Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease in North America. Mechanical factors have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of CAVD and may contribute to the disease by actively regulating the mechanobiology of valve interstitial cells (VICs). Mechanical forces affect VIC function through interactions between the VIC and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Studies have shown that the transfer of mechanical stimulus during cell-ECM interaction depends on the local material properties at hierarchical length scales encompassing tissue, cell and cytoskeleton. In this thesis, biomechanical tools were developed and applied to investigate hierarchical cell-ECM interactions, using VICs and valve tissue as a model system. Four topics of critical importance to understanding VIC-ECM interactions were studied: focal biomechanical material properties of aortic valve tissue; viscoelastic properties of VICs; transduction of mechanical deformation from the ECM to the cytoskeletal network; and the impact of altered cell-ECM interactions on VIC survival. To measure focal valve tissue properties, a micropipette aspiration (MA) method was implemented and validated. It was found that nonlinear elastic properties of the top layer of a multilayered biomaterial can be estimated by MA by using a pipette with a diameter smaller than the top layer thickness. Using this approach, it was shown that the effective stiffness of the fibrosa layer is greater than that of the ventricularis layer in intact aortic valve leaflets (p<0.01). To characterize the viscoelastic properties of VICs, an inverse FE method of single cell MA was developed and compared with the analytical half-space model. It was found that inherent differences in the half-space and FE models of single cell MA yield different cell viscoelastic material parameters. However, under particular experimental conditions, the parameters estimated by the half-space model are statistically indistinguishable from those predicted by the FE model. To study strain transduction from the ECM to cytoskeleton, an improved texture correlation algorithm and a uniaxial tension release device were developed. It was found that substrate strain fully transfers to the cytoskeletal network via focal adhesions in live VICs under large strain tension release. To study the effects of cell-ECM interactions on VIC survival, two mechanical stimulus systems that can simulate the separate effects of cell contraction and cell monolayer detachment were developed. It was found that cell sheet detachment and disrupted cell-ECM signaling is likely responsible for the apoptosis of VICs grown in culture on thin collagen matrices, leading to calcification. The studies presented in this thesis refine existing biomechanical tools and provide new experimental and analytical tools with which to study cell-ECM interactions. Their application resulted in an improved understanding of hierarchical valve biomechanics, mechanotransduction, and mechanobiology.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease in North America. Mechanical factors have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of CAVD and may contribute to the disease by actively regulating the mechanobiology of valve interstitial cells (VICs). Mechanical forces affect VIC function through interactions between the VIC and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Studies have shown that the transfer of mechanical stimulus during cell-ECM interaction depends on the local material properties at hierarchical length scales encompassing tissue, cell and cytoskeleton. In this thesis, biomechanical tools were developed and applied to investigate hierarchical cell-ECM interactions, using VICs and valve tissue as a model system. Four topics of critical importance to understanding VIC-ECM interactions were studied: focal biomechanical material properties of aortic valve tissue; viscoelastic properties of VICs; transduction of mechanical deformation from the ECM to the cytoskeletal network; and the impact of altered cell-ECM interactions on VIC survival. To measure focal valve tissue properties, a micropipette aspiration (MA) method was implemented and validated. It was found that nonlinear elastic properties of the top layer of a multilayered biomaterial can be estimated by MA by using a pipette with a diameter smaller than the top layer thickness. Using this approach, it was shown that the effective stiffness of the fibrosa layer is greater than that of the ventricularis layer in intact aortic valve leaflets (p<0.01). To characterize the viscoelastic properties of VICs, an inverse FE method of single cell MA was developed and compared with the analytical half-space model. It was found that inherent differences in the half-space and FE models of single cell MA yield different cell viscoelastic material parameters. However, under particular experimental conditions, the parameters estimated by the half-space model are statistically indistinguishable from those predicted by the FE model. To study strain transduction from the ECM to cytoskeleton, an improved texture correlation algorithm and a uniaxial tension release device were developed. It was found that substrate strain fully transfers to the cytoskeletal network via focal adhesions in live VICs under large strain tension release. To study the effects of cell-ECM interactions on VIC survival, two mechanical stimulus systems that can simulate the separate effects of cell contraction and cell monolayer detachment were developed. It was found that cell sheet detachment and disrupted cell-ECM signaling is likely responsible for the apoptosis of VICs grown in culture on thin collagen matrices, leading to calcification. The studies presented in this thesis refine existing biomechanical tools and provide new experimental and analytical tools with which to study cell-ECM interactions. Their application resulted in an improved understanding of hierarchical valve biomechanics, mechanotransduction, and mechanobiology.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / O presente trabalho aborda o problema de identificação de danos em uma estrutura a partir de sua resposta impulsiva. No modelo adotado, a integridade estrutural é continuamente descrita por um parâmetro de coesão. Sendo assim, o Modelo de Elementos Finitos (MEF) é utilizado para discretizar tanto o campo de deslocamentos, quanto o campo de coesão. O problema de identificação de danos é, então, definido como um problema de otimização, cujo objetivo é minimizar, em relação a um vetor de parâmetros nodais de coesão, um funcional definido a partir da diferença entre a resposta impulsiva experimental e a correspondente resposta prevista por um MEF da estrutura. A identificação de danos estruturais baseadas no domínio do tempo apresenta como vantagens a aplicabilidade em sistemas lineares e/ou com elevados níveis de amortecimento, além de apresentar uma elevada sensibilidade à presença de pequenos danos. Estudos numéricos foram realizados considerando-se um modelo de viga de Euler-Bernoulli simplesmente apoiada. Para a determinação do posicionamento ótimo do sensor de deslocamento e do número de pontos da resposta impulsiva, a serem utilizados no processo de identificação de danos, foi considerado o Projeto Ótimo de Experimentos. A posição do sensor e o número de pontos foram determinados segundo o critério D-ótimo. Outros critérios complementares foram também analisados. Uma análise da sensibilidade foi realizada com o intuito de identificar as regiões da estrutura onde a resposta é mais sensível à presença de um dano em um estágio inicial. Para a resolução do problema inverso de identificação de danos foram considerados os métodos de otimização Evolução Diferencial e Levenberg-Marquardt. Simulações numéricas, considerando-se dados corrompidos com ruído aditivo, foram realizadas com o intuito de avaliar a potencialidade da metodologia de identificação de danos, assim como a influência da posição do sensor e do número de dados considerados no processo de identificação. Com os resultados obtidos, percebe-se que o Projeto Ótimo de Experimentos é de fundamental importância para a identificação de danos. / The present work deals with the damage identification problem in mechanical structures from their impulse response. In the adopted model, the structural integrity is continually described by a cohesion parameter and the finite element model (FEM) is used to spatially discretize both the displacement and cohesion fields. The damage identification problem is then posed as an optimization one, whose objective is to minimize, with respect to the vector of nodal cohesion parameters, a functional based on the difference between the experimentally obtained impulse response and the corresponding one predicted by an FEM of the structure. The damage identification problem built on the time domain presents some advantages, as the applicability in linear systems with high levels of damping an/or closed spaced modes, and in nonlinear systems. Besides, the time domain approaches present high sensitivities to the presence of small damages. Numerical studies were carried out considering a simply supported Euler-Bernoulli beam. Optimal experiment design techniques were considered with the aim at determining the optimal position of the displacement sensor and also the number of points of the impulse response to be considered in the identification process. The Differential Evolution optimization method and the Levenberg-Marquardt method were considered to solve the inverse problem of damage identification. Numerical analysis were carried out in order to assess the influence, on the identification results, of noise in the synthetic experimental data, of the sensor position, and of the number of points retained in the impulse response. The presented results shown the potentiality of the proposed damage identification approach and also the importance of the optimal experiment design for the quality of the identification. al importance for the identification of damage.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / O presente trabalho aborda o problema de identificação de danos em uma estrutura a partir de sua resposta impulsiva. No modelo adotado, a integridade estrutural é continuamente descrita por um parâmetro de coesão. Sendo assim, o Modelo de Elementos Finitos (MEF) é utilizado para discretizar tanto o campo de deslocamentos, quanto o campo de coesão. O problema de identificação de danos é, então, definido como um problema de otimização, cujo objetivo é minimizar, em relação a um vetor de parâmetros nodais de coesão, um funcional definido a partir da diferença entre a resposta impulsiva experimental e a correspondente resposta prevista por um MEF da estrutura. A identificação de danos estruturais baseadas no domínio do tempo apresenta como vantagens a aplicabilidade em sistemas lineares e/ou com elevados níveis de amortecimento, além de apresentar uma elevada sensibilidade à presença de pequenos danos. Estudos numéricos foram realizados considerando-se um modelo de viga de Euler-Bernoulli simplesmente apoiada. Para a determinação do posicionamento ótimo do sensor de deslocamento e do número de pontos da resposta impulsiva, a serem utilizados no processo de identificação de danos, foi considerado o Projeto Ótimo de Experimentos. A posição do sensor e o número de pontos foram determinados segundo o critério D-ótimo. Outros critérios complementares foram também analisados. Uma análise da sensibilidade foi realizada com o intuito de identificar as regiões da estrutura onde a resposta é mais sensível à presença de um dano em um estágio inicial. Para a resolução do problema inverso de identificação de danos foram considerados os métodos de otimização Evolução Diferencial e Levenberg-Marquardt. Simulações numéricas, considerando-se dados corrompidos com ruído aditivo, foram realizadas com o intuito de avaliar a potencialidade da metodologia de identificação de danos, assim como a influência da posição do sensor e do número de dados considerados no processo de identificação. Com os resultados obtidos, percebe-se que o Projeto Ótimo de Experimentos é de fundamental importância para a identificação de danos. / The present work deals with the damage identification problem in mechanical structures from their impulse response. In the adopted model, the structural integrity is continually described by a cohesion parameter and the finite element model (FEM) is used to spatially discretize both the displacement and cohesion fields. The damage identification problem is then posed as an optimization one, whose objective is to minimize, with respect to the vector of nodal cohesion parameters, a functional based on the difference between the experimentally obtained impulse response and the corresponding one predicted by an FEM of the structure. The damage identification problem built on the time domain presents some advantages, as the applicability in linear systems with high levels of damping an/or closed spaced modes, and in nonlinear systems. Besides, the time domain approaches present high sensitivities to the presence of small damages. Numerical studies were carried out considering a simply supported Euler-Bernoulli beam. Optimal experiment design techniques were considered with the aim at determining the optimal position of the displacement sensor and also the number of points of the impulse response to be considered in the identification process. The Differential Evolution optimization method and the Levenberg-Marquardt method were considered to solve the inverse problem of damage identification. Numerical analysis were carried out in order to assess the influence, on the identification results, of noise in the synthetic experimental data, of the sensor position, and of the number of points retained in the impulse response. The presented results shown the potentiality of the proposed damage identification approach and also the importance of the optimal experiment design for the quality of the identification. al importance for the identification of damage.

L’objectif de ce travail est d’élaborer un modèle performant/précis de la machine électrique permettant de proposer une technique de pronostic. Dans cette thèse, nous commençons par un état de l’art sur les véhicules électriques hybrides (VHE), les différents types de machines électriques utilisées dans les VHE ainsi que les différents types de défauts pouvant survenir dans ces machines électriques. Nous identifions également les indicateurs de défauts appropriés aux différents défauts considérés. Ensuite, une synthèse de techniques de pronostic pouvant être appliquées est proposée. Le modèle à éléments finis électromagnétiques, thermiques et vibratoires (FEM) de la machine à aimants permanents est présenté. Le modèle est élaboré en fonctionnement normal et défaillant. Les types de défauts considérés sont : démagnétisation, court-circuit et excentricité. Une comparaison entre les deux approches analytique et FEM (méthode numérique) pour la modélisation de machines électromagnétiques est effectuée. Les indicateurs de défauts analysés pour l’extraction les plus pertinents utilisent les différents signaux mesurées suivants : le couple, la température ainsi que les signaux vibratoires en états sains et défectueux. L’approche de pronostic adoptée qui est le modèle de Markov caché (HMM) est développée. L'aspect technique de la méthode est présenté et le module du pronostic est formulé. La méthode de HMM est utilisée pour détecter et localiser les défauts à petites amplitudes. Une stratégie systématique a été développée. Le vieillissement de l’équipement de la machine, en particulier des éléments sensibles comme la bobine de stator et l’aimant permanent, est une question très importante pour le calcul du RUL (Remaining Useful Life). Une stratégie d’estimation pour le calcul RUL est présentée et discutée. La configuration en boucle fermée est très importante. Elle est adoptée par tous les systèmes de véhicules disponibles. Par conséquent, les mêmes étapes mentionnées précédemment s'appliquent également à une configuration en boucle fermée. Un modèle global où l’entrée du FEM de la machine provient de l’onduleur modélisé est élaboré. / The core of the work is to build an accurate model of the electrical machine where the prognostic technique is applied. In this thesis we started by a literature review on hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), the different types of electrical machine used in HEV’s and the different types of faults that may occur in those electrical machine. We also identify the useful monitoring parameters that are beneficial for those different types of faults. Then, a survey is presented where all the prognostic techniques that can be applied on this application are enumerated. The electromagnetic, thermal and vibration finite element model (FEM) of the permanent magnet machine is presented. The model is built at healthy operation and when a fault is integrated. The considered types of faults are:demagnetization, turn to turn short circuit and eccentricity. A confrontation between analytical and FEM (numerical method) for electromagnetic machine modeling is illustrated. Fault indicators where useful measured parameters forfault identification are recognized and useful features from the measured parameters are extracted; torque, temperature and vibration signal are elaborated for healthy and faulty states. The strategy of the adopted prognostic approach which is Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is explained. The technical aspect of the method is presented and the prognostic model is formulated. HMM is applied to detect and localize small scale fault small scale faults were where a systematic strategy is developed. The aging of the machine’s equipment,specially the sensitive ones that are the stator coil’s and the permanent magnet, is a very important matter for RUL calculation. An estimation strategy for RUL calculation is presented and discussed for those mentioned machine’s components. Closed loop configuration is very important; it is adopted by all available vehicle systems. Hence, the same previously mentioned steps are applied for a closed loop configuration too. A global model where the input of the machine’s FEM comes from the modeled inverter is built.

Thermoelectric generators (TEG) are re-emerging technology that can be used to recover heat waste from commercial and industrial processes to generate electricity, enhancing fuel utilization and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. TEG modules are solid-state heat engines that produce no noise or vibration during operation. Notably, TEG modules are also able to operate at low-temperature differences, which makes them ideal for a wide range of heat waste recovery applications. Annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) modules are optimal in applications where either the heat source or sink are round in shape. Bi2Te3 solution-based compounds are of significant interest in the application of thermoelectric materials (TE) used in low-temperature cooling and power generation applications. The main objective of the current work is to design a mechanically reliable ring-shaped ATEG module with a predictable performance using spark plasma sintered Bi2Te3 TE material for low temperature waste heat recovery applications. In terms of structure, this work is divided into two parts. The first part investigates how the use of a powder pre-treatment technique affects the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of P- and N-type Bi2Te3. In addition, part one also presents the measurements of these materials’ mechanical and thermoelectric properties, which serve as inputs for the finite element models used to design thermoelectric modules with parallel and perpendicular configurations vis-a-vis the sintering pressing direction. The second part evaluates the thermoelectric performance and thermal stresses of a ring-shaped ATEG couple that has been integrated between hot-side and cold-side heat exchangers. To this end, two configurations are compared with respect to their heat/electrical current flow paths: one that allows for radial flow (radial configuration), and one that allows for axial flow (axial configuration). The P- and N-type Bi2Te3 powder was treated using a mechanically agitated fluidized powder reduction facility that was built in-house. The characteristic uniaxial tensile strength of the P-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 increased from 13.9 MPa to 26.3 MPa parallel to the sintering pressure, and from 16.3 MPa to 30.6 MPa perpendicular to the sintering pressure following oxide reduction using 5% H2 ˗ 95% Ar at 380 ℃ for 24 h. The figure of merit, ZT, increased from 0.35 to 0.80 and from 0.42 to 1.13 at room temperature (25 ℃) in the parallel and the perpendicular directions, respectively, after the surface oxide reduction treatment. On the other hand, the annealing effects of the oxide reduction pr-treatment of the N-type (Bi0.95 Sb0.05)2(Se0.05 Te0.95)3 using 5% H2 ˗ 95% Ar at 380 ℃ for 24 h were found to be responsible for the majority of the mechanical properties and ZT enhancement. Additionally, the characteristic uniaxial tensile strengths for this material increased from 30.4 to 34.1 MPa and from 30.8 to 38 MPa in the parallel and the perpendicular directions, respectively. The ZTmax (150 ℃) increased from 0.54 to 0.63 in both the parallel and perpendicular directions due to oxide reduction, while annealing led to an increase to 0.58 and 0.62 in the parallel and the perpendicular directions, respectively. An analytical model was constructed to compare the thermoelectric performance of the two configurations under three different hot-side thermal resistances, and a 3D coupled finite element ANSYS model was constructed to study and compare the thermal stresses of the two configurations at different dimensions. The two models were then used to create 2D maps in order to investigate the effects of ATEG couple configuration and dimensions, as well as the hot-side thermal resistance, with the goal of identifying the optimum design. The optimization of module geometry requires a trade-off between performance and mechanical reliability. The results of these investigations showed that increases in the temperature difference across the ATEG couple (ΔT) led to increases in both power and thermal stresses in both configurations. When both configurations were generating the same power at ΔT = 105 ℃, the thermal stresses in the radial configuration were as much as 67 MPa higher than those in the axial configuration due to the formation of additional tensile hoop stresses. The lowest thermal stress obtained for the axial couple configuration was 67.8 MPa, which was achieved when the couple had an outer diameter of 16 mm, an axial thickness of 1 mm, a ΔT of 14.8 ℃, and power generation of 10.4 mW per couple. The maximum thermal stress values were located at the corners of the interface between the solder and the TE rings due to the mismatched coefficient of thermal expansion. This thesis makes a novel contribution to the state-of-the-art literature in ring-shaped ATEG modules, as it details a well-characterised spark plasma sintered Bi2Te3 TE material and a methodology for designing a ring-shaped ATEG module with reliable, robust, and predictable thermoelectric and mechanical performance. The details of the contribution made by this work have been disseminated in the form of three journal publications, which have been integrated into this sandwich Ph.D. thesis. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD)

A traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a direct impact to the head and is a common cause of disability and death all around the world. The most effective method to predict brain injury today, is to use a finite element head model. In this investigation, the three injury predictors strain, strain rate, and the product of strain and strain rate were investigated using a rat brain finite element model. The main goal was to find which injury predictor most effectively would predict injury. To find the injury predictor with the highest area under curve value, comparisons between experimental results obtained from simulations and results from previously performed experiments on rats were made. To better understand how different factors can affect the severity of symptoms from a traumatic brain injury, a parametric study with a focus on rotational direction and rotational duration was conducted. Simulations were run on a rat brain finite element model for three rotational directions and three rotational durations.  The statistical analysis was completed for six experiments and nine brain regions. The three injury predictors were extracted from 26 simulations completed on a rat brain finite element model, and the maximum values of the 95th percentile for each brain region were extracted. The results showed that the product of the strain and the strain rate was the most effective injury predictor for four out of six experiments (unconscious time, EPM arm change, EPM open duration, and MWM session 3). The parametric study investigated rotation in the axial, coronal, and sagittal plane against the three rotational durations 1.5 ms, 3 ms, and 6 ms. The parametric study revealed that both the direction and duration of rotation importantly influence the extent of damage in traumatic brain injuries. The results showed that rotation in the axial plane and a 3 ms duration caused the most brain damage. It was also concluded that the results need to undergo additional verification to further define the relationships between the rotational direction, the rotational duration, and the injury predictors. / En traumatisk hjärnskada orsakas vanligtvis av våld mot huvudet och är en vanlig orsak till både funktionsnedsättningar och dödsfall världen över. Den effektivastemetoden för att kunna förutsäga en hjärnskada idag är att använda en finit elementmetodmodell av en hjärna.  I denna undersökning har de tre skadeprediktorerna belastning, belastningshastighet och produkten av belastningen och belastningshastigheten undersöktes med hjälp av simuleringar genomförda på en modell av en råtthjärna, byggd med hjälp av finita elementmetoden. Målet var att ta reda på vilken skadeprediktor som mest effektivt kunde förutsäga hjärnskada. För att hitta skadeprediktorn med högst area under curve-värde gjordes jämförelser mellan experimentella resultat från simuleringar mot resultat från tidigare utförda experiment på råttor. För att få en djupare förståelse för vilka parametrar som kan påverka graden av symptom från en traumatisk hjärnskada genomfördes en parametrisk studie med fokus på rotationsriktning och rotationstid. Nya simuleringar genomfördes på en finit elementmodell av en råtthjärna i tre rotationsriktningar och under tre rotationstider.  Den statistiska analysen utfördes på sex experiment och för nio regioner i hjärnan. Belastningen, belastningshastigheten samt produkten av belastningen och belastningshastigheten extraherades från 26 simulerade finita element råtthjärnor och maximumvärdet från den 95.e percentilen sparades. Resultatet av den statistiska analysen visade att produkten av belastningen och belastningshastigheten var den skadeprediktorn med bäst skadeförutsägelse för fyra av sex experiment(medvetslös tid, EPM arm förflyttning, EPM varaktighet i öppet utrymme och MWM session 3). Under den parametriska studien undersöktes axial, koronal och sagittal rotationsriktning mot de tre rotationstiderna 1.5 ms, 3 ms och 6 ms. Resultatet av den parametriska studien visade att både rotationsriktning och rotationstid spelar viktiga roller när det kommer till omfattningen av symptom som kan uppstå vid en traumatisk hjärnskada. För de undersökta delarna av hjärnan var den rotationsriktning som orsakade störst skada rotation i det axiala planet och den rotationstid som orsakade mest skada var vid 3 ms. Slutsatsen att resultatet bör genomgå ytterligare verifiering drogs. Detta för att ytterligare definiera sambanden mellan rotationsriktning, rotationstid och skadeprediktorerna.

<p>A large rectangular industrial duct consists of plates stiffened with parallel wide flange sections. The plates along with stiffeners acts to resist the pressure loads and to carry other loads to the supports. The behaviours of the components of large industrial ducts are significantly different from the behaviours on which the current design methods are based on. Investigation presented herein deals with the design methods for spacing stiffeners, proportioning stiffeners and calculating shear resistance of side panel.</p> <p>Current method of spacing stiffeners is based on large deflection plate theory. A parametric study was conducted on dimensionless parameters identified in order to benefit from membrane action in partially yielding plate for spacing stiffeners. Design equations were established in terms of dimensionless pressure, plate slenderness and normalized out-of-plane deflection for three cases namely; 0%, 16.5% and 33% of through thickness yielding of the plate. Results show that approximately 50% increase in stiffener spacing when yielding of 16.5% of thickness is permitted.</p> <p>Under suction type pressure load, the unsupported compression flange and restrained tension flange lead to distortional buckling of the stiffeners. The current methods do not address distortional buckling adequately. A parametric study on dimensionless parameters governing the behaviour and strength of stiffened plat panels was conducted. The study indicated that the behaviour and strength of the stiffened panels could be a function of web slenderness and overall slenderness of the stiffener. The study also identified the slenderness limit of stiffener web for which the stiffener reaches the yield moment capacity. This study demonstrated the conservatism of current method. Finally a method was established to calculate the strength of stiffened plate panel subjected lateral pressure.</p> <p>Side panels adjacent to the supports transfer large amount of shear to the supports and, in addition, resist internal pressure. Currently the design of side panels for shear is based on the methods used for the web of fabricated plate girders. The behaviour and the characteristics between the web of plate girder and the thin side panels are significantly different. A parametric study was conducted on dimensionless parameters identified. It was concluded that the plate slenderness dominates the normalized shear strength of stockier side panels. The aspect ratio and plate slenderness influence the normalized shear strength of slender side panels. Design methods to calculate the shear strength of side panels were proposed.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The need for modern transportation systems together with the high demand for sustainable pavements under applied loads have led to a great deal of research on concrete pavements worldwide. Development of finite element techniques enabled researchers to analyse the concrete pavement under a combination of axle group loadings and environmental effects. Consequently, mechanistic approaches for designing of concrete pavements were developed based on results of finite element analyses. However, unpredictable failure modes of concrete pavements associated with expensive maintenance and rehabilitation costs have led to the use of empiricalmechanistic approach in concrete pavement design. Despite progressive knowledge of concrete pavement behaviour under applied loads, concrete pavements still suffer from deterioration due to crack initiation and propagation, indicating the need for further research. Cracks can be related to fatigue of the concrete and/or erosion of materials in sub-layers. Although longitudinal, midedge and corner cracks are the most common damage modes in concrete pavements, Austroads method for concrete pavement design was developed based on traditional mid-edge bottom-up transverse cracking introduced by Packard and Tayabji (1985). Research presented in this thesis aims to address the most common fatigue related distresses in concrete pavements. It uses comprehensive finite element models and analyses to determine the structural behaviour of concrete pavements under vehicular loads and environmental effects. Results of this research are supported by laboratory tests and an experimental field test. Results of this research indicate that the induced tensile stresses within the concrete pavement are significantly affected by vehicle speed, differential temperature gradient and loss of moisture content. Subsequently, the interaction between the above mentioned factors and concrete damage modes are discussed. Typical dynamic amplifications of different axle groups are presented. A new fatigue test setup is also developed to take into consideration effects of pavement curvature on fatigue life of the concrete. Ultimately, results of the research presented in this thesis are employed to develop a new guide for designing concrete pavements with zero maintenance of fatigue damage.

[ES] El principal objetivo de la presente tesis es el desarrollo de una completa metodología para el modelado numérico del UHPFRC desde el material hasta el elemento estructural. Se pretende contribuir al avance del conocimiento del comportamiento mecánico del UHPFRC obteniendo como resultado un procedimiento para la modelización numérica que permita el modelado y diseño estructural que permitiría hacer que este material fuera competitivo para ser utilizado en el mercado de la construcción. En la metodología de modelado propuesta, se considera un comportamiento constitutivo del UHPFRC optimizado por medio de un procedimiento directo y fiable con el que se aprovechan las ventajas del material, resultando en un diseño estructural eficiente desde el punto de vista mecánico y económico. ¿Es necesario producir SH-UHPFRC para conseguir grandes propiedades mecánicas? ¿Es posible generar SS-UHPFRC de manera que queden reducidos los costos iniciales y se mantengan unas propiedades mecánicas y de durabilidad competitivas que comporten un diseño estructural efectivo? El desarrollo de UHPFRC con bajo endurecimiento por deformación y de SS-UHPFRC puede reducir sus propiedades mecánicas, pero si son adecuadamente estudiadas y controladas, éstos podrían ser optimizados. La tesis aborda algunas de estas cuestiones a través del estudio del comportamiento a tracción que va desde SH-UHPFRC hasta SS-UHPFRC. Se pretende llevar a cabo una propuesta de procedimiento fiable para caracterizar el comportamiento constitutivo a tracción y definir un modelo numérico de elementos finitos fiable para modelar con precisión la respuesta de probetas y elementos estructurales armados de UHPFRC. Para definir el procedimiento directo para caracterizar a tracción tanto SH-UHPFRC como SS-UHPFRC, se ha llevado a cabo una campaña experimental y numérica en la que se ha analizado el resultado de ensayar 227 probetas sin armadura fabricadas con UHPFRC con cantidades de fibras cortas y lisas de acero de 120-130kg/m3 y 160kg/m3, ensayadas a flexión a través del ensayo a cuatro puntos (4PBT). El desarrollo y la validación de dicho proceso se respaldan mediante un modelo no lineal de elementos finitos (NLFEM) fiable. La validación numérica llevada a cabo ha sido decisiva para que este procedimiento sea preciso, simple y fiable. Utilizando esta campaña experimental, se ha desarrollado una aplicación predictiva para estimar los parámetros que definen el comportamiento constitutivo a tracción del UHPFRC. Esta aplicación es simple y directa y evita la posible variabilidad producida por malas interpretaciones en la aplicación del proceso. Además, se ha llevado a cabo una segunda campaña experimental constituida por vigas de UHPFRC armadas a flexión con diferentes escalas: 36 vigas cortas con 130 y 160kg/m3 de fibras y dos vigas largas. Esta campaña experimental se ha modelado con el NLFEM aquí desarrollado teniendo en cuenta efectos importantes debidos a la interacción del UHPFRC con las barras de armado. También se han modelado con el NLFEM tirantes de UHPFRC armados de una campaña experimental de otra investigación. El modelo considera efectos debidos a la retracción, al 3D y comportamiento tensión stiffening que generan resultados muy precisos cuando se comparan con los resultados experimentales. Como resultado de la presente tesis doctoral, se ha obtenido un modelo de elementos finitos capaz de modelar con precisión elementos estructurales de UHPFRC armados. Los resultados no sólo demuestran la fiabilidad del NLFEM llevado a cabo sino también la coherencia del procedimiento desarrollado para caracterizar el comportamiento constitutivo a tracción del UHPFRC para los dos casos, tanto SH-UHPFRC como SS-UHPFRC, tanto en elementos estructurales armados a flexión como en elementos estructurales armados a tracción directa. Consecuentemente se ha propuesto una metodología completa y efectiva para el modelado numérico del UHPFRC / [CA] El principal objectiu de la present tesi es el desenvolupament d'una completa metodologia per al modelat numèric de l'UHPFRC des del nivell material fins arribar als elements estructurals. Es pretén contribuir a l'avanç del coneixement del comportament mecànic de l'UHPFRC per mitjà d'un procediment per al modelat numèric útil per al modelat i disseny estructural que permeta fer que aquest material siga competitiu al mercat de la construcció. En la metodologia de modelat proposta, es considera un comportament constitutiu de l'UHPFRC optimitzat per mitjà d'un procediment directe i fiable amb el qual s'aprofiten els avantatges del material, resultant en un disseny estructural eficient des del punt de vista mecànic i econòmic. És necessari produir SH-UHPFRC per a aconseguir grans propietats mecàniques? És possible generar SS-UHPFRC amb el qual queden reduïts els costs inicials mantenint unes propietats mecàniques i de durabilitat competitives que comporten un disseny estructural efectiu? El desenvolupament d'UHPFRC amb baix enduriment per deformació i de SS-UHPFRC pot reduir les seues propietats mecàniques però, si són adequadament estudiades i controlades, aquests podrien ser optimitzats. La tesi aborda algunes d'aquestes qüestions per mitjà de l'estudi del comportament a tracció de l'UHPFRC que va des de SH-UHPFRC fins SS-UHPFRC. Es pretén dur a terme una proposta de procediment fiable per a caracteritzar el comportament constitutiu a tracció i definir un model numèric d'elements finits fiable per a modelar amb precisió la resposta de provetes i elements estructurals armats d'UHPFRC. Per a definir el procediment directe per a caracteritzar a tracció tant SH-UHPFRC com SS-UHPFRC, s'ha dut a terme una campanya experimental i numèrica en la que s'ha analitzat el resultat d'assajar 227 provetes sense armadura fabricades amb UHPFRC amb quantitats de fibres curtes i llises d'acer de 120-130kg/m3 i 160kg/m3, assajades a flexió per mitjà de l'assaig a quatre punts (4PBT). El desenvolupament i la validació de l'esmentat procés són assegurats per mitjà d'un model no lineal d'elements finits (NLFEM) fiable. La validació numèrica duta a terme ha estat decisiva per a que aquest procediment siga precís, simple i fiable. Utilitzant aquesta campanya experimental, s'ha desenvolupat una aplicació predictiva per a estimar els paràmetres que defineixen el comportament constitutiu a tracció de l'UHPFRC. Aquesta aplicació és simple i directa i evita la possible variabilitat produïda per males interpretacions en l'aplicació del procés. A més a més, també s'ha dut a terme una segon campanya experimental constituïda per bigues d'UHPFRC armades a flexió amb diferents escales: 36 bigues curtes amb 130 i 160kg/m3 de fibres i dos bigues llargues de gran escala. Aquesta campanya s'ha modelat amb el NLFEM ací desenvolupat incloent efectes importants deguts a la interacció de l'UHPFRC amb les barres d'armat. Addicionalment, també s'han modelat amb el NLFEM tirants d'UHPFRC armats a tracció provinents d'una campanya experimental d'altra investigació. El model considera efectes deguts a la retracció, al 3D i comportament tensió stiffening que generen resultats molt precisos quan es comparen amb els resultats experimentals. Per tant, com a resultat de la present tesi doctoral, s'ha obtingut un model d'elements finits capaç de modelar amb precisió elements estructurals d'UHPFRC armats. Els resultats del model comparats amb els resultats experimentals no sols demostren la fiabilitat del NLFEM dut a terme sinó que també la coherència del procediment directe desenvolupat per a caracteritzar el comportament constitutiu a tracció de l'UHPFRC als dos casos, tant per a SH-UHPFRC com SS-UHPFRC, tant en elements estructurals armats a flexió com amb elements estructurals armats a tracció directa. Conseqüentment, s'ha proposat una metodologia completa i efectiva per al modelat numèric de l'UHPFRC des del niv / [EN] The main objective of the present PhD thesis is to develop a complete methodology for the numerical modelling of UHPFRC from the material level to structural elements. It intends to contribute to advanced knowledge of mechanical UHPFRC behaviour to lead to a numerically modelling proposal that is useful for structural modelling and design that allows options for this material to be competitive in the construction market. Optimised UHPFRC material constitutive behaviour, characterised by a direct reliable defined procedure, is considered in the proposed modelling methodology to take advantage of these properties, and to lead to an efficient structural design from the mechanical and economical points of view. Is it necessary to produce SH-UHPFRC to obtain excellent properties? Is it possible to develop SS-UHPFRC that leads to lower initial costs and to maintain competitive mechanical and durability properties that result in an effective structural design? The development of low strain-hardening and SS-UHPFRC would lead to reduce its mechanical properties, but they can be optimised if they are studied and controlled. The thesis addresses some of these questions by studying tensile UHPFRC behaviour to cover a wide range of tensile constitutive behaviours from SH-UHPFRC to SS-UHPFRC. It intends to propose a reliable tensile characterisation process and a reliable finite element model capable of accurately simulating the response of UHPFRC specimens and reinforced structural elements. An extensive experimental and numerical campaign with 227 unreinforced four-point bending test (4PBT) specimens with amounts of smooth-straight (13/0.20) steel fibres of 1.53-1.66% (120-130kg/m3) in volume and with 2.00% (160kg/m3), which represents SS-UHPFRC and SH-UHPFRC tensile behaviours, was carried out to set up a direct tensile characterisation procedure involving SS-UHPFRC and SH-UHPFRC. The direct procedure's development and validity are ensured by a reliable non-linear finite element model (NLFEM). Numerical validation was carried out and is decisive for performing the direct procedure to characterise the tensile behaviour of both SS and SH-UHPFRC herein developed accurately, simply and reliably. With the experimental programme herein, a predictive application for estimating tensile UHPFRC parameters was developed. The prediction offers reliable results. The application is simple and direct, and avoids variability in the characterisation procedure due to possible misinterpretations in its application. In addition, a second experimental programme, which includes reinforced concrete flexural beams on different scales, with 36 UHPFRC reinforced short beams with 130 and 160kg/m3 of steel fibres and two full-scale long beams, was carried out and modelled with the NLFEM herein developed including major effects due to the interaction between UHPFRC and reinforcement bars. Additionally, reinforced UHPFRC tensile bars from a recent experimental campaign performed by other researchers were modelled with the NLFEM. The model considers shrinkage effects, tension stiffening behaviour and 3D effects due to the particularities of the test, which provide very accurate results compared to those obtained with the experimental tests. As a result of this PhD thesis, an accurate NLFEM was obtained to model reinforced UHPFRC structural elements. The results of the model compared to the experimental ones demonstrate not only the reliability of the developed NLFEM, but also the coherence of the developed direct procedure to characterise tensile UHPFRC behaviour in both strain-softening and strain-hardening in reinforced flexural and direct tensile structural elements. Consequently, a complete and effective methodology for numerical UHPFRC modelling from the material level to structural elements is proposed. / Mezquida Alcaraz, EJ. (2021). Numerical Modelling of UHPFRC: from the Material to the Structural Element [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/167017 / TESIS