Yes / This paper reports on an experimental investigation into braking-related steering drift in motor vehicles, and follows on from a previous paper by the authors in which it was concluded that braking can cause changes in wheel alignment that in turn affect the toe-steer characteristics of each wheel and therefore the straight-line stability of the vehicle during braking. Changes in suspension geometry during braking, their magnitude and the relationships between the braking forces and the suspension geometry and compliance are further investigated in an experimental study of wheel movement arising from compliance in the front suspension and the steering system of a passenger car during braking. Using a kinematic and compliance (K&C) test rig, movement of the front wheels and the suspension subframe, together with corresponding changes in suspension and steering geometry under simulated braking conditions, have been measured and compared with dynamic measurements of the centre points of the front wheels. The results have enabled the causes and effects of steering drift during braking to be better understood in the design of front suspension systems for vehicle stability during braking.

A thought experiment by Avicenna known as the Flying man presents a hypothetical man in the air who is not aware of the existence of his body but simultaneously is aware of himself. A common objection to the Flying Man accuses Avicenna of committing an epistemic and logical fallacy known as the Masked Man. This paper analyses the two most recent interpretations of the Flying Man thought experiment, where each interpretation attempts to understand the main argument which Avicenna poses through the thought experiment.  On one hand, I will examine Peter Adamson and Fedor Benevich’s interpretation, which rejects previous criticisms of the Flying Man with an emphasis on Avicenna’s philosophy of essences. I will, on the other hand, present Jari Kaukua’s interpretation; a response to Adamson and Benevich’s interpretation with two closely related objections. The last section of this paper discusses and evaluates the scholars’ debated points and offers a more charitable interpretation of the Flying Man through my suggestive indicative method.

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Polymeric materials have attracted a lot of attention for the past several decades. Different sectors of manufacturing industry, such as packaging, building and automotive industry have introduced polymeric materials in their applications. Common polymer manufacturing processes include thermoforming and blow molding. In this research, characteristics of a new polymer manufacturing process, referred to as axial-feed hot gas tube forming (HGTF) are studied. Experimental studies were conducted to form a simple axisymmetric component from extruded polypropylene (PP) tube by varying several key process parameters such as internal pressure, temperature and axial feed. Tube shape and deformation characteristics were studied as a function of the above process parameters. In addition, two consecutive material models have been utilized for finite element simulation of axial-feed HGTF of PP tube using a commercial FE code. One of them is conventional hyperelastic Ogden material model and another is more advanced viscoelastic-viscoplastic Augmented Hybrid material model (AHM), that has been recently developed. Simulation results from two models were analyzed and compared with the experimental results and good general agreement has been obtained. Results showed that application of more advanced AHM material model led to improved prediction of part shape and strain distribution over the part profile. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)