Etude du béton à l’échelle mesoscopique : simulation numérique et tests de micro-indentation

Concrete is a construction material the most widely used. This is a heterogeneous composite material consisting of a granular skeleton embedded in a hydrated cement paste. This paste has a different microstructure near aggregates thus defining an area called «Interfacial Transition Zone». Despite the many efforts by the international scientific community to explore this complex material, there are still shadow areas to control the intrinsic properties of the three phases that compose but also the influence of each on the overall behavior of material. The objective of this thesis is, first, to study the effect of the transition zone and the nature of the aggregates on the overall behavior of concrete, and finally to characterize the cement matrix. The starting point is the use of SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) to analyze the transition zone, which enabled us to see that this area is strongly influenced by the nature of the aggregates and the quality of adhesion matrix / aggregates is not always perfect. A 3D numerical concrete is then developed in the computation code Finite Element Abaqus to quantify the effect of the transition zone of the matrix and / aggregate interface on the mechanical properties of the concrete. The simulation results showed no influence of the transition region around the aggregates on the overall behavior of the concrete in compression. However, a significant influence on the nature of the contact matrix / aggregates is demonstrated when a sliding between the matrix and the aggregate is taken into account. In order to find the properties of the cementitious matrix which coats the aggregate, the micro-indentation test is coupled to a numerical simulation. Finally obtained the correlation between the numerical model and the experiment was concluded on the feasibility of the methodology adopted. Finally, the micro-indentation test is applied on concrete samples in order to study the effect of the fire on the properties of the cementitious matrix.Le béton est le matériau de construction le plus utilisé au monde. C’est un matériau composite hétérogène constitué par un squelette granulaire, enrobé dans une pâte de ciment hydraté. Cette pâte présente une microstructure différente à proximité des granulats délimitant ainsi une zone appelée « Auréole de transition ». Malgré les nombreux efforts fournis par la communauté scientifique internationale pour explorer ce matériau complexe, il reste toujours des zones d’ombres pour maîtriser les propriétés intrinsèques des trois phases qui le composent mais aussi l’influence de chacune d’elles sur le comportement global du matériau. L’objectif de cette thèse est, d’abord, d’étudier l’effet de la zone de transition et de la nature des granulats sur le comportement global du béton et, enfin, de caractériser la matrice cimentaire. Le point de départ est l’utilisation du MEB (Microscope Electronique à Balayage) pour analyser la zone de transition, ce qui a permis de voir que cette zone est fortement influencée par la nature des granulats et que la qualité de l’adhérence matrice/granulats n’est pas toujours parfaite. Un béton numérique 3D est ensuite développé dans le code de calcul aux Eléments Finis Abaqus pour quantifier l’effet de la zone de transition et de l’interface matrice/granulats sur les propriétés mécaniques du béton. Les résultats des simulations ne montrent pas d’influence de la zone de transition autour des granulats sur le comportement global en compression du béton. En revanche, une influence significative de la nature du contact matrice/granulats est démontrée lorsqu’un glissement entre la matrice et les granulats est pris en compte. Dans le but de trouver les propriétés de la matrice cimentaire qui enrobe les granulats, l’essai de micro-indentation est couplé avec une simulation numérique. La corrélation finalement obtenue entre le modèle numérique et l’expérience a permis de conclure sur la faisabilité de la méthodologie adoptée. En dernier lieu, l’essai de micro-indentation est appliqué sur des échantillons de béton afin d’étudier l’effet de l’incendie sur les propriétés de la matrice cimentaire

MANAGEMENT OF FITNESS AND HEALTH CENTRES FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY

The changing lifestyles and the general awareness on the importance of healthy living in modern day Nigerian societies have suggested more needs and demands for appropriate settings to actualize optimal fitness for the body. Various centres are being established for this purpose but for efficiency in meeting the objective of their establishment, these centres must be effectively managed. This paper aims to fulfill this gap and suggests a pragmatic approach to managing health and fitness centres. The basic requirements for the operation of a fitness and health centre are examined to identify ways and strategies of managing and supervising fitness and health centres effectively. It examined steps for setting up clientele services mainly for effective service delivery; organogram for the operation of good management; typical rules and regulations; identified the constraints involved; and made provision for typical personnel that will drive the management of the fitness and health centres with a view to maximizing financial benefits offered in present day awareness of seeking wellness, healthy lifestyles, and longevity

Study of concrete at the mesoscopic scale : numerical simulation and micro-indentation tests

Le béton est le matériau de construction le plus utilisé au monde. C’est un matériau composite hétérogène constitué par un squelette granulaire, enrobé dans une pâte de ciment hydraté. Cette pâte présente une microstructure différente à proximité des granulats délimitant ainsi une zone appelée « Auréole de transition ». Malgré les nombreux efforts fournis par la communauté scientifique internationale pour explorer ce matériau complexe, il reste toujours des zones d’ombres pour maîtriser les propriétés intrinsèques des trois phases qui le composent mais aussi l’influence de chacune d’elles sur le comportement global du matériau. L’objectif de cette thèse est, d’abord, d’étudier l’effet de la zone de transition et de la nature des granulats sur le comportement global du béton et, enfin, de caractériser la matrice cimentaire. Le point de départ est l’utilisation du MEB (Microscope Electronique à Balayage) pour analyser la zone de transition, ce qui a permis de voir que cette zone est fortement influencée par la nature des granulats et que la qualité de l’adhérence matrice/granulats n’est pas toujours parfaite. Un béton numérique 3D est ensuite développé dans le code de calcul aux Eléments Finis Abaqus pour quantifier l’effet de la zone de transition et de l’interface matrice/granulats sur les propriétés mécaniques du béton. Les résultats des simulations ne montrent pas d’influence de la zone de transition autour des granulats sur le comportement global en compression du béton. En revanche, une influence significative de la nature du contact matrice/granulats est démontrée lorsqu’un glissement entre la matrice et les granulats est pris en compte. Dans le but de trouver les propriétés de la matrice cimentaire qui enrobe les granulats, l’essai de micro-indentation est couplé avec une simulation numérique. La corrélation finalement obtenue entre le modèle numérique et l’expérience a permis de conclure sur la faisabilité de la méthodologie adoptée. En dernier lieu, l’essai de micro-indentation est appliqué sur des échantillons de béton afin d’étudier l’effet de l’incendie sur les propriétés de la matrice cimentaire.Concrete is a construction material the most widely used. This is a heterogeneous composite material consisting of a granular skeleton embedded in a hydrated cement paste. This paste has a different microstructure near aggregates thus defining an area called «Interfacial Transition Zone». Despite the many efforts by the international scientific community to explore this complex material, there are still shadow areas to control the intrinsic properties of the three phases that compose but also the influence of each on the overall behavior of material. The objective of this thesis is, first, to study the effect of the transition zone and the nature of the aggregates on the overall behavior of concrete, and finally to characterize the cement matrix. The starting point is the use of SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) to analyze the transition zone, which enabled us to see that this area is strongly influenced by the nature of the aggregates and the quality of adhesion matrix / aggregates is not always perfect. A 3D numerical concrete is then developed in the computation code Finite Element Abaqus to quantify the effect of the transition zone of the matrix and / aggregate interface on the mechanical properties of the concrete. The simulation results showed no influence of the transition region around the aggregates on the overall behavior of the concrete in compression. However, a significant influence on the nature of the contact matrix / aggregates is demonstrated when a sliding between the matrix and the aggregate is taken into account. In order to find the properties of the cementitious matrix which coats the aggregate, the micro-indentation test is coupled to a numerical simulation. Finally obtained the correlation between the numerical model and the experiment was concluded on the feasibility of the methodology adopted. Finally, the micro-indentation test is applied on concrete samples in order to study the effect of the fire on the properties of the cementitious matrix

Vowel Harmony in the North-East Dialects of Yoruba

This paper presents the vowel harmony system in the North-East Yoruba dialect group. The vowel system in the dialect group follows the pattern in the standard Yoruba, and other dialect groups that include the NorthWest Yoruba, South-West Yoruba and the South-East Yoruba where an incomplete or partial vowel harmony is observed. However, the vowel harmony system in the dialect group under focus provides a major evidence not found in the other dialect groups mentioned to support the hypothesis that proto-Yoruba possibly operated a ten-vowel system, and possibly also operated a complete vowel harmony system as suggested in Adetugbo (1967), Capo (1983) and Abiodun and Sanusi (1999)

Relationship between organisational climate and effectiveness of state sports councils in Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to examine the climate prevalent in state sports councils (SSCs) in Nigeria and its relationship to organisational effectiveness. The secondary purpose was to examine the influence of selected demographic variables of age, educational level, status, and experience on organisational climate. Discussion about organisational climate revolves around the perceived properties found in the work environment (Downey, 1998). These presumably affect subsequent behaviour of the employees, achievement of organisational goals, andconsequently organisational effectiveness (Zammnto, 1996). Productivity and goal achievement are means to effectiveness (Chelladurai & Haggerty, 1991; Weese, 1997). Three categories of sports directors-directors of sports, deputy directors of sports, and assistant directors of sportsmadeup the sample size of 328 and represented 88.6% of the total population across all the 37 SSCs. The modified Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire (Haplin & Croft, 1962) and the Perceived Organisational Effectiveness Index (Branch Jr., 1990) were used in data collection at the various venues of the zonal preliminaries of the 15th National Sports Festival. Results revealed that organisational climate is related to organisational effectiveness (r=0.5; p 0.05) and status (F = 1.20; p > 0.05) on organisational climate. Findings suggest that SSCs should create a climate that is conducive for employee commitment to work, increased productivity and goal achievement which are means to effectiveness of the councils. Also the management of the SSCs must consider the age and experience of employees when putting in place necessary properties for their work environment.Key words: Organisational climate, effectiveness, sports council

Effect of Aggregate Type on the Concrete Matrix/Aggregates Interface and its Influence on the Overall Mechanical Behavior. A Numerical Study

International audienc

Effect of the interfacial transition zone and the nature of the matrix-aggregate interface on the overall elastic and inelastic behaviour of concrete under compression: a 3D numerical study

International audienc

Characterization of the Omni-Processor Sewage Sludge Ash for Reuse as Construction Material

International audienceOmni Processors (OP) are machines which use sludge as a fuel to generate electricity and clean water, but create ash at the same time. In the present study, fly ash and bottom ash are investigated as materials for potential reuse in the construction field. First, the granular size, density and Blaine finesse are determined. Then, the chemical composition and microstructure are obtained by means of X-ray fluorescence and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), respectively. Finally, ashes reactivity is determined by two chemical methods (modified Chapelle test, bound water content R3) and a mechanical method (pozzolanic activity index). The characterization results indicate two material types: fly ash similar to cement and bottom ash similar to fine sand. That's why the mortars mechanical strength with fly ash 0%-30% is better than that with bottom ash at the same rate. Fly ash slightly decreases the mechanical strength of mortars while bottom ash induces a much more significant decrease

Evaluation of the Inhibitory Gel andamp-lt-iandamp-gt-Aloe andamp-lt-/iandamp-gt-andamp-lt-iandamp-gt-veraandamp-lt-/iandamp-gt- against Corrosion of Reinforcement Concrete in NaCl Medium

International audienceMost reinforced concrete structures in seaside locations suffer from corrosion damage to the reinforcement, limiting their durability and necessitating costly repairs. To improve their performance and durability, we have investigated in this paper Aloe vera extracts as a green corrosion inhibitor for reinforcing steel in NaCl environments. Using electrochemical methods (zero-intensity chronopotentiometry, Tafel lines and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), this experimental work investigated the effect of these Aloe vera (AV) extracts on corrosion inhibition of concrete reinforcing bar (HA, diameter 12mm) immersed in a 0.5M NaCl solution. The results show that Aloe vera extracts have an average corrosion-inhibiting efficacy of around 86% at an optimum concentration of 20%