International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 25-28, 1999 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / Compiling a PCM data frame with super commutation poses problems of maintaining constant sample intervals for the parameters whilst keeping within channel bandwidth limitations. Add an extra requirement of using variable word lengths to optimise the use of available bit rate and the problem becomes more challenging. The available telemetry or tape recorder channel bandwidth rather than the capabilities of the data acquisition system normally govern the amount of data that can be acquired by the aircraft instrumentation system. The amount of data demanded usually expands to fill all available bandwidth and the bit rates are operated at the maximum for the particular channel. The use of variable word lengths can, in some circumstances, increase the utilisation of a channel bandwidth. In order to visualise if a particular requirement can be accommodated within a given data structure a method of sketching PCM data frames containing a wide mixture of sample rates using an intermediate matrix has been devised. The method is described in three stages. 1. Compiling a simple PCM frame. 2. Sketching the intermediate matrix to assist in visualising super commutation limits. 3. Mixing variable word lengths and super commutation in the same PCM format. The method is not guaranteed to be the most efficient but does give a relatively simple, non mathematical, way to visualise if the required sample rates can be accommodated in a given data structure. If the requirement will not fit into the data structure then the method allows the impact of the necessary changes to the structure to be rapidly assessed. The paper includes comments on the relevant characteristics needed in the aircraft data acquisition system. These include variable word lengths, frame lengths, incremental bit rates and coherency of multiple data bus word parameters

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 26-29, 1998 / Town & Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / As renewal interest in building vehicles based on hypersonic technologies begin to emerge again, test ranges anticipating in supporting flight research of these vehicles will face a set of engineering problems. Most fundamentals of these will be to track and gather error free telemetry from the vehicles in flight. The first series of vehicles will likely be reduced-scale models that restrict the locations and geometric shapes of the telemetry antennas. High kinetic heating will further limit antenna design and construction. Consequently, antennas radiation patterns will be sub-optimal, showing lower gains and detrimental nulls. A mobile system designed to address the technical issues above will be described. The use of antenna arrays, spatial diversity and a hybrid tracking system using optical and electronic techniques to obtain error free telemetry in the present of multipath will be presented. System tests results will also be presented.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims to perform a quantitative probabilistic based evaluation of the reliability achieved in the design of Light Steel Frame Buildings (LSFB) when designed according to the loading code, SANS 517:2009 and the new design code for cold formed steel sections, SANS 10162-2:2010. The evaluation was done as follows: A specific structure, chosen and designed according to the specifications given in SANS 517:2009, was modelled in a structural analysis program. From the analyses done it was possible to identify the most critical element for given failure modes. Spread sheets according to SANS 10162-2:2010 were developed to calculate the resistance or design values for the different failure modes. By using a First Order Reliability Method (FORM), the reliability index for each failure mode could be calculated and evaluated in three different ways. Firstly, the reliability margin implied by the design load was evaluated. It was assumed that the resistance of the profile had a deterministic value while the loads applied to the structure were taken as probabilistic, i.e. following their known distribution functions. From this evaluation it was found that the necessary level of reliability was achieved for all failure modes. Secondly, the reliability margin implied by the resistance of the profile was evaluated. The resistance of the profile was taken as probabilistic with a distribution function that could be determined from the known distribution functions of the profile parameters responsible for the capacity of the profile. The loading was assumed to have a single deterministic value. From this evaluation it could be seen that a very low level of reliability was achieved for the failure modes of shear working in on the strong axis of the profile as well as interaction between bending and axial load. This is due to the strong dependence of this failure mode to the thickness of the profile, to which no partial factor is applied in the design process. Thirdly, the reliability margin implied by both the resistance and loads was evaluated. In a real life situation both loads and resistances would have variability. The resistance and loading values were taken as probabilistic with their known distribution functions. From this evaluation it was found that the necessary level of reliability was only achieved for shear working in on the weakaxis and axial load. All other failure modes achieved a level of reliability slightly lower than the target level of reliability for South Africa. The stiffening effect of wall cladding elements were not taken into account in the analysis. The reliability of connections was also not evaluated. It can be concluded that the element reliability achieved through the use of above-mentioned codes seems to be slightly less that desired. There could be an argument for recalibrating the partial factors to achieve the desired level of element reliability. However, the cladding elements provide significant additional stiffness to the structure and there is no immediate cause for stiffness concern. Future studies should aim to quantify the contribution that the cladding elements make to the overall structural reliability. The influence of connections reliability should also be investigated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie poog om ‘n kwantitatiewe probabilisties-gebaseerde beoordeling van die betroubaarheidsindeks vir Ligte Staalraam Strukture (LSS) te bepaal wanneer dit ontwerp word volgens die belastingskode, SANS 517:2009 en die nuwe ontwerpskode vir koudgevormde staal profiele, SANS 10162-2:2010. Die beoordeling is as volg gedoen. ‘n Spesifieke strukturele model is gekies, ontwerp volgens die spesifiekasies in SANS 517:2009 en toe gemodelleer in ‘n struktuur analise program. Vanuit die analises was dit moontlik om die mees kritieke element te vind vir gegewe falings modusse. Sigblaaie, volgens SANS 10162-2:2010, is ontwikkel om die weerstand van die profile te bereken vir die falings modusse. Dit was moontlik om die betroubaarheidsindeks op drie verskillende maniere te bereken deur gebruik te maak van ‘n Eerste Orde Betroubaarheids Metode (EOBM). Eerstens is die betroubaarheids speling wat deur die belasting geimpliseer was, bepaal. Daar is aanvaar dat die weerstand van die profiel ‘n deterministiese waarde het terwyl die aangewende belasitng as probabilisties geneem is met hul bekende verdelingsfunksies. Uit hierdie beoordeling is gevind dat die nodige vlak van betroubaarheid bereik word vir alle falings modusse. Tweedens is die betroubaarheids speling wat deur die weerstand geimpliseer was, bepaal. Daar is aanvaar dat die weerstand van die profile ‘n probabilistiese verdeling het wat bepaal is uit bekende verdelingsfunksies van die profiel parameters verantwoordelik vir die kapasiteit van die profiel. Daar is aanvaar dat die belasting ‘n enkele deterministiese waarde het. Uit hierdie beoordeling is gevind dat daar ‘n baie lae vlak van betroubaarheid is vir skuif in die rigting van die sterk as, asook interaksie tussen aksiaal-las en momente. Dit is te danke aan die falings modus se sterk afhanklikheid van die dikte van die profiel. Daar word egter geen parsiële faktor aan die dikte toegeken in die ontwerp proses nie. Derdens is die betroubaarheids speling wat deur beide die weerstand en belasting geïmpliseer was, bepaal. In die werklikheid sal beide belasting en weerstand ‘n vlak van onsekerheid hê. Die weerstand en belasting is as probabilistiese waardes geneem met hul bekende verdelingsfunksies. Uit hierdie beoordeling is gevind dat slegs die falings modus vir skuif in die rigting van die swak as en aksiaal-las die nodige vlak van betroubaarheid bereik. Al die ander modusse het steeds ‘n redelike hoë vlak van betroubaarheid. Dit is egter steeds laer as wat voorgeskryf word vir Suid-Afrika. Die verstywings-effek van die bekleding is nie in hierdie ondersoek in ag geneem nie. Die betroubaarheid van die verbindings is ook nie bepaal nie. ‘n Gevolgtrekking kan dus gemaak word dat die element-betroubaarheid wat bereik word deur die bo-genoemde kodes effens laer is as die gewensde. ‘n Argument kan ontstaan vir die herkalibrasie van die parsiële faktore om die gewensde vlak van betroubaarheid te bereik, maar die bekleding bied ‘n noemenswaardige addisionele styfheid aan die struktuuur. Daar is dus geen onmiddellike kommer oor die styfheid van hierdie strukture nie. Verdere studies moet poog om die bydra van hierdie bekledingselemente tot die betroubaarheid van die struktuur te kwantifiseer. Die invloed van die konneksies tot die betroubaarheid van die struktuur sal ook ondersoek moet word.

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / This paper proposes a telemetering method consisting of delayed frame time diversity (DFTD) as the inner code and Reed-Solomon (RS) code as the outer code. DFTD is used to transmit a real-time frame together with a time-delayed frame which was saved in the memory during a defined period. The RS code is serially concatenated with DFTD. This method was applied to the design of telemetry units that have been used for over ten flight tests. The data results of the flight test for four cases with no applied code, with DFTD only, with the RS code only, and with both DFTD and the RS code are used to compare the number of error frames. The results also show that the proposed method is very useful and applicable to telemetry applications in a communication environment with a deep fade.

Composite construction is widely used worldwide and is undergoing significant technological development. New Zealand is part of this development, with new beam options incorporating multiple unstiffened web openings and new deck profiles supported by extensive testing. However, one area where relatively little research has been undertaken is in the interaction of the composite slab with the seismic resisting system under lateral loading. In order to provide important new information in this area, a series of full scale beam-column-joint-slab subassemblies were tested at the University of Canterbury. Specimens tested had moment end plate connections and different combinations of deck tray direction, and isolation of the slab from the column. An additional test uses a sliding-hinge type connection to assess the effect of the floor slab in this type of low damage connection. In these tests the lateral capacity of the seismic resisting system was increased by up to 25% due to the presence of the slab in contact with the column. The increase in capacity is 10% greater for decking running in longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction as a result of a more substantial full depth slab bearing on the column. The floor slabs of the subassemblies with the slab cast against the column all showed a higher level of damage than for those with the isolated column and the post ultimate strength degradation of the subassemblies without special detailing was significant. The subassembly with a section of full depth slab surrounding the column also exhibited a higher capacity but with an improved post ultimate strength degradation. All moment end plate subassemblies sustained drifts of up to 5% without significant strength loss. The sliding hinge joint showed little signs of damage under testing to 5% drift. Some inelastic deformation of the connection and beams was noted above 5% drift. Results from both testing and numerical modelling have shown that the current methods used to design these systems are conservative but within 15% of the values observed. Further testing and modelling will be necessary before any meaningful changes can be made to the way in which these systems are designed. Recommendations have been made regarding the placements of shear studs in plastic hinge zones and the provision of slab isolation around beam-column connections.

This study investigates how five secondary students think mathematically and process information in a technology-supported environment while solving mathematics problems. In the study, students were given open-ended problems to explore in an online dynamic learning environment and to solve the problems in computer environments. Given that all the work was done in the computer environments, both online and offline, students’ work was recorded by using screen capturing software. A new method, the frame analysis method, was used to describe and analyze students’ thinking processes while they were interacting with mathematical objects in the dynamic learning environment and solving mathematics problems. The frame analysis method is a microgenetic method based on information processing theory and is developed to analyze students’ work done in computer environments. Two reasons make the analysis method used in this study unique: (a) collecting data with minimized disturbance of the students and (b) analyzing students’ artefacts through researcher’s (teacher) perspective, meaning that integrates teachers within the analysis process. The frame analysis method consists of multiple steps to observe, describe, interpret, and analyze students’ mathematical thinking processes when they are solving mathematics problems. I described each step in detail to explain how the frame analysis method was used to monitor students’ mathematical thinking and to track their use of technology while solving problems. The data emerged from this study illustrates the importance of using dynamic learning environments in mathematics and the potential for transformation of mathematical representational systems from symbolic to visual. Moreover, data suggest that visual representation systems and linked multi-representational systems encourage students to interact with mathematical concepts and advance their mathematical understanding. Rather than dealing with the grammar of algebra only, students may benefit from direct interaction with the visually represented mathematical concepts. It appears that recording students’ problem-solving processes may engage teachers and mathematics educators to seek opportunities for implementing process-oriented assessment into their curriculum activities. Furthermore, students may benefit from sharing their work through peer collaboration, either online or offline, and metacognition and self-assessment. Suggestions for further studies include using audio and video recording in the frame analysis method.

Baigiamajame magistro darbe tiriama skydinių karkasinių gyvenamųjų namų rinka Lietuvoje. Atlikta rinkos struktūros analizė. Išnagrinėta situacija statybos sektoriuje ir aprašyti individualiųjų gyvenamųjų namų tipai. Remiantis įvairiais metodais atlikta įmonių, gaminančių skydinius namus, konkurencinė analizė. Daugiakriteriu metodu nustatyta racionaliai dirbanti įmonė, gaminanti skydinius namus. Anketiniu tyrimu išsiaiškintas visuomenės supratimas ir nuomonė apie skydinę karkasinę statybą. Ištyrus skydinių karkasinių gyvenamųjų namų rinką Lietuvoje, pateiktos baigiamojo darbo išvados. Darbą sudaro 8 dalys: Įvadas; Rinkos struktūros teorinė analizė; Statybos sektoriaus apžvalga; Individualiųjų gyvenamųjų namų Lietuvoje apžvalga; Gyvenamųjų namų Lietuvoje rinkos tyrimas; Medinių skydinių karkasinių gyvenamųjų namų rinkos tyrimas Lietuvoje; Išvados; Literatūros sąrašas. Darbo apimtis – 79 p. teksto be priedų, 32 paveikslai, 12 lentelių, 66 bibliografiniai šaltiniai. / In the final master’s work the market of living panel frame houses in Lithuania is being studied. Analysis of market structure was done. The situation of construction sector was analyzed and types of individual living houses were described. Referring to various methods the concurrency analysis of panel houses manufacturing companies was done. The multi-criteria method established rationally working company in this sector. The questioner research discovered understanding and opinions of society about panel frame construction. After the research of panel frame living houses market in Lithuania had been done, the conclusions of final work were made. The work includes 8 parts: Introduction; Analysis of market structure; Survey of construction sector; Review of individual living houses in Lithuania; Market research of living houses in Lithuania; Market research of wooden panel frame living houses in Lithuania; Conclusions; List of literature. Volume of work – 79 pages of text excluding enclosures, 32 pictures, 12 tables, 66 bibliography sources.

De flesta av oss har säkert erfarenhet av hur digitala verktyg kan vara en hjälp på många områden i vardagen. Det går att fastslå att fler och fler funktioner och tjänster i vårt samhälle digitaliseras på olika sätt och i många yrkesgrupper verkar digitala hjälpmedel vara ett självklart inslag. Syftet med detta arbete är att öka kunskapen om vilken syn musik- och instrumentallärare har på användningen av digitala verktyg i undervisningen. För att uppnå detta syfte har jag ställt ett antal frågor till några musiklärare i olika läromiljöer. Resultat visar bland annat att användandet av digitala hjälpmedel styrs till viss del av musikalisk genre, det vill säga om en lärare arbetar med klassisk musik eller med rock- och popmusik. Tydligt i resultatet är också att musiklärarna vill öka både sin kunskap och sitt användande av digitala verktyg. En av mina viktigaste slutsatser är att de lärare som på ett personligt plan använder digitala verktyg utanför skolan också använder dem i sin undervisning. / Most of us have probably experienced how digital tools can help us in many areas of everyday life. The intent of this paper is to increase knowledge concerning the attitudes of music and instrumental teachers' towards the use of digital tools in their pedagogical methodology. To achieve this aim, I have posed a number of questions to a small selection of music teachers, working within different learning environments. The results show that the implementation of computer and digital media in teaching is dependent upon whether the type of music taught is classical or pop/rock. The results furthermore indicate that music teachers are keen to increase both their knowledge and use of digital tools. One of the most important conclusions that I have reached is that there is a strong correlation between the personal and private use of computers and digital tools by teachers, and whether or not they are utilized as teaching aids.

Mechanical properties of concrete are most commonly determined using destructive tests including: compression, flexure, and fracture notch specimen tests. However, nondestructive tests exist for evaluating the properties of concrete such as ultrasonic pulse velocity and impact echo tests. One of major issues with concrete (which has cement as its prime ingredient) is that unlike steel it is quasi-brittle material. It tends to want to crack when tensile stresses develop. Fibres have been added to concrete for many years to reduce the amount of and size of cracks cause by temperature changes or shrinkage. In more recent years, significant research has been carried out into the effect of the addition of basalt fibres to cement has on its mechanical strength. As well, developing concrete that is more durable, flexible, stronger, and less permeable than traditional concrete has been explored. It has become important to test and verify improvements that are made to the cement by basalt fibres as well as testing the general strength of concrete to stand up to constant pressure at varied strengths.

A constructivist understanding of policy production as a struggle of meaning in which ideas and actors interact is the point of departure of this thesis. Prostitution policy is a salient example of such a struggle and is thus a suitable case for exploring the role of ideas in politics. The purpose of the thesis is threefold: to explain the process preceding the Swedish ban on the purchase of sexual services in 1998, to understand the dynamics in gendered policy and to develop a framework for policy analysis. In the first part of the thesis a dynamic model of frame analysis is developed consisting of three dimensions to analyze: the politically relevant ideas in terms of policy frames (in this case related to gender and power); ideas as restricting and facilitating for actors; actors’ framing strategies and the consequences of strategic framing in terms of risks and limitations. This comprehensive and dynamic model of frame analysis fills a gap in previous policy research. In the second part of the thesis the dynamic frame analysis is applied to explain Swedish prostitution policy. The empirical analysis contains a study of the policy process preceding the ban of 1998, a micro study of the actors’ involvement at a critical juncture and an analysis of the actors’ strategic framing. The thesis concludes that the process was path dependent in the sense that the institutionalization of different ideas, at different points of time, was important for the final outcome. However, the thesis also concludes that the involvement of the actors’, mostly women, was a decisive factor. In relation to previous research the analysis provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the policy process both with regard to the ideas from which the client criminalization claim emanated and also with regard to the actors’ role.