O Antropoceno é marcado pelo aumento da demanda populacional e pelo desenvolvimento industrial. Essas alterações antrópicas têm tido como consequência mudanças ambientais e climáticas, principalmente nos últimos 200 anos. O Rio Guaíba, localizado no Estado brasileiro do Rio Grande do Sul, é considerado de extrema importância por diferentes atributos: (1) principal fonte de abastecimento de água potável para a população de Porto Alegre; (2) importante via de navegação, que liga a região central do Estado com a Lagoa dos Patos e, consequentemente, com o Oceano Atlântico; e (3) abriga o setor industrial da capital Porto Alegre. Este trabalho apresenta como objetivo principal a realização de um estudo de reconstrução ambiental em três testemunhos coletados ao longo do Rio Guaíba. Para atingir este objetivo, determinaram-se níveis de elementos traço (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, P, Pb, Sc e Zn), em conjunto com a geocronologia recente, obtida por meio das atividades dos radionuclídeos 210Pb e 137Cs, utilizando o modelo CRS (Constant Rate of Supply). Foram calculados os índices de geoacumulação: Fator de Enriquecimento, Pollution Load Index e Sediment Pollution Index. As colunas sedimentares G1 e G2 demonstraram resultados que expressam as consequências da mineração de areia que ocorre no rio Jacuí, principal fonte de sedimento para o Rio Guaíba. A partir de aproximadamente 1998, houve uma maior fiscalização das dragas operantes neste rio, e a dinâmica deposicional desses testemunhos foi novamente alterada. A reconstrução realizada no testemunho G3 demonstrou-se diferente das demais. Alterações no perfil granulométrico foram explicadas por eventos climáticos (El Niño e La Niña); e o aumento na concentração de elementos traço, principalmente Cr, Pb, P e Zn, está ligado a possíveis fontes antropogênicas. Neste estudo de reconstrução ambiental, a utilização do modelo CRS, de proxies de metais e da granulometria de finos mostrou-se adequada, principalmente no caso das consequências relacionadas à mineração de areia no rio Jacuí. / The new epoch Anthropocene is marked by the increase of population and industrial development. These anthropic alterations have had as consequences environmental and climatic changes, especially in the last two hundred years. The Guaíba River, located at the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul, is extremely important for different attributes: (1) it is the main source of potable water to the capital Porto Alegre; (2) it is an important navigation route, that connects the State central region with the Patos Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean; and (3) it harbors the main industries of Porto Alegre. The principal objective of this study was to obtain environmental reconstructions for three sediment cores from Guaíba River. To accomplish this goal, we determined the concentrations of trace elements (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, P, Pb, Sc and Zn) and proceeded the analysis of recent geochronology, which was acquired through 210Pb and 137Cs activities with the CRS model. Furthermore, we calculated geoaccumulation indices: Enrichment Factor, Pollution Load Index and Sediment Pollution Index. The sediment cores G1 and G2 presented results that expressed the consequences of the sand mining that occurs at Jacuí River. Approximately after 1998, there has been better control of the dredges that operate on the river and the depositional dynamics were changed again. The G3 reconstruction had different conclusions compared with the others. Grain size alterations were explained by climatic events, like El Niño and La Niña; and the concentration increase of trace elements, mainly Cr, Pb, P and Zn, was connected with possible anthropogenic sources. In this study of environmental reconstruction, the utilization of the CRS model and of metals concentrations and grain size as proxies proved to be adequate, especially in the case of the sand mining at Jacuí River and its consequences.

The soil-structure interaction models associated with laterally loaded deep foundations have typically been based on load tests involving relatively small diameter foundations. The lateral soil resistance for larger diameter foundations has been assumed to increase linearly with diameter; however, few, if any load tests have been performed to confirm this relationship. To better understand the lateral resistance of large diameter deep foundations in sand, a series of full scale, cyclic, lateral load tests were performed on two 1.2 m diameter drilled shafts and a 0.324 m diameter steel pipe pile in sand. Although the tests involve two different foundation types, the upper 2.4 m of the profile, which provides the majority of the lateral resistance, consists of sand compacted around both foundation types. Therefore, these test results make it possible to evaluate the effect of foundation diameter on lateral soil resistance. The drilled shafts were first loaded in one direction by reacting against a fifteen-pile group. Subsequently a load test was performed in the opposite direction by reacting against a 9-pile group. The soil profile below the 2.4 m-thick layer of compacted sand consisted of interbedded layers of sand and fine-grained soil. For the drilled shaft load tests, pile head deflection and applied load were measured by string potentiometers and load cells, respectively. Tilt was also measured as a function of depth with an inclinometer which was then used to calculate deflection and bending moment as a function of depth. For the pipe pile, deflection and applied load were also measured; however, bending moment was computed based on strain gauges readings along the length of the pile. The lateral response of the drilled shafts and pipe pile were modeled using the computer programs LPILE (Reese et al., 2000), SWM6.0 (Ashour et al., 2002), and FB-MultiPier Version 4.06 (Hoit et al., 2000). Comparisons were made between the measured and computed load-deflection curves as well as bending moment versus depth curves. Soil parameters in the computer programs were iteratively adjusted until a good match between measured and computed response of the 0.324 m pipe pile was obtained. This refined soil profile was then used to model the drilled shaft response. User-defined p-multipliers were selected to match the measured results with the calculated results. On average very good agreement was obtained between measured and computed response without resorting to p-multipliers greater than 1.0. These results suggest that a linear increase in lateral resistance with foundation diameter is appropriate. LPILE typically produced the best agreement with measured response although the other programs usually gave reasonable results as well. Cyclic loading generally reduced the lateral resistance of the drilled shafts and pile foundation by about 20%.

A soils infiltration rate (IR) is the measured rate that soil is able to absorb water, either from precipitation or irrigation. A low IR can cause damage to crops if the necessary amount of water cannot penetrate to the plant roots in the time needed. The damage can be common in permanent plantings such as almond and pistachio orchards where regular tillage is avoided. This indicates a physical aspect to the problem because tillage increases IR. However, there is also an electrochemical side to infiltration problems because certain calcium surfactant treatments can increase IR. Various other methods have been used to increase IR such as using cover crops and increasing organic matter. Despite these different approaches to the problem, the specific cause of low IR is often unknown. This study was conducted to determine what physical properties of soils from a site in California cause low IR. This research shows the relationship of these properties to low IR. It was assumed that high amounts of mica in the very fine sand and coarse silt fraction of soils in Northwestern Kern County, California may interact with other physical and chemical properties to reduce IR. Fourteen sites were sampled in the area near the towns of Wasco and Shafter. The soils sampled represented the typical agricultural soils of the area and exhibited three levels of infiltration, Good (no amendments), Moderate (requires gypsum), and Poor (gypsum application is insufficient). Mica percentages in the very fine sand and coarse silt were calculated using a petrographic microscope and compared to the overall IR of the fields. Mica was shown to be significant factor at all three levels of IR.

Beach sand acts as a buffer to wave energy, protecting the shoreline from erosion. Estimates of the quantity and distribution of beach sand in littoral cells of the PNW are critical to the understanding and prediction of shoreline erosion or accretion. This study was initiated in order to: 1) document the distribution of sand in littoral cells of the Pacific Northwest; 2) determine the factors which have brought about these present distributions; and 3) address the relationship of beach sand distribution to shoreline stability.

The chemical binders used to make sand molds and cores thermally decompose and release gas when subjected to the high temperature conditions in sand casting processes. Computational models that predict the evolution of the binder gas are being introduced into casting simulations in order to better predict and eliminate gas defects in metal castings. These models require knowledge of the evolved binder gas mass and molecular weight as a function of temperature, but available gas evolution data are limited. In the present study, the mass and molecular weight of gas evolved from PUNB bonded sand are measured as a function of temperature for use with binder gas models. Thermogravimetric analysis of bonded sand is employed to measure the binder gas mass evolution as a function of temperature for heating rates experienced in molds and cores during casting. The volume and pressure of gas evolved from bonded sand are measured as a function of temperature in a specially designed quartz manometer during heating and cooling in a furnace. The results from these experiments are combined with the ideal gas law to determine the binder gas molecular weight as a function of temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that the PUNB binder significantly decomposes when heated to elevated temperatures, and the PUNB binder gas mass evolution is not strongly influenced by heating rate. During heating of PUNB bonded sand at a rate of 2°C/min, the binder gas molecular weight rapidly decreases from 375 g/mol at 115°C to 99.8 g/mol at 200°C. The molecular weight is relatively constant until 270°C, after which it decreases to 47.7 g/mol at 550°C. The molecular weight then steeply decreases to 30.3 g/mol at 585°C and then steeply increases to 47.2 g/mol at 630°C, where it remains constant until 750°C. Above 750°C, the binder gas molecular weight gradually decreases to 33.3 g/mol at 898°C. The present measurements are consistent with the molecular weights calculated using the binder gas composition data from previous studies. The binder gas is composed of incondensable gases above 709°C, and the binder gas partially condenses during cooling at 165°C if the bonded sand is previously heated below 507°C.

In 1881 an assassin's bullet changes the course of American history. Could it be that Julia Sand was the only one to foresee the destiny of the country? Familiar with now President Arthur's exclusionary politics, Julia writes and urges the President to reform his ways and unite the Republican Party. Great Emergencies is a stage play about the lavish dangers of The Gilded Age, but ultimately a cautionary tale about those of us whose voices are doomed to be forgotten because of the ephemeral and apathetic nature of human history.

Foundries today use temporary molds made from silica sand with a resin bonding agent to hold a form until the metal is poured. With the aid of computer simulations, the molds are designed to produce good castings with minimal pattern iterations by calculating cooling and porosity. Stress analysis simulations are being developed using the current software, but the known mechanical properties for the sand mold are minimal and incomplete. This study measures the elastic modulus of bonded sand as a function of temperature to obtain baseline data for the model. Following ASTM standards, a three point bend test is used to measure the elastic modulus of chemically bonded sand as a function of temperature to better understand the complex nature of the mold as it undergoes heating and cooling. Multiple measurements of the elastic modulus of PUNB bonded silica sand are performed from room temperature to 500°C in a nitrogen atmosphere to capture the changes in the elastic modulus under heating. It is found that for an intermediate heating rate of 8°C/min, the elastic modulus decreases steeply from a room temperature value of about 3,600 MPa to 600 MPa at 125°C. Between 125°C and 250°C, the elastic modulus is relatively constant. Above 250°C, it increases to 1,200 MPa at 280°C and then decreases again to 800 MPa at 350°C. Above 350°C, the elastic modulus increases linearly with temperature until it reaches 2,200 MPa at 500°C. At approximately 500°C, the strength of the bonded sand vanishes. At a given temperature above 125°C, the elastic modulus can vary by more than a factor of two depending on the heating rate. Furthermore, the elastic modulus agrees with previous steady state temperature measurement literature when specimens are held at a constant temperature until the elastic modulus reach steady. It is also found that the addition of black iron oxide has no effect on the elastic modulus, whereas solvent removal before a test increases the stiffness of the bonded sand at temperatures below 150°C.

Concrete is the most common building material in the world and its use has been increasing during the last century as the need for construction projects has escalated. Traditionally, concrete uses Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) as binder, water as the activator of cement and aggregate. Finding an appropriate replacement for traditional concrete is a desirable solution to obviate the environmental problems caused by cement production. The use of fly ash as a partial replacement for Portland cement is a method to maintain the properties of concrete and reduce the need for cement. Fly ash is a by-product from coal-fired power plants and is abundantly available. The percentage of cement replacement can be varied according to application and mix design. One of the potential materials to substitute for conventional concrete is geopolymer concrete (introduced by Davidovits in 1979). Geopolymer concrete is an inorganic alumino-silicate polymer synthesized from predominantly silicon, aluminum and byproduct materials such as fly ash. Geopolymer properties have been investigated for several years and it is still a major area of interest among researchers and industry partners as it does not contain cement and uses fly ash and alkali liquids as binders to produce a paste to consolidate aggregates. Furthermore, the aggregate comprises a substantial portion of concrete. Including coarse and fine aggregates it is normally obtained from natural sources. Fine aggregate in Australia is usually mined from sand quarries. As the demand for concrete production increases, more natural sand is needed. The need for fine aggregate should be addressed in an environmentally friendly manner, considering the diminishing sources of natural sand. Red sand is a by-product generated from the manufacture of alumina from bauxite by the Bayer process. / Previous studies on properties of red sand have shown that it has the potential to be used in concrete as a fine aggregate. While the use of red sand in traditional concrete has been investigated by some researchers, no research has been reported regarding the use of this by-product in manufacturing geopolymer concrete. This research looks into the replacement of natural sand fine aggregates with red sand in geopolymer concrete. Initially, an extensive series of mixtures was prepared and tested. The objective of the research was to identify the salient parameters affecting the properties of geopolymer concrete when natural sand is replaced by red sand. At the next stage, attempts were made to enhance the mechanical and durability features of red sand geopolymer concrete. The final stage consisted of testing red sand geopolymer concrete to find out the various properties of this novel construction material.

The desire of the minerals industry to be more sustainable has led towards the increasing development of by-products. One such industry is the production of Alumina. The Alumina industry in Australia is the major producer of alumina in the western world with over 25 million tonnes of Bauxite Residue per annum. Alcoa World Alumina (Alcoa) has three refineries in Western Australia producing approximately 20,000 tonnes of Mud and a similar level of Red Sand each day. These as yet unutilised potential resources are being stockpiled, occupying a significant footprint. It is widely recognised within industry that there would be economic, environment and social benefits if a sustainable use for these materials were found. One such potential by-product is the production of coarse bauxite residue (Red Sand), neutralised and washed low in salt. The main purpose of this research was to establish a potential market for this material, through scientific evaluation of Red Sand as a replacement of natural fine aggregate (Natural Yellow Sand) in concrete mixes. For this research, the mixed stream of Bauxite Residue (fine and coarse) obtained in the Bayer process was neutralized by a process of carbonation then washed using cyclones and counter current wash towers to a value added byproduct. The coarse particles (Washed and Carbonated Sand-WCS) of the stream were separated by Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separation technique (WHIMS) so that different segments such as High Iron Sand (HIS) and Low Iron Sand (LIS) were formed. Physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of these materials have been tested and compared with that of natural sand. Several mixes of concrete were then designed using Red Sand as a fine aggregate in order to verify their effects on strength and durability indicators of concrete. / The comparative analysis between normal mix proportions and the mix proportions utilizing Red Sand was also achieved. In addition, the impact of marine environment on concrete mix design and properties of manufactured concrete were evaluated with a series of standard laboratory tests. The findings were promising in terms of both mechanical properties and durability and suggested that Red Sand, in particular Low Iron Sand is likely to be effective in place of fine aggregates and can be used within marine grade concrete with no major differences when compared to normal concrete. From the results obtained, it can be deduced that this material can be used in a wide range of concrete applications in Civil Engineering and Construction.

<p><p>The reason to return is a phenomenon which tells us that many people want to travel back to a destination they visited before. Even if there are changes in the society with the New tourist who seeks for the authentic, this essay is proving that there still is a dominance of repeat tourism and search for belonging and safety. That implication shows evidence that there still are remaining from old tourism about security with the destination and so on. Further, investigation tells us about the returning tourists, their driving forces and push-factors that create a will for tourists to return. Is it a question of how loyal tourists are to the destination, attitudes and/or tradition when planning the trip? We have made a survey that covers why tourists travel and what impacts are created during their decisions. Also included are the questions about the will of return and the reasons why. Having children proved to be a crucial part of the decision making process, where parents chose destinations out of the children-oriented places. Returning to a destination, on the other hand, is a product of safety-seeking together with a positive experience and beautiful surroundings, all weaved up to raison d'être - just to be.</p></p>