Ductility and durability of strain hardening cementitious composites in the marine environment

Modern structures are being exposed to severe environments and the lack of durability is one of the most serious problems in concrete infrastructures. Structural concrete exposed to marine environment deserves special attention as the sea salts chemically react with the cement matrix and the steel reinforcement which results in loss of strength, cracking, spalling, etc. The challenges of Civil Engineering, especially within the structures in extreme environments, pose considerable expectations with regards to the development of fibre reinforced materials for the development of more resistant and durable solutions. In the present work, the behaviour of an Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) was studied. All the specimens prepared were cured in 4 types of environments: exposed to air (20ºC of temperature and 60% of humidity) immersed in tap water, immersed in salted water and immersed in seawater, all at an average temperature of 18ºC. A series of experiments, including compressive and direct tension tests were carried out to characterize the mechanical properties of the ECC materials while exposed to different environments. The most important characteristic of ECC, which include multiple-cracking behaviour at increasing tensile strains when subjected to increasing tensile loading, was confirmed in all types of curing environments. In all cases the cementitious composites performed well with regards to the strain hardening behaviour typically observed in these materials, although the cracking processes have shown different characteristics. Due to the ability of the material to control crack opening below extremely low values, typically under 100 µm, the durability of structures can be significantly improved when ECC materials are used in the in marine environments. It was shown also that the salted water does not represent well the effect of seawater while characterising ECC mechanical characteristics in the laboratory.The authors acknowledge the material suppliers Secil, Civitest, Sika, Saint-Gobain (Fibraflex) and Eurocálcio – Calcários e Inertes SA for providing the materials used in this study

Flutuação populacional de Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) em palmeiras oleíferas no Amazonas.

As coleobrocas são umas das principais pragas das palmeiras devido aos seus danos diretos e indiretos resultarem na morte de diversas plantas. O levantamento populacional destes insetos é de extrema importância, visto a necessidade de se manejar adequadamente o controle realizado na área. Este estudo teve como objetivo monitorar a flutuação populacional de Rhynchophorus palmarum em plantios comerciais de Elaeis guineensis Jacq. e E. oleífera (HBK) Cortes, no estado do Amazonas

Análise de pedigree como auxílio às decisões de acasalamento em bubalinos: resultados preliminares.

Parâmetros baseados na probabilidade de origem do gene foram usados para descrever a variabilidade em uma população de búfalos da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. A magnitude dos resultados foi de média a baixa (por volta de 20 animais), sugerindo que poucos fundadores contribuiriam para a formação da população, fato confirmado em estudos e relatórios da década de 60. Dentre os 20 ancestrais que mais aportam genes ao machos (representando ao todo 71% dos alelos), 39%, 26% e 5%, respectivamente, são as contribuições marginais das raças Murrah, Mediterrâneo e mestiços. Para as fêmeas, onde os 20 ancestrais aportam 67,5% dos genes, 42% e 26%, respectivamente, são as contribuições marginais da raça Murrah e Mediterrâneo. Estudos posteriores considerarão os resultados destas análises iniciais, os quais indicaram quais ancestrais são os mais representativos, auxiliando a identificação de famílias ou linhagens, dentro de cada raça.Disponível também on-line

Photoionization spectroscopy of CH3C3N in the vacuum-ultraviolet range

International audienceUsing vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation, threshold and dissociative photoionization of cyanopropyne (CH3C3N) in the gas phase have been studied from 86 000 cm−1 up to 180 000 cm−1 by recording Threshold-PhotoElectron Spectrum (TPES) and PhotoIon Yield (PIY). Ionization energies of the four lowest electronic states X̃+2E,Ã+2A1,B̃+2E and C̃+ of CH3C3N+ are derived from the TPES with a better accuracy than previously reported. The adiabatic ionization potential of CH3C3N is measured as 86872±20 cm−1. A description of the vibrational structure of these states is proposed leading to the first determination of the vibrational frequencies for most modes. The vibrational assignments of the X̃+ state are supported by density functional theory calculations. In addition, dissociative photoionization spectra have been recorded for several cationic fragments in the range 12–15.5 eV (96 790–125 000 cm−1) and they bring new information on the photophysics of CH3C3N+. Threshold energies for the cationic dissociative channels leading to CH2C3N+, CHC3N+, HC3H+, HCNH+ and CH3+ have been measured for the first time and are compared with quantum chemical calculations

Peso de búfalas da raça mediterraneo em controle leiteiro como auxilio ao manejo de rebanhos da região bragantina, estado do Pará.

ZOOTEC 2009

Self-compacting steel fibre reinforced concrete for precasted sandwich panels : experimental and numerical research

In Portugal, steel fibres are the most used for concrete reinforcement, and flooring and tunnelling are the main applications of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC). In last years the prefabrication industry is showing more interest in collaborating in FRC research projects. The research carried out in consortium by University of Minho (UM) and two private companies for the development of self-compacting steel fibre reinforced concrete (SCSFRC) is an example of this new strategy. This research has the following main tasks: conceive a rational mix design method; evaluate the most relevant material properties and the structural behaviour of laminar elements; develop numerical tools. This paper intends to show the research strategy adopted in the SCSFRC project, since it is a typical example of the methodology followed by the UM research group, the most active in Portugal, in the FRC domain.FEDER. MCT. ADI. PREGAIA. CIVITEST. MBT. SECIL. Bekaert. Comital