimentadas em misturas de A. tamiyavanichii e do dinoflagelado Prorocentrum minimum, tratado aqui como alimento controle. Capítulo 2: O principal objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os efeitos de exsudatos de dinoflagelados e células intactas na sobrevivência e mobilidade de táxons zooplanctônicos de uma região subtropical (Ubatuba, Brasil). Efeitos letais foram observados em cinco dos seis táxons testados, três dos quais (náuplios de copépodes, tintinídeos e larvas de gastrópodes) quando expostos a exsudatos e dois (rotíferos e larvas de braquiúros) quando expostos a células intactas. Em adição, larvas de gastrópodes demonstraram comprometimento da mobilidade após exposição à exsudatos. Apenas larvas de poliquetas não foram aparentemente afetadas no curso dos experimentos. / Harmful algae blooms have increased globally and caused impacts in aquaculture, tourism, and human health and in various aspects of ecosystem functioning. In Brazil, increasing attention has been given to this issue, because of the high potential of our waters for marine bivalve farming. Therefore, there are risks of contamination of the crops, and consequent poisoning of the consumers. This concern has led research projects to mostly focus on the detection of potentially harmful species and their toxins, with few initiatives to understand feeding interactions among species of phytoplankton and zooplankton. In this research interactions between potentially harmful dinoflagellates and marine zooplankton were investigated in two chapters. Chapter 1 - This study aims to evaluate the influence of the potentially harmful dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii on Temora turbinata feeding and reproduction. Egg production rates and hatching success were estimated for females fed on mixtures of A. tamiyavanichii and P. minimum. Chapter 2: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of dinoflagellate exudates and intact cells on the survivorship and mobility of zooplankton taxa from a subtropical location (Ubatuba, Brazil). Lethal effects were observed in five out of six taxa investigated, three of which (copepod nauplii, tintinnids and gastropod larvae) when exposed to dinoflagellate exudates and two (rotifers and brachyuran zoeae) when exposed to intact cells. In addition, gastropod larvae displayed mobility impairment during exposure to dinoflagellate exudates. Only polychaete larvae were not apparently affected during the course of the experiments.

This thesis explores gender-related barriers in CEO successions. Only 4% of Fortune 500 CEOs are female despite the fact that women have held the majority of college degrees in the US since the late 1990's and now comprise almost half of the workforce and the majority of managerial positions. Their representation is low even in comparison to the other two top management positions from which CEOs are typically sourced. It is less than one-third of the percentage of both female executive officers (15%) and board directors (17%). A holistic and qualitative research approach was utilized. Data were gathered on societal, individual and organizational factors through one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with board directors, executive search consultants and female CEOs, and analyzed using computer-assisted coding software. This thesis challenges the perception that women's individual barriers are the main reason why there are so few female CEOs. While all three types of barriers were found, organizational barriers appear to be the most important. The convergence of predominately male board directors, CEOs and top executive search consultants with informal, subjective, secretive and disparate talent management and CEO successions programs effectively results in the CEO position being a better fit for men than women. While moderating factors were beneficial to the women who have become CEOs, many factors were found for why they cannot be relied upon to greatly increase the number of female CEOs. A deliberate and comprehensive effort by society, individuals and organizations is required.

Florações de microalgas potencialmente nocivas têm aumentado em termos globais e causado impactos na aquicultura, no turismo, na saúde humana e em vários aspectos do funcionamento dos ecossistemas. No Brasil, uma atenção cada vez maior tem sido dada ao tema, em virtude do elevado potencial de nossas águas para o cultivo de bivalves marinhos, um dos grupos de invertebrados mais afetados. Deste modo, a preocupação com a contaminação de consumidores humanos tem gerado projetos voltados para a detecção de espécies potencialmente nocivas e de suas toxinas, mas ainda há poucos estudos sobre interações alimentares entre as espécies de fitoplâncton e zooplâncton. No presente trabalho interações entre dinoflagelados potencialmente nocivos e organismos pertencentes ao zooplâncton marinho foram investigadas em dois capítulos. Capítulo 1: O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a influência do dinoflagelado potencialmente nocivo Alexandrium tamiyavanichii na alimentação e reprodução do copépode planctônico marinho Temora turbinata. Taxas de produção de ovos e sucesso de eclosão naupliar foram estimadas para fêmeas alimentadas em misturas de A. tamiyavanichii e do dinoflagelado Prorocentrum minimum, tratado aqui como alimento controle. Capítulo 2: O principal objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os efeitos de exsudatos de dinoflagelados e células intactas na sobrevivência e mobilidade de táxons zooplanctônicos de uma região subtropical (Ubatuba, Brasil). Efeitos letais foram observados em cinco dos seis táxons testados, três dos quais (náuplios de copépodes, tintinídeos e larvas de gastrópodes) quando expostos a exsudatos e dois (rotíferos e larvas de braquiúros) quando expostos a células intactas. Em adição, larvas de gastrópodes demonstraram comprometimento da mobilidade após exposição à exsudatos. Apenas larvas de poliquetas não foram aparentemente afetadas no curso dos experimentos. / Harmful algae blooms have increased globally and caused impacts in aquaculture, tourism, and human health and in various aspects of ecosystem functioning. In Brazil, increasing attention has been given to this issue, because of the high potential of our waters for marine bivalve farming. Therefore, there are risks of contamination of the crops, and consequent poisoning of the consumers. This concern has led research projects to mostly focus on the detection of potentially harmful species and their toxins, with few initiatives to understand feeding interactions among species of phytoplankton and zooplankton. In this research interactions between potentially harmful dinoflagellates and marine zooplankton were investigated in two chapters. Chapter 1 - This study aims to evaluate the influence of the potentially harmful dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii on Temora turbinata feeding and reproduction. Egg production rates and hatching success were estimated for females fed on mixtures of A. tamiyavanichii and P. minimum. Chapter 2: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of dinoflagellate exudates and intact cells on the survivorship and mobility of zooplankton taxa from a subtropical location (Ubatuba, Brazil). Lethal effects were observed in five out of six taxa investigated, three of which (copepod nauplii, tintinnids and gastropod larvae) when exposed to dinoflagellate exudates and two (rotifers and brachyuran zoeae) when exposed to intact cells. In addition, gastropod larvae displayed mobility impairment during exposure to dinoflagellate exudates. Only polychaete larvae were not apparently affected during the course of the experiments.

The top endorsed athletes in the world are most likely the ones who have the biggest impact on their sport. These athletes are usually among the best in their sport or they might have something special that creates a strong relationship between the athlete and his or her fans. It is possible to say that this relationship combined with their skills on and off of the fields, courts, or arenas is what makes these athletes special. Big companies all over the world feel attracted to these athletes and, as a result, they spend millions of dollars every year in order to make these athletes the face of their companies. This research investigates the relationship between the monetary values of the top 50 most endorsed athletes in the world and their behaviors. Companies spend millions of dollars every year on endorsement deals, so it is important that they pick the right athlete to represent them. Furthermore, the athletes that are being endorsed need to know if there is a possibility of gaining or losing endorsements based upon their behaviors. The methodology in this research utilizes Analysis of Variance to investigate this relationship.

L'apparition récente de nouveaux matériaux dans les structures de chaussée associée à une diminution de l'épaisseur des couches de surface et une augmentation du chargement des poids lourds et de leur fréquence de passage a entrainé de nouvelles pathologies de dégradation. Outre les problèmes d'orniérage bien connus, apparaissent désormais des fissures descendantes (top down cracking) ainsi que des problèmes de décohésion aux interfaces. Ces nouvelles pathologies entrainent des dépenses considérables sur l'ensemble du réseau (environ 15 milliards d'euros par an), particulièrement en zones urbanisées plus sujettes aux dégradations de surface et ne permettent pas d'estimer convenablement les durées de vie de la chaussée, le plus souvent surestimée dans les méthodes de dimensionnement actuelles. Ce travail de doctorat propose une nouvelle approche du contact pneu-chaussée permettant de mieux appréhender les contraintes principales et résiduelles dans une structure de chaussée bitumineuse. A l'aide d'un outil numérique rapide de calcul basé sur une approche semi-analytique (« Semi-Analytical Methods » (SAM)), la géométrie précise du pneumatique est intégrée afin d'obtenir une répartition de pression de contact ainsi qu'un cisaillement surfacique réelle sur la chaussée. Dans un premier temps, un modèle de contact roulant tractif élastique est implémenté pour des cas théoriques simples et validé par des résultats analytiques et numériques de la littérature. Ensuite, ce modèle est étendu pour prendre en compte le comportement élasto-plastique des corps en contact. Ce dernier est comparé à un résultat numérique basé sur la méthode des éléments finis issu de la littérature. Les résultats, pour une application contact pneu-chaussée, montrent une répartition non homogène des contraintes dans la structure et principalement dans les premiers centimètres sous la surface avec des niveaux beaucoup plus importants que peuvent le prédire les modèles actuels qui utilisent une charge uniformément répartie. La pression de contact est comparée aux mesures effectuées par un système nommé TekScan et les champs mécaniques en sous couches sont comparés à ceux d'Alizé-LCPC dans le cas d'une structure simple. Les cisaillements surfaciques sont déterminés dans le cas du roulement tractif. Une application est effectuée sur la modélisation des dégradations des chaussées en surface. Dans un premier temps, des analyses sur le comportement de la chaussée en surface sont effectuées pour une couche de béton bitumineux semi grenu (BBSG) semi-infinie supposée élastique, homogène sous conditions d'accélération, de freinage et de virage. Pour des études sur le top down cracking, des déformations et directions principales sont déterminées et analysées. Ensuite, le modèle de contact élasto-plastique est appliqué sur une couche semi-infinie de grave bitume GB3. Des déformations et contraintes résiduelles générées dans la structure sont déterminées en vue d'une analyse sur les ornières d'instabilité. Une fois validés, ces résultats permettront d'estimer plus fidèlement la durée de vie résiduelle des chaussées mais également de comprendre et d'éviter les mécanismes de dégradation en surface ou proche de la surface. / The recent appearance of new materials in road structures associated with surface layers thickness decreasing and the increasing of trucks loading and their passage frequency has led to new pathologies of degradation. In addition to the well-known rutting problems, top down cracking is now appearing as well as problems of decohesion at the interfaces. These new pathologies led to considerable expenditure on the entire network (around 15 billion euros per year), particularly in urbanized areas that are more prone to surface damage and do not make it possible to adequately estimate the lifetimes of the roadway, most often overestimated in current design methods. This doctoral work proposes a new approach of the tire-road contact allowing for better apprehend of the main and residual stresses in a bituminous pavement structure. Using a fast numerical tool based on a semi-analytical approach ("Semi-Analytical Methods" (SAM)), the precise geometry of the tire is integrated in order to obtain a real contact pressure distribution as well as surface shear on the pavement surface. Initially, an elastic tractive rolling contact model is implemented for simple theoretical cases and validated by analytical and numerical results from the literature.Then, this model is extended to take into account the elastoplastic behavior of the bodies in contact. This is compared to a numerical result based on the nite element method from the literature. The application for tire-pavement contact results, show a non-uniform distribution of stresses in the structure and mainly in the rst centimeters below the surface with much higher levels than can be predicted by current models that use a uniformly distributed load. The contact pressure is compared to the measurements made by a system called TekScan and the mechanical elds in sublayers are compared to those of Alizé-LCPC in the case of a simple structure. The surface shears are determined in the case of tractive rolling. An application is carried out on the modeling of surface pavement damage. Firstly, analyzes of the behavior of the surface pavement are carried out for a semi-innite semi-grit asphalt concrete layer supposed to be elastic, homogeneous under conditions of acceleration, braking and turning. For studies on top down cracking, principals deformations and directions are determined and analyzed. Then, the elastoplastic contact model is applied on a semi-innite asphalt agragate layer. Deformations and residuals stresses generated in the structure are determined for an analysis on the instability ruts. Once validated, these results will make it possible to more accurately estimate the residual life of pavements but also to understand and avoid surface or near surfacedegradation mechanisms.