Geotechnical systems that evolve with ecological processes

Geotechnical systems, such as landfills, mine tailings storage facilities (TSFs), slopes, and levees, are required to perform safely throughout their service life, which can span from decades for levees to “in perpetuity” for TSFs. The conventional design practice by geotechnical engineers for these systems utilizes the as-built material properties to predict its performance throughout the required service life. The implicit assumption in this design methodology is that the soil properties are stable through time. This is counter to long-term field observations of these systems, particularly where ecological processes such as plant, animal, biological, and geochemical activity are present. Plant roots can densify soil and/or increase hydraulic conductivity, burrowing animals can increase seepage, biological activity can strengthen soil, geochemical processes can increase stiffness, etc. The engineering soil properties naturally change as a stable ecological system is gradually established following initial construction, and these changes alter system performance. This paper presents an integrated perspective and new approach to this issue, considering ecological, geotechnical, and mining demands and constraints. A series of data sets and case histories are utilized to examine these issues and to propose a more integrated design approach, and consideration is given to future opportunities to manage engineered landscapes as ecological systems. We conclude that soil scientists and restoration ecologists must be engaged in initial project design and geotechnical engineers must be active in long-term management during the facility’s service life. For near-surface geotechnical structures in particular, this requires an interdisciplinary perspective and the embracing of soil as a living ecological system rather than an inert construction material.

Proposta de método para avaliação do desempenho térmico de residências unifamiliares em clima quente e úmido

Nowadays, evaluation methods to measure thermal performance of buildings have been developed in order to improve thermal comfort in buildings and reduce the use of energy with active cooling and heating systems. However, in developed countries, the criteria used in rating systems to asses the thermal and energy performance of buildings have demonstrated some limitations when applied to naturally ventilated building in tropical climates. The present research has as its main objective to propose a method to evaluate the thermal performance of low-rise residential buildings in warm humid climates, through computational simulation. The method was developed in order to conceive a suitable rating system for the athermal performance assessment of such buildings using as criteria the indoor air temperature and a thermal comfort adaptive model. The research made use of the software VisualDOE 4.1 in two simulations runs of a base case modeled for two basic types of occupancies: living room and bedroom. In the first simulation run, sensitive analyses were made to identify the variables with the higher impact over the cases´ thermal performance. Besides that, the results also allowed the formulation of design recommendations to warm humid climates toward an improvement on the thermal performance of residential building in similar situations. The results of the second simulation run was used to identify the named Thermal Performance Spectrum (TPS) of both occupancies types, which reflect the variations on the thermal performance considering the local climate, building typology, chosen construction material and studied occupancies. This analysis generates an index named IDTR Thermal Performance Resultant Index, which was configured as a thermal performance rating system. It correlates the thermal performance with the number of hours that the indoor air temperature was on each of the six thermal comfort bands pre-defined that received weights to measure the discomfort intensity. The use of this rating system showed to be appropriated when used in one of the simulated cases, presenting advantages in relation to other evaluation methods and becoming a tool for the understanding of building thermal behavior

Estudo de dosagem de tijolos de solo-cimento com adição de resíduos de construção e demolição

An evaluation of the composition of soil cement bricks with construction and demolition waste. Sustainable development requires the existence of a production network that includes the reuse of construction waste for new materials. Current analysis investigates an optimal soil-cement composition made up of construction and demolition waste for the manufacture of pressed bricks. Soil-cement bricks were manufactured from construction and demolition wastes (CDW), A-4 classified fine sandy soil and cement CP II Z 32. Laboratory tests, comprising test compaction, optimum water content and maximum dry specific weight, consistency limits, grain size distribution and linear shrinkage, were made to characterize the materials researched. Compressive strength and absorption tests were also undertaken in different combinations of composition. Results showed that the application of CDW improved soil-cement qualities and reduced shrinkage of the material used.

O bambu na arquitetura: desing de conexões estruturais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da eficiência de isolantes térmicos por reflexão, utilizados como subcoberturas

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Estudo de viabilidade de implantação de usina de moagem de entulho com recursos da iniciativa privada no município de Bauru

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Informação orgânica como insumo estratégico para a tomada de decisão em ambientes competitivos

Pós-graduação em Ciência da Informação - FFC

Estudo de adobes melhorados com cimento e adição de resíduos de concreto

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil - FEIS

Informação orgânica como insumo estratégico para a tomada de decisão em ambientes competitivos: estudo nas empresas do setor varejista situadas na cidade de Marília/SP

The focus of this research is centered on organic information production, sharingand use on the enterprise decision making process. The information on the present economy becomes value source for organizations. The organic information is produced on the organization s internal environment been a product of the activities made by execution its functions. Knowing the elements that involve this process gives a great help to managers once the decision making process is permeated by conflicts and different perceptions. Therefore, the organic information can reduce these conflicts on organizational contexts, because it reduces the uncertainness, propitiates more security and more trustworthiness to the decision making process, besides it gives dynamism to people s time involved on the process. The investigated universe was composed by the companies affiliated to Construnova Net, from construction material segment, located at Marilia Region s cities, Sao Paulo State, because it is an important segment which influences the local and regional economy. The methodological proceedings used are based on the qualitative approach which method is related to descriptive and exploratory research. As data collecting instruments were elaborated a structured questionnaire with closed questions and an interview s syllabus which contents are related to the research s aims. As analysis proceedings for the collected data and also to consider the qualitative approach it was chosen the Contents Analysis method from Bardin and more specifically the Categorical Analysis . Consequently, we conclude that it is deficient in production of organic information, or to produce documents that prove and control the activities that are developed within the organization is not satisfactory. The decision usually is not subsidized by organic information. Accordingly the study points out the deficiency of the perception of the importance of the organic type information as an aid to decision making and al

Tutaméia: labirinto de imagens e símbolos

Pós-graduação em Estudos Literários - FCLAR

Archaeofacies Analysis: Using Depositional Attributes to Identify Anthropic Processes of Deposition in a Monumental Shell Mound of Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil

In the coast of Santa Catarina State (southern Brazil), a large population of monumental shell mounds characterizes a highly dynamic coastal setting. In this paper, sedimentary facies analysis was adapted for description, sampling, and interpretation of shell mound complex and repetitive archaeostratigraphic successions. Archaeofacies identification in the field, according to depositional attributes, is tested by contrasting field description with multi-element chemical analyses, total carbon and nitrogen determinations, and micromorphological descriptions. Two vertical sequences at the black deposit of Jabuticabeira II shell mound were studied and preliminary results showed that: (1) depositional attributes are a reliable base for archaeofacies identification in the field, (2) the formation process of this site involved a sequence of anthropic depositional processes, where burned refuse was redeposited over the shell mound following a ritual construction pattern, and (3) the black deposit includes a double palimpsest that refers to provenance and meaning of mound construction material. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Il deperimento dei geomateriali da costruzione: implicazioni sulla capacità sismica residua di edifici in CA e muratura ordinaria

This work is dedicated to the study of damaging phenomena involving reinforced concrete structures and masonry buildings and the consequences in terms of structural performances decay. In the Italian context there are many examples of structures that have already exceeded their service life, considering not only the ancient buildings but also infrastructures and R/C buildings that today are operating from more than 50th years. Climate change which is subject to the entire planet, with changing in seasonal weather and increasing in environmental pollution, is not excluded could have a harmful influence on the rate of building materials decay previously deemed as durables. If the aggressive input changes very fast, for example in a few decades, then it can also change the response of a construction material considered so far durable; in this way the knowledge about the art of good build, consolidated over the centuries, is thwarted. Hence this study is focused on the possibility to define the residual capacity for vertical or seismic loads for structures that are already at the limit of their service life, or for which is impossible to define a service life. The problem in an analysis of this kind, and that is what makes this research different from the main studies avaibles in the literature, is to keep in correlation – in a not so expensive computationally way – issues such as: - dangerous environmental inputs adequately simulated; - environmental conditions favorable to the spread of pollutants and development of the degradation reactions (decay’s speed); - link between environmental degradation and residual bearing capacity A more realistic assessment of materials residual performances that constitute the structure allows to leave the actual system for the residual load-bearing capacity estimation in which all factors are simply considered through the use of a safety factor on the materials properties.

The design of artificial nestboxes for the study of secondary hole-nesting birds: a review of methodological inconsistencies and potential biases

The widespread use of artificial nestboxes has led to significant advances in our knowledge of the ecology, behaviour and physiology of cavity nesting birds, especially small passerines Nestboxes have made it easier to perform routine monitoring and experimental manipulation of eggs or nestlings, and also repeatedly to capture, identify and manipulate the parents However, when comparing results across study sites the use of nestboxes may also Introduce a potentially significant confounding variable in the form of differences in nestbox design amongst studies, such as their physical dimensions, placement height, and the way in which they are constructed and maintained However, the use of nestboxes may also introduce an unconsidered and potentially significant confounding variable clue to differences in nestbox design amongst studies, such as their physical dimensions, placement height, and the way in which they are constructed and maintained Here we review to what extent the characteristics of artificial nestboxes (e g size, shape, construction material, colour) are documented in the 'methods' sections of publications involving hole-nesting passerine birds using natural or excavated cavities or artificial nestboxes for reproduction and roosting Despite explicit previous recommendations that authors describe in detail the characteristics of the nestboxes used, we found that the description of nestbox characteristics in most recent publications remains poor and insufficient We therefore list the types of descriptive data that should be included in the methods sections of relevant manuscripts and justify this by discussing how variation in nestbox characteristics can affect or confound conclusions from nestbox studies We also propose several recommendations to improve the reliability and usefulness of research based on long-term studies of any secondary hole-nesting species using artificial nestboxes for breeding or roosting.

Las normativas de construcción con tierra en el mundo/The earth building normative documents in the world

La tierra ha sido utilizada como material de construcción desde hace siglos. No obstante, la normativa al respecto está muy dispersa, y en la mayoría de países desarrollados surgen numerosos problemas técnicos y legales para llevar a cabo una construcción con este material. Este artículo estudia el panorama normativo para las construcciones con tierra cruda a nivel internacional, analizando cincuenta y cinco normas y reglamentos de países repartidos por los cinco continentes, que representan el estado del arte de la normalización de la tierra cruda como material de construcción. Es un estudio referenciado sobre las normas y reglamentos vigentes desarrollados por los organismos nacionales de normalización o autoridades correspondientes. Se presentan las normativas y los organismos que las emiten, analizando la estructura y contenido de cada una. Se estudian y analizan los aspectos más relevantes, como la estabilización, selección de los suelos, requisitos de los productos y ensayos existentes, comparando las diferentes normativas. Este trabajo puede ser de gran utilidad para el desarrollo de futuras normas y como referencia para arquitectos e ingenieros que trabajen con tierra. For centuries, earth has been used as a construction material. Nevertheless, the normative in this matter is very scattered, and in the most developed countries, carrying out a construction with this material implies a variety of technical and legal problems. This article analyzes, in an international level, the normative panorama about constructions with earth, analyzing fifty five standards and regulations of countries all around the five continents; these represent the state of art that normalizes the earth as a construction material. It is a study indexed on the actual procedures and regulations developed by the national organisms of normalization or correspondent authorities. The standards and the organisms that produce them appear, analyzing the structure and the content of each one. We have studied and analyzed the most relevant aspects, such as stabilization, soil selections, the requisites of the products and the existent test, comparing the diverse normative. The knowledge from this study could be very useful for the development of future standards and as a reference for architects and engineers that work with earth.

Mejora de la seguridad de las presas de escollera frente a percolación accidental mediante protecciones tipo repié

Esta tesis doctoral es el fruto de un trabajo de investigación cuyo objetivo principal es definir criterios de diseño de protecciones en forma de repié en presas de materiales sueltos cuyo espaldón de aguas abajo esté formado por escollera. La protección propuesta consiste en un relleno de material granular situado sobre el pie de aguas abajo de la presa y formado a su vez por una escollera con características diferenciadas respecto de la escollera que integra el espaldón de la presa. La función de esta protección es evitar que se produzcan deslizamientos en masa cuando una cantidad de agua anormalmente elevada circula accidentalmente por el espaldón de aguas abajo de la presa por distintos motivos como pueden ser el vertido por coronación de la presa o la pérdida de estanqueidad del elemento impermeable o del cimiento. Según los datos de la International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD 1995) el 70% de las causas de rotura o avería grave en presas de materiales sueltos en el mundo están dentro de las que se han indicado con anterioridad. Esta circulación accidental de agua a través del espaldón de escollera, típicamente turbulenta, se ha denominado en esta tesis percolación (“through flow”, en inglés) para diferenciarla del término filtración, habitualmente utilizada para el flujo laminar a través de un material fino. El fenómeno físico que origina la rotura de presas de materiales sueltos sometidas a percolación accidental es complejo, entrando en juego diversidad de parámetros, muchas veces no deterministas, y con acoplamiento entre procesos, tanto de filtración como de arrastre y deslizamiento. En esta tesis se han realizado diferentes estudios experimentales y numéricos con objeto de analizar el efecto sobre el nivel de protección frente al deslizamiento en masa que producen los principales parámetros geométricos que definen el repié: la anchura de la berma, el talud exterior y su altura máxima desde la base. También se han realizado estudios sobre factores con gran influencia en el fenómeno de la percolación como son la anisotropía del material y el incremento de los caudales unitarios en el pie de presa debidos a la forma de la cerrada. A partir de los resultados obtenidos en las distintas campañas de modelación física y numérica se han obtenido conclusiones respecto a la efectividad de este tipo de protección para evitar parcial o totalmente los daños provocados por percolación accidental en presas de escollera. El resultado final de la tesis es un procedimiento de diseño para este tipo de protecciones. Con objeto de completar los criterios de dimensionamiento, teniendo en cuenta los mecanismos de rotura por erosión interna y arrastre, se han incluido dentro del procedimiento recomendaciones adicionales basadas en investigaciones existentes en la bibliografía técnica. Finalmente, se han sugerido posibles líneas de investigación futuras para ampliar el conocimiento de fenómenos complejos que influyen en el comportamiento de este tipo de protección como son el efecto de escala, la anisotropía de la escollera, las leyes de resistencia que rigen la filtración turbulenta a través de medios granulares, los efectos de cimentaciones poco competentes o la propia caracterización de las propiedades de la escollera de presas. This thesis is the result of a research project that had the main objective of defining criteria to design rockfill toe protections for dams with a highly‐permeable downstream shoulder. The proposed protection consists of a rockfill toe berm situated downstream from the dam with specific characteristics with respect to the rockfill that integrates the shoulder of the main dam. The function of these protections is to prevent mass slides due to an abnormally high water flow circulation through the dam shoulder. This accidental seepage flow may be caused by such reasons as overtopping or the loss of sealing at the impervious element of the dam or its foundation. According to data from the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD 1995), 70% of the causes of failure or serious damage in embankment dams in the world are within that described previously. This accidental seepage of water through the rockfill shoulder, typically turbulent, is usually called through‐flow. The physical phenomenon which causes the breakage of the rockfill shoulder during such through‐flow processes is complex, involving diversity of parameters (often not deterministic) and coupling among processes, not only seepage but also internal erosion, drag or mass slide. In this thesis, numerical and experimental research is conducted in order to analyze the effects of the main parameters that define the toe protection, i.e. the toe crest length, its slope and maximum height. Additional studies on significant factors which influence the seepage, such as the anisotropy of the material and the increase of the unit flows at the dam toe due to the valley shape are also performed. In addition, conclusions regarding the effectiveness of this type of protection are obtained based on the results of physical and numerical models. The main result of the thesis is a design procedure for this type of protection to avoid mass sliding. In order to complete the design criteria, additional recommendations about internal and external erosion based on the state of the art are included. Finally, new lines of research are suggested for the future to expand the level of knowledge of the complex phenomena that influence the behavior of this type of protection, such as the effects of scale, rockfill anisotropy, non‐linear seepage laws in turbulent seepage through granular media, effects of erodible foundations, or new procedures to characterize the properties of dam rockfill as a construction material.