Com a publicação e vigência da norma brasileira de desempenho NBR 15575:2013 amplia-se a necessidade de pesquisas que avaliem os fatores influentes sobre o desempenho dos materiais em função do local em que são empregados, principalmente no caso de materiais cimentícios, uma vez que, além de serem altamente utilizados no país, são severamente danificados por condições de umidade, radiações solares e variações de temperatura. Sendo assim, frente à exposição e função da argamassa de rejuntamento em sistemas de revestimento aderido, o material de preenchimento requer maior atenção principalmente porque o seu desempenho de forma isolada afeta no desempenho do sistema como um todo, seja do ponto de vista estético, de estanqueidade à água ou de segurança ao uso. Dessa forma, objetivando avaliar a influência do intemperismo sobre o desempenho de argamassas de rejuntamento à base de cimento Portland, essa pesquisa desenvolveu um plano experimental com 4 variáveis de influência, quais sejam: fabricante da argamassa (três níveis), cor da argamassa (branco, cinza e preto), tratamento superficial (sem tratamento, dois produtos hidrofugantes de bases diferentes) e tipo de exposição (referência, natural e artificial). A exposição ao intemperismo natural ocorreu na cidade de Porto Alegre durante 252 dias e a exposição artificial foi realizada em simulador ambiental do tipo radiação UVA e umidade por condensação durante 140 dias. Os resultados apontam para degradação física das argamassas do ponto de vista de alteração de cor e aumento da absorção de água das argamassas após intemperismo. A aplicação de produtos de proteção altera a cor das argamassas, sendo que o tratamento à base de metil siliconato de potássio causa manchas desuniformes em argamassas escuras e não apresentou melhorias quanto à absorção de água das argamassas de rejuntamento. O ensaio em câmara de intemperismo não foi capaz de reproduzir as degradações alcançadas no ambiente de Porto Alegre para as argamassas pretas. Por fim, todos fatores controláveis de forma isolada têm efeito significativo sobre as características cor, absorção de água e abrasão. Dessa forma, não é possível eleger uma argamassa que atenda de forma satisfatória a todas as propriedades avaliadas, demonstrando a ausência de requisitos em norma. / Since the Brazilian performance standard NBR 15575:2013 was published and entered into effect, the need for research that assesses the factors that influence the performance of materials as a function of the location where they are employed, has grown, especially in the case of cimenticious materials, given that these are not only frequently employed in the country, but also severely damaged by moisture, solar radiation and temperature variations. Because of the exposure and function of tile grout in coating systems, the filling material requires greater attention, mainly because its isolated performance affects the performance of the system as a whole from an aesthetic, water proofing or safety perspective. This research was therefore developed to evaluate the influence of weathering on the performance of grouts based on Portland cement using an experimental plan with 4 variables of influence, namely: the manufacturer of the grout (three levels), the color of the grout (white, gray and black), the surface treatment (without treatment, two water-repellent products with different bases) and type of exposure (reference, artificial and natural). The natural exposure to weather occurred in the city of Porto Alegre for 252 days and the artificial exposure was performed in an UVA radiation and moisture condensation environmental simulator for 140 days. The results point to the physical degradation of the grout regarding the change of color and an increase in water absorption of the grout after weathering. The application of protection products changes the color of the grouts, with the treatment based on Potassium Methyl Siliconate causing uneven staining in dark grouts without presenting improvements regarding the water absorption of the tile grout. The test in the weathering chamber wasn't able to reproduce the degradation reached in the environment of Porto Alegre for the black grouts. Finally, all controllable factors in isolation had a significant effect on the Color, Water Absorption and Abrasion characteristics. It's therefore not possible to point to a mortar that meets all assessed properties in a satisfactory manner, demonstrating the non-compliance with the requirements in the standard.

The use of self-consolidating grout in reinforced masonry construction provides various advantages such as reduced labor, faster construction, decreased noise pollution and better structural response. This is a relatively new building material however, and little research on self-consolidating grout's structural properties has been conducted. The purpose of this study was to analyze the performance or bond capacity of steel reinforcing bar splices in masonry with self-consolidating grout. Twelve masonry panels approximately 40 in. wide and 32 in. tall consisting of Type S mortar and concrete masonry units grouted with self-consolidating grout and No. 5 steel reinforcing bars were constructed with splice lengths as prescribed by the current design equation and splices that were slightly shorter. Test Group 1 consisted of six reinforced masonry panels with the code required lap length while Test Groups 2 and 3 had splices two and four inches shorter, respectively. The lap-splices were tested in pure tension to determine if they would fully develop the code mandated stress of 125% of the specified yield strength of the reinforcing bars. More samples were tested with the code required development length to verify if the current provision is adequate for design and the other two groups were used to explore if the required capacity could be achieved with shorter splices. All lap-splices developed the minimum required stress, even those with splices shorter than required by the design equation. For masonry with self-consolidating grout containing No. 5 bars in the specific configurations tested, the current design equation was shown to be adequate for calculating development length. Testing indicates that a reduction in required splice length for masonry with self-consolidating grout is possible.

Mestrado Integrado. Engenharia Civil - Especialização em Construções. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2011

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Civil (Especialização em Geotecnia). Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2009

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Civil (Especialização em Construções). Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 2009

Experimental testing of large composite specimens under tension or shear is inherently challenging because the large required gripping force and resulting local stress concentration tend to break specimens near gripping sites, rather than desired gage sections. A method using expansive grout materials has been proposed since the mid 1990’s. However, there has been no well-established design guideline due to lack of understanding of the gripping pressure developed by the expansive grout material. Key properties including the elastic modulus and linear expansion coefficient are difficult to measure because typical grout materials do not consolidate into coherent solid blocks for traditional property measurement. In this study, the elastic modulus and linear expansion coefficient of an expansive grout material have been indirectly measured through a carefully designed cylindrical system. The expansive grout material is let to expand within thick-walled steel pipes with one end capped and the other end free to the atmosphere. An analytical solution has been derived to correlate the hoop strain on the outer surface of the steel pipe (caused by grout expansion in the pipe) to the grout elastic modulus and linear expansion coefficient. By measuring the exterior surface hoop strains of two different steel pipes, the elastic modulus and linear expansion coefficient have been determined using the analytical solution of thick walled cylinders. With these parameters accurately determined, the interface friction coefficient has been estimated through analyzing actual composite specimen tests. Finally, based on the determined parameters and the analytical solution, an improved design procedure has been proposed.

Com a publicação e vigência da norma brasileira de desempenho NBR 15575:2013 amplia-se a necessidade de pesquisas que avaliem os fatores influentes sobre o desempenho dos materiais em função do local em que são empregados, principalmente no caso de materiais cimentícios, uma vez que, além de serem altamente utilizados no país, são severamente danificados por condições de umidade, radiações solares e variações de temperatura. Sendo assim, frente à exposição e função da argamassa de rejuntamento em sistemas de revestimento aderido, o material de preenchimento requer maior atenção principalmente porque o seu desempenho de forma isolada afeta no desempenho do sistema como um todo, seja do ponto de vista estético, de estanqueidade à água ou de segurança ao uso. Dessa forma, objetivando avaliar a influência do intemperismo sobre o desempenho de argamassas de rejuntamento à base de cimento Portland, essa pesquisa desenvolveu um plano experimental com 4 variáveis de influência, quais sejam: fabricante da argamassa (três níveis), cor da argamassa (branco, cinza e preto), tratamento superficial (sem tratamento, dois produtos hidrofugantes de bases diferentes) e tipo de exposição (referência, natural e artificial). A exposição ao intemperismo natural ocorreu na cidade de Porto Alegre durante 252 dias e a exposição artificial foi realizada em simulador ambiental do tipo radiação UVA e umidade por condensação durante 140 dias. Os resultados apontam para degradação física das argamassas do ponto de vista de alteração de cor e aumento da absorção de água das argamassas após intemperismo. A aplicação de produtos de proteção altera a cor das argamassas, sendo que o tratamento à base de metil siliconato de potássio causa manchas desuniformes em argamassas escuras e não apresentou melhorias quanto à absorção de água das argamassas de rejuntamento. O ensaio em câmara de intemperismo não foi capaz de reproduzir as degradações alcançadas no ambiente de Porto Alegre para as argamassas pretas. Por fim, todos fatores controláveis de forma isolada têm efeito significativo sobre as características cor, absorção de água e abrasão. Dessa forma, não é possível eleger uma argamassa que atenda de forma satisfatória a todas as propriedades avaliadas, demonstrando a ausência de requisitos em norma. / Since the Brazilian performance standard NBR 15575:2013 was published and entered into effect, the need for research that assesses the factors that influence the performance of materials as a function of the location where they are employed, has grown, especially in the case of cimenticious materials, given that these are not only frequently employed in the country, but also severely damaged by moisture, solar radiation and temperature variations. Because of the exposure and function of tile grout in coating systems, the filling material requires greater attention, mainly because its isolated performance affects the performance of the system as a whole from an aesthetic, water proofing or safety perspective. This research was therefore developed to evaluate the influence of weathering on the performance of grouts based on Portland cement using an experimental plan with 4 variables of influence, namely: the manufacturer of the grout (three levels), the color of the grout (white, gray and black), the surface treatment (without treatment, two water-repellent products with different bases) and type of exposure (reference, artificial and natural). The natural exposure to weather occurred in the city of Porto Alegre for 252 days and the artificial exposure was performed in an UVA radiation and moisture condensation environmental simulator for 140 days. The results point to the physical degradation of the grout regarding the change of color and an increase in water absorption of the grout after weathering. The application of protection products changes the color of the grouts, with the treatment based on Potassium Methyl Siliconate causing uneven staining in dark grouts without presenting improvements regarding the water absorption of the tile grout. The test in the weathering chamber wasn't able to reproduce the degradation reached in the environment of Porto Alegre for the black grouts. Finally, all controllable factors in isolation had a significant effect on the Color, Water Absorption and Abrasion characteristics. It's therefore not possible to point to a mortar that meets all assessed properties in a satisfactory manner, demonstrating the non-compliance with the requirements in the standard.

Com a publicação e vigência da norma brasileira de desempenho NBR 15575:2013 amplia-se a necessidade de pesquisas que avaliem os fatores influentes sobre o desempenho dos materiais em função do local em que são empregados, principalmente no caso de materiais cimentícios, uma vez que, além de serem altamente utilizados no país, são severamente danificados por condições de umidade, radiações solares e variações de temperatura. Sendo assim, frente à exposição e função da argamassa de rejuntamento em sistemas de revestimento aderido, o material de preenchimento requer maior atenção principalmente porque o seu desempenho de forma isolada afeta no desempenho do sistema como um todo, seja do ponto de vista estético, de estanqueidade à água ou de segurança ao uso. Dessa forma, objetivando avaliar a influência do intemperismo sobre o desempenho de argamassas de rejuntamento à base de cimento Portland, essa pesquisa desenvolveu um plano experimental com 4 variáveis de influência, quais sejam: fabricante da argamassa (três níveis), cor da argamassa (branco, cinza e preto), tratamento superficial (sem tratamento, dois produtos hidrofugantes de bases diferentes) e tipo de exposição (referência, natural e artificial). A exposição ao intemperismo natural ocorreu na cidade de Porto Alegre durante 252 dias e a exposição artificial foi realizada em simulador ambiental do tipo radiação UVA e umidade por condensação durante 140 dias. Os resultados apontam para degradação física das argamassas do ponto de vista de alteração de cor e aumento da absorção de água das argamassas após intemperismo. A aplicação de produtos de proteção altera a cor das argamassas, sendo que o tratamento à base de metil siliconato de potássio causa manchas desuniformes em argamassas escuras e não apresentou melhorias quanto à absorção de água das argamassas de rejuntamento. O ensaio em câmara de intemperismo não foi capaz de reproduzir as degradações alcançadas no ambiente de Porto Alegre para as argamassas pretas. Por fim, todos fatores controláveis de forma isolada têm efeito significativo sobre as características cor, absorção de água e abrasão. Dessa forma, não é possível eleger uma argamassa que atenda de forma satisfatória a todas as propriedades avaliadas, demonstrando a ausência de requisitos em norma. / Since the Brazilian performance standard NBR 15575:2013 was published and entered into effect, the need for research that assesses the factors that influence the performance of materials as a function of the location where they are employed, has grown, especially in the case of cimenticious materials, given that these are not only frequently employed in the country, but also severely damaged by moisture, solar radiation and temperature variations. Because of the exposure and function of tile grout in coating systems, the filling material requires greater attention, mainly because its isolated performance affects the performance of the system as a whole from an aesthetic, water proofing or safety perspective. This research was therefore developed to evaluate the influence of weathering on the performance of grouts based on Portland cement using an experimental plan with 4 variables of influence, namely: the manufacturer of the grout (three levels), the color of the grout (white, gray and black), the surface treatment (without treatment, two water-repellent products with different bases) and type of exposure (reference, artificial and natural). The natural exposure to weather occurred in the city of Porto Alegre for 252 days and the artificial exposure was performed in an UVA radiation and moisture condensation environmental simulator for 140 days. The results point to the physical degradation of the grout regarding the change of color and an increase in water absorption of the grout after weathering. The application of protection products changes the color of the grouts, with the treatment based on Potassium Methyl Siliconate causing uneven staining in dark grouts without presenting improvements regarding the water absorption of the tile grout. The test in the weathering chamber wasn't able to reproduce the degradation reached in the environment of Porto Alegre for the black grouts. Finally, all controllable factors in isolation had a significant effect on the Color, Water Absorption and Abrasion characteristics. It's therefore not possible to point to a mortar that meets all assessed properties in a satisfactory manner, demonstrating the non-compliance with the requirements in the standard.

Post tensioning bridges is an efficient way of construction where segments of a bridge are strung together using small diameter high strength strands. The steel strands are passed through internal and/or external ducts within the concrete segments, jacked to high levels of stress, anchored using steel wedges, and then filled with a corrosion inhibiting filler. A cementitious material called grout has been widely used for over 50 years as this filler. The Federal Highway Administration design and construction manual provides recommendations in the properly filling techniques to ensure the tendons are full of grout. Despite the level of detail the manual provides, several Florida bridges that used this construction technique have seen severe corrosion related failures due to poor grout quality. Oil based products have been developed for the express purpose of reducing the corrosion rate in previously grouted tendons. Utilizing the interstitial spaces in the steel strands, low viscosity fluid is pumped through the strand which can also penetrate the surrounding grout and fill unintentional voids. However, by doing so, there is the concern that the bond strength could be compromised and increase the risk of failure. This study presents the findings of small scale grouted mono-strand tendons which determined the bond effects of defective grout, evaluated the injection capabilities of various penetrants, and determined whether or not the penetrant adversely affects bond after impregnation. No appreciable variation in bond was found.

The expansion of the use of geothermal heat pumps makes the study of their performances a keystone in their development. Several parameters are crucial to design properly a geothermal heat pump. Comparing the theoretical characteristics of a system with the actual ones one the field is part of its understanding.  This Master thesis gives a closer look for determining from filed data two central parameters, the borehole thermal  resistance  and  the  ground  thermal  conductivity,  using  a  newly  developed  technique  called Distributed Thermal Response Testing (DTRT). These calculations are applied to a U-pipe heat exchanger installed  in  a  private  household.  From  these  two  parameters,  it  is  possible  to  estimate  the  thermal conductivity of the filling material inside the borehole and thus estimate its influence on the performances of  the  system.  Three  grouting  material  are  studied  here  and  theoretical  values  are  compared  with experimental value in order to try to get a picture of the inside of the borehole.  This  thesis  provides  a  picture  of  the  actual  thermal  parameters  of  the  studied  borehole,  which  clearly reveals the influence of the grouting material in each layer. It is also noticed that the laboratory value of the grout thermal conductivities varies when comparing with theoretical values or manufacturer data. The lack of understanding of the actual drying state of the grouts inside the borehole may by one reason why.