O objetivo desse trabalho é apresentar o desenvolvimento de modelos numéricos baseados no método dos elementos finitos, para investigar o comportamento termoelástico, de um freio a tambor utilizado em veículos pesados. O acoplamento de fenômenos físicos e mecânicos durante o processo de frenagem é uma etapa fundamental para o projeto com foco em confiabilidade. A identificação de falhas potenciais decorrentes dos diferentes processos de frenagens, ainda na fase do projeto preliminar, permite o desenvolvimento de projetos mais robustos, incluindo reduções de tempo e nos custos de ensaios experimentais. Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento e implementação de um modelo computacional baseado no comportamento termoelástico dos principais elementos mecânicos de um freio a tambor envolvidos no processo de frenagem. Foram consideradas três condições principais de análise: estática de corpos rígidos, estática de corpos flexíveis e dinâmica em regime permanente com corpos flexíveis. O objetivo é investigar e estimar valores de pressão de contato, cargas resultantes nos apoios, bem como obter o gradiente de temperatura e tensão devido à carga térmica em regiões de interesse. Essa análise pode melhorar o entendimento dos fenômenos envolvidos nos diferentes processos de frenagens, auxiliando as tomadas de decisões técnicas, principalmente na antecipação de falhas prematuras relacionadas com fadiga térmica e desgaste adesivo. / This work presents the development of a numerical model based on thermoelastic behavior of a drum brake applied to heavy vehicles. The coupling of physics and mechanical phenomena during the braking process represents an important phase in the design vehicle systems. The identification of potential failures during the braking processes, considering the preliminary design phase gives robustness to the design. This characteristic allows reducing the time and cost of experimental set-up. This work presents the development and preliminary results of a numerical model based on thermal-elastic behavior of an automotive drum brake. It was considered three main conditions for the analysis: rigid bodies statics, flexible bodies statics and flexible bodies steady state dynamic analysis. The main objective of this study is investigate and estimate the relationship between the design parameters, as strain, stress as well thermal loads and temperature gradient, in conditions of static and quasi-static steady state regime. The estimative of these parameters to support the technical decisions related to reliability design, mainly to anticipate failures arising to thermal fatigue and adhesive wear.

A síntese e caracterização de sistemas hetero-híbridos gerados a partir da 3,6-bi-2-piridil-1,2,4,5-tetrazina (bptz) e interações com ouro nanoparticulado são abordados nesta tese. O bptz foi estudado por meio de métodos espectroscópicos e teóricos, focalizando principalmente o efeito SERS associado à adsorção em nanopartículas de ouro. O mecanismo de transferência de carga para metais macroscópicos foi transposto para a condição nanoparticulada, envolvendo ligações químicas entre bptz e as nanopartículas. Os complexos estudados possuem fórmula geral [LmRu(µ-bptz)RuLm]Xn, com “L” indicando os ligantes periféricos 5-cloro-1,10-fenantrolina (Clphen) ou 4’-(fenil)-2,2&#8217:6&#8217,2&#8221-terpirdina (ptpy) e “X” os contra-íons. Foram investigadas suas espectroeletroquímicas eletrônica e SERS, e as mudanças de perfil vibracional foram modeladas, incorporando o mecanismo de transferências de carga entre complexo e o ouro, além dos mecanismos ressonantes e eletromagnéticos / The synthesis and investigation of heterohybrid systems encompassing 3,6-bi-2-pyridyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (bptz) and its ruthenium complexes associated with gold nanoparticles are dealt with in this thesis. Bptz was characterized by spectroscopic and theoretical techniques, focusing on its SERS spectra after the adsorption onto nanoparticles. The charge transfer mechanism in the SERS spectra of macroscopic metals was transposed to the nanoparticle condition, assuming the formation of chemical bonds between bptz and the nanoparticles. Complexes of general formula [LmRu(µ--bptz)RuLm]Xn, “L” the peripheric ligants 5-chlorine-1,10-phenantroline or 4’-(phenyl)-2,2&#8217:6&#8217,2&#8221-terpyrdine (ptpy), and “X” counter-ions were also investigated, with special emphasis on their electronic and SERS spectroelectrochemistry. The changes in the vibrational profiles were successfully explained by the occurrence of charge transfer between the adsorbed complex and gold, in addition to the electromagnetic and resonance mechanisms.

La performance des cibles du Laser LMJ est très sensible à l'uniformité de la tache focale du laser. La technique utilisée à ce jour pour éviter les inhomogénéités est de rendre le faisceau partiellement incohérent, ce qui a pour conséquence la fluctuation de points chauds (speckles) au cours du temps, avec un effet de moyenne. De nombreux travaux ont d'ores et déjà été menés concernant l'étude de ces points chauds dans le cadre d'un faisceau unique au plan focal. Dans cette thèse, on s'intéresse à ces points chauds lorsqu'il sont issus de la superposition de faisceaux multiples, et plus particulièrement aux points chauds dans le cas de la configuration du LMJ. On a établi une équation analytique permettant de calculer la taille des points chauds dans le cas d'un speckle généré par des faisceaux multiples. Cette formule est en parfait accord avec les différents résultats obtenus par simulations numériques grâce au code PARAX. On a ainsi pu prédire la taille du grain de speckle LMJ en fonction de différentes configurations LMJ telle qu'une configuration à deux ou trois cônes et pour des choix de polarisations différents. Il en ressort que l'impact de la polarisation est assez faible sur les caractéristiques du speckle LMJ. Toutefois la double polarisation est la plus adaptée aux critères d'uniformité requis pour une bonne interaction laser-plasma. D'autre part on a montré que les grains de speckle LMJ sont de l'ordre de la longueur d'onde.Dans la seconde partie de cette thèse, on a établi les formules des contraste, temps de vie, trajectoires et vitesses des points chauds deux techniques de lissage : Lissage par Dispersion Spectrale Transverse (LDST) et Longitudinal (LDSL). Ces derniers sont respectivement utilisés sur le NIF et prochainement sur le LMJ. On a ainsi montré que quels que soient le nombre de cône et le choix des polarisations faites sur le LMJ, la durée de vie d'un point chaud LMJ est environ de 2 ps et le contraste intégré sur des temps infinis est approximativement de 15%. Les vitesses sont également très faibles (10-6c) et faiblement influencées par le choix des polarisations. / The future French Laser Megajoule (LMJ) is a multiple laser beam facility built to achieve Inertial confinement Fusion (ICF). It is mainly designed for an indirect drive scheme using X-rays conversion. In this scheme, the target in the center of the hohlraum is irradiated and then compressed by the X-rays more uniformly than what it would be in a direct drive schemes. However, a high of uniformity is still needed to reach ignition since the propagation of intense laser beams in an under-critical plasma can generate laser-plasma instabilities (LPI). The control of LPI is of crucial importance for the success of ICF. By breaking both spatial and temporal coherences, the use of optical smoothing techniques, such as smoothing by spectral dispersion (SSD), often dramatically reduces LPI and also ensures the reproducibility of laser conditions from one shot to another. An accurate description of the speckle pattern in the hohlraum is thus of great interest for ICF experiments.We focus our attention on the spatial and then temporal properties of the speckles pattern generated by multiple laser beams. At first, we establish equations for the 3D speckle size based on autocorrelation functions. Numerical simulations of the propagation of multiple laser beams in vacuum are then performed with the PARAX code in configurations where the paraxial approximation can be used. The case of speckle patterns in the LMJ configuration in the zone where all the beams overlap is eventually studied. We show that such speckles have an ellipsoidal shape. Finally, influence of the polarization of the beams on the shape, size and abundance of the speckles is also investigated. In a second part we study the important aspect of temporal smoothing techniques like the movement of the speckles. This work is also triggered by the development of a statistical model that describes the motion of hot spots in order to evaluate the contrast, the trajectory and the velocity of LMJ hot spots. We address these quantities in the case of a speckle pattern generated by multiple laser beams thanks to the autocorrelation function in intensity.

My diploma thesis deals with distribution analysis of car thefts in the town of Liberec and will look at the options of situational crime prevention techniques. In my diploma thesis I have used the concept of hot spots which is able to show higher than average concentrations of car thefts in the study area. The database is relatively unique, provided by the regional police department in Liberec and contains the records of more than a thousand reported car thefts in Liberec between the years 2011-2014. The provided data contains GPS coordinates and thanks to them, it was possible, with relatively high accuracy, to identify hot spots of car thefts in Liberec. The identification of hot spots was possible as spatial statistics were used that enabled concrete calculations of kernel density, which made it possible to identify problem locations. In our chosen hot spots we then undertook our fieldwork, whose main goal was to evaluate the options of utilization strategy CPTED, so as to obtain preventive measures in problem locations. The output of this thesis include hot spot maps of car thefts 2011-2014 and also recommendations for preventive measures, which would be advisable to implement in chosen hot spots. Key words: car thefts, crime mapping, CPTED, hot spot, crime prevention, GIS

<p>Thermal dissipation of mechanical energy from periodic loading in energetic materials (EMs) leads to the creation of areas of intense, localized heating, called hot spots. The impact and shock conditions for the hot spot initiation of solid explosives have been extensively explored, but little work has focused on high-frequency contact loading. In order to design formulations to address unintentional initiation by mitigating heating in polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) and other heterogeneous EMs, the mechanisms of heat generation which lead to the thermal initiation of energetic composites under ultrasonic excitation were explored. Heat generation mechanisms which may lead to unintentional initiation were identified through the diagnostic techniques of second harmonic generation (SHG) of δ-HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) crystals; X-ray phase contrast imaging (PCI) performed at the Argonne National Laboratory Advanced Photon Source; infrared (IR) thermography; and optical microscopy. This work concludes with high-speed mesoscale observations of dense layers of PETN (pentaerythritol tetraniterate), CL-20 (hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane), RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), and HMX which were damaged or driven to decomposition under acoustic insult using the non-intrusive imaging technique of shadowgraphy to detect hot spots within the transparent binder. Recommendations are formed which address binder adhesion, energetic material properties, and particle morphology on the vibration sensitivity of a PBX formulation. </p>

This study’s aim is to reveal statistically significant hot spots and temporal patterns of property crime in the City and County of San Francisco and to also analyse the relationship between property crimes and the environment in which these crimes occur by using Geographic Information System (GIS). Crime pattern theory was used as the framework for the analysis of environmental surroundings and occurrence of crime. This theory indicates that certain places can be crime generators and attractors. The result showed that there are hot spots of crime in the north-eastern part of San Francisco, and that crime in these high-risk areas are intensifying. Then, by visual examination of density maps of property crime and facilities, such as shopping centres, pubs/bars/nightclubs and Bay Area Rapid Transit stations, it is shown that these facilities can explain concentrations of crime in certain areas. Furthermore, this study shows GIS can be a practical tool to utilize when presenting data of crime when used in combination with social theories which focuses on the causes of crime occurrence.

This thesis explores crime hot spots and identifies risk factors of expressive and acquisitive crimes in Toronto, Ontario at the census tract scale using official crime offence data from 2006. Four research objectives motivate this thesis: 1) to understand a number of local spatial cluster detection tests and how they can be applied to inform law enforcement planning and confirmatory research, 2) explore spatial regression techniques and applications in past spatial studies of crime, 3) to examine the influence of social disorganization and non-residential land use on expressive crime at the census tract scale, and 4) integrate social disorganization and routine activity theories to understand the small-area risk factors of acquisitive crimes. Research chapters are thematically linked by an intent to recognize crime as a spatial phenomenon, provide insight into the processes and risk factors associated with crime, and inform efficient and effective law enforcement planning.

This thesis explores crime hot spots and identifies risk factors of expressive and acquisitive crimes in Toronto, Ontario at the census tract scale using official crime offence data from 2006. Four research objectives motivate this thesis: 1) to understand a number of local spatial cluster detection tests and how they can be applied to inform law enforcement planning and confirmatory research, 2) explore spatial regression techniques and applications in past spatial studies of crime, 3) to examine the influence of social disorganization and non-residential land use on expressive crime at the census tract scale, and 4) integrate social disorganization and routine activity theories to understand the small-area risk factors of acquisitive crimes. Research chapters are thematically linked by an intent to recognize crime as a spatial phenomenon, provide insight into the processes and risk factors associated with crime, and inform efficient and effective law enforcement planning.

L’utilisation industrielle ou militaire des explosifs est largement répandue. La sécurité est devenue un axe majeur avec notamment l’ignition involontaire des explosifs composés de HMX lors des impacts à basse vitesse. L’objectif de cette thèse est de contribuer à la compréhension des mécanismes dissipatifs à l’origine des échauffements locaux dans le matériau. Le développement d’un essai aux barres d’Hopkinson a permis de coupler de grandes vitesses de déformations à des pressions élevées pour compléter les données expérimentales. Cet essai a montré un angle de frottement quasiment identique à celui obtenu en quasistatique mais une contrainte de cohésion supérieure d’environ 25 MPa. Ensuite, pour observer les mécanismes pouvant être sources d’échauffement, un essai de compression dans la tranche a été développé avec des observations en temps réel. Celles-ci ont permis de conclure qu’il y a très peu de frottements entre les gros grains et la matrice (l’ensemble des petits grains, du liant et de la porosité). De la plasticité des grains de HMX a pu être observée mais surtout beaucoup d’endommagement dans certaines zones y compris dans la matrice. Une microfissuration très intense de certains grains a été observée. Parallèlement, une représentation numérique biphasique (gros grains de HMX et matrice) de toute la microstructure du matériau a été considérée. Une confrontation entre les observations expérimentales et les simulations a permis de déterminer le seuil de plasticité du HMX. Le comportement de la matrice a été identifié pour prendre en compte l’effet de vitesse et l’endommagement observé. Enfin, les confrontations entre les essais et les simulations de ceux-ci ont montré que les échauffements devraient plutôt se localiser dans la matrice que dans les gros grains de HMX et que le mécanisme le plus probable est le frottement de lèvres de microfissures. / Safety of industrial or military explosives is a major focus to prevent inadvertent ignition due to accidental loading as, for example, low-velocity impact. Our aim is to understand the dissipative mechanisms at work which could heat a pressed HMX-based PBX. A test based on the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bars system is proposed to carry out a dynamic triaxial compression test. This test simultaneously associates a high strain rate and a high pressure. Data have shown almost the same friction angle as during quasi-static experiments, but a higher cohesive stress. Then, A reversed edge-on impact test has been developed. This experiment enables the real-time observation of the deformation mechanisms at the microstructural scale. No relative displacement is observed between the biggest HMX grains and the matrix made of the smallest grains, the binder and the porosity. Plasticity has been observed into some HMX grains as well as damage by microcracking. Meanwhile, a biphasic (HMX grains and matrix) numerical representation of the material microstructure has been considered. A comparison between experimental observations and simulations is used to determine the yield stress of HMX. The behavior of the matrix has been determined to account for the influence of the strain rate and of the damage. Lastly, a comparison between tests and simulations has highlighted (1) that heating should rather be located in the matrix than in the biggest HMX grains and (2) that the most likely heating mechanism is the friction of microcracks lips.

abstract: The Basin and Range province of southwestern USA are composed of different grassland and shrubland ecosystems. Particularly understudied ecosystems in this region are playas, which are ephemerally-flooded wetlands located in topographic low areas of hydrologically-closed dryland catchments. There is not much known about the ecological functioning of playas and the role of playas within desert basins. Even less is known about how global change drivers may affect playas in the future. The main objective of this thesis was to better understand the ecological functioning and the impact of climate change on desert playa wetlands. I collected new data, used existing long-term data, and used simulation modelling techniques to address this objective. I compared playa soils to upland soils and found that playas were hotspots of soil organic carbon and nutrient storage within a desert basin. I also used existing data to analyze the response of above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) to annual precipitation in playas and upland ecosystems. I found that playa ANPP responded in a non-linear concave-down relationship with annual precipitation amount. Playa ANPP peaked in moderately wet years and declined in very wet years, which was most likely due to flooding; whereas, upland ANPP increased linearly with precipitation. I measured soil organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations in a representative subset of playas and measured the biophysical characteristics of the upland catchments associated with each playa. I found that both catchment geomorphology and vegetation cover were correlated to differences in soil organic carbon and nitrogen among playas. These results showed the importance external soil-inputs delivered via surface runon to playas. Finally, I empirically measured groundwater recharge beneath playas and combined these empirical data with modelling data to forecast how playa groundwater recharge may change in the future. I concluded that playas contribute to groundwater recharge in desert aquifers, playa runon is a strong predictor of playa groundwater recharge, and climate change will have a net-positive impact on groundwater recharge beneath playas. Overall, my thesis research increased the understanding of the role of desert playas on the functioning of dryland ecosystems. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Biology 2016