Uma das tarefas mais desafiadoras do engenheiro na área da Geotecnia é a escolha dos valores de parâmetros geotécnicos obtidos de ensaios de campo ou laboratório e que serão utilizados nos modelos analíticos ou numéricos na fase de projeto de fundações. Diante das incertezas inerentes aos ensaios de SPT e da heterogeneidade de abordagens para a utilização dos valores de NSPT, é proposta neste estudo, a aplicação de um critério estatístico para obtenção de valores de NSPT, a partir da construção de intervalos de confiança de 95% de probabilidade em torno da reta ajustada de regressão linear simples entre a variável aleatória NSPT e a profundidade. Os valores obtidos de NSPT pelo critério aplicado foram utilizados na previsão da capacidade de carga de 19 estacas isoladas a partir da utilização de três métodos semi-empíricos: Aoki-Velloso (1975) com coeficientes alterados por Monteiro (1997), Décourt & Quaresma (1978) alterado pelo método de Décourt (1996) e Método de Alonso (1996). As cargas de ruptura dessas 19 estacas ensaiadas através de Provas de Carga Estática foram obtidas pelos métodos de extrapolação de Van Der Veen (1953) e Décourt (1996) e serviram para comparação e consequente validação do critério estatístico. Adicionalmente, com fulcro no item 6.2.1.2.1 da ABNT NBR 6122:2010 Resistência calculada por método semi-empírico, foram avaliados os fatores de segurança em relação às cargas de projeto, inclusive, também se utilizando da premissa de reconhecimento de regiões representativas, levando em conta o número de ensaios de SPT executados, fato que promove uma diminuição da incerteza dos parâmetros, apontando a um menor fator de segurança. A dissertação enfatiza as vantagens de um adequado tratamento estatístico dos parâmetros geotécnicos, a exemplo da recomendação já existente nas normas internacionais como Eurocódigo e outras. O critério construído permite e encoraja análises e decisões racionais no universo das partes interessadas consumidores, projetistas, fiscais de obras, contratantes e comunidade científica promovendo as discussões de forma mais objetiva e harmoniosa sobre o tema. / One of the most challenging aspects of geotechnical engineering is the selection of soil parameters from field and / or laboratory tests to be used in analytical or numerical models for foundation design. Due to known uncertainties in SPT tests and wide availability of criteria for NSPT interpretation, a proposed procedure is presented based on 95% confidence limits around a trend line defined by simple linear regression analysis expressing the variation of NSPT with depth. The NSPT values obtained by the proposed approach have been used to estimate the pile ultimate capacity of 19 isolated continuous flight auger piles using different semi-empirical methods, such as Aoki and Velloso (1975) with modified coefficients as proposed by Monteiro (1997), Décourt and Quaresma (1978) modified by Décourt (1996) and Alonso (1996). Static load tests of the same 19 piles have been extrapolated by Van Der Veen (1953) and Décourt (1996) methods, as an aid for comparison and validation of the statistical criterion. Additionally, were made with the fulcrum in item 6.2.1.2.1 of ABNT NBR 6122: 2010 - Resistance calculated by semi-empirical method, evaluations of safety factors in relation to load project, also including the premise of recognizing representative regions and taking into account the number of SPT tests, a fact that provides the decreased uncertainty of the parameters, indicating a lower FS. The dissertation emphasizes the advantages of an adequate statistical treatment of the geotechnical data, similar to what is recommended by the Eurocode. Such approach allows and encourages a more rational decision including all interested parties - consumers, designers, inspectors, contractors and scientific community providing more objective and harmonious discussions on this subject.

Uma das tarefas mais desafiadoras do engenheiro na área da Geotecnia é a escolha dos valores de parâmetros geotécnicos obtidos de ensaios de campo ou laboratório e que serão utilizados nos modelos analíticos ou numéricos na fase de projeto de fundações. Diante das incertezas inerentes aos ensaios de SPT e da heterogeneidade de abordagens para a utilização dos valores de NSPT, é proposta neste estudo, a aplicação de um critério estatístico para obtenção de valores de NSPT, a partir da construção de intervalos de confiança de 95% de probabilidade em torno da reta ajustada de regressão linear simples entre a variável aleatória NSPT e a profundidade. Os valores obtidos de NSPT pelo critério aplicado foram utilizados na previsão da capacidade de carga de 19 estacas isoladas a partir da utilização de três métodos semi-empíricos: Aoki-Velloso (1975) com coeficientes alterados por Monteiro (1997), Décourt & Quaresma (1978) alterado pelo método de Décourt (1996) e Método de Alonso (1996). As cargas de ruptura dessas 19 estacas ensaiadas através de Provas de Carga Estática foram obtidas pelos métodos de extrapolação de Van Der Veen (1953) e Décourt (1996) e serviram para comparação e consequente validação do critério estatístico. Adicionalmente, com fulcro no item 6.2.1.2.1 da ABNT NBR 6122:2010 Resistência calculada por método semi-empírico, foram avaliados os fatores de segurança em relação às cargas de projeto, inclusive, também se utilizando da premissa de reconhecimento de regiões representativas, levando em conta o número de ensaios de SPT executados, fato que promove uma diminuição da incerteza dos parâmetros, apontando a um menor fator de segurança. A dissertação enfatiza as vantagens de um adequado tratamento estatístico dos parâmetros geotécnicos, a exemplo da recomendação já existente nas normas internacionais como Eurocódigo e outras. O critério construído permite e encoraja análises e decisões racionais no universo das partes interessadas consumidores, projetistas, fiscais de obras, contratantes e comunidade científica promovendo as discussões de forma mais objetiva e harmoniosa sobre o tema. / One of the most challenging aspects of geotechnical engineering is the selection of soil parameters from field and / or laboratory tests to be used in analytical or numerical models for foundation design. Due to known uncertainties in SPT tests and wide availability of criteria for NSPT interpretation, a proposed procedure is presented based on 95% confidence limits around a trend line defined by simple linear regression analysis expressing the variation of NSPT with depth. The NSPT values obtained by the proposed approach have been used to estimate the pile ultimate capacity of 19 isolated continuous flight auger piles using different semi-empirical methods, such as Aoki and Velloso (1975) with modified coefficients as proposed by Monteiro (1997), Décourt and Quaresma (1978) modified by Décourt (1996) and Alonso (1996). Static load tests of the same 19 piles have been extrapolated by Van Der Veen (1953) and Décourt (1996) methods, as an aid for comparison and validation of the statistical criterion. Additionally, were made with the fulcrum in item 6.2.1.2.1 of ABNT NBR 6122: 2010 - Resistance calculated by semi-empirical method, evaluations of safety factors in relation to load project, also including the premise of recognizing representative regions and taking into account the number of SPT tests, a fact that provides the decreased uncertainty of the parameters, indicating a lower FS. The dissertation emphasizes the advantages of an adequate statistical treatment of the geotechnical data, similar to what is recommended by the Eurocode. Such approach allows and encourages a more rational decision including all interested parties - consumers, designers, inspectors, contractors and scientific community providing more objective and harmonious discussions on this subject.

Das Trag- und Verbundverhalten textiler Bewehrungen wurde in den vergangen Jahren umfassend experimentell untersucht. Die dabei gewonnenen Erkenntnisse stützen sich jedoch fast ausschließlich auf einaxiale Beanspruchungszustände. Grundsätzlich können aus dem Vergleich von Versuchen an Rovings und an textilen Bewehrungsstrukturen Rückschlüsse auf den Einfluss der Quer- und Stützfäden und der verschiedenen Bindungstechniken auf das einaxiale Tragverhalten von Textilbeton getroffen werden. Offen bleibt jedoch, inwieweit sich die gefundenen Gesetzmäßigkeiten auf mehraxiale Beanspruchungssituationen übertragen lassen. Dadurch werden Fragen bezüglich des Tragverhaltens textiler Bewehrungen unter mehraxialen Zugbeanspruchungen aufgeworfen, welche die Motivation für die vorliegende Arbeit liefern. Die hierzu durchgeführten experimentellen Untersuchungen umfassen 84 Einzelversuche und wurden in einem speziell für zweiaxiale Zugbeanspruchungen entwickelten Versuchsaufbau durchgeführt. Als textile Bewehrungen kamen zwei verschiedene Gelegearten aus AR-Glas und Carbon zum Einsatz. Die Ergebnisse konnten die bisher ausschließlich an einaxialen Dehnkörpern gewonnenen Erkenntnisse über das Tragverhalten textiler Bewehrungen grundsätzlich bestätigen. Für den Übergang von Zustand I zum Zustand II konnte eine Abhängigkeit der Erstrissspannung vom Spannungsverhältnis nachgewiesen werden. Die Merkmale der Zustände IIa und IIb zeigen hingegen keine signifikante Abhängigkeit vom Verhältnis aus Längs- und Querzugspannung. Darüber hinaus haben offenbar durch Querzug induzierte bewehrungsparallele Risse keine maßgeblichen Auswirkungen auf das Verbundverhalten der Rovings in Längsrichtung. Eine wesentliche Erkenntnis aus den biaxialen Zugversuchen mit Carbon betrifft den Einfluss der Welligkeit. Es wurde deutlich, dass der Abbau der Welligkeit in beschichteten textilen Bewehrungen hochgradig lastabhängig ist. In zahlreichen Versuchen mit Carbon kam es innerhalb des Zustands IIb zu Delamination, einem bisher in diesem Umfang nicht beobachteten Effekt. Die Erkenntnisse hinsichtlich des Abbaus der Welligkeit wurden im Anschluss auf das Tragverhalten von AR-Glas übertragen und führten zu einer Neubewertung des bei AR-Glas beobachteten Steifigkeitsdefizits im Zustand IIb. Weiterhin wurde der Einfluss der Orientierung der Bewehrung unter einaxialer Beanspruchung an scheibenartigen Probekörpern untersucht. Es zeigte sich, dass die untersuchten Bewehrungen aus AR-Glas hinsichtlich der Tragfähigkeit bei schiefwinkliger Beanspruchung deutlich unempfindlicher reagieren als Bewehrungen aus Carbon. Für die Reduktion der effektiven Faserbruchspannungen wurde ein mathematisches Modell vorgestellt, welches eine getrennte Beschreibung der geometrischen Einflüsse sowie alle sonstigen, die Faserbruchspannung reduzierenden Effekte erlaubt. / The load bearing and bond behaviour of textile reinforcements has been comprehensively studied experimental in recent years. The findings are based almost exclusively on uniaxial loading. Generally, from the comparison of tests on rovings and fabrics conclusions can be drawn about the influence of transverse and supporting threads and different binding patterns on the uniaxial load-bearing behaviour. However, it remains open, to what extend the found principles are applicable to multi-axial loading situations. This raises questions about the load bearing behaviour under multi-axial tension loading, which provide motivation for this work. For the experimental studies on 84 specimens a specially developed test setup for biaxial tensile loading was used. Two different types of textile reinforcements made from AR-glass and carbon fibres were examined. The results generally approve the findings on the structural behaviour of textile reinforcements exclusively derived from uniaxial tests. A relationship between first cracking stress level and biaxial stress ratio has been found. The characteristics of the cracking phases and during stabilized cracking, however, show no significant dependencies on the ratio of longitudinal and transverse tensile stresses. Furthermore, parallel cracks induced by transverse tensile stresses have no significant impact on the bond behaviour of longitudinal rovings. An essential result from biaxial tensile tests with carbon is the strong influence of waviness. It became clear that the reduction of waviness in coated textile reinforcement is highly load-dependent. In numerous experiments with carbon reinforcement delamination occurred during stabilized cracking – an effect, that has been observed in this large scale for the first time. The findings regarding the reduction of the waviness were subsequently applied to AR-glass and led to a revaluation of the known stiffness deficit in the phase IIb. Furthermore, the influence of reinforcement orientation has been studied on discoidal specimens under uni-axial loading. It was found that the load bearing capacity of carbon reinforcement is much more sensible to load orientation than AR-glass. A mathematical model was presented, which allows the separate description of geometric factors and as well as all other effects that reduce the fibre tensile strength.

The subject of master’s thesis is determination of bridge load-bearing capacity and fully probabilistic approach to reliability assessment. It includes a nonlinear analysis of the specific bridge load-bearing capacity in compliance with co-existing Standards and its stochastic and sensitivity analysis. In connection with durability limit states of reinforced concrete structures, the influence of carbonation and the corrosion of reinforcement on the structure’s reliability is also mentioned.

Modern-day terrorist attacks present a considerable danger for commercial aircrafts. This thesis analyzes potential methods of such attacks with a critical analysis of the most dangerous type: an attack from the outside of the aircraft via a fragmentation missile warhead. Such missiles cause damage to the airframe of the aircraft through fragments created by the explosion. In this thesis, analytical geometry is used to determine the area of the aircraft affected by the fragmentation. The aircraft’s geometry and the fragments’ dispersion are calculated by analytical functions, and the effect of the damage is analyzed. A shooting experiment was also carried out, in which fragments were shot at a reinforced skin panel that was manufactured according to the real design of commercial aircraft. The results of the experiment revealed that only directly hit sections of the structure are damaged. Data obtained by the experiment was then used for the creation and improvement of the model used in the simulation by means of the finite element method. This model is used for the numerical calculation of the damage sustained. Further included in the thesis is an analysis of the change in the load-bearing capacity after such an attack. The relationship between the size of the damage and its effect on the load-bearing capacity of the component as well as the entire structure is defined. First, the effect of component damage is analyzed via the FMEA/FMECA methods. This analysis is then extended using fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic analysis is based on the determination of the size of the damaged component area and the component’s importance on the structure’s carry loads. Application of the defined approach is described for several parts of an aircraft’s life cycle, including development, operation after the terrorist attack, and assessment of causes after a crash caused by a fragmentation missile warhead.

The contemporary imperative of sustainable development has established an unprecedented degree of urgency, in view of the intransigent challenges posed by the persistent and ever-increasing energy and climate crises. In 2019, the Swedish building industry accounted for 21% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with the structural framework of a building contributing to 34% of its overall emissions. In response to climate change and the housing demand caused by a growing population, sustainable construction solutions are needed. By substituting steel beams with timber beams, the carbon emissions caused by the building industry can be reduced significantly. This study investigates whether timber based, or steel-reinforced timber beams can provide comparable load-bearing capacity to steel beams while reducing carbon. How this impacts the cross-sectional height of the beams is also taken into consideration. Different load-bearing properties were calculated according to Eurocode using Excel for all the surveyed beams. The carbon emissions were calculated based on the weight of each beam combined with climate data obtained from the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning. Findings suggest that timber-based beams made from glulam or laminated veneer lumber exhibit moment capacity and bending stiffness on par with those of steel beams while reducing the carbon emissions drastically, but at the cost of increased cross-section height. Steel beams were identified as the main source of carbon emissions. Consequently, also making steelreinforced timber beams only marginally successful in reducing carbon emissions if at all.

This diploma thesis deals with the subject of slenderness bars’ stability assessment, especially in the steel structures. Before the assessment of bars in the frame constructions, we search for the influence of the computational model’s settings on the final result. The initial geometrical imperfections are examined on the model of Euler’s bar. The influence of the rigidity of girders on the poles’ buckling length is examined on the basic frame construction. The buckling lengths are assessed in the comparison with the figures we got from the statistical tables and the computational software. The influence of construction’s initial tilt and its replacement by the system of outer forces is examined on the frame structure. Three-hinged frame structure with variable cross-section member is designed then and the influence of non-linear calculations on the inner forces is studied. In the complex frame assessment, the influence of the number of parts of variable cross-section member on the bars’ buckling length is examined.

The main objective of this thesis work was to gain understanding of the principles of biolubrication, focusing on synergistic effects between biolubricants. To this end surface force and friction measurements were carried out by means of Atomic Force Microscopy, using hydrophilic and hydrophobic model surfaces in salt solutions of high ionic strength (≈ 150 mM) in presence of different biolubricants. There was also a need to gain information on the adsorbed layers formed by the biolubricants. This was achieved by using a range of methods such as Atomic Force Microscopy PeakForce imaging, Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation, Dynamic Light Scattering and X-Ray Reflectometry. By combining data from these techniques, detailed information about the adsorbed layers could be obtained.The biolubricants that were chosen for investigation were a phospholipid, hyaluronan, lubricin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) that all exist in the synovial joint area. First the lubrication ability of these components alone was investigated, and then focus was turned to two pairs that are known or assumed to associate in the synovial area. Of the biolubricants that were investigated, it was only the phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) that was found to be an efficient lubricant on its own. Deposited DPPC bilayers on silica surfaces were found to be able to provide very low friction coefficients (≈ 0.01) up to high pressures, ≈ 50 MPa. A higher load bearing capacity was found for DPPC in the liquid crystalline state compared to in the gel state.The first synergy pair that was explored was DPPC and hyaluronan, that is known to associate on the cartilage surface, and we also noticed association between hyaluronan and DPPC vesicles as well as with adsorbed DPPC bilayers. By combining these two components a lubrication performance similar to that of DPPC alone could be achieved, even though the friction coefficient in presence of hyaluronan was found to be slightly higher. The synergy here is thus not in form of an increased performance, but rather that the presence of hyaluronan allows a large amount of the phospholipid lubricant to accumulate where it is needed, i.e. on the sliding surfaces.The other synergy pair was lubricin and COMP that recently has been shown to be co-localized on the cartilage surface, and thus suggested to associate with each other. Lubricin, as a single component, provided poor lubrication of PMMA surfaces, which we utilized as model hydrophobic surfaces. However, if COMP first was allowed to coat the surface, and then lubricin was added a low friction coefficient (≈ 0.03) was found. In this case the synergy arises from COMP facilitating strong anchoring of lubricin to the surface in conformations that provide good lubrication performance. / Huvudsyftet med det här avhandlingsarbetet var att öka förståelsen för den låga friktion som finns i vissa biologiska system, med fokus på synergistiska effekter mellan de smörjande molekylerna. För detta ändamål studerades ytkrafter och friktion med hjälp av atomkraftsmikroskopi. Mätningarna utfördes med hydrofila och hydrofoba modellytor i lösningar med hög salthalt (≈ 150 mM) i närvaro av smörjande biomolekyler. Det var också nödvändigt att få information om de adsorberade skikten av biomolekyler. Det åstadkoms med hjälp av en rad tekniker så som AFM PeakForce avbildning, kvartskristallmikrovåg, dynamisk ljusspridning och röntgen reflektometri. Genom att kombinera data från dessa tekniker erhölls detaljerad information om de smörjande skikten.De smörjande biomolekyler som valdes ut för studierna var en fosfolipid, hyaluronan, lubricin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) vilka alla finns i synovialledsområdet. Först undersöktes den smörjande förmågan hos dessa komponenter var för sig, och sedan fokuserade vi på två par av biomolekyler som man vet eller antar bildar associationsstrukturer i synovialleder. Av de enskilda biomolekyler som undersöktes var det endast fosfolipiden 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-fosfokoline (DPPC) som visade sig vara en effektivt smörjande molekyl. Deponerade biskikt av DPPC på silikaytor gav upphov till mycket låga friktionskoefficienter (≈ 0.01) upp till höga pålagda tryck, ≈ 50 MPa. DPPC bilager i flytande kristallin fas visade sig ha högre lastbärande förmåga än DPPC bilager i geltillstånd.Det första synergistiska par som undersöktes var DPPC och hyaluronan vilka man vet associerar på broskytan, och vi visade att hyaluronan associerar med såväl DPPC vesiklar som med DPPC bilager. Genom att kombinera dessa två komponenter uppmättes en smörjande förmåga som var jämförbar med den som DPPC ensam uppvisar. Även om friktionskoefficienten var något högre i närvaro av hyaluronan. Synergieffekten här består inte av en bättre smörjande förmåga, utan istället gör närvaron av hyaluronan att de smörjande fosfolipiderna kan ansamlas i stora mängder där de behövs, dvs. på de glidande ytorna.Det andra synergiparet var lubricin och COMP vilka nyligen har visats vara lokaliserade på samma platser på broskytan, vilket tyder på att de associerar med varandra. På egen hand var lubricins smörjande förmåga av PMMA, våra hydrofoba modellytor, dålig. Emellertid, om COMP först adsorberades på PMMA och sedan lubricin tillsattes uppmättes en låg friktionskoefficient (≈ 0.03). I det här fallet består synergin av att COMP möjliggör en stark inbindning till ytan av lubricin i konformationer som ger god smörjande förmåga. / <p>QC 20141202</p> / Stiftelsen för strategisk forskning - SSF

Les objectifs de la thèse sont d’étudier l’influence de la pré-fissuration sur le développement de la corrosion des armatures du béton armé, les corrélations entre les pertes de section d’armatures dues à la corrosion et la fissuration du béton d’enrobage en résultant et l'effet de la corrosion sur les propriétés mécaniques des structures en béton armé soumis à un environnement salin. Les essais ont été réalisées pour étudier les différentes propriétés mécaniques comme la résistance à la flexion, la résistance au cisaillement, etc. Le travail expérimental est constitué de deux parties: dans la première partie des petits échantillons annulaires en mortier ont été testés afin d'observer l'effet des fissures sur la corrosion. Les résultats montrent que quelque soit l’ouverture des fissures, la corrosion démarre en fond de fissure et se propage le long de l’interface acier-béton endommagée en fond de fissure par la création de la fissure. Dans la deuxième partie, une étude approfondie a été réalisée sur une poutre en béton armé qui a été corrodée dans un environnement salin pendant 26 ans et une poutre non corrodée de même âge pour mieux comprendre l'effet de la corrosion sur les propriétés mécaniques (flexion, cisaillement , propriétés mécaniques de l’acier corrodé) d’éléments en béton armé. Un nouveau modèle a été proposé pour la relation entre la largeur des fissures de corrosion et la perte de section d'acier / The thesis aims to study the effect of corrosion on the mechanical properties of reinforced concrete reinforced concrete structures in chloride environment. Experiments were carried out in order to investigate the different mechanical properties such as bending strength, shear strength etc. The experimental work consists of two parts; in the first part small annular cement sand mortar samples were tested in order to observe the effect of cracks on corrosion. Results show that cracks whatever their width allows the corrosion onset at bottom of cracks and along the steel-concrete interface damaged zone caused by the creation of cracks. In the second part an extensive study was carried out on a 26-year-old corroded reinforced concrete beam and a non-corroded of same age in order to better understand the effect of corrosion on reinforced concrete members in flexion and shear. Impact of corrosion on the mechanical properties of steel in reinforced concrete was studied. A new model was proposed for the relationship between corrosion cracks width and loss of steel cross-section

The proposed diploma thesis deals with the application of methodology and tools of inverse analysis for design of selected structural parameters using a fully probabilistic analysis to determine the level of its reliability. The method based on artificial neural networks is used to approximate the inverse function. The inverse analysis was carried out in two ways that differs in the method of obtaining reliability indicators. The structure analyzed in this work was an existing bridge. The year of construction is estimated approximately between the years 1955 to 1960. The bridge is located close to the Uherský Ostroh. It is a one-piece concrete slab made of MPD3 and MPD4 girders post-tensioned by tendons. Based on the 2006 and 2007 diagnostic surveys, laboratory tests, normative regulations and recommendations and, last but not least, sensitivity analyses, an inverse design of selected design parameters was performed for required limit states. Various load levels, different alternatives of design parameters and different neural network structures were studied.