O avanço das técnicas de melhoramento de solos vem permitindo o aproveitamento de locais nos quais, até pouco tempo atrás, era considerada a construção de muitas estruturas como inviáveis, seja técnica, financeira ou ambientalmente. Uma das técnicas que tem conseguido demostrar bons resultados é o reforço com fibras de diferentes origens, com ou sem presença de algum agente cimentante. A maioria dos estudos conduzidos sobre este tipo de materiais se têm centrado na caracterização dos materiais sob cargas estáticas, e outros estudos se limitam a avaliar o comportamento sob cargas cíclicas destes materiais para densidades relativas baixas, nas quais o fenômeno de liquefação governa o mecanismo de ruptura. O presente estudo tenta aprofundar no conhecimento sobre materiais compactos quando submetidos a carregamentos cíclicos, de maneira a fornecer insumos para o estudo deste campo. O estudo, de caráter experimental, foi feito através da caracterização de corpos de prova de areia e areia com 0,5% de fibras, além da consideração de dois índices de vazios: o primeiro de 0,63 (correspondente a uma densidade relativa de 90%), e o segundo com um índice de vazios igual a 0,75 (correspondente a uma densidade relativa de 50%) Foram executados 29 ensaios triaxiais, além da adoção dos valores de outros 15 feitos por outro autor, totalizando 44 ensaios. A totalidade dos ensaios divide-se assim: 12 ensaios monotônicos CID, 12 ensaios monotônicos CIU, e 20 ensaios cíclicos CIU sob tensão controlada. Nos ensaios monotônicos obtiveram-se incrementos no ângulo de atrito do material composto, sendo mais evidente para as amostras compactas. Em relação aos ensaios cíclicos, obteve-se incrementos nas resistência do material até atingir sua condição de ruptura, seja por liquefação em amostras pouco compactas (Dr= 50%), ou por mobilidade cíclica no caso de amostras compactas (Dr= 90%). A normalização dos resultados permitiu observar que, embora as fibras melhorem o desempenho das misturas quando submetidas a carregamentos cíclicos, não alteraram a estrutura do material em sua resposta em termos de módulo de elasticidade, pelo menos no que respeita a níveis de deformações medianos a grandes. Para pequenas deformações, evidenciou-se uma diminuição na rigidez das amostras, ocasionando assim maiores acréscimos de poropressão nos estágios iniciais dos ensaios, mais nas em areias com fibras do que sem elas. / The development of ground improvement techniques has allowed the use of certain places, which was in the past considered as non-viable for the construction of many types of structures. Fiber reinforced soils have shown good results, with or without presence of any cementitious agent. The focus of most studies performed on this type of materials, is the characterization under static loading, and other studies are limited to evaluating its behavior on cyclic loading at low level of relative density, in which cases the liquefaction phenomenon governs the mechanism of rupture. This study aims to improve the knowledge of cyclic loading effects in dense materials. Was carried out an experimental program by characterizing specimens of sand with 0% and 0.5% of randomly distributed fiber, considering two void ratios: 0.63 (dense sand, Dr = 90%) and 0.75 (moderately loose sand, Dr = 50%). In total, were performed 29 triaxial tests, in addition of another 15 executed by another author, totaling 44 The test were divided as follows: 12 monotonic CIU test, 12 monotonic CID test, and 20 CIU loading controlled cyclic test. In monotonic conditions, fibers addition increases the friction angle, mostly on dense samples (Dr = 90%) than on loose specimens (Dr = 50%). For cyclic tests, in both materials, fiber additions causes improvement on cyclic behavior, but with different failure mechanism, liquefaction for loose, and cyclic mobility for dense sands, regardless of the presence of fibers. The transformation of the number of cycles axis, or normalization of another cyclic results allowed observing that, despite the fiber addition can cause improvement of materials subjected to cyclic loading, the structure of the material did not change in elasticity modulus response, at least for medium to large strains levels. For small strains, occur a decrease in the stiffness of samples, causing greater increases of pore pressure in the initial stages of tests, more in reinforced sand than for none reinforced condition. / El avance de las técnicas para mejoramiento de suelos ha permitido el aprovechamiento de sitios en los cuales, hasta hace poco tiempo, se consideraba como no viable la construcción de muchas estructuras, sea por cuestiones técnicas, financieras o ambientales. Una técnica que ha demostrado buenos resultados es la incorporación de refuerzos con fibras de diferente origen, considerando o no la presencia de algún agente cementante. La mayoría de los estudios realizados a este tipo de materiales se han centrado en la caracterización bajo la acción de cargas estáticas, e otros se han limitado a evaluar el comportamiento bajo la acción de cargas cíclicas considerando únicamente densidades relativas bajas, para las cuales la ruptura está controlada por el fenómeno de licuación. El presente estudio busca ahondar en el conocimiento sobre el comportamiento bajo acción de cargas cíclicas de materiales compactos, buscando con ello ampliar la base experimental sobre este campo. El estudio, de carácter experimental, fue realizado a partir de la caracterización de especímenes de arena sin fibras y con 0,5% de fibras, además de la consideración de dos relaciones de vacíos: 0.63 (correspondiente a una densidad relativa de 90%), y 0,75 (correspondiente a una densidad relativa de 50%) Fueron realizados 29 ensayos triaxiales, además de haber adoptado los resultados de otros 15 realizados por otro autor, totalizando 44 ensayos. Los ensayos fueron divididos así: 12 ensayos monotónicos CID, 12 ensayos monotónicos CIU, y 20 ensayos triaxiales cíclicos CID con control de esfuerzos. En los ensayos monotónicos fueron obtenidos incrementos en el ángulo de fricción del material compuesto, siendo esta situación más evidente en muestras compactas. Con relación a los ensayos cíclicos, se obtuvo incremento en la resistencia de las muestras hasta alcanzar su condición de ruptura, bien sea por licuación (materiales relativamente sueltos, Dr = 50%), o por movilidad cíclica (materiales compactos, Dr = 90%). La normalización de los resultados permitió observar que, aunque las fibras mejoran el desempeño bajo cargas cíclicas de los materiales, no alteraron la estructura del material en términos de módulo de elasticidad, por lo menos para niveles medios y altos de deformación. Para pequeñas deformaciones, se evidenció una disminución en la rigidez de las muestras, lo que produjo mayores incrementos en las presiones de poros durante las fases iniciales de los ensayos, con mayor visibilidad en las arenas con fibras que cuando no hubo adición.

The Mildred Lake Settling Basin (MLSB) is the largest disposal site for mature fine tailings (MFT) at the Syncrude Canada Ltd oil sands plant. Since 1996, MFT densification in the MLSB has significantly accelerated due to microbial activity. Methane-producing microorganisms, known as methanogens, have become very active. A field and laboratory research program has been performed to study the mechanisms leading to the rapid densification. This research program consisted of historical monitoring data analyses, field investigations, small-scale column tests, and gas MFT densification tests. The field investigations have shown that the rapid densification of the MFT has occurred in the southern part of the pond ranging from 8 m to 15 m below the water surface. A connection existed between the rapid densification zone and the zone with intense microbial activity at the pond. The small-scale column tests demonstrated that, with increases of biogas generation, water drainage from the MFT was enhanced. Gas MFT densification tests showed that, stress histories and total pressure affected MFT densification property during microbial activity. Under high total pressure (6-7 m below pond surface) gas bubbles had difficulty to release. For MFT without pre-consolidation or under a preloading, during rapid gas generation, water was rapidly drained out. For over-consolidated MFT, water flowed back into MFT quickly during intense biogas generation. The concept of operative stress, the difference between the total stress and pore water pressure for the soil with large gas bubbles, was introduced to analyze the densification behavior of gassy MFT. Under high total pressure and under a preloading (1 kPa), excess pore pressure increased and operative stress decreased during rapid gas generation while water drainage from the MFT was accelerated. Total pressure and stress history also affected the structure and permeability of the MFT during microbial activity. Under low total pressure (1 m below pond surface) and without pre-consolidation, the MFT permeability increased after intense microbial activity. / Geotechnical Engineering

From the Proceedings of the 1978 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - April 14-15, 1978, Flagstaff, Arizona / This study investigated the potential of a soil-turf filter to renovate secondary effluent applied in excess of consumptive use. Lysimeter plots were filled with a sand and a sand mix, and seeded to winter ryegrass. In spring, plots were scalped and seeded to bermudagrass. Plots were drip irrigated twice a week with secondary effluent at rates of 10, 17, 22, 34, and 43 mm/day. Leachate and effluent were analyzed for NH -N, NO,-N, and organic-N. Grass clippings were oven dried, weighed, and analyzed for organic -N. Percent of leachate available for groundwater recharge was 50% at the lowest rate and 68% at the highest rate when values were averaged for both soils. The amount of nitrogen removed by the soil-turf filter using sand was 42 to 87% and 52 to 90% on the mix, decreasing as application rate increased. The highest nitrogen removal and utilization occurred at the lowest application rate. Turf utilization of nitrogen was 10 to 28% on sand and 18 to 36% on mix, decreasing as rate of application increased. The sand-turf filter renovated 22 mm/day and the mix-turf filter renovated 43 mm/day, yielding leachate averaging less than 10 ppm NO₃-N.

No description available.

No description available.

Floodplain lakes are strongly regulated by river connectivity because floodwaters exert strong influence on the water balance, the physical, chemical and biological limnological conditions, and the influx of contaminants. The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) in northern Alberta (Canada) is a hydrologically complex landscape and is an important node in the upper Mackenzie River Drainage Basin. The ecological integrity of the PAD is potentially threatened by multiple environmental stressors, yet our understanding of the hydroecology of this large floodplain remains underdeveloped. Indeed, ever since the planning and construction of the WAC Bennett Dam (1960s), concerns have grown over the effects of upstream human activities on the lakes of the PAD. More recently, concerns over the health of the PAD have intensified and come to the fore of national and international dialogue due to water abstraction and mining and processing activities by the rapidly expanding oil sands industry centred in Fort McMurray Alberta. Currently, widespread perception is that upstream human activities have reduced water levels and frequency of flooding at the PAD, which have lowered nutrient availability and productivity of perched basin lakes, and have increased supply of pollutants from oil sands. However, these perceptions remain based on insufficient knowledge of pre-impact conditions and natural variability. Current and past relations between hydrology and limnology of PAD lakes are mostly undocumented, particularly during the important spring freshet period when the effects of river flood waters are strongest. Similarly, knowledge of the deposition of oil-sands- related contaminants in the PAD remains insufficient to determine whether anthropogenic activities have increased the deposition of important oil-sands-related contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) relative to natural processes. Such knowledge gaps must be filled to achieve effective monitoring, policy and governance concerning impacts of industrial development and the protection of human and environmental health within the PAD and Mackenzie drainage basin. This thesis examines the effects of river flooding (and the lack of) on water clarity, nutrients, chemistry, phytoplankton abundance, epiphyton community composition and the deposition of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in lakes of the Peace-Athabasca Delta. To determine the role of flooding on contemporary epiphytic diatom communities (an abundant and diverse guild of primary producers in PAD lakes), a field experiment was conducted examining the community composition and abundance of epiphytic diatoms in four PAD lakes. Two of these four lakes had received floodwaters that spring and two had not. Epiphytic diatom communities in each lake were sampled during the peak macrophyte biomass period (summer) from two macrophyte taxa (Potamogeton zosteriformis, P. perfoliatus var. richardsonii) and from polypropylene artificial substrates previously deployed that spring. A two-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) test identified that epiphytic diatom community composition differed between lakes that flooded and those that did not flood. From the use of similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis, diatom taxa were identified that discriminate between flooded and non-flooded lakes. The relative abundance of ‘strong flood indicator taxa’ was used to construct an event-scale flood record spanning the past ~180 years using analyses of sedimentary diatom assemblages from a closed-drainage lake (PAD 5). Results were verified by close agreement with an independent paleo-flood record from a nearby flood-prone oxbow lake (PAD 54) and historical records. Comparison of epiphytic diatoms in flooded and non-flooded lakes in this study provides a promising approach to detect changes in flood frequency, and may have applications for reconstructing other pulse-type disturbances such as hurricanes and pollutant spills. Additionally, this study demonstrates that artificial substrates can provide an effective bio-monitoring tool for lakes of the PAD and elsewhere. To improve our understanding of the hydrolimnological responses of lake in the PAD to flooding, repeated measurements over three years (2003-05) were made on a series of lakes along a hydrological gradient. This allowed the role of river flooding to be characterized on limnological conditions of lakes and to identify the patterns and timescales of limnological change after flooding. River floodwaters elevate lake water concentrations of suspended sediment, total phosphorus (TP), SO4 and dissolved Si (DSi), and reduce concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), DOC and most ions. River flooding increases limnological homogeneity among lakes, because post-flood conditions are strongly affected by the river water properties. After floodwaters recede, limnological conditions become more heterogeneous among lakes in response to diversity of local basin influences (geology, slope, vegetation, depth, fetch, and biological communities and processes), and limnological changes occur at two distinct timescales. In the weeks to months after flooding, water clarity increases as suspended sediments and TP settle out of the water column. In the absence of flooding for many years to decades, evaporative concentration leads to an increase in most nutrients (TKN, inorganic N, and dissolved P), DOC and ions. Contrary to a prevailing paradigm, these results suggest that regular flooding is not required to maintain high nutrient concentrations. In light of anticipated declines in river discharge, limnological conditions in the southern Athabasca sector will become increasingly less dominated by the short-term effects of flooding, and resemble nutrient- and solute-rich lakes in the northern Peace sector that are infrequently flooded. To determine the roles of the Athabasca River and atmospheric transport as vectors for the deposition of PACs in the PAD, sediment cores spanning the last ~200 years were collected from three lakes within the delta. A closed-drainage basin elevated well above the floodplain (PAD 18) was selected to determine temporal patterns of change in PAC concentration due to atmospheric deposition and within-basin production of PACs. Known patterns of paleohydrological changes at the other two lakes (PAD 23 and 31) were used to assess the role of the Athabasca River in delivering PACs to the Athabasca Delta during the ~200 year. Well- dated sediment core samples were analysed for 52 alkylated and non-alkylated PACs (method EPA 3540/8270-GC/MS). Sediments deposited in the non-flood prone lake (PAD 18) contained lower concentrations of total PACs compared to sediments deposited during flood-prone periods in the other study lakes, and were dominated by PACs of a pyrogenic rather than bitumen origin. Multivariate analysis of similarity tests identified that the composition of PACs differs between sediments deposited during not flood-prone and flood-prone periods. Subsequent Similarities Percentage (SIMPER) analysis was used and identified seven PACs that are preferentially deposited during flood-prone periods. These seven PACs are bitumen-associated, river-transported and account for 51% of the total PACs found in oil-sands sediment. At PAD 31, which has been flood-prone both before and since onset of Athabasca oil sands development, identified no measureable differences in both the proportion and concentration of the river-transported indicator PACs in sediments deposited pre-1940s versus post-1982. Our findings suggest that natural erosion of exposed bitumen along the banks of the Athabasca River and its tributaries is the main process delivering PACs to the Athabasca Delta, and that the spring freshet is a key period for contaminant mobilization and transport. Such key baseline environmental information is essential for informed management of natural resources and human-health concerns by provincial and federal regulatory agencies and industry, and for designing effective long-term monitoring and surveillance programs for the lower Athabasca River watershed in the face of future oil sands development. Further monitoring activities and additional paleolimnological studies of the depositional history of PACs and other oil-sands- and non-oil-sands-related contaminants is strongly recommended. Overall, results of this research identify that river flooding exerts strong control on physical, chemical and biological conditions of lakes within the PAD. However, contrary to prevailing paradigms, the PAD is not a landscape that has been adversely and permanently affected by regulation of the Peace River and industrial development of the oil sands along the Athabasca River. Instead, data from contemporary and paleolimnological studies identify that natural processes continue to dominate the delivery of water and contaminants to the delta. Regular and frequent flooding is not essential to maintain the supply of nutrients and productivity of delta lakes, which has been a widespread paradigm that developed in the absence of objective scientific data. Instead, nutrient concentrations rise over years to decades after flooding and lake productivity increases. During the thesis research, novel approaches were developed and demonstrated to be effective. Namely, new artificial substrate samplers were designed for aquatic biomonitoring that accrue periphyton and can identify the occurrence of flood events. Also, paleolimnological methods were employed to characterize the composition and concentration of PACs supplied by natural processes prior to oil sands industrial activity, which serves as an important benchmark for assessing industrial impacts. These are effective methods that can be employed to improve monitoring programs and scientific understanding of the factors affecting this world-renowned landscape, as well as floodplains elsewhere.

The Lower Athabasca Water Management Framework limits water extractions by the oil sands industry near Fort McMurray, Alberta. To increase water-use efficiency and minimise the cost of water restrictions, several policy and technology options were developed and assessed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Selected options were the policies of water trade and pricing with refund, and the technologies of storage, and consolidated tailings and increased recycling. Options were designed based on year 2020 demand and assessed relative to prior allocation. Using linear programming and static optimisation, it is shown that an off-stream storage sized to avoid water restrictions, in combination with efficient water allocation (e.g. water trade), is most cost-effective, although provides no ongoing incentive to increase water-use efficiency. Only the policy options provide equal incentives across firms to increase efficiency. To achieve both objectives of increased water-use efficiency and minimised costs, a combined policy and technology approach is recommended. / Agricultural and Resource Economics

O avanço das técnicas de melhoramento de solos vem permitindo o aproveitamento de locais nos quais, até pouco tempo atrás, era considerada a construção de muitas estruturas como inviáveis, seja técnica, financeira ou ambientalmente. Uma das técnicas que tem conseguido demostrar bons resultados é o reforço com fibras de diferentes origens, com ou sem presença de algum agente cimentante. A maioria dos estudos conduzidos sobre este tipo de materiais se têm centrado na caracterização dos materiais sob cargas estáticas, e outros estudos se limitam a avaliar o comportamento sob cargas cíclicas destes materiais para densidades relativas baixas, nas quais o fenômeno de liquefação governa o mecanismo de ruptura. O presente estudo tenta aprofundar no conhecimento sobre materiais compactos quando submetidos a carregamentos cíclicos, de maneira a fornecer insumos para o estudo deste campo. O estudo, de caráter experimental, foi feito através da caracterização de corpos de prova de areia e areia com 0,5% de fibras, além da consideração de dois índices de vazios: o primeiro de 0,63 (correspondente a uma densidade relativa de 90%), e o segundo com um índice de vazios igual a 0,75 (correspondente a uma densidade relativa de 50%) Foram executados 29 ensaios triaxiais, além da adoção dos valores de outros 15 feitos por outro autor, totalizando 44 ensaios. A totalidade dos ensaios divide-se assim: 12 ensaios monotônicos CID, 12 ensaios monotônicos CIU, e 20 ensaios cíclicos CIU sob tensão controlada. Nos ensaios monotônicos obtiveram-se incrementos no ângulo de atrito do material composto, sendo mais evidente para as amostras compactas. Em relação aos ensaios cíclicos, obteve-se incrementos nas resistência do material até atingir sua condição de ruptura, seja por liquefação em amostras pouco compactas (Dr= 50%), ou por mobilidade cíclica no caso de amostras compactas (Dr= 90%). A normalização dos resultados permitiu observar que, embora as fibras melhorem o desempenho das misturas quando submetidas a carregamentos cíclicos, não alteraram a estrutura do material em sua resposta em termos de módulo de elasticidade, pelo menos no que respeita a níveis de deformações medianos a grandes. Para pequenas deformações, evidenciou-se uma diminuição na rigidez das amostras, ocasionando assim maiores acréscimos de poropressão nos estágios iniciais dos ensaios, mais nas em areias com fibras do que sem elas. / The development of ground improvement techniques has allowed the use of certain places, which was in the past considered as non-viable for the construction of many types of structures. Fiber reinforced soils have shown good results, with or without presence of any cementitious agent. The focus of most studies performed on this type of materials, is the characterization under static loading, and other studies are limited to evaluating its behavior on cyclic loading at low level of relative density, in which cases the liquefaction phenomenon governs the mechanism of rupture. This study aims to improve the knowledge of cyclic loading effects in dense materials. Was carried out an experimental program by characterizing specimens of sand with 0% and 0.5% of randomly distributed fiber, considering two void ratios: 0.63 (dense sand, Dr = 90%) and 0.75 (moderately loose sand, Dr = 50%). In total, were performed 29 triaxial tests, in addition of another 15 executed by another author, totaling 44 The test were divided as follows: 12 monotonic CIU test, 12 monotonic CID test, and 20 CIU loading controlled cyclic test. In monotonic conditions, fibers addition increases the friction angle, mostly on dense samples (Dr = 90%) than on loose specimens (Dr = 50%). For cyclic tests, in both materials, fiber additions causes improvement on cyclic behavior, but with different failure mechanism, liquefaction for loose, and cyclic mobility for dense sands, regardless of the presence of fibers. The transformation of the number of cycles axis, or normalization of another cyclic results allowed observing that, despite the fiber addition can cause improvement of materials subjected to cyclic loading, the structure of the material did not change in elasticity modulus response, at least for medium to large strains levels. For small strains, occur a decrease in the stiffness of samples, causing greater increases of pore pressure in the initial stages of tests, more in reinforced sand than for none reinforced condition. / El avance de las técnicas para mejoramiento de suelos ha permitido el aprovechamiento de sitios en los cuales, hasta hace poco tiempo, se consideraba como no viable la construcción de muchas estructuras, sea por cuestiones técnicas, financieras o ambientales. Una técnica que ha demostrado buenos resultados es la incorporación de refuerzos con fibras de diferente origen, considerando o no la presencia de algún agente cementante. La mayoría de los estudios realizados a este tipo de materiales se han centrado en la caracterización bajo la acción de cargas estáticas, e otros se han limitado a evaluar el comportamiento bajo la acción de cargas cíclicas considerando únicamente densidades relativas bajas, para las cuales la ruptura está controlada por el fenómeno de licuación. El presente estudio busca ahondar en el conocimiento sobre el comportamiento bajo acción de cargas cíclicas de materiales compactos, buscando con ello ampliar la base experimental sobre este campo. El estudio, de carácter experimental, fue realizado a partir de la caracterización de especímenes de arena sin fibras y con 0,5% de fibras, además de la consideración de dos relaciones de vacíos: 0.63 (correspondiente a una densidad relativa de 90%), y 0,75 (correspondiente a una densidad relativa de 50%) Fueron realizados 29 ensayos triaxiales, además de haber adoptado los resultados de otros 15 realizados por otro autor, totalizando 44 ensayos. Los ensayos fueron divididos así: 12 ensayos monotónicos CID, 12 ensayos monotónicos CIU, y 20 ensayos triaxiales cíclicos CID con control de esfuerzos. En los ensayos monotónicos fueron obtenidos incrementos en el ángulo de fricción del material compuesto, siendo esta situación más evidente en muestras compactas. Con relación a los ensayos cíclicos, se obtuvo incremento en la resistencia de las muestras hasta alcanzar su condición de ruptura, bien sea por licuación (materiales relativamente sueltos, Dr = 50%), o por movilidad cíclica (materiales compactos, Dr = 90%). La normalización de los resultados permitió observar que, aunque las fibras mejoran el desempeño bajo cargas cíclicas de los materiales, no alteraron la estructura del material en términos de módulo de elasticidad, por lo menos para niveles medios y altos de deformación. Para pequeñas deformaciones, se evidenció una disminución en la rigidez de las muestras, lo que produjo mayores incrementos en las presiones de poros durante las fases iniciales de los ensayos, con mayor visibilidad en las arenas con fibras que cuando no hubo adición.

O avanço das técnicas de melhoramento de solos vem permitindo o aproveitamento de locais nos quais, até pouco tempo atrás, era considerada a construção de muitas estruturas como inviáveis, seja técnica, financeira ou ambientalmente. Uma das técnicas que tem conseguido demostrar bons resultados é o reforço com fibras de diferentes origens, com ou sem presença de algum agente cimentante. A maioria dos estudos conduzidos sobre este tipo de materiais se têm centrado na caracterização dos materiais sob cargas estáticas, e outros estudos se limitam a avaliar o comportamento sob cargas cíclicas destes materiais para densidades relativas baixas, nas quais o fenômeno de liquefação governa o mecanismo de ruptura. O presente estudo tenta aprofundar no conhecimento sobre materiais compactos quando submetidos a carregamentos cíclicos, de maneira a fornecer insumos para o estudo deste campo. O estudo, de caráter experimental, foi feito através da caracterização de corpos de prova de areia e areia com 0,5% de fibras, além da consideração de dois índices de vazios: o primeiro de 0,63 (correspondente a uma densidade relativa de 90%), e o segundo com um índice de vazios igual a 0,75 (correspondente a uma densidade relativa de 50%) Foram executados 29 ensaios triaxiais, além da adoção dos valores de outros 15 feitos por outro autor, totalizando 44 ensaios. A totalidade dos ensaios divide-se assim: 12 ensaios monotônicos CID, 12 ensaios monotônicos CIU, e 20 ensaios cíclicos CIU sob tensão controlada. Nos ensaios monotônicos obtiveram-se incrementos no ângulo de atrito do material composto, sendo mais evidente para as amostras compactas. Em relação aos ensaios cíclicos, obteve-se incrementos nas resistência do material até atingir sua condição de ruptura, seja por liquefação em amostras pouco compactas (Dr= 50%), ou por mobilidade cíclica no caso de amostras compactas (Dr= 90%). A normalização dos resultados permitiu observar que, embora as fibras melhorem o desempenho das misturas quando submetidas a carregamentos cíclicos, não alteraram a estrutura do material em sua resposta em termos de módulo de elasticidade, pelo menos no que respeita a níveis de deformações medianos a grandes. Para pequenas deformações, evidenciou-se uma diminuição na rigidez das amostras, ocasionando assim maiores acréscimos de poropressão nos estágios iniciais dos ensaios, mais nas em areias com fibras do que sem elas. / The development of ground improvement techniques has allowed the use of certain places, which was in the past considered as non-viable for the construction of many types of structures. Fiber reinforced soils have shown good results, with or without presence of any cementitious agent. The focus of most studies performed on this type of materials, is the characterization under static loading, and other studies are limited to evaluating its behavior on cyclic loading at low level of relative density, in which cases the liquefaction phenomenon governs the mechanism of rupture. This study aims to improve the knowledge of cyclic loading effects in dense materials. Was carried out an experimental program by characterizing specimens of sand with 0% and 0.5% of randomly distributed fiber, considering two void ratios: 0.63 (dense sand, Dr = 90%) and 0.75 (moderately loose sand, Dr = 50%). In total, were performed 29 triaxial tests, in addition of another 15 executed by another author, totaling 44 The test were divided as follows: 12 monotonic CIU test, 12 monotonic CID test, and 20 CIU loading controlled cyclic test. In monotonic conditions, fibers addition increases the friction angle, mostly on dense samples (Dr = 90%) than on loose specimens (Dr = 50%). For cyclic tests, in both materials, fiber additions causes improvement on cyclic behavior, but with different failure mechanism, liquefaction for loose, and cyclic mobility for dense sands, regardless of the presence of fibers. The transformation of the number of cycles axis, or normalization of another cyclic results allowed observing that, despite the fiber addition can cause improvement of materials subjected to cyclic loading, the structure of the material did not change in elasticity modulus response, at least for medium to large strains levels. For small strains, occur a decrease in the stiffness of samples, causing greater increases of pore pressure in the initial stages of tests, more in reinforced sand than for none reinforced condition. / El avance de las técnicas para mejoramiento de suelos ha permitido el aprovechamiento de sitios en los cuales, hasta hace poco tiempo, se consideraba como no viable la construcción de muchas estructuras, sea por cuestiones técnicas, financieras o ambientales. Una técnica que ha demostrado buenos resultados es la incorporación de refuerzos con fibras de diferente origen, considerando o no la presencia de algún agente cementante. La mayoría de los estudios realizados a este tipo de materiales se han centrado en la caracterización bajo la acción de cargas estáticas, e otros se han limitado a evaluar el comportamiento bajo la acción de cargas cíclicas considerando únicamente densidades relativas bajas, para las cuales la ruptura está controlada por el fenómeno de licuación. El presente estudio busca ahondar en el conocimiento sobre el comportamiento bajo acción de cargas cíclicas de materiales compactos, buscando con ello ampliar la base experimental sobre este campo. El estudio, de carácter experimental, fue realizado a partir de la caracterización de especímenes de arena sin fibras y con 0,5% de fibras, además de la consideración de dos relaciones de vacíos: 0.63 (correspondiente a una densidad relativa de 90%), y 0,75 (correspondiente a una densidad relativa de 50%) Fueron realizados 29 ensayos triaxiales, además de haber adoptado los resultados de otros 15 realizados por otro autor, totalizando 44 ensayos. Los ensayos fueron divididos así: 12 ensayos monotónicos CID, 12 ensayos monotónicos CIU, y 20 ensayos triaxiales cíclicos CID con control de esfuerzos. En los ensayos monotónicos fueron obtenidos incrementos en el ángulo de fricción del material compuesto, siendo esta situación más evidente en muestras compactas. Con relación a los ensayos cíclicos, se obtuvo incremento en la resistencia de las muestras hasta alcanzar su condición de ruptura, bien sea por licuación (materiales relativamente sueltos, Dr = 50%), o por movilidad cíclica (materiales compactos, Dr = 90%). La normalización de los resultados permitió observar que, aunque las fibras mejoran el desempeño bajo cargas cíclicas de los materiales, no alteraron la estructura del material en términos de módulo de elasticidad, por lo menos para niveles medios y altos de deformación. Para pequeñas deformaciones, se evidenció una disminución en la rigidez de las muestras, lo que produjo mayores incrementos en las presiones de poros durante las fases iniciales de los ensayos, con mayor visibilidad en las arenas con fibras que cuando no hubo adición.

Communicating science in three-dimensional (3D) multimedia is an immersive and interactive way to explore scientific processes (Signals and Communication Technology, 2019). Geovisualization is an emerging 3D multimedia method for visual analysis, synthesis, and presentation of geospatial, geologic, and geophysical data (MacEachren & Kraak, 2001). There is an identified need to develop scientific communication tools to further understand boreal peatland evolution, hydrogeology, ecology, and geochemistry (Bubier et al., 2003) since the International Union of Conservation of Nature asserts that peatlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth, critical for preserving global biodiversity, providing drinking water, minimising flood risk, preventing wildfire, and mitigating climate change (Hama et al., 2000). The intention of this thesis is to communicate a novel approach to geovisualize boreal peatland architecture using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). GPR and LiDAR have been used to create 3D subsurface geovisualizations for archaeology (Kenady et al., 2018; Schultz & Martin, 2011) and resource geology (Corradini et al., 2020; Koyan & Tronicke, 2020) although application to peatland hydrogeology is uncommon. Point-source hydrogeological and geochemical data were integrated with 3D geological models to estimate carbon and nitrogen storage in an archetypal boreal peatland near Mariana Lakes, Alberta. Peatland geometry resembled a shallow lake basin with depths greatest in fens (>10 m) and thinnest in bogs (<2 m). Hydraulic conductivity was only a few meters per year and vertical groundwater movement was limited. Sequestered carbon and nutrients increased with depth. The average concentration of dissolved ammonium was 3 grams per cubic metre of peat (g/m3), 5g/m3of Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, 60g/m3 of dissolved organic carbon and 200g/m3 of dissolved inorganic carbon. Tritium detection from atmospheric atomic weapons radionuclide fallout revealed that in deeper anaerobic peat (catotelm), tritium was absent, signifying groundwater was older than 50 years and not mixed with meteoric waters. Fen catotelm channels are likely acting as gravity-driven hydraulic traps (Tóth, 1999). / Graduate