Hydrocyclone density-driven particle separation may offer up improved settling performance for wastewater treatment facilities experiencing poor settleability. Hydrocyclones are fed mixed liquor through the feed inlet and experience a centrifugal motion that separates solids based on density. The variation in hydrocyclone nozzle sizes will report different calculated hydraulic and mass split percentages for the overflow and underflow. Previous research conducted with hydrocyclones have at multiple full-scale facilities used a 10 m3/hr hydrocyclone to promote better settleability as well as aid the formation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS). There has been a multitude of settling improvement experiments and initiatives for full scale wastewater treatment. However, little research has been produced utilizing larger hydrocyclones (20 m3/hr) at a full-scale wastewater treatment facility during continuous operation. Two Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) plants served as sites for this research: James River (JR) Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Newport News, VA and Urbanna (UB) Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Urbanna, VA. Both treatment facilities have utilized the hydrocyclone for more than two years, to fulfill wasting requirements. The JR plant operates the hydrocyclone continuously for wasting purposes, while UB only uses the hydrocyclone for approximately 30-45 minutes per day. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the hydrocyclone and its overall impact on settleability at the JR plant, eight hydrocyclones were installed. JR samples were taken from the underflow sample port (representing a mixture of underflow samples representing the number of hydrocyclones operational at the sample time) and overflow samples were taken from the outfall point of a single hydrocyclone. The UB plant only operated one 5 m3/hr hydrocyclone on Treatment Train 1 during wasting operations, while Treatment Train 2 served as the control train for the duration of this research. Hydrocyclone performance at JR was assessed through direct measurement of hydraulic and mass split of the underflow and overflow components, initial settling velocity (ISV), sludge volume index (SVI), and SVI5/SVI30 ratio. UB hydrocyclone and settling performance was measured by ISV, SVI5, SVI30, and SVI5/SVI30 ratios during different comparison experiments: hydrocyclone vs. no hydrocyclone, hydrocyclone vs. polymer addition, and hydrocyclone with polymer addition to Train 1 vs. polymer-only addition to Train 2. Nutrient concentrations from both treatment trains were collected and analyzed to determine any significant changes based on hydrocyclone use. T-test statistical analysis, and a dose response analysis included direct measurements of the ISV, SVI5, SVI30, mass split percentages, along with the effect of polymer with and without the use of a mechanical selector. Hydrocyclone settleability measurements at JR over time revealed a statistically significant positive correlation with the ISV, SVI5, and SVI30 measurements of the aeration effluent. Therefore, the hydrocyclone statistically had a strong impact on three settling parameters that are instrumental in determining overall settling efficiency. Statistically, no strong correlation was determined between the hydrocyclone operation and the total phosphorus (TP) concentration in the secondary effluent, or the ferric addition to the secondary clarifiers. The dose response based on the underflow ISV rate provided understanding of the nozzle comparison and the effect it provided to the underflow sample. Hydrocyclone performance at UB was hindered by the re-seed of Train 1 (inDENSE™) due to over wasting, and most of the data were not representative. Before the re-seed, hydrocyclone performance was improving the overall settleability of the mixed liquor in comparison to Train 2 (Control). All settling parameters measured were in favor of the hydrocyclone operation. After the re-seed the plant mixed liquor changed microbial populations for a brief time and was not representative of the overall treatment efficacy. The hydrocyclone did provide a quicker settling velocity than the polymer addition when the polymer addition was steady, and through both polymeric spikes. Polymeric addition to both trains, while inDENSE™ train still employing the hydrocyclone did not provide any conclusive data as to whether polymer addition with the use of a hydrocyclone was more effective than polymer-only addition. Nutrient profiles from UB did not provide any change in NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, or PO4-P, with the hydrocyclone being operational or not on the secondary clarifier effluent. / Master of Science / Wastewater treatment facilities rely on settling tests to be indicators for plant settling performance. A way to improve plant settling is to separate the sludge on a density basis and retain the dense sludge in the system for better performance downstream, while the less dense sludge is taken out of the system. By implementing a mechanical device that can ensure the separation of dense material and be retained in the system can aide in improved plant settling performance by improving settling parameter measurements. With the ability of using a mechanical device (a hydrocyclone) to physically separate sludge on a density-basis, it will improve settling measurements of the plants taken by operators on a daily basis.

The proposed energy harvesting system intends to harvest vibrational energy via an electromagnetic generator (EMG). The proposed circuit intends to extract maximum power from the EMG by utilizing the maximum power transfer theorem which states that maximum power is transferred to the load when the source resistance equals the load resistance. The proposed circuit is a synchronous split-capacitor boost converter operating in boundary conduction mode (BCM) to achieve impedance matching and therefore maximum power transferred to the load. The circuit topology combines the rectifier and power stage to reduce power loss of the power management integrated circuit (PMIC). The proposed circuit is designed and fabricated in 130 nm BiCMOS technology. The circuit is validated through schematic level simulations and post-layout simulations. The results conclude the proposed circuit and control operates in a manner to achieve BCM. / Master of Science / Tracking and monitoring systems and products has become more prevalent in our society. Consumers want to know when a package they ordered will arrive. Grocery stores would like to track a produce from harvest to the shelves, ensuring their produce is safe to eat. Produce should be kept around 0 °C and if it exceeds that anywhere during the supply chain, the store should be alerted. Wireless sensor nodes (WSNs) are such devices that would be able to monitor the temperature of produce or the location of a package. These devices must be small, reliable, long-life and cost efficient. Using a battery to power WSNs is an inconvenience as the battery must be replaced often. The proposed circuit enables a self-sufficient WSN that is compact, dependable, long-lasting and economical when deployed at large scale. The proposed circuit has been designed, fabricated and proven through simulations.

Defining an operation strategy for a Split Parallel Architecture (SPA) Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) is accomplished through calculating powertrain component losses. The results of these calculations define how the vehicle can decrease fuel consumption while maintaining low vehicle emissions. For a HEV, simply operating the vehicle's engine in its regions of high efficiency does not guarantee the most efficient vehicle operation. The results presented are meant only to define a literal strategy; that is, an understanding as to why the vehicle should operate in a certain way under the given conditions. The literature review gives a background of hybrid vehicle control publications, and without the SPA HEV addressed or a hybrid analysis based on loss calculations between engine only and hybrid modes, there is a need for this paper. Once the REVLSE architecture and components are understood, the hybrid modes are explained. Then the losses for each hybrid mode are calculated, and both the conversion and assist efficiencies are detailed. The conversion efficiency represents the amount of additional fuel required to store a certain amount of energy in the battery, and this marginal efficiency can be higher than peak engine efficiency itself. This allows electric only propulsion to be evaluated against the engine only mode, and at low torques the electric motor is more efficient despite the roundtrip losses of the hybrid system. / Master of Science

US catfish producers, seeking to reduce production costs, adopted technologies and production systems with the potential to increase the catfish pond productivity. Catfish pond intensification was accompanied by increased operating risk due to increased reliance on operating inputs. Split ponds were one adopted production system. The US catfish industry has adopted four split-pond variants differentiated by water circulation mechanism. Variants include the slow-rotating paddlewheel, the modified paddlewheel aerator, the screw pump, and the axial-flow turbine pump. Initial investment ranged from $54,400/4-ha ponds to $71,150/4-ha pond. Mean annual gross fish yield ranged from 12,876 kg/ha to 16,984 kg/ha. Net returns were positive for all designs under current economic conditions. The modified paddlewheel aerator and slow-rotating paddlewheel designs show the most promise for adoption. US catfish producers use multiple production strategies of varying intensity level, species produced, and pond design. Commercial farm data were used to quantify the economic risk of six commonly used catfish production strategies. Second order stochastic dominance (SOSD) was exhibited by multiple-batch and intensively aerated production of channel catfish over low intensity culture of channel catfish. Higher intensity hybrid catfish production strategies exhibited SOSD over medium intensity culture of hybrid catfish. Variations in fish yield, feed price, and feed conversion ratio were the primary contributors to variations in production cost. Hybrid catfish production strategies were dominated by yield (production) risk and channel catfish production strategies were dominated by price (market) risk. Off-flavor has been a persistent problem in the US catfish industry and contributes to economic risk. The cost of off-flavor was quantified at the farm level. A survey of catfish producers carried out in 2022 (n=54) revealed that farms representing 85% of the foodfish production area followed management practices for curbing off-flavor. The average annual off-flavor prevalence and the associated processing plant sample rejection rate was 27%. Off-flavor caused harvest delays averaged 23 days. Copper sulfate and diuron were used for managing off-flavor with diuron being the most popular choice used on 78% of the surveyed area. Direct annual cost associated with off-flavor management on catfish farms amounted to $39.9 million ($2,325/ha or $0.272/kg) in 2022.

This work investigates the interactions between impact devices and material response in the realm of solid mechanics, utilizing explicit finite element analysis and experimental methods based on the split-hopkinson pressure bar. It focuses on understanding how tools like jackhammers use hammer strikes to generate pressure waves, then the wave is transferred through a chisel to materials such as rocks to cause fracture. The interaction between the wave and the rock is complex. Under dynamic loading the mechanical response of materials changes and significant losses occur due to reflections and inefficient pressure states. This research explores how chisel geometry can be optimized to control critical parameters influencing rock fracture, including stress state, pulse length, and peak pressure. The use of notches to influence the stress state, periodic boundaries to influence the pulse length and pressure amplification in tapers the increase the pressure showed an improvement in efficiency in jackhammers. Additionally, this work extends insights of the concept of pressure amplification in solids, to liquids inside tapered pipes, enhancing the understanding of phenomena like pulse pressure amplification in arteries and water hammer effects in piping systems. Two innovative contributions emerge from this work: a novel amplifier design for water cannons, improving these machines efficiency and showing promise for applications in water jet cutting and drilling, and a novel process for extruding nanocrystalline magnesium. This process leverages pressure amplification and impact-induced plastic shear deformations to refine crystal size, offering a new avenue for producing various nanocrystalline materials.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-04-25T13:35:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Henrique Schardosin Ferreira_.pdf: 4214270 bytes, checksum: b40eaaf06dd9b49a976b944788dce2f1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-25T13:35:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Henrique Schardosin Ferreira_.pdf: 4214270 bytes, checksum: b40eaaf06dd9b49a976b944788dce2f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-29 / Nenhuma / Nessa dissertação foi apresentado um estudo do uso do ejetor bifásico em um sistema de refrigeração para condicionamento de ar automotivo, para recuperação das perdas de energia durante o processo de expansão. Um modelo numérico foi utilizado para a predição do ganho energético com a aplicação do ejetor com base no ciclo padrão de ejetor proposto por Gay (1931). Posteriormente, foi proposto um modelo numérico para a determinação das dimensões básicas necessárias para a fabricação do ejetor. Uma bancada de simulação construída para o ciclo de refrigeração padrão para condicionamento de ar automotivo foi modificada para a instalação do ejetor e passou a operar de acordo com o ciclo COS de Oshitani et al. (2005). Dos diversos modelos matemáticos existentes na literatura, foi escolhido um modelo de simulação de ciclo de ejetor para operação em regime subcrítico da análise unidimensional proposta por Kornhauser (1990) e para a solução do modelo foram desenvolvidos programas computacionais no software EES - Engineering Equation Solver, no qual as rotinas de cálculos foram construídas para solução numérica iterativa visando à determinação do ponto ótimo de operação do ciclo. Para comprovação do modelo e dos resultados obtidos pelos programas, foi repetida a análise apresentada por Kornhauser (1990) e os resultados comparados com os seus. Os resultados gerados pelos programas mostraram boa aderência aos publicados por autores que estudaram aplicação semelhante, sendo assim considerados confiáveis na aplicação para predição de desempenho de ciclos com ejetor em operação com fluidos em regime subcrítico. A bancada de testes instalada no Laboratório de Estudos Térmicos e Fluido Dinâmicos da Unisinos (LETEF), construída por Souza (2011) e posteriormente utilizada por Noetzold (2016) na simulação do ciclo padrão de refrigeração de um sistema de condicionamento de ar automotivo foi alterada para instalação do ejetor em operação sob configuração do ciclo COS. A adoção do ciclo COS se deu em função da incerteza do retorno de óleo e do controle da separação das fases do refrigerante no acumulador de sucção do ciclo padrão. O sistema foi submetido as condições de operação previstas na norma SAE J2765 OCT2008 (2008) e operou com R-134a. Os resultados foram comparados com os do ciclo padrão de Noetzold (2016) apresentando aumento médio do COP do ciclo de 25% para a faixa de baixa rotação e de 46% para a faixa de alta rotação e comparados também aos resultados de Lawrence (2012). / In this work was presented a study of the use of the ejector in a cooling system for automotive air conditioning, to recover energy losses during the expansion process. A numerical model was used to predict the energetic gain with ejector application based on the ejector standard cycle proposed by Gay (1931). Subsequently, a numerical model was proposed to determine the basic dimensions necessary for the ejector manufacturing. A simulation system for the standard refrigeration cycle for automotive air conditioning was modified for the ejector installation and started to operate according to the COS cycle by Oshitani et al. (2005). From the several mathematical models in the literature, a model of the ejector cycle simulation for subcritical fluids of the one-dimensional analysis proposed by Kornhauser (1990) was chosen, and for the solution of the model computational programs were developed in the EES - Engineering Equation Solver software in which the calculation routines were constructed for iterative numerical solution in order to determine the optimum operating point of the cycle. To prove the model and the results obtained by the programs, the analysis presented by Kornhauser (1990) and the results compared were repeated. The results generated by the programs showed good results, being thus considered reliable in the application to predict performance of ejector cycles in operation with sub-critical fluids. The simulation system installed in the Laboratory of Thermal and Dynamic Fluid Studies of Unisinos (LETEF), built by Souza (2011) and later used by Noetzold (2016) in the simulation of the standard refrigeration cycle of an automotive air conditioning system, was changed for installation of the ejector in operation under COS cycle configuration. The choice of the COS cycle was due to the uncertainty of the oil return to compressor and the control of the separation of the phases of the refrigerant in the suction accumulator of the standard cycle. The system was subjected to the operating conditions set forth in the standard SAE J2765 OCT2008 (2008) and operated with R-134a. The results were compared with those of standard cycle by Noetzold (2016), showing a mean increase of the cycle COP of 25% for the low rotation range and 46% for the high rotation range and also compared to Lawrence (2012).

A sequence fxng generates by the formula x_{n+1} =(1- £\\_n)x_n+ £\\_nT_nx_n is called the Krasnosel'skii-Mann algorithm, where {£\\_n} is a sequence in (0,1) and {T_n} is a sequence of nonexpansive mappings. We introduce KM algorithm and prove that the sequence fxng generated by KM algorithm converges weakly. This result is used to solve the split feasibility problem which is to find a point x with the property that x ∈ C and Ax ∈ Q, where C and Q are closed convex subsets form H1 to H2, respectively, and A is a bounded linear operator form H1 to H2. The purpose of this paper is to present some results which apply KM algorithm to solve the split feasibility problem, the multiple-set split feasibility problem and other applications.

This thesis introduces three different algorithmical and statistical strategies for the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data. First, we introduce a heuristic method based on enhanced suffix arrays to map short sequences to larger reference genomes. The algorithm builds on the idea of an error-tolerant traversal of the suffix array for the reference genome in conjunction with the concept of matching statistics introduced by Chang and a bitvector based alignment algorithm proposed by Myers. The algorithm supports paired-end and mate-pair alignments and the implementation offers methods for primer detection, primer and poly-A trimming. In our own benchmarks as well as independent bench- marks this tool outcompetes other currently available tools with respect to sensitivity and specificity in simulated and real data sets for a large number of sequencing protocols. Second, we introduce a novel dynamic programming algorithm for the spliced alignment problem. The advantage of this algorithm is its capability to not only detect co-linear splice events, i.e. local splice events on the same genomic strand, but also circular and other non-collinear splice events. This succinct and simple algorithm handles all these cases at the same time with a high accuracy. While it is at par with other state- of-the-art methods for collinear splice events, it outcompetes other tools for many non-collinear splice events. The application of this method to publically available sequencing data led to the identification of a novel isoform of the tumor suppressor gene p53. Since this gene is one of the best studied genes in the human genome, this finding is quite remarkable and suggests that the application of our algorithm could help to identify a plethora of novel isoforms and genes. Third, we present a data adaptive method to call single nucleotide variations (SNVs) from aligned high-throughput sequencing reads. We demonstrate that our method based on empirical log-likelihoods automatically adjusts to the quality of a sequencing experiment and thus renders a \"decision\" on when to call an SNV. In our simulations this method is at par with current state-of-the-art tools. Finally, we present biological results that have been obtained using the special features of the presented alignment algorithm. / Diese Arbeit stellt drei verschiedene algorithmische und statistische Strategien für die Analyse von Hochdurchsatz-Sequenzierungsdaten vor. Zuerst führen wir eine auf enhanced Suffixarrays basierende heuristische Methode ein, die kurze Sequenzen mit grossen Genomen aligniert. Die Methode basiert auf der Idee einer fehlertoleranten Traversierung eines Suffixarrays für Referenzgenome in Verbindung mit dem Konzept der Matching-Statistik von Chang und einem auf Bitvektoren basierenden Alignmentalgorithmus von Myers. Die vorgestellte Methode unterstützt Paired-End und Mate-Pair Alignments, bietet Methoden zur Erkennung von Primersequenzen und zum trimmen von Poly-A-Signalen an. Auch in unabhängigen Benchmarks zeichnet sich das Verfahren durch hohe Sensitivität und Spezifität in simulierten und realen Datensätzen aus. Für eine große Anzahl von Sequenzierungsprotokollen erzielt es bessere Ergebnisse als andere bekannte Short-Read Alignmentprogramme. Zweitens stellen wir einen auf dynamischer Programmierung basierenden Algorithmus für das spliced alignment problem vor. Der Vorteil dieses Algorithmus ist seine Fähigkeit, nicht nur kollineare Spleiß- Ereignisse, d.h. Spleiß-Ereignisse auf dem gleichen genomischen Strang, sondern auch zirkuläre und andere nicht-kollineare Spleiß-Ereignisse zu identifizieren. Das Verfahren zeichnet sich durch eine hohe Genauigkeit aus: während es bei der Erkennung kollinearer Spleiß-Varianten vergleichbare Ergebnisse mit anderen Methoden erzielt, schlägt es die Wettbewerber mit Blick auf Sensitivität und Spezifität bei der Vorhersage nicht-kollinearer Spleißvarianten. Die Anwendung dieses Algorithmus führte zur Identifikation neuer Isoformen. In unserer Publikation berichten wir über eine neue Isoform des Tumorsuppressorgens p53. Da dieses Gen eines der am besten untersuchten Gene des menschlichen Genoms ist, könnte die Anwendung unseres Algorithmus helfen, eine Vielzahl weiterer Isoformen bei weniger prominenten Genen zu identifizieren. Drittens stellen wir ein datenadaptives Modell zur Identifikation von Single Nucleotide Variations (SNVs) vor. In unserer Arbeit zeigen wir, dass sich unser auf empirischen log-likelihoods basierendes Modell automatisch an die Qualität der Sequenzierungsexperimente anpasst und eine \"Entscheidung\" darüber trifft, welche potentiellen Variationen als SNVs zu klassifizieren sind. In unseren Simulationen ist diese Methode auf Augenhöhe mit aktuell eingesetzten Verfahren. Schließlich stellen wir eine Auswahl biologischer Ergebnisse vor, die mit den Besonderheiten der präsentierten Alignmentverfahren in Zusammenhang stehen.

Att optimera hålrumshalten i färdig beläggning är essentiellt bland annat för att en vägkonstruktion inte ska få sprickor, spårbildning eller andra deformationer vid temperaturväxlingar  (Monismith, 1992). Eftersom både återvunnen och jungfrulig asfaltmassa består av stenmaterial, bitumen och tillsatsmedel är återvunnen asfalt värd den jungfruliga massans vikt ton för ton vid utbyte i ett arbetsrecept (Brock & Richmonds, 2007). I takt med att asfaltåtervinning blivit vanligare ökar dock komplexiteten, då återvunnet material är betydligt svårare än jungfruligt att karaktärisera (Karlsson & Isacsson, 2006). Eftersom användningen av återvunnet material förväntas öka samtidigt som lite forskning gjorts i ämnet är det därför av vikt att undersöka hålrumshalter vid kalltillsatt asfaltåtervinning. För studien undersöktes asfaltmassan ABT11 160/220 vid kalltillsättning av upp till 25 % asfaltåtervinning. Sex Sigmas problemlösningsmetodik DMAIC, vilket står för ett projektbaserat förhållningssätt i de fem faserna define, measure, analyze, improve och control, användes för att få en djupgående förståelse för hålrumsproblematiken. I metodiken användes i sin tur statistisk processtyrning och försöksplanering för att svara på studiens syfte, vilket var att granska och utvärdera orsakerna till varför hålrumshalter under asfalttillverkning varierar vid tillsättning av kallt asfaltgranulat samt ge rekommendationer för en förbättrad produktion med avseende på hålrumshalt. Efter granskning av historiska data, beräkningar, intervjuer och observationer ansågs de viktigaste orsakerna till hålrumsvariationer uppkomma från de fem källorna datahantering, kommunikation, resurshantering, materialkunskap och organisationskultur, där de två sistnämnda ansågs vara rotorsaker. På grund av examensarbetets avgränsning granskades endast materialkunskapen mer djupgående. För att fördjupa materialkunskapen valdes faktorerna asfaltåtervinning, jungfruligt bitumen, jungfruligt filler samt tillverknings- och instampningstemperatur ut för fortsatta studier genom två experiment. I det första experimentet granskades hur hålrumshalten påverkades av olika instampningstemperaturer genom en OFAT-studie och i det andra experimentet ansattes ett 24-1 faktorförsök enligt Splitplot där hålrummet mättes vid vanlig instampningstemperatur (135 ˚C) samt genom en vägsimulering. Resultatet från det första experimentet uppvisade ett förhållande enligt ett tredjegradspolynom mellan hålrum och instampningstemperatur med stora hålrumsförändringar under 125 ˚C och över 145 ˚C. Detta medför att det är av än större vikt att kontrollera temperaturen för lågtempererad massa och massa med mycket återvinning för att uppnå godkända hålrum vid utläggning. Det andra experimentet visade att även bitumen och återvinning är signifikanta effekter för hålrummet, där minskade bitumenhalter och ökade återvinningshalter medför högre hålrumshalter samt att återvinningshalter över 15 % medför oönskad ökning av hålrumshalter vid utläggning på väg. För att avhjälpa orsakerna till hålrumsvariationerna rekommenderas att data samlas, utvärderas, kommuniceras och följs upp i större utsträckning genom användning av statistisk processtyrning, värdeflödesanalyser och fortsatta materialstudier. Organisationskulturen bör förändras för att skapa en förståelse för vikten av rekommenderade metoder. Kan rekommendationerna följas innebär det en uppskattad ekonomisk besparing på 11 520 000kr/år, samtidigt som det skulle innebära miljömässiga fördelar i form av bland annat ett minskat uttag av ändliga resurser och minskade CO2-utsläpp. / Optimizing void volumes are essential for the serviceability of asphalt concrete pavements, as fatigue cracking, rutting and other permanent deformations can be caused by e.g. temperature changes (Monismith, 1992). Since both reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and virgin asphalt concrete consist of mineral aggregate, bitumen and additives, RAP is worth the virgin material it replaces ton for ton (Brock & Richmonds, 2007). As the use of RAP becomes more and more popular, the complexity of asphalt manufacturing increases (Karlsson & Isacsson, 2006). This, because the recycled material is harder to characterize than virgin material. Since the usage of RAP is expected to increase in hot-mix asphalt (HMA), while little research has been made in the field of cold feed RAP, it is of great importance to investigate the void volumes with this method. During this study, ABT11 160/220 with the addition of up to 25% cold feed RAP was therefore investigated. Six Sigma’s project improvement methodology DMAIC, acronym for the five phases define, measure, analyze, improve and control, were used to get an in depth understanding for the variations in void volumes. In this method, Statistical Process Control and Design of Experiments were used to answer the research purpose, which was to investigate and evaluate the reasons to why void volumes during asphalt manufacturing varies when adding cold RAP and give recommendations for an improved production regarding void volumes. After an investigation of historic data, calculations, interviews and observations, the most important causes for variations in void volumes came from data collection, communication, resource management, material knowledge and organizational culture, where the last two are seen as root causes. Because of the research delimitations, only the material knowledge was looked into further. To extend the knowledge of the material, the factors RAP, virgin bitumen, virgin filler, manufacturing temperature and temperature for Marshall testing were analyzed through two experiments. In the first experiment, the relationship between void volumes and the temperature for Marshall testing were investigated through an OFAT study, and the second experiment was made through a 24-1 factorial design according to Split plot, in which the void volumes were measured through the normal Marshall testing temperature (135 ˚C) and through a road simulation.  The OFAT result showed that a third degree linear relationship is present between the void volumes and the Marshall testing temperature, with large changes for temperatures lower than 125 ˚C and greater than 145 ˚C. This entails an increased importance of controlling the temperature for warm-mix asphalt (WMA) and asphalt with increased volumes of RAP. The Split plot experiment showed that also bitumen and RAP are significant effects for the void volume, where decreased volumes of bitumen and increased volumes of RAP entails higher void volumes in the pavement. Over 15 % RAP also entails greater void volumes. To decrease the causes for variations in void volumes, the recommendation is to collect, evaluate, communicate and follow up data at a higher extent through implementation of statistical process control, value flow analysis and continued material studies. The organizational culture ought to be changed to create an understanding of the recommended methods. If the recommendations are followed, estimated economic savings of 11 520 000kr/year can be a reality, as well as environmental benefits of e.g. a decreased use of finite resources and reduced CO2 emissions.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Neste trabalho, propomos um uma pesquisa teÃrica onde estudamos as propriedades de um pulso eletrÃnico em uma camada de silÃcio poroso, injetado sob uma certa voltagem externa V. Desta forma, podemos definir fundamentalmente a forma das curvas T X V e R X V, onde T à o coeficiente de transmissÃo e R à o coeficiente de reflexÃo do pacote de onda atravÃs da regiÃo porosa. Aliado a estes dados, podemos fazer um cÃlculo simples e obter informaÃÃes a respeito da corrente elÃtrica que atravessa o material, utilizando o modelo I=Q/t, onde definimos o tempo como o intervalo necessÃrio para que o pulso seja consumido completamente, como proposto por Lebedev e colaboradores (1998). Utilizando a definiÃÃo para mobilidade de portadores de carga, obtivemos informaÃÃes sobre a mesma, pois este trabalho foca-se principalmente no estudo do transporte eletrÃnico neste tipo de material poroso, que apesar de um estudo intenso em silÃcio poroso desde o inÃcio da dÃcada de noventa, as propriedades de transporte ainda permanecem um pouco inexploradas. O principal incentivo para que estudemos este material à devido à grande possibilidade da criaÃÃo de dispositivos em opto-eletrÃnica tais como LEDs (Light Emissor Diode). Ao longo do desenvolvimento, empregamos tÃcnicas jà bem conhecidas para a modelagem de semicondutores, como a teoria da massa efetiva, por exemplo, associadas a tÃcnicas de modelagem computacional, como o emprego de condiÃÃes periÃdicas de contorno e condiÃÃes de contorno absorvente. Por se tratar de um sistema quÃntico, tudo parte da soluÃÃo da equaÃÃo de SchrÃdinger dependente do tempo, e para executar esta tarefa fizemos uso de um mÃtodo numÃrico conhecido como Split-Operator. Assim obtemos as soluÃÃes para a equaÃÃo. Inicialmente, os cÃlculos realizados neste trabalho foram baseados em uma massa efetiva isotrÃpica, a fim de otimizar os parÃmetros de cÃlculo, e sà em seguida foram feitos cÃlculos baseando-se em massa efetiva anisotrÃpica para os diversos vales do silÃcio poroso. Tudo isto nos leva a crer que este trabalho possui uma grande importÃncia no que diz respeito à contribuiÃÃo para o entendimento do transporte eletrÃnico em sistemas baseados em silÃcio poroso, de forma a manter por mais algum tempo a aplicaÃÃo deste tipo de material que foi tÃo revolucionÃrio no sÃculo XX. / We propose in this work a theoretical study, of the properties of a electronic pulse, injected under a external bias, on a porous silicon layer, so that we could define fundamentally the shape of T X V and R X V curves, where T is the transmission coefficient and R is the reflection coefficient of the wave packet, trough the porous region. With this, we could make a simple calculation and obtain information about the electrical current in this material, using the very simple model I=Q/t, where we defined the time of transmission, as the time interval necessary for the electronic pulse to be consumed completely. This kind of approach is already known in the literature, propose by Lebedev and co-workers (1998). Using the definition of charge carrier mobility, we obtained information about it, since the principal aim of this work is the electronic transport in this kind of material, that despite a strong research on porous silicon, since the beginning of the nineties, the transport properties still remains a relatively unexplored area. The major incentive for this study is due to the strong possibility of application of this material in new optoelectronic devices such as LEDs. Along the development of this dissertation, we applied well known techniques for the computational modelling such as effective mass theory, for example, associated with methods like the periodic boundary conditions, and the absorbing boundary conditions. Treating of a quantum system, we begin all the work solving the time dependent SchrÃedinger equation. To do this task, we have used the numerical method known as Split-Operator, in order to obtain the solutions for this equation. Initially, the calculations in this dissertation where based in an isotropic effective mass, in order to optimise the calculation parameters. After this, we made calculations using an anisotropic effective mass for the different valleys of silicon. All these things leads us to believe that this work have a great importance regarding the contribution to the understanding of transport in electronic systems based on porous silicon, to maintain for some time the applications of this kind of material that was so revolutionary in the twentieth.