Apresenta-se uma avaliação do potencial de alguns solos não lateríticos, compactados, para uso como barreira impermeável, com bases em suas condutividades hidráulicas e contrações axiais. Dez tipos diferentes de solos foram analisados, sendo seis classificados como Não Laterítico Argiloso (NG\') e quatro como Não Laterítico Siltoso (NS\') de acordo com o sistema de classificação MCT. Nas análises foi verificada a influência de parâmetros de compactação e de algumas propriedades dos solos na condutividade hidráulica e na contração axial dos solos compactados. Verificou-se que, para a maioria dos solos houve a diminuição da condutividade hidráulica com o aumento da energia de compactação. Com relação à umidade de moldagem, os menores valores de condutividade hidráulica estiveram associados a umidades iguais ou acima da ótima. Alguns solos não tiveram a condutividade hidráulica influenciados pelo teor de umidade, talvez como reflexo de suas características de compactação, pois mostraram massa específica constante com a umidade, para uma dada energia de compactação. Constatou-se que a condutividade hidráulica diminui com o aumento do índice de plasticidade, da umidade volumétrica e com os resultados do ensaio de absorção de azul de metileno. Para a contração axial nota-se que ela foi pouco influenciado pelo aumento do teor de umidade e pela energia de compactação, estando os maiores valores associados às menores condutividades hidráulicas. Constatou-se que a contração aumenta com o aumento da porcentagem de argila, do índice de plasticidade, dos resultados do ensaio de azul de metileno e com a diminuição do limite de contração. / It is presented an evaluation of the potential of certain non-lateric soils, compacted, for lining system use, based on their hydraulic conductivity and axial shrinkages. Ten different types of soils were analyzed; six of them were classified as non-lateric clayey (NG\') and the other four as non-lateric silty (NS\'), according to the classification system MCT. It was verified the influence of parameters of compaction and some soil properties on the hydraulic conductivity and on the axial shrinkage of compacted soils. Results of the analysis indicate that, for the most of the soils there were decrease of hydraulic conductivity when increasing the energy of compaction. In relation to the molding water content, the lower values of hydraulic conductivity were associated to equal to or over optimum water content. Some soils did not have their hydraulic conductivity influenced by the water content, perhaps as a result of their compaction characteristics, since they showed constant specific mass with the humidity, for a given energy of compaction. It was verified that the hydraulic conductivity decreases as plasticity index and volumetric humidity increases, with the result of the adsorption of metilen blue. The axial shrinkage was very little influenced by the increase of the water content and by the energy of compaction, the greater values associated to lower hydraulic conductivity. It was verified that the contraction increases with the increases of clay content, plasticity index, results of metilen blue test and the decrease of the contraction limit.

A method for implicit variable selection in mixture-of-experts frameworks is proposed. We introduce a prior structure where information is taken from a set of independent covariates. Robust class membership predictors are identified using a normal gamma prior. The resulting model setup is used in a finite mixture of Bernoulli distributions to find homogenous clusters of women in Mozambique based on their information sources on HIV. Fully Bayesian inference is carried out via the implementation of a Gibbs sampler.

Submitted by Vanessa Nunes (vnunes@unisinos.br) on 2015-03-20T15:04:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 VinicioCecconello.pdf: 2409731 bytes, checksum: fd354892ead7d9cb57266673c9111acd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-20T15:04:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VinicioCecconello.pdf: 2409731 bytes, checksum: fd354892ead7d9cb57266673c9111acd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-16 / FAPERGS - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / FINEP - Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / A incorporação de agregados reciclados de concreto, em novos concretos é uma alternativa de reduzir os impactos ambientais relacionados a este material. No entanto, seu emprego pode aumentar a porosidade do concreto e alterar suas propriedades. Neste contexto a de cinza de casca de arroz pode trazer melhorias nas propriedades dos concretos, e principalmente quanto às propriedades mecânicas e a retração. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo a análise da retração, propondo um modelo matemático para este fenômeno, em concreto com associação de agregados reciclados de concreto e cinza da casca de arroz. Foram produzidos concretos com: 25% e 50% de agregado reciclado em substituição ao agregado natural; 0%, 10% e 20% de substituição de cimento por cinza de casca de arroz; e relações água/aglomerante iguais a 0,42, 0,53 e 0,64. A resistência à compressão foi analisada aos 7, 28, 63, 91 e 112 dias, os ensaios de resistência à tração, taxa de absorção, porosidade capilar e porosidade total foram analisadas aos 28 dias já os ensaios de retração foram analisados ao 1, 4, 7, 14, 28, 63, 91 e 112 dias. Os resultados obtidos indicam grande interação entre a cinza de casca de arroz e o agregado reciclado de concreto, esta interação fica ainda mais evidenciada no momento em que é introduzido junto à mistura 20% de cinza de casca de arroz, tanto no modelo apresentado para análise da retração como nas demais propriedades analisadas. / The incorporation of recycled concrete aggregate in new concrete is an alternative to reduce the environmental impacts related to this material. However, their use may increase concrete porosity and change their properties. In this context the rice husk ash can improve the properties of concrete, mainly mechanical properties and shrinkage. This work aims to analyze the concrete shrinkage, proposing a mathematical model for this phenomenon for concretes with the association of recycled concrete aggregates and rice husk ash. Concretes were produced with 25% and 50% of recycled concrete aggregate replacing natural aggregate; 0%, 10% and 20% replacement of cement by rice husk ash, and 0.42, 0.53 and 0.64 water/binder ratios. The compressive strength was a nalyzed at 7, 28, 63, 91 and 112 days. Tensile tests, absorption rate, capillary porosity and total porosity were analyzed at 28 days of age; shrinkage was analyzed at 1, 4, 7, 14, 28, 63, 91 and 112 days of age. The obtained data indicate strong interaction between rice husk ash and recycled concrete aggregate, this interaction is even more evident when it is used 20% rice husk ash, for all properties studied.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Civil Engineering / Mustaque A. Hossain / Stacey E. Kulesza / Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is the byproduct of the demolition of concrete structures and pavements. An estimated 140 million tons of concrete waste is produced annually in the United States, most of which ends up in landfills. The use of RCA to replace quarried aggregates in paving projects is one way to utilize these materials and alleviate concerns regarding this increasing waste stream. RCA usage prevents waste concrete disposal into landfills, resulting in more sustainable use of mineral aggregate sources, and may further reduce costs associated with paving projects. However, the inferior physical properties of RCA, such as the presence of recycled mortar, complicate the incorporation of RCA into new concrete mixtures. State highway agencies such as the Kansas Department of Transportation are facing further issues with RCA from D-cracked pavements, raising the question if D-cracked aggregates should be used in paving operations. No known work has evaluated the effect of RCA from D-cracked pavements in subgrade soil stabilization. This study stabilized a low-plasticity clay in Kansas using RCA and three stabilizing materials (lime, Class C fly ash, and a combination of Portland cement and fly ash). Candidate mixtures with varying proportions of chemical stabilizers and D-cracked aggregates were evaluated using the standard Proctor, unconfined compressive strength, linear shrinkage, and California Bearing Ratio tests. Microstructure characteristics of selected mixtures were explored using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray tests. Laboratory test results indicated that RCA, in conjunction with all cementitious materials except lime, improved clay strength, stiffness, and shrinkage properties. SEM results indicated that RCA caused a low void space and a dense arrangement of soil particles. RCA effectively improved evaluated mixture properties when an adequate soil-RCA bond was reached using chemical agents. The long-term performance of full-depth flexible pavements with stabilized mixtures as subgrade was assessed in the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design (commonly known as MEPDG) software. The life-cycle cost of flexible pavements with stabilized mixtures was estimated for a 40-year design period. Economic analysis results indicated that RCA was cost effective only if it was used with a combination of fly ash and Portland cement.

As vigas mistas configuram uma atrativa solução estrutural para pequenas e grandes obras na engenharia civil. O emprego deste tipo de estruturas proporciona: melhor aproveitamento das características de cada material, maior rapidez na construção e economia. Esta pesquisa da continuidade aos trabalhos de Tamayo (2011) e Dias (2013); apresenta-se um modelo numérico que emprega o método dos elementos finitos para avaliar o comportamento de estruturas do tipo viga mista, com foco na consideração dos efeitos de longa duração do concreto: fluência e retração; e à inclusão da protensão interna do tipo aderente, aplicada sob a laje de concreto. Implementaram-se seis modelos para predição dos fenômenos de longa duração: ACI 209R-92, Bazant-Baweja B3, CEB MC90, CEB MC99, CEB MC10 e GL2000, e disponibilizou-se uma ferramenta estatística que permite sua correta comparação. O cabo de protenssão é modelado de maneira discreta dentro do elemento de concreto e posteriormente são definidas as contribuições que o mesmo faz ao elemento de casca do concreto no qual está inserido. O Software GiD foi empregado nas etapas de pré e pós processamento, customizando sua interface para a atribuição das propriedades do problema. A validação da simulação numérica foi efetuada a partir da modelagem de 14 vigas no total, os espécimenes correspondem a vigas tanto simplesmente apoiadas como contínuas. O programa desenvolvido é capaz de modelar adequadamente estruturas do tipo viga mista, com protensão aderente instalada na laje de concreto; considerando uma análise ao longo do tempo e levando em conta os efeitos da fluência e da retração que afetam o concreto. / The composite beams constitute an attractive structural solution for small and large projects in civil engineering. The use of such structures provides better use of the characteristics of each material, faster construction and economy. This research continues the work of Tamayo (2011) and Dias (2013); it presents a numerical model employing the finite element method to evaluate composite beam structures, focusing on the long-term effects of concrete: creep and shrinkage; and the inclusion of internal adherent prestressing, applied under the concrete slab. Six models were implemented for the prediction of long-term effects: ACI 209R-92, Bazant-Baweja B3, CEB MC90, CEB MC99, CEB MC10 and GL2000, and provided a statistical tool that allows the correct comparison between them. The prestressed cable is modeled discretely within the concrete element and are further defined the contributions that it makes to the concrete shell element in which it is inserted. The GiD Software was used in the stages of pre and post processing, and its interface was customized for assigning the problem properties. The validation of numerical simulation was performed by full modeling 14 beams; the specimens correspond to both simply supported as continuous beams. The developed program is able to adequately model prestressed composite beam structures; considering the long-term effects of creep and shrinkage, that affects the concrete.

The primary reason for incorporating pigments into plastic materials is to impart the desired colour to finished articles. Some pigments however, may interact with the polymer leading to unexpected deleterious effects. Organic pigments, especially phthalocyanines, are favourable for their brilliant shade but are also well known for causing part distortion or warpage. This causes problems in parts which require good dimensional stability such as crates, containers, trays, caps and closures. Despite that, there are not many published studies on the root cause and mechanism of warpage induced by the pigment. Hence, the objective of this research is to study the influence of such pigments on the dimensional stability, crystallisation behaviour and morphology of polyethylenes in order to have a better understanding on the mechanism of warpage, which could possibly lead to a solution in overcoming this problem.

<p>The purpose of this study is to compare how the issue of new shipping opportunities in theArctic region is tackled and met by the governments of Sweden and Iceland when it comes tomaritime security regime building, and to set this into perspective by looking at the shippingindustry’s seemed aspirations and interests for Arctic shipping, the latter to see if policy and“reality” appear to be corresponding. By conducting a qualitative comparative analysisthrough studying previous research, government documents and through interviewingrepresentatives from the shipping industry; using the analytical framework of Regime Theoryfor International Relations; the following research questions have been answered:</p><p>- In what ways do the governments of Sweden and Iceland contribute to developments of Arctic maritimesecurity regimes, due to new shipping opportunities in the High North?</p><p>- Are these contributions in line with the shipping industry’s views of and aspirations for Arctic shipping?</p><p>- (How) does this differ between the countries?</p><p>- (How) does the shipping industry contribute to maritime security?</p><p>Sweden and Iceland differ in many aspects, but the general aims at environmental protectionare visible in both countries. Iceland has a larger focus on crisis response due to its locationalexposure and do moreover have a chance on economically exploiting new shipping activitiesfor the same reason. Sweden can be said to have a more general approach to Arctic maritimesecurity, whereas Iceland rather focuses on its own proximity.Both countries’ responses to Arctic shipping are currently to be seen as in line with theshipping industry’s views and aspirations for Arctic shipping.The shipping industry contributes to maritime security by developing new methods andtechnology for addressing the Arctic ice; collectively and on shipping company individualbasis. The shipping industry furthermore contributes by educating ship commanders as well assharing experiences and knowledge with each other.</p>

<p>Fibre-to-board is a simulation model developed at Stora Enso Research Centre Karlstad. Within this model isotropic hand sheet properties are used as input data for prediction of the final multi ply board properties. In order to improve and verify the calculations from simulations in Fibre-to-board so that these will correspond better with the results from the measurements on the paper/board machine, it was requested at RCK to investigate the possibility to optimize the input data to the model.</p><p>Standardized hand sheet forming always results in sheets with properties far away from those produced on a machine. Therefore the aim with this Master thesis was to modify the laboratory procedure to receive hand sheets with properties closer to machine sheets. To achieve this, it was investigated how different parameters affect the sheet properties and if the hand sheet making process could be improved.</p><p>When freely dried sheets were investigated it was found that sheets pressed with a wire clothing between the blotting paper and the hand sheet were less cockled than sheets pressed against only blotting papers. These sheets also tend to have a higher density. The cockling i.e. as a result from shrinkage was also reduced when the sheets were dried between slightly weighted wire clothing. Neither wire clothing nor orientated blotting papers during pressing eliminate the influence of anisotropic blotters on the shrinkage for isotropic hand sheets.</p><p>It was also examined how the fine material influences sheet properties. The results showed that an increase in fines content result in higher shrinkage, higher density, increased TSI, more cockling and decreased air permeability.</p><p>Different pressing loads and an increased density did not have much influence on the shrinkage. The density for freely dried sheets increased with higher load, but the results did not reach machine sheet densities, when the laboratory platen press was used. It might be difficult to receive freely dried hand sheets with higher densities. This is because fibres in freely dried sheets tend to relax after pressing, which will influence the density. Another press than the platen press used in these studies might compensate this matter. An increased pressing load resulted in less cockled sheets.</p><p>The basis weight did not seem to have that large affect on the shrinkage when using machine chest furnish, therefore the basis weight on hand sheets used as input data to the simulation model Fibre-to-board might not be that important.</p><p>It was studied how different plies and SW/CTMP pulp in a mixture affect the shrinkage. The results showed that the shrinkage increased with a higher SW content. It was also found that there is a linear relation between the total shrinkage of a SW/CTMP pulp mixture and the shrinkage for each individual pulp.</p><p>In order to verify the Fibre-to-board model a simulation finally was performed. Furnishes and CD profiles of board were collected from a particular board machine within the Stora Enso Group. Properties from hand sheets made of furnishes were used as input data and the machine CD profiles were used as references. The CD TSI value corresponded with the value received from measurements on the machine board, but the MD TSI value did not. The shrinkage calculated on machine sheets did not coincide with the shrinkage from the simulation in Fibre-to-board.</p><p>There are insecurities in the results from shrinkage measurement on the board CD profile due to the lack of width measurement during the process, which complicates the validation of the Fibre-to-board model.</p> / <p>Fibre to board är en simulerings modell framtagen vid Stora Enso Research Centre Karlstad. Modellen används för att prediktera krympning och styrkeegenskaper hos en bestämd kartongbana. Indata till modellen hämtas ifrån isotropa laboratorieark. För att förbättra och verifiera erhållna resultat från simuleringsmodellen så att de korresponderar bättre med värden från kartongmaskinen fanns det ett önskemål från RCK om att undersöka möjligheten att optimera indata till modellen.</p><p>Laboratoriearktillverkning enligt standard resulterar alltid i ark med egenskaper som ligger långt från maskin arkens. Därför är syftet med detta examensarbete att modifiera arktillverkningsmetoden så att laboratorieark med egenskaper närmare de för maskinark kan erhållas. För att lyckas med detta undersöktes det hur olika parametrar påverkar pappersegenskaperna och om tillverkningsmetoden kunde förbättras.</p><p>Vid undersökning av fritorkade ark upptäcktes att ark som pressats med viraduk mellan läskark och laboratorieark blev mindre buckliga än ark som pressats med enbart läskark. Dessa ark hade också en något högre densitet. Buckligheten som är en följd av krympningen reducerades också när arken torkades mellan viraduk under lätt belastning. Läskarkens inverkan på de isotropa arken kunde inte elimineras genom att använda viraduk vid pressning, inte heller genom att växla läskarken så att deras MD riktning orienterades olika.</p><p>Även finmaterialets inverkan på pappersegenskaperna undersöktes. Resultaten visade att ett ökat finmaterial innehåll ger ökad krympning, högre densitet, ökat dragstyvhetsindex, buckligare ark och en minskad luft permeabilitet.</p><p>Det visade sig att olika presstryck ger arken en högre densitet men krympningen påverkades inte märkbart. Densitet i samma nivå som på maskinark kunde däremot inte erhållas med laboratorieplanpress. Detta kan bero på att fibrerna i fritorkade ark relaxerar efter pressning, vilket ger en lägre densitet. För att kunna få högre densitet kanske en annan press än den planpress som användes i dessa studier kan införas. Det kunde även konstateras att ett ökat presstryck ger mindre buckliga ark.</p><p>I dessa studier, där ark tillverkades av färdiga skiktblandningar från maskinkar, hade inte ytvikten på arken någon större inverkan på krympningen. Detta tyder på att ytvikten på arken som används som indata inte har så stor inverkan vid simulering i modellen Fibre-to-board.</p><p>Det undersöktes även hur skikten i ett två-skikts ark och en blandning av LF/CTMP massa påverkar krympningen. Resultaten visade att krympningen ökar med en högre andel LF och att det finns ett linjärt samband mellan den totala krympningen för en blandning av LF/CTMP massa och krympningen för de enskilda massorna.</p><p>För att kunna verifiera beräkningsmodellen Fibre-to-board utfördes slutligen en simulering. Skiktblandningar och tvärsprofiler från kartong togs ut från en specifik pappers maskin inom Stora Enso koncernen. Egenskaperna på laboratorieark gjorda av skiktblandningarna användes som indata till simuleringsprogrammet och kartongprofilerna från pappersmaskinen användes som referens. Dragstyvhetsindex i CD stämde bra överens med de mätningar som gjordes på maskinarken, men dragstyvhetsindex i MD skiljde sig. Krympningen som beräknades på maskinarken överensstämde inte med det simulerade resultatet. Det förekommer en osäkerhet i krympmätningarna som gjordes på kartong profilerna, då det idag inte förekommer någon mätutrustning på pappersmaskinen, som bestämmer bredden mellan press- och torkpartiet. Detta komplicerar valideringen av Fibre-to-board modellen.</p>

Pharmacometric modelling is an increasingly used method for analysing the outcome from clinical trials in drug development. The model building process is complex and involves testing, evaluating and diagnosing a range of plausible models aiming to make an adequate inference from the observed data and predictions for future studies and therapy. The aim of this thesis was to advance the approaches used in pharmacometrics by introducing improved models and methods for application in essential parts of model building procedure: (i) structural model development, (ii) stochastic model development and (iii) model diagnostics. As a contribution to the structural model development, a novel flexible structural model for drug absorption, a transit compartment model, was introduced and evaluated. This model is capable of describing various drug absorption profiles and yet simple enough to be estimable from data available from a typical trial. As a contribution to the stochastic model development, three novel methods for parameter distribution estimation were developed and evaluated; a default NONMEM nonparametric method, an extended grid method and a semiparametric method with estimated shape parameters. All these methods are useful in circumstances when standard assumptions of parameter distributions in the population do not hold. The new methods provide less biased parameter estimates, better description of variability and better simulation properties of the model. As a contribution to model diagnostics, the most commonly used diagnostics were evaluated for their usefulness. In particular, diagnostics based on individual parameter estimates were systematically investigated and circumstances which are likely to misguide modelers towards making erroneous decisions in model development, relating to choice of structural, covariate and stochastic model components were identified. In conclusion, novel approaches, insights and models have been provided to the pharmacometrics community. Implementation of these advances to make model building more efficient and robust has been facilitated by development of diagnostic tools and automated routines.

Poles are used as an important constituent of transmission, distribution and communication structures / highway and street lighting systems and other various structural applications. Concrete is the main production material of the pole industry. Concrete is preferred to steel and wood due not only to environmental and economic reasons but also because of its high durability to environmental effects and relatively less frequent maintenance requirements. Centrifugal casting is the most preferred way of manufacturing concrete poles. However, misapplication of the method may lead to a significant reduction in strength and durability of the poles. Segregation of concrete mixture is a frequent problem of centrifugal casting. The segregated concrete within the pole cross-section possesses different physical properties. In particular, the shrinkage tendency of the inner concrete, where the cement paste is accumulated, becomes significantly larger. Differential shrinkage of hardened concrete across the pole section gives rise to the development of internal tensile stresses, which, in turn, results in longitudinal cracking along the poles. There is a vast literature on experimental studies of parameters affecting differential shrinkage of centrifugally cast poles. This research aims to computationally investigate the differential shrinkage-induced internal stress development and cracking of concrete poles. To this end, two and three-dimensional mathematical models of the poles are constructed and finite element analyses of these models are carried out for different scenarios. The computationally obtained results that favorably agree with the existing experimental data open the possibility to improve the centrifugal manufacturing technique by using computational tools.