A aplicação prática de resíduos industriais, como cinza volante proveniente da queima de carvão, em bases e sub-bases de rodovias, é de grande interesse para engenheiros geotécnicos, uma vez que reduz o consumo de recursos naturais e oferece um destino a esses resíduos. Nesse sentido, esta dissertação de mestrado avalia o desempenho de misturas cinza volante-cal submetidas a condições climáticas extremas. Foram analisadas as propriedades resistência, rigidez e durabilidade de misturas de cinza volante (25%) com areia de Osório, comparando-se ciclos de molhagem-secagem com ciclos de congelamento-degelo. Para isso variou-se: o teor de cal hidratada (3%, 5%, 7%), o grau de compactação (14,0 kN/m³, 15,0 kN/m³, 16,0 kN/m³), a adição de 0,5% de cloreto de sódio (NaCl) como catalisador e a adição de 0,5% de fibras de polipropileno. Foi estudada a influência da temperatura (23°C e 40°C) em um período de 7 dias de cura, chegando-se à conclusão que o aumento de temperatura proporciona elevados ganhos de durabilidade por congelamento e degelo, resistência e rigidez, assim como a adição de sal e fibras de polipropileno Visando ampliar esta pesquisa foi proposta a troca da matriz da mistura (areia de Osório) por fresado (RAP) e a cal hidratada pela cal de carbureto. Para esse novo tipo de mistura, também foi realizado ensaios triaxiais para análise do comportamento tensão-deformação em relação a adição de 0,5% de NaCl, onde percebeu-se um aumento de 3,4° no ângulo de atrito e de 42,8 kPa no intercepto coesivo. As misturas de RAP e cal de carbureto obtiveram melhores resultados de resistência por compressão e durabilidade do que as misturas com areia de Osório e cal dolomítica, para a mesma temperatura de cura. Posteriormente constatou-se que a perda de massa acumulada após os referidos tipos de ciclos é controlada pelo índice porosidade (η)/teor volumétrico de cal (Liv), para ambas as misturas. Além disso, percebeu-se que menores perdas de massa acumulada foram obtidas para os ciclos de molhagem e secagem comparados aos ciclos de congelamento e degelo, tanto para as misturas com areia quanto para as misturas com RAP. / The practical application of industrial residues, such as coal fly ash, on bases and sub-bases of highways, is of great interest to geotechnical engineers, since it reduces the consumption of natural resources and gives a destination to these residues. In this sense, this master's thesis evaluates the performance of coal fly ash-lime mixtures under extreme climatic conditions. Was analysed the impact of the hydrated lime content (3%, 5%, 7%), the degree of compaction (14.0 kN/m³, 15.0 kN/m³, 16.0 kN/m³), the addition of 0.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) as a catalyst and the addition of 0.5% polypropylene fibers, on strength, stiffness and durability (comparing freezing-thawing to wetting-drying cycles), in fly ash mixtures (25%) with Osório sand. The influence of temperature (23 °C and 40 °C) in a period of 7 days of cure was also studied, this increase in temperature has been shown to provide high durability (for freezeing-thawing cycles), strength and stiffness gains, as well as addition of salt and polypropylene fibers. In order to extend this research, it was propose the exchange of the matrix’s mixture (Osório sand) by reclaimed asphalt paving (RAP) and lime hydrated by carbide lime For this new type of mixture, triaxial tests are also performed to analyze the stress-strain behavior in relation to the addition of 0.5% NaCl, where a 3.4° increase in the friction angle was observed, and 42.8 kPa in the cohesive intercept. The mixtures of RAP and carbide lime obtained better strength and durability results than mixtures with Osório sand and dolomitic lime, for the same cure temperature. Subsequently, It was verified that the accumulated loss of after these kinds of cycles is controlled by the index of porosity (η) / volumetric content of lime (Liv), for both mixtures. Besides that, lower losses of accumulated mass was observed for the wetting and drying cycles, compared to the freezing and thawing cycles.

Devido à escassez de recursos hídricos, efluentes de plantas de tratamento de águas residuárias têm sido reutilizadas ou recicladas em todo o mundo. Em algumas regiões áridas e em particular em regiões semi-áridas, o reuso de água tem sido reconhecido como um valioso recurso. Entretanto, dependendo da natureza do uso, surgem preocupações sobre potenciais riscos associados à presença de patógenos e contaminantes e a saúde humana. Uma grande variedade de contaminantes orgânicos pode estar presente nos esgotos domésticos e ser recirculado pelo ambiente. Alguns desses compostos apresentam o potencial de desregular as funções normais do sistema endócrino dos organismos e assim, causar efeitos adversos sobre a saúde humana. Entre esses compostos, incluem-se os hormônios estrógenos naturais e sintéticos. Nesse trabalho, desenvolvido na Estação Experimental de Tratamento de Águas Residuárias Urbanas do IPH/UFRGS, localizada nas dependências da ETE São João – Navegantes / DMAE / Porto Alegre / RS, foi investigada a ocorrência de hormônios naturais e sintéticos em grãos de milho cultivados por processo de irrigação por sulcos com efluentes domésticos tratados. O método analítico utilizado para quantificação dos hormônios de interesse foi a cromatografia líquida de alto desempenho (HPLC). Os resultados obtidos confirmam a presença de hormônios naturais e sintéticos no esgoto bruto e nos efluentes tratados, mas em concentrações extremamente baixas e não indicam processo de transferência ou acúmulo desses contaminantes para os grãos de milho. / Due to the scarcity of fresh water resources, effluents from wastewater treatment plants have increasingly been reclaimed and reused around the world. In some arid and semiarid regions, in particular, reclaimed water has been recognized as a valuable resource for non-potable use such as irrigating crops. However, depending on the nature of application, there is concern about potential risks associated with pathogens and organic contaminants to the environment and human health. A wide range of organic contaminants may be present in wastewater and the environment receiving it. These include natural and synthetic estrogens have the potential to disrupt the normal function (s) of endocrine systems in organisms and thus causing health effects on wildlife and humans. In the present work, developed at “Estação Experimental de Tratamento de Águas Residuárias Urbanas do IPH/UFRGS”, located on the ETE São João – Navegantes /DMAE / Porto Alegre /RS, was investigated the occurrence of natural and synthetic hormones in corn’s grain (Zea mays) cultivated by furrow irrigation of treated domestic effluents. The analytic method used for the hormones quantification was the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results confirm the presence of natural and synthetic hormones on the untreated and treated effluents, although with a very low concentration and not indicated accumulation of this one to the corn’s grain.

A infraestrutura de transportes traz benefícios sociais e econômicos, porém traz também inevitáveis impactos ambientais que não podem ser negligenciados, como supressão da vegetação local e poluição atmosférica. Esses impactos ambientais podem ser quantificados e analisados pela técnica Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV), que cria a possibilidade de contemplar o aspecto ambiental na tomada de decisões e pode trazer melhor compreensão da cadeia produtiva. Na última década, é crescente a utilização dessa técnica na área de pavimentação, entretanto ainda é pouco usual no Brasil. O objetivo dessa dissertação é avaliar os impactos ambientais produzidos por duas técnicas de restauração de pavimentos asfálticos, comparando-se os resultados de ACV que observaram as fases de produção de materiais e de transportes. Dois cenários de restauração foram estudados, o primeiro considerou uma mistura asfáltica composta exclusivamente por materiais virgens (restauração convencional), e o segundo, considerou uma mistura asfáltica composta por 35% de Reciclado de Pavimento Asfáltico (RPA). As ACV foram procedidas de três maneiras distintas: (a) com o banco de dados e software alemão GaBi e o método EDIP 1997, (b) com o banco de dados da USLCI e pelo método do EDIP 1997, e (c) com software PavementLCA e o método TRACI. Os resultados obtidos a partir dos três diferentes procedimentos indicaram que a restauração com RPA apresentou redução dos impactos ambientais potencias quando comparada com a restauração convencional. Observou-se também que, para a maioria das análises, a atividade que mais contribuiu para os impactos das duas estratégias de restauração foi a de produção dos materiais. A análise de sensibilidade dos resultados obtidos com o GaBi e com o USLCI mostrou diferenças consideráveis, causadas pelas diferentes fontes de dados. Apesar de ser uma técnica em crescimento, a ACV ainda apresenta limitações quando aplicada a pavimentos, sobretudo, pela complexidade de seu ciclo de vida e pelas incertezas que envolvem sua elaboração, assim, estudos sobre ACV devem continuar, a fim de padronizar a técnica para a área e, com o tempo, obter resultados cada vez mais precisos. / Transportation infrastructure brings social and economic benefits, but it also brings unavoidable environmental impacts that can not be neglected, such as suppression of local vegetation and air pollution. These environmental impacts can be quantified and analyzed by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique, which creates the possibility of contemplating the environmental aspect in decision making and can provide a better understanding of the production chain. In the last decade, the use of this technique in the area of pavement is increasing, although not very usual in Brazil. The goal of this thesis is to analyze the environmental impacts produced by two asphalt pavement rehabilitation techniques, comparing the LCA results of material production and transportation phases. Two rehabilitation scenarios were studied, the first one considering an asphalt mixture composed exclusively by raw materials (conventional rehabilitation), and the second one considered an asphalt mixture composed by 35% of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP). The LCA was done in three different ways: (a) with the German database and software GaBi and the EDIP 1997 method, (b) with the USLCI database and the EDIP 1997 method, and (c) with PavementLCA software and the TRACI method. The results obtained from the three different procedures indicated that the rehabilitation with RPA showed reduction of the potential environmental impacts when compared with the conventional rehabilitation. It was also observed that for the majority of the analysis, the activity that contributed the most to the impacts of the two rehabilitation strategies was the material production one. The sensitivity analysis of the results obtained with GaBi and with USLCI showed considerable differences in their values, caused by the different data sources. Although it is a growing technique, LCA still presents limitations when applied to pavements, mainly due to the complexity of its life cycle and the uncertainties involved in its elaboration, so studies about LCA should continue with the aim of standardizing the technique for the area and, over time, achieve increasingly more accurate results.

Over the past decades, several new technologies/materials (such as WMA, RAP, rubber, polymers, bio-binders…etc.) were incorporated into asphalt mixtures. However, current mix-design specifications evaluate all mixtures containing these different additives/technologies based on volumetric. Further, RAP incorporation in asphalt mixtures is still limited, and the influence of lowered production temperatures on RAP contribution in RAP-WMA mixtures is understudied. To tackle these issues, this study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the effect of production factors ( RAP content and source, binder grade, and production temperatures) on the effective binder in WMA-RAP mixtures, and the role of the effective binder in controlling mixture performance.The experimental program included evaluation of the compaction, cracking, and rutting performance of WMA-RAP mixtures produced with a different combination of the production factors. The Semi-Circular Bend (SCB) test at intermediate temperatures was used for cracking evaluation, while the Indirect Tension Test at High Temperatures (IDT-HT) was used for rutting evaluation. Further, the study included rheological characterization of extracted binder from the mixtures to investigate the role of the effective binder on cracking performance. The results showed that the effective binder properties are changed significantly with changes in the production factors, as measured by the extracted binder rheological properties. Also, the properties of the effective binder showed a direct control of the mixture performance as measured by the IDT-HT strength and the flexibility index obtained from the SCB test. Binder selection limits were developed for lab-produced WMA-RAP mixtures based on the Glover-Rowe parameter. Finally, a validation study was conducted using data from four different projects, including a field project in Texas, FHWA’s accelerated loading facility, a laboratory mixture study in Wisconsin, and a New Hampshire DOT study to confirm the refine the findings of this study. / Civil Engineering

Recently, Sustainable engineering has become a necessity due to the limited availability of virgin materials, environmental concerns, and the lack of economic resources. According to the United Nations, "Sustainable engineering is the process of using resources in a way that does not compromise the environment or deplete the materials for future generations." However, developing cost-efficient and long-term road infrastructure has always been a challenge. Therefore, novel solutions are required to extend the pavement life cycle and minimize raw materials utilization to overcome this challenge. This research focuses on integrating the waste material to produce rheological engineered asphalt mixtures as pavement material. This study utilized three wastes, which are Off-spec fly ash (OFA), Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), and finally, a bio-oil extracted from Spent Coffee Ground (SCG). OFA is a viable source for recycling due to the quantities produced yearly and deposited in landfills. For many years fly ash has been effectively used as a partial replacement for Portland cement in producing different types of concrete, embankments, and soil stabilization. Most of the underutilized fly ash is Off-Spec. That was the motive behind adopting the OFA in this study. This study aims to investigate the fly ash's interaction with the asphalt binder as an additive rather than a filler. Few studies evaluated this hypothesis regarding fly ash as an additive. Moreover, this research's novelty comes as there is a lack of research evaluating the fly ash-asphalt physio-chemical interaction. RAP utilization in roads infrastructure became a current state of practice. Most state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) have been using RAP at a composition average of about 20% of the mix by mass. This study focuses on maximizing the utilization of the RAP content through using a bio-oil extracted from the SCG as a new promising rejuvenator. Spent coffee ground is not well recycled, and almost six million tons are sent to landfills every year. This waste was found to release methane into the atmosphere; methane is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas and has a global warming potential up to 86 times greater than CO2, which is highly harmful to the environment. In this study, the overreaching goal is to develop a green, innovative, and sustainable approach by recycling three different types of wastes (OFA, RAP, and SCGO) to achieve high-performance asphalt pavements. In addition, this study documents the science-based approach to successfully integrating these wastes as substitutes to the asphalt binder. Results show that some OFAs are associated with improved rheological performance, damage healing, and cracking resistance as an asphalt binder additive. The improvement is attributed to the level of interaction between the binder and the physical and chemical characteristics of the OFA. The use of rejuvenators further improved the aging resistance of the ash blends, suggesting high potential synergy, especially the proposed SCGO rejuvenator, which promotes utilizing it as a promising eco-friendly rejuvenator in the asphalt pavement industry. After engineering a product built by OFA and rejuvenators, these results have been validated by mixtures’ scale testing. 62% optimum RAP content is suggested to be utilized with an 11% dosage of the proposed SCGO rejuvenator as binder replacement. For the new engineered OFA/rejuvenators products, a 30% optimum RAP content is suggested to be used. Finally, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is conducted to evaluate the environmental potential of utilizing multi recycled materials in the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) industry. The results show a reduction in environmental impacts with RAP utilization and the new eco-friendly products (OFA and SCGO rejuvenator). Shifting HMA plant fuel to natural gas instead of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) offers considerable potential environmental benefits. Adopting the Ultrasonic Assisted-oil Extraction (UAE) as SCGO rejuvenator extraction method showed less energy and solvent consumption than the Soxhlet extraction, resulting in less environmental impacts. / Civil Engineering