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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
491

Effects of Reservoir Releases on Slope Stability and Bank Erosion

Nam, Soonkie 30 June 2011 (has links)
Reservoir release patterns are determined by a number of purposes, the most fundamental of which is to manage water resources for human use. Managing our water resources means not only controlling the water in reservoirs but also determining the optimum release rate taking into account factors such as reservoir stability, power generation, water supply for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses, and the river ecosystem. However, riverbank stability has generally not been considered as a factor, even though release rates may have a significant effect on downstream riverbank stability. Riverbank retreat not only impacts land properties but also damages structures along the river such as roads, bridges and even buildings. Thus, reservoir releases need to also take into account the downstream riverbank stability and erosion issues. The study presented here investigates the riverbank stability and erosion at five study sites representing straight as well as inside and outside channel meander bends located on the lower Roanoke River near Scotland Neck, North Carolina. Extensive laboratory and field experiments were performed to define the hydraulic and geotechnical properties of the riverbank soils at each site. Specifically, soil water characteristic curves were determined using six different techniques and the results compared to existing mathematical models. Hydraulic conductivity was estimated using both laboratory and in situ tests. Due to the wide range of experimentally obtained values, the values determined by each of the methods was used for transient seepage modeling and the modeling results compared to the actual ground water table measured in the field. The results indicate that although the hydraulic conductivities determined by in situ tests were much larger than those typically reported for the soils by lab tests, numerical predictions of the ground water table using the in situ values provided a good fit for the measured ground water table elevation. Shear strengths of unsaturated soils were determined using multistage suction controlled direct shear tests. The test method was validated, and saturated and unsaturated shear strength parameters determined. These parameters, which were determined on the basis of results from both laboratory and field measurements, and the associated boundary conditions, which took into account representative flow rates and patterns including peaking, drawdown and step-down scenarios, were then utilized for transient seepage analyses and slope stability analyses performed using SLIDE, a software package developed by Rocscience. The analyses confirmed that the riverbanks are stable for all flow conditions, although the presence of lower permeability soils in some areas may create excess pore water pressures, especially during drawdown and step-down events, that result in the slope becoming unstable in those locations. These findings indicate that overall, the current reservoir release patterns do not cause adverse impacts on the downstream riverbanks, although a gradual drawdown after a prolonged high flow event during the wet season would reduce unfavorable conditions that threaten riverbank stability. / Ph. D.
492

Improved Environmental Characterization to Support Natural Resource Decision Making: (1) Distributed Soil Characterization, and (2) Treatment of Legacy Nutrients

Buell, Elyce N. 27 September 2022 (has links)
Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly relevant during a period of hemorrhaging ecosystem goods and services. Restoring these would result in positive outcomes for public health and economic benefit. This thesis seeks to address two environmental concerns: (1) accurate soil mapping and (2) treatment of nitrogen to affect water quality change.The current method of soil mapping, SSURGO (USDA‐NRCS Soil survey), is often erroneous and misleading. Two studies in this dissertation are conducted to evaluate the potential that different resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) have to distribute soil characteristics successfully. These studies are conducted in southwest Virginia and western Vermont. The aforementioned studies evaluated 36 and 59 soil samples, respectively. Spatial characteristics, including slope, catchment area, and topographic wetness, are derived from several DEMs. In chapter 2, these characteristics are spatially compared, and we found that small resolution rasters result in narrow flow paths relative to coarser rasters. In chapter 3, we isolate the analysis to focus on resolution size, instead of a mix of both resolution size and generation method. This is done by recursively coarsening small rasters, deriving spatial attributes from said rasters and evaluating their potential to fit the soil characteristics of interest. Here we found that slopes generated from resolutions smaller than 11m were poor predictors of soil characteristics. Both chapters are finished by proposing and evaluating a soil map. Proposed regressions beat SSURGO in all investigated properties. Furthermore, proposed maps consistently beat out uninformed smallest resolution derived maps.Chesapeake bay water quality managers are struggling to achieve targets for nitrogen loading. This is in part due to the widespread presence of legacy nitrogen. Legacy nitrogen is an emerging issue, and springs exporting high levels of nitrogen are not uncommon in northern Virginia. This thesis explores, in part, a novel concept of treating large loads of nitrogen exported from a spring with a bioreactor. Bioreactors are a young science that most typically pair carbon heavy subterranean receptacles to agricultural drainage. This provides a location for nitrogen fixing bacteria to consume nitrate/nitrite, turning these into inert nitrogen gas. A spring fed bioreactor is studied for 10 months, and bioreactor conditions including influent and effluent nitrogen concentrations, bioreactor flow, and temperature are collected. A model driven by first order reaction equations is found to be most accurate with inputs of temperature and bioreactor age. The resulting marginal effects of these inputs were consistent with previously reported studies. / Doctor of Philosophy / Centuries of industrialization have resulted in widespread human progress but have, at times, adversely impacted the environment. Constituents rely heavily on environmental services, such as clean air and water, to subsist. Environmental degradation has resulted in detrimental effects to public health, and remediation is currently economically viable. As such, there are strong incentives for researchers to understand environmental processes at a fundamental level. One such process is soil characteristic distribution. The distribution of soil characteristics, such as soil texture or organic matter, is especially important for agriculturalists, hydrologists and geotechnicians. Soil texture and organic matter distribution can affect crop yield, nitrogen export to surface waters, and structural stability of soils. Thus, accurate characterization of measured soil properties is paramount to multiple fields. The most typically used soil map is USDA‐NRCS Soil survey (commonly referred to as SSURGO). Currently, the SSURGO database is a poor predictor of soil characteristics. There is an opportunity to improve soil characteristic distribution using digital elevation models (DEMs). As DEMs become cheaper to develop, they are typically available in multiple resolutions and generation methods. In this research, several DEMs are used to better soil maps for watersheds in Southwest Virginia and Western Vermont. Both studies showed that DEMs can better distribute soils when compared to the current SSURGO maps. Additionally, we showed that the finest resolution dataset was not always best, and mixed resolution topographic wetness indices to be most advantageous for distributing soils.Another such process is remediation of surface waters from high loads of nitrogen and phosphorus. The Haber-Bosch method of producing nitrogen fertilizer is one of the most important human innovations in recent history. This method is likely responsible for the aversion of widespread famine in the early 1900s. However, residents of multiple river systems, including the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi River, are suffering from the adverse effects of widespread hypoxic/anoxic (with little/no oxygen, respectively) zones within water. These have partially been responsible for the decline of commercial ventures such as fisheries and tourism. These zones are caused by eutrophication, a process of unsustainable plant growth in the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus. Water quality managers typically target agricultural runoff and point source polluters when trying to eliminate anthropogenic nitrogen. However, legacy nitrogen (nitrogen stored in groundwater in excess of a year) has become an emerging concern for water quality. It is not uncommon for springs in karst areas to be contaminated with high concentrations of nitrogen. These springs present a point source that can be treated by an emerging technology: bioreactors. Bioreactors are subterranean, woodchip filled basins that provide a location for microbes to exchange water soluble nitrogen for inert nitrogen gas. The consistency in nitrogen loading and constant flow provide stability relative to more traditional bioreactor installations. Most typically, bioreactors are installed downstream of agricultural drainage systems, and influent flow and nitrogen load depend wholly on precipitation/irrigation and nitrogen application. In this thesis, a novel spring fed bioreactor is studied. Removal rates of nitrogen are quantified using a regression driven by reaction kinetics. The analysis showed bioreactor efficiency was intimately related to hydraulic residence time, nitrogen loading, bioreactor bed temperature, and bioreactor age. The spring fed bioreactor is found to be advantageous because of its consistency, and disadvantages because springs are colder and thus less efficient than typical irrigated runoff.
493

Framtagande av lutningsföreteelse för ruttoptimering av bränsleförbrukning / Development of a slope phenomenon for route optimization of fuel consumption

Svalling, Patrik, Frogner, Lukas January 2022 (has links)
NVDB contains information of Sweden’s roads and a large number of properties concerning them. This information is provided as open data and is commonly usedin routing. For an optimal route optimization, several attributes are needed based on the road properties. At the time that this report was written, there was no attribute for slopes. The purpose of this report was, in collaboration with the Swedish transport Administration, to develop a new property “slope” for route optimization based on fuel consumption. The development of the slope phenomenon was built with FME where a script was created that calculated inclination on road links.The script calculated the inclination using a variation of the linear equation. Where x, y and z coordinates and attributes from NVDB were used to obtain values for the equation.The testing and validation of the generated slope property was performed with route optimization in the ArcMap application. The results from route optimization and previous research show a significant reduction in fuel consumption within routes with regard to slope. / NVDB innehåller information om Sveriges vägar och ett stort antal egenskaper för vägarna. Informationen tillhandahålls som öppen data och används ofta inom ruttning. För en optimal ruttoptimering behövs det ett flertal attribut baserat på vägegenskaper. Under tiden den här rapporten skapades så saknades det ett attribut för lutning. Syftet med den här rapporten var att i samarbete med Trafikverket ta fram en ny egenskap “lutning” vid ruttoptimering baserat på bränsleförbrukning. Framtagandet av lutningsföreteelsen var uppbyggt med hjälp av FME där ett skript skapades som beräknade lutningen i väglänkarna. §Skriptet beräknade lutning med hjälp av en variation av räta linjens ekvation. Därx, y och z koordinater samt attribut från NVDB användes för att få fram värden för ekvationen. Testandet och valideringen av den framtagna lutningsegenskapen framfördes med ruttoptimering i programmet ArcMap. Resultatet av ruttoptimeringen och tidigare forskning visar markant reduktion av bränsleförbrukning inom rutter med hänsyntill lutning.
494

Facies architecture and reservoir quality of Unit B, Permian Laingsburg Formation, southwestern Karoo Basin, South Africa

Lombard, Donovan Joseph 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / This study presents a facies outcrop characterization and petrographical analysis of Unit B of the Permian Laingsburg Formation. Unit B is interpreted as a base-ofslope system, which represents a strikingly sand-rich succession. The base-of-slope system is defined by a channel-levee complex. The study provides systematically a clear understanding and description on reservoir heterogeneities, in terms of facies distribution, physical processes and architectural elements. The dataset included detailed sedimentary logs, photomosaic interpretations, supplemented by a petrographical study to determine the textural and compositional attributes of the studied sandstones. Seven lithofacies was recognised within Unit B, based on detail observation and description on grain size and sedimentary structures. They mainly consist of 1) thick to massive bedded ‘structureless’ sandstone, 2) horizontal and ripple cross-laminated thin-medium bedded sandstone, 3) silty sandstone, 4) structureless siltstone, 5) hemipelagic mudstone, 6) muddy slump, and 7) sandy slump. Palaeocurrent analysis indicates that the mean sediment transport direction of Unit B was to the E and NE. Lithofacies 1 comprises thickly to massive bedded, frequently amalgamated, mostly very-fined grained sand, mixed grading, irregular to sharp upper contacts, structured upper bedding planes, large floating mudstone clasts and granules, rare groove and flute casts. Also, scour and fill features have been documented. Lithofacies 1 has been interpreted to result from channelized sandy debris flow currents. Lithofacies 2 composes of thin-medium bedded, very fine-grained sand, ungraded, sharp upper contacts, discrete units with traction bed forms, horizontal and cross-lamination, mud-draped ripples, internal erosional surfaces and preserved crests. Lithofacies 2 shows diagnostic sedimentary features for a deep-water bottom reworking current. Lithofacies 5 composes of very fine–grained mud, ‘structureless’ to finely horizontally laminated, fissile mudstone. Deposition resulted from suspension settling of mud fractions out of a low-energy buoyant plume. Lithofacies 6 composes of contorted and convoluted bedding, steeply dipping layers and irregular upper contacts. Deposition occurred via slumping on an unstable slope. Lithofacies 7 composes of fine–grained ‘structureless’ sandstone, amalgamated units, with dark floating mudstone granules. Lithofacies 7 has been interpreted to form from channelized flows evolving into slump deposition on an unstable slope. The petrographic data reveals that the reservoir quality of the sandstones is strongly controlled by depositional processes and diagenetic products. The sediments of the Karoo Basin appear to be diagenetically controlled as a function of burial depth. The major diagenetic products controlling the reservoir quality of the sandstones, includes compaction (mechanical and chemical), and authigenic porefilling constituents (quartz cement, feldspar dissolution and partial to complete replacement, calcite cement, chlorite and illite). Compaction played a major role in the evolution of the sediment, as compared to the effect of quartz cementation, and is considered here to have caused irreversible destruction of depositional porosity and permeability. The sediment has undergone intense mechanical compaction during early-stage diagenesis, low temperature and shallow depth of burial (probably the first 2 km). The high burial palaeotemperature (250 ± 500C) or more specifically the high geothermal gradient of the Karoo Basin consequently increased the number of diagenetic reactions. The high burial temperatures may have increased pressure dissolution and quartz cementation. With compaction been limited, quartz cementation and the authigenesis of chlorite and illite at deeper depths may have had a profound effect on the permeability distribution of the studied sandstones. After the completion of diagenesis, the pore systems of these sandstones were completely destroyed by low-grade regional burial metamorphism.
495

The origin and properties of mass transport deposits, Ursa Basin, Gulf of Mexico

Strong, Hilary Elizabeth 07 September 2010 (has links)
Uniaxial consolidation experiments on Mass Transport Deposit (MTD) and non-MTD core samples from Ursa Basin, Gulf of Mexico, show MTDs have a lower porosity at a given effective stress compared to adjacent non-MTD sediments; a behavior observed in additional experiments on lab remolded Ursa core and resedimented Boston Blue Clay (BBC). I hypothesize debris flow action remolded the sediment: removing its stress history through shearing action, resulting in dense sediments at shallow depth. I supplement testing this hypothesis through lab remolding of BBC (in addition to Ursa clay) due to the greater availability and knowledge of this material. Ursa MTDs record multiple submarine slope failure events within the upper 200 meters below sea floor (mbsf); the most prominent is labeled MTD-2. MTDs have lower porosity and higher bulk density than surrounding, non-MTD, sediment. Porosity ([phi]) is 52% at 125mbsf – immediately below MTD-2; whereas [phi] is 46% at 115mbsf – within MTD-2. Comparison of non-MTD samples to MTD-2 samples, and intact to remolded samples, shows a decrease in sediment compressibility (Cc) within the MTD-2 and remolded sediments. Permeability within Ursa mudstones also declines with porosity according to: log (k) = A[phi] - B. Permeability is slightly higher within MTD-2; however grain size analysis indicates lower clay content in MTD-2 versus the non-MTDs. Pre-consolidation stress interpretations from the experiments show a linear trend in both MTD and non-MTD sediments, indicating both geologic units depict the same pore pressure profile. Remolding via debris flow explains the origin of MTDs at Ursa and governs the evolution of this geologic unit to its dense, highly consolidated, state today. At some point, slope failure triggered movement of the sediment down slope in form of a debris flow. The shearing action of the debris flow weakened the sediment, reducing its ability to support the overburden. As consolidation resumed, the remolded sediment followed a new, less steep, Cc curve. Within the geologic record, a distinctive dense, shallow unit is preserved; evidence for historical slope failure. / text
496

Krūmų ir medžių šaknų ardomojo poveikio įvertinimas tiriant tvenkinių šlaitų tvirtinimo gelžbetonines plokštes / Evaluation of destructive impact of shrubs and trees roots by investigation of the reinforced concrete slabs for pods slope protection

Kasiulevičius, Rimas 15 June 2010 (has links)
Tvenkinių šlaitų tvirtinimo plokščių (toliau – ŠTP) būklę bei ilgaamžiškumą lemia jas veikiantys poveikiai ir apkrovos, susidarantys dėl agresyvios aplinkos, klimato poveikio bei kitų veiksnių. Vienas iš žalingų reiškinių – dėl prastos šlaitų priežiūros išaugę drėgmę mėgstantys krūmai (pvz. karklai) ar net medžiai, kurių šaknys ieškodamos drėgmės, iškilnoja ir suskaldo šlaitų tvirtinimo plokštes. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti krūmų ir medžių šaknų ardomojo poveikio reikšmę Lietuvos tvenkinių šlaitų tvirtinimo gelžbetoninių plokščių būklei. Šiam tikslui pasiekti buvo atlikta literatūros analize, įvertinant tvenkinių šlaitų tvirtinimo plokštes veikiančius veiksnius ir apkrovas. 2008 – 2009 m. mokslinių ekspedicijų metu natūriniais tyrimais įvertinta 16 tvenkinių šlaitų tvirtinimo gelžbetoninių plokščių būklė pagal STR.1.12.03:2006. Remiantis natūrinių tyrimų rezultatų analize detalesniam tyrimui parinktos Antanavo hidroelektrinės žemutinio bjefo gelžbetoninės plokštės, kurių suardymo pobūdis leidžia teigti, kad šlaitų tvirtinimo plokštės buvo suardytos veikiant medžio šaknims. / Durability and technical state of reinforced concrete slabs for ponds slope protection depends on the maintenance circumstances – aggressive environmental impacts, loads from climate, etc. One of the harmful phenomenons are moisture–loving shrubs (for example, wicker), which appeared because of the bad slope maintenance or even trees, the roots of which heave and shatter (when searching for moisture) slabs for slope protection. The aim of the work was to evaluate the destructive force of the trees and shrubs roots on the reinforced concrete slabs for slope protection. For the achievement of this goal the literature analysis was carried out in order to determine factors and loads effecting slabs for slope protection. During the scientific expeditions in 2008–2009 the condition state of the reinforced concrete slope protection slabs of 16 ponds were evaluated by field investigations according to STR. 1.12.03:2006. Following the analysis of the results of field investigations the reinforced concrete slabs from the lower pond of the Antanavas hydroelectric power station were chosen for the more detailed investigation. The destructive character of these slabs allows stating that slope protection slabs were destructed because of the trees roots.
497

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON EXTERNAL COUNTERPULSATION SYSTEM: AN ALTERNATIVE THERAPEUTIC OPTION FOR FONTAN PATIENTS

Hernandez, Joseph 01 January 2015 (has links)
In order to address the long-term complications that arise from poor venous return, a hallmark of the Fontan physiology, we assessed the feasibility of a non-invasive, home therapy that will improve the health of the patient during the heart transplant waiting period and ameliorate the quality of life. In order to achieve this goal we tested a device that applies pressure to the lower extremities of the body (legs and abdomen) in a pulsating fashion with the goal of augmenting systemic blood flow to the pulmonary arteries. This treatment will enhance flow from the great veins and through the lungs and serve as adjunctive clinical treatment of single ventricle physiology. The specific aim of this study was to show improvements in cardiorespiratory measurements after applying external pressure as a proxy for improved health in the Fontan patient. Various studies have shown the impaired exercise capacity of post-operative Fontan patients, but very little data exists focusing on a period much later after the surgery. Our results among the two subjects completed so far have shown a moderately beneficial improvement in exercise capacity after the compression therapy. Subjects performed a treadmill exercise stress test at VCU that was followed by six days of applied external pressure treatment and finished with a final post-treatment stress test. Cardiorespiratory data was collected and analyzed for improvements from base level. Overall an improvement in exercise duration time, VO2 peak, ventilatory threshold, and OUES was observed, with only VE / VCO2 slope having mixed results. Both subjects seem to be relatively healthy Fontan patients, as indicated by their VO2 peak, VE/VCO2 slope and OUES. As a result, benefits of treatment may vary among a cohort of Fontan patients with poor health condition; a failing Fontan physiology for instance. The improvement in exercise capacity suggests that this therapy could be very beneficial to Fontan patients. These results warrants follow up studies to explore the extent of the clinical benefits of compression treatment among the Fontan population.
498

Vztah morfometrických charakteristik terénu a síťových analýz v prostředí GIS / Relationship between morphometric characteristics of the terrain and network analysis in GIS

Kufner, Jan January 2013 (has links)
The main objective of the diploma thesis is creation of methodology and automatization of calibration process of network graph based on the values of morphometric characteristics and motion vectors. The resulting morphometric values of the terrain have been detected on the basis of mathematical and cartographic methods for line course expression. The most accurate one has been used in GIS network analysis over the road network and digital terrain models, which were chosen as the most appropriate for this purpose. Relationship between morphometric values and values suitable for use in network analysis (speed, time, ...) has been studied using specific examples in appropriately selected territory with using selected vehicle, which was designated as a bicycle. The practical part for the verification of functionality of the suggested methodology has been compared with other models of accessibility, available web-map portals and route planners. The process of transport network evaluation based on selected parameters has been automated in Python programming language as a tool in ArcGIS software, which is attached to the diploma thesis. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
499

[en] PROBABILISTIC ANALYSIS OF SLOPE STABILITY CONSIDERING SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SOIL / [pt] ANÁLISES PROBABILÍSTICAS DA ESTABILIDADE DE TALUDES CONSIDERANDO A VARIABILIDADE ESPACIAL DO SOLO

EMERSON ALEX FIGUEROA FLORES 19 August 2008 (has links)
[pt] Freqüentemente as análises de estabilidade de taludes são feitas por métodos determinísticos, nos quais é obtido um Fator de Segurança (FS). Estes métodos não quantificam as incertezas existentes nas variáveis de entrada (parâmetros de resistência) na análise. Tampouco mostram detalhes sobre qual variável afeta mais o resultado. Os métodos probabilísticos permitem superar estes problemas. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo comparar dois métodos probabilísticos geralmente utilizados (Estimativas Pontuais e Segundo Momento). Três projetos utilizados comumente na geotecnia são analisados: barragem de rejeitos, talude de solo e aterro sobre argila mole.Um aspecto importante na análise probabilística é a quantificação adequada do desvio padrão. É sabido que as propriedades dos solos mostram uma correlação no espaço, pelo que o desvio padrão calculado por métodos clássicos da estatística é superestimado em comparação ao valor real no campo. El-Ramly (2001) desenvolveu uma metodologia para o cálculo da probabilidade de ruptura considerando a correlação espacial das propriedades do solo. Esta metodologia é de difícil aplicação prática. Serão, portanto, avaliadas na presente pesquisa as técnicas geralmente usadas de probabilidade e estabilidade de taludes, juntamente com um fator de correção proposto por Vanmarcke (1977a). Estas técnicas de probabilidade de estabilidade de taludes são factíveis de serem utilizadas junto com este fator de correção. Verificou-se que o Método de Segundo Momento é de mais fácil utilização, e portanto adequado para emprego em projetos geotécnicos. / [en] The analysis of slope stability is often determined by deterministic methods, in which a Factor of Security (FS) is obtained. These methods do not quantify the uncertainty in the input variables (strength parameters). Neither these methods show details which variable affects mostly the outcome results. The probabilistic methods allow overcoming these restrictions. This study aims at comparing two probabilistic methods of general use (Point Estimates and First Order Second Moment). Three projects commonly used in geotechnical engineering are analyzed: tailings dam, slope soil and embankment on soft clay. An important aspect of the probabilistic analysis is the proper quantification of the standard deviation. It is known that the soil properties show a correlation in space, so the standard deviation, calculated by traditional methods of statistics, is overestimated when compared to the real field value. El-Ramly (2001) developed a methodology for calculating the probability of failure considering the spatial correlation of the soil properties. This methodology is difficult to apply in practice. The present study will therefore evaluate the techniques generally used in probability of failure of slopes. These probability techniques applied to slope stability can be used together with a correction factor proposed by Vanmarcke (1977b). The Second Moment Method was found to be easier to use, and therefore more suitable for geotechnical projects.
500

[en] RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF SATURATED-UNSATURATED SOIL SLOPES USING LIMIT ANALYSIS IN THE CONIC QUADRATIC SPACE / [pt] ANÁLISE DE CONFIABILIDADE DE TALUDES EM CONDIÇÕES SATURADAS-NÃO SATURADAS VIA ANÁLISE LIMITE NO ESPAÇO CÔNICO QUADRÁTICO

MARLENE SUSY TAPIA MORALES 14 July 2014 (has links)
[pt] Este trabalho tem por objetivo a avaliação da estabilidade de taludes de solo quando sometidos a processos de infiltração de chuva, utilizando conceitos de Análise Limite e Análise de Confiabilidade. Primeiramente, determina-se a variação da sução no solo, para isto, emprega-se o Método dos Elementos Finitos e o Método de diferenças finitas na solução da equação de Richards. O modelo de Van Genuchten (1980) é utilizado para a curva característica. Na solução da nãolinearidade, emprega-se o método Picard Modificado. A instabilidade de taludes é estudada mediante o método de Análise Limite Numérica com base no Método de Elementos Finitos e o critério de Mohr Coulomb como critério de escoamento. A solução do problema matemático será realizada no espaço cônico quadrático com o objetivo de tornar a solução mais computacionalmente eficiente. Considerando as propriedades do solo como variáveis aleatórias foi incluída a determinação do Índice de Confiabilidade utilizando as formulações dos métodos de Monte Carlo e FORM (first order reliability method). Inicialmente são introduzidos conceitos básicos associados ao fluxo saturado-não saturado. A seguir são apresentados alguns conceitos. Sobre Análise Limite e sua formulação pelo Método de Elementos Finitos. Finalmente são introduzidos os fundamentos da Análise de Confiabilidade. Análises de confiabilidade das encostas de Coos Bay no estado de Oregon nos Estados Unidos e da Vista Chinesa no Rio de Janeiro Brasil, são apresentadas devido a que estes taludes sofreram colapso quando submetidos a processos de infiltração de água de chuva. Os resultados deste trabalho mostram que a falha das encostas ocorre quando o índice de confiabilidade atinge um valor perto de dois. / [en] This thesis aims to perform a reliability analysis of the stability of 2D soil slopes when they are submitted to water infiltration due to the rains.The time variation of the soil matric suctions is calculated first. The Finite Element Method is used to transform the Richards differential equation into a system of nonlinear first order equations. The nonlinearity of the problem is due to the use of the characteristic curve proposed by van Genuchten (1980). The Modified Picard Method is applied to solve de time-dependent nonlinear equation system. The responses of the flux-problem are transferred to the stability problem in some instants using the same time-interval (normally days).To estimate the stability of the slopes, limit analysis is used. The limit analyses are performed based on the Inferior Limit Theorem of the Plasticity Theory. The problem is defined as an optimization problem where the load factor is maximized. The equilibrium equations are obtained via Finite Element discretization and the strength criterion of Mohr-Couomb is written in the conic quadratic space. Therefore, a SOCP (Second Order Conic Programming) problem is generated. The problem is solved using an interior point algorithm of the code Mosek.Since the soil properties are random variables a reliability analysis can be performed at each instant of the time-dependent problem. In order to perform the reliability analyses, Response Surfaces for the failure function of the slope are generated. In this work, the Stochastic Collocation Method is used to generate Response Surfaces. The Simulation Monte Carlo Method and the FORM (First Order Reliability Method) are used to obtain both the reliability index and the probability of failure of the slopes.Reliability analyses of the Coos Bay Slope in the state of Oregon in USA and in the Vista Chinesa Slope in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are presented because they collapse due to rainfall infiltration. The results show that the soil slope fails when the related reliability index is close to two.

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