Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Civil Engineering / Mustaque Hossain / The engineers from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) often have to decide whether or not to accept non-conforming Superpave mixtures during construction. The first part of this study focused on estimating lives of deficient Superpave pavements incorporating nonconforming Superpave mixtures. These criteria were based on the Hamburg Wheel-Tracking Device (HWTD) test results and analysis. The second part of this study focused on developing accelerated mix testing models to considerably reduce test duration. To accomplish the first objective, nine fine-graded Superpave mixes of 12.5-mm nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) with asphalt grade PG 64-22 from six administrative districts of KDOT were selected. Specimens were prepared at three different target air void levels @ N[subscript]design gyrations and four target simulated in-place density levels with the Superpave gyratory compactor. Average number of wheel passes to 20-mm rut depth, creep slope, stripping slope, and stripping inflection point in HWTD tests were recorded and then used in the statistical analysis. Results showed that, in general, higher simulated in-place density up to a certain limit of 91% to 93%, results in a higher number of wheel passes until 20-mm rut depth in HWTD tests. A Superpave mixture with very low air voids @ N[subscript]design (2%) level performed very poorly in the HWTD test. HWTD tests were also performed on six 12.5-mm NMAS mixtures with air voids @ N[subscript]design of 4% for six projects, simulated in-place density of 93%, two temperature levels and five load levels with binder grades of PG 64-22, PG 64-28, and PG 70-22. Field cores of 150-mm in diameter from three projects in three KDOT districts with 12.5-mm NMAS and asphalt grade of PG 64-22 were also obtained and tested in HWTD for model evaluation. HWTD test results indicated as expected. Statistical analysis was performed and accelerated mix testing models were developed to determine the effect of increased temperature and load on the duration of the HWTD test. Good consistency between predicted and observed test results was obtained when higher temperature and standard load level were used. Test duration of the HWTD can thus be reduced to two hours or less using accelerated mix testing (statistical) models.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o módulo de resiliência de misturas asfálticas densas sob duas condições. A primeira foi o estudo dos efeitos do enrijecimento de misturas asfálticas densas em condições ambientais diferentes (cinco condições) que são: AAAL (ao ar e à luz), AASL (ao ar e sem luz), AVAL (baixa pressão atmosférica e à luz), AVSL (baixa pressão atmosférica e sem luz) e CLIMA (ao clima e intempéries), tendo sido utilizados para este experimento CAP 20, centro da faixa C do DNER como distribuição granulométrica e preparados segundo a AASHTO PP2. Neste estudo concluiu-se que não houve efeito significativo da exposição da luz artificial nas condições AL e SL, assim como não houve, também, efeito significativo na variação do módulo de resiliência nas condições de exposição ou não ao ar (AV e AA); nas demais condições houve melhora significativa nos resultados. Na segunda parte foram avaliados os efeitos de alguns fatores na susceptibilidade térmica de misturas asfálticas densas: tipo de agregado (basalto, gabro e granito), tipo de asfalto (CAP 20 e CAP 40), teor de asfalto (5%, 5,5% e 6%), presença de aditivo (com e sem cal) e temperaturas de ensaio (10ºC, 25ºC e 40ºC). Todos os corpos-de-prova foram preparados segundo procedimento da AASHTO PP2. Na segunda parte do experimento, concluiu-se que o CAP 40 produziu valores médios de Vv superiores aos do CAP 20, as misturas com teor de 5,5% apresentaram maior resistência à tração a 25°C, o módulo de resiliência e a relação MR/RT diminuem com o aumento do teor de CAP. / This work intended to evaluate the resilient modulus of dense-graded hot-mix asphalt under two conditions. The first condition comprehends a study of the hardening effects of densegraded hot mix asphalt submitted to five environmental conditions: AAAL (air and artificial light), AASL (air and no artificial light), AVAL (low atmospheric pressure and artificial light), AVSL (low atmospheric pressure and no artificial light) and CLIMA (exposition to intemperism). In this phase, it was used an AC-20 asphalt binder and DNER middle band \"C\" as aggregate\'s particles size distribution. Specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Based on the results of the first part of the experiment, it was concluded that there was no significant effect of the artificial light exposition on AL and SL conditions, as well as on the variation of resilient modulus under air conditions (AV and AA). The other conditions presented better performance results. The second part of the experiment aimed to evaluating the effect of some factors in the thermal susceptibility of dense-graded HMA, that are: aggregate type (basalt, gabbro, granite), asphalt type (AC-20 and AC-40), binder content (5,0%, 5,5% and 6,0%), presence of additive (with or without lime) and test temperature (10ºC, 25ºC and 40ºC). As in the first part of the experiment, all specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Results of the second part of the experiment led to the following conclusions: mixtures using AC-40 showed average air voids higher than mixtures using AC-20, mixtures with a binder content of 5,5% showed the highest values of tensile strength, at 25°C, the resilient modulus and the MR/RT ratio reduce when binder content increases.

Uma mistura asfÃltica apresenta um comportamento mecÃnico complexo que pode ser idealizado por um modelo viscoelastoplÃstico, que considera a existÃncia de deformaÃÃes recuperÃveis (elÃstico e viscoelÃstico) e nÃo recuperÃveis (plÃstico e viscoplÃstico). No entanto, o estado da arte da pesquisa brasileira tem considerado um modelo mais restrito, o modelo viscoelÃstico linear. Este modelo trata o comportamento mecÃnico do material como dependente do carregamento e da correspondente taxa (temporal) de aplicaÃÃo, que representa um avanÃo considerÃvel na modelagem mecÃnico-computacional de misturas asfÃlticas frente ao modelo elÃstico linear (clÃssico) comumente empregado em projetos nacionais de dimensionamento de pavimentos. Ainda assim, o modelo viscoelÃstico apresenta alguns inconvenientes que dificultam seu uso. Um primeiro inconveniente à que para uma representaÃÃo compatÃvel com os dados experimentais, a caracterizaÃÃo constitutiva viscoelÃstica exige a manipulaÃÃo de uma grande quantidade de coeficientes da sÃrie de Prony, dificultando o processo de ajuste de curva e posterior manipulaÃÃo da sÃrie. AlÃm disso, o processo formal de interconversÃo entre as propriedades viscoelÃsticas fundamentais, comumente necessÃrio por questÃes operacionais, trata-se de um mÃtodo nÃo trivial. Para facilitar o emprego da teoria da viscoelasticidade (linear) na caracterizaÃÃo de misturas asfÃlticas, o presente trabalho se propÃs ao desenvolvimento de um programa computacional especÃfico que facilita o uso do modelo viscoelÃstico linear. Este programa realiza o ajuste de curva de sÃries de Prony e a interconversÃo entre propriedades viscoelÃsticas fundamentais no domÃnio do tempo, quais sejam, a FunÃÃo FluÃncia D(t) e o MÃdulo de RelaxaÃÃo E(t). Como principal resultado, foi possÃvel aplicar este programa computacional na caracterizaÃÃo de duas misturas nacionais tÃpicas, Areia Asfalto (AA) e Concreto AsfÃltico (CA), mostrando de forma detalhada os passos necessÃrios para uma representaÃÃo constitutiva viscoelÃstica adequada. Ainda como parte dos resultados obtidos, foi avaliada a eficÃcia da tÃcnica de ajuste de curva por MÃnimos Quadrados NÃo Linear (MQNL) para sÃries de Prony, sob a expectativa de incorporaÃÃo desta tÃcnica em versÃes futuras do programa computacional desenvolvido. Para explicitar o avanÃo da simulaÃÃo mecÃnica de pavimentos que o modelo viscoelÃstico possibilita frente ao modelo elÃstico (clÃssico), ao final do trabalho foram realizadas anÃlises computacionais utilizando o MÃtodo dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) para estimar os parÃmetros mecÃnicos de projeto de pavimentos (tensÃes de deformaÃÃes) considerando o modelo viscoelÃstico das misturas asfÃlticas investigadas, AA e CA. / An asphalt mixture has a complex mechanical behavior can be idealized by a viscoelastoplastic model that considers the existence of recoverable (elastic and viscoelastic) and non-recoverable deformations (plastic and viscoplastic). However, the state of the art of Brazilian research has considered a more restricted model, the linear viscoelastic model. This model treats the mechanical behavior of the material as dependent on the load and the corresponding (temporal) rate, which represents a considerable advance in mechanical-computational modeling of asphalt mixtures compared to the linear elastic (classic) model commonly employed on projects of national pavement design. But the viscoelastic model has some drawbacks that hinder its use. A first drawback is that for a representation compatible with the experimental data, the constitutive viscoelastic characterization requires handling a large number of Prony series coefficients, which makes difficult the curve fitting process and subsequent handling of the series. Futhermore, the formal process of interconversion between the fundamental viscoelastic properties, commonly required for operational reasons, is a non-trivial task. In order to enable the employment of the theory of (linear) viscoelasticity in the characterization of asphalt mixtures, this study proposed the development of a specific computer program that facilitates the use of the linear viscoelastic model. This program carries out curve fitting of Prony series and interconversion of fundamental viscoelastic properties in time domain, namely, Creep Compliance D(t) and Relaxation Modulus E(t). As a main result, it was possible to use this program in characterization of two national typical mixtures, Sand Asphalt (SA) and Asphalt Concrete (AC), showing in details the steps necessary for a proper viscoelastic constitutive representation. Also as part of the results, it was tested the efficacy of the technique of curve fitting by Nonlinear Least Squares (NLS) for the Prony series, under the expectation of incorporating this technique in future versions of this ongoing software. In order to explain the advances that viscoelastic model can enable in mechanical simulation of pavement, instead of using the elastic (classic) model, at the end of this study it was performed computational analysis using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to estimate the mechanical design parameters of pavements (stress and strains), considering the viscoelastic model of the investigated asphalt mixtures, SA and AC.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o módulo de resiliência de misturas asfálticas densas sob duas condições. A primeira foi o estudo dos efeitos do enrijecimento de misturas asfálticas densas em condições ambientais diferentes (cinco condições) que são: AAAL (ao ar e à luz), AASL (ao ar e sem luz), AVAL (baixa pressão atmosférica e à luz), AVSL (baixa pressão atmosférica e sem luz) e CLIMA (ao clima e intempéries), tendo sido utilizados para este experimento CAP 20, centro da faixa C do DNER como distribuição granulométrica e preparados segundo a AASHTO PP2. Neste estudo concluiu-se que não houve efeito significativo da exposição da luz artificial nas condições AL e SL, assim como não houve, também, efeito significativo na variação do módulo de resiliência nas condições de exposição ou não ao ar (AV e AA); nas demais condições houve melhora significativa nos resultados. Na segunda parte foram avaliados os efeitos de alguns fatores na susceptibilidade térmica de misturas asfálticas densas: tipo de agregado (basalto, gabro e granito), tipo de asfalto (CAP 20 e CAP 40), teor de asfalto (5%, 5,5% e 6%), presença de aditivo (com e sem cal) e temperaturas de ensaio (10ºC, 25ºC e 40ºC). Todos os corpos-de-prova foram preparados segundo procedimento da AASHTO PP2. Na segunda parte do experimento, concluiu-se que o CAP 40 produziu valores médios de Vv superiores aos do CAP 20, as misturas com teor de 5,5% apresentaram maior resistência à tração a 25°C, o módulo de resiliência e a relação MR/RT diminuem com o aumento do teor de CAP. / This work intended to evaluate the resilient modulus of dense-graded hot-mix asphalt under two conditions. The first condition comprehends a study of the hardening effects of densegraded hot mix asphalt submitted to five environmental conditions: AAAL (air and artificial light), AASL (air and no artificial light), AVAL (low atmospheric pressure and artificial light), AVSL (low atmospheric pressure and no artificial light) and CLIMA (exposition to intemperism). In this phase, it was used an AC-20 asphalt binder and DNER middle band \"C\" as aggregate\'s particles size distribution. Specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Based on the results of the first part of the experiment, it was concluded that there was no significant effect of the artificial light exposition on AL and SL conditions, as well as on the variation of resilient modulus under air conditions (AV and AA). The other conditions presented better performance results. The second part of the experiment aimed to evaluating the effect of some factors in the thermal susceptibility of dense-graded HMA, that are: aggregate type (basalt, gabbro, granite), asphalt type (AC-20 and AC-40), binder content (5,0%, 5,5% and 6,0%), presence of additive (with or without lime) and test temperature (10ºC, 25ºC and 40ºC). As in the first part of the experiment, all specimens were prepared according to AASHTO PP2. Results of the second part of the experiment led to the following conclusions: mixtures using AC-40 showed average air voids higher than mixtures using AC-20, mixtures with a binder content of 5,5% showed the highest values of tensile strength, at 25°C, the resilient modulus and the MR/RT ratio reduce when binder content increases.

Formation of a common single market without distortions is one of the main priorities during the integration process of the European Union. For this purpose it is necessary to coordinate activities of all the Members throughout the entire Community ant it should lead to European integration and convergence. The main aim of this work is to verify European formation of the common single market throughout European tax policy in other words, through the convergence of the tax burden. Secondary aim is focused on the question of what impact do convergence of tax mixes and tax competition have on the convergence of the taxation in the EU. For this purposes data from the years of 1965 - 2011 in combination with methods of Beta Convergence, Sigma Convergence and panel regression analysis with fixed effects are used. Results confirm the tax systems convergence and its speed not only in the area of total tax burden but also in tax mixes, implicit tax rates and some statutory tax rates. Panel regression analysis with fixed effects subsequently confirmed the positive impact of the convergence of nearly all tax mixes parts and tax competiton on the total tax burden convergence. The highest impact on the tax convergence was verified at the tax competition and property taxes. All models accomplish diagnostic tests and are econometrically robust. It was confirmed the European Union has been fulfilled its primary aim through the tax policy and under established assumptions the highest impact on tax convergence have tax competition and property taxes.

This thesis deals with the use of by–products from the production of cement–bonded particle boards as an alternative raw material for the stabilization of the subsoil or into a ground solid. The theoretical part briefly describes the current status of waste management. A set of alterantive raw materials used to hydraulically cemented mixtures is listed here as well as the recherche of the foreign research is elaborated from this area. The experimental part of the thesis firstly deals with the choice of raw materials and basic recipes. In the advanced stage the laboratory analyses are carried out on the modified formulas. Based on the results of these analyses the posibility of using by–products from the production of cement–bonded boards for the stabilization of the subsoil is evaluated here.

Freedom of speech and the right to privacy are maybe the most important elements of a modern society, yet the rights are often violated. This fact was the main reason for writing this thesis covering P2P network models, anonymity, censorship resistance and their use in real P2P networks and publishing systems. We discuss their effectiveness and suitability for specific purposes, but also the security considerations of their use. The second part of this thesis presents the LSPP publishing protocol, which is an library implementation of an anonymous censorship resistant P2P network. Finally, we analyze the proposed protocol and compare it with existing solutions.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo desenvolver um estudo acerca da noção aristotélica de constituição orgânica, no qual procurarei propor um exame da filosofia da natureza de Aristóteles referente ao aspecto, atribuído ao organismo, de ser substância natural no seu mais elevado grau, estabelecendo uma análise comparativa entre os compostos elementares, os compostos homogêneos inanimados e os compostos orgânicos. Para tanto, pretendo, primeiramente, promover uma análise a respeito do caráter substancial dos organismos vivos. Em seguida, delimitar uma investigação em torno dos tipos de composições naturais, levando em conta a maneira pela qual a necessidade natural estaria envolvida no processo constitutivo de tais composições. E, por fim, oferecer uma interpretação relativa ao capítulo 12 do livro IV dos Meteorológicos, a qual tem por base discernir a natureza formal associada, por um lado, às propriedades características dos corpos homogêneos em geral, considerados em si e por si mesmos, e, por outro, às propriedades características da constituição orgânica, de modo a precisar as diferenças entre elas. Penso que, com este estudo, também será possível compreender de um modo claro o motivo pelo qual, nesta concepção de natureza, toma-se o organismo vivo como o paradigma de substâncias (ousiai) naturais. / This research aims to develop a study on the aristotelian notion of organic constitution, which seek to propose an examination of the natural philosophy of Aristotle concerning the aspect, assigned to the body, to be natural substance in its highest degree, establishing an analysis comparative between elementary compounds, inanimate homoeomerous compounds and organic compounds. Therefore, I intend, first, to promote an analysis regarding the substantial nature of living organisms. Then delimit an investigation around the kinds of natural compositions, taking into account the way in which natural necessity would be involved in the constitutive process of such compositions. And finally, offer an interpretation relating to Chapter 12 of De Caelo IV, which relies on discerning the formal nature associated, on the one hand, the characteristic properties of homoeomerous bodies generally considered in themselves and for themselves, and, on the other hand, the characteristic properties of the organic constitution in order to clarify the differences between then. I think that, with this study, also will be possible understand in a clearly way the reason, in this conception of nature, it takes the living organism as the paradigm of natural substances (ousiai).

Στην παρούσα διατριβή ερευνήθηκε η αξιοποίηση μεταλλευτικών, βιομηχανικών παραπροϊόντων, των στερεών Υπολειμμάτων Βορίου (ΥΒ), που δημιουργούνται σε διάφορα στάδια κατά την παραγωγική διαδικασία προϊόντων βορίου. Τα εν λόγω παραπροϊόντα, που κατηγοριοποιούνται σε πέντε ποιότητες, SBW, DBW, SSBW, TBW και MBW, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ως πρόσθετο Α’ υλών για την παραγωγή τούβλων και κεραμιδιών, και ως Α΄ ύλη για την παρασκευή τεχνητών ελαφροαδρανών. Πραγματοποιήθηκε φυσικοχημικός χαρακτηρισμός και θερμική ανάλυση όλων των ΥΒ. Στη συνέχεια μελετήθηκε η επίδραση προσθήκης διαφορετικών συγκεντρώσεων ΥΒ (SBW και SSBW) σε αργιλούχες Α΄ ύλες. Έγινε μια πρώτη προσέγγιση παρασκευής και ελέγχου κεραμικών δοκιμίων με τη μέθοδο της ξηρής ανάμιξης και αξονικής συμπίεσης, προκειμένου να περιοριστεί το φαινόμενο διάχυσης υδατοδιαλυτών ενώσεων βορίου που περιέχονται στα ΥΒ. Η προσθήκη 5%κβ SSBW και θερμοκρασία όπτησης 900-950°C οδήγησε σε κεραμικά με παραπλήσιες ή ακόμα και βελτιωμένες ιδιότητες (αυξημένες μηχανικές αντοχές) συγκριτικά με τα κεραμικά αναφοράς. Επιπλέον εξετάστηκε η παραγωγή δειγμάτων με ΥΒ (SBW) και διάλυμα εμπορίου με βορικό (Evansite®) ακολουθώντας διαδικασία παραπλήσια της βιομηχανικής πρακτικής. Στους 1000°C, παρατηρήθηκε μείωση της απορρόφησης νερού και αύξηση της αντοχής σε κάμψη για τα δείγματα με βορικά, σε σύγκριση με τα δείγματα αναφοράς. Η προσθήκη βορικών ευνόησε τη δημιουργία νέων κρυσταλλικών κατά την όπτηση. Δεδομένης της χημικής και ορυκτολογικής σύνθεσης των ΥΒ (πλούσια σε συλλιπάσματα και υψηλές απώλειες πύρωσης), πραγματοποιήθηκε επιπρόσθετα μελέτη των φυσικοχημικών μηχανισμών θερμικής διάσπασής τους. Σε θερμαινόμενη τράπεζα παρατηρήθηκε η ικανότητα διόγκωσης και ανάπτυξης ρευστής φάσης των ΥΒ, καθώς και μιγμάτων αυτών με άλλα υλικά, με σκοπό την εργαστηριακή παραγωγή ελαφροαδρανών. Βάσει των αποτελεσμάτων προτάθηκε ένα μίγμα αποτελούμενο από 70%κβ ΥΒ, 20%κβ αργιλούχο μίγμα και 10%κβ χαλαζιακή άμμο, για τη μορφοποίηση ξηρών σφαιριδίων. Απότομη θέρμανσή τους στους 760°C οδήγησε σε πορώδη υαλοποιημένα αδρανή με φαινόμενη πυκνότητα <1g/cm3. Το ενεργειακό κόστος παραγωγής των συγκεκριμένων αδρανών είναι χαμηλότερο, καθώς παρατηρήθηκε μείωση στη θερμοκρασία σε σχέση με άλλα τεχνητά ελαφροαδρανή, που παρασκευάζονται στους 1100°C. Για την αντιμετώπιση της διάχυσης ενώσεων βορίου προς την επιφάνεια των ξηρών σφαιριδίων, που οδήγησε σε προβλήματα κατά την πειραματική διαδικασία και σε υποβάθμιση της ποιότητας των τελικών προϊόντων, εξετάστηκε η προσθήκη φρουκτόζης ως παρεμποδιστή στο μίγμα Α’ υλών, με στόχο την βελτιστοποίηση της διαδικασίας παραγωγής ελαφροαδρανών από ΥΒ. Προσθήκη έστω και 0.5%κβ φρουκτόζης οδήγησε σε ικανοποιητικό έλεγχο, ενώ οι φυσικές ιδιότητες των παραχθέντων αδρανών τα κατατάσσουν στην κατηγορία των ελαφροαδρανών, σύμφωνα με το πρότυπο ASTM 330-97. Τα αποτελέσματα οδήγησαν στην κατανόηση βασικών φαινομένων θερμικής διάσπασης και στην ανάπτυξη μιας βέλτιστης διεργασίας παραγωγής τεχνητών ελαφροαδρανών χρησιμοποιώντας ΥΒ ως εναλλακτικές Α’ ύλες, με προφανές ενεργειακό και περιβαλλοντικό όφελος. / In the present thesis, the valorisation of mining and industrial by-products, the solid boron-containing Wastes (ΒW), which are created at various stages during the production process of concentrated and refined boron products, were investigated. The by-products under consideration, existing in five types SBW, DBW, SSBW, TBW and MBW, were used as additives and raw materials in clay mixes for the production of heavy clay ceramics (bricks, tiles and artificial lightweight aggregates). The BW were characterised in means of chemical and mineralogical composition and studied for their thermal behaviour. In addition, clay mixes with different amounts of BW (SBW and SSBW) were studied. A first approach was made on the formation of ceramic samples by dry pressing in order to minimize the borate migration towards the surface. The physical and mechanical properties, as well as the microstructure of the final products were studied. For 5 wt% SSBW addition and firing at 900-950°C, the sintered bodies presented comparable or improved physical and mechanical properties with respect to the reference formulation. Moreover, SBW or a commercial available borate solution (Evansite®) were introduced in a clay-based mix aiming to investigate their behaviour during a processing cycle comparable with that followed in the heavy clay industry. For firing at 1000°C, water absorption was reduced and bending strength increased for the samples with borates, compared to the reference samples. The addition of borates resulted in the formation of new crystalline phases during firing at high temperatures. BW consist of important fluxing oxides as well as of gas producing minerals during firing. Tests were performed on the bloating behavior of BW and mixes of them with other materials, by means of heating microscopy, aiming at the laboratorial production of lightweight aggregates (LWA). A new mix was proposed, according to the obtained results, consisting of 70wt% BW, 20wt% clay mixture and 10wt% quartz sand, for the formation of pellets. Abrupt heating of the dry pellets at 760°C, for 5min, resulted in porous LWA with bulk density <1g/cm3. The process was less energy demanding as the temperature was reduced compared to the one of the synthetic aggregates produced, where the firing temperature is 1100°C. During drying a white layer of boron salts was formed on the surface of the green pellets, which result on firing of a glassy layer causing alterations of their surface and experimental difficulties. In order to address this problem, fructose was added in the raw mix as a migration inhibitor. Addition of even 0.5wt% fructose inhibited the salt formation and a glassy impervious layer was formed after firing. The physical properties of the final samples meet the requirements of LWA according to the standard ASTM 330-97. The results of this thesis, led to the development of an optimised process for the production of artificial LWA with BW, as an alternative raw material.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo desenvolver um estudo acerca da noção aristotélica de constituição orgânica, no qual procurarei propor um exame da filosofia da natureza de Aristóteles referente ao aspecto, atribuído ao organismo, de ser substância natural no seu mais elevado grau, estabelecendo uma análise comparativa entre os compostos elementares, os compostos homogêneos inanimados e os compostos orgânicos. Para tanto, pretendo, primeiramente, promover uma análise a respeito do caráter substancial dos organismos vivos. Em seguida, delimitar uma investigação em torno dos tipos de composições naturais, levando em conta a maneira pela qual a necessidade natural estaria envolvida no processo constitutivo de tais composições. E, por fim, oferecer uma interpretação relativa ao capítulo 12 do livro IV dos Meteorológicos, a qual tem por base discernir a natureza formal associada, por um lado, às propriedades características dos corpos homogêneos em geral, considerados em si e por si mesmos, e, por outro, às propriedades características da constituição orgânica, de modo a precisar as diferenças entre elas. Penso que, com este estudo, também será possível compreender de um modo claro o motivo pelo qual, nesta concepção de natureza, toma-se o organismo vivo como o paradigma de substâncias (ousiai) naturais. / This research aims to develop a study on the aristotelian notion of organic constitution, which seek to propose an examination of the natural philosophy of Aristotle concerning the aspect, assigned to the body, to be natural substance in its highest degree, establishing an analysis comparative between elementary compounds, inanimate homoeomerous compounds and organic compounds. Therefore, I intend, first, to promote an analysis regarding the substantial nature of living organisms. Then delimit an investigation around the kinds of natural compositions, taking into account the way in which natural necessity would be involved in the constitutive process of such compositions. And finally, offer an interpretation relating to Chapter 12 of De Caelo IV, which relies on discerning the formal nature associated, on the one hand, the characteristic properties of homoeomerous bodies generally considered in themselves and for themselves, and, on the other hand, the characteristic properties of the organic constitution in order to clarify the differences between then. I think that, with this study, also will be possible understand in a clearly way the reason, in this conception of nature, it takes the living organism as the paradigm of natural substances (ousiai).