Neisseria meningitidis is an obligate human pathogen causing over 1000 cases of meningococcal disease within the U.K., 10 % of which result in long-term disability or fatality. 10-70 % of the population carry N. meningitidis in their nasopharynx, the natural reservoir of this bacterium, as a commensal. The host-pathogen interactions of this species are complex and a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenesis and immune evasion is required. Three aspects of N. meningitidis pathogenesis were explored in this study. One mechanism of immune evasion which promotes serum resistance of N. meningitidis is recuitment of complement factor H through domains 6 and 7 (fH₆₇) by factor H binding protein (fHbp). In this study, mouse fH₆₇ was recombinantly expressed and purified. fHbp did not bind mouse fH₆₇ at physiologically relevant protein concentrations. The structure of mouse fH₆₇ was solved, showing differences in domain orientation and surface chemistry compared to the human version of this protein, potentially accounting for the host specificity of this interaction. Type IV pili (T4P) are crucial adhesins of N. meningitidis, the fibre of which is composed of thousands of copies of PilE. A method was developed to recombinantly produce large quantities of this protein from a variety of meningococcal strains and the structure was solved of one PilE protein. Subsequent analysis was performed with the PilE proteins investigating their interaction with the putative pilus receptor CD46 and human epithelia as well as their immunogenicity. A method was also established to produce PilC, the proposed tip-assocoated adhesin of T4P. ZapE has recently been identified as an important protein in pathogen colonisation, functioning as an ATPase linked to Z-ring formation in bacterial cell fission. Both N. meningitidis and E. coli ZapE were recombinantly produced. The domain boundaries were mapped and ATPase activity was confirmed. No interaction was seen with FtsZ but DNA binding and modulation was observed by shift assays, the exact function of which remains to be elucidated in future studies.

Geothermal energy has become a focal point of the renewable energy revolution. Both shallow and deep types of geothermal energy have the potential to offset carbon emissions, reduce energy costs, and stimulate the economy. Before widespread geothermal exploration and exploitation can occur, both shallow and deep technologies require improvement by theoretical and experimental investigations. This thesis investigated one aspect of both shallow and deep geothermal energy technologies. First, a group of shallow geothermal energy piles was modeled numerically. The model was constructed, calibrated, and validated using available data collected from full-scale in-situ experimental energy piles. Following calibration, the model was parameterized to demonstrate the impact of construction specifications on energy pile performance and cross-sectional thermal stress distribution. The model confirmed the role of evenly spaced heat exchangers in optimal pile performance. Second, experimental methods were used to demonstrate the evolution of a fractured granite permeability as a function of mineral dissolution. Steady-state flow-through experiments were performed on artificially fractured granite cores constrained by 5 MPa pore pressure, 30 MPa confining pressure, and a 120°C temperature. Upstream pore pressures, effluent mineral concentrations, and X-Ray tomography confirmed the hypothesis that fracture asperities dissolve during the flow through experiment, resulting in fracture closure.

Ce travail de thèse traite de la caractérisation par Spectroscopie d'Impédance de l'impédance d'une pile à combustible en charge et plus particulièrement de l'évaluation de l'influence de l'humidité sur les performances de la pile. Après un état de l'art sur les différentes méthodes de caractérisation de l'impédance d'une pile et les différentes méthodes de mesure de l'humidité, la problématique est posée. Nous modélisons la pile Nexa de 47 cellules de type PEMFC, en intégrant des mesures expérimentales au niveau du modèle. Le modèle dynamique décrit en VHDL-AMS est un modèle au niveau macroscopique prenant en compte le côté électrique des différentes cellules constituant la pile. Ce modèle prend en compte la caractéristique des deux dernières cellules qui présentent un phénomène d'inondation remarqué lors des mesures expérimentales. Le système de purge de la Nexa est également pris en compte dans le code. L'étude expérimentale passe par la mise en place d'un banc de mesure pour la caractérisation de l'impédance de la pile Nexa par Spectroscopie d'Impédance, ainsi que la mesure de l'humidité en sortie de la pile. Les mesures d'impédances complexes corrélées à celles de l'humidité nous ont amenées à déterminer l'influence de l'humidité sur les performances de la pile. La concordance entre les résultats du modèle et ceux du banc de mesure, tant en DC que en AC, sont concluants. L'erreur constatée à l'issue de la comparaison entre les résultats théoriques et expérimentaux est inférieure à 1.5%. / This thesis deals with the characterization of the impedance of an on load fuel cell by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy method and particularly the assessment of the humidity influence on the fuel cell performances. After a state of the art on different methods to characterize the impedance of a fuel cell and different methods of measuring humidity, the problem is posed. We model the PEM Nexa stack which consists of 47 cells, integrating experimental measurements. The dynamic model described in VHDL-AMS is a model at the macroscopic level, taking into account the electrical side of individual cells constituting the fuel cell. This model takes into account the characteristics of the last two cells exhibiting the phenomenon of flooding seen in experimental measurements. The purge system of the Nexa is also reflected in the code. The experimental study involves the establishment of a Testbench for characterizing the impedance of the Nexa fuel cell by Impedance spectroscopy method, and measuring the humidity at the output of the stack. The complex impedance measurements correlated with those of humidity led us to determine the influence of humidity on the performance of the fuel cell. The correlation between the model results and those of the Testbench, both in DC than in AC, are conclusive. The error in between theoretical and experimental results is less than 1.5%.

Nos sociétés sont de plus en plus préoccupées par l’impact très nocif des ressources énergétiques polluantes, essentiellement, le pétrole, le charbon et le gaz. Ainsi, l’intérêt dans l’utilisation des énergies renouvelables et propres est en constant augmentation et la conception de nouveaux systèmes énergétiques est devenue un challenge scientifique et technologique. Pour concevoir de nouvelles solutions énergétiques compétitives et efficaces, les fabricants de composants (panneaux solaires, pile à combustible, convertisseurs, etc.) et les secteurs industriels concernés sont confrontés à des problématiques d’optimisation, de contrôle et de durabilité. Par ailleurs, les sources d’énergie renouvelable sont dépendantes de plusieurs facteurs incontrôlables (lieu géographique, météorologie, etc.). Pour parer à ces facteurs, et donc au caractère aléatoire de disponibilité énergétique, l’hybridation des sources et la gestion énergétique peut s’avérer être une approche pertinente pour la conception de solutions énergétiques efficaces. Cette thèse est une contribution au problème de l’hybridation et de la gestion d’énergie. Plus précisément, nous considérons un système hybride composé de panneaux solaires photovoltaïques et d’une pile à combustible. Ce système est supposé être doté de convertisseurs et d’un système de stockage (batterie et super-condensateurs). / Our societies are increasingly concerned about the very harmful impact of clean energy resources, mainly oil, coal and gas. Thus, interest in the use of renewable and clean energy is constantly increasing and the development of new energy systems has become a scientific and technological challenge. To develop new competitive and efficient energy solutions, manufacturers of components (solar panels, fuel cells, inverters, etc.) and industrial sectors are facing problems of optimization, control and durability. In addition, renewable energy sources depend on several uncontrollable factors (geographical location, weather, etc.). To address these factors, and thus the randomness of energy availability, sources hybridization and energy management can prove to be an appropriate approach for the design of efficient energy solutions. This thesis is a contribution to the problem of hybridization and energy management. More precisely, we consider a hybrid system composed of photovoltaic solar panels and a fuel cell. This system is supposed to be equipped with converters and storage system (battery and supercapacitors). The goal is to develop control strategies to extract the maximum power available from the considered sources and to optimize the overall energy system to meet the load requirements. To do this, our approach is based on the tracking of the maximum power point and the use of compensators.

Ce travail est une contribution à l’étude du rôle des plaques bipolaires sur le fonctionnement des piles à combustible à membrane, en particulier l’effet du design de ces plaques en tant que distributeur de gaz réactifs, et la recherche de matériaux métalliques pouvant remplacer les matériaux carbonés conventionnels. Les performances des piles à combustible sont entre autres limitées par certains problèmes liés à la thermohydraulique : l'assèchement des membranes et l'engorgement en eau des canaux de distribution des gaz. Ces performances sont limitées aussi par le type des membranes, et des plaques bipolaires utilisées. Ces travaux de thèse traitent essentiellement une comparaison entre des membranes ainsi que des plaques bipolaires. Nous avons également étudié les problèmes liés à l’humidité, en particulier l’'engorgement en eau dans les canaux d'une pile à combustible par des essais de visualisation : l’évacuation de l’eau liquide dépend très fortement de la gravure des plaquesDe plus, nous avons recherché des matériaux métalliques candidats à la réalisation de plaques bipolaires pour remplacer le graphite, encombrant et couteux. Deux matériaux ont été étudiés : l’acier inox 316L et l’alliage nickel-tungstène déposé sur une plaque de cuivre. L’inox 316 L, utilisé comme matériau pour les plaques bipolaires, montre une bonne résistance aux conditions agressives régnant au sein de la pile à combustible à membrane, comme l’ont montré des essais réalisés pendant près de 1000 heures / This work is a contribution to the study of the role of bipolar plates on the operation of fuel cell membrane, in particular the effect of the design of these plates as a distributor of reactive gases, and the search for metallic materials that can replace conventional carbon materials .The performance of fuel cells are limited by , among other problems related to thermal hydraulics : dewatering membranes and waterlogging distribution channels gas . This performance is also limited by the type of membrane and bipolar plates used . This thesis deal primarily a comparison between membranes and bipolar plates . We also investigated problems related to moisture , especially the '' water flooding in the channels of a fuel cell by visualization tests : the evacuation of liquid water is highly dependent on the etching platesIn addition, we have searched for metallic materials candidates embodiment to replace the bipolar plates of graphite, cumbersome and costly . Two materials have been studied : 316L stainless steel and the nickel - tungsten deposited on a copper plate . The 316 L stainless steel , used as material for bipolar plates , shows good resistance to aggressive conditions within the fuel cell membrane, as shown by tests carried out over nearly 1000 hours

Scour is a phenomenon of soil erosion around foundations under currents and waves. It is a major cause for the disruption to water-borne structures such as bridges and marine structures. Pile foundations supporting these structures are required to be designed against the scour damage. However, at present, there is no accepted method for the design of piles in scoured conditions probably due to an inadequate understanding of scour effects on foundations. Although numerous efforts have been made to evaluate the scour effects on single piles using numerical simulations and centrifuges tests, the scour susceptibility of piles in different soil properties is still not well understood. Furthermore, there is no study concerning scour effects on the lateral responses of pile groups. Therefore, a series of three-dimensional finite element (FE) parametric analyses were conducted to investigate scour effects on lateral behavior of both single piles and free-head pile groups by varying scour-hole dimensions, soil properties, pile properties, and pile group configurations. Moreover, to facilitate the routine design, a modified p-y method that was modified based on the widely used p-y method was proposed for both scoured single piles and pile groups, and was validated against the results from the FE analyses. The results show that scour induced lateral capacity loss to both single piles and pile groups, which was approximately 10% more in dense sands than that in loose sands. Simplification of local scour as a general scour that has been commonly used in general design practice resulted in a maximum of 17% underestimate of lateral capacity of pile foundations. Pile groups were more susceptible to scour than single piles under equivalent scour conditions. A pile group with smaller pile spacing or larger pile numbers tended to experience less lateral capacity loss due to scour. / Graduate / 2020-08-19

[pt] O presente trabalho concentra-se na caracterização geológica-geotécnica e hidrogeotécnica de uma pilha de estéril temporária, proveniente de rocha itabirítica, e de seu entorno, a fim de apresentar as possíveis condicionantes geradoras das elevadas pressões hidrostáticas medidas na fundação desta pilha. Com base nesta caracterização, criou-se um modelo hidrogeológico das condições de escoamento da água subterrânea pelo material estéril e pelas regiões adjacentes desta pilha, utilizando os programas computacionais SlideÒ e VisualModflowÒ. Em ambos os resultados apresentados pelos modelos computacionais, observou-se que a sub-pressão existente na fundação da pilha de estéril está diretamente associada a dois fatores: (i) aos condicionantes geológicos do local e (ii) ao índice pluviométrico do ano de 2005. / [en] This study focuses on the geological, geotechnical and hydrogeotechnical characterization of a temporary waste pile, made of itabiritc rock, and of its surrounding area, and presents possible causes for the high pore pressures measured at the waste pile foundations. Based on this characterization, a computer models of this scenario were developed using both Slide and VisualModFlow softwares. In both cases, results indicate that the high pore pressures are directly related to two main causes: (1) to local geological conditions and boundaries and (2) to high rainfall rate recorded in 2005.

Para proporcionar menores prazos e custos, o projeto de ampliação da sede da Petrobras, na cidade de Salvador, estado da Bahia, contemplou estacas barretes de grandes dimensões para grandes capacidades de carga. Porém, para atingir as cargas escolhidas, foi necessário embutir as estacas no topo rochoso. Portanto, foram projetadas estacas barretes embutidas em rocha, escavadas com hidrofresa. Esta pesquisa apresenta o estudo de duas provas de carga estáticas executadas em uma mesma estaca barrete teste embutida em rocha, a fim de proporcionar um melhor entendimento de seu comportamento, assim como os principais fatores que influenciam resistência e deformabilidade. Em março de 2012, foram realizadas duas provas de carga estáticas na mesma estaca barrete teste embutida em rocha. Os ensaios foram executados a partir das metodologias normativas NBR 12131 (2006) e NBR 6122 (2010), com carregamentos lento e rápido, respectivamente e subsequentemente. No primeiro ensaio (lento), aplicou-se a carga máxima de 12 MN, enquanto que no segundo (rápido), aplicou-se a carga máxima de 14 MN. Os dados obtidos nos ensaios, de acordo com a bibliografia utilizada, são pioneiros no Brasil, por se tratar da primeira estaca barrete embutida em rocha com utilização de hidrofresa, submetida à prova de carga de desempenho. A estaca foi instrumentada em profundidade, o que propiciou a avaliação da distribuição de carga nas camadas atravessadas. Foram realizadas comparações entre resultados obtidos da instrumentação e do topo, por meio do repique elástico. Além da avaliação e interpretação dos dados obtidos nos ensaios de provas de carga estáticas, esta pesquisa apresenta previsões de comportamento, com diferentes conceitos, para estacas embutidas em rocha, sem reação de ponta, com intuito de comparar seus resultados com os obtidos nos ensaios. Em conjunto com as previsões, foram apresentados métodos para estimativa de adesão lateral na interface da estaca com o maciço rochoso. / To use high loads on foundations of the Petobras Headquarters, the designers chose the barrette pile with great dimensions and a few units compared with others types, to shorten the deadline and optimize costs. However, to reach these assumptions, it was necessary make the piles deeper than the soil strata, and, therefore, made a rock socket design. This research presents two static load tests study and analysis in the same barrette test pile, to forecast behavior and find resistance and strain influences. In March, 2012, two static load tests were made in the same barrette test pile located in Salvador Bahia, in Petrobras headquarters. The first essay was made according to a slow maintained test with 12 MN maximum compressive loads. The second essay was made immediately after, according to a quick load test and 14 MN maximum compressive loads. The data obtained from both tests, far as is known, were the first results on rock socket barrette pile in Brazil, using hydromill for the excavations in rock. The pile had depth instrumentation with expansible strain gages and an expanded polystyrene block below the cage, to make the tip useless. Beyond the data assessment and interpretation from static load tests, this research presents forecasting methods to only shear resistance rock socket piles, with the aim of comparison. Lastly but not least, side resistance empirical methods between pile and rock interface were presented.

Em obras de fundações por estacas cravadas, os diferentes comprimentos finais das estacas refletem a variabilidade natural do terreno, e variam de acordo com o critério de paralização da cravação, normalmente baseado em medidas de nega e repique elástico. Pouco se tem aproveitado desses registros para o controle da resistência mobilizada na fundação ao final da cravação, devido à limitação da aplicação das fórmulas dinâmicas e ao desconhecimento de alguns parâmetros. Em muitos casos de controle de capacidade de carga, apenas é realizada a aferição de um fator de segurança pontual, obtido via prova de carga. Neste trabalho, é apresentado um procedimento de controle de capacidade de carga de fundações por estacas cravadas, baseado em registros de nega e repique elástico, a partir de fórmulas dinâmicas, que possibilitam a estimativa da resistência mobilizada ao final da cravação em todo o universo de estacas de uma obra. Este procedimento proposto foi aplicado em um estudo de caso de uma obra em um porto em Santa Catarina. Nesta obra foram cravadas 2506 estacas pré-moldadas de concreto, controladas por nega e repique elástico, registrados em todas as estacas no final da cravação. Neste conjunto de estacas foram executadas 74 provas de carga dinâmica, com energia crescente, e quatro provas de carga estática. Neste caso de obra controlada, os resultados mostraram que o procedimento adotado, baseado na utilização de fórmulas dinâmicas, com parâmetros calibrados a partir dos resultados das provas de carga dinâmica, permitiu estimar valores de resistência mobilizada ao final da cravação das 2506 estacas da obra, que apresentaram um valor médio próximo ao valor médio encontrado nas 74 estacas ensaiadas. Além disso, o coeficiente de variação dos valores de resistência mobilizada de todas as estacas da obra foi da ordem de 16,0%, similar ao coeficiente de variação de 14,7%, obtido nos resultados das provas de carga dinâmica. / The different final lengths of driven piles reflect the natural variability of the soil, and are dependent of the driving controls based in the measurements of the final set and elastic rebound. Normally these measurements are not used to predict the ultimate capacity of pile foundations, at the end of driving, due to the limitation of the dynamic formulas and the lack of some parameters. In many cases, the pile capacity control is based on a determination of a single safety factor, obtained from pile load tests. In this work, it is proposed a procedure to control the ultimate capacity of driven piles, based on the results of the final set and the elastic rebound, and dynamic formulas, which allow the estimation of the mobilized resistance at the end of driving of all piles driven in a particular project. This procedure was applied in a case study of a port in Santa Catarina. In this case, 2506 precast concrete piles were driven, and controlled by the elastic rebound, recorded at the end of driving. Also, dynamic load tests, with increasing energy, were performed on 74 piles, and static load tests were carried out on four piles. The results showed that this procedure adopted, based on the use of dynamic formulas calibrated using the results of dynamic load tests, is capable to estimate the values of mobilized resistance along all piles at the end of driving. The average result of the mobilized resistance of the 2506 piles was close to the average value found by the results of the 74 pile dynamic load tests. Also, the coefficient of variation of the mobilized resistance of all piles was around 16.0%, similar to the coefficient of variation of 14.7%, obtained by the dynamic load tests.

A técnica da fotoelasticidade pode ser particularmente útil na análise de tensões em sistemas com geometrias complexas. Em um equipamento chamado polariscópio, um feixe de luz polarizada atravessa o modelo fotoelástico que representa o protótipo. Ao submeter este modelo a um carregamento, faixas de diferentes cores poderão ser visualizadas. Cada cor é associada a um nível de tensão. As tensões observadas no modelo fotoelástico podem ser comparadas com as tensões determinadas nos modelos numéricos ou analíticos. Em casos específicos, o problema da distribuição de tensões em uma fundação pode ser analisado com emprego da fotoelasticidade. A análise do comportamento de estacas helicoidais através da técnica da fotoelasticidade pode ser então de grande valia para estudos mais aprofundados deste sistema. O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi viabilizar este método experimental para ser aplicado no Departamento de Geotecnia da EESC em análises de tensões em sistemas geotécnicos. Para validar as análises experimentais, tensões observadas em modelos de geometria simples foram comparadas com as tensões determinadas por meio de modelagem numérica com o método dos elementos finitos. O comportamento da fundação por estaca helicoidal observado pela técnica da fotoelasticidade mostrou semelhança ao observado na modelagem numérica. Por meio da distribuição de tensões, foi possível avaliar a influência da geometria helicoidal da lâmina e da profundidade de instalação da ancoragem no terreno. / The photoelastic method can be particularly useful for stress analysis with complex geometry systems. In equipment called polariscope, a polarized light beam crosses the photoelastic model that represents the prototype. Submitting this model to a load, fringes of different colors can be visualized. Each color is associated to a stress level. The stresses corresponding to the observed fringes on the photoelastic model can be compared to the stresses obtained through analytical or numerical models. In specific cases, the stress distribution problem can be analyzed with the use of photoelasticity. The photoelastic analysis of the helical pile behavior can then be valuable for further studies of this system. The main objective of this research was enabling this experimental method to be applied in the Department of Geotechnical Engineering of EESC in geotechnical systems stress analysis. To validate the experimental analysis, stresses observed in simple geometry models have been compared to those stresses determined by numerical modeling with the finite element method. The observed behavior of the helical pile foundation by photoelastic method showed similarity to that one observed through numerical modeling. Stress distribution analyses allowed evaluating the influence of helical blade geometry and the depth of installation.