According to the USDA, there were 52.7 million marketings of cattle through live and internet auction markets and other venues in 2005. With the national average herd size at 43 head, most producers have limited bargaining power when it comes to marketing and auctioning their cattle. This has led to the birth of numerous value added cattle programs in the U.S. Value added programs are named as such, because they add additional value to the cattle before they are sold, but this value is difficult to quantify. The objective of this research was to measure the value of characteristics of feeder cattle sold through auction markets and special source verified feeder cattle sales, specifically the value of participating in these value added programs. Data over seven years from regular and special feeder cattle sales at Joplin Regional Stockyards were used. The effects of explanatory variables on sale price were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression hedonic model. Type of sale, seasonality, cyclical effects, lot size, weight, breed type, sex, commingling, fed cattle futures price, and corn price were all found to have an impact on the sale price of feeder cattle. Feeder calves sold through MFA Health Track Beef Alliance and other value added programs received a premium over those calves that sold through regular sales and the premiums for MFA and other value added programs were statistically different. Commingled lots of feeder cattle received a discount in comparison with non-commingled lots, but a lot size of 17 head would offset the negative effect of commingling. The predictive power of the hedonic model was tested using out of sample forecasting. The mean absolute percent error and root mean square error are indicators of the ability of the model to forecast sale price based on the measured impact of the explanatory variables. When the hedonic model was used for forecasting the out of sample data, the MAPE was 7.84 and the RMSE was 10.48.

According to the USDA, there were 52.7 million marketings of cattle through live and internet auction markets and other venues in 2005. With the national average herd size at 43 head, most producers have limited bargaining power when it comes to marketing and auctioning their cattle. This has led to the birth of numerous value added cattle programs in the U.S. Value added programs are named as such, because they add additional value to the cattle before they are sold, but this value is difficult to quantify. The objective of this research was to measure the value of characteristics of feeder cattle sold through auction markets and special source verified feeder cattle sales, specifically the value of participating in these value added programs. Data over seven years from regular and special feeder cattle sales at Joplin Regional Stockyards were used. The effects of explanatory variables on sale price were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression hedonic model. Type of sale, seasonality, cyclical effects, lot size, weight, breed type, sex, commingling, fed cattle futures price, and corn price were all found to have an impact on the sale price of feeder cattle. Feeder calves sold through MFA Health Track Beef Alliance and other value added programs received a premium over those calves that sold through regular sales and the premiums for MFA and other value added programs were statistically different. Commingled lots of feeder cattle received a discount in comparison with non-commingled lots, but a lot size of 17 head would offset the negative effect of commingling. The predictive power of the hedonic model was tested using out of sample forecasting. The mean absolute percent error and root mean square error are indicators of the ability of the model to forecast sale price based on the measured impact of the explanatory variables. When the hedonic model was used for forecasting the out of sample data, the MAPE was 7.84 and the RMSE was 10.48.

Research in the area of bridge design has been and still isconcentrated on the study of the strength of materials andrelatively few studies have been performed on traffic loads andtheir effects. Traffic loads have usually been assumed to begiven in codes. This is mainly because it is very difficult tomodel traffic loads in an accurate manner because of theirrandomness. In this work, statistical evaluations of traffic loadeffects, obtained from real as well as Monte Carlo (MC)simulated vehicle data, are presented. As the dynamiccontribution of the vehicle load was filtered by the systemused for measuring vehicle weight, no attention was paid in thepresent study to the dynamic effects or the impact factor. Thedynamic contribution of the traffic load models from codes wasdeducted wherever they were compared with the result from theevaluation of the real data. First, the accuracy of thecollected data was investigated. This was done to examine theinfluence of what was most probably unreasonable data on thefinal evaluated results. Subsequently, the MC simulationtechnique, using a limited amount of the collected data, wasused to generate fictitious vehicle data that could representresults from field measurements which would otherwise have tobe recorded under a long period. Afterwards, the characteristictotal traffic loads for bridges with large spans weredetermined by probabilistic analysis. This was done using realas well as simulated data and the two were compared. Theseresults were also compared with the corresponding valuescalculated using the traffic load model from the Swedish bridgedesign code. Furthermore, using traffic data, different load effects onbridges (girder distribution factor of slab-on-girder bridgesand the mid-span deflection as well as the longitudinal stressat critical locations on box-girder bridges) were investigated.The main task was to obtain a more accurate knowledge oftraffic load distributions on bridges as well as their effectsfor infrastructure design. The results showed that the trafficload models from codes gave considerably higher load effectscompared to the current actual traffic load effects. Theseinvestigations were based on the available data for the actualposition of the vehicles on a single bridge and might not coverall possible traffic scenarios. The results showed only how thereal traffic loads, under”normal”conditions andtheir transverse positions relate to the load model accordingto the codes. <b>KEYWORDS:</b>bridge, traffic load, load effect, transversedistribution, characteristic value,weigh in motion, MonteCarlo simulation, Rice’s formula, level crossinghistogram, vehicle queue.

<p>Research in the area of bridge design has been and still isconcentrated on the study of the strength of materials andrelatively few studies have been performed on traffic loads andtheir effects. Traffic loads have usually been assumed to begiven in codes. This is mainly because it is very difficult tomodel traffic loads in an accurate manner because of theirrandomness.</p><p>In this work, statistical evaluations of traffic loadeffects, obtained from real as well as Monte Carlo (MC)simulated vehicle data, are presented. As the dynamiccontribution of the vehicle load was filtered by the systemused for measuring vehicle weight, no attention was paid in thepresent study to the dynamic effects or the impact factor. Thedynamic contribution of the traffic load models from codes wasdeducted wherever they were compared with the result from theevaluation of the real data. First, the accuracy of thecollected data was investigated. This was done to examine theinfluence of what was most probably unreasonable data on thefinal evaluated results. Subsequently, the MC simulationtechnique, using a limited amount of the collected data, wasused to generate fictitious vehicle data that could representresults from field measurements which would otherwise have tobe recorded under a long period. Afterwards, the characteristictotal traffic loads for bridges with large spans weredetermined by probabilistic analysis. This was done using realas well as simulated data and the two were compared. Theseresults were also compared with the corresponding valuescalculated using the traffic load model from the Swedish bridgedesign code.</p><p>Furthermore, using traffic data, different load effects onbridges (girder distribution factor of slab-on-girder bridgesand the mid-span deflection as well as the longitudinal stressat critical locations on box-girder bridges) were investigated.The main task was to obtain a more accurate knowledge oftraffic load distributions on bridges as well as their effectsfor infrastructure design. The results showed that the trafficload models from codes gave considerably higher load effectscompared to the current actual traffic load effects. Theseinvestigations were based on the available data for the actualposition of the vehicles on a single bridge and might not coverall possible traffic scenarios. The results showed only how thereal traffic loads, under”normal”conditions andtheir transverse positions relate to the load model accordingto the codes.</p><p><b>KEYWORDS:</b>bridge, traffic load, load effect, transversedistribution, characteristic value,weigh in motion, MonteCarlo simulation, Rice’s formula, level crossinghistogram, vehicle queue.</p>

The thesis is concerned with summarization of steps to determine of the characteristic values of building materials which are listed in European and Czech standards number 72 - Building raw materials, materials and products and number 73 - Design and construction of buildings. The aim of thesis is to describe differences and perform analysis of individual processes and propose the solution of these problems.

L’objet de ce travail de thèse est le regroupement des essences bois du bassin du Congo en quatre groupes en fonction de la similitude de leurs propriétés mécaniques essentielles. Le module d’élasticité (MOE), propriété indicatrice, est estimé par une méthode non destructive : l’essai vibratoire. Pour chaque classe, le fractile à 5% d’exclusion supérieur d’une propriété mécanique est calculé à partir d’une théorie clairement exposée. Le bassin du Congo est un patrimoine en danger à cause des pressions anthropiques au premier rang desquelles figure la coupe hyper sélective des essences bois. Le résultat de ce regroupement permet de proposer comme substitut aux essences menacées d’extinction des essences aux propriétés mécaniques similaires plus disponibles en terme de ressources sur pied. D’où la contribution à la gestion durable et au maintien de la biodiversité du bassin du Congo. On montre que le MOE vibratoire est quasi-invariant avec la teneur en eau et qu’il est bien corrélé au MOE statique, à la masse volumique et à la contrainte à la rupture. C’est donc un bon prédicteur du module de rupture (MOR) à 12% du taux d’humidité du bois vert. Ceci valide l’organisation en groupe d’essences réalisée dans ce travail. Les valeurs caractéristiques des propriétés mesurées sont calculées pour chaque classe. Parce que l’Eurocode 5 exige que les bois utilisés en structure soient classés, nous proposons, in fine, un système de classement en structure des bois du bassin du Congo voué à une meilleure utilisation des forêts pour la conservation des écosystèmes forestiers et la satisfaction des besoins fondamentaux de l’homme. / This Ph.D. work deals with a non-destructive experimental approach organizing the species of the Congo basin in four groups according to the likeness of their main mechanical properties, and to guarantee for each group the 5th percentile characteristic value of mechanical properties such as the modulus of elasticity (MOE). For the sustainable management of forest and conservation of exotic biodiversity of the Congo basin, it is necessary to promote the exploitation of less-consumed species with equivalent mechanical characteristics. The aim of the present work is to propose a scheme for grouping species with similar values of modulus of elasticity (MOE) obtained through vibratory method. Only small clear specimens are tested. The assignment of a given specie to one of the four groups takes place in return for a homogeneity test of comparison of the random variables of species to the random variable of the group. Results of the present grading show that some species can be interchangeably consumed in the construction industry and that the procedure must include more species of the Congo basin. This property grouping will facilitate substitution of underutilized species for ones that are being more exploited. Thus, wood designers and constructors might have a wide variety of choices in their decision-making while promoting less-consumed species and reducing the demand of traditionally most wanted extinguishable species. The MOE obtained by intrinsic vibration of wood versus is not influenced by moisture content. So, the non destructive method bases on longitudinal vibrations can be used in industrial production of timber to certify the modulus of rupture (MOR) at 12% moisture content of green wood by direct correlation. Finally, we propose a grading system of tropical wood.

The thesis proposes management options and risk minimizing in the field of building materials production technologies and related products using fuzzy logic and other risk management tools. The thesis indicates why some methodologies are not commonly used. The main purpose of this work (thesis) is to propose possible upgrades of standard methods in process capability and risk minimizing related to building materials and products. Markov analysis and fuzzy Markov chains are applied.

The thesis deals with the measurement of the elastic modulus of concrete in existing structures and possibilities of applicability of equations for the calculation of characteristic values of concrete compressive strength on the modulus of elasticity. The modulus of elasticity is determined by dynamic and static methods on specimens taken from the concrete blocks, whose composition varies by a water cement ratio and varying amounts of admixtures. In conclusion, the results of the measurements are compared and the characteristic values of the modulus of elasticity is determined.