This essay represents a chronological and contextual analysis of clay pipes that have been found in the urban settlement of Västergarn during seminary excavations between 2006 – 2012, conducted by Gotland University. Clay pipes can be dated closely and are useful means for dating and interpreting archaeological contexts from the early modern period, such as house foundations. There have been excavated four house foundations in Västergarn with different sorts of clay pipes dating to the post-medieval period. Can they tell which people used them or which country they were produced? By discussing the meaning of clay pipes in early modern society on Gotland this essay tries to answer these questions.

Recently, many authors from various theoretical backgrounds have written books or articles trying to clarify what the role of the sovereign state is within the wider political context of “global politics.” This thesis seeks to critically engage with the way in which this debate has been framed by the vast majority of these authors. Indeed, while most authors frame this debate as an essentially empirical disagreement concerning the objective composition of global politics, we will be arguing that it is really a debate that concerns the problem of political foundation and the possibly changing nature of the dominant ways of answering this problem in contemporary “global politics.” From this perspective, the vast majority of those involved in this debate simply pass over - as somehow analytically uninteresting - most of the questions that would really need to be explained and understood. This thesis seeks to address this crucial oversight

På Trafikverkets centrala funktion IT används Team Foundation Server 2010 för projekthantering. Utifrån detta system det är det möjligt att få fram mätetal som visar information om olika projekt. I denna fallstudie undersöks, med hjälp av intervjuer, vilka av dessa mätetal som kan användas för att visa en relevant bild av kvaliteten på ett systemutvecklingsprojekt. En modell presenteras för hur olika mätetal skulle kunna vägas samman för att fungera som en siffra på ett projekts kvalitet/hälsa. Till sist utvärderas om mätetal från TFS är tillräckliga för att ge en bra bild av kvaliteten på ett systemutvecklings-projekt. Studien kommer fram till att en sammanvägning är möjlig, men kan vara omfattande. Den visar även att mätetal från TFS är tillräckliga för att ge en övergripande bild av ett projekts hälsa.

Denna rapport beskriver det arbete vi gjorde hos Ninetech i Karlstad. Målet med vårtarbete var att skapa en applikation som hämtar information rörande resultat av automatiskabyggen i pågående projekt. Sammanställningen av olika projekt skulle visas löpande. Vårtarbete kan beskrivas som två delar, en praktisk och en teoretisk del. Den praktiska delenbestod av att skapa en applikation som visar status på de olika projekt som Ninetech förtillfället arbetar med. Denna applikation är tänkt att köras dagligen på en skärm synlig förpersonalen. Skärmen är också tänkt att visa gästande kunder statusen på deras projekt.Applikationen visar bl.a. information om tester som körs på de olika projekten.I den teoretiska delen skapades ett dokument som Ninetech kan använda för att introducerasin personal till att arbeta med automatiska tester. / This report describes the work we did at Ninetech in Karlstad. The purpose of our workwas to create an application that collects information about the results of automated builds inongoing projects. The combined information of projects should be presented continuously.Our work can be described as two parts, one practical and one theoretical part. Thepractical part consisted of creating an application that shows the status of Ninetechs currentprojects. This application is supposed to run daily on a screen viewable for the employees.The screen will also show visiting customers the status of their project. The application showsinformation about tests in the different projects among other information.In the theoretical section a document was created. This document can later be used byNinetech to introduce their personnel on how to work with automated tests.

Problems associated with shrink-swell soils are well known geotechnical problems that have been studied and researched by many geotechnical researchers for many decades. Potentially shrink-swell soils can be found almost anywhere in the world especially in the semi-arid regions of the tropical and temperate climate. Foundation slabs on grade on shrink-swell soils are one of the most efficient and inexpensive solutions for this kind of problematic soil. It is commonly used in residential foundations or any light weight structure on shrink-swell soils. Many design methods have been established for this specific problem such as Building Research Advisory Board (BRAB), Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI), Post- Tensioning Institute (PTI), and Australian Standards (AS 2870) design methods. This research investigates most of these methods, and then, proposes a moisture diffusion soil volume change model, a soil-weather interaction model, and a soil-structure interaction model. The proposed moisture diffusion soil volume change model starts with proposing a new laboratory test to determine the coefficient of unsaturated diffusivity for intact soils. Then, it introduces the development of a cracked soil diffusion factor, provides a chart for it, and explains a large scale laboratory test that verifies the proposed moisture diffusion soil volume change model. The proposed soil-weather interaction model uses the FAO 56-PM method to simulate a weightless cover performance for six cities in the US that suffer significantly from shallow foundation problems on shrink-swell soils due to seasonal weather variations. These simulations provide more accurate weather site-specific parameters such as the range of surface suction variations. The proposed weather-site specific parameters will be input parameters to the soil structure models. The proposed soil-structure interaction model uses Mitchell (1979) equations for moisture diffusion under covered soil to develop a new closed form solution for the soil mound shape under the foundation slab. Then, it presents a parametric study by carrying out several 2D finite elements plane strain simulations for plates resting on a semiinfinite elastic continuum and resting on different soil mounds. The parametric study outcomes are then presented in design charts that end with a new design procedure for foundation slabs on shrink-swell soils. Finally, based on the developed weather-soil-structure interaction models, this research details two procedures of a proposed new design method for foundation slabs on grade on shrink-swell soils: a suction based design procedure and a water content based design procedure.

The aggregate base layer is a vital part of the flexible pavement system. Unlike rigid pavements, the base layer provides a substantial contribution to the load bearing capacity in flexible pavements, and this contribution is complex: stress dependent, moisture dependent, particle size dependent, and is anisotropic in nature. Furthermore, the response of the aggregate layer in the pavement structure is defined not only by resilient properties of the base layer but also by permanent deformation properties of the aggregate layer. Before the benefits of revolutionary changes in the typical pavement structures, such as deep unbound aggregate base (UAB) layers under thin hot mix asphalt surfaces and inverted pavement systems can be justified, an accurate assessment of the UAB is required. Several researchers identified that in order to properly assess the contribution of the UAB in the pavement structure, it is necessary to consider not only the vertical modulus but also the horizontal modulus as this substantially impacts the distribution of stresses within the pavement structure. Anisotropy, which is defined as the directional dependency of the material properties in unbound granular bases, is inherent even before the aggregate layer is subjected to traffic loads due to random arrangement of particles upon compaction. Distribution of particle contacts is dominated by the geometry of the aggregates as well as the compaction effort at the time of construction. Critical pavement responses and therefore performance of flexible pavements are significantly influenced by the level of anisotropy of aggregate layers. There are several ways to characterize the level of anisotropy in unbound aggregate systems. Previous research at Texas A&M University suggests functions of fitting parameters in material models (kvalues) as characterizers of the level of anisotropy. In the realm of geotechnical engineering, the ratio of the horizontal modulus to vertical modulus is commonly referred to as the level of anisotropy. When the vertical and horizontal moduli are equal, the system is isotropic, but when they differ, the system is anisotropic. This research showed that the level of anisotropy can vary considerably depending on aggregate mix properties such as gradation, saturation level, and the geometry of the aggregate particles. Cross anisotropic material properties for several unbound and stabilized aggregate systems were determined. A comprehensive aggregate database was developed to identify the contribution level of aggregate features to the directional dependency of material properties. Finally a new mechanistic performance protocol based on plasticity theory was developed to ensure the stability of the pavement foundations under traffic loads.

Unknown bridge foundations pose a significant safety risk due to stream scour and erosion. Records from older structures may be non-existent, incomplete, or incorrect. Nondestructive and inexpensive geophysical methods have been identified as suitable to investigate unknown bridge foundations. The objective of the present study is to apply advanced 2D electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) in order to identify depth of unknown bridge foundations. A survey procedure is carried out in mixed terrain water and land environments with rough topography. A conventional resistivity survey procedure is used with the electrodes installed on the stream banks. However, some electrodes must be adapted for underwater use. Tests were conducted in one laboratory experimentation and at five field experimentations located at three roadway bridges, a geotechnical test site, and a railway bridge. The first experimentation was at the bridges with the smallest foundations, later working up in size to larger drilled shafts and spread footings. Both known to unknown foundations were investigated. The geotechnical test site is used as an experimental site for 2D and 3D ERI. The data acquisition is carried out along 2D profile with a linear array in the dipole-dipole configuration. The data collections have been carried out using electrodes deployed directly across smaller foundations. Electrodes are deployed in proximity to larger foundations to image them from the side. The 2D ERI can detect the presence of a bridge foundation but is unable to resolve its precise shape and depth. Increasing the spatial extent of the foundation permits better image of its shape and depth. Using electrode < 1 m to detect a slender foundation < 1 m in diameter is not feasible. The 2D ERI method that has been widely used for land surface surveys presently can be adapted effectively in water-covered environments. The method is the most appropriate geophysical method for determination of unknown bridge foundations. Fully 3D ERI method at bridge sites is labor intensive, time consuming, and does not add enough value over 2D ERI to make it worthwhile.

This research study developed basic dynamic models that can be used to accurately predict the response behavior of a near-shore wind turbine structure with monopile, suction caisson, or gravity-based foundation systems. The marine soil conditions were modeled using apparent fixity level, Randolph elastic continuum, and modified cone models. The offshore wind turbine structures were developed using a finite element formulation. A two-bladed 3.0 megawatt (MW) and a three-bladed 1.5 MW capacity wind turbine were studied using a variety of design load, and soil conditions scenarios. Aerodynamic thrust loads were estimated using the FAST Software developed by the U.S Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Hydrodynamic loads were estimated using Morison’s equation and the more recent Faltinsen Newman Vinje (FNV) theory. This research study addressed two of the important design constraints, specifically, the angle of the support structure at seafloor and the horizontal displacement at the hub elevation during dynamic loading. The simulation results show that the modified cone model is stiffer than the apparent fixity level and Randolph elastic continuum models. The effect of the blade pitch failure on the offshore wind turbine structure decreases with increasing water depth, but increases with increasing hub height of the offshore wind turbine structure.

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Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio University, November, 2009. / Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until September 1, 2014. Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.