Abrasive blasting process optimization is aimed at establishing relationships between applied feed rates and resulting productivity and consumption rates. It is clear that the high costs of disposal of the multimedia wastes generated by the dry abrasive blasting processes are of increasing concern in the future of shipbuilding industry. In such circumstances essential care has to be given to all components of the process to enhance productivity and decrease consumption rates. This study discusses most of the process components and their respective effects on blasting productivity and consumption rates briefly and concentrates on two important process parameters, nozzle pressure and abrasive feed rate. Feed rate is a vital process parameter that contributes to the productivity and consumption rates of the process. Subsequently feed rates also can significantly impact the costs bore by Shipbuilding Industry in the form of disposal and environmental costs. Most commonly used abrasives were identified through a rigorous survey and were opted to be used in this study. The approach adopted to develop the relationships consists of a mass balance equation between the expended abrasives and disposed wastes to clean a predetermined area of a plate. The obtained data was further analysed to develop productivity rates and consumption rates for each sample runs. The data was then evaluated to formulate relationships that would enable the derivation of optimum feed rates for desirable productivity and reduced waste generation.

Sand ramps have been (and still are) neglected in geomorphological research. Only recently any awareness of their potential of being a major source of palaeoenvironmental information, thanks to their multi-process character, has been developed. In Namibia, sand ramps were terra incognita. This study defines, classifies and systematizes sand ramps, investigates the formative processes and examines their palaeoenvironmental significance. The study region is located between the coastal Namib desert and the Great Escarpment, between the Tiras Mountains to the north and the Aus area to the south. Two lines of work were followed: geomorphological and sedimentological investigations in the field, assisted by interpretation of satellite images, aerial photographs and topographic maps, and palaeopedological and sedimentological analytical work in the laboratory. Two generations of sand ramps could be identified. The older generation, represented by a single sand ramp within the study region, is characterized by the presence of old basal sediments. The bulk of the sand ramps is assigned to the young generation, which is divided into three morpho-types: in windward positions voluminous ramps are found, in leeward positions low-volume ramps exist, either of very high or very low slope angle. The most distinct characteristic of sand ramp sediments is their formation by interacting aeolian deposition and fluvial slope wash. The last period of deposition, which shaped all the entire young sand ramps, but also the upper part of the old ramp, is suggested to have occurred after c. 40 ka BP, implying a highly dynamic climatic system during that time, with seasonal aridity and low-frequency, but high-intensity rainfall. A phase of environmental stability followed, most likely around 25 ka BP, supporting growth of vegetation, stabilization and consolidation of the sediments as well as soil formation. Subsequently, the profile was truncated and a desert pavement formed, under climatic conditions comparable to those of the present semi-desert. The ramps were then largely cut off from the bedrock slopes, implying a change towards higher ecosystem variability. As the final major process, recent and modern aeolian sands accumulated on the upper ramp slopes. A luminescence date for the recent sand places their deposition at about 16 ka BP, close to the Last Glacial Maximum. Regarding the source of the sands, a local origin is proposed. For the sand ramp of the old generation the "basic cycle" of initial deposition, stabilization and denudation occurred twelve times, including a phase of calcrete and/or root-cast formation in each of them, adding up to around 60 changes in morphodynamics altogether. At least nine of these cycles took place between 105 ka BP and the LGM, indicating that the general cooling trend during the Late Pleistocene was subject to a high number of oscillations of the environmental conditions not identified before for southern Namibia. Due to the high resolution obtained by the study of sand ramp sediments, but also due to the very special situation of the study area in a desert margin, 100 km from the South Atlantic and in the transition zone between summer and winter rainfall, correlation with stratigraphies (of mostly lower resolution) established for different regions in southern Africa did not appear promising. In conclusion, sand ramps generally serve as a valuable tool for detailed deciphering of past morphodynamics and thereby palaeoenvironmental conditions. For south-west Namibia, sand ramps shed some more light on the Late Quaternary landscape evolution. / In der geomorphologischen Forschung haben Sandrampen bislang wenig Beachtung gefunden, erst in jüngster Zeit ist auf ihr Potential als Speicher von Paläoumweltbedingungen hingewiesen worden. In Namibia waren Sandrampen terra incognita. Die vorliegende Studie definiert, klassifiziert und systematisiert Sandrampen in Südwest-Namibia, sie entschlüsselt ihre Bildungsprozesse und untersucht ihre paläoklimatische Bedeutung. Das Arbeitsgebiet liegt zwischen der küstenparallelen Namib und der Großen Randstufe, zwischen den Tirasbergen im Norden und der Gegend um Aus im Süden. Methodisch standen geomorphologische und sedimentologische Untersuchungen im Gelände im Vordergrund, unterstützt durch die Interpretation von Satellitenbildern, Luftbildern und topographischen Karten. Zahlreiche Substratproben wurden im Labor paläopedologisch und sedimentologisch analysiert. Es konnten zwei Sandrampen-Generationen identifiziert werden. Die ältere Generation, im Arbeitsgebiet durch nur eine Rampe vertreten, zeichnet sich durch das Vorkommen alter basaler Sedimente aus. Alle anderen Rampen sind der jüngeren Generation zuzuordnen und lassen sich in drei Morpho-Typen unterteilen: In Luv-Positionen finden sich voluminöse Rampen, während im Lee geringmächtige Rampen von entweder extrem steiler oder sehr geringer Hangneigung ausgebildet sind. Das auffälligste Merkmal der Sandrampen ist ihre Bildung durch die Interaktion von äolischer Deposition und Hangspülung. Die letzte Depositionsphase, in der die gesamten Körper der jungen Sandrampen abgelagert und die basalen Sedimente der alten Generation überlagert wurden, hat vermutlich nach 40 ka BP stattgefunden. Dies impliziert ein hochdynamisches klimatisches System zu dieser Zeit, mit saisonaler Aridität und seltenen, aber intensiven Regenfällen. Es folgte eine Phase der Ökosystemstabilität, vermutlich um 25 ka BP, in der es zu Vegetationsentwicklung und Bodenbildung sowie zu Stabilisierung und Konsolidierung der Sedimente kam. Eine anschließende Profilkappung mit Wüstenpflasterbildung geschah dann unter ähnlichen klimatischen Bedingungen wie in der heutigen Halbwüste. Danach wurden die Sandrampen fast überall von den Hängen abgeschnitten, was einer Änderung zu höherer Variabilität im Ökosystem zuzusprechen wäre. Die jüngste wesentliche Überprägung bestand in der Ablagerung subrezenter und moderner äolischer Sande in den obersten Bereichen der Sandrampen. Lumineszenzdatierungen stellen die subrezenten Sande ins letzte Hochglazial (~ 16 ka BP). Dem Sandrampensand wird eine lokale Herkunft zugesprochen. Für die Sandrampe der älteren Generation wiederholte sich der Zyklus von Deposition, Stabilisierung und Denudation insgesamt zwölfmal, inklusive je einer Phase von Kalkkrusten- und/oder Wurzelpseudomorphosenbildung. Insgesamt sind rund 60 Prozesswechsel dokumentiert. Mindestens neun dieser Zyklen verliefen zwischen 105 ka BP und dem letzten Hochglazial. Der generelle Abkühlungstrend während des Spätpleistozäns war also einer bedeutenden Anzahl von Schwankungen unterworfen, die bislang für Südnamibia nicht bekannt waren. Aufgrund der hohen zeitlichen Auflösung, die sich aus den Sandrampensedimenten erschließt, aber auch durch die besondere Lage des Arbeitsgebietes in einer Wüstenrandregion, 100 km vom Südatlantik entfernt und in der Übergangszone von Sommer- und Winterniederschlag, wurden Korrelationen mit Stratigraphien (von meist geringerer Auflösung), die für andere Regionen im südlichen Afrika aufgestellt worden sind, als wenig sinnvoll erachtet. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass sich Sandrampen generell sehr gut zur Entschlüsselung paläomorphodynamischer Prozesse eignen und damit wesentlich zur Rekonstruktion von Paläoumweltbedingungen beitragen. Für Südwest-Namibia liefern Sandrampen neue, detaillierte Informationen zur spätquartären Landschaftsgeschichte.

Sand flies serve as the vectors of leishmaniasis and their saliva was shown to affect the outcome of Leishmania infection by immunomodulation of the host. On the other hand, sand fly saliva contains a large scale of farmacologically active proteins that are strongly immunogenous for bitten hosts and specific anti-saliva immunity initiated by repeated sand fly feeding provides protection against Leishmania infection. Specific cell-mediated immunity was shown to be the core of the protectivity; however, our data suggests that the protective immunity has certain limitations. In mice bitten by sand flies for prolonged periods, we observed the desenzitization in term of abrogation of the protective immunity. Thus, we can speculate that the protective effect of immunity is linked solely with the short-term exposure. Nevertheless, our experiments showed that this aspect is also conditioned by the immediate infection after the protective short-term immunization. Taken together, it seems that these limitations may explain the circulation of leishmaniasis in endemic areas, even though humans and animals are frequently immunized by bites of uninfected sand flies. Repeated sand fly feeding on various hosts also promotes production of anti-saliva antibodies that reflect the intensity of exposure. We...

[pt] Freqüentemente, durante os estágios de produção de um poço de óleo, ocorre a produção simultânea de partículas sólidas que originam da massa rochosa ao redor, um processo chamado de produção de areia. Concentrações de tensões nas vizinhanças do poço podem causar perda de coesão entre os grãos, criando assim uma região de matéria granular solta suscetível a ser arrastada pela força de infiltrações. Este trabalho se baseia no estudo da formação de danos nas vizinhanças do poço. Este programa experimental é conduzido ao simular, do interior de uma célula especialmente construída, as pressões crescentes durante esses estágios de escavação numa amostra de rocha, geralmente arenito, pouco consolidada ou um material montado artificialmente simulando arenito. Este processo é conduzido em tempo real dentro de tomógrafo computadorizado de Raio X. Os ensaios tiveram por objetivo identificar a pressão de início e o modo de propagação da ruptura da parede da cavidade interna da amostra ensaiada. Estes são estágios iniciais dos processos de produção de areia em rochas. As análises das imagens tomográficas adquiridas durante os ensaios permitiram a visualização de breakouts e arrombamentos dos poços. Estudos mais detalhados possibilitaram estimar a quantidade de areia produzida e reconstruir tridimensionalmente o processo de propagação de ruptura. / [en] Frequently, during the production stages of an oil well, simultaneous production of solid particles originating from the surrounding rock mass occur, a process called sand production. Stress concentrations around of the well may cause loss of cohesion between grains, thus creating a region of loose granular matter susceptible for drag bye seepage forces. The present work reports on the study of the formation of breakouts/damage around of the well. This experimental program is carried out by simulating, inside an especially constructed cell, the stresses arising during these excavation stages on a sample of a rock, generally a poorly consolidated sandstone or an artificially assembled material simulating a sandstone. This process is carried out in real time inside an X ray computerized tomography. The tests investigated the initial and the evolution of failure at the cavity wall of samples. These are initial stages of the sand production process. The analysis of the CT-scans obtained during tests allowed the visualization of breakouts and collapses of the wells. From studies more details were possible estimate the sand production and produce 3-D images of the propagation of the failure.

[pt] A produção de areia é um dos mais freqüentes e graves problemas observados durante a produção de um poço de petróleo, completado em arenitos mal consolidados. Este fenômeno pode causar obstrução do poço, abrasão dos equipamentos de elevação e de superfície, colapso do revestimento e problemas ambientais derivados da disposição em superfície das areias contaminadas. Por outro lado, em reservatórios de baixa produtividade que produzem óleo de alta viscosidade, uma limitada produção de areia incrementa a produtividade do poço. Nos estudos para previsão da produção de areia é de fundamental importância definir-se um modelo constitutivo capaz de reproduzir o comportamento tensão-deformação do arenito e os mecanismos de ruptura que provocam instabilidade do poço. Este é o tema central desta tese. Em especial, o trabalho procurou explorar modelos constitutivos baseados em meios contínuos de Cosserat. Uma justificativa para isto está relacionada ao fato de experimentos demonstrarem a influência da microestrutura nos processos de ruptura que ocorrem na vizinhança do poço. O modelo utilizado foi o elastoplástico de Bogdanova-Bontcheva & Lippmann (1975) incorporando as leis de fluxo associada e não associada. Inicialmente são definidos alguns conceitos básicos relevantes ao entendimento do fenômeno de produção de sólidos. Uma revisão da teoria dos meios contínuos generalizados de Cosserat é apresentada e em seguida é discutido o modelo elastoplástico de Bogdanova- Bontcheva e Lippmann com detalhes das implementações computacionais necessárias. Finalmente, são feitas análises de geometrias de poços, procurando-se identificar os mecanismos de ruptura que provocam instabilidade e que são uma potencial fonte de produção de areia. / [en] Sand production is one of the most frequent and serious problems observed during the production of an oil well completed in weak sandstones. This phenomenon can cause wellbore plugging, surface and rise equipment abrasion, casing collapse and environmental problems derived from the disposal in surface of contaminated sands. On the other hand, for reservoirs of low productivity, that produce oil of high viscosity, a limited sand production increase the productivity of the well. In the studies for sand production prediction, it is of basic importance to define a consitutive model capable of reproducing the stress-strain behaviour of the sandstones and the failure mechanisms that causes wellbore instability. This is the central focus of the present work. In order to represent the behaviour of the rock masses, models based in Cosserat continuum were used. Elastoplastic models (associated/not associated) under that theory (Bogdanova-Bontcheva and Lippmann) were implemented. Initially, basic concepts related to the understanding of the phenomenon of solid production are presented. A review of the theory of generalized Cosserat continuum is presented, the elastoplastic model of Bogdanova-Bontcheva and Lippmann is described, together with details of the computational implementations. Finally, analyses of well geometries with the implemented Cosserat based elastoplastic models are shown,identifying the failure mechanisms.

[pt] Durante a fase produtiva de um poço de petróleo ou gás, muitas vezes há a produção simultânea de partículas sólidas arrancadas da matriz da rocha reservatório. Este fenômeno recebe o nome de produção de areia. Neste caso as tensões e as condições de fluxo nas vizinhanças do poço são fatores fundamentais para a deflagração do processo. As tensões que se concentram na parede do poço com a perfuração do mesmo, pode ser de tal magnitude que pode causar a perda da coesão entre os grãos e criando , assim , uma região de material granular susceptível ao arraste pelas forças de percolação derivadas do fluxo. Este trabalho visou a realização de ensaios em amostras de arenito Rio Bonito e arenito sintético utilizando a técnica da Tomografia Computadorizada de Raios-X para acompanhamento em tempo real dos ensaios. Os ensaios tiveram por objetivo identificar a pressão de início e o modo de propagação da ruptura da parede da cavidade interna da amostra ensaiada. Estes são estágios iniciais dos processos de produção de areia em rochas. As análises das imagens tomográficas adquiridas durante os ensaios permitiram a visualização de breakouts e arrombamentos dos poços. Estudos mais detalhados possibilitaram estimar a quantidade de areia produzida e reconstruir tridimensionalmente o processo de propagação da ruptura. / [en] During productive phase of the well, manytimes there is simultaneous production of the solid particles detached from matrix of the reservoir rock. This phenomenon receive the name of the sand production. In this case stress and flow conditions around of the well are fundamental factors for deflagration of the process. Stress concentration in the wall of the well lead to the loss of cohesion between grains arising, consequently, a granular material region susceptible for dragging by seepage forces derived from fluid flow. The objective of this work was to perform sand production tests in Rio Bonito and synthetic sandstone samples using real-time X-Ray Computerized Tomography. The tests investigated the initial and the evolution of failure at the cavity wall of samples. These are initial stages of the sand production process. The analysis of the CT-scans obtained during tests allowed the visualization of breakouts and collapses of the wells. From studies more details were possible estimate the sand production and produce 3-D images of the propagation of the failure.

Liquefaction of soil is one of the major contributing factors for damages of infrastructures and utility services during earthquake. Liquefaction occurs when short strong shaking creates undrained loading condition in saturated soil deposit thereby increases pore water pressure, which eventually equals the effective confining pressure resulting in significant reduction in shear strength and bearing capacity of soil deposit. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of polypropylene fiber on sand deposit as a measure to prevent liquefaction but most of them are based on static tests. Therefore, the present study, tries to understand liquefaction characteristics of sand reinforced with polypropylene fiber based on cyclic triaxial test. The main objectives of this study are (i) to explore the effect of polypropylene fiber on pore pressure generation and deformation characteristics of sand, and (ii) to observe the effect of confining pressure on liquefaction characteristics of sand-fiber mixture. A series of stress controlled cyclic triaxial tests were performed at 5 and 10 psi effective confining pressures. At 5 psi effective confining pressure, specimens of clean sand, and sand containing 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.3% polypropylene fiber by dry weight were tested at 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, and 0.4 Cyclic Stress Ratio (CSR). However, at 10 psi effective confining pressure, specimens were also tested for 0.5%, and 0.75% fiber in addition to those at 5 psi confining pressure at 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 CSR. Based on the test results, it was observed that, cyclic shear stress increases with the increase in initial effective confining pressure. Also, for a given CSR, liquefaction resistance decreased with the increase in effective confining pressure. Furthermore, significant improvement in liquefaction resistance was observed when the fiber content exceeded beyond 0.075% at 5 psi confining stress. However, at 10 psi confining pressure, addition of fiber did not help in improvement of liquefaction resistance of sand except when cyclic shear stress was applied at 0.2 CSR. At 0.2 CSR, although the specimens did liquefy based on pore pressure generation criteria at all fiber contents, specimens containing 0.5% and 0.75% fiber did not ever reach 2.5% and 5% DA (Double Amplitude) deformation throughout 1000 loading cycles.

Manufacturers of cast metal parts are interested in the development of a feedback control system for use with the Precision Sand-Casting (PSC) process. As industry demands the ability to cast more complex geometries, there are a variety of challenges that engineers have to address. Certain characteristics of the mold, such as thick-to-thin transitions, extensive horizontal or flat surfaces, and sharp corners increase the likelihood of generating defective casts due to the turbulent metal-flow during fills. Consequently, it is critical that turbulent flow behavior within the mold be minimized as much as possible. One way to enhance the quality of the fill process is to adjust the flow rate of the molten metal as it fills these critical regions of the mold. Existing systems attempt to predict the position of the metal level based on elapsed time from the beginning of the fill stage. Unfortunately, variability in several aspects of the fill process makes it very difficult to consistently predict the position of the metal front. A better approach would be to embed a sensor that can detect the melt through a lift-off distance and determine the position of the metal-front. The information from this sensor can then be used to adjust the flow rate of the aluminum as the mold is filled. This thesis presents the design of a novel non-invasive sensor monitoring system. When deployed on the factory floor, the sensing system will provide all necessary information to allow process engineers to adjust the metal flow-rate within the mold and thereby reduce the amount of scrap being produced. Moreover, the system will exhibit additional value in the research and development of future mold designs.

Until now, for George Sand scholars, two main images of the Sand corpus have been dominant, “un grand fleuve d’Amérique” and “une grande oeuvre multiforme.” While both images evoke the strength and diversity of styles, approaches and genres in Sand’s literary production, they also suggest a certain vagueness in regards to the contours of this oeuvre. Moreover, when speaking about the author’s novelistic writing, scholars and the larger reading public alike often refer to her work as the “eighty or so” novels and short stories she wrote, giving the impression that her work knew no boundaries. In place of this relative sense of unruliness, I propose the vision of an oeuvre unified by a strong theory of the novel and suggest how this corpus is structured by both intertextuality and polyphony. For this purpose, I borrow from Riffaterrian theories of textuality while proposing my own theory of intertextuality in regards to its function in the Sand corpus. I explain how George Sand hands us an actual key to deciphering her entire literary production and how one can understand the theoretical implications of this literary gesture. This key is what I call the author’s “Jacques cycle,” the series of rewritings of her 1834 novel Jacques that she highlights in her 1866 novel Le Dernier Amour. There, the author speaks about Jacques and its rewritings as key novels that have followed the evolution of her thinking as a writer in addition to her reflections on societal concerns. Viewed from this perspective, Sand places intertextuality, rewriting, and metaliterary reflection at the very heart of her conception of literature on the same plane as her societal preoccupations. My dissertation consists of an Introduction, four chapters and a Conclusion. Chapter One presents George Sand's engaged stance in her "Essai sur le drame fantastique" theorizing on intertextuality. Chapter Two demonstrates how her rewriting of La Nouvelle Héloïse in Jacques enters in dialogue with the horizons d'attente associated with women's writing, while constructing what has been called a textual masculinity. Chapter Three analyzes Sand's defense of the autonomy of literature in Jacques and her article, "À propos de Lélia et de Valentine." Chapter Four theorizes on the concept of a Jacques cycle and investigates Sand's Valvèdre and Le Dernier Amour as novels rewriting Jacques in light of the movement of "l'art pour l'art." Theory is thus central in shaping the Sand corpus.

Law Shun-ying, Shirley. / Thesis submitted in: June 2003. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-138). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / List of Tables --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.vi / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- The Hong Kong Jockey Club --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- History of Sand Mesh System in Hong Kong --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Problems Encountered in Track Maintenance --- p.3 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF STUDY / Chapter 2.1 --- Sand and Sand Mesh Systems --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Basic Components of a Turf Track System --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Track Characteristics --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Hardness --- p.14 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Stability --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- Problems Encountered in Sand Mesh Systems --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Maturity of sand mesh system --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Surface instability in the early years after construction --- p.22 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Shading of sections of the Happy Valley track --- p.24 / Chapter 2.5 --- Objectives of Study --- p.26 / Chapter 2.6 --- Hypothesis of Study --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7 --- Significance of Study --- p.27 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 3.1 --- Components of a Turf Track --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- Age Development in Sand Based Turf --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- Surface Stability of Sand Rootzone --- p.32 / Chapter 3.4 --- Physical Properties and Botanical Cmposition --- p.34 / Chapter 3.5 --- Significance of Macropores --- p.42 / Chapter 3.6 --- Water Retention --- p.43 / Chapter 3.7 --- Ideal Sand Medium --- p.45 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 4.1 --- Study Site --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- Sampling Period / Chapter 4.2.1 --- "September, after the commencement of first race" --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Mid-December to January --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- April --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- "June, before the on-set of summer renovation" --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3 --- Sampling Method --- p.53 / Chapter 4.4 --- Physical Qualities of Sand / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Moisture release characteristics --- p.54 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Saturated hydraulic conductivity --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity --- p.59 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Oxygen diffusion rates --- p.62 / Chapter 4.5 --- Grass Bio grass / Chapter 4.5.1 --- "Topgrowth, stolons and roots" --- p.63 / Chapter 4.6 --- Performance Indicator / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Track hardness --- p.65 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Shear strength --- p.67 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Divot assessment --- p.68 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- THE STUDY OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND PROFILE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES / Chapter 5.1 --- Performance Indicators / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Race times --- p.71 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Shear strength --- p.73 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Vertical penetration resistance and hardness --- p.77 / Chapter 5.2 --- Analysis of Physical Properties of Sand / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Moisture release characteristics / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Age and moisture release curves (MRC) in Shatin Turf Track --- p.80 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- MRC and profile design in Happy Valley Old and New Sections --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Hydraulic conductivity in Shatin --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Hydraulic conductivity in Happy Valley --- p.87 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Oxygen diffusion rates / Chapter 5.2.3.1 --- ODR and profile age in Shatin --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.3.2 --- ODR and profile design in Happy Valley --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Grass biomass / Chapter 5.2.4.1 --- Biomass and variation in profile age in Shatin --- p.92 / Chapter 5.2.4.2 --- Biomass and variation in profile design in Happy Valley --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.4.3 --- Biomass and the effect of shade in Happy Valley --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Track hardness / Chapter 5.2.5.1 --- Track hardness and variation in profile age in Shatin --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.5.2 --- Track hardness and variation in profile design in Happy Valley --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Shear strength / Chapter 5.2.6.1 --- Shear strength and variation of profile age in Shatin --- p.98 / Chapter 5.2.6.2 --- Track hardness and variation in profile design in Happy Valley --- p.99 / Chapter 5.3 --- Correlation between Soil Physical Properties and Performance index / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Correlation between soil physical properties and shear strength value --- p.100 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Correlation between soil physical properties and surface hardness --- p.101 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSIONS / Chapter 6.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.118 / Chapter 6.2 --- Implications of Study / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Target levels of performance indicators --- p.120 / Chapter 6.2.1.1 --- Surface strength target level --- p.121 / Chapter 6.2.1.2 --- Surface hardness target level --- p.122 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Turf management and cultural practice implications / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Effect of aging and variations of profile age in Shatin --- p.123 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Effect of different profile design in Happy Valley --- p.125 / Chapter 6.2.2.3 --- Effect of shading in Happy Valley --- p.126 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Construction material and design --- p.126 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Managing user intensity --- p.127 / Chapter 6.3 --- Limitations of Study --- p.128 / Chapter 6.4 --- Further Studies / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Shear strength tester --- p.129 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Maximum life of sand mesh profile --- p.129 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Problems with newly constructed profile --- p.130