RCAAP Repository

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Este artigo examina os desafios com que provavelmente se defrontará o atual governo na execução da política externa anunciada pelo candidato Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva e confirmada pelas primeiras declarações e iniciativas do atual Presidente. A linha de conduta internacional com que se comprometeu o governo atual representa uma significativa mudança em relação àquela seguida pelo país desde 1990 e tem pontos de afinidade com algumas das preocupações tradicionais da nossa diplomacia, mas inova em outros e se choca com desafios ligados à complexidade do Brasil de hoje e às peculiaridades do mundo pós-Guerra Fria e pós-11 de setembro.

Este artigo analisa o comportamento da política de comércio exterior brasileira em um contexto interno de crise econômico-financeira, limitada capacidade de importação e exportação, industrialização e dependência em relação ao capital estrangeiro. Propõe-se identificar e avaliar o papel que desempenhou o comércio exterior brasileiro como elemento propulsor do desenvolvimento econômico.

O artigo analisa alguns aspectos da percepção brasileira sobre o conflito regional imperante na América Central, entre 1979 e 1996. Na conclusão sugere-se que essa política fundamentou-se no que aqui se chama de a "tese brasileira" sobre a origem, a evolução e os possíveis mecanismos de resolução para o conflito regional.

O artigo trata do papel que Rui Barbosa teve - direta e indiretamente - na solução da Questão Acreana, finalizada com o Tratado de Petrópolis, em 1903, e sugere que a sua participação no processo de negociação teve influência em suas atividades futuras, apesar de seu posicionamento contrário ao desfecho da questão.

Este artigo analisa a agenda política para a governança econômica global para os próximos cinqüenta anos. Segundo o autor, o grande crescimento populacional proveniente dos países pobres induzirá uma maior participação desses países na tomada de decisão no âmbito internacional, fomentando a troca de informações e experiências entre os países ricos e pobres. Por fim, há uma breve explanação de outras razões pelas quais os países emergentes deveriam ter maior voz na governança econômica global.

O artigo analisa a projeção de poder pelos Estados Unidos por meio de intervenções militares a partir de um enquadramento conceitual, seguida de uma revisão histórica da formação do sistema de Forças de Deslocamento Rápido até a Estratégia de Segurança Nacional dos Estados Unidos na década de 1990. O artigo realiza ainda um estudo mais detalhado dos aspectos táticos e logísticos dessas forças que compõem a capacidade de intervenção militar dos Estados Unidos. Por fim, ele aponta a utilidade desse estudo para a formulação da política de defesa do Brasil.

O artigo persegue o objetivo de definir o lugar e o papel da Rússia nas relações internacionais contemporâneas nos últimos anos. Ao se debruçar sobre o dilema tradicional da política externa russa - Ocidentalismo versus Orientalismo - o autor analisa o cenário de multipolaridade defendido pela nova concepção da política externa russa e o relaciona com a fase do pragmatismo e do multilateralismo que caracteriza a atuação internacional da Rússia de Putin, fazendo considerações, decorrentes do impacto dos ataques terroristas aos Estados Unidos em 11 de setembro de 2001 sobre a política externa russa. A atitude pragmática e a natureza multivetorial da política externa russa contribuem, segundo o autor, para o fortalecimento das posições internacionais da Rússia em comparação com a perda ou a natureza incerta das alianças e dos relacionamentos do período da transição pós-soviética.

Confrontadas com o risco de guerra nuclear entre o Paquistão e a Índia, as potências ocidentais têm procurado exercer algum controle sobre os acontecimentos no Sul da Ásia; instaram os dois países a encetar negociações bilaterais, promoveram a não-proliferação e aplicaram sanções de tempos em tempos. O Paquistão é muito sensível às políticas ocidentais, sobretudo às dos Estados Unidos, porém nunca abriu mão de dois critérios fundamentais de sua política externa: a exigência de autodeterminação para a Cachemira e a dissuasão nuclear. Os Estados Unidos agora mostram um poder e uma influência incontrastáveis, mas após a crise do Iraque a unidade das grandes potências revela fissuras. Ao mesmo tempo, o retorno ao regime civil e parlamentar no Paquistão aumenta a força dos partidos nacionalistas e islâmicos, que querem conter a influência dos Estados Unidos e ampliar os laços com a França, a Alemanha, a Rússia e a China. Nesse novo e fluido ambiente político, a evolução das relações entre o Paquistão e a Índia terá forte impacto sobre as estratégias ocidentais para o Sul da Ásia e para o mundo em geral.

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ABSTRACT Considering the physical nonlinearity of concrete and the fundamentals of fracture mechanics for quasi-brittle materials, the objective of this study was to determine the fracture energy and the length of the fracture process zone (FPZ) as well as the modulus of elasticity, the tensile strength and the compressive strength of self-compacting concrete (SCC) to characterize its mechanical behavior. A series of tests, including a three-point bending test of SCC and conventional vibrated concrete (CVC) specimens, with a notch at mid-span, and tensile and compressive tests were performed. The mechanical parameters obtained from the CVC specimens were considered as a comparative reference. The effect of the following variables was evaluated and considered at two levels: compressive strength (30 and 50 MPa), granular composition (fine and coarse particle size) and maximum diameter of the aggregate (12 and 20 mm). The effect of these variables on the mechanical behaviors of the SCC specimens was evaluated based on the test results of specimens of four types of concrete, which were obtained from the combination of the variables. The bending tests were performed according to the RILEM TC 89-FMT recommendations, which are based on the size-effect method.

ABSTRACT The transition between the columns of building and foundation had been used the pile-cap structural elements. The most appropriate method for the pile caps design is the Strut and Tie model. In most cases in the structural project is not considered the influence of certain parameters: the columns cross section and the amount of longitudinal reinforcement columns. This paper studies the effect of the variability of the geometric section of square and rectangular columns, with different longitudinal reinforcement rates, in the main reinforcement traction two pile caps. The basis for study was development experimental program in the Structures Laboratory of EESC-USP . The traction reinforcement bars strains are reduced the pile-caps central section to pile-caps sections that approximate cutting axis shows the experimental results. In models with columns of elongated rectangular section and with great reinforcement rates this reduction is smaller.

ABSTRACT This paper is related to the punching shear in prestressed slabs with unbonded tendons for interior columns calculated by the codes ABNT NBR 6118:2007, ABNT NBR 6118:2014, EN 1992-1-1:2004 e ACI 318-11. To calculate the punching shear resistance the formulations of the NBR 6118:07, effective until April/2014, did not consider the compression of the concrete in the plane of the slab, due to prestressing. Just the inclined components of some tendons were considered for total load applied relief, but this fact did not generate a significant difference, compared to reinforced concrete, because the inclination angle is very close to zero. The American and European provisions consider a portion related to the compression of the concrete in the planeof the slab. Differences in the results obtained by the four design codes will be exposed, showing that the EC2:04 and the NBR6118:14 achieved the best results.

ABSTRACT Experiments were conducted to evaluate degradation of mechanical properties in mortar specimens subjected to thermal and mechanical loading. Ultrasonic pulse velocity was used to assess changes in the microstructure of the specimens due to thermal and mechanical loads applied separately. Both longitudinal and transverse waves were used. At first the specimens were tested in the undamaged stage, and then they were also tested after their exposure to a non-uniform thermal load only, finally, mechanical loading was applied until peak load. A finite element model was used in the dynamic simulation of pulses propagation. Results showed that mortar mix with a larger proportion of coarser aggregates is more sensitive to mechanical loading after exposure to heat than mortar with lesser and smaller aggregate contents. Mortar mix design with less and finer aggregate did not show a reduction in the pulse velocity as intense as the mortar with more coarse aggregate, which indicates a less severe diffuse microcracking.

ABSTRACT The exposure of concrete to high temperatures, such as in a fire, leads to physical and chemical changes, which may cause deterioration of mechanical properties, cracking and spalling. This paper presents a critical review of microstructural changes in concrete exposed to high temperature. The transformations developed in the cement paste, aggregates and interfacial transition zone were studied, as well as the experimental techniques of microanalysis presented in recent related researches. Lastly, a critical analysis of experimental results from literature was performed. It was verified that microstructural changes are related to concrete properties and the heating process. The experimental techniques has a potential use for assessment of thermally damaged concrete, however, these techniques must be applied simultaneously and specific methods must be established.

ABSTRACT The method of measuring the corrosion potential is used as an electrochemical tool for helping the monitoring of the corrosion of reinforcements of concrete structures. As a criterion for evaluating results it is common to use intervals of corrosion potential and their correlation with corrosion probability, as precognizes ASTM C 876:2015. With this criterion, it is possible to establish an overview of the thermodynamic situation of corrosion in the structure or in the test specimen in laboratory. However, the method is influenced by several factors related with the concrete, the environment and with procedures adopted at the moment of executing the readings. Aiming to provide information to guide the technical and scientific environment regarding the right use of this type of non-destructive testing, the objective of this work is to evaluate some possible factors influencing the reading of corrosion potential, such as: moisture content of the concrete, water/cement ratio, thickness of the concrete cover and degree of contamination by chlorides. Results indicate that moisture and degree of contamination of the concrete by chloride ions had a tendency of making the corrosion potential more electronegative. Besides, it was verified that the influence of the cover is different for the case of contaminated concrete (1% of chlorides by mass of cement) and not contaminated with chlorides: the influence of the thickness of the cover, in the case of concrete contaminated by chlorides, was inversely proportional, in other words, the greater the cover thickness is, the less electronegative the value of the corrosion potential will be. On the other hand, in cases of concretes without chlorides, the effect of the cover thickness in the readings or corrosion potential was irrelevant. All this information was proved with 95% of statistical significance.

ABSTRACT In comparison with vibrated concrete (VC) of the same strength class, self-compacting concrete (SCC) typically has a lower coarse aggregate content and, eventually, a smaller maximum aggregate size. This may reduce the aggregate interlock between the fracture surfaces in SCC. Since the aggregate interlock plays an important role in the shear strength of slender beams, SCC beams may have a shear strength lower than that of similar VC beams. This article summarizes experimental studies on the shear strength of reinforced SCC slender beams without and with shear reinforcement. The shear strengths of SCC beams are compared with the ones of VC beams and also to the calculated ones according to different code procedures. It is shown that powder-type SCC beams tend to have lower shear strength than similar VC beams and that the difference depends upon the concretes composition and the characteristics of the beams.

ABSTRACT This paper presents a series of test results of large-scale rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) beams to explore their performance under pure bending. Concrete-filling tests were initially carried out on two beam specimens of 12-m in length to investigate the feasibility of casting horizontally large-scale rectangular tubes. A total of six 6-m long specimens were subjected to flexural test afterward, including four CFST beams and two steel hollow section (SHS) beams for comparison. The test results showed that the rectangular CFST beams behaved in a relatively ductile manner. The concrete infilling enhanced the flexural behavior and performance of the steel tubes. Finally, the rigid-plastic theory showed suitable to predict the moment capacity of CFST compact beams.

ABSTRACT This paper presents a new evaluation of the strength compliance of concretes produced in Brazil. It is based on experimental results of over twenty-seven thousand concrete samples from different parts of the country. Results show that a significant part of Brazilian concrete do not reach the characteristic strength (fck) specified in design, and the percentage of nonconforming samples tend to be higher than 5%. This study also reveals the concrete produced in the South and Midwest regions have less variability than the ones produced in the other regions of the country. These results emphasize the importance of a rigorous control in manufacturing and reception of concretes in order to reduce the nonconforming cases.

ABSTRACT This work aims to study the behavior of the block/grout interface for concrete and clay block masonry. This was achieved by push-out and pull-out experimental tests including reinforcement bar in the latter one. The experimental result showed that there is a good bond between the concrete blocks internal faces and the grout, enough to prevent infill-slippage, and that the whole tensile strength of the usual reinforcement bars is achieved provided they are properly anchored. Nevertheless, for clay blocks there is a low bond between the clay blocks internal faces and the grout, allowing the infill-slippage before the reinforcement bars reach their yield stress.