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With the increasing need for commercial and residential buildings, post-tensioned (PT) flat plates have become a preferred choice for floor systems, because of the numerous advantages over non-prestressed slabs such as better efficiency, reduced slab self-weight, as well as crack and deflection control. To improve the competitive advantage of PT flat plates through improved economy and performance, a study was undertaken. This study investigated the performance and behavior of three one-third scale models of a nine-panel two-way unbonded post-tensioned flat plate. One of the slabs had conventional reinforcement with uniform-banded tendon layout, another had conventional reinforcement with banded-banded tendon layout while the last had banded-banded tendon layout reinforced with steel fiber. The specimens were loaded to service limit state, factored load and then to failure, using a whiffle tree loading system that approximated a uniformly distributed load. Experimental results were compared to analytical results from finite element and yield line analysis. The performance of the banded-banded specimens was very similar to the uniform-banded specimens at service and factored load. The failure loads for all specimens were considerably higher than the design factored load of 197 psf. Steel fiber was able to replace conventional reinforcement and the performance of the specimens with steel fibers was satisfactory, and comparable to their corresponding conventional reinforced specimens at service and factored limit state. Analytical results from finite element analysis showed a fairly reasonable agreement with experimental results. The results from the experimental tests showed that the use of steel fiber in post-tensioned flat plates is a viable and safe technology that will lead to improved performance and economy. The experimental results seem to indicate that the requirement of conventional reinforcement may be unnecessary in the negative moment regions and also in the positive moment region if the tensile stress is not more than 3√(f'c ) in this region. ACI 318-19 code design recommendations were provided for design of banded-banded PT system and SFRC post-tensioned flat plate. Additional testing should be conducted before SFRC post-tensioned flat plates are incorporated in the ACI 318 code (ACI 318, 2019) with a maximum allowable tensile stress of 6√(f'c). / Doctor of Philosophy / Over the years, the use of post-tensioned flat plates as flooring system has increased and became popular in residential and commercial buildings. Post-tensioned flat plates are a type of concrete structural slabs typically used for flooring in high-rise building because of the numerous advantages over non-prestressed slabs such as better efficiency, reduced slab self-weight, as well as smaller crack and deflection. This type of slab typically consists of high strength steel strands called tendons, which are stretched to compress the concrete slab in both directions. To improve the performance of this type of slabs a research study was performed. This study investigated the performance and behavior of three one-third scale models of a nine-panel two-way post-tensioned flat plate. One of the slabs was strengthened with conventional steel bars and the tendon layout was uniform-banded tendon, another had conventional steel bar with banded-banded tendon layout while the last had banded-banded tendon layout reinforced with steel fiber. Actual load that will act on the slab when in use was applied and then this load was increased by a factor as specified in the building code, before loading the slab to the point where it cannot carry any more load. Results from the load test were compared to results obtain from analytical software package. The performance of the specimens that had banded-banded tendon layout was very similar to the specimens that had uniform-banded tendon layout, at actual operational load when in use. The failure loads for all specimens were considerably higher than the load they were designed for. The results suggest that steel fiber is a good alternative to conventional steel bars. The results from the load tests suggest that steel fiber can be used to strengthen post-tensioned flat plates which will lead to better performance and reduced cost.

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo a construção de microssensores amperométricos e potenciométricos para mensuração de oxigênio dissolvido (OD), gás sulfídrico (\'H IND.2\'S\'), íons amônio (\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'), nitrato (\'NO IND.3\'POT.-\'), nitrito (\'NO IND.2\'POT.-\') e hidrogeniônicos (\'H POT.+\') em biofilmes aplicados a nitrificação de água residuária. Os biofilmes analisados por meio do uso dos microssensores construídos foram desenvolvidos sobre superfícies suportes de reatores de bancada do tipo célula de fluxo, as quais foram operadas sob diferentes condições operacionais em cinco experimentos distintos. Substrato sintético com concentrações de nitrogênio total Kjeldahl (NTK) de 40 ± 10 mg/L e demanda química de oxigênio (DQO) de 95 ± 5 mg/L foi utilizado para alimentação das células de fluxo no decorrer de todos os experimentos. Lodo aeróbio proveniente de reator de lodos ativados da Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto das Flores localizada em Rio Claro-SP foi usado como inóculo das células de fluxo. Análises físico-químicas de pH, alcalinidade, DQO, NTK, \'NO IND.3\'POT.-\', \'NO IND.2\'POT.-\' do afluente e do efluente das células de fluxo operadas foram realizadas para o monitoramento das condições de operação das mesmas. Concomitantemente às últimas, a obtenção de perfis de concentrações de oxigênio dissolvido, pH, íons nitrato e amônio foi realizada nos biofilmes formados sobre as superfícies inertes nas células. Os microssensores de OD se mostraram eficientes na mensuração de oxigênio dissolvido no interior de filmes biológicos que continham zonas aeróbias, anóxicas e anaeróbias. Os microeletrodos de pH e de íons amônio permitiram a verificação das variações de pH e das concentrações de \'NH IND.4\'POT.+\' (sentido meio líquido-biofilme) que se deram nas células de fluxo operadas. Os microssensores de íons nitrato construídos não apresentaram seletividade aos seus analitos (\'NO IND.3\'POT.-\') e foi constatado que os mesmos detectavam concentrações de íons nitrato e nitrito no meio, portanto esses passaram a ser denominados de microssensores para detecção de íons \'NO IND.X\'POT.-\'. A construção dos microeletrodos destinados a mensuração de íons nitrito não foi passível de realização visto que a membrana íon seletiva que seria aplicada nos mesmos não se encontrou disponível no mercado. Os microeletrodos de \'H IND.2\'S\' foram calibrados e, mediante as suas curvas de calibração verificou-se que os mesmos foram eficientes na medição da concentração do gás dissolvido em água, entretanto esses microssensores não foram empregados em biofilmes. / The goal of the current research was the construction of amperometric and potentiometric microsensors to measure dissolved oxygen (DO), hydrogen sulfide (\'H IND.2\'S\'), nitrite, nitrate, ammonium and pH in biofilms applied at wastewater treatment. The biofilms that were analyzed with the constructed microsensors were grown at the surface of flat-plate reactors, which were operated in five distinct experiments under different operational conditions. The growth media that had total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TNK) of 40 ± 10 mg/L and carbon oxygen demand (COD) of 90 ± 5 mg/L was used as feed of the flatplate reactors during the experiments. The reactors were inoculated with sludge originating from activated sludge reactor located in Rio Claro (SP). Alkalinity, pH, COD, \'NO IND.3\'POT.-\', \'NO IND.2\'POT.-\' analyses of the affluent and effluent of the reactors were carried out for the accompaniment of the operational conditions of the flat-plate reactors. Concomitantly to the last ones, microprofiles of DO, pH, nitrate and ammonium were obtained in the biofilms. The DO microsensors constructed showed a good performance when they were applied to measure oxygen concentrations in the microenvironments in biofilms. Ammonium and pH microelectrodes allowed the verification of the variations of pH and ammonium concentrations in the direction from the bulk liquid to the biofilm that occurred at the flatplate reactors. The nitrate microsensor has not presented selectivity for its primary ions (\'NO IND.3\'POT.-\') and it was evidenced that the same one detected the concentration of nitrate and nitrite (\'NO IND.X\'POT.-\'). The nitrite microsensor could not be constructed since the membrane that would be used was not available in the market. The \'H IND.2\'S\' microelectrodes had shown efficiency in measuring aqueous solutions with different concentrations of dissolved \'H IND.2\'S\'; however these devices were not applied in biofilms.

As lajes lisas podem oferecer diversas vantagens quando comparadas ao sistema de lajes, vigas e pilares, sendo, em muitos casos, mais econômicas. O uso da protensão pode oferecer outras vantagens, tais como um melhor controle da fissuração e dos deslocamentos transversais da laje. Como a punção é um dos pontos fracos das lajes lisas protendidas, face à grande esbeltez destas lajes, apresentam-se resultados experimentais de ligações laje-pilar interno, com carregamento concêntrico, com e sem armadura de punção (conectores tipo-pino), com e sem protensão por pós-tração (cabos não aderentes). Os principais aspectos analisados foram as influências da armadura de punção e da protensão na resistência da ligação laje-pilar. Fez-se também uma análise envolvendo a previsão da resistência da ligação, dada por algumas normas e códigos. Observa-se que, de um modo aproximado, a armadura de punção eleva significativamente a resistência do modelo à punção, seja ele de concreto armado ou protendido. Observa-se ainda que, embora diminuindo a taxa de armadura dos modelos de concreto armado, para que se introduzissem as cordoalhas de protensão, os valores experimentais obtidos mostram que a presença da protensão aumentou a resistência da ligação. De um modo geral, a melhor norma que reflete o comportamento da ligação lajepilar é a Revisão da NB-1 (2000). Com relação aos modelos protendidos, o ACI poderia ter tido um bom desempenho, caso não houvesse uma restrição tão rígida com relação ao uso de armaduras de punção / The use of flat plates may offer some economical and aesthetic benefits when compared with other structural systems. The use of post-tensioned slabs may offer other advantages, as a better crack and deflection control and a thinner slab for the same span and load conditions. This work presents some experimental results and conclusions about the punching shear failure, as it is a critical problem for flat plate structures, post-tensioned or not. The main aspects analyzed are the influence of the shear reinforcement (studs) and of the post-tensioning with unbonded tendons on a slab – internal column connection strength. A comparison between experimental results and those given by some standards is presented. This comparison aims to verify if the codes accurately predict the punching shear strength of the connection. It can be noted that, in an specific comparison, the studs enhance the punching shear strength of the slab-column connection. In spite of the use of less flexural reinforcement in the post-tensioned models, the punching shear strength of the connection had a higher value when compared with the reinforced ones. This fact is due to the presence of the prestressed strands

[Formulae and special characters can only be approximated here. Please see the pdf version of the Abstract for an accurate reproduction.] Since the damping functions employed by most of the low-Reynolds-number models are related to the non-dimensional distance y+[ special character ??? near-wall non-dimensional distance in y direction], which is based on local wall shear stress, these models become invalid for separated flows, because the wall shear stress is zero at the reattachment point. In addition, the pressure-velocity correlation term is neglected in most of these models, although this term is shown in this thesis to be important in the near-wall region for simple flows and large pressure gradient flows. In this thesis, two main efforts are made to improve the k ??? [special character - dissipation rate] model. First, based on Myong and Kasagi???s (1990) low-Reynolds-number model (hereafter referred to as MK model), a more general damping function [special character - turbulent viscosity damping function in LRN turbulent model] is postulated which only depends on the Reynolds numbers [formula ??? near-wall turbulence Reynolds number]. Second, a form for the pressure-velocity correlation term is postulated based on the Poisson equation for pressure fluctuations. This modified model predicts the turbulent flow over a flat plate very well. It is found that the inclusion of the pressure-velocity correlation term leads to significant improvement of the prediction of near-wall turbulence kinetic energy. When the model is applied to turbulent flow over a backward-facing step, it produces better predictions than the traditional k ??? [special character - dissipation rate] model, FLUENT???s two-layer model and the MK model. Again, the pressure-velocity correlation term improves the turbulence kinetic energy prediction in the separated region over that of other models investigated here. The studies of numerical methods concerning computational domain size and grid spacing reveal that a very large domain size is required for accurate flat plate flow computation. They also show that a fine grid distribution in the near-wall region upstream of the step is necessary for acceptable flow prediction accuracy in the downstream separated region.

Flow control of transitional shear flows is investigated by means of numerical simulations. The attenuation of three-dimensional wavepackets of Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) and streaks in the boundary layer is obtained using active control in combination with localised sensors and actuators distributed near the rigid wall. Due to the dimensions of the discretized Navier-Stokes operator, reduced-order models are identified, preserving the dynamics between the inputs and the outputs of the system. Balanced realizations of the system are computed using balanced truncation and system identification. We demonstrate that the energy growth of the perturbations is substantially and efficiently mitigated, using relatively few sensors and actuators. The robustness of the controller is analysed by varying the number of actuators and sensors, the Reynolds number, the pressure gradient and by investigating the nonlinear, transitional case. We show that delay of the transition from laminar to turbulent flow can be achieved despite the fully linear approach. This configuration can be reproduced in experiments, due to the localisation of sensing and actuation devices. The closed-loop system has been investigated for the corresponding twodimensional case by using full-dimensional optimal controllers computed by solving an iterative optimisation based on the Lagrangian approach. This strategy allows to compare the results achieved using open-loop model reduction with model-free controllers. Finally, a parametric analysis of the actuators/ sensors placement is carried-out to deepen the understanding of the inherent dynamics of the closed-loop. The distinction among two different classes of controllers – feedforward and feedback controllers - is highlighted. A second shear flow, a confined turbulent jet, is investigated using particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes and Koopman modes via dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) are computed and analysed for understanding the main features of the flow. The frequencies related to the dominating mechanisms are identified; the most energetic structures show temporal periodicity. / <p>QC 20130207</p>

This study is an investigation of two specific effects on turbine blade film cooling. The effect of coolant to mainstream density ratio and upstream steps was studied. The studies were conducted on two flat plates with 4mm cylindrical film cooling holes, one with simple angle and the other with compound angle, in a low-speed suction type wind tunnel. Density effect was studied at ratios of 0.93 and 1.47 by using air and CO2 as coolant. An IR camera was used to record the temperature on the plate and T-type thermocouples were used to record the coolant and mainstream temperatures. During the study the nature of the conduction effect from the heated coolant was studied and found to be most prevalent along the plate surface not through the plate from the plenum. A methodology was presented by which conduction error free results were obtained. The results showed an increased effectiveness at higher density ratios, particularly near the holes and for the simple angle plate. Upstream step effect was studied using pressure sensitive paint and a coupled strobe light and camera. Steps of 0.5, 1 and 1.5mm were placed at the upstream edge of the holes. The steps were found to increase effectiveness significantly more than previous studies have shown when placing the step slightly upstream of the holes.

Annular gas seal clearances were simulated with closely spaced parallel plates using a Flat?Plate tester. The device is designed to measure the pressure gradient along the test specimen. The main function of the Flat?Plate tester is to provide friction factor data and measure dynamic pressure oscillations. A detailed description of the test facility is described, and a theory for determining the friction factor is reviewed. Three clearances were investigated: 0.635, 0.381, and 0.254 mm. Tests were conducted at three different inlet pressures (84, 70, and 55 bars), producing Reynolds numbers range from 50,000 to 700,000. Three surface configurations were tested including smooth?on-smooth, smooth?on?hole, and hole?on?hole. The Hole?pattern plates are identical with the exception of the hole depth. The results indicate that, for the smooth?on?smooth and smooth?on?hole configurations, the friction factor remains constant or increases slightly with increasing Reynolds numbers. Moreover, the friction factor increases as the clearance between the plates increases. However, the results from the hole?on-hole configurations are quite different. A "friction?factor jump" phenomenon was observed, and the Helmholtz frequency was detected on the frequency spectra.