Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-24T19:48:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WashingtonLET_TESE.pdf: 9876489 bytes, checksum: b0b53c16cdf88ab9e63cb1b22c08ab0f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-17 / The monitoring of Earth dam makes use of visual inspection and instrumentation to identify and characterize the deterioration that compromises the security of earth dams and associated structures. The visual inspection is subjective and can lead to misinterpretation or omission of important information and, some problems are detected too late. The instrumentation are efficient but certain technical or operational issues can cause restrictions. Thereby, visual inspections and instrumentation can lead to a lack of information. Geophysics offers consolidated, low-cost methods that are non-invasive, non-destructive and low cost. They have a strong potential and can be used assisting instrumentation. In the case that a visual inspection and strumentation does not provide all the necessary information, geophysical methods would provide more complete and relevant information. In order to test these theories, geophysical acquisitions were performed using Georadar (GPR), Electric resistivity, Seismic refraction, and Refraction Microtremor (ReMi) on the dike of the dam in Sant Lloren? de Montgai, located in the province of Lleida, 145 km from Barcelona, Catalonia. The results confirmed that the geophysical methods used each responded satisfactorily to the conditions of the earth dike, the anomalies present and the geological features found, such as alluvium and carbonate and evaporite rocks. It has also been confirmed that these methods, when used in an integrated manner, are able to reduce the ambiguities in individual interpretations. They facilitate improved imaging of the interior dikes and of major geological features, thus inspecting the massif and its foundation. Consequently, the results obtained in this study demonstrated that these geophysical methods are sufficiently effective for inspecting earth dams and they are an important tool in the instrumentation and visual inspection of the security of the dams / O monitoramento do comportamento de barragens de terra faz uso da inspe??o visual e da instrumenta??o para identificar e caracterizar danos no barramento ou estruturas auxiliares. A primeira ? subjetiva possibilitando erros de interpreta??o ou omiss?o, mesmo assim, alguns problemas s? podem ser detectados tardiamente. A instrumenta??o tem se mostrado satisfat?ria, mas pode apresentar restri??es por quest?es t?cnicas ou operacionais. Assim, pode existir defici?ncia nas informa??es produzidas pela inspe??o visual e pela instrumenta??o. A Geof?sica disp?e de m?todos consolidados, n?o invasivos, n?o destrutivos, e de baixo custo, com forte potencial para atuar auxiliando a instrumenta??o convencional, podendo, no caso de inexist?ncia ou falha geral desta, fornecer informa??es mais completas e relevantes que a inspe??o visual. Para fundamentar essas afirma??es, foram realizadas aquisi??es geof?sicas de Resistividade El?trica, Georadar (GPR), S?smica de refra??o, e Refraction Microtremor (ReMi) no dique da barragem de Sant Lloren? de Montgai, localizada na prov?ncia de Lleida, a 145 Km de Barcelona Catalunha. Os resultados obtidos confirmaram que os m?todos geof?sicos utilizados respondem individualmente de forma satisfat?ria ?s condi??es construtivas do dique de terra, ?s anomalias presentes, e ? geologia encontrada (aluvi?o, rochas carbon?ticas e evapor?ticas). Pode se afirmar ainda que esses m?todos, quando utilizados de forma integrada, s?o capazes de diminuir as ambiguidades nas interpreta??es individuais e permitem o imageamento satisfat?rio do interior do dique e das principais fei??es geol?gicas e dessa forma inspecionar o maci?o e sua funda??o. Dessa forma, os resultados apresentados por essa pesquisa demonstram que os m?todos geof?sicos constituem uma importante ferramenta que pode ser utilizada na verifica??o das condi??es do maci?o de uma barragem de terra

Les structures en béton armé ou en bois se dégradent sous des actions mécaniques et climatiques. Les propriétés physiques et mécaniques de ces matériaux sont liées aux conditions d'exposition et à leurs variations. L’évaluation non destructive de ces propriétés en amont des dégradations est une nécessité pour les maîtres d'ouvrages afin de prédire la durée de vie des structures dans un contexte de gestion durable du patrimoine bâti. La présence d’eau dans les pores du béton est un facteur qui facilite la pénétration des agents agressifs (dioxyde de carbone, chlorures, etc. responsables de l’initiation de pathologies comme la corrosion des aciers). Pour le cas du matériau bois, les causes les plus fréquentes des détériorations sont souvent d’origine biologiques (champignons et insectes). L’humidité est également reconnue comme une des conditions les plus importantes pour le développement de ces attaques. Il est donc nécessaire d’évaluer et de quantifier la variation spatiale de l’humidité dans ces matériaux de construction pour limiter les actions de réparation. Le système radar (Ground Penetrating Radar, « GPR ») est un outil d’auscultation des matériaux totalement non destructif, rapide, compact et sans contact. Cette technique est basée sur la propagation des ondes électromagnétiques. Cette propagation est fortement liée à la permittivité et la conductivité du matériau qui sont très sensibles aux variations de l’humidité. L’objectif de cette thèse est double : d’une part, modéliser l’effet des variations de l’humidité dans un matériau homogène, multi-couches ou avec gradient, et d’autre part, de quantifier expérimentalement l’effet d’un gradient d’humidité sur le béton et celui de l’anisotropie sur le bois. Pour cela, un modèle analytique a été développé en se basant sur la notion des lois de mélange (ajustées sur des mesures expérimentales de la permittivité en prenant en compte l’effet de la dispersion fréquentielle) et sur la propagation d’une onde plane. Une simulation numérique a permis d’apprécier l’effet d’un gradient et d’un milieu anisotropique sur la vitesse de propagation des ondes radar. La phase expérimentale a été effectuée sur un matériau modèle homogène et isotrope comme le sable pour comparer les différentes méthodes de mesure de la vitesse de l’onde directe. Une analyse fréquentielle de l’atténuation a été également étudiée pour évaluer la dispersion de l’atténuation dans un milieu considéré comme homogène. La deuxième partie de l’expérimentation a consisté à suivre par mesures radar le séchage d’une dalle en béton instrumentée par capteurs d’humidité. Enfin, une campagne expérimentale sur des échantillons en bois de deux essences (Pin et Epicéa) soumis à des humidités variables entre 0 et 50% a été menée. La phase de modélisation et de simulation a montré que la dispersion fréquentielle est significative seulement dans le cas d’un béton humide à forte salinité et que l’anisotropie et le gradient ont un effet significatif sur la propagation. La phase expérimentale a montré que dans le cas d’un matériau homogène, la vitesse est indépendante de la distance émetteur-récepteur, et qu’elle est variable dans le cas d’un béton soumis à un gradient d’humidité. Enfin, les essais sur le bois montrent que la partie réelle de sa permittivité est croissante en fonction de l’humidité. Le contraste de permittivité entre direction longitudinale et transversale (tangentielle ou radiale) est négligeable à l’état sec du matériau et commence à être significatif à partir de la saturation des fibres. Cela permet de privilégier la direction longitudinale à la direction transversale pour évaluer l’humidité des structures en bois. / The reinforced concrete or the timber structures are degraded under mechanical and climatic actions. Physical and mechanical properties of these materials are linked to outdoor exposure conditions and their variations. The early non-destructive evaluation of these properties before the initiation of degradations is a need for masters of structures in order to predict the service life of the structures in a context of sustainable management of the built heritage. The presence of water in the pores of the concrete is a factor which facilitates the penetration of aggressive agents (carbon dioxide, chlorides, etc. responsible of the initiation of pathologies such as steel corrosion). In the case of wood material, the most common causes of damage are often of biological origin (fungi and insects). Moisture is also recognized as one of the most important conditions for the development of these attacks. It is therefore necessary to evaluate and quantify the spatial variation of the humidity in the building materials to limit repair actions. The GPR system (Ground Penetrating Radar) is an auscultation tool of materials which is completely non-destructive, fast, compact, and contactless. This technique is based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves. This propagation is strongly linked to the permittivity and the conductivity of the material that are highly sensitive to changes in humidity. The objective of this thesis is twofold: first, modelling the effect of moisture variation in a homogeneous material, multi-layers or with gradient, and secondly, to experimentally quantify the effect of a moisture gradient on the concrete and the effect of the anisotropy (case of wood material). An analytical model has been developed based on the concept of mixing laws (Fitted on experimental measurements of the permittivity by taking into account the effect of the frequency dispersion) and the propagation of a plane wave. A numerical simulation was used to assess the effects of a gradient and the effect of an anisotropic medium on the propagation velocity of the radar waves. The experimental phase was performed on a homogeneous and isotropic model material such as sand to compare different measurement methods of the velocity of the direct wave. A frequency analysis of the attenuation was also examined to evaluate the dispersion of the attenuation in a considered homogeneous medium. The second part of the experiment was to monitor, by radar measurements, the drying of a concrete slab instrumented by humidity sensors. Finally, an experimental campaign on samples of two species of wood (Pine and Spruce) with different moisture content between 0 and 50% was conducted. The modelling and simulations phase has shown that the frequency dispersion is significant only in the case of wet concrete with a high salinity content. The anisotropy and the gradient have a significant effect on the spread. The experimental phase showed that in the case of a homogeneous material, the speed is independent of the offset (distance between transmitter and receiver), and it varies in the case of concrete with a moisture gradient. Finally, tests on the timber indicate that the real part of its permittivity increases as a function of moisture. The contrast between longitudinal and transverse direction (tangential or radial) is negligible in the dry state of the material and begins to be very significant from the fiber saturation point. It indicates that the longitudinal direction, instead of the transverse direction, is more convenient to measure the moisture of wood structures.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] Los esfuerzos que hacen los países, en conjunto con organizaciones mundiales, tales como IWA (por International Water Association), ONU-Agua y OMS (Organización Mundial de la Salud), para mitigar el impacto ambiental en el campo de la hidráulica urbana son considerados de vital importancia. Sin embargo, la escasez de los recursos hídricos en el mundo aumenta diariamente. Esto viene dado por el aumento constante de la demanda en los sectores industrial, agrícola y urbano, provocado por el aumento poblacional y el cambio climático. Los administradores de los sistemas de abastecimiento de agua (WSSs, por sus siglas en inglés, water supply systems) se han visto desafiados a suplir la creciente demanda de los diferentes sectores con la cantidad, calidad y eficiencia necesarios y, a su vez, reducir el desperdicio y el mal uso del recurso. Desde esta perspectiva, las fugas de agua son el mayor problema que enfrentan los administradores de estas empresas de servicios públicos. Las fugas en una red provocan problemas de salud, de escasez, económicos y medioambientales. El uso de técnicas de inspección no destructivas debe favorecer una rápida identificación de problemas, para realizar acciones posteriores de reparación en la red. Este trabajo hace uso del GPR (siglas en inglés de ground penetrating radar) como técnica de inspección no destructiva porque: favorece la exploración del subsuelo sin causar alteraciones al medio, es de fácil aplicación y, además, permite obtener pseudo imágenes del subsuelo. Uno de los objetivos de este documento es identificar y extraer características de una fuga en un WSS mediante imágenes de GPR, con el fin último de recrear las fugas a través de modelos 3D. Se realizaron ensayos de laboratorio bajo condiciones controladas donde se emuló una parcela en la cual se había enterrado una tubería con una pequeño orifico que simula una fuga de agua; tras introducir agua al sistema, se realizaron prospecciones con el GPR. Una vez finalizada la exploración del subsuelo, dado que las imágenes de GPR en bruto obtenidas no son fácilmente interpretables por personal no experto, tales imágenes fueron sometidas a procesamiento de datos que favorezcan su fácil interpretación. Este documento presenta dos metodologías de procesamiento de datos que permiten obtener imágenes a partir de las cuales es posible identificar tanto los componentes del sistema como la fuga y su alcance. Las metodologías de tratamiento de datos aplicadas en este documento son una metodología basada en sistemas multi-agente y el filtro de varianza, metodología basada en parámetros estadísticos de segundo orden. Posteriormente, tras aplicar estas metodologías de procesamiento a las imágenes, se sometieron los resultados a un análisis que facilitase la mejor elección evitando la subjetividad del experto. Bajo este concepto, este documento propone el uso conjunto de técnicas multicriterio. Se utilizó el Proceso de Jerarquía Analítica Difusa (FAHP, por sus siglas en inglés, Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process), que permite ponderar varios criterios de evaluación, con el propósito de mitigar la incertidumbre que caracterizan los juicios de los expertos, en conjunto con el método ELECTRE III para obtener la clasificación final de alternativas, todo esto de la manera más objetiva posible. Los resultados de este documento son satisfactorios, permitiendo obtener amplio conocimiento de las fugas y su interacción con el subsuelo, proporcionando pautas para desarrollar posteriormente metodologías de automatización que permitan localizar, seguir y predecir problemas en los WSSs. / [CA] Els esforços que fan els països en conjunt amb organitzacions mundials, como ara IWA (per International Water Association), ONU-Agua i OMS (per Organització Mundial de la Salut), per a mitigar l'impacte ambiental en el camp de la hidràulica urbana són considerats de vital importància. No obstant això, l'escassetat dels recursos hídrics en el món augmenta diàriament, donat per l'augment constant de la demanda en els sectors industrial, agrícola i urbà, provocat per l'augment poblacional i el canvi climàtic. Els administradors dels sistemes d'abastiment d'aigua (WSSs, per les seus sigles en anglès, water supply systems) s'han vist desafiats a suplir la creixent demanda dels diferents sectors amb la quantitat, qualitat i eficiència necessaris i, al seu torn, reduir el desaprofitament i el mal ús del recurs. Enfocant aquesta perspectiva, les pèrdues d'aigua són el problema més gran fet front pels directors d'aquestes utilitats. Les pèrdues d'aigua en una xarxa provoquen problemes de salut, d'escassetat, econòmics i mediambientals. L'ús de tècniques d'inspecció no destructives que afavoreixen una ràpida identificació per a realitzar accions de reparació posteriors en la xarxa. Aquest treball fa ús del GPR (sigles en anglès per ground penetrating radar) com a tècnica d'inspecció no destructiva perquè afavoreix l'exploració del subsol sense causar alteracions al entorn, és de fàcil aplicació i a més permet obtenir pseudo imatges del subsol. Un dels objectius d'aquest document és identificar i extraure característiques d'una pèrdua en un WSS mitjançant imatges de GPR, amb la fi última de recrear les pèrdues a través de models 3D. Es van realitzar assajos de laboratori sota condicions controlades on es va emular una parcel¿la en la qual s'ha enterrat una canonada amb una xicotet forat que simula una pèrdua d'aigua; després d'introduir aigua al sistema, s'obtenen prospeccions amb el GPR. Una vegada finalitzada l'exploració del subsol, atès que les imatges de GPR en brut obtingudes no són fàcilment interpretables per personal no expert, són sotmeses a processament de dades que afavorisquen la seua fàcil interpretació. Aquest document presenta dues metodologies de processament de dades que permeten obtenir imatges de les quals és possible identificar tant els components del sistema com la pèrdua i el seu abast. Les metodologies de tractament de dades aplicades en aquest document són una metodologia basada en multi-agents (MABS, per les seves sigles en anglès, multi-agent-based systems) i el filtre de variància, metodologia basada en paràmetres estadístics de segon ordre. Posteriorment, després d'aplicar aquestes metodologies de processament a les imatges se sotmeten els resultats a una anàlisi que faciliti la millor elecció evitant la subjectivitat de l'expert. Sota aquest concepte, aquest document proposa l'ús conjunt de tècniques de decisió multi-criteri (MCDM, per les seves sigles en anglès, multi-criteria decision-making). Es va utilitzar el Procés de Jerarquia Analítica Difusa (FAHP, per les seves sigles en anglès, Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process) el qual s'utilitza per a ponderar diversos criteris d'avaluació, amb el propòsit de mitigar la incertesa que caracteritzen els judicis dels experts, en conjunt amb el mètode ELECTRE III, per a obtenir la classificació final d'alternatives, tot això de la manera més objectiva possible. Els resultats d'aquest document són satisfactoris, permetent obtenir ampli coneixement de les pèrdues d'aigua i la seua interacció amb el subsol, donant-nos la pauta per a desenvolupar posteriorment metodologies d'automatització que permeten localitzar, seguir i predir problemes en els WSSs. / [EN] The efforts made by the countries in collaboration with world organizations, such as IWA (for International Water Association), UN-Water and WHO (for World Health Organization), to mitigate the environmental impact in the field of urban hydraulics are considered of vital importance. However, the scarcity of water resources in the world increases daily, given by the constant increase in demand in the industrial, agricultural and urban sectors, caused by the population increase and the climate change. Managers of water supply systems (WSSs) are challenged to supply the growing demand of different sectors with sufficient quantity, quality and efficiency and, in turn, reduce waste and misuse of the resource. Focusing this perspective, water leaks are the biggest problem faced by the managers of these utilities. Leaks in a network cause health, shortage, economic and environmental problems. The use of non-destructive inspection techniques favors rapid identification to carry out subsequent repair actions on the network. This work makes use of the GPR (ground penetrating radar) as a non-destructive inspection technique because: it favors the exploration of the ground without causing alterations to the environment, it is easy to apply, and also allows to obtain pseudo images of the subsoil. This document presents two data processing methodologies that allow obtaining images from which it is possible to identify both the system components and the leak and its scope. The data treatment methodologies applied in this document are a multi-agent-based system (MABS) methodology and the variance filter, a methodology based on second-order statistical parameters. Subsequently, after applying these processing methodologies to the images, the results are subjected to an analysis that eases the best choice, avoiding expert's subjectivity. Under this concept, this document proposes the joint use of two multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. The Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) is used first to weight various evaluation criteria, in order to mitigate the uncertainty that characterize the experts' judgments, in conjunction with the ELECTRE III method, to obtain the final classification of alternatives in the most objective way. The results of this document are satisfactory, allowing to obtain extensive knowledge of leaks and their interaction with the subsoil, giving a guideline to subsequently develop automation methodologies that allow locating, monitoring and predicting problems in WSSs. / Part of this work has been developed under the support of Fundación Carolina PhD and short-term scholarship program / Ocaña Levario, SJ. (2021). Análisis, caracterización y modelación 3D de fugas de agua en sistemas de abastecimiento de agua mediante imágenes de GPR [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/163677 / Compendio

O objetivo desta pesquisa é esclarecer as várias possibilidades de chegar a um modo mais natural e equilibrado de tocar o violoncelo. Inicialmente, o panorama geral da pedagogia e técnica violoncelística foi analisado com a finalidade de determinar conclusões e opiniões a respeito de recursos pedagógicos atuais, somados aos conhecimentos próprios do autor. Em seguida, houve uma pesquisa bibliográfica e dos meios eletrônicos sobre seis técnicas de reeducação corporal, sendo que, em média, dez aulas particulares para cada técnica foram realizadas pelo autor. Foram também analisadas informações sobre o aumento da ocorrência de danos físicos no meio musical, bem como sobre o corpo dos atletas e seus cuidados. Todas as informações colhidas serviram de base para uma discussão, visando à construção e a elaboração de uma proposta de uma nova pedagogia para os violoncelistas, buscando um funcionamento mais natural do corpo e auxiliando no combate das posturas viciosas, a fim de evitar danos físicos futuros aos executantes deste instrumento. / The object of this work is to suggest various possibilities to arrive at a more natural and balanced mode of playing the violoncello. Initially, the general panorama of violoncello pedagogy and technique was analyzed in order to determine conclusions and opinions with regard to pedagogical resources today, together with the personal knowledge of the author. Next, six methods of corporal reeducation were researched, through bibliographic and electronic means, with the author participating in an average of ten private lessons in each technique. Information with regard to the increasing occurrence of physical injuries in the musical class was also analyzed, as well as that pertaining to athletes bodies and their care. All information garnered served as the basis for a discussion aimed at the construction and elaboration of a proposal of a new violoncello pedagogy that strives for a more natural functioning of the body and helps combat detrimental postures, so that future injuries to violoncellists may be avoided.

In heavily settled areas, deformations induced by the tunnel excavation may cause serious damage to nearby structures. In this study it is aimed to model ground deformations induced by main tunnels and connection tunnels excavations as well as groundwater drainage. Therefore, it is necessary to study effective means of controlling tunnel induced deformations. The main parameters affecting the failure and deformation state of the soil around a circular underground opening are the physical characteristics of the soil, the diameter of the opening, and the support pressure. During the construction stage of Necatibey Station of Kizilay&Ccedil / ayyolu metro line (Ankara, Turkey), challenging ground conditions involving highly heterogeneous and locally water saturated foundation soils have been encountered. Possibility of damage at the surface and/or on the underground structures can be estimated using finite difference method (FDM) of analysis. In this study, two geophysical methods namely Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) were utilized to distinguish soil types at the study area. By correlating these geophysical survey results with the boring v logs, 3-Dimensional soil profile was revealed at the study area to build up a basis for numerical models. 3-Dimensional (3D) FDM analyses were conducted to assess tunneling induced deformations, along with movements around shallow soft ground main tunnels and connection tunnels. During sequential excavations, temporary and permanent shotcrete lining was also simulated. The soil behavior is assumed to be governed by an elastic-perfectly plastic constitutive relation based on the Mohr&ndash / Coulomb criterion. The computed deformations around these openings have been compared with the in-situ measurements. The results of the study revealed that the 3-D elasto-plastic analyses yield comparably good correlation with the in-situ measurements. Also, in this study, the effects of main tunnels excavations on each other and the effects of connection tunnels excavations on main tunnels were identified in terms of ground deformations. In order to simulate induced surface settlement due to groundwater withdrawal at the site 3-D fully coupled (fluidmechanical) numerical models were run using different time durations. The model studies revealed that deformations monitored at the ground surface are directly related with the tunnel construction practice. Pumping groundwater has very little or no effect on the measured deformations.

This thesis examines the utility of the Rényi entropy (RE), a measure of the complexity of probability density functions, as a tool for finding physically meaningful patterns in geophysical data. Initially, the RE is applied to observational data of long-lived atmospheric tracers in order to analyse the dynamics of stratospheric transitions regions associated with barriers to horizontal mixing. Its wider applicability is investigated by testing the RE as a method for highlighting internal boundaries in snow and ice from ground penetrating radar (GPR) recordings. High-resolution 500 MHz GPR soundings of dry snow were acquired at several sites near Scott Base, Antarctica, in 2008 and 2009, with the aim of using the RE to facilitate the identification and tracking of subsurface layers to extrapolate point measurements of accumulation from snow pits and firn cores to larger areas. The atmospheric analysis focuses on applying the RE to observational tracer data from the EOS-MLS satellite instrument. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is shown to exhibit subtropical RE maxima in both hemispheres. These peaks are a measure of the tracer gradients that mark the transition between the tropics and the mid-latitudes in the stratosphere, also referred to as the edges of the tropical pipe. The RE maxima are shown to be located closer to the equator in winter than in summer. This agrees well with the expected behaviour of the tropical pipe edges and is similar to results reported by other studies. Compared to other stratospheric mixing metrics, the RE has the advantage that it is easy to calculate as it does not, for example, require conversion to equivalent latitude and does not rely on dynamical information such as wind fields. The RE analysis also reveals occasional sudden poleward shifts of the southern hemisphere tropical pipe edge during austral winter which are accompanied by increased mid-latitude N2O levels. These events are investigated in more detail by creating daily high-resolution N2O maps using a two-dimensional trajectory model and MERRA reanalysis winds to advect N2O observations forwards and backwards in time on isentropic surfaces. With the aid of this ‘domain filling’ technique it is illustrated that the increase in southern hemisphere mid-latitude N2O during austral winter is probably the result of the cumulative effect of several large-scale, episodic leaks of N2O-rich air from the tropical pipe. A comparison with the global distribution of potential vorticity strongly suggests that irreversible mixing related to planetary wave breaking is the cause of the leak events. Between 2004 and 2011 the large-scale leaks are shown to occur approximately every second year and a connection to the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation is found to be likely, though this cannot be established conclusively due to the relatively short data set. Identification and tracking of subsurface boundaries, such as ice layers in snow or the bedrock of a glacier, is the focus of the cryospheric part of this project. The utility of the RE for detecting amplitude gradients associated with reflections in GPR recordings is initially tested on a 25 MHz sounding of an Antarctic glacier. The results show distinct regions of increased RE values that allow identification of the glacial bedrock along large parts of the profile. Due to the low computational requirements, the RE is found to be an effective pseudo gain function for initial analysis of GPR data in the field. While other gain functions often have to be tuned to give a good contrast between reflections and background noise over the whole vertical range of a profile, the RE tends to assign all detectable amplitude gradients a similar (high) value, resulting in a clear contrast between reflections and background scattering. Additionally, theoretical considerations allow the definition of a ‘standard’ data window size with which the RE can be applied to recordings made by most pulsed GPR systems and centre frequencies. This is confirmed by tests with higher frequency recordings (50 and 500 MHz) acquired on the McMurdo Ice Shelf. However, these also reveal that the RE processing is less reliable for identifying more closely spaced reflections from internal layers in dry snow. In order to complete the intended high-resolution analysis of accumulation patterns by tracking internal snow layers in the 500 MHz data from two test sites, a different processing approach is developed. Using an estimate of the emitted waveform from direct measurement, deterministic deconvolution via the Fourier domain is applied to the high-resolution GPR data. This reveals unambiguous reflection horizons which can be observed in repeat measurements made one year apart. Point measurements of average accumulation from snow pits and firn cores are extrapolated to larger areas by identifying and tracking a dateable dust layer horizon in the radargrams. Furthermore, it is shown that annual compaction rates of snow can be estimated by tracking several internal reflection horizons along the deconvolved radar profiles and calculating the average change in separation of horizon pairs from one year to the next. The technique is complementary to point measurements from other studies and the derived compaction rates agree well with published values and theoretical estimates.

Inadequate financial allocation for road maintenance is a threat to the impaired rural highways in Atlantic Canada. The conventional means of pavement rehabilitation has been to place a hot mix asphalt concrete overlay on the existing worn out pavement which is only a short term adjustment. The purpose is to provide a smooth wearing surface at a low cost. This traditional way of pavement repair does not fix the damage embedded within the pavement structure. After a certain extent of time the cracks in the original pavement start to reflect to the smooth new wearing surface, causing deterioration on the overlay. The advanced approach which is becoming more popular is the application of Full Depth Reclamation (FDR). This technique helps to repair the extensively defective roads by pulverizing the flexible pavement along with a fraction of the underlying damaged base layer. Thus a damage free base layer can be obtained by stabilizing and recompacting the pulverized materials. FDR is a sustainable and an environmentally beneficial repair method as it re-uses the in-situ materials. FDR process has been used around the world for over 25 years yet confronts some difficulties regarding the fluctuation in the strength of materials in various projects. It is inferred that some of these difficulties are due to the variability and poor quality in the restored materials. The variability in the recycled base layer is a result of currently utilizing a retroactive depth control method to attain a specific blend of asphalt concrete to granular base for the pulverized materials. Two FDR projects applying two different pulverization control methods (conventional retroactive and GPR depth control methods) were analyzed to investigate the improvements in consistency of the restored materials by using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). A wide range of asphalt concrete/base layer blend ratio was detected in retroactive control section, while consistent blend ratio was maintained in GPR survey by mapping the variability in the depth of pavement and sub-dividing the test sections accordingly. A GPR controlled constant blend ratio during pulverization displayed improvements in consistency of materials, physical and mechanical properties and performance as anticipated. The materials obtained by using the conventional retroactive depth control method exhibited higher variability in grain size distribution, optimum moisture content, optimum density, California Bearing Ratio, resilient modulus and shear strength. All materials from both projects exhibited excessive air voids and inadequate fines content as the as-obtained particles acted as conglomerated particles and enough fines were not generated after the pulverization. It is recommended that efficient quality control, precise specifications and appropriate pulverization methods will provide more reliable and impressive FDR pavements. / This thesis contains research on unstabilized full depth reclaimed aggregates properties

O objetivo desta pesquisa é esclarecer as várias possibilidades de chegar a um modo mais natural e equilibrado de tocar o violoncelo. Inicialmente, o panorama geral da pedagogia e técnica violoncelística foi analisado com a finalidade de determinar conclusões e opiniões a respeito de recursos pedagógicos atuais, somados aos conhecimentos próprios do autor. Em seguida, houve uma pesquisa bibliográfica e dos meios eletrônicos sobre seis técnicas de reeducação corporal, sendo que, em média, dez aulas particulares para cada técnica foram realizadas pelo autor. Foram também analisadas informações sobre o aumento da ocorrência de danos físicos no meio musical, bem como sobre o corpo dos atletas e seus cuidados. Todas as informações colhidas serviram de base para uma discussão, visando à construção e a elaboração de uma proposta de uma nova pedagogia para os violoncelistas, buscando um funcionamento mais natural do corpo e auxiliando no combate das posturas viciosas, a fim de evitar danos físicos futuros aos executantes deste instrumento. / The object of this work is to suggest various possibilities to arrive at a more natural and balanced mode of playing the violoncello. Initially, the general panorama of violoncello pedagogy and technique was analyzed in order to determine conclusions and opinions with regard to pedagogical resources today, together with the personal knowledge of the author. Next, six methods of corporal reeducation were researched, through bibliographic and electronic means, with the author participating in an average of ten private lessons in each technique. Information with regard to the increasing occurrence of physical injuries in the musical class was also analyzed, as well as that pertaining to athletes bodies and their care. All information garnered served as the basis for a discussion aimed at the construction and elaboration of a proposal of a new violoncello pedagogy that strives for a more natural functioning of the body and helps combat detrimental postures, so that future injuries to violoncellists may be avoided.

Communicating science in three-dimensional (3D) multimedia is an immersive and interactive way to explore scientific processes (Signals and Communication Technology, 2019). Geovisualization is an emerging 3D multimedia method for visual analysis, synthesis, and presentation of geospatial, geologic, and geophysical data (MacEachren & Kraak, 2001). There is an identified need to develop scientific communication tools to further understand boreal peatland evolution, hydrogeology, ecology, and geochemistry (Bubier et al., 2003) since the International Union of Conservation of Nature asserts that peatlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, critical for preserving global biodiversity, providing drinking water, minimising flood risk, preventing wildfire, and mitigating climate change (Hama et al., 2000). The intention of this thesis is to communicate a novel approach to geovisualize boreal peatland architecture using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). GPR and LiDAR have been used to create 3D subsurface geovisualizations for archaeology (Kenady et al., 2018; Schultz & Martin, 2011) and resource geology (Corradini et al., 2020; Koyan & Tronicke, 2020) although application to peatland hydrogeology is uncommon. Point-source hydrogeological and geochemical data were integrated with 3D geological models to estimate carbon and nitrogen storage in an archetypal boreal peatland near Mariana Lakes, Alberta. Peatland geometry resembled a shallow lake basin with depths greatest in fens (>10 m) and thinnest in bogs (<2 m). Hydraulic conductivity was only a few meters per year and vertical groundwater movement was limited. Sequestered carbon and nutrients increased with depth. The average concentration of dissolved ammonium was 3 grams per cubic metre of peat (g/m3), 5g/m3of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, 60g/m3 of dissolved organic carbon and 200g/m3 of dissolved inorganic carbon. Tritium detection from atmospheric atomic weapons radionuclide fallout revealed that in deeper anaerobic peat (catotelm), tritium was absent, signifying groundwater was older than 50 years and not mixed with meteoric waters. Fen catotelm channels are likely acting as gravity-driven hydraulic traps (Tóth, 1999). / Graduate

This work focuses on scientific area called Music Information Retrieval, more precisely it’s subdivision focusing on the recognition of emotions in music called Music Emotion Recognition. The beginning of the work deals with general overview and definition of MER, categorization of individual methods and offers a comprehensive view of this discipline. The thesis also concentrates on the selection and description of suitable parameters for the recognition of emotions, using tools openSMILE and MIRtoolbox. A freely available DEAM database was used to obtain the set of music recordings and their subjective emotional annotations. The practical part deals with the design of a static dimensional regression evaluation system for numerical prediction of musical emotions in music recordings, more precisely their position in the AV emotional space. The thesis publishes and comments on the results obtained by individual analysis of the significance of individual parameters and for the overall analysis of the prediction of the proposed model.