Syftet med studien var att undersöka hinder för återbruk av håldäckselement i den svenska byggsektorn. Studien identifierar flera kritiska utmaningar. Dessa inkluderar ekonomiska hinder, regelverk och standarder, samt branschens acceptans och medvetenhet om återbruk. En av huvudpunkterna är bristen på incitament för återbruk på grund av relativt låga kostnader för avfallshantering jämfört med återbruk. En annan brist som leder till högre kostnader är att demontera och bearbeta återanvänt material. Nuvarande regelverk och standarder främjar inte heller återbruk i tillräcklig grad, där nyproduktion ofta ses som det enklare och billigare alternativet. Slutsatserna av studien understryker behovet av tydligare politiska styrmedel och incitament för att öka återbruket av byggmaterial. / The purpose of the study was to examine barriers to the reuse of hollow core slabs in the Swedish construction sector. The study identifies several critical challenges. These include economic barriers, regulations and standards, as well as the industry's acceptance and awareness of reuse.  One of the main points is the lack of incentives for reuse due to relatively low waste management costs compared to reuse. Another shortfall leading to higher costs is the disassembly and processing of reused materials. Current regulations and standards also do not sufficiently promote reuse, where new production is often seen as the simpler and cheaper alternative.  The conclusions of the study emphasize the need for clearer political directives and incentives to increase the reuse of building materials.

The shear capacity of headed studs in precast concrete hollow-core slab construction has been determined experimentally in 12 full-scale push-off tests. The tests were used to study the effects of the size of the gap between the ends of the precast slabs, and the amount of tie steel placed transversely across the joint, and the strength of concrete infill. Under certain situations the capacity of the stud is reduced compared with that in a solid reinforced concrete slab. Maximum resistances are compared with the predictions of BS 5950 and EC4, and a reduction formula for the precast effect is derived.

[EN] Several efforts have been made in experimental and theoretical research about shear to understand all the variables that influence the phenomenon. Nowadays, however, due to its complexity, the shear performance of structural concrete elements, especially those without any traditional transversal reinforcement, continue with no clear explanation of the problem. Uncertainty about the problem grows when new variables like fibres are incorporated into the shear study. Research works have demonstrated the effectiveness of steel fibre in improving the mechanical properties of concrete elements. Experimental results reveal that steel fibres have proven effective in improving shear resistance, and they confer some concrete elements more ductility. In adequate amounts, steel fibres can completely or partially substitute traditional shear reinforcements. This is why international codes have included some requirements to take into account the action of fibres on the shear response of concrete elements. However, most recommendations and requirements for steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) were originally created. New fibres with different materials properties and shapes, such as macrosynthetic fibres, are now available on the market. These fibres, some of which are made of polypropylene, are an alternative in the construction industry given their properties and final cost. Initially, polypropylene fibres were used to control shrinkage cracking. Nevertheless, in the last decade the chemical industry has created larger fibres with better surface shapes, which allows polypropylene fibres to meet the requirements of international codes so they can be used in structural elements. Within this framework, the present PhD thesis aims to contribute to knowledge about fibre reinforced concrete (FRC), especially to study the effectiveness of polypropylene fibres when used as shear reinforcement. For this purpose, a literature review of the material, polypropylene fibre-reinforced concrete (PFRC) and its structural applications is first carried out. This study also discusses the parameters that affect the shear behaviour of traditional concrete and FRC. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of polypropylene fibres in shear, three experimental campaigns are presented. Each campaign represents a different level of study. The first corresponds to the material level, where the shear behaviour of PFRC is evaluated by push-off specimens. The second level involves studying shear in real scale elements. For this purpose, shear critical slender beams were manufactured and tested. The last level corresponds to real application of polypropylene fibres to act as shear reinforcement. In this campaign, deep hollow core slabs, with real sections and supports conditions, were tested. At each level, the shear behaviour of PFRC was evaluated against control reinforced concrete specimens, which were also tested during each campaign. / [ES] Varias investigaciones experimentales y teóricas han sido realizadas para entender el comportamiento a cortante de elementos de hormigón y sus variables. Sin embargo, hoy en día debido a la complejidad del tema, el comportamiento a cortante de elementos de hormigón armado y en especial aquellos que no tienen refuerzo transversal, continúan sin tener una explicación clara. Por otro lado, esta complejidad del cortante aumenta cuando nuevas variables, como las fibras, se incorporan al estudio. Investigaciones han demostrado la efectividad de las fibras de acero para mejorar las propiedades mecánicas de hormigón. Según resultados experimentales, la fibra de acero mejora la resistencia cortante y ductilidad de ciertos elementos. Y en cantidades adecuadas, la fibra puede sustituir total o parcialmente los refuerzos tradicionales de cortante. Es así que varios códigos internacionales han incluido requisitos para tener a las fibras en la respuesta estructural de elementos de hormigón. Sin embargo, estos requerimientos se han creado originalmente para el hormigón reforzado con fibra de acero (Steel fibre-reinforced concrete -SFRC). Nuevas fibras con diferentes materiales y formas, como las fibras macro-sintéticas, han sido introducidas en el mercado. Estas fibras, también llamadas fibras de polipropileno o poliolefina, son una alternativa en la construcción debido a su propiedades y costo final. Inicialmente, las fibras de polipropileno eran usadas únicamente en el hormigón para controlar la fisuración por retracción. Sin embargo, en la última década la industria química ha desarrollado fibras más grandes y con mejores prestaciones de adherencia, que permiten a estas fibras cumplir con requisitos para ser utilizadas estructuralmente. En este contexto, la presente tesis pretende ser una contribución al conocimiento sobre el hormigón reforzado con fibras (Fibre-reinforced concrete - FRC), especialmente en la efectividad de las fibras de polipropileno como refuerzo a cortante. Para esto, primero se realiza un estudio bibliográfico del hormigón reforzado con fibra de polipropileno (PFRC) como material y sus aplicaciones estructurales. Este estudio también tratará sobre los parámetros que afectan el comportamiento a cortante del hormigón tradicional y hormigón reforzado con fibras. Para evaluar la efectividad de las fibras de polipropileno en el cortante, se realizarán tres campañas experimentales. Cada campaña representa un nivel de estudio diferente. El primero es a nivel material en donde se evalúa el comportamiento a cortante a través de especímenes tipo Push-off. El segundo nivel, corresponde al estudio del cortante en elementos a escala real. Para esto se fabrican y ensayan vigas esbeltas críticas a cortante. El último nivel corresponde a una aplicación real de fibras de polipropileno actuando como refuerzo cortante. En esta campaña, se fabrican y ensayan placas alveolares de gran canto con secciones y condiciones de apoyos reales. / [CA] Diverses investigacions experimentals i teòriques han estat realitzades per entendre el comportament a tallant d'elements de formigó i les seues variables. No obstant això, hui en dia a causa de la complexitat del tema, el comportament a tallant d'elements de formigó armat i especialment aquells que no tenen reforç transversal, continuen sense tindre una explicació clara. D'altra banda, aquesta complexitat del tallant augmenta quan noves variables, com les fibres, s'incorporen a l'estudi. Investigacions han demostrat l'efectivitat de les fibres d'acer per a millorar les propietats mecàniques del formigó. Segons resultats experimentals, les fibres d'acer milloren la resistència a tallant i la ductilitat de certs elements. A més, en quantitats adequades, les fibres poden substituir total o parcialment els reforços tradicionals de tallant. És així que diversos codis internacionals han inclòs requisits per a tindre amb compte la resposta estructural de les fibres en els elements de formigó. No obstant això, aquests requeriments s'han creat originalment per al formigó reforçat amb fibres d'acer (Steel fibre-reinforced concrete -SFRC). Noves fibres amb diferents materials i formes, com les fibres macro-sintètiques, han estat introduïdes al mercat. Aquestes fibres, també anomenades fibres de polipropilè o poliolefina, són una alternativa a la construcció a causa de les seues propietats i cost final. Inicialment, les fibres de polipropilè eren usades únicament en el formigó per controlar la fissuració per retracció. No obstant això, en l'última dècada, la industria química ha desenvolupat fibres més grans i amb millors prestacions d'adherència, que permeten a aquestes fibres complir amb requisits per a ser utilitzades estructuralment. En aquest context, la present tesi pretén ser una contribució al coneixement sobre el formigó reforçat amb fibres (Fibre-reinforced concrete - FRC), especialment en l'efectivitat de les fibres de polipropilè com a reforç a tallant. Per això, primer es realitza un estudi bibliogràfic del formigó reforçat amb fibres de polipropilè (PFRC) com a material i les seues plicacions estructurals. Aquest estudi també tractarà sobre els paràmetres que afecten el comportament a tallant del formigó tradicional i del formigó reforçat amb fibres. Per avaluar l'efectivitat de les fibres de polipropilè en el tallant, es realitzaran tres campanyes experimentals. Cada campanya representa un nivell d'estudi diferent. El primer és a nivell material on s'avalua el comportament a tallant a través d'espècimens tipus Push-off. El segon nivell, correspon a l'estudi del tallant en elements a escala real. Per això es fabriquen i assagen bigues esveltes crítiques a tallant. L'últim nivell correspon a una aplicació real de fibres de polipropilè actuant com a reforç a tallant. En aquesta campanya, es fabriquen i assagen plaques alveolars de gran cantell amb seccions i condicions de suports reals. / Ortiz Navas, FR. (2020). Effectiveness of polypropylene fibres as shear reinforcement in structural elements [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/153147

The identification and quantification of atoms, molecules, or ions concentrations in gaseous samples are in great demand for medical, environmental, industrial, law enforcement and national security applications. These applications require in situ, high-resolution, non-destructive, sensitive, miniature, inexpensive, rapid detection, remotely accessed, real time and continuously operating chemical sensing devices. The aim of this work is to design a miniature optical sensing device that is capable of detecting and measuring chemical species, compatible with being integrated into a large variety of monitoring systems, and durable enough to be used under extreme conditions. The miniature optical sensor has been realized by employing technologies from the optical communication industry and spectroscopic methods and techniques. Fused silica capillary tubing along with standard communication optical fibers have been utilized to make miniature gas sensor based on near-infrared spectroscopy for acetylene gas detection. In this work, the basic principles of infrared spectroscopy are reviewed. Also, the principle of operation, fabrication, testing, and analysis of the proposed sensor are discussed in details. / Master of Science

No mercado mundial existe uma visível tendência de tornar as obras mais industrializadas e racionalizadas com o objetivo de reduzir os desperdícios, acelerar a velocidade de execução das obras e garantir maior qualidade às mesmas. A adoção de elementos estruturais com certo grau de industrialização pode trazer benefícios em relação aos custos, à mão de obra, ao tempo de execução e ao impacto ambiental. Neste contexto, as estruturas mistas de aço e concreto satisfazem essa necessidade, pois tanto os elementos de aço quanto os elementos de concreto podem ser pré-fabricados, ficando apenas as etapas de içamento e montagem a serem realizadas na obra, reduzindo o uso de fôrmas e escoramentos. Os pisos mistos de aço e concreto de pequena altura caracterizam-se pelo embutimento da laje de concreto na altura do perfil de aço, sendo a principal vantagem, em relação ao piso misto convencional, a redução da altura total do composto. Portanto, este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento de pisos mistos de aço e concreto de pequena altura com laje alveolar em concreto protendido por meio de ensaios de cisalhamento direto (push-out test) e de flexão. Na solução proposta, a transferência de esforços entre o perfil de aço e a laje alveolar foi feita por meio de conectores tipo pino com cabeça e concreto moldado no local. Os resultados demonstraram-se promissores em termos de comportamento do piso misto de pequena altura, aumentando significativamente a rigidez do sistema em relação à viga de aço isolada. Em complemento, foi desenvolvida uma simulação numérica dos modelos físicos ensaiados utilizando o pacote computacional DIANA®, fundamentado no método dos elementos finitos, na qual o modelo numérico representou adequadamente o comportamento dos pisos mistos de pequena altura, permitindo análises paramétricas. / On the world market, there is a visible tendency to turn buildings construction more industrialized and rationalized in order to reduce waste, accelerate the construction speed and ensure higher quality to them. The adoption of structural elements with a degree of industrialization can bring benefits regarding costs, labor, construction time and environmental impact. In this context, steel and concrete composite structures satisfy this need, since steel and concrete elements can be prefabricated, with only lifting and mounting steps to be performed on site, reducing use of formwork and shoring. A type of slim floor system consists in precast concrete hollow core slabs supported on the lower flange of steel beams. The major advantage of this solution, compared to conventional composite beam, is reducing the overall height of the floor. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the behavior of slim floor with prestressed concrete hollow core slabs through push-out and bending tests. In the proposed solution, the transfer of forces between steel beam and hollow core slabs was made by stud bolts and cast on site concrete. The obtained results proved to be promising in terms of slim floor behavior, significantly increasing the system stiffness regarding the isolated steel beam. In addition, a numerical modeling of the studied slim floor system was developed, using finite element based software DIANA®, in which the numerical model adequately represented the behavior of the composite beam, allowing parametric analysis.

Shear strength of precast/prestressed hollow-core (PHC) slabs subjected to concentrated or line loads, especially near supports, may be critical and usually is the governing criteria in the design. This study presents the second phase of a research program, undergoing at the University of Manitoba, to calibrate the shear equations in the Canadian code for predicting the shear capacity of PHC slabs. This phase includes both experimental and numerical investigations using a finite element analysis (FEA) software package. The length of bearing, void shape and size, level of prestressing and shear span-to-depth ratio were investigated. The experimental results were compared to the predictions of the Canadian, American and European codes. It was concluded that the Canadian code is unduly conservative. However, the special European code for PHC slabs resulted in better and more consistent predictions. The FEA suggested that the adequate prestressing reinforcement ratio to obtain highest shear capacity ranges between 0.7% and 1.1%.

Shear strength of precast/prestressed hollow-core (PHC) slabs subjected to concentrated or line loads, especially near supports, may be critical and usually is the governing criteria in the design. This study presents the second phase of a research program, undergoing at the University of Manitoba, to calibrate the shear equations in the Canadian code for predicting the shear capacity of PHC slabs. This phase includes both experimental and numerical investigations using a finite element analysis (FEA) software package. The length of bearing, void shape and size, level of prestressing and shear span-to-depth ratio were investigated. The experimental results were compared to the predictions of the Canadian, American and European codes. It was concluded that the Canadian code is unduly conservative. However, the special European code for PHC slabs resulted in better and more consistent predictions. The FEA suggested that the adequate prestressing reinforcement ratio to obtain highest shear capacity ranges between 0.7% and 1.1%.

No mercado mundial existe uma visível tendência de tornar as obras mais industrializadas e racionalizadas com o objetivo de reduzir os desperdícios, acelerar a velocidade de execução das obras e garantir maior qualidade às mesmas. A adoção de elementos estruturais com certo grau de industrialização pode trazer benefícios em relação aos custos, à mão de obra, ao tempo de execução e ao impacto ambiental. Neste contexto, as estruturas mistas de aço e concreto satisfazem essa necessidade, pois tanto os elementos de aço quanto os elementos de concreto podem ser pré-fabricados, ficando apenas as etapas de içamento e montagem a serem realizadas na obra, reduzindo o uso de fôrmas e escoramentos. Os pisos mistos de aço e concreto de pequena altura caracterizam-se pelo embutimento da laje de concreto na altura do perfil de aço, sendo a principal vantagem, em relação ao piso misto convencional, a redução da altura total do composto. Portanto, este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento de pisos mistos de aço e concreto de pequena altura com laje alveolar em concreto protendido por meio de ensaios de cisalhamento direto (push-out test) e de flexão. Na solução proposta, a transferência de esforços entre o perfil de aço e a laje alveolar foi feita por meio de conectores tipo pino com cabeça e concreto moldado no local. Os resultados demonstraram-se promissores em termos de comportamento do piso misto de pequena altura, aumentando significativamente a rigidez do sistema em relação à viga de aço isolada. Em complemento, foi desenvolvida uma simulação numérica dos modelos físicos ensaiados utilizando o pacote computacional DIANA®, fundamentado no método dos elementos finitos, na qual o modelo numérico representou adequadamente o comportamento dos pisos mistos de pequena altura, permitindo análises paramétricas. / On the world market, there is a visible tendency to turn buildings construction more industrialized and rationalized in order to reduce waste, accelerate the construction speed and ensure higher quality to them. The adoption of structural elements with a degree of industrialization can bring benefits regarding costs, labor, construction time and environmental impact. In this context, steel and concrete composite structures satisfy this need, since steel and concrete elements can be prefabricated, with only lifting and mounting steps to be performed on site, reducing use of formwork and shoring. A type of slim floor system consists in precast concrete hollow core slabs supported on the lower flange of steel beams. The major advantage of this solution, compared to conventional composite beam, is reducing the overall height of the floor. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the behavior of slim floor with prestressed concrete hollow core slabs through push-out and bending tests. In the proposed solution, the transfer of forces between steel beam and hollow core slabs was made by stud bolts and cast on site concrete. The obtained results proved to be promising in terms of slim floor behavior, significantly increasing the system stiffness regarding the isolated steel beam. In addition, a numerical modeling of the studied slim floor system was developed, using finite element based software DIANA®, in which the numerical model adequately represented the behavior of the composite beam, allowing parametric analysis.

Les lasers à fibre de haute puissance constituent depuis une dizaine d’année un outil pertinent pour un nombre croissant d’applications. Dans le cadre d’un contrat CIFRE entre la société Eolite Systems et le laboratoire Xlim (UMR 7252 du CNRS et de l’Université de Limoges), mon projet de thèse a consisté à développer les briques technologiques de futures sources lasers / High-power fiber lasers adress an increasing number of applications since ten years. In the frame of a CIFRE contract between the company Eolite Systems and Xlim (joint laboratory between CNRS and the University of Limoges), the goal of this PhD project was to develop the technological blocs to achieve all-fibre high-power lasers emiting out of the conventional spectral band covered by existing lasers.Modal instabilities in large mode area (LMA) fibers are currently the main limitation of the fiber lasers power scaling. We have experimentally demonstrated the relevance of inner cladding aperiodic structures to efficiently delocalize higher order modes outside the gain region. A systematic study of passive fibers based on such structures has shown the single propagation of the fundamental mode over a wide wavelength range from 1 to 2 µm for dimension of core up to 85 µm. This effective mode delocalization even extends up to a core dimension of 140 µm at a 2 µm wavelength.The combination of high power picosecond fiber laser with an average power of 22.7 W and a hydrogen-filled inhibited coupling Kagome fiber allowed us to generate two Raman combs over five frequency octaves from 321 nm to 12.5 µm. These two combs are controlled by the laser pump polarization and generated an average power of 10.1 W displayed over 70 laser lines for circular pump polarization and 8.6 W over 30 lines for linear polarization. Some laser lines within these combs have been generated for the first time from high-power fiber source in the mid-infrared range. We have also demonstrated the generation of high-power line by optimizing the first vibrational Stokes at 1.8 µm with an average power of 9.3 W and a quantum efficiency of the frequency conversion stage close to 80%.

To achieve structural integrity in precast concrete systems, connections between elements must be capable to transfer both vertical and horizontal loads which puts high demands on single ties. Hollow-core slabs are often used to stabilize the structural system which puts high demands on the connections between the slab and the buildings stabilizing units. Because of this, the connections need to withstand high tensile and shear forces. The purpose of this report is to investigate the tensile capacity of tie-connections used between hollow-core slabs that are parallel with e.g. stabilizing walls and compare with current design methods. Current design methods suggest that tensile failure will occur in the roof and bottom of the cores which provides low design capacities. Two connections are investigated through full scale pull-out tests where the results are compared with the design methods. The results from testing the tensile capacity show that the failure module occurred as suggested. However, the tests show significantly higher capacity than proposed by the design methods. Eurocodes Design assisted by testing are applied to the test result and a new design method is proposed. Both provides design values that are approximately twice as large as the values suggested in previous design methods.