The subject of Bachelor’s thesis is new building of multifunctional house. This building is detached house located in flat terrain in city Boskovice. Building has 3 floors and has no basement. In ground floor are two shops and cafe, on second and third floor are flats. Each part has its own entrance. Object has rectangular plan, it is made of masonry system from sand-lime bricks and is roofed with flat roof.

Semi-natural grasslands are one of the most threatened habitats in Scandinavia. The grassland in this study is situated in the northern part of the nature preserve of Haväng och Vitemölla strandbackar in the province of Skåne and consists of grey dunes and a pasture which partly consists of calcareous grassland and the vegetation type sand steppe which is very rare in Sweden. There are several threatened plants in the area and during the summer of 2017 their distribution was registered to be able to protect them during conservation management. The results showed that most of the area contained important species and the most important areas to protect were the sand steppe areas. This is probably due to the dry, sandy, calcareous and nutrient poor conditions in these areas which many of the threatened plants are connected to. Most of the threatened plants were found in abundance in the area but have a limited distribution in Sweden. The population of Eryngium maritimum however was very small and is threatened by extinction. The plants in the area are threatened by a long-term process of nutrient enrichment and continuous leakage of calcium which may lead to lower pH and a more nutrient rich soil which leads to a higher availability of phosphorous. This may lead to a change in species composition and loss of species richness. Continuous grazing, soil disturbance to expose lime-rich sand and also removal of litter to minimize the nutrient levels are needed to maintain favorable conditions in the area. However, the number of important species requires attention and careful planning, especially in the sand steppe areas. / Ängs-och hagmarker är några av de mest hotade och viktiga habitattyperna i Skandinavien. Gräsmarken som studerades i detta projekt ligger i norra delarna av naturreservatet Haväng och Vitemölla strandbackar i Skåne och består av gräsbevuxna sanddyner och en hage med inslag av kalkgräsmark och marktypen sandstäpp som är väldigt sällsynt i Sverige. I reservatet finns flera skyddsvärda kärlväxter och under sommaren 2017 kartlades deras utbredning för att bättre kunna skydda dem vid skötsel- och restaureringsåtgärder. Resultatet visade att större delen av området innehåller skyddsvärda arter och att de mest skyddsvärda områdena var de delar av området där det fanns inslag av sandstäpp. Detta beror med stor sannolikhet på att de flesta skyddsvärda arterna i området var knutna till de torra, sandiga, kalkhaltiga och näringsfattiga förhållanden som rådde där. De flesta skyddsvärda arter fanns i stora antal i det undersökta området men har en begränsad utbredning i Sverige. Populationen av Eryngium maritimum var dock så litet att det hotas av utrotning. I övrigt hotas växterna i området på längre sikt av ökad tillsättning av näringsämnen och långvarig urlakning av kalk. Detta kan leda till lägre pH och mer näringsrik mark och gör att den nuvarande artsammansättningen kan försvinna och ersättas. För att området ska fortsätta ha en gynnsam status kommer det krävas fortsatt bete, skapande av sandblottor för att röra upp kalkrik sand samt åtgärder så som avlägsnande av förna och ytskikt för att hålla nere näringshalten. Det stora antalet rödlistade och skyddsvärda arter i området gör dock att det krävs varsamhet och noggrann planering vid en åtgärd, framför allt i sandstäppsområdena.

[pt] Este trabalho visa simular situações que levam uma rocha a ruptura considerando o fluxo de fluidos, em uma tentativa de correlacionar os mecanismos envolvidos na ruptura ao processo conhecido como produção de areia em rochas reservatório, ou seja, a produção de sólidos durante a extração de hidrocarbonetos. Há algum tempo este assunto tem sido tratado do ponto de vista da mecânica das rochas dada a similaridade do seu comportamento com outros fenômenos estudados nesta área. Como se trata de um processo de extração de fluidos, a sua influência deve ser considerada no comportamento mecânico da rocha. Assim, simulações numéricas, representativas de situações favoráveis a este fenômeno, foram analisadas, utilizando-se, para tal, o programa comercial de elementos finitos ABAQUS, que permite a simulação do processo de acoplamento fluido mecânico. Dada a flexibilidade demonstrada pelo pacote numérico, possibilitou-se a implementação de um modelo elastoplástico e a verificação de sua eficiência na representação do comportamento da rocha reservatório neste processo. A implementação numérica baseou-se no conhecido modelo de Lade-Kim. Este modelo é apropriado à descrição do comportamento de materiais geomecânicos granulares. Trabalhos experimentais em paralelo procuram determinar os parâmetros do modelo de Lade-Kim. Estes parâmetros são usados na análise numérica. / [en] This work aims to simulate situations that take a rock the rupture considering the fluid flow, in an attempt to correlate the involved mechanisms in the rupture to the know process as sand production in rocks reservoir, that is, solid production during hydrocarbon extraction. Numerical simulations using the commercial finite element program ABAQUS, reproduce fluid-mechanical coupling, and allowing the implementation of an elastoplastic rock material behavior. More precisely, the author implemented a numerical routine based on the well-known Lade-Kim elastoplastic model, which can suitably describe the behavior of geomaterials subjected to external stress-strain fields.

Il est bien connu que l'évaporation d'eau joue un rôle essentiel dans l'interaction entre le sol et l'atmosphère. Pendant le processus d'évaporation, le comportement thermo-hydro-mécanique des sols change, engendrant ainsi des problèmes préoccupants. Ceci peut concerner différents domaines comme l'agronomie, l'hydrologie, la science des sols, la géotechnique, etc. Par conséquent, il est essentiel d'étudier les mécanismes d'évaporation de façon approfondie. Cette étude porte sur les mécanismes d'évaporation dans des conditions atmosphériques contrôlées. Le sable de Fontainebleau et l'argile d'Hércourt utilisée pour la construction du remblai expérimental dans le cadre du projet ANR TerDOUEST (Terrassements Durables - Ouvrages en Sols Traités, 2008-2012) ont été étudiés à cet effet. Une chambre environnementale (900 mm de haut, 800 mm de large et 1000 mm de long) équipée de différents capteurs a d'abord été développée, permettant un suivi complet des paramètres concernant l'atmosphère et le sol au cours d'évaporation. Quatre essais expérimentaux ont été réalisés sur le sable de Fontainebleau compacté à une densité sèche de 1,70 Mg/m3, avec une nappe phréatique constante au fond de l'échantillon, et sous différentes conditions atmosphériques (différentes valeurs de l'humidité relative de l'air, de la température et du débit d'air). La pertinence du système a été mise en évidence par la bonne qualité des résultats. La température de l'air à l'intérieur de la chambre a été trouvée affectée par la température du tube de chauffage, le débit d'air et l'évaporation d'eau; la température du sol est fortement affectée par les conditions atmosphériques et l'état d'avancement de l'évaporation ; l'humidité relative dans la chambre diminue au cours du temps et son évolution peut être considérée comme un indicateur du processus d' évaporation ; la teneur en eau volumique dans la zone proche de la surface est fortement influencée par le processus d'évaporation et présente une relation linéaire avec la profondeur ; la succion du sol diminue avec la profondeur et augmente au fil du temps ; le taux d'évaporation est fortement affecté par les conditions de l'air en particulier dans la phase initiale de vitesse d'évaporation constante. Après les essais sur le sable de Fontainebleau, l'échantillon de l'argile d'Hércourt compactée à une densité sèche de 1,40 Mg/m3 a été soumis à une infiltration d'eau afin d'étudier ses propriétés hydrauliques. Pour obtenir un meilleur aperçu du mécanisme d'évaporation pour l'argile, deux essais d'évaporation sur l'argile d'Hércourt compactée avec une nappe phréatique constante au fond de l'échantillon ont été effectuées sous des conditions atmosphériques contrôlées. Les résultats permettent de comprendre les mécanismes d'évaporation en cas de fissuration due à la dessiccation. En outre, afin d'étudier les mécanismes d'évaporation potentiels, des essais avec une couche d'eau libre ont été également réalisés en faisant varier la vitesse du vent et la température de l'air. L'initiation et la propagation de fissures de dessiccation pendant le processus d'évaporation et son effet sur l'évaporation ont également été étudiés par la technique de traitement d'image. En termes de modélisation, le taux d'évaporation potentiel a été modélisé à travers l'évaluation des modèles existants et des modèles combinés. Il apparait que le modèle développé par Ta (2009) est le plus approprié. Le taux d'évaporation réelle depuis le sable a été ensuite analysé. Il semble important de considérer l'avancement du front sec pendant le processus d'évaporation pour les sols sableux. Pour l'argile d'Héricourt, une bonne prévision a été également obtenue en utilisant un modèle qui tient compte de l'effet des fissures de dessiccation / As a well-known phenomenon, soil water evaporation plays an important role in the interaction between soil and atmosphere. Water evaporates during this process resulting in changes of soil thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior and in turn causing problems in different domains such as agronomy, hydrology, soil science, geotechnical engineering, etc. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the soil water evaporation mechanisms in depth.This study deals with the soil water evaporation mechanisms under controlled atmospheric conditions. The Fontainebleau sand and the Hércourt clay used for the construction of the experimental embankment with the ANR project TerDOUEST (Terrassements Durables - Ouvrages en Sols Traités, 2008 - 2012) were used in this investigation. A large-scale environmental chamber system (900 mm high, 800 mm large and 1000 mm long) equipped with various sensors was firstly developed, allowing a full monitoring of both atmospheric and soil parameters during the evaporation process. Four experimental tests were carried out on the Fontainebleau sand compacted at 1.70 Mg/m3 dry density with a steady water table at soil bottom under different atmospheric conditions (different values of air relative humidity, temperature and air flow rate). The performance of the environmental chamber system in investigating soil water evaporation was evidenced by the quality and the relevance of results. The air temperature inside the chamber was found to be affected by the heating tube temperature, the air flow rate and the soil water evaporation process; the soil temperature was strongly affected by the air conditions and the evaporation progress; the relative humidity in the chamber was decreasing during the evaporation progress and its evolution could be considered as an indicator of the evaporation progress; the volumetric water content in the near-surface zone was strongly affected by the evaporation process and exhibited a linear relationship with depth; the soil suction was decreasing over depth and increasing over time; the evaporation rate was strongly affected by the air conditions especially at the initial constant evaporation rate stage. After the tests on the Fontainebleau sand, the Hércourt clay sample compacted at 1.40 Mg/m3 dry density was subjected to an infiltration experiment for investigating its hydraulic properties. To get a better insight into the water evaporation mechanism for clay, two compacted Hércourt clay evaporation tests with a steady water table at bottom were carried out under controlled atmospheric conditions. The results allow understanding the evaporation mechanisms in case of desiccation cracks. Furthermore, in order to investigate the potential evaporation mechanisms, tests with a free water layer was also conducted with varying wind speed and air temperature. The initiation and propagation of desiccation cracking during the evaporation process and its effect on water evaporation were also investigated by the digital image processing technique. In terms of modeling, the potential evaporation rate was first modeled through evaluation of the existing models and the combined models. It reveals that the model developed by Ta (2009) is the most appropriate one. The actual evaporation rate for sand was then analyzed. It appears important to consider the progress of the dry front during the evaporation process for sandy soils. For the Héricourt clay, good simulation was also obtained using a model that accounts for the effect of desiccations cracks

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Natural radioactivity studies have been carried out to study the textural characteristics, heavy mineral composition, provenance, sediment transport, and depositional environment of beach placer deposits. The naturally occurring radionuclides such as 232Th, 238U and 40K are used as the tracers of the mineralogical properties of beach sands, which reflect the geological characteristics such as transport and sorting processes and the depositional environment. The present work focuses on the radiometric characteristics of beach sand deposits along the west coast of South Africa. Beach sands samples were collected at the Melkbosstrand (MBS) and Ouskip (OSK) beach. The activity concentrations of these radionuclides were determined by high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector in a low-background configuration.

The principal hypothesis of this thesis was that the Maputaland Centre of Plant Endemism [MC] is characterised by plant communities that match a particular set of environmental variables, and their rich biodiversity with endemic and rare taxa reflecting the geomorphological history of the region. Data assembled supports the hypothesis. Vegetation studies highlighted two plant communities, endemic to the MC as being an important component of the region’s biodiversity, namely Sand Forest and Woody Grassland. A broad approach to the floristic classification of vegetation was adopted for information on the floristics patterns and diversity of the endemic/rare plants and plant communities of the MC. A hierarchical classification, description and ecological interpretation of the plant communities of the Tembe Elephant Park, Sileza Nature Reserve and surrounding areas are presented. Much of the vegetation distribution can be ascribed to the level of the water table, vegetation dynamics and historic evolution of the geomorphology of the region. The hypothesis is presented that Sand Forest may have allelopathic effects on its environment. Data of exploratory germination trials are presented to test this hypothesis. Sand Forest soil inhibits the emergence of seedlings, the inhibiting effect decreasing progressively from Sand Forest through grassland to woodland. Sand Forest was defined as a community, and its possible dynamics are described. Ideas were formulated (albeit largely hypothetical) on the likely origin of this vegetation type. It is proposed that ancient Dune Forest is the precursor of Sand Forest, but that Sand Forest has subsequently become a separate functioning plant community on its own. Sand Forest appears to be a relictual vegetation type of which the historical factors responsible for it’s original establishment and expansion are currently no longer present in the region. The use of woody species by elephant in different vegetation types in Tembe Elephant Park was investigated. A classification of species into utilization categories was produced which enabled assessment of the importance of different species to elephants, and also of the potential impact of elephants on different tree species. Management implications are highlighted. / Thesis (PhD (Botany))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Plant Science / unrestricted

This thesis develops the first open population model for any shark species worldwide using the Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) model. In conjunction with a tagging study, five auxiliary studies were conducted to investigate stock structure, post-release mortality, tag shedding, and tag-reporting rates. The results from each of the studies were used to correct for any violations of the models assumptions to provide the first unbiased estimates of survival and abundance for the raggedtooth shark (Carcharias taurus) in South Africa. The C. taurus population exhibited complex stock structuring, by size and sex. Competitive shore anglers fished an estimated 37, 820 fishing days.year⁻¹ (95% C.I. = 28, 281 - 47, 359 days.year⁻¹) for sharks, and caught 1764 (95% C.I. = 321 – 3207) C. taurus. Although released alive, post-release mortality ranged from 3.85% for young-of-the-year sharks to 18.46% for adult sharks. Between 1984 and 2004, a total of 3471 C. taurus were tagged. In all, 302-tagged sharks (8.7%) were recaptured. Both juvenile (< 1.8 m TL) and adult sharks (> 1.8 m TL) displayed philopatric behaviour for specific parts of their ranges, including gestating and parturition areas. Significant differences were observed in the percentage of recaptures between the different tag types, tagging programs, individual taggers and capture methods used to tag sharks. The annual tag retention rate for juvenile sharks, 94.19% (95% C.I. = 80.68% - 100.00%) was significantly higher than for adult sharks, estimated at 29.00% (95% C.I. = 6.76% - 64.39%). Tag reporting rates, from fishermen varied both spatially and temporally from 0.28 (95% C.I. = 0.00 – 0.63) to 0.77 (95% C.I. = 0.56 – 0.97). Associated tag wound damage and biofouling growth indicated that B-type tags were a suitable tag type for use on C. taurus, whereas C-type tags were not. The CJS bias-adjusted estimate for juvenile survival was 0.456 (95% C.I. = 0.367 – 0.516) and for adult sharks, 0.865 (95% C.I. = 0.795 – 0.915). From 1984 to 2004 the mean bias-adjusted population size for juvenile sharks was estimated at 3506 (95% C.I. = 2433 – 4350) and for adult sharks, 5899 (95% C.I. = 7216 – 11904). Trends in abundance over the 20-year study period indicated a stable, healthy population.

This thesis explores techniques which ultimately strive to optimize production systems in rangeland areas of southern Africa. By linking spatially significant, satellite derived data to practical measurements of vegetation structure, valuable insight has been derived on processes of ecosystem function, in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. A broad ecosystem response mechanism has been established from a conventional Normalized Differentiation Vegetation Index (NDVI). By responding to increases in production, which are driven by disturbance, this index has allowed quantitative systems theory in savanna to be tested and refined. Methods of biomass and production estimation which are specifically designed to reduce the cost and time involved with the more conventional method of destructive harvesting have been tested in the savanna at the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. Results from these estimates relate well with data derived through destructive harvesting in structurally similar savanna. Moreover, by relating the above-ground woody production estimates to remere sensing indices, it was possible to demonstrate that the problem of extrapolation, universal to most biomass and production studies can be overcome. Since remote sensing encompasses an array of tools fundamental to rangeland inventory, monitoring and management, valuable spatially significant information pertaining to ecosystem structure and function has been provided for managers in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

Large population declines for sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) in parts of its global range are well documented, resulting in a strong need for biologically informed conservation and management measures. Although sand tigers in the western North Atlantic have been listed as a Species of Concern by the US government since 1997, details of their seasonal migratory movements and especially vertical habitat use patterns along the US East Coast are limited. Understanding these movement patterns is vital to reducing fishery-related mortality of these sharks and informing other management efforts aimed at recovery of their stocks in the US Atlantic. Although survey and fishery-dependent data have revealed a general picture of the seasonal distribution patterns of sand tiger sharks, details of the areas specifically used by these sharks and their movements between such areas remain unclear. Additionally, information on vertical habitat use such as preferred depth and temperature, as well as variability observed among sexes, size classes and geographic locations would provide insight into the fine-scale distribution of sand tigers to aid better management practices. Here, I report on the horizontal and vertical movements of sand tiger sharks along the US East Coast determined through use of pop-up archival transmitter (PAT) tags and supplemental acoustic telemetry. PAT tags were deployed on 14 sand tiger sharks in Delaware Bay in late summer 2008. Sufficient archived depth and temperature data were obtained from 11 sharks (eight male, three female), and sufficient light data allowed construction of long-term horizontal tracks for 10 sharks (seven male, three female) using a Kalman filter state-space model. Duration of tag deployment per animal ranged from 64-154 days ( =121.6). All seven male sharks left Delaware Bay in late summer/early autumn and migrated south along the US East Coast reaching waters off North Carolina, where they remained until transmitter detachment during the winter months. In contrast, all three females moved out of Delaware Bay into deeper, offshore waters east of the bay near the continental slope. During southern migration of males, average depth utilized was positively correlated to shark size. The smallest males spent on average over 90% of their time in waters <40 >m, whereas intermediate and large sized males spent only 54 and 38% of their time at depths <40 >m, respectively. Female sharks spent an average of 46% of their time in waters range, spending at least 95% of their time in waters 17-23oC, with little difference between size classes or sexes. Horizontal movements of male migrating sand tigers also revealed several areas of concentrated activity along their southern migratory routes. Migratory patterns of sand tiger sharks along the US East Coast appear most similar to patterns displayed by this species along the coast of South America. Further delineation of western North Atlantic continental shelf and slope core areas of sand tiger shark activity, especially for females, will inform efforts to reduce interactions with commercial fisheries and measures to avoid habitat degradation - management aspects that will aid in reducing mortality and enhance rebuilding of sand tiger stocks along the US East Coast.

Mature fine tailings (MFT), as a mixture of residual bitumen, sand, silt, fine clay particles and water, are a byproduct of oil sands extraction. The large volume, and poor consolidation and water release ability of MFT have been causing significant economic and environmental concerns. Therefore, several studies have been implemented on finding innovative dewatering/disposal techniques. As a result, different methods have been introduced and tested at a laboratory or a field scale, yet very few of these are commercially used in the oil sands industries. Despite the extensive research, an optimal solution has not been found due to the lack of technical or economic feasibility. In the present study, a novel approach that consists of the rapid dewatering of MFT by using a super absorbent polymer (SAP) to produce dense MFT is proposed. A comprehensive laboratory investigation on the geotechnical characteristics and behavior before and after treatment of MFT is conducted. The effects of SAP based dewatering and freeze/thaw cycles on the undrained shear strength of dewatered MFT by using a vane shear apparatus are studied. Furthermore, the ability of recycled SAP to dewater and densify MFT is assessed. Finally, this study provides the results of consolidation and hydraulic conductivity testing to evaluate the void ratio versus effective stress and hydraulic conductivity of MFT. The effects on the behavior and characteristics of MFT after amendment with usage of recycled SAP are also investigated. The results indicate that SAP has the ability to significantly dewater, densify and increase the undrained shear strength of MFT. Furthermore, when subjected to freeze/thaw cycles, the MFT dewatered with SAP shows an additional increase in strength and solid content. It is also found to be possible to regenerate the polymer (still within sachets) through light thermal drying, and the regenerated SAP can still significantly dewater and thus increase the shear strength and solid content of the MFT. In addition, the obtained high solid content affects and improves the compressibility of the material, thus resulting in low initial void ratios. On the other hand, low hydraulic permeability that is derived from low initial void ratios and consolidation is improved by the freeze/thaw process due to the interconnected voids created during the freezing process.