The concentrations of trace elements in 30 Saanich Peninsula agricultural soil samples were determined by acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). A comparison of the results obtained to a 1995 BC Ministry of Environment data indicated that As, Cu, Mo, Sb, Se and Sn concentrations had increased whereas the concentrations of Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn had decreased. The principal sources of the trace elements were anthropogenic sources including fertilizer and manure application, weathering of rocks and atmospheric deposition. The concentrations changes were largely influenced by the individual properties of the elements, soil texture, soil organic matter and clay content. The mobility of the trace elements in the soils was mainly controlled by clay content and followed the order Cd> B >Mo> Cr> V> Zn> Se> Co> Cr> As> Ba> Sb> Mn> Ag, Be, Hg, Ni, Pb.

Previous research in the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas suggests that, on relatively thin soils overlying bedrock, individual trees locally thicken the regolith by root penetration into bedrock. However, that work was conducted mainly in areas of strongly dipping and contorted rock, where joints and bedding planes susceptible to root penetration are more common and accessible. This project extended this concept to the Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky, with flat, level-bedded sedimentary rocks. Spatial variability of soil thickness was quantified at three nested spatial scales, and statistical relationships with other potential influences of thickness were examined. In addition, soil depth beneath trees was compared to that of non-tree sites by measuring depth to bedrock of stumps and immediately adjacent sites. While soil thickness beneath stumps was greater in the Ouachita Mountains compared to the Kentucky sites, there were no statistically significant differences in the difference between stump and adjacent sites between the two regions. In both regions, however, soils beneath stumps are significantly deeper than adjacent soils. This suggests the local deepening effects of trees occur in flat-bedded as well as steeply dipping lithologies. Regression results at the Cumberland Plateau sites showed no statistically significant relationship between soil depth and geomorphic or stand-level ecological variables, consistent with a major role for individual tree effects. Nested analysis of variance between 10 ha stands, 1.0 ha plots, and 0.1 ha subplots indicates that about 67 percent of total depth variance occurs at, or below, the subplot level of organization. This highly localized variability is consistent with, and most plausibly explained by, individual tree effects. The effects of biomechanical weathering by trees are not limited to areas with strongly dipping and contorted bedrock. Variability of soil depth in the Cumberland Plateau is likely influenced by positive feedbacks from tree root growth, that these interactions occur over multiple generations of growth, and that the effects of trees are the dominant control of local soil thickness. Since lateral lithological variation was minimal, this study also provides evidence that the positive feedback from biomechanical weathering by trees leads to divergent development of soil thickness.

Low-lying coastal plains comprised of unconsolidated infill are internally complex hydrogeological settings, due to the high level of heterogeneity in the infill material. In order to resolve the hydrogeological processes active in these complex settings, an integrated multi-disciplinary, geoscientific approach is required. This research determines quantitatively, the effects of sedimentary aquifer heterogeneity on groundwater flowpaths and groundwater processes within a heavily laterised, coastal plain setting. The study site is the Bells Creek catchment in southeast Queensland, Australia. The methodology developed in this study provides a new approach to enable the determination of groundwater flowpaths and groundwater processes at macroscale resolution within other shallow alluvial and coastal plain aquifers. The multi-disciplinary approach utilises sedimentological, geophysical, chronological and hydrogeological techniques (including hydrochemistry and groundwater flow modelling) to develop a high-resolution aquifer framework, and to determine accurately, both groundwater flowpaths and relative flow rates. Sedimentary framework is confirmed to be the principal factor controlling the distribution of aquifer permeability pathways in any given setting, and is therefore, the dominant control over groundwater flow and processes. For the Bells Creek catchment, interpretation of stratigraphic and sedimentary data allowed the compilation of a detailed sedimentary framework. This interpretation demonstrated that weathering of the low-lying arkose sandstone bedrock has developed thick lateritic profiles. Within the weathering profiles, cemented, iron-rich horizons have resisted erosion and developed raised and elongated ridges in the modern landscape, while other clay-rich weathered layers have submitted to erosion and downgraded around those iron-rich ridges. Consequently, alluvial deposition throughout the Late Quaternary has been restricted to narrow, and relatively deep valleys containing sandrich channels, and thin floodplains at shallow depth. From a hydrogeological perspective, there is significant macroscopic aquifer heterogeneity between fine-grained lateritic mixed clay layers, floodplain clays, ironcemented ferricrete horizons, and permeable sand-rich alluvial aquifers. This variability of aquifer material has created a complex subsurface arrangement of permeability pathways. Application of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in this setting enabled accurate definition of alluvial channel boundaries and the high degree of connectedness within the channels themselves. Interpretation of a comprehensive GPR dataset (that covered the entire catchment) allowed refinement of the sedimentary framework previously established to develop a detailed threedimensional aquifer framework. Finite-difference groundwater modelling and particle tracking analysis (using MODFLOW and MODPATH) has clearly demonstrated that the macroscopic heterogeneity within the various aquifer materials of the plain has marked impacts on groundwater pathways, and especially groundwater travel times. The variability between a maximum residence time of 18 months for groundwater within the alluvium, compared to hundreds of years for groundwater within the mixed clay layers of the laterite, clearly demonstrates the importance of accurately defining the spatial distribution of the various aquifer materials in a groundwater flow investigation. In this setting, the interconnection of the narrow alluvial channels feeding into a deeper alluvial delta has provided an effective conduit for shallow groundwater flow. The role of the alluvial delta in discharging the bulk of fresh groundwater from the central plain into the coastal and estuarine aquifers to the east, is certainly critical in preventing saline intrusion from encroaching further west. Hydrochemical and isotopic indicators have identified the dominant recharge processes and groundwater flowpaths within the plain, and indicated that the processes are strongly related to sub-surface permeability distributions determined in the aquifer framework (and groundwater modelling), as well as seasonal fluctuations in rainfall. In the northwest of the plain, sandstone hills provide a delayed and slightly mineralized component of groundwater recharge into adjacent highly permeable, unconfined alluvial aquifers; these aquifers also recharge directly via precipitation. Aluminosilicate weathering in the bedrock hills and eastern peripheries of the laterised bedrock are a source of excess Na, SiO2, and HCO3 to the alluvial groundwater. As this groundwater flows down-gradient to the east, however, its chemical composition evolves by sulfate reduction, silica equilibrium and ion exchange processes into a more mature Na-Cl type. Within the shallow coastal aquifers proximal to the eastern shoreline, sulfate enrichment is occurring (associated with increases in Ca, HCO3, Fe and Al) resulting in major deterioration in groundwater quality. The deterioration is produced by saline intrusion from the adjacent estuary coupled with oxidation of sulfide materials in shallow marine and estuarine clays. Reverses in salinity in those coastal aquifers have been correlated with surges in fresh recharge waters from unconfined coastal dunes and semi-confined landward alluvium, following significant rainfall events. The multi-disciplinary methodology developed, provides an effective approach for accurately defining the three-dimensional distribution of shallow aquifer material of varying permeability via detailed stratigraphic interpretation and GPR analysis. Utilising this aquifer framework, finite-difference groundwater modelling aided by hydrogeological data and hydrochemical analysis, allows accurate determination of groundwater flowpaths and groundwater processes. This research provides a new hydrogeological analogue for alluvial channel aquifers within a laterised coastal plain setting. Key Words: groundwater flow, aquifer heterogeneity, numerical modelling, hydrochemistry, recharge, ground penetrating radar, coastal plain aquifers, weathering, alluvial channels.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2000. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (MScFor (Forest and Wood Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Balau, a group consisting of 21 Shorea species, is widely used for outdoor application. In South Africa, Balau is one of the most popular materials used for decking. Due to the increasing scarcity of Balau, it is of economic importance to investigate the possibility of a substitute timber for decking material. One possible timber could be Colorado, a mixture containing one or more of the following: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tereticornis and their hybrids. These two species and their hybrids are extensively cultivated in countries such as Australia, India and parts of South America because of their short rotation period and easy adaptability to a wide variety of soil and climatic factors. The timber was initially utilized as raw material for the pulp and paper industry but is now gaining importance in structural uses like furniture, flooring and decking. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate relevant material properties and to examine the natural and accelerated weathering behaviour of Colorado and Balau to predict Colorado’s suitability as decking material. It was found that Colorado had smaller vessel lumina, fewer vessels/m2 and smaller rays than Balau and had a higher density than Balau. Although both timbers had a relatively low FSP, Colorado’s FSP was 2.3 percentage points higher than Balau’s. The swelling coefficients (radial and tangential) of Colorado were slightly higher than Balau’s but Colorado’s lower swelling anisotropy can result in a lower tendency to twist in service. Colorado had a higher water soluble extractive content than Balau, which can lead to the rapid initial colour changes when the timber is exposed uncoated. The weathering performance of Colorado and Balau was investigated by exposing samples in a QUV accelerated weathering apparatus and to natural weathering at an inland and a marine location. During weathering Colorado showed a slightly higher colour change ( E*) than Balau. Balau showed a higher increase in roughness (Rz), surface checking and check formation than Colorado. Colorado showed slightly more cup than Balau, however, Balau showed much larger amounts of twisting than Colorado. No statistically significant differences were found between the hydrophobicity of the two timbers. A coating was effective in increasing the initial hydrophobicity of samples and could maintain a relatively hydrophobic surface during weathering. No statistically significant differences were found in the effect of sample cut on timber species surface wettability. Although only long term exposure studies and using substantially more samples can confirm its weathering performance, the results of this exploratory weathering study indicated that Colorado can successfully be used as a substitute decking material for Balau. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Balau, ‘n houtsoort wat ongeveer 21 Shorea-spesies verteenwoordig, word wyd in buitenshuise aanwendings benut. In Suid-Afrika is Balau een van die mees gewilde materiale wat vir dek-doeleindes gebruik word. As gevolg van die toenemende skaarsheid van Balau, is dit van ekonomiese belang om die gebruik van ‘n moontlik plaasvervangende houtsoort vir dek-materiaal te ondersoek. Colorado, ‘n mengsel van een of meer van die volgende: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus tereticornis en hibriede daarvan, kan as ‘n moontlike plaasvervanger gebruik word. Hierdie twee spesies en hulle hibriede word op groot skaal in lande soos Australië, Indië en dele van Suid-Amerika gekweek vanweë hul kort rotasieperiode en goeie aanpasbaarheid by ‘n wye verskeidenheid grond- en klimaatsfaktore. Die spesies is aanvanklik as grondstof in die pulp- en papierbedryf gebruik maar word tans al hoe belangriker in strukturele aanwendings soos byv. meubels, vloer- en dek-materiaal. Die doel van hierdie verkennende studie was om relevante materiaaleienskappe te ondersoek en om die versnelde en natuurlike verweringsgedrag van Colorado en Balau vas te stel om sodoende ‘n aanduiding van die geskiktheid van Colorado as dek-materiaal te kan kry. Daar is gevind dat Colorado kleiner vat-lumina, minder vate/m2 en kleiner strale as Balau besit en dat Colorado ‘n hoër digtheid het as Balau. Alhoewel beide houtsoorte relatiewe lae veselversadigingspunte (VVP) besit, is Colorado se VVP 2.3% persentasiepunte hoër as dié van Balau. Die swellingskoëffisiente (radiaal en tangensiaal) van Colorado is effens hoër as dié van Balau, maar Colorado se laer swellingsanisotropie kan op ‘n kleiner neiging tot skeeftrek dui. Colorado het ‘n hoër wateroplosbare ekstrakstofinhoud as Balau bevat, wat tot aanvanklik vinnige kleurveranderings kan lei wanneer die hout sonder oppervlaktemiddel blootgestel word. Die verweringsgedrag van Colorado en Balau is ondersoek deur monsters aan versnelde en natuurlike verwering bloot te stel. Eersgenoemde is in ‘n QUV versnelde verweringsapparaat uitgevoer en laasgenoemde in ‘n binnelandse en ‘n mariene lokaliteit. Tydens verwering het Colorado ‘n effens hoër kleurverandering ( E*) as Balau getoon. Balau het ‘n hoër toename in rofheid (Rz), oppervlaktekrake en kraakvorming as Colorado getoon. Colorado het effens meer kromgetrek terwyl Balau meer skeefgetrek het as Colorado. Geen statisties beduidende verskille kon tussen die waterwerende eienskappe van die twee houtsoorte vasgestel word nie. ‘n Oppervlakbedekking was effektief om die aanvanklike toename in waterwerende vermoë te verhoog en gedurende verwering te kon behou. Geen statisties beduidende verskille kon tussen die invloed van snit van die monster op die oppervlaktebenatbaarheid van die houtsoorte vasgestel word nie. Alhoewel slegs langtermyn blootstellingstudies en die gebruik van beduidend veel meer monsters die verweringsgedrag kan bevestig, dui die resultate van hierdie verkennende ondersoek aan dat Colorado suksesvol as ‘n plaasvervangende dekmateriaal vir Balau gebruik kan word.

The relationship among soil and climate has been for a long time the basis for mapping soils and vegetation on a global scale. In Rio Grande do Sul, there still are few studies that relate soil formation with climate. Soil formation occurs through the weathering of rocks. Rainfall and temperature are major climate factors that determine the nature and rate of chemical reactions in the rocks and define the pedogenesis. This relationship can be studied through edaphoclimatological models and weathering. Thus, the objectives of this thesis were: (i) to determine the influence of climatic availability on the type of weathering and on the formation of soils of the Rio Grande do Sul State, (ii) to determine the relationship between soil and climate in Rio Grande do Sul State through the use of edaphoclimatological models, and (iii) to validate zonal soils of Rio Grande do Sul and to determine their geographical location. To achieve these objectives, three mathematical models were used to determine the characteristics of weathering. In the calculation and graphic representation of models, the average annual temperature and rainfall of 41 meteorological stations of belonging to the 8th District of Meteorology, 1931-1960 period, were used. The relationship between soil of Rio Grande do Sul and regional climate was studied using seven edaphoclimatological models. Results showed that the soils of the State are exposed to conditions of warm temperate zones, which favor chemical weathering and conditions of change and leaching of typical monossialitization zone of the area. The soil of Rio Grande do Sul with the existing regional climate was studied by edaphoclimatological models. According to these models, Rio Grande do Sul State is a region with characteristics of soil with deep and well developed profiles that can support a natural woody-type vegetation. Thus, only a part of the soil area of Rio Grande do Sul State is explained according to the current climate, particularly those which are mapped as being of Oxisols, Chernosols, Argisols, and Nitossols and Argisols, predominantly located in the North-Riograndense Plateau and Central-Depression, respectively. Zonal soils in Rio Grande do Sul State can be grouped as Laterites and Pedalfers, but the relationship between climate and the existing diversity of soil types in the State can not be explained only by climate. / A relação entre solo e clima têm sido, ao longo do tempo, a base do mapeamento dos solos e da vegetação em escala global. No Rio Grande do Sul ainda existem poucos estudos que relacionam a formação do solo com o clima. A formação do solo decorre do intemperismo das rochas. Os elementos climáticos, precipitação pluvial e temperaturado ar, determinam a natureza e a velocidade das reações químicas nas rochas e influenciam na pedogênese. A relação entre solo e clima pode ser estudada por meio de modelos edafoclimáticos e de intemperismo. Assim, os objetivos nesta tese foram: (i) determinar a influência das disponibilidades climáticas no tipo de intemperismo e na formação dos solos do Rio Grande do Sul; (ii) determinar a relação entre solo e clima no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul por meio da utilização de modelos edafoclimáticos; e (iii) evidenciar os solos zonais do Rio Grande do Sul e determinar sua localização geográfica. Para atingir os objetivos, foram utilizados três modelos matemáticos a fim de determinar as características do intemperismo. No cálculo, e representação gráfica dos modelos, utilizaram-se as médias anuais de temperatura do ar e de precipitação pluvial de 41 estações meteorológicas pertencentes ao 8º Distrito de Meteorologia (8º DISME), período 1931-1960. A relação do solo do Rio Grande do Sul com as disponibilidades climáticas regionais foi estudada por meio de sete modelos edafoclimáticos. Constatou-se que os solos do Estado são submetidos a condições de zonas temperadas quentes, que favorecem o intemperismo químico e as condições de alteração e de lixiviação típicas da zona de monossialitização. O Estado do Rio Grande do Sul é uma região com características de solos com perfis profundos e bem desenvolvidos que podem condicionar uma vegetação natural do tipo bosque. Assim, apenas uma parte da área do Rio Grande do Sul é explicada em função das disponibilidades climáticas vigentes, especialmente aquelas que são mapeadas como sendo de Latossolos, Chernossolos, Argissolos e de Nitossolos e Argissolos, predominantemente localizados no Planalto Norte-rio-grandense e na Depressão Central, respectivamente. Os solos zonais do Rio Grande do Sul dividem-se em dois grupos, os Lateríticos e os Pedalférricos, porém a relação entre o clima e a diversidade dos tipos de solos existentes no Ebstado não pode ser explicada unicamente por meio das disponibilidades climáticas.

Les Evénements Océaniques Anoxiques (OAE) sont des événements extrêmes qui se sont pro- duits majoritairement durant le Crétacé et qui sont caractérisés par un enfouissement massif et brutal de carbone organique. Ces événements ont été très étudiés durant ces 40 dernières années mais aucun consensus n’a été atteint quand aux processus à l’origine de leur déclenchement. Pour tenter de répondre aux questions encore en suspens, nous avons réalisé une étude géochimique approfondie (éléments majeurs et traces, compositions isotopiques en Nd et Hf) des différentes fractions (détritiques et authigènes) de sédiments marins déposés lors de l’événement océanique anoxique associé à la limite Cénomanien-Turonien (OAE2, 93.5Ma). Les deux sections étudiées représentent différents environnements de dépôt : un environnement peu profond et proche des sources continentales (Taghazoute, Maroc) et un environnement marin profond, loin des côtes (DSDP Site 367, Cap-Vert).A l’approche de l’OAE2, les compositions isotopiques du Nd et de l’Hf ne présentent que peu de variations. Ces observations reflètent une absence de changement dans le régime d’érosion continentale en amont des deux sections étudiées. Notre étude diverge du scenario proposant qu’un fort apport de nutriments résultant d’une altération continentale accrue soit à l’origine des OAEs. En revanche, les variations isotopiques (Nd) mesurées dans les fractions authigènes du Site 367, interprétées comme reflétant la composition océanique passée, supportent l’idée d’une contribution magmatique dans l’Océan Atlantique durant l’OAE2. Ces nouveaux résultats sont cohérents avec de précédentes études et confortent le rôle des grandes provinces magmatiques (plateau des Caraïbes) dans l’eutrophisation des océans qui précède les événements anoxiques.En outre, l’étude combinée des terres rares (REE) et des compositions isotopiques (Nd) de fractions authigènes obtenues par extraction chimique (leaching) démontre l’incorporation de matériel détritique dans ces fractions en milieu peu profond. Ces nouvelles observations questionnent l’idée que toute fraction authigène enregistre une composition chimique océanique pure. Enfin, l’étude complète des concentrations en éléments traces de ces mêmes fractions souligne le rôle important de la lithologie des sédiments sur la composition des leachates. Cette étude questionne également l’utilisation de certaines méthodes de leaching qui semblent favoriser l’extraction de phases détritiques externes lorsque les sédiments sont soumis à des étapes de leaching répétées. / Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAE) are brief and extreme events that mostly occurred during the Cretaceous and are defined by the burial of massive amounts of organic carbon. These events have been intensely investigated in the last 40 years but the mechanism that triggered OAEs remains problematic. In order to better constrain what causes these events, we realised a complete geochemical study (major and trace elements, isotopic compositions of Nf and Hf) of various sedimentary fractions (detrital and authigenic) for marine sediments associated with the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary event or OAE2 (93.5 Ma). We focused our study on two marine sections that represent different depositional settings : a shallow marine setting, close to the continental shelf (Taghazoute, Morocco) and a abyssal marine section (DSDP Site 367, Cape-Verde), far from the African shelf.The remarkable stability of the Nd-Hf decoupling in both sections indicates no obvious change of continental weathering approaching OAE2. Our conclusions diverge from the hypothesis that proposes an higher nutrient input through an enhanced continental weathering as a triggering mechanism of OAEs. However, Nd isotopic compositions of authigenic fractions measured at Site 367, interpreted as past oceanic composition, exhibit a positive isotopic excursion and indicate a magmatic contribution in the deep Atlantic Ocean during OAE2. These new data are consistent with previous isotopic studies and support the role of Large Igneous Province (in our case, the Caribbean Plateau) as nutrient provider and triggering mechanism of anoxic events.The combined study of rare earth elements (REE) and Nd isotopic compositions of authigenic fractions recovered by leaching demonstrates the incorporation of detrital material in authigenic fractions in shallow marine settings. These new results challenge the traditional belief that authigenic material always records an untouched seawater composition. Finally, the extensive study of trace element concentrations of these same fractions demonstrated the strong impact of sample lithology on their trace element content. Our study also questions the relevance of sequential leaching methods that facilitate external contamination when sediments are submitted to repeated leaching steps.

The utilisation of 3D digitisation and visualisation has grown considerably since 2008 and is becoming an increasingly useful tool for the digital documentation and metric analysis of archaeological artefacts and skeletal remains. It provides public access to rare and fragile specimens of palaeontological and palaeopathological importance whilst reducing the physical impact on these remains. Research in engineering and computer vision provides some insight into the impact of surface properties such as colour, specularity, reflectance and shape on the quality of the recorded 3D image, but within the archaeological and palaeontological disciplines comparable work has not yet been developed. If archaeology and anthropology are to provide long term reliable data from archaeological and palaeontological specimens in a way that doesn’t require repeated re-digitisation, we need to understand the impacts that the taphonomic histories of such samples have on our ability to 3D record them. Understanding the relationship of these taphonomic histories and the surface and optical properties will promote informed choices about the suitability of recording techniques. This thesis considers the taphonomic processes that affect the preservation of bone over archaeological, forensic and palaeontological timescales and the effect this has on the quality of 3D digital models. The digital refit of fragmentary bone samples is considered in relation to the effect of taphonomic alterations to bone. Conclusions regarding the key taphonomic factors and 3D digital model quality are drawn and areas of further work are identified.

O desempenho de materiais compósitos plástico-madeira ou ―wood plastic composites‖(WPC) requerem uma avaliação eficiente de sua resistência ao envelhecimento natural ao longo do tempo e contra sua biodeterioração por micro-organismos. Neste sentido, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os mecanismos de degradação abiótica e biótica de compósitos termoplásticos com fibras vegetais, a fim de determinar seu comportamento, do ponto de vista da estabilidade, nas condições em que serão usados. A aplicação proposta para estes materiais é sua utilização em ambientes externos, com o propósito de substituir a madeira, em artefatos para construção civil, como portas, janelas, pisos, decks e divisórias. Além disso, a eficácia da utilização do agente de acoplamento (AC) na durabilidade dos compósitos envelhecidos foi investigada. Para a produção dos compósitos foi utilizada a proporção polímero-madeira de 70/30 m/m, sendo que a matriz polimérica foi constituída de uma blenda de polipropileno-copolímero de etileno acetato de vinila (PP-EVA) pós-consumo provenientes de tampas de garrafa, e as madeiras usadas na forma de serragem, utilizando as espécies de eucalipto e pinus. O polipropileno graftizado com anidrido maleico foi usado como AC na proporção de 3 % m/m. As misturas foram processadas por extrusão e os compósitos moldados por compressão térmica e injeção. No teste de degradação por fungos foram utilizados quatro espécies de fungos basidiomicetos, Trametes villosa, Trametes versicolor, Pycnoporus sanguineus e Fuscoporia ferrea, todos de podridão branca. Na degradação abiótica, foram avaliadas as propriedades físicas, mecânicas, térmicas, reológicas, químicas e morfológicas dos compósitos nos diferentes estágios e formas de degradação. Para a degradação biótica, foram realizados ensaios de biodegradação em solo simulado (respirometria) e inoculação com fungos (deterioração fúngica). Os resultados mostraram que as condições climáticas afetaram diretamente as características dos compósitos avaliados, causando mudanças na cor e em sua viscosidade, com o aumento do índice de fluidez dos materiais e também alterações em suas estruturas químicas, com aumento do índice de carbonila, indicando a ocorrência de foto-oxidação das amostras. Em relação aos ensaios de biodegradabilidade, houve uma pequena perda de massa nas amostras avaliadas e formação de biofilmes nas superfícies dos compósitos, verificados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). A deterioração fúngica ocorre especialmente na superfície das amostras. O fungo Fuscoporia ferrea foi o mais efetivo na deterioração dos compósitos, com maior perda de massa e até mesmo o surgimento de estruturas de reprodução após o período de incubação, porém não penetrou na parte interna dos materiais. Por respirometria também foi verificado um aumento na geração de CO2 ao longo do período avaliado, indicando que há um início de metabolização das amostras por micro-organismos incubadas no solo, principalmente nas amostras expostas a nove meses de intemperismo natural. A presença das fibras protegeu a matriz de PP-EVA da degradação na face não exposta diretamente ao sol, o que é interessante para aplicações que visam longa vida útil, porém a utilização de aditivos para preservação contra radiação UV, oxigênio e micro-organismos se tornam necessárias para otimização e maior durabilidade destes materiais em estudos futuros. / Performance tests on "wood plastic composites" (WPC) require efficient evaluation of their resistance to natural aging over time and against its biodegradation by microorganisms. In this sense, the objective of this study was to investigate the abiotic and biotic degradation mechanisms of thermoplastic composites with vegetable fibers, in order to determine its behavior from the point of view of stability under conditions that will be used. The proposed application for these materials is their use outdoors, in order to replace the wood, in building construction, such as doors, windows, floors, decks and bulkheads. In addition, the effective use of the coupling agent (CA) in durability of aged composites was investigated. For the production of composite was used wood-polymer ratio of 70/30 w/w, wherein the polymeric matrix is comprised of a blend of polypropylene and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (PP-EVA) from post-consumer caps bottle, and the woods used in the form of sawdust, using the eucalyptus and pine species. The polypropylene grafted with maleic anhydride was used as coupling agent in the proportion of 3% w/w. The mixtures were processed by extrusion and composites molded by injection and thermal compression. In fungal degradation tests were used four species of basidiomycete fungi, Trametes villosa, Trametes versicolor, Pycnoporus sanguineus and Fuscoporia ferrea, all white rot fungi. In abiotic degradation, physical, thermal, mechanical, rheological, chemical and morphological properties of composites at different stages of degradation and shapes were evaluated. For biotic degradation, biodegradation tests were performed on soil (respirometry) and inoculated with fungi (fungal deterioration). The results showed that the climatic conditions directly affect the characteristics of the evaluated composites, causing changes in color and its viscosity with increasing melt flow index of the materials and also changes in their chemical structures with increased carbonyl index of samples exposed to natural weathering, thus indicating a photo-oxidation of the samples. Regarding the degradation tests, there was a small weight loss in the evaluated samples, and growth of microorganisms on the surface of composites, evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fungal deterioration occurs especially on the surface. The fungus Fuscoporia ferrea was the most effective in composites deterioration, with greater weight loss and even the emergence of reproductive structures after the incubation period, but did not penetrate inside the material. By respirometry also can be seen an increase in the generation of CO2 over the months, indicating a beginning of metabolism of the samples incubated by microorganisms in the soil, especially in samples exposed to 9 months of natural weathering. The presence of fibers protected the PP-EVA matrix of degradation in the face not exposed to direct sunlight, which is interesting for applications that aim to long life, but the use of additives for preservation against UV radiation, oxygen and microorganisms become necessary for optimization and durability of these materials in future studies.

Uma encosta localizada no município de São José - SC apresenta extenso histórico de instabilidades. Do ponto de vista litológico há predominância de granitoides na área de estudos e a mesma é transpassada por uma falha preenchida por riolito bastante alterado devido à atividade hidrotermal. O intemperismo da rocha granítica deu origem a um perfil de alteração com espessura bastante variável e a solos com características geotécnicas, químicas e mineralógicas distintas, levando à discretização de cinco solos. Quatro solos residuais foram denominados solos residuais de granito amarelo (GrAm), vermelho (GrVm), com biotita (GrBt) e lateritizado (GrLt), e uma argila de preenchimento de descontinuidades (ArBr). Foi realizada uma série de análises químicas, empregadas na quantificação de índices de intemperismo. O avanço do processo de intemperismo tornou os solos residuais mais finos e plásticos e nas áreas em que a alteração hidrotermal foi mais intensa houve a transformação de feldspatos em biotitas. As curvas de retenção solo-água obtidas para os solos saprolíticos são unimodais, mas no caso do solo GrLt os dados experimentais ajustam-se a curvas bimodais. O processo de remoldagem dos solos impacta nos níveis de sucção desenvolvidos. Os ensaios de condutividade hidráulica mostraram que esta propriedade não depende unicamente da porosidade e nível de confinamento, sendo relevante a influência da estrutura e mineralogia. Os solos saprolíticos tem comportamento distinto do apresentado pelo solo GrLt, no qual ocorre brusca redução de ksat com aumento do confinamento. Ensaios de compressão confinada em amostras indeformadas, remoldadas e reconstituídas possibilitaram identificar a manifestação da estrutura e sua influência na deformabilidade dos solos. Constatou-se que esta suplanta a influência da porosidade. Não é possível definir uma única linha de compressão normal que descreva o comportamento de cada material independentemente da forma com que foram preparados os corpos de prova. Nos ensaios triaxiais a estrutura dos materiais atua de forma distinta daquela observada nos ensaios oedométricos, indicando que sua influência depende da trajetória de tensões. A mineralogia parece ter influência na resistência ao cisalhamento destes solos. O solo GrBt apresentou o mais baixo ângulo de atrito, da ordem de 26º. O solo GrVm tem ângulo de atrito de 32º, sendo o maior aqui obtido. Quando remoldados os solos respeitam linhas de estado crítico (CSL) bastante bem definidas, por conta da redução da influência da estrutura nos resultados. Quando indeformados também é possível o ajuste de CSL, mas a dispersão dos dados é maior. O comportamento dos solos não é normalizável, mesmo quando remoldado. Em ensaios ring shear foram medidos ângulos de atrito residual entre 22º (GrAm) e 13,8º (GrLt) nos solos residuais. No solo ArBr o baixo ângulo de atrito residual (8º) se deve à granulometria fina e composição rica em argilominerais e micas. Sua associação ao solo GrBt corrobora a concentração das rupturas de encosta na área de ocorrência destes materiais. As curvas tensão-deformação dos ensaios triaxiais puderam ser satisfatoriamente reproduzidas pelo modelo hardening, o qual foi empregado para representar o comportamento dos solos em análises de estabilidade por meio de elementos finitos. Tais análises foram confirmadas por análises por equilíbrio limite no que tange a definição de áreas mais suscetíveis a rupturas. / A hillside in the municipality of São José - SC has an extensive history of instabilities. Under a lithological point of view, there is a predominance of granitoids in the study area, which is crossed by a fault filled by an altered rhyolite, due to hydrothermal activity. The weathering of the granite rock gave rise to a soil profile with highly variable thickness and soils with distinct geotechnical, chemical and mineralogical properties, leading to the discretization of five soils. They were denominated as four granite residual soils, yellow (GrAm), red (GrVm), with biotite (GrBt) and lateritizated (GrLt), and a clay soil that filled discontinuities (ArBr). A series of chemical analysis was carried out and employed to quantify some weathering indexes. As the weathering processes increased the residual soils became finer and more plastic. In areas where hydrothermal alteration was more intense feldspar was transformed in biotite. Soil suction characteristic curves obtained for the saprolitic soils were unimodal, but in the case of GrLt soil bimodal curves fitted better to experimental data. Remolding of the soils impacted the suction levels developed. Hydraulic conductivity tests have shown that this property does not depend solely on the porosity and confining pressures but the influence of soil structure and mineralogy is relevant. The saprolitic soils show a different behavior as compared to GrLt, which suffers abrupt reduction of ksat when the confinement is increased. Oedometric tests on undisturbed, remolded and reconstituted specimens allowed the identification of the influence of structure on the soil deformability. It was found that this influence is larger than that of porosity. It was not possible to define a unique normal compression line to describe the behavior of each material, regardless of the specimens preparation. In triaxial tests, soil structure acts in a different way from the observed in oedometric tests, indicating that their influence depends on the stress path. The mineralogy appears to have influence on the shear strength of these soils. The soil GrBt has the lowest friction angle, around 26°, and soil GrVm has a friction angle of 32° the largest obtained. When remolded these soils obey critical state lines which are well defined due to the reduction of soil structure influence. Although was possible to define CSL for the undisturbed soil the data dispersion was bigger. These soils do not have normalizable behavior even when remolded. Residual friction angles of residual soils measured through ring shear tests ranged between 22° (GrAm) and 13,8º (GrLt). The soil ArBr showed a very low residual friction angle (8°) due to its fine grain size and its mineralogical composition rich in clay minerals and mica. The association of ArBr soil to the GrBt soil supports the concentration of slope failures in the area of occurrence of these materials. Stress-strain curves of triaxial tests were satisfactorily reproduced by the hardening model, which was employed to represent the soils behavior in stability analyzes using finite element method. Such results were validated by limit equilibrium analysis that were employed to define the areas more susceptible to failures.