No / The effect of matrix polymer and filler content on the rheological behavior of hydroxyapatite-filled injection molding grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) has been studied. Studies of the flow curves revealed that the matrix and the composite exhibit three distinct regions in the flow curve, namely, a pseudoplastic region at low to moderate shear rates, a plateau and a second pseudoplastic region at high shear rates. The shear stress corresponding to the plateau (Tc) is dependent on both the filler concentration and the melt temperature. Addition of HA in the HDPE matrix increases the value of Tc and decreases compressibility of the melt. An increase in temperature also raises the value of Tc. From the nature of flow curves it is concluded that the matrix polymer largely decides the rheology of the composite.

A abordagem de linha de produto de software (LP) tem como objetivo principal promover a geração de produtos específicos de um determinado domínio com base na reutilização de uma infraestrutura central, chamada núcleo de artefatos. Um dos principais artefatos do núcleo de uma LP é a Arquitetura de LP (ALP), que representa a abstração de todas as arquiteturas de sistemas únicos que podem ser gerados, para um domínio específico. Avaliações de ALP são importantes, pois permitem aumentar a produtividade e a qualidade dos produtos da LP, bem como, seus resultados permitem a análise de metas de negócio e de retorno de investimento. Este trabalho propõe um método sistemático para avaliação de ALP, o SystEM-PLA (a Systematic Evaluation Method for Software Product Line Architectures). Tal método considera modelos de ALP em UML, por ser uma notação amplamente conhecida e consolidada. SystEM-PLA é composto por um metaprocesso de avaliação, diretrizes que guiam o usuário em como avaliar uma ALP e métricas básicas para modelos UML e atributos de qualidade. O método utiliza a abordagem SMarty (Stereotype-based Management of Variability), para gerenciar variabilidades em LP baseadas em UML. Análises de trade-off com o objetivo de priorizar atributos de qualidade para o desenvolvimento e evolução dos produtos de uma LP são realizadas com base na aplicação e coleta das métricas do SystEM-PLA em configurações de uma ALP. As métricas propostas para os atributos de qualidade complexidade e extensibilidade foram validadas por meio de um estudo experimental. Evidências indicaram a viabilidade de aplicação do método SystEM-PLA na indústria com base em um estudo experimental realizado com profissionais de uma empresa de grande porte no setor de desenvolvimento de software / The software product line (PL) approach aims at promoting the generation of specific products from a particular domain based on the reuse of a central infra-structure, so-called core assets. One of the main assets of a PL is the PL Architecture (PLA) that represents the abstraction of all possible single-product architectures that can be generated for a particular domain. PLA evaluations are important due to allow the increasing of the productivity and the quality of PL products, as well as their results allow business drivers and return on investment analyzes. This work proposes a Systematic Evaluation Method for Software Product Line Architectures, the SystEM-PLA. This method takes into account UML models with PLA variability explicitly represented, since UML is a widely known and consolidated notation. SystEM-PLA is composed of an evaluation meta-process, guidelines that drive the user on how to evaluate a PLA, and basic and quality attribute metrics. This method uses the proposed approach Stereotype-based Management of Variability (SMarty) to manage variabilities in UML-based PLs. Trade-off analyses to prioritize quality attributes for the development and evolution of PL products are carried out based on the application and collection of the SystEM-PLA metrics from PLA configurations. The quality attribute metrics were validated trough an experimental study. Evidences indicated the SystEM-PLA application feasibility in industry based on an experimental study, planned and conducted with professionals from a large software development organization

A abordagem de linha de produto de software (LP) tem como objetivo principal promover a geração de produtos específicos de um determinado domínio com base na reutilização de uma infraestrutura central, chamada núcleo de artefatos. Um dos principais artefatos do núcleo de uma LP é a Arquitetura de LP (ALP), que representa a abstração de todas as arquiteturas de sistemas únicos que podem ser gerados, para um domínio específico. Avaliações de ALP são importantes, pois permitem aumentar a produtividade e a qualidade dos produtos da LP, bem como, seus resultados permitem a análise de metas de negócio e de retorno de investimento. Este trabalho propõe um método sistemático para avaliação de ALP, o SystEM-PLA (a Systematic Evaluation Method for Software Product Line Architectures). Tal método considera modelos de ALP em UML, por ser uma notação amplamente conhecida e consolidada. SystEM-PLA é composto por um metaprocesso de avaliação, diretrizes que guiam o usuário em como avaliar uma ALP e métricas básicas para modelos UML e atributos de qualidade. O método utiliza a abordagem SMarty (Stereotype-based Management of Variability), para gerenciar variabilidades em LP baseadas em UML. Análises de trade-off com o objetivo de priorizar atributos de qualidade para o desenvolvimento e evolução dos produtos de uma LP são realizadas com base na aplicação e coleta das métricas do SystEM-PLA em configurações de uma ALP. As métricas propostas para os atributos de qualidade complexidade e extensibilidade foram validadas por meio de um estudo experimental. Evidências indicaram a viabilidade de aplicação do método SystEM-PLA na indústria com base em um estudo experimental realizado com profissionais de uma empresa de grande porte no setor de desenvolvimento de software / The software product line (PL) approach aims at promoting the generation of specific products from a particular domain based on the reuse of a central infra-structure, so-called core assets. One of the main assets of a PL is the PL Architecture (PLA) that represents the abstraction of all possible single-product architectures that can be generated for a particular domain. PLA evaluations are important due to allow the increasing of the productivity and the quality of PL products, as well as their results allow business drivers and return on investment analyzes. This work proposes a Systematic Evaluation Method for Software Product Line Architectures, the SystEM-PLA. This method takes into account UML models with PLA variability explicitly represented, since UML is a widely known and consolidated notation. SystEM-PLA is composed of an evaluation meta-process, guidelines that drive the user on how to evaluate a PLA, and basic and quality attribute metrics. This method uses the proposed approach Stereotype-based Management of Variability (SMarty) to manage variabilities in UML-based PLs. Trade-off analyses to prioritize quality attributes for the development and evolution of PL products are carried out based on the application and collection of the SystEM-PLA metrics from PLA configurations. The quality attribute metrics were validated trough an experimental study. Evidences indicated the SystEM-PLA application feasibility in industry based on an experimental study, planned and conducted with professionals from a large software development organization

Les principaux objectifs de cette étude est de fournir les informations essentielles sur le comportement thermique des cellules de batterie pour une application automobile, en particulier pour les véhicules électriques et hybrides. Cette application est notre cadre de travail expérimental afin de développer un modèle électro-thermique 3D efficace pour les cellules lithium-ion et du pack batterie. L'étude expérimentale se concentre sur la distribution de température en différents points de la surface de la cellule, de l'impact de différents débits constants, et également l'importance du système de refroidissement sur le comportement en température de la batterie. Cette thèse met en évidence le comportement de température de la cellule dans des conditions de décharge agressive et de l'impact de l'empilement de plusieurs cellules à l'intérieur de la batterie. Une étude de cas sur le comportement thermique de la cellule dans une application véhicule électrique hybride série est proposée pour compléter les cycles de conduite en utilisant différentes stratégies de refroidissement. En outre, l'étude expérimentale est étendue à la caractéristique du comportement de refroidissement par flux d'air à l'intérieur de la batterie, en utilisant le système d'image de particules (PIV). Le modèle électro-thermique CFD 3D est développé sous un logiciel Open Source OpenFOAM. L'objectif principal est d'obtenir un modèle relativement simple mais précis avec un temps de calcul raisonnable. Le modèle proposé, estime la production de chaleur, à partir du courant de la batterie et la résistance interne en fonction de la température, le transfert de chaleur par conduction, convection forcée et rayonnement. / The main objectives of this study are to provide the essential information on the thermal behaviour of the battery cells for automotive purpose especially for EVs and HEVs through experimental work in order to develop an effective 3D electro-thermal model for lithium ion battery cells and pack. The experimental study is focusing on the distribution of temperature at various points of the battery cell surface, impact of different constant discharge rates, and also the importance of cooling system on the battery temperature behaviour. This thesis highlights the battery cell temperature under abuse discharge condition and the impact of stacking the battery cells inside the battery pack. Impact of different temperature and SOC on the battery cell internal resistance and a case study on the battery cell thermal behaviour used in a series HEV to complete driving cycles using different cooling strategies are also studied. Furthermore, the experimental study is extended to the characteristic of the cooling air flow behaviour inside the battery pack, using particulate image velocimetry (PIV) system. The 3D electro-thermal CFD model is implemented in a free, open source CFD software package called OpenFOAM. The target is to have a relatively simple but accurate model with reasonable computation time. This proposed model considers the heat generation from battery current and internal resistance as a function of temperature, heat transfer through conduction, forced convection and radiation.

[ES] La técnica de "Soil Nailing" es un procedimiento de refuerzo del terreno utilizado continuamente en la estabilización de taludes y cortes del terreno en proyectos de ingeniería geotécnica. Esta técnica se aplica con frecuencia en la ciudad de Quito (Ecuador) para el refuerzo del terreno, mejorando la estabilidad de los taludes, durante el proceso de excavación de varios niveles de sótanos. Estas excavaciones de gran profundidad son habituales en proyectos inmobiliarios importantes de la ciudad, en los que el "Soil Nailing" se emplea con algunas variantes que la ajusten a los recursos constructivos disponibles en el medio. Pese a lo extendido de su uso, esta técnica, que ha resultado ser efectiva para estabilizar las excavaciones durante los procesos constructivos de estructuras de sótano en los suelos de la ciudad de Quito, actualmente dispone de pocas investigaciones locales, ya sean teóricas, numéricas o experimentales, basadas en las propiedades geotécnicas de los suelos volcánicos característicos de la ciudad. Esta Tesis Doctoral que contó con el soporte del Laboratorio de Ingeniería Geotécnica y el Laboratorio de Estructuras del Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Hormigón (ICITECH) de la Universitat Politècnica de València presenta un estudio experimental y numérico del comportamiento de dos excavaciones reforzadas con la técnica de "Soil Nailing" para la construcción de las estructuras de sótano de dos importantes edificios ubicados en la zona centro-norte de la ciudad de Quito. Tanto el estudio experimental como el numérico se enfocan principalmente en la evolución de las fuerzas de tensión en las barras de acero de los "Soil Nails", el análisis de desplazamientos horizontales de las pantallas y el análisis de asentamientos en el terreno que se encuentra detrás de las pantallas y que fueron inferidos por la construcción de cada nivel de sótano. Como parte del análisis numérico a través de elementos finitos se han considerado diferentes modelos constitutivos de suelo, cuyos parámetros se determinaron detalladamente de acuerdo a los ensayos de laboratorio del estudio de caracterización geotécnica de esta investigación. Por tanto, esta Tesis Doctoral constituye una de las primeras investigaciones completas de la región encaminada a explicar el comportamiento experimental y numérico de excavaciones mediante la técnica de "Soil Nailing" y respaldada con un completo trabajo de caracterización geotécnica, llevado a cabo a propósito como parte de este estudio. / [CA] La tècnica de "Soil Nailing" és un procediment de reforç del terreny utilitzat contínuament en l'estabilització de talussos i talls del terreny en projectes d'enginyeria geotècnica. Esta tècnica s'aplica ben sovint en la ciutat de Quito (Equador) per al reforç del terreny, millorant l'estabilitat dels talussos, durant el procés d'excavació de diversos nivells de soterranis. Estes excavacions de gran profunditat són habituals en projectes immobiliaris importants de la ciutat, en els que el "Soil Nailing" s'empra amb algunes variants que l'ajusten als recursos constructius disponibles en el mig. A pesar d'allò que s'ha estés del seu ús, esta tècnica que ha resultat ser efectiva per a estabilitzar les excavacions durant els processos constructius d'estructures de soterrani en els sòls de la ciutat de Quito, actualment disposa de poques investigacions locals, ja siguen teòriques, numèriques o experimentals basades en les propietats geotècniques dels sòls volcànics característics de la ciutat. Esta Tesi Doctoral que va comptar amb el suport del Laboratori d'Enginyeria Geotècnica i el Laboratori d'Estructures de l'Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia del Formigó (ICITECH) de la Universitat Politècnica de València presenta un estudi experimental i numèric del comportament de dos excavacions reforçades amb la tècnica del "Soil Nailing" per a la construcció de les estructures de soterrani de dos importants edificis ubicats en la zona centre-nord de la ciutat de Quito. Tant l'estudi experimental com el numèric s'enfoquen principalment en l'evolució de les forces de tensió en les barres d'acer dels "Soil Nailing", l'anàlisi de desplaçaments horitzontals de les pantalles i l'anàlisi d'assentaments en el terreny que es troba darrere de les pantalles i que van ser inferits per la construcció de cada nivell de soterrani. Com a part de l'anàlisi numèrica a través d'elements finits s'han considerat diferents models constitutius de sòl, els paràmetres de la qual es van determinar detalladament d'acord amb els assajos de laboratori de l'estudi de caracterització geotècnica d'esta investigació. Per tant, esta Tesi Doctoral constituïx una de les primeres investigacions completes de la regió encaminada a explicar el comportament experimental i numèric d'excavacions per mitjà de la tècnica del "Soil Nailing" i protegida amb un complet treball de caracterització geotècnica, dut a terme a propòsit com a part d'este estudi. / [EN] The "Soil Nailing" technique is a ground reinforcement procedure used consistently to stabilize slopes and land sections in geotechnical engineering projects. This technique is frequently used in the city of Quito (Ecuador) to reinforce the ground and improve slope stability during the excavation process for various underground parking levels. Such deep excavations are common in the city's most important real estate projects, in which "Soil Nailing" is used with different variations that are adjusted in accordance with the construction resources available in the particular environment. Despite its widespread use, this technique which has proven to be so effective in stabilizing excavations during the construction of underground structures in the soils of the city of Quito, currently suffers from a lack of local theoretical, numerical or experimental research based on the geotechnical properties of the city's characteristic soils. This Doctoral Thesis was supported by the Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory and the Structures Laboratory of the Concrete Science and Technology Institute (ICITECH) of the Universitat Politècnica de València. It presents an experimental and numerical study of the behavior of two excavations reinforced with the Soil Nailing technique for the construction of the basement structures of two important buildings located in the north-central area of the city of Quito. Both the experimental and the numerical study focus mainly on the stress of tension forces exerted on the steel bars of the "Soil Nails", analysis of horizontal wall displacements and analysis of settlements of the ground behind the walls, which were induced by the construction of each underground level. As part of the numerical analysis through finite elements, different constitutive soil models were considered, the parameters of which were determined in detail in accordance with laboratory testing from the geotechnical characterization study for this research. This Doctoral Thesis, therefore, constitutes one of the first complete studies in the region aimed at explaining the experimental and numerical behavior of excavations through the Soil Nailing technique, supported by complete geotechnical characterization work which was carried out for the purpose of forming part of this study. / Capa Guachón, VE. (2021). Estudio experimental y numérico del comportamiento de excavaciones ejecutadas mediante la técnica de suelo claveteado (soil nailing) en suelos de la ciudad de Quito (Ecuador) [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/164174 / TESIS

In recent years, application of confluent jets for design of ventilation supply devices has been studied. Similarly, numerus studies have been made on the potential and application of variable air volume (VAV) in order to reduce the energy demand of ventilation systems. This study investigates the combination of supply devices based on confluent jets and VAV, both in terms of the nearfield flow behavior of the device and the impact on thermal comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency on a classroom-level space when the airflow rate is varied. The method used in this study is an experimental field study where the confluent jets-based supply devices were compared to the previously installed displacement ventilation. The field study evaluated the energy efficiency, thermal comfort and indoor air quality of the two systems. In the case of the confluent jets supply devices, airflow rate was varied in order to see what impact the variation had on the performance of the system for each airflow rate. Furthermore, the confluent jets supply devices were investigated both experimentally and numerically in a well insulated test room to get high resolution data on the particular flow characteristics for this type of supply device when the airflow rate is varied. The results from the field study show nearly uniform distribution of the local mean age of air in the occupied zone, even in the cases of relatively low airflow rates. The airflow rates have no significant effect on the degree of mixing. The thermal comfort in the classroom was increased when the airflow rate was adapted to the heat load compared to the displacement system. The results lead to the conclusion that the combination of supply devices based on confluent jets can reduce energy usage in the school while maintaining indoor air quality and increasing the thermal comfort in the occupied zone. The results from the experimental and numerical study show that the flow pattern and velocity in each nozzle is directly dependent on the total airflow rate. However, the flow pattern does not vary between the three different airflow rates. The numerical investigation shows that velocity profiles for each nozzle have the same pattern regardless of the airflow rate, but the magnitude of the velocity profile increases as the airflow increases. Thus, a supply device of this kind could be used for variable air volume and produce confluent jets for different airflow rates. The results from both studies show that the airflow rate does not affect the distribution of the airflow on both near-field and room level. The distribution of air is nearly uniform in the case of the near-field results and the room-level measurement shows a completely uniform degree of mixing and air quality in the occupied zone for each airflow rate. This means that there is potential for combining these two schemes for designing air distribution systems with high energy efficiency and high thermal comfort and indoor air quality. / Under senare tid har applikation av Confluent jets för design av tilluftsdon studerats. Många studier har även utförts över potentialen av att applicera variabelt luftflöde (VAV) för att minska energianvändningen i ventilationssystem. Denna studie undersöker möjligheten att kombinera Confluent jets-don med VAV, både med avseende på den lokala flödesbilden och dess påverkan på termisk komfort, luftkvalitet och energieffektivitet i en klassrumsmiljö där luftflödes varieras. Denna studie baseras dels på en experimentell fältstudie där tilluftsdon baserade på Confluents jets jämfördes med befintliga deplacerande tilluftsdon. Fältstudien utvärderade energieffektiviteten, den termiska komforten och luftkvaliteten för båda typerna av tillluftsdon. Confluent jets-donen testades under varierat luftflöde för att se påverkan av flödesvariationen på ventilationens prestation under de olika flödena. Utöver fältstudien testades Confluent jets-donen experimentellt och numeriskt i ett välisolerat test-rum för få den detaljerade flödeskarakteristiken för den här typen tilluftsdon vid varierat luftflöde. Resultaten från fältstudien visar på en jämn fördelning av den lokala luftsmedelåldern i vistelsezonen, även för fallen med relativt låga luftflöden. Luftflöden har ingen signifikant effekt på omblandningen. Den termiska komforten i klassrummet ökade när luftflödet anpassades efter värmelasten jämfört med de deplacerande donen. Slutsatsen från fältstudien är att kombinationen av VAV och Confluent jets-don kan användas för att minska energianvändningen på skolan och bevara luftkvaliteten och den termiska komforten i vistelsezonen. Resultaten från den experimental och numeriska studien visar luftflödet och lufthastigheten i varje enskild dysa är direkt beroende på det totala luftflödet genom donet. Dock är flödesfördelningen mellan dysorna oberoende av de tre olika luftflödena. Den numeriska undersökningen visar att flödesprofilen för varje dysa är konstant trots att flödet varieras, men amplituden för varje profil ökar med en höjning av luftflödet. Det betyder att tilluftsdon av den här typen kan användas med VAV för att producera Confluent jets för olika luftflöden. Resultaten från båda studierna visar att luftflöde inte påverkar fördelningen av luften vare sig längs luftdonen eller på rumsnivå. Fördelningen av luften är nästan helt jämn längs donen och på rumsnivå är omblandningen och luftkvalitet den samma för varje luftflöde. Det betyder att det finns potential för att kombinera det här två teknikerna för att designa luftdistribueringssystem med hög energieffektivitet och hög termisk komfort med god luftkvalitet.

<p dir="ltr">Vocabulary is a crucial element in second language learning. However, researchers in vocabulary acquisition express concerns about students’ successful acquisition of vocabulary (e.g., no significant gain after one semester of instruction (Clark & Ishida, 2005)) and the limited classroom instruction dedicated to vocabulary. In an effort to address these issues, the present study developed an online vocabulary learning system intended for use as homework, incorporating relevant theories, hypotheses, and empirical findings from existing literature and investigated its effectiveness employing a mixed-methods design.</p><p dir="ltr">For the quantitative component, students’ vocabulary gains were measured across three aspects of vocabulary knowledge (breadth/size, depth, and speed of access). A three-week experiment was conducted with students enrolled in the third-semester Japanese language course at a US Midwest institution. The final dataset included 54 students’ data. The experimental group (<i>n</i> = 28) utilized the new system to learn target words, while the control group (<i>n</i> = 26) used the current system employed in the course. The current system is also operated online and includes two types of exercises (i.e., listen-and-repeat and flashcards). ANCOVAs were employed to identify any significant differences between the groups, controlling for their pretest scores. Additionally, regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between the time the experimental group students spent learning new words using the new system and their outcomes, while also controlling for their pretest scores.</p><p dir="ltr">For the qualitative component, eight students from the same participant pool as the quantitative component participated in one-hour focus group discussions, conducted separately for the experimental and control groups.</p><p dir="ltr">The quantitative analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups; however, it was found that the time spent by the experimental group learning new words using the system significantly predicted two aspects of vocabulary knowledge. The qualitative data offered insights into potential explanations for the lack of significant differences between the groups, including the influence of students’ motivation on the experiment and the perceived difficulty level of the vocabulary exercises implemented in the new system. Based on the results of the present study, numerous suggestions are made for future development projects of similar systems and research.</p>

The need for modern transportation systems together with the high demand for sustainable pavements under applied loads have led to a great deal of research on concrete pavements worldwide. Development of finite element techniques enabled researchers to analyse the concrete pavement under a combination of axle group loadings and environmental effects. Consequently, mechanistic approaches for designing of concrete pavements were developed based on results of finite element analyses. However, unpredictable failure modes of concrete pavements associated with expensive maintenance and rehabilitation costs have led to the use of empiricalmechanistic approach in concrete pavement design. Despite progressive knowledge of concrete pavement behaviour under applied loads, concrete pavements still suffer from deterioration due to crack initiation and propagation, indicating the need for further research. Cracks can be related to fatigue of the concrete and/or erosion of materials in sub-layers. Although longitudinal, midedge and corner cracks are the most common damage modes in concrete pavements, Austroads method for concrete pavement design was developed based on traditional mid-edge bottom-up transverse cracking introduced by Packard and Tayabji (1985). Research presented in this thesis aims to address the most common fatigue related distresses in concrete pavements. It uses comprehensive finite element models and analyses to determine the structural behaviour of concrete pavements under vehicular loads and environmental effects. Results of this research are supported by laboratory tests and an experimental field test. Results of this research indicate that the induced tensile stresses within the concrete pavement are significantly affected by vehicle speed, differential temperature gradient and loss of moisture content. Subsequently, the interaction between the above mentioned factors and concrete damage modes are discussed. Typical dynamic amplifications of different axle groups are presented. A new fatigue test setup is also developed to take into consideration effects of pavement curvature on fatigue life of the concrete. Ultimately, results of the research presented in this thesis are employed to develop a new guide for designing concrete pavements with zero maintenance of fatigue damage.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] El fuego es uno de los principales riesgos que pueden afectar a las estructuras de acero. El impacto del fuego en estas estructuras es muy adverso y complejo de simular, principalmente en escenarios de fuego realistas, donde el calentamiento en los miembros de acero no es uniforme y en miembros de acero esbeltos porque fallan prematuramente por la aparición de abolladuras locales. Para predecir con exactitud la respuesta de las estructuras de acero al fuego, se han desarrollado modelos avanzados y complejos de EF con elementos de cáscara y sólidos. Sin embargo, estos modelos son costosos desde el punto de vista computacional, lo que complica la realización de análisis más complejos que requieren muchas simulaciones en poco tiempo y con bajos costes computacionales. Por lo tanto, es necesario desarrollar modelos computacionales sencillos, precisos y de bajo coste, tan fiables como los modelos de cáscara, que abran el camino más fácilmente hacia la modelización de problemas estructurales de acero más complejos en situación de incendio. En esta tesis se presentan propuestas sencillas y de bajo coste computacional para simular la respuesta mecánica de estructuras de acero en condición de incendio utilizando un elemento finito de viga de Timoshenko de Ansys. Una de las propuestas consiste en una nueva metodología para el análisis en 3D de estructuras de acero sometidas a temperaturas no uniformes por el fuego. Las otras consisten en dos estrategias de modelización para analizar el pandeo lateral torsional en miembros de acero de clase 4 a temperaturas elevadas. Las propuestas simplifican significativamente la modelización estructural y se validan satisfactoriamente con resultados numéricos y experimentales. Esto significa que problemas complejos de ingeniería de incendio, como los análisis probabilísticos y de optimización, pueden tratarse con mucha más facilidad, lo que representa un paso importante hacia la aplicación generalizada de enfoques basados en el desempeño para tratar los efectos del fuego en las estructuras de acero. / [CA] El foc és un dels principals riscos que poden afectar les estructures d'acer. L'impacte del foc en estes estructures és molt advers i complex de simular, principalment en escenaris de foc realistes, on el calfament en els membres d'acer no és uniforme i en membres d'acer esvelts perquè fallen prematurament per l'aparició d'abonyegadures locals. Per a predir amb exactitud la resposta de les estructures d'acer al foc, s'han desenvolupat models avançats i complexos d'elements finits de corfa i sòlids. No obstant això, estos models són computacionalment costosos, la qual cosa complica la realització d'anàlisi més complexos que requerixen moltes simulacions en poc de temps i amb baixos costos computacionals. Per tant, és necessari desenvolupar models computacionals senzills, precisos i de baix cost, tan fiables com els models de corfa, que òbriguen el camí més fàcilment cap a la modelització de problemes estructurals d'acer més complexos en situació d'incendi. En esta tesi es presenten propostes senzilles i de baix cost per a simular la resposta mecànica d'estructures d'acer en condició d'incendi utilitzant un element finit de biga de Timoshenko d'Ansys. Una de les propostes consistix en una nova metodologia per a l'anàlisi en 3D d'estructures d'acer sotmeses a temperatures no uniformes pel foc. Les altres consistixen en dos estratègies de modelització per a analitzar el bombament lateral torsional en membres d'acer de classe 4 a temperatures elevades. Les propostes simplifiquen significativament la modelització estructural i es validen satisfactòriament amb resultats numèrics i experimentals. Açò significa que problemes complexos d'enginyeria d'incendi, com les anàlisis probabilístiques i d'optimització, poden tractar-se amb molta més facilitat, la qual cosa representa un pas important cap a l'aplicació generalitzada d'enfocaments basats en l'exercici per a tractar els efectes del foc en les estructures d'acer. / [EN] Fire is one of the main hazards that can affect steel structures. The impact of fire on these structures is highly adverse and complex to simulate, mainly in realistic fire scenarios, where heating in steel members is non-uniform and in slender steel members because they fail prematurely by local buckling. In order to accurately predict the response of steel structures to fire, advanced and complex FE models with shell and solid elements have been developed. However, these shell models are computationally expensive, complicating the carrying out of more complex analyses that require many simulations in a short time and at low computational costs. Therefore, there is a need to develop simple, accurate, and low-cost computational models as reliable as shell-type models that open the path more easily towards modeling more complex steel structural problems in fire conditions. This thesis presents simple and low-cost proposals to simulate the mechanical response of steel structures under fire using Timoshenko's beam-type finite element available in Ansys. One of the proposals consists of a new methodology for the 3D-analysis of steel frames subjected to non-uniform temperatures by fire. The others consist of two modeling strategies for analyzing the lateral-torsional buckling in class-4 steel structural members at elevated temperatures. The proposals significantly simplify the structural modeling and satisfactorily validate numerical and experimental results. That means that complex fire engineering problems, such as probabilistic and optimization analyses, can be handled much more easily, representing a significant step toward the generalized application of performance-based approaches to deal with fire effects on steel structures. / Pallares Muñoz, MR. (2022). New Proposals for Modeling the Thermo-Mechanical Response of Steel Structures Under Fire Using Beam-Type Finite Elements [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/182768 / TESIS / Compendio

In the last 10-15 years there has been a renewed interest in amorphous Se (a-Se) and its alloys due to their application as photoconductor materials in the new fully digital direct conversion flat panel x-ray medical image detectors. For a number of reasons, the a-Se photoconductor layer in such x-ray detectors has to be operated at very high electric fields (up to 10 Volts per micron) and one of the most difficult problems related to such applications of a Se is the problem of the dark current (the current in the absence of any radiation) minimization in the photoconductor layer. <p>This PhD work has been devoted to researching the possibilities for dark current minimization in a-Se x-ray photoconductors devices through a systematic study of the charge transport (carrier mobility and carrier lifetimes) and dark currents in single and multilayered a-Se devices as a function of alloying, doping, deposition condition and other fabrication factors. The results of the studies are extensively discussed in the thesis. We have proposed a new technological method for dark current reduction in single and multilayered a-Se based photoconductor for x-ray detector applications. The new technology is based on original experimental findings which demonstrate that both hole transport and the dark currents in a-Se films are a very strong function of the substrate temperature (Tsubstrate) during the film deposition process. We have shown that the new technique reduces the dark currents to approximately the same levels as achievable with the previously existing methods for dark current reduction. However, the new method is simpler to implement, and offers some potential advantages, especially in cases when a very high image resolution (20 cycles/mm) and/or fast pixel readout (more than 30 times per second) are needed. <p>Using the new technology we have fabricated simple single and double (ni-like) photoconductor layers on prototype x-ray image detectors with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) readout circuits. Dark currents in the a-Se photoconductor layer were not a problem for detector operation at all tested electric fields. Compared to the currently available commercial systems for mammography, the prototype detectors have demonstrated an excellent imaging performance, in particular superior spatial resolution (20 cycles/mm). Thus, the newly proposed technology for dark current reduction has shown a potential for commercialization.