This thesis deals with inspection and constructionally technical research of reinforced concrete prefabricated construction from the second half of 20th century. In theoretical part, the research of literature, documents and valid standards is performed, with a focus on production and construction of prefabricated elements and also on the metodology of research. In practical part, the detection of reinforcement of individual elements of the construction and concrete properties is performed. The result of this work is the assessment of the state of the construction, static calculation of the ceiling panel and idea proposal for eventual reconstruction.

The diploma thesis deals with the determination of the influence of size, shape and type of test specimen on values of modulus of elasticity of light-weight concrete. A lot of different specimens were prepared from two concrete’s mixtures for the experiment. Tests for measurement of static modulus of elasticity and dynamic modulus of elasticity by ultrasonic impulse velocity method were made. The results were assessed and summarized in tabular and graphical form.

Selected chapters of the science branch "Elasticity and strength" applied to manufacturing of thin parts with various solution approaches. Applying theory of bars and a non-linear differential equation for the deflection line of the second order to a machined shaft. Numerical calculation in the ANSYS program. Evaluation and design of solution variants to machine thin shaft parts without supporting them.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Accurate estimation of alcohol price elasticity is important for policy analysis – e.g.., determining optimal taxes and projecting revenues generated from proposed tax changes. Several approaches to specifying and estimating the price elasticity of demand for alcohol can be found in the literature. There are two keys to policy-relevant specification and estimation of alcohol price elasticity. First, the underlying demand model should take account of alcohol consumption decisions at the extensive margin – i.e., individuals' decisions to drink or not – because the price of alcohol may impact the drinking initiation decision and one's decision to drink is likely to be structurally different from how much they drink if they decide to do so (the intensive margin). Secondly, the modeling of alcohol demand elasticity should yield both theoretical and empirical results that are causally interpretable. The elasticity estimates obtained from the existing two-part model takes into account the extensive margin, but are not causally interpretable. The elasticity estimates obtained using aggregate-level models, however, are causally interpretable, but do not explicitly take into account the extensive margin. There currently exists no specification and estimation method for alcohol price elasticity that both accommodates the extensive margin and is causally interpretable. I explore additional sources of bias in the extant approaches to elasticity specification and estimation: 1) the use of logged (vs. nominal) alcohol prices; and 2) implementation of unnecessarily restrictive assumptions underlying the conventional two-part model. I propose a new approach to elasticity specification and estimation that covers the two key requirements for policy relevance and remedies all such biases. I find evidence of substantial divergence between the new and extant methods using both simulated and the real data. Such differences are profound when placed in the context of alcohol tax revenue generation.

This paper reviews the status quo of the empirical and theoretical literature on the determinants of the elasticity of substitution between capital and labor. Our focus is on the two-input constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function. By example of the U.S., we highlight the distinctive heterogeneity in empirical estimates of σ at both the aggregate and industrial level and discuss potential methodological explanations for this variation. The main part of this survey then focuses on the determinants of σ. We first review several approaches to the microfoundation of production functions, especially the CES production function. Second, we outline the construction of an aggregate elasticity of substitution (AES) in a multi-sectoral framework and investigate its dependence on underlying sectoral elasticities. Third, we discuss the influence of the institutional framework on the determination of σ. The concluding section of this review identifies a number of potential empirical and theoretical avenues for future research. Overall, we demonstrate that the effective elasticity of substitution (EES), which is typically estimated in empirical studies, is generally not an immutable deep parameter but depends on a multitude of technological, non-technological and institutional determinants.

<p>This dissertation studies the chemo-hygro-mechanical coupling involved in the process of crack propagation encountered both in natural and engineered context. Chemical processes are likely to affect the mechanical properties of geo-materials, resulting in possible weakening effect. The deformation and micro-cracking induced by material weakening in turn enhances the overall mass removal. In this study, several models within both elasticity and plasticity domain are developed for a better understanding of the enhanced crack propagation. A deformational plasticity model based on experimental observations is addressed. Rigid-plasticity models are applied to various boundary conditions. In the chemo-elasticity model, chemical dissolution is assumed to be a function of a comprehensive strain invariant. One-way coupling and two-way coupling models are discussed. In the two-way coupling model, volumetric strain coupling and deviatoric strain coupling are compared. A variety of loading modes are adopted to investigate the chemical enhancement of propagation of a single crack. The behavior of the material is either rigid-plastic, or elastic with the variable of mass removal enters the constitutive equation as a chemical strain. Comparison between the results from two models is presented and discussed.</p> / Dissertation

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This paper examines the price and income elasticity of demand for fuel products in Malawi. The data have been disaggregated into various sectors, agriculture, industry, construction, commercial transport, private motor vehicles and household, in order to fully understand the nature and magnitude of elasticity for each sector. Two methods were used - the simple economic method and the correlation coefficient method. This research covers a period of 10 years from 1995 to 2004. This period has been chosen in order to arrive at meaningful conclusions. The results show that each sector responds to price and income changes differently. The agricultural sector has been found to be inelastic to both price and income both in the short and long term. This sector, however, is sensitive to other factors like drought and currency depreciation. The industrial sector has been found to be very sensitive to both price and income changes both in the short and long term. The same trend has also been established for the construction sector and the commercial transport sector. In the private motor vehicle sector, petrol-powered private motor vehicles have been found to be inelastic to price as well as income both in the short and long term. The reason for this is lack of affordable alternative forms of transport. Tests for diesel-powered vehicles show very elastic results. The demand data may have been distorted by the fact that diesel demand for other equipment than vehicles could not be identified and it has been assumed that diesel bought at filling stations or reseller points is used by vehicles. There is evidence that diesel is also used for maize mills and generators. The household sector has been seen to be very sensitive to price and income changes. The reason for this is availability of substitutes such as charcoal, firewood and other forms of biomass fuel that are extensively used in rural areas. Income sensitivity is purely due to the fact that people in rural areas earn low income. The conclusions for the household sector are that first the government should remove the paraffin subsidy as it is not achieving its intended results. Secondly, the government should establish basic wages and also offer better prices to the subsistence sector. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif ondersoek die elastisiteit van prys en inkomste in die aanvraag na brandtstofprodukte in Malawi. Om die aard en omvang van die elastisiteit in elke sektor ten volle te verstaan, is die data gedesegregeer in verskeie sektore, naamlik landbou, nywerheid, die boubedryf, handelsvervoer, privaat motorvoertuie en die huishoudelike sektor. Twee metodes is gebruik: die eenvoudige ekonomiese metode en die korrelasie-koeffisient-metode. Hierdie navorsing beslaan 'n tydperk van tien jaar vanaf 1995 tot 2004. Die tydperk is gekies om sodoende betekenisvolle gevolgtrekkings te kan maak. Die resultate dui aan dat die sektore verskillend op veranderings in prys en inkomste reageer. Daar is bevind dat die landbousektor glad nie elasties is nie wat betref prys sowel as inkomste, sowel op die kort- as langtermyn. Hierdie sektor is egter sensitief vir ander faktore soos droogte en die depresiasie van die geldeenheid. Daar is bevind dat die nywerheidsektor baie sensitief is vir prys-, sowel as inkomsteveranderings op die kort- en langtermyn. Dieselfde neiging is bevind vir die bousektor en die handelsvervoersektor. In die privaat motorsektor is bevind dat petrolaangedrewe motors nie elasties is nie wat betref prys sowel as inkomste op die kort- sowel as langtermyn. Die rede hiervoor is die gebrek aan bekostigbare alternatiewe vervoermiddels. Toetse vir dieselaangedrewe motorvoertuie dui uiters elastiese resultate aan. Die data wat betref aanvraag kon moontlik verkeerd voorgestel word as gevolg daarvan dat die dieselaanvraag vir ander toerusting as voertuig nie geidentifiseer word nie. Daar is veronderstel dat diesel wat by vulstasies en herverkooppunte gekoop is, vir voertuie gebruik is. Daar is bewyse dat diesel ook vir mieliemeule en kragopwekkers gebruik word.

消費者價格彈性與通路價格策略 - 以洋芋片為例 / With modest increase of wage level and increasing inflation of raw material prices in Taiwan, manufacturers face pressure in maximizing profit with limited pricing power. Price and pack size management become keys for revenue maximization. The idea of this research originates from the observations from a price increase project of a key salty snack manufacturer in Taiwan. In the project, the manufacturer increased both pack size and price per gram of chip, aiming to sell bigger pack sizes in PX Mart, where shoppers are mainly housewives who buy for households. The price increase led to different outcomes in different channels due to shoppers’ different sensitivity. As a result, a choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis was conducted to find out if shoppers in Convenient Store (CVS) and PX Mart have different sensitivities for potato chips. Also, pack sizes and different promotions are combined to test if deeper promotion depth can offset the negative impact from price increases. From the effect of different combinations, we offer recommendations on the optimal pack size and pricing strategy for the salty snack category in CVS and PX Mart, respectively.

The influence of initial stocking and physiologically aged cuttings (taken from 1-year- old and 5-year-old parents) on corewood modulus of elasticity (MOE) in 6-year-old Pinus radiata D. Don was studied in a Nelder-design experiment in Rolleston, Canterbury. In the same experiment, the influence of initial stocking on MOE in 5-year- old Eucalyptus nitens was also investigated. The study incorporated 19 different stocking levels ranging from 207 to 40,446 stems/ha. Green dynamic modulus of elasticity was assessed in standing trees using the TreeTap stress-wave method over the lower part of the stem (0.3 – 1.9m) for 151 P. radiata trees and 115 E. nitens trees. The interaction between species and stocking significantly influenced MOE (P<0.001). MOE of P. radiata increased by 55% (or 3.9 GPa) between 271 and 40,466 stems/ha, and by 41% (or 2.2 GPa) between 271 and 4370 stems/ha. MOE of E. nitens was also influenced by stocking but the slope was significantly lower indicating that the effect of stocking was less pronounced than for P. radiata. Over the usual range of stockings for E. nitens there was an insignificant relationship between stocking and stiffness (P=0.335). Trees were also assessed for DBH, height, and stem slenderness (height/ DBH). None of these latter variables had a significant influence on MOE after the effects of stocking and species were accounted for. No effects of physiological age of cuttings were detected in this study. The findings of this study highlight the importance of stocking as a tool that forest managers can utilize to regulate corewood stiffness in P. radiata trees. These results also suggest that for E. nitens, where wood stiffness is a priority, forest managers could reduce establishment costs by planting at much lower initial stockings. This study also highlights the superior stiffness of E. nitens in direct comparison with P. radiata, with many trees in the experiment already exceeding stiffness thresholds for structural timber in New Zealand.

A constitutive model has been developed to model the shock response of single crystal aluminum from peak pressures ranging from 2-110 GPa. This model couples a description of higher-order thermoelasticity with a dislocation-based viscoplastic formulation, both of which are formulated for single crystals. The constitutive model has been implemented using two numerical methods: a plane wave method that tracks the propagating wave front; and an extended one-dimensional, finite-difference method that can be used to model spatio-temporal evolution of wave propagation in anisotropic materials. The constitutive model, as well as these numerical methods, are used to simulate shock wave propagation in single crystals, polycrystals, and pre-textured polycrystals. Model predictions are compared with extensive existing experimental data and are then used to quantify the influence of the initial material state on the subsequent shock response. A coarse-grained model is then proposed to capture orientation-dependent deformation heterogeneity, and is shown to replicate salient features predicted by direct finite-difference simulation of polycrystals in the weak shock regime. The work in this thesis establishes a general framework that can be used to quantify the influence of initial material state on subsequent shock behavior not only for aluminum single crystals, but for other face-centered cubic and lower symmetry crystalline metals as well.