Abstract When Eurocodes was introduced, there was a requirement where the calculations had to take into consideration whether it's a slab or beam bridge. This means that calculations had to be made with softwares including plate theory. The object of this study is a slab bridge with endshields. The bridge is 66.95 meters long with a 14.38-meter-wide deck made of concrete. The deck is mounted on abutments with bearings and intermediate supports where the columns are fixed to the deck. The purpose of this study is to investigate if bridges defined as plates can be calculated using beam theory, as well as examining different modeling techniques in an attempt to evaluate how this will affect the results. A model using shell elements is established in BRIGADE/Plus and compared to a model in Strip Step 3 made out of beam elements. A base-model is also created in BRIGADE/Plus and is compared to the following modeling changes: Couplings between supports and the plate, “point to surface” or “point to point”. The bridge is modeled without wings to study the impact of the wings. The bridge is modeled without columns to study the impact of the columns. When comparing the values obtained from the two different software’s regarding deadweight, the results were almost identical. This indicates that Strip Step 3 is a suitable tool for verifying models made in BRIGADE/Plus. When studying the results from load-combination 6.10.b (the combination used for dimensioning) small differences can be seen between the softwares. This concludes that it may be reasonable to use Strip Step 3 for this type of bridges. However, there are major differences between the software at the traffic load which should be considered. In order to simplify the modeling process ties between points (nodes) should be used. However, the results obtained over the supports must be ignored due to unrealistic values. When studying the impact of wings/columns it was confirmed that a difference of 10 % appeared. Modeling without wings/columns is not more time efficient either, with that in mind wings and columns should be used when modeling.   Keywords: Plate theory, Beam theory, Strip Step 3, BRIGADE/Plus, FE-modeling / Sammanfattning Vid införandet av Eurokoder ställdes det krav från Trafikverket där beräkningsmodellen var tvungen att ta hänsyn till verkningssättet i sin helhet dvs. om det är en platt- eller balkbro (E. Rosell, Trafikverket, personlig kommunikation, 3 Maj, 2018). Detta innebar att beräkningsmodeller för plattbroar behövdes utföras med program som kan hantera beräkningar enligt platteori. Studieobjektet för detta arbete är en plattbro med ändskärmar. Bron är 66.95 meter lång med en brobaneplatta av betong som har bredden 14.38 meter. Plattan är upplagd på ändstöd med rörliga lager samt mellanstöd där pelare är fast inspända till plattan. Syftet med detta arbete är att undersöka huruvida broar definierade som plattor går att beräkna enligt balkteori, samt att undersöka olika modelleringstekniker i ett försök att utvärdera hur det påverkar resultaten. En modell med skalelement har upprättats i BRIGADE/Plus som jämförs mot en modell i Strip Step 3 utförd av balkelement. En grundmodell skapas även i BRIGADE/Plus som jämförs mot följande modelleringsändringar: Stöd kopplade mellan två punkter jämförs mot koppling mellan pelare och yta i plattan. Bron modelleras utan vingar för att studera vingarnas inverkan. Bron modelleras utan pelare för att studera pelarnas inverkan. Kontrollen av egentyngd visade nästintill identiska resultat vilket tyder på att Strip Step 3 är ett lämpligt verktyg vid verifiering av Brigademodeller. Vid lastkombination 6.10.b (den dimensionerande lastkombinationen för denna bro) uppstår små skillnader. Detta indikerar att det kan vara rimligt att använda sig av Strip Step 3 vid dessa typer av broar. Dock uppstår det stora skillnader mellan programvarorna vid trafiklasten vilket bör beaktas. För att förenkla modelleringen bör kopplingar mellan punkter användas, dock måste resultat som erhålls över stöd bortses från då dessa ger orealistiska resultat. Vid modellering utan pelare/vingar kan det konstateras att värdena skiljer sig ca 10 %. Det är inte heller mycket mer tidseffektivt att ta bort pelare/vingar då dessa går relativt fort att modellera.   Nyckelord: Platteori, Balkteori, Strip Step 3, BRIGADE/Plus, FE-modellering

Feature extraction from a tensor based local image representation introduced by Knutsson in [37] is discussed. The tensor representation keeps statements of structure, certainty of statement and energy separate. Further processing for obtaining new features also having these three entities separate is achieved by the use of a new concept, tensor field filtering. Tensor filters for smoothing and for extraction of circular symmetries are presented and discussed in particular. These methods are used for corner detection and extraction of more global features such as lines in images. A novel method for grouping local orientation estimates into global line parameters is introduced. The method is based on a new parameter space, the Möbius Strip parameter space, which has similarities to the Hough transform. A local centroid clustering algorithm is used for classification in this space. The procedure automatically divides curves into line segments with appropriate lengths depending on the curvature. A linked list structure is built up for storing data in an efficient way. / <p>Ogiltigt nummer / annan version: I publ. nr 290:s ISBN: 91-7870-815-X.</p>

Lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) is a cement, water, and air entrained mixture that consists of 25-80% voids. The air voids reduce the material strength but also decrease the material weight. Due to its lightweight properties LCC is an attractive alternative to soil backfill for retained structures, such as mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls. Although LCC is widely used behind MSE walls, limited information exists regarding the pullout strength of MSE wall reinforcements in LCC backfill. This research attempts to fill the knowledge gap through performing pullout tests on welded wire and ribbed strip reinforcements in MSE walls to determine the pullout friction coefficient (F*), reinforcement pullout behavior, and LCC properties. A large-scale test box (10 feet wide x 12 feet long x 10 feet high) supported by a steel resisting frame, was constructed, and filled with LCC backfill. Both the west and east MSE wall faces consisted of concrete walls. The west wall was supported by 16 ribbed strip reinforcements, while the east wall was supported by nine short, welded wire reinforcements. After backfilling the MSE wall, pullout tests were performed of the 12 ribbed strip reinforcements and all nine welded wire reinforcements. To determine different pullout friction coefficients (F*), different surcharge loads were applied through LCC self-weight, concrete reaction beams, and hydraulic jacks at the top of backfill. After performing the pullout tests on the large-scale test box, additional pullout tests were performed in two smaller (10 feet wide x 6 feet deep x 30 in. tall) MSE walls, each containing four ribbed strip reinforcements to determine the F* of ribbed strip reinforcements at moderate surcharge pressures. Results from these tests produced F* recommendations for ribbed strip and welded wire reinforcements. Additionally, a total of 130 LCC cylinder specimens were used to identify LCC material properties. Results of these tests show that the unconfined compressive strength of LCC is greatly dependent on the cast and cured unit weight, as well as the sample maturity. Comparing the UCS results to other work reveals a wide variation of UCS versus cured density, even though the same ASTM standard was applied for all tests. An equation for the secant modulus of LCC was created using UCS data from this thesis and other research conducted at Brigham Young University (BYU). Direct shear tests were also conducted on LCC cylinders cut to fit the confinement of a direct shear machine. The direct shear test results from this thesis agree with other research conducted at BYU.

Improved N management is required to enhance crop productivity, while reducing concomitant losses. Research was conducted for 4-y studying winter cover crops. Three legume species grown alone or with either cereal rye (Secale cereale) or ‘Tillage Radish®’ (Raphanus sativus L.) were used to quantify cover crop biomass and N content plus their effects on corn grain yield and N recovery. The effects of these cropping systems on selected soil health indicators was also determined. Rye bicultures enhanced biomass production, but antagonistically affected corn performance. Radish inclusion resulted in equal or greater cover crop N than rye. In year 3, the addition of radish across legume species increased corn N content (10.6 kg ha-1) and grain yield (1050 kg ha-1). Although cover crops did not affect soil bulk density, both bicultures increased soil C/N. The legume-radish association offers a novel practice towards improving crop performance and soil quality.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.