High rate algal ponds for post-treating sewage from UASB reactors : treatment efficiency, anaerobic co-digestion and sustainability 

    Castro, Lucas Vassalle de (Fecha de defensa: 2021-07-05)

    This PhD thesis aimed at evaluating the performance of high rate algal ponds (HRAP) to post-treat the anaerobic effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor fed with sewage. The work analysed the system ...

    High-fidelity surrogate models for parametric shape design in microfluidics 

    Borchini, Luca (Fecha de defensa: 2020-12-17)

    Nowadays, the main computational bottleneck in computer-assisted industrial design procedures is the necessity of testing multiple parameter settings for the same problem. Material properties, boundary conditions or ...

    High-resolution wave forecasting : the Catalan coast case : modelling, coupling and validation 

    Pallarès López, Elena (Fecha de defensa: 2016-07-25)

    It is widely known that wind and wave predictions in the nearshore are less precise for semi enclosed domains than in the open ocean. The Catalan coast is a clear example of this situation, with a wave climate controlled ...

    Host-parasite interactions : the Parvilucifera sinerae model in marine microalgae 

    Alacid Fernández, Elisabet (Fecha de defensa: 2017-07-18)

    Parasitism is a widespread interaction that has evolved practically in all branches of the tree of life. It has historically been neglected in studies of marine microbial systems, limiting our understanding of marine food ...

    Hybrid systems for wastewater treatment in the framework of circular economy : coupling biological and membrane technologies for a sustainable water cycle 

    Ribera Pi, Judit (Fecha de defensa: 2019-07-23)

    The increasing water demand coupled to the depletion of natural water sources has raised the need to investigate and develop in wastewater treatment and reuse. Even more, the application of circular economy principies to ...

    Hydraulic fills liquefaction : effect on quay stability 

    Tarragó Munté, Daniel (Fecha de defensa: 2021-06-03)

    The starting point of this thesis is the failure of part of a quay wall under construction. The quay was divided in two phases, failure affected Phase 1 only. The failure and all the relevant associated information on quay ...

    Hydro-mechanical analysis of expansive clays : constitutive and numerical modelling. 

    Ruiz Restrepo, Daniel Felipe (Fecha de defensa: 2020-06-12)

    Bentonite-based materials are being currently considered in several countries as a backfill component in the multi-barrier concept for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. The bentonite barrier fulfils several ...

    Hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted binary mixtures : an experimental study 

    Mirsalehi, Sajjad (Fecha de defensa: 2018-04-30)

    This research focusses on an experimental investigation on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of binary ‘all-one’ mixtures. These mixtures –originated from the excavation of selected materials during earthwork constructions– ...

    Hydro-mechanical behaviour of pellet/powder mixture of bentonite and impact of gas migration 

    Mesa Alcantara, Arisleidy (Fecha de defensa: 2021-07-02)

    The hydro-mechanical behaviour of MX80 bentonite pellet-based mixture (80% high-density pellets in dry mass and crushed granular powder) has been explored in this thesis within the context of the French ‘Vertical Sealing ...

    Hydrodynamics and geochemistry at multiple scales : characterizing preferential flow-paths and wormholes in evaporitic sediments 

    Trabucchi, Michela (Fecha de defensa: 2021-05-11)

    The characterization of evaporitic aquifers for a better understanding of hydrodynamics and geochemical processes is of great importance, especially in environments where both the sustainability of unique ecosystems and ...

    A hydrogeological approach in urban underground infrastructures 

    Serrano Juan, Alejandro (Fecha de defensa: 2016-07-22)

    The competition for space in urban areas due to an exponential growth of population makes derground engineering plays a crucial role in the development of cities. Urban underground infrastructures deal with variables such ...

    Hydrogeology of salt flats : the Salar de Atacama example 

    Marazuela Calvo, Miguel Ángel (Fecha de defensa: 2020-07-03)

    This thesis aims to advance the knowledge of the hydrogeological functioning of salt flats in order to achieve a sustainable management of their mineral resources and ecosystems. Salt flats are a major source of Li, B, I, ...

    Imaging and discrete modelling of sand shape 

    Rorato, Riccardo (Fecha de defensa: 2019-11-08)

    The shape of particles is known to play an important role in soil behaviour, with significant effects of engineering responses. Investigating how the shape of particles can be measured and quantified is therefore considered ...

    Impact assessment of the façades' actual state on the energy performance gap of residential buildings 

    Gaspar i Fàbregas, Kàtia (Fecha de defensa: 2018-06-27)

    Bridging the gap between the predicted and actual energy performance of buildings is necessary to increase the energy performance of existing buildings and achieve the European Union’s energy efficiency targets in the “2030 ...

    Implementation and evaluation of the circular economy model in the construction and demolition waste sector 

    López Ruiz, Luis Alberto (Fecha de defensa: 2021-12-02)

    Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is a major environmental concern that requires immediate attention. The large volumes of CDW produced and its associated environmental effects have led to explore new alternatives ...

    Improvement of down-aisle stability and ductility for unbraced adjustable pallet racking systems 

    Bové Tous, Oriol (Fecha de defensa: 2022-02-04)

    Pallet racking systems are structures intended to store products. Their proper structural design is of paramount importance as its collapse can lead to significant economic losses and even human. This type of structures ...

    In situ direct study of filtration and respiration rate of Mediterranean sponges = Estudio in situ de la filtración y la respiración de esponjas mediterráneas 

    Morganti, Teresa Maria (Fecha de defensa: 2016-07-27)

    Sponges play important roles in the functioning of marine ecosystem in which they are abundant. These roles range from stabilizers of substrate, to acting as major link between benthic and pelagic realms by filtering large ...

    Indisciplina de estacionamiento en entornos urbanos : impacto en la circulación y evaluación de medidas paliativas 

    Morillo Carbonell, Pablo (Fecha de defensa: 2020-01-16)

    The illegal on-street parking is one of the traffic elements that has more effect in urban environments provoking the presence of bottlenecks in the different roads and, consequently, facilitating the appearance of congestion. ...

    Induced seismicity in enhanced geothermal systems : assessment of thermo-hydro-mechanical effects 

    De Simone, Silvia (Fecha de defensa: 2017-03-29)

    Micro-seismicity, and especially felt seismicity, induced by Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) operations is a matter of scientific interest, not only because of the related risks and concerns, but also because the ...

    Influence of ambient temperature on building monitoring in urban areas during the construction of tunnels for transportation 

    Lian, Zengzeng (Fecha de defensa: 2015-12-14)

    A large number of underground works are under construction in several big cities around the world (London, Paris, Amsterdam, Beijing, Shanghai, Chicago, Caracas, Mexico D.F., and Riad, for instance): railway tunnels, water ...