A vibration isolator is designed to reduce the vibration and structure borne noise transmitted from a vibratory source, such as machinery and equipment, to the supporting structure. The vibration and structure borne noise transmitted depends upon the dynamic properties of the foundation, the source mounting point and the vibration isolator. Therefore knowledge of the frequency dependent dynamic properties of vibration isolators is a necessary part of the acoustic prediction and control/reduction process. Vibration isolators may be characterised by measuring their four-pole parameters. A measurement procedure is proposed that employs the floating mass method, measures the direct forces and corrects for the errors introduced by the direct force measurement. Compared to the basic method, it extends the frequency limits of measurement in both directions. The development of a novel vibration isolator test facility that implements the proposed measurement procedure is described, and its satisfactory operation is experimentally demonstrated. The vibration isolator test facility is capable of characterizing vibration isolators commonly used in industrial and maritime applications, under service conditions. A method is proposed for measuring the four-pole parameters of a uni-directional asymmetrical vibration isolator under static load. The method is called the two masses method, and is suitable for determining the four???pole parameters of active vibration isolators with feedback control. The method is also applicable to uni-directional symmetrical and bi-directional symmetrical and bi-directional asymmetrical vibration isolators. It may be regarded as a universal method for characterising vibration isolators. Experimental data is presented and the method is validated. Modelling of vibration isolators is complicated by the highly non-linear nature of their rubber elements. The notion of an effective rubber cylinder is proposed to account for the barrelling of rubber elements under static load. Consequently, a general static compression model is proposed that applies to vibration isolators having unfilled and filled rubber elements of regular prismatic shapes. The model predicts the dependence of the four-pole parameters on the compression ratio of the rubber element. The predictions derived from the effective rubber cylinder and general static compression model agree excellently with experimental work of this study and other researchers.

The aim of this thesis is to examine the effectiveness of cross-border cooperation as a tool for local/regional development of underdeveloped border regions, and whether it is appropriate for Turkey&rsquo / s border regions. The basic statement is that the trajectories of intense economic relations do not always let cross-border co-operation / it can develop through supportive policies fed by the active participation of cross-border actors. The scope of this study is, - to examine changing theoretical ideas about borders and border relations, - to review some of the important changes affecting the cross-border cooperations / and the implications of transformations in the global mechanisms through new network relations determined within the multi-level governance approach, - to develop a framework for analysing the success of cross-border cooperation, - to discuss the cross-border co-operation trajectories through the world experiences and Turkish case, - to search for a new model This study will focus on a set of theoretical tools involving independent dimensions such as governance, economy and social structure. Along these theoretical perspectives, the importance of a cross-border co-operation for local/regional development will be emphasised through the case of Hopa-Batumi border region. Handling of this case will be an attempt to put forward the opportunities and barriers of a cross-border co-operation for Turkish border regions. This study is developed by the examination of theoretical literature, generating comparative analysis of world experiences with reference to available literature, and Turkish border regions executed with the newspapers archives and legal arrangements, and case study through in-depth interviews.

Three novel single-stage electronic ballasts with the advantages of high-power-factor, low current harmonic, high efficiency, and low cost are proposed for rapid-start fluorescent lamps. Included are (1) single-stage high-power-factor electronic ballast with asymmetrical topology, (2) single-stage high- power-factor electronic ballast with symmetrical topology, and (3) single-stage single-switch high-power-factor electronic ballast. The circuit configurations are obtained by integrating the buck-boost power-factor-correction converter into the Class D or the Class E resonant inverter. With simple circuit configuration and less component count, desired circuit performances of high-power-factor and high efficiency are realized. The control methods of pulse-width-modulation (PWM) with asymmetrical and symmetrical approaches are utilized for the three presented ballasts. The buck-boost conversion stage is operated at discontinuous current mode (DCM) to achieve nearly unity power factor at a fixed switching frequency. With carefully designed circuit parameters, the power switches can exhibit either zero-voltage switching-on (ZVS) or zero-current switching-on (ZCS). As a result, high circuit efficiency can be ensured. Design equations are derived and computer analyses are performed based on the lamp¡¦s equivalent resistance model and fundamental approximation. Accordingly, design guidelines for determining circuit parameters are provided. Prototypes of the three proposed circuits designed for a T8-36W lamp, two series-connected T9-40W lamps and a PL-27W lamp are built and tested to verify the computer simulations and analytical predictions.

Transportation decision makers are tasked with doing more improvements with less funding, which requires effective tools to assess and predict the outcomes of their choices. The objectives of this research are to explore customer satisfaction in various contexts, assess its application in transportation contexts and develop quantitative, empirically-based tools that improve customer satisfaction in transportation decision making. This research conducted a survey of targeted customer satisfaction practitioners and their planning products and tested the implicit assumption. The findings are significant and contrary to current theory and practice. The results support the hypothesis that the impact of negative performance is different than the impact of positive performance on customer satisfaction in a transportation context. These findings suggest that the relationship is asymmetrical and nonlinear contrary to implicit assumptions of current decision support tools like the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) matrix. The results also identify that transportation agencies identify quality of life and customer satisfaction as an important goal and measure for their regions. These results suggest that customer satisfaction is a tool in decision making and there is an empirical methodology to accurately assess the relationship of performance to satisfaction that can impact resource decisions in transportation. The results also suggest that customer satisfaction can be used to address issues of social equity and the broader goals of transportation plans.

Produktion i lågspänningsnätet ökar kraftigt, bara under år 2014 dubblerades antalet nätanslutna solcellsanläggningar i Sverige. Utvecklingen ser ut att hålla i sig och då dessa anläggningar ofta är små är det troligt att flera ansluts genom en enfasigt ansluten växelriktare. Ett symmetriskt trefassystem består av tre fasspänningarna med samma amplitud, frekvens och förskjutna 120˚ från varandra. Laster och produktionsenheter som inte är trefasigt nätanslutna ger upphov till ett osymmetriskt driftfall. Detta arbete syftar till att undersöka hur spänningen påverkas av osymmetriska laster och produktionsenheter i Vattenfalls lågspänningsnät. Målet med arbetet är att skapa ett beräkningsverktyg som kan användas av Vattenfall Eldistribution för att undersöka hur spänningen påverkas vid olika osymmetriska driftfall. Beräkningsvertyget har skapats i Matlab och utgår från kända värden för spänningen i matningspunkten och impedansen mellan matningspunkten och anslutningspunkten. Dessutom anges effekt och effektfaktor för eventuell produktion och förbrukning i respektive fas. Beräkningsmodellen beräknar spänningar och strömmar i anslutningspunkten samt spänningens osymmetri. Verifiering av beräkningsmodellen har utförts genom att jämföra beräknat resultat med ”Kurvor för förenklad bedömning av nätstyrka” som återfinns i MIKRO-handboken, utgiven av branschorganisationen Svensk Energi. En fältstudie har utförts på en enfasigt nätansluten solcellsanläggning. Mätresultatet från denna har jämförts med resultat från beräkningsmodellen. Dessutom har laboratoriemätningar på en försöksuppställning genomförts. Försöksuppställningen modellerade en lågspänningskund ansluten till ett svagt nät, med enfasigt ansluten produktion och last. Mätresultatet från försöksuppställningen jämfördes med resultat från beräkningsmodellen. I jämförelse mellan den framtagna beräkningsmodellen och MIKRO-handboken konstateras att de stämmer överens. I jämförelse med mätresultat från fältstudien konstateras att beräkningsmodellen troligtvis räknar rätt men att mätningarna inte enbart kan användas för att verifiera modellen då det är en liten spänningsvariation och många troliga felkällor. Resultatet från försöksuppställningen konstateras överensstämma med beräknade värden och kan därför bekräfta att beräkningsmodellen är korrekt utformad. / Production in the low voltage distribution network increases, just in 2014 the number of grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Sweden doubled. The trend seems to continue, and since these plants often are small, it is likely that several are connected to a single-phase connected inverter. A symmetrical three-phase system consisting three phase voltages of equal magnitude, frequency and displaced 120˚ apart. Loads and production units that are not three-phase grid-connected, causes an asymmetrical operating condition. The purpose of this report is to study how the voltage is affected by asymmetrical loads and production units in Vattenfall’s low voltage network. The aim of this work is to create a calculation tool that can be used by Vattenfall Eldistribution to study how the voltage is affected at different asymmetrical operating conditions. The calculation tool is created in Matlab and is based on the known values of the voltage in the feed point and the impedance between the feed point and the connection point. Even power and power factor for possible production and consumption in each phase are set up. The calculation model calculates the voltages and currents at the connection point and the voltage asymmetry. Verification of the calculation model have been carried out by comparing the calculated results with "Curves for simplified assessment of grid strength” included in MIKRO-handboken, published by Svensk Energi. A field study has been performed on a single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic plant. The measurement result of this has been compared with the results of the calculation model. Also, laboratory measurements on an experimental set-up was performed. The experimental set-up corresponded a low voltage customer connected to a weak grid, with single-phase connected production and load. Measurement results of the experimental setup were compared with the results of the calculation model. Comparison between the developed calculation model and MIKRO-handboken concludes that they match. By comparison with measurements from the field study, it is concluded that the calculation model is probably correctly calculating, but that measurements alone can’t be used to verify the model because the voltage variation is too small and there are many likely sources of error. The results of the experimental set-up match with the calculated values and can therefore confirm that the calculation model is correctly designed.

Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the production of materials with nanoscale dimensions (nm) and properties distinctly different from their bulk (>100 nm) counterparts. With increased use, it is inevitable that nanomaterials will accumulate in the environment and there is concern that the novel properties of nanomaterials could result in detrimental environmental and human health effects. In particular, there has been concern recently regarding the use of silver (Ag) based nanomaterials as antimicrobial agents in consumer and medical products. Current regulations dealing with the discharge of metals into the environment are based on total concentrations with no consideration for the form (e.g., ionic, nanoparticle, colloid) which can largely determine toxicity. Methods for the identification and characterization of nanoparticulates within complex matrices are lacking and the development of robust methods for this purpose are considered a high priority research area. This research focuses on the development and application of a novel method for characterizing Ag manufactured nanoparticles (MNPs) within terrestrial environments, in particular in soil pore water, with applications relevant to other metal MNPs as well. The method was then applied to understand the dynamics and behavior of Ag MNPs in soil and soil amended with sewage sludge biosolids.

Based on preliminary reports, an extended series of bolamphiphilic oligoester compounds with structural symmetry were synthesized and then tested using a planar bilayer experiment with the voltage-clamp technique. The main structures of these compounds are identical, consisting of a mono or tri-aromatic core, two octamethylene chains and two benzoyl headgroups which are all connected through ester linkages. The structural variance was provided by the four differently functionalized benzoyl headgroups. The synthetic methods of three to five steps were mainly adapted from the previously reported method.1 The methods successfully produced eight compounds with overall yields of 20 to 30%. The voltage-clamp data suggested voltage-dependent behaviors occur at low concentrations while Ohmic behaviors require at high concentrations. The activity at low potentials showed relatively erratic behavior but the channels frequently switched between opening and closing states. The activity at high potential lasted longer as the channel maintained a longer state of opening. The exponential voltage-dependent behaviors were observed at higher potential while the voltage-independent Ohmic behaviors occur at low potential. These channel behaviors are highly time-dependent as there is no control over the stability and the aggregation level for the compounds forming active channels in the membrane. In some cases the current-voltage responses appear to be asymmetrical between the positive and the negative potentials. Mechanisms consistent with the observations are proposed. / Graduate / 0485 / 0490 / yzong@uvic.ca

Based on preliminary reports, an extended series of bolamphiphilic oligoester compounds with structural symmetry were synthesized and then tested using a planar bilayer experiment with the voltage-clamp technique. The main structures of these compounds are identical, consisting of a mono or tri-aromatic core, two octamethylene chains and two benzoyl headgroups which are all connected through ester linkages. The structural variance was provided by the four differently functionalized benzoyl headgroups. The synthetic methods of three to five steps were mainly adapted from the previously reported method.1 The methods successfully produced eight compounds with overall yields of 20 to 30%. The voltage-clamp data suggested voltage-dependent behaviors occur at low concentrations while Ohmic behaviors require at high concentrations. The activity at low potentials showed relatively erratic behavior but the channels frequently switched between opening and closing states. The activity at high potential lasted longer as the channel maintained a longer state of opening. The exponential voltage-dependent behaviors were observed at higher potential while the voltage-independent Ohmic behaviors occur at low potential. These channel behaviors are highly time-dependent as there is no control over the stability and the aggregation level for the compounds forming active channels in the membrane. In some cases the current-voltage responses appear to be asymmetrical between the positive and the negative potentials. Mechanisms consistent with the observations are proposed. / Graduate / 0485 / 0490 / yzong@uvic.ca

No description available.

A vibration isolator is designed to reduce the vibration and structure borne noise transmitted from a vibratory source, such as machinery and equipment, to the supporting structure. The vibration and structure borne noise transmitted depends upon the dynamic properties of the foundation, the source mounting point and the vibration isolator. Therefore knowledge of the frequency dependent dynamic properties of vibration isolators is a necessary part of the acoustic prediction and control/reduction process. Vibration isolators may be characterised by measuring their four-pole parameters. A measurement procedure is proposed that employs the floating mass method, measures the direct forces and corrects for the errors introduced by the direct force measurement. Compared to the basic method, it extends the frequency limits of measurement in both directions. The development of a novel vibration isolator test facility that implements the proposed measurement procedure is described, and its satisfactory operation is experimentally demonstrated. The vibration isolator test facility is capable of characterizing vibration isolators commonly used in industrial and maritime applications, under service conditions. A method is proposed for measuring the four-pole parameters of a uni-directional asymmetrical vibration isolator under static load. The method is called the two masses method, and is suitable for determining the four???pole parameters of active vibration isolators with feedback control. The method is also applicable to uni-directional symmetrical and bi-directional symmetrical and bi-directional asymmetrical vibration isolators. It may be regarded as a universal method for characterising vibration isolators. Experimental data is presented and the method is validated. Modelling of vibration isolators is complicated by the highly non-linear nature of their rubber elements. The notion of an effective rubber cylinder is proposed to account for the barrelling of rubber elements under static load. Consequently, a general static compression model is proposed that applies to vibration isolators having unfilled and filled rubber elements of regular prismatic shapes. The model predicts the dependence of the four-pole parameters on the compression ratio of the rubber element. The predictions derived from the effective rubber cylinder and general static compression model agree excellently with experimental work of this study and other researchers.