Papers

Flash flooding is characterised by a rapid flooding phenomenon caused byintense rainfall. Despite being an extreme event with high uncertainty, therainfall-run-off process is often regarded as deterministic (rather than stochastic).In this paper, the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) flood hydrograph uncertaintyis quantified based on the Total Error Framework (TEF), and introducedinto the model by applying perturbation in the input data and model parameters.The random perturbation component is stochastically modelled. A sensitivityanalysis was carried out on the stochastic model parameters, using areal case study in the Azores (Portugal). The results showed that the floodhydrograph uncertainty varies over time, with its largest deviations occurring atthe beginning of the flooding because of the uncertainty associated with the SCSmethod curve number parameter (correlation coefficient R2 of 0.86). Rainfalluncertainty was responsible for the uncertainty in the hydrograph peaks

Railway tracks frequently show higher degradation rates at transition zones from earthworks to bridges, or to other structures. In order to guarantee the safety and comfort of passengers, this aspect results in higher maintenance costs and disturbs railway operations. The behaviour of transition zones is rather complex and its poor performance has been mainly attributed to variations in the vertical stiffness of the track and to differential settlements. These two aspects amplify the dynamic loads of the trains and cause further track degradation. The Portuguese railway network manager has reported the poor structural behaviour of a few transition zones in some of its lines, which constrain train operations and present high maintenance costs. Thus, a research project is currently underway aiming at contributing to a better understanding of the phenomena that occur at transitions, and at optimizing their design for conventional and high-speed railway lines. In this article, we present some aspects of this research project, namely: a review on the design of backfills for transition zones; a comparison between numerical models found in the literature that were used to study the problem; some results obtained during the construction (characterization of materials and layers) and operation of the line.

As técnicas mais frequentemente utilizadas para a conservação e reabilitação de pavimentos flexíveis, que representam mais de 90% da extensão da rede rodoviária nacional, compreendem a remoção de camadas betuminosas degradadas e sua substituição por novos materiais. O reaproveitamento destes materiais, designados por

Para reducir la agitación en el interior del puerto de Vila do Porto, Azores, se ha proyectado una modificación del muelle interior de atraque de los ferries, con el objetivo de aminorar la reflexión y disminuir el rebase, sin que con eso se reduzca demasiado el área útil de la dársena portuaria. La solución propuesta es una plataforma de forma triangular en planta apoyada en pilares rectangulares, bajo la cual se ha colocado un talud de escollera para disminuir la reflexión. Se presentan los resultados de ensayos en modelo físico 3D y los obtenidos con dos modelos numéricos RANS en lo que se refiere a presiones en la plataforma y reducción de la reflexión (el modelo IH-2VOF y el FLUENT).

O consórcio LNEC/Geoplano testou uma metodologia emergente de remediação in situ de solos e águas subterrâneas fazendo a aplicação de nanopartículas de ferro zero valente numa parcela de terreno de um parque empresarial no Barreiro. O teste piloto foi efetuado numa área onde predomina a contaminação por metais pesados, sulfatos e nitratos. A execução da remediação in situ foi precedida pela caracterização físico-química dos solos, das águas subterrâneas e dos lixiviados produzidos pelos solos contaminados. Em laboratório testou-se o efeito da utilização de diferentes dosagens de nano partículas de ferro zero valente na diminuição da concentração dos elementos contaminantes na água. No terreno efetuou-se a injeção de soluções com três concentrações distintas de nano partículas.Após a injeção das nanopartículas implementou-se um programa de monitorização para aferir a variação das concentrações dos elementos contaminantes nas águas subterrâneas e nos lixiviados dos solos. Neste artigo descrevem-se os procedimentos de execução, apresentam-se e discutem-se os resultados obtidos

Red mud (RM) is a solid waste derived from processing bauxite ore to produce alumina and is considered a hazardous waste due to its high pH. This paper describes the use of untreated mud and after calcination at distinct temperatures (450, 650, and 1000 °C) to attempt to improve its reactivity in cement mortars. In the formulations, portland cement was replaced with up to 30 wt% red mud, and the addition of the red mud changed the hydration process, setting time, and workability. The temperature of hydration increased as more RM was added, particularly when calcined in the interval of 450–650 °C. In these conditions, the hydration process was accelerated, and the workability decreased. These findings indicate that the presence of red mud significantly altered important properties of portland cement.

Submarine outfalls need to be evaluated as part of an integrated environmental protection system forcoastal areas. Although outfalls are tight with the diversity of economic activities along a denselypopulated coastline being effluent treatment and effluent reuse a sign of economic prosperity, precautionsmust be taken in the construction of these structures. They must be designed so as to have the leastpossible impact on the environment and at the same time be economically viable. This paper outlines theinitial phases of a risk assessment procedure for submarine outfall projects. This approach includesa cost-benefit analysis in which risks are systematically minimized or eliminated. The methods used inthis study also allow for randomness and uncertainty. The input for the analysis is a wide range ofinformation and data concerning the failure probability of outfalls and the consequences of an operationalstoppage or failure.As part of this risk assessment, target design levels of reliability, functionality, and operationality weredefined for the outfalls. These levels were based on an inventory of risks associated with suchconstruction projects, and thus afforded the possibility of identifying possible failure modes. Thisassessment procedure was then applied to four case studies in Portugal. The results obtained were thevalues concerning the useful life of the outfalls at the four sites and their joint probability of failureagainst the principal failure modes assigned to ultimate and serviceability limit states. Also defined werethe minimum operationality of these outfalls, the average number of admissible technical breakdowns,and the maximum allowed duration of a stoppage mode. It was found that these values were inconsonance with the nature of the effluent (tourist-related, industrial, or mixed) as well as its importancefor the local economy. Even more important, this risk assessment procedure was able to measure theimpact of the outfalls on human health and the environment.

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The beach profile morphodynamic processes can be relatively well reproduced in large scale physical models. However,the cost associated to their use makes this methodology not always practicable. As alternative, it is desirable to exploreand apply smaller scales laboratory infrastructures with confidence, despite the different scaling laws, that is, theimpossibility to simulate all relevant variables in correct relationship to each other. The combination of physical andnumerical modelling can be a methodology to improve the required confidence (HYDRALAB III European Programme). Scale effects in a numerical process-based beach profile model, applied to simulate beach profileevolution under erosive wave conditions, were investigated in the present study. The numerical model was applied at laboratory and prototype scales, first with the default settings and then calibrated. Its performance was evaluated using the Brier Skill Score. The numerical results of the profile evolution in both scales were compared after reducing the results from the prototype scale to the laboratory scale. The profile erosion prediction was overestimated in the laboratory scale and underestimated in the prototype scale. Despite the calibration parameter that causes the largestmodifications of the beach profile being the same in both scales, the Gamma2 wave parameter, the most efficientparameter was different. For most of the calibration parameters, the value for the best case was not coincident in bothscales. It was concluded that there are scale effects using the Litprof model.

During seismic action, energy dissipation in structures occurs in structural and non-structural components, as well as in the substructure. Several of these dissipative mechanisms are modelled explicitly in nonlinear dynamic analyses, notably through relatively sophisticated hysteretic finite elements. Nevertheless, in most practical applications, it is not possible to simulate all the physical contributions to energy dissipation.Structural engineers are thus constrained to overcome this limitation by a mathematical artifice, in the form of equivalent linear viscous damping, which accounts for the remaining