This diploma thesis deals with obtaining the most suitable way of correcting the influence of intake air pressure, temperature and humidity as well as correcting the influence of fuel properties (diesel fuel). These correction factors are adapted to a specific engine for military use. It is a four-stroke, diesel, turbocharged, 6-cylinder engine, PV6-K37, with a displacement of 19100 cm3. This work also deals with the creation of a methodology for the measurement of this motor at the engine station and with the treatise on current methods of power correction. The measurements were made in the premises of Excalibur Army Ltd. in Šternberk.

The basic aim of this thesis is to design optimisation of the brake bench in question. For this kind of optimisation, it was necessary to ascertain which failings the current brake bench exhibited. After ascertaining such failings, design of modification to this brake bench must be performed. In terms of this thesis, it was ascertained that the brake bench has insufficient brake power. Based on this finding, two alternatives for modifications have been selected. The first is replacement of the dynamometer and the second is insertion of a gear box into the brake bench. Rigidity analysis was performed on the gear casing.

This diploma thesis deals with the problematic of measuring motorcycle performance output using dynamometers primary designed for measuring performance output of four wheel personal vehicles, proposals and comparison of possible designs of device that enable this method of motorcycle performance output measuring by using FEA methods.

Because of its practicality, many exercise physiologists use the cycle ergometer to test cardiovascular endurance; yet due to physical injury or handicap, there is a great segment of our population that cannot easily manage an upright seated position. The recumbent position helps to stabilize the upper body, and therefore may help those whose repertoire of postural control is compromised. At present, the majority of studies dealing with upright and recumbent positions for graded exercise testing show the upright position to yield higher HR and VO2 readings. In order to determine the difference between the upright and recumbent cycle ergometer using the Y-Way Protocol, 41 healthy subjects (24 females, 17 males) performed GXT's in each position until HR reached 90% age-predicted max. Subjects were broken into two groups, with one group performing the recumbent test first and the other group performing the upright portion of testing first. Predicted . . and actual VO2 measurements were recorded for each subject, and maximum VO2 predicted. A 2x2x2 ANOVA was applied to the data to determine interaction and effects among position (upright vs. recumbent), protocol (YMCA and actual VO2), and gender. No differences in VO2 max between the upright and recumbent position were observed in either gender or protocol. It was determined that the recumbent position is a valid testing position in the estimation of VO2 max using workload adjustments determined by the Y -Way protocol.

MSc Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Background and purpose of the study The length of stay for patients with stroke in some South African government hospitals has been shown to be inadequate and there is little information on the physical impairments and functional abilities of this population once they return to the community. An assessment was done of the strength, range of movement and the presence of pain experienced by patients with stroke in the Daveyton community and the relationship between these impairments and the functional abilities of these patients was established. Research methods and procedures employed This was a quantitative study using a descriptive cross sectional study design. Thirty-four conveniently sampled patients with stroke were assessed in their Daveyton homes. The functional measures used were the Modified rivermead mobility index (MRMI) and Barthel index (BI). The strength was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer, range of movement (RoM) with a standard universal goniometer and pain with the Eleven faces pain scale. The significance of the study was set at 0.05 and the relationships between impairments and functional abilities were expressed using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results Significant differences were found between the strength, as well as the RoM of the affected and unaffected sides (p < 0.05). The muscles most affected by were: Biceps, Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior. The smallest strength difference was found in Gluteus maximus. The ranges of movement most affected were: shoulder flexion and elbow extension. The smallest difference was found in knee extension. Eighty-five percent of the sample attained scores indicating that they were independently mobile (measured by the MRMI), and 82% were independent in activities of daily living (measured by the BI). There were good correlations between the patients’ strength impairments and their functional abilities (r = 0.54 to 0.79) and mobility (r = 0.51 to 0.76). Functional abilities and mobility had moderate to good relationships with active range of movement of shoulder flexion, lateral shoulder rotation and dorsiflexion. The percentage of patients experiencing pain was 73%, but pain displayed no relationship with functional ability (r = 0.14) and mobility (r = 0.15). Conclusion Most people living with stroke in the Daveyton community are functionally independent despite the high prevalence of pain. Stroke results in significant strength and active range of movement deficits on the affected side. Most strength impairments correlated well with the functional ability and mobility of this sample, but active range of movement impairments that influenced functional measures were mainly shoulder and ankle movements.

Background: There is lack of measurement methods to evaluate postoperative rehabilitation for people who have undergone orthopedic surgery of the foot at Uppsala University Hospital. One objective method is to measure muscle strength with MicroFET2, which is available at the hospital. Before implementing the method it is necessary to ensure the the reliability of supination and pronation measured with MicroFET2 because there are no studies that have explored this. Pronators and supinators are important muscles for the stability of the foot and to the arch of the foot. Objective: To examine intra-rater reliability of peak strength of pronation and supination of left and right foot using handheld dynamometer (MicroFET2) in adults without leg- or footpain. Methods: The intra-rater reliability was evaluated in 24 adults by test-retest with 7 days between measures. The test were supination and pronation of the left and right foot. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) and standard error of measurement (SEM and SEM%) were calculated. Results: The results from this study showed high intra-rater reliability for both supination and pronation with ICC between 0.73-0.88 for mean of three trials and 0.74-0.89 for highest value of three trials. SEM och SEM% varied between 14.5-24.4 N and 7.7-11.9% at mean of three trials and 14.1-25.6 N and 7.2-11.9% at highest value of three trials. Conclusion: MicroFET2 is a reliable instrument to measure strength in the foot supinator and pronator-muscles in healthy adults. / Bakgrund: Vid Akademiska sjukhuset i Uppsala saknas det ett objektivt sätt att mäta maximal muskelstyrka vid rehabilitering efter fotoperation. En objektiv mätmetod för maximal muskelstyrka är dynamometern MicroFET2 som finns på sjukhuset. För att implementera denna metod behövs säkerställande av reliabiliteten för pro- och supination mätt med MicroFET2 eftersom det saknas studier som undersöker detta. Pronatorer och supinatorer är viktiga muskelgrupper för fotens stabilitet och fotvalv. Syfte: Undersöka intrabedömarreliabilitet vid maximal isometrisk muskelstyrka av höger och vänster fots supinatorer och pronatorer med handhållen dynamometer (MicroFET2) hos vuxna individer utan ben- eller fotsmärta. Metod: Intrabedömarreliabiliteten undersöktes genom test-retestförfarande med 7 dagars intervall på 24 personer. Muskelgrupper som mättes var fotens supinatorer och pronatorer på både höger och vänster fot. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1) samt standard error of measurement (SEM och SEM%) beräknades. Resultat: Resultatet från studien visar på hög relativ intrabedömarreliabilitet i både supination och pronation med ICC mellan 0.73-0.88 vid medelvärde av tre försök och mellan 0.74-0.89 vid högsta värde av tre försök. SEM och SEM% varierade mellan 14.5-24.4 N och 7.7-11.9% vid medelvärde av tre försök respektive mellan 14.1-25.6 N och 7.2-11.9% vid högsta värde av tre försök. Slutsats: MicroFET2 är ett reliabelt instrument för att mäta styrka i fotens pronatorer och supinatorer på friska vuxna personer.

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The electric vehicle (EV) market is experiencing growth at an exponential rate, forcing automotive manufactures to invest in powertrain electrification. Manufactures are seeking low cost alternatives for electric propulsion motor technologies with switched reluctance motors (SRMs) having tremendous potential. The performance characteristics of SRMs designed for EV propulsion applications have yet to be experimentally verified. In this thesis, the operation of a 24/16 propulsion SRM specifically designed for a hybrid electric vehicle will be verified with a theoretical model and experimentally. The results are analyzed to gain further understanding of the factors affecting propulsion SRM operation. Two distinct theoretical models of a SRM are presented where one includes the effects of mutual coupling between two excited phases. The theoretical models and the experimental results indicate that for high power density SRMs, designed for propulsion applications, the effects of mutual coupling cannot be ignored. The motor is experimentally tested using a dynamometer machine. A test plan is presented which tests the motor at a wide speed and torque range suitable for EV applications. The testing procedure attempts to segregate the motor losses similar to international standards for induction machines and permanent magnet machines; however, these methods prove invalid due to the non-sinusoidal current in SRMs. Torque ripple minimization is highlighted to reduce the risk of detrimental speed fluctuation during motor testing with careful attention to thermal limitations. The SRM is tested using PWM current control as the baseline control method because hysteresis control is proven to be challenging for the tested SRM. The work presents many challenges associated with the testing and characterization of SRMs for propulsion applications; however, new research findings illustrate the potential of future improvements in propulsion SRM design and operation. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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Master of Science