<p>The research presented in this dissertation investigates the influence of soil-structure<br> interaction on seismic isolation of nuclear reactor vessels using numerical simulations. This<br> research is motivated by the nuclear industry searching for viable solutions to standardize<br> the design of reactor vessels. Seismic isolation of reactor vessels is a potential solution as it<br> enables deployment of standardized reactor vessels irrespective of site seismic hazard<br> thereby saving time and cost by allowing large-scale factory fabrication of standard<br> modules and by eliminating the need for repeated approval of reactor vessel design. Seismic<br> isolation is also a technology that has matured from successful implementation in buildings<br> and bridges allowing easier transition to nuclear applications. Currently, the<br> implementation of component-level seismic isolation in nuclear industry is challenging due<br> to gaps in research and lack of specific guidelines.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br> In this research, the effectiveness and potential limitations of using conventional friction<br> pendulum bearings for component-level isolation are investigated based on conceptual<br> numerical models of seismically isolated reactor vessels at different nuclear power plant<br> sites subject to a variety of ground motions. The numerical modeling and analysis<br> approach presented in this research are checked using experimental data and results from<br> multiple numerical codes to ensure reliability of the obtained analysis results.</p> <p><br></p> <p><br> Within the scope of this study, it is found that slender vessels are particularly vulnerable<br> to rotational acceleration at the isolation interface. Rotational acceleration at the isolation<br> interface is caused by rotation at the foundation level of the containment building housing<br> the isolated reactor vessel and by excitation of higher horizontal translational modes of the<br> seismically isolated system. Rotation of the building foundation increases with decrease in<br> shear wave velocity of the soil surrounding the building foundation. When the containment<br> building is embedded below the soil surface, the effect of embedment on peak horizontal<br> acceleration of the isolated vessel depends on the amount of increase in shear wave velocity<br> at the foundation level of the building. When embedment does not result in any change in<br> shear wave velocity, it is found to have negligible impact on the acceleration response of the<br> isolated vessel.</p> <p><br></p> <p>  The optimum location to support a vessel for seismic isolation is found to be on a plane<br> passing through its center of mass. It minimizes horizontal acceleration in the isolated<br> vessel as well as the tendency of isolator to uplift. Isolator uplift and exceedence of<br> displacement capacity of the isolator during extreme events are possible drawbacks in using<br> seismic isolation technology since they produce impact forces due to uplift and<br> re-engagement of the isolator or due to collision between the isolated system and the moat<br> wall. If such cases are avoided, seismic isolation of reactor vessel could provide more than<br> 50% reduction in peak acceleration of vessel except for low-intensity motions that do not<br> engage the isolator.<br>  <br>  </p>

In this study, the initial hydrostatic stability, the hydrostatic stability and the structure realibility of three different barge-shaped vessels is simulated and evaluated in order to see which of the vessels would be the most optimal to use for deployment of wave energy converters, WECs. The vessels differ in their hull type: Bulbous-bow hull vessel, Barge hull vessel and Modified-barge hull vessel. In order to do the evaluation, the hull of each vessel is designed in DELFTship and further design is proceeded in SolidWorks 2014. Structural strength analysis is performed in SolidWorks 2014 and hydrostatic properties are simualted in Ansys Aqwa 16.0. The collected results are pointing at that the Modified-barge hull vessel is slightly superior to the others in terms of hydrostatic stability, while the structure stability is equal. The results of this study will provide a foundation for further evaluation of vessels capable of deploying wave energy converters.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka de regelverk som berör svenskflaggade passagerarfartyg i internationell trafik gällande berusade passagerare och hur regelverken implementerats i fartygens säkerhetsorganisationer. Syftet har också varit att lyfta fram hur säkerhetsorganisationerna ombord arbetar med att ta hand om berusade passagerare. En kvalitativ ansats har använts för att analysera relevanta regelverk. Den analysen har sedan legat till grund för intervjuer som har genomförts med säkerhetsansvariga på rederier och ombord på fartyg. En person som representerar Polismyndigheten har också intervjuats. Resultatet visar att en del lagstiftningar upplevs som föråldrade. Alkohollagen upplevs ha brister då den inte täcker in svenskflaggade fartyg i internationell trafik. Resultaten visar också att säkerhetsorganisationerna ombord ser olika ut på olika fartyg. Det kan konstateras att säkerheten för berusade passagerare varierar beroende på vilket fartyg de är ombord på.

The evolutionary success of land plants was fostered by the acquisition of the xylem vascular tissue which conducts water and minerals upwards from the roots. The xylem tissue of flowering plants is composed of three main types of cells: the sap-conducting tracheary elements (TE), the fibres which provide mechanical support and the parenchyma cells which provide metabolic support to the tissue. Both the TEs and the fibres deposit thick polysaccharidic secondary cell walls (SCWs), reinforced by a rigid phenolic polymer called lignin. The cell walls of TEs form efficient water conducting hollow tubes after the TEs have undergone programmed cell death (PCD) and complete protoplast degradation as a part of their differentiation. The work presented in this thesis studied the regulation of TE PCD by characterizing the function of the candidate PCD regulator METACASPASE 9 (MC9) in Arabidopsis thaliana xylogenic cell suspensions. These cell suspensions can be externally induced to differentiate into a mix of TEs and parenchymatic non-TE cells, thus representing an ideal system to study the cellular processes of TE PCD. In this system, TEs with reduced expression of MC9 were shown to have increased levels of autophagy and to trigger the ectopic death of the non-TE cells. The viability of the non-TE cells could be restored by down-regulating autophagy specifically in the TEs with reduced MC9 expression. Therefore, this work showed that MC9 must tightly regulate the level of autophagy during TE PCD in order to prevent the TEs from becoming harmful to the non-TEs. Hence, this work demonstrated the existence of a cellular cooperation between the TEs and the surrounding parenchymatic cells during TE PCD. The potential cooperation between the TEs and the neighbouring parenchyma during the biosynthesis of lignin was also investigated. The cupin domain containing protein PIRIN2 was found to regulate TE lignification in a non-cell autonomous manner in Arabidopsis thaliana. More precisely, PIRIN2 was shown to function as an antagonist of positive transcriptional regulators of lignin biosynthetic genes in xylem parenchyma cells. Part of the transcriptional regulation by PIRIN2 involves chromatin modifications, which represent a new type of regulation of lignin biosynthesis. Because xylem constitutes the wood in tree species, this newly discovered regulation of non-cell autonomous lignification represents a potential target to modify lignin biosynthesis in order to overcome the recalcitrance of the woody biomass for the production of biofuels.

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The subject of this study is the determination of the resistance of an inland vessel engaged in cargo transport in the lower course of the Magdalena River, considering that the hydrodynamic effects in shallow water navigation are very different compared to the effects in deep water navigation. The hydrodynamic analysis is realized numerically using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The Reynolds-Averaging Navier-Stokes equation (RANS) solver is applied to simulate viscous and pressure effects around a tank and a hull in confined tank considering the wall bottom and side effects in shallow water navigation. For turbulence effects, realizable k-? model is used. The motion of the vessel causes elevations of the free surface, in which, is captured using the Volume of Fluid method (VOF). For discretization of flow domain, the Finite Volume Method (FVM) is applied. The motion of the fluids is updated for each time step that allows the calculation of the resistance acting on the hull. The numerical simulation results are compared with experimental data obtained by the Technological Research Institute of the State of São Paulo (IPT, acronym in Portuguese) together with the existing empirical methods for this type of cases. / É apresentado um estudo para determinar a resistência de uma barcaça empregada no transporte de carga que poderia operar no setor baixo do rio Magdalena. Os efeitos hidrodinâmicos de um navio em águas rasas são muito diferentes, comparados a esses efeitos em águas com profundidade infinita. A análise hidrodinâmica é realizada numericamente usando a Dinâmica dos Fluidos Computacional (CFD, acrônimo em inglês). A solução das equações de Navier-Stokes (NS) junto com a decomposição do Reynolds (RANS, acrônimo em inglês) é aplicada para simular os efeitos viscosos e de pressão em torno de um tanque e de uma embarcação em um tanque confinado que é caracterizado pelos efeitos do fundo e das paredes. Para efeitos de turbulência, o modelo realizado k-? é usado. O movimento da embarcação do rio provoca elevações da superfície livre que são capturadas usando o método do Volume de Fluido (VOF, acrônimo em inglês). Para a discretização do domínio de fluxo, o Método dos Volumes Finitos (FVM, acrônimo em inglês) é utilizado. O movimento dos fluidos é atualizado para cada intervalo de tempo o que permite o cálculo da resistência atuando no casco. Os resultados da simulação numérica são comparados com dados experimentais obtidos pelo Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo (IPT), juntamente com os métodos empíricos existentes para esse tipo de casos.

A gestação inicial da égua é um período fascinante que abrange numerosas e intensas mudanças em seu desenvolvimento, muitas das quais são únicas para a espécie equina. Esse desenvolvimento depende da manutenção da função lútea, do estabelecimento de um ambiente uterino e de uma interação precisa e orquestrada entre o concepto e o ambiente uterino. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar as alterações histológicas do endométrio e a produção histotrófica em éguas cíclicas e prenhes nos dias 7, 10 e 13 pós-ovulação. No primeiro ciclo, biópsias endometriais de 30 éguas foram coletadas no dia 7 (n = 10), 10 (n = 10) e 13 (n = 10) constituindo o grupo éguas cíclicas. No segundo ciclo, as mesmas éguas foram cobertas por um garanhão fértil, acompanhadas diariamente até detectar a ovulação, considerada o dia 0. Foram coletadas biópsias endometriais nos dias7 (n 10), 10 (n 10) e 13 (n 10). Imediatamente após a coleta, o útero foi lavado e as éguas em que foi obtido embrião, foram inseridas no grupo de éguas prenhes. Um maior calibre dos vasos sanguíneos foi observado em prenhez comparados às éguas cíclicas do dia 7 aos 13. No sétimo dia pós-ovulação, uma grande perda de células ciliadas foi evidente no grupo de éguas prenhes, comparadas ao grupo de éguas cíclicas, as células do epitélio endometrial estavam mais protusas e uma pequena quantidade de secreção histotrófica entre as dobras endometriais foi observada. No décimo dia de prenhez, secreção histotrófica glandular e do epitélio luminal estavam mais presentes comparadas às éguas do grupo cíclico. No dia 13 de prenhes, foi observado um grande conteúdo de histotrofo nas aberturas glandulares que estavam cercadas por células ciliares. Ocorreram alterações no ambiente uterino logo após a entrada do embrião no útero. No estroma e no lúmen, essas modificações parecem visar fornecer a nutrição necessária para o desenvolvimento inicial do embrião e estas mudanças nas estruturas celulares irão interagir na sinalização embrionária, futura fixação, implantação e placentação. / The early pregnancy of mare is a fascinating period that encompasses numerous and intense changes in its development, many of which are unique to the equine species. This development depends on the maintenance of the luteal function, the establishment of a favorable uterine environment and a precise and orchestrated interaction between the concept and the uterine environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate histological changes in the endometrium in days 7, 10 and 13 post-ovulation in pregnant and cyclic mares. In the first cycle, endometrial biopsies from 30 cyclic mares (Cyclic group) were collected on days 7, 10 and 13 post-ovulation. In the second cycle, the same mares were bred by a fertile stallion. At days 7, 10 and 13 post-ovulation intrauterine biopsies were collected. Immediately after sample collection, the mare‟s uteri were flushed, and those mares with embryo recovery were assigned to the Pregnant group. A larger blood vessel caliber was observed in pregnant mares than in cyclic from day 7 to 13. On the 7th day a large loss of ciliated cells was evident in the group of pregnant mares in comparison with the Cyclic group and the superficial cells of the endometrium were more protruded, and a small amount of histotrophic material between the folds was observed. On the 10th day of pregnancy, the glandular histotrophic secretion and the secretion of luminal epithelium became more intense than the secretion of cyclic mares. On the 13th day of pregnancy, a very large amount of histotroph was observed within large glandular openings surrounded by ciliated cells. Changes occurred in the uterine environment thereupon the entry of the embryo into the uterus. In the stroma and in the lumen, these modifications seem aim to provide the necessary nutrition for the initial development of the embryo and to promote changes at cellular structures that will interact in the embryonic signaling and future fixation, implantation and placentation.

Les matériaux composites constitués de fibres de carbone et de résine époxy présentent des propriétés spécifiques remarquables qui les destinent à une utilisation à grande échelle dans de nombreux domaines où des gains de masse sont recherchés, comme le transport. Les réservoirs d’hydrogène de type IV présents dans les véhicules automobiles en sont un exemple. Dans le cadre de la sécurité des biens et des personnes, le risque incendie doit alors être considéré : lorsqu’un réservoir d’hydrogène subit une agression thermique telle qu’un feu, son enveloppe en matériau composite est sujette à décomposition thermique qui, couplée aux transferts de chaleur et à l’endommagement dû au chargement mécanique, peut conduire à l’explosion de la structure. Pour prédire numériquement le comportement des réservoirs dans des situations de charges couplées, thermiques et mécaniques, un modèle construit sur la prise en compte des phénomènes ayant une conséquence majeure sur le comportement du matériau a été développé. Il intègre, dans un cadre thermodynamique, la microfissuration matricielle, la rupture des fibres et des interfaces fibres/matrice ainsi que le délaminage et représente les effets de la température sur les propriétés mécaniques. A cet endommagement mécanique est adjoint la décomposition thermique due aux températures élevées (>350°C). Elle induit des changements de structure du matériau due à la gazéification de la résine époxy, une modification des paramètres thermiques (ce qui a une influence sur les transferts de chaleur) et une perte des propriétés mécaniques.A l’échelle de l’éprouvette, des calculs sont menés afin de déterminer les paramètres des différents sous-modèles. Cela comporte les critères d’initiation et les lois d’évolution des endommagements, les paramètres réactionnels pour la décomposition thermique et les paramètres thermiques (masse volumique, capacité thermique et conductivité) pour chaque état de décomposition. Une méthode est proposée pour fixer les paramètres clés du couplage thermomécanique, à savoir l’influence de la décomposition thermique sur le comportement mécanique. Des calculs entièrement couplés sont également réalisés afin de déterminer le poids de chaque phénomène (température, décomposition thermique et endommagement mécanique) sur la rupture finale du matériau en condition d’exposition au feu.A l’échelle du réservoir hyperbare, des prédictions de pressions d’éclatement, en situation d’incendie et à température ambiante, sont menées. A température ambiante, le rôle de chaque processus d’endommagement dans la pression ultime est évalué afin de déterminer leur nécessité dans la modélisation. Dans des conditions d’incendie, le temps à éclatement est évalué lorsque le réservoir est soumis à différentes pressions internes. Le modèle est capable de prédire correctement la transition entre un mode d’éclatement à haute pression et un mode de fuite par le corps à plus faible pression, dû à la fusion du liner avant que le niveau de contraintes soit critique dans la coque composite et conduise à l’éclatement. Cette approche, mise en place à l’échelle du réservoir, permet donc d’établir la succession des événements menant à son éclatement (ordre et plis d’apparition des endommagements, champ de température dans l’épaisseur l’enveloppe composite, temps à explosion). / Composite materials made of carbon fibres and epoxy resin have remarkable specific properties that make them suitable for large-scale use in many areas where mass savings are required, such as transport. An example is the type IV hydrogen tank in motor vehicles. In the context of the safety of persons, the fire risk must then be considered: when a hydrogen tank undergoes thermal aggression such as a fire, its composite shell is subject to thermal decomposition which, coupled with heat transfers and damage due to mechanical loading, can lead to burst of the structure. To numerically predict the behaviour of tanks subjected to coupled load (thermal and mechanical), a model based on the phenomena having a major impact on the behaviour of the material has been developed. It involves, in a thermodynamic framework, matrix microcracking, fibre failure and fibre/matrix interfaces decohesion as well as delamination and represents the effects of temperature on mechanical properties. To this mechanical damage is added the thermal decomposition due to high temperatures (>350°C). It induces structural changes in the material due to the gasification of the epoxy resin, a change in thermal parameters (which has an influence on heat transfers) and a loss of mechanical properties.At the specimen scale, calculations are carried out to determine the parameters of the different sub-models. This includes initiation criteria and damage evolution laws, reaction parameters for thermal decomposition and thermal parameters (density, thermal capacity and conductivity) for each decomposition state. A method is proposed to determine the key parameters of thermomechanical coupling, namely the influence of thermal decomposition on mechanical behaviour. Fully coupled calculations are also performed to determine the weight of each phenomenon (temperature, thermal decomposition and mechanical damage) on the final failure of the material under fire exposure conditions.At the hyperbaric tank scale, burst pressure predictions, in a fire situation and at room temperature, are carried out. At room temperature, the role of each damage process in the ultimate pressure is evaluated to determine their relative weight in the modelling. Under fire conditions, the time to burst is evaluated when the tank is subjected to different internal pressures. The model is able to correctly predict the transition from a burst mode at high pressure to leak mode at lower pressure due to melting of the liner before the stress level is critical in the composite shell and leads to burst. This approach, implemented at the scale of the tank, therefore makes it possible to establish the sequence of events leading to burst (plies in which damage occurs, temperature field in the composite wall, burst time).

Background: Inadequate foetal growth cannot be remedied postnatally, leading to severe consequences for neonatal and adult development. Furthermore, sexual dimorphism in placental development has been suggested in humans although this remains poorly investigated in the pig. Hypotheses: Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) occurs due to aberrant conceptus attachment, which leads to alterations in angiogenesis and vascularity of the feto-maternal interface. Altered gene expression and vascularity will be observed at the feto-maternal interface in male foetuses compared to female foetuses. Increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation will be observed in the feto-maternal interface associated with the lightest foetuses compared to the closest to mean litter weight (CTMLW) foetuses. Aims: This thesis aimed to investigate the association between foetal size and sex and: integrin signalling; apoptotic and proliferation pathways; umbilical arterial (UA) blood flow; and angiogenesis and vascularity at the feto-maternal interface. This was performed by the collection of placental and endometrial samples associated with conceptuses or foetuses of different size (lightest and CTMLW) and sex at gestational day (GD) 18, 30, 45, 60 and 90. Conclusion This thesis has presented novel findings of associations between foetal size and sex, and placental and endometrial integrin signalling, apoptosis and proliferation, and angiogenesis and vascularity. Currently, this is the first suggestion in the literature that foetal size, and more intriguingly foetal sex, may have a strong influence on the activity of the endometrium. The mechanisms behind these findings warrant further investigation. Switches in the direction of differences at the feto-maternal interface between foetuses of different size were observed throughout gestation, notably between GD45 and 60, highlighting the dynamic nature of the feto-maternal interface and suggesting this as a potential window that could be manipulated by the industry to attempt to rescue the postnatal phenotype of IUGR piglets.

This thesis investigated the different aspects and mechanisms of leak-before-break (LBB) assessment. The main objective was to improve the understanding of the transition between surface and through wall defects. While existing procedures generally idealise the through-wall crack into a rectangular shape, in reality a crack propagates with a shape depending on the loading. Comparison between the related solutions from established procedures have been undertaken. The apparent variation depending on the solutions used in the assessment has been highlighted. Two different methodologies have been employed to investigate the transition of flaw: (i) non-ideal through-wall and (ii) surface-breaking flaw propagation. The first approach consists of numerical models of non-idealised flaws in order to assess the effect on LBB parameters. For the second approach, experiments have been first carried out to visualise the shape of defect growths. To further study surface-breaking flaws, both experimental and numerical studies were performed. Fatigue tests on deeply notched plates with two crack aspect ratios were carried out. Strain evolutions on the back surface were recorded along the axes parallel and perpendicular to the crack. Numerical models have been prepared to investigate a larger scope. Behaviour of growing surface-breaking defects was examined. Based on the work conducted in this research, the major findings can be summarised as follows: - The existing solutions to carry out a LBB assessment using available procedures were reviewed and discussed. For axial flaws, SIF solutions were found similar and in good agreement with FEA values. Reference stress solutions showed significant difference between BS 7910 and API 579-1/ASME FFS-1. When compared to experimental data, API's solutions were able to distinguish between leak and break cases. - Flaw geometry assumption for through-wall crack yet to become idealised did not always reflect the actual behaviour, especially for COA calculation. In this case, FEA can be used as a good predictive tool for LBB to estimate margins when assessing leak rate. - The experiment using metallic specimens showed that high stress/strain on back surface would provide a good estimate of the crack propagation as it approached break-through. This offers a more accurate monitoring mechanism. Strain-mapping devices such as gauges could be used.