In a scrap based stainless steel plant the dominant process for carbon reduction is the Argon oxygen decarburisation process (AOD). The process goes through three steps: decarburisation, reduction and desulphurisation where the main challenge is to oxidise carbon to CO without oxidising the expensive chromium. The general practical approach is to inject a mixture of oxygen and an inert gas, like argon or nitrogen, through tuyeres at the converter side starting with a high amount of oxygen gas which followingly is reduced as the inert gas is increased during the decarburisation steps. This allows for a decrease in partial pressure for the CO bubbles which is thermodynamically favourable for carbon oxidation. Recent studies have shown that an aged AOD converter with a worn lining can decarburise the melt faster than a fresh vessel due to favourable thermodynamic conditions occurring since the bath height is lower in the aged converter. The studies show 8-10% savings of oxygen gas which have led to an interest to study the matter. One of two approaches are taken in the present work with the focus to develop a numerical model that simulates a downscaled AOD converter with applied inclinations that is to be validated through physical modelling. A 75-ton industrial converter was downscaled for water-air experiments where three inclination angles namely 0, 5.5 and 14° were studied with focus on mixing time and penetration length. The physical model was replicated for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling using the Euler-Euler approach in ANSYS Fluent. The models show rather good similarities when comparing gas penetration length, flow structure and mixing time however needs some complementary work and final adjustments before upscaling as well as coupling with thermodynamic modelling can be done. / Den dominerande processen för kolfärskning vid skrot baserad rostfri ståltillverkning är AOD- processen (Argon Oxygen Decarburisation). Processen går igenom tre steg, kolfärskning, reducering av krom och svavelrening där de största utmaningarna ligger i att oxidera kol utan att oxidera krom. I praktiken gör detta genom att injicera en blandning av argon och syrgas från sidan av AOD-konvertern för att sänka partial trycket av den kolmonoxid som bildas när kol oxideras. Syftet är att göra det mer termodynamiskt fördelaktigt att oxidera kol i systemet. Den injicerade blandgasen har olika förhållanden under kolfärskning med en hög andel syrgas i början som sedan sänks genom processen tills bara argon injiceras. Tidigare studier har visat att kolfärskningen är en funktion av konverterns ålder där ju äldre en konverter är desto snabbare går kolfärskning. Enligt studierna har det visats att 8-10% mindre syrgas eller användning av reducerings medel kan uppnås i en gammal konverter vilket har väckt ett intresse för vidare studier. I detta arbete har en av två metoder prövats för att undersöka om man kan applicera det som sker i en gammal konverter till en ny. En numerisk modell av en nerskalad AOD-konverter har utvecklats och validerats mot en vattenmodell då konvertern vinklas. En 75-tons konverter nerskalades till en vattenmodell där vinklarna 0, 5.5 och 14° studerades med fokus på blandningstid och penetrations djup. Vattenmodellen gjordes om till en numerisk modell som använde Euler-Euler metoden i ANSYS Fluent. Modellerna visade likheter gällande penetrationsdjup, flödes struktur och blandnings tid men kräver en del justeringar innan en uppskalning samt koppling till termodynamisk modellering kan ske.

Social responsibility and ethics have been shown to have a positive influence on consumer behavior, however the vast majority of related research has measured this relationship indirectly through scenario analysis of hypothetical firms rather than consumers' perceptions of real-world firms. This dissertation focused on a real-world application of the theory. Each hypothesis that specified a positive relationship was supported. These results show that Brand Social Responsibility Image not only positively influences Brand Loyalty, but also influences the perception of both Product Quality and Service Quality. Concurrently, it was found that both Product and Service Quality Image influenced Brand Loyalty. When controlling for the effect of other variables, some of the relationships proved to be weaker than expected. There were three hypotheses that tested the moderating effect of Inclination to Reward Brand Social Responsibility Image. The moderating influence of Inclination to Reward Brand Social Responsibility Image (RSRI) on the relationships between Brand Social Responsibility Image (BSRI) and Product Quality Image and between BSRI and Brand Loyalty were greatest for low levels of BSRI. Consumers rated Product Quality Image and Brand Loyalty lowest under conditions of L-BSRI and H-RSRI. Alternatively, when BSRI was high, both high and low treatments of RSRI resulted in similar sample means for both Product Quality Image and Brand Loyalty (i.e., minimal moderating effect). Inclination to Reward Brand Social Responsibility Image (RSRI) appeared to moderate the relationship between Brand Social Responsibility Image (BSRI) and Service Quality Image at high levels of BSRI. In other words, the perception of service quality was relatively high when both BSRI and RSRI were viewed as being high. Under conditions of H-BSRI and L-RSRI, Service Quality Image was substantially lower. Under conditions of L-BSRI, there was very little difference between L- and H-RSRI. / Ph. D.

Dense wastewater discharges into marine environments can severely impact water bodies. This study addresses the disposal of hypersaline brines from desalination plants through multiport diffusers into seas and oceans. Accurate prediction of the mixing of discharges with the receiving water bodies is crucial for the optimal design of outfall systems. Designers can enhance mixing and increase dilution by modifying outfall properties. However, the interaction of discharges from multiport diffusers poses a significant challenge, impairing the mixing process. The main aim of this study is to improve multiport diffuser designs by limiting the negative effects of jet interaction on mixing. This research applies a three-dimensional numerical model, the Launder, Reece, and Rodi (LRR) turbulence model, to evaluate the predictive capabilities of the Reynolds Stress Models (RSM) for multiple dense jets and to explore the mixing characteristics and merging process of multiple jets. To validate the model, its predictions are compared with available experimental data. The LRR model showed good agreement with the experimental measurements, and the model outperformed the standard and re-normalization group (RNG) 𝑘−𝜀 turbulence models, making it a promising tool for studying the mixing behavior of multiport diffusers. This study proposes multiport diffusers with non-uniform port orientation as a means for mitigating the negative effect of jet mering on the mixing process and increasing dilution. Using the validated numerical model and the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique, the effect of non-uniform port orientation on the mixing process is explored. The numerical results indicated that the orientation of adjacent jets significantly affected the behavior of individual jets. An individual jet exhibited a longer trajectory and higher dilution when its neighboring jets were disposed of with a different angle, compared to that of uniform discharges. Laboratory experiments on uniform and non-uniform diffusers, with varying port angles in the range of highest reported dilution rates for single discharges (40o-70o), are reported, and the major flow properties and merging processes are compared. Investigations revealed that non-uniform diffusers achieved overall higher mean dilutions due to different mixing behavior in the interaction zones. Non-uniform port orientation provided more space between the jets to expand before interacting with their neighbors, resulting in higher dilutions. This study challenges the application of formulae obtained from single discharge experiments for multiport diffuser designs and emphasizes the importance of considering source characteristics specific to multiport diffusers, such as angle difference, for efficient desalination outfall. The new data and analysis provided in this study can benefit the design of desalination discharge systems with considerable potential cost savings, especially for tunneled outfalls, due to shorter diffusers with non-uniform port orientations and environmental risk reductions.

No description available.

No description available.

Every year, about 1 million patients worldwide and 16000 patients in Sweden undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA). This surgical intervention is considered a successful, safe and cost-effective procedure to regain pain-free mobility and restore hip joint function in patients suffering from severe hip joint disease or trauma. Besides relieving the pain, restoration of biomechanical forces around the hip with appropriate femoral offset (FO), leg length and proper component position and orientation are important goals. The radiographic preoperative planning and postoperative evaluation of these parameters require good validity, interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility. It remains controversial as to how much postoperative leg length discrepancy (LLD) and FO change are acceptable. Generally, lengthening of the operated leg ≥ 10mm and FO reduction of the operated hip > 5mm should be avoided by using preoperative radiological templating and intraoperative measurement methods. There is no consensus on the association between LLD and FO and outcome after THA. The aims of this thesis were to: 1. To determine the influence of non-corrected LLD after THA on patients’ reported hip function and quality of life (QoL). 2. To study the association of global FO changes after THA with patients’ reported hip function, QoL and abductor muscle strength. 3. To evaluate the concurrent validity of the Sundsvall method of measuring postoperative global FO by comparing it to a standard method and to evaluate the interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility of measurement of postoperative global FO, LLD and acetabular cup inclination and anteversion. 4. To analyse the postoperative radiographs of THA patients with leg lengthening and FO reduction to determine whether the problem is located in the stem, cup or both. Study I: A prospective cohort study of 174 patients with unilateral osteoarthritis (OA), comparing patients with lengthening ≥ 10mm, restoration (between 9 mm lengthening and 5 mm shortening) or shortening > 5 mm of the operated leg after THA. Follow up was 12–15 months. We found that a LLD of up to 20 mm did not influence the functional outcome (WOMAC) or QoL (EQ-5D). However, the lengthening group showed less improvement in WOMAC and more use of a shoe lift. Study II: A prospective cohort study of 222 patients with unilateral hip OA, comparing patients with decreased global FO (> 5 mm reduction), restored FO (within 5 mm restoration), and increased FO (> 5 mm increment) after THA. Follow up was was 12–15 months. The unadjusted results showed that the decreased FO group had a worse WOMAC index, less abductor muscle strength, and more use of walking aids. When these results were adjusted for possible confounding factors, only global FO reduction was statistically significantly associated with reduced abductor muscle strength. The incidence of residual hip pain and analgesics use was similar in the 3 groups. Study III: A prospective cohort study of 90 patients with primary unilateral OA treated with THA. Global FO using the Sundsvall method, global FO (standard method), LLD, acetabular cup inclination and anteversion were measured on postoperative radiographs. The interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility were tested using three independent observers. We found that the Sundsvall method is as reliable as the standard method and the evaluated radiographic measurement methods have the required validity and reliability to be used in clinical practice. Study IV: A prospective cohort study of 174 patients with unilateral primary OA treated with THA. LLD and global FO were measured on postoperative radiographs. Patients with lengthening of the operated leg ≥ 10mm (n=41) and patients with reduction of global FO > 5mm (n=58) were further studied to investigate the amount of lengthening and global FO reduction that took place in the stem and in the cup compared with the contralateral side. The interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility were tested using two independent observers. We found that post-THA lengthening of the operated leg ≥ 10mm was mainly caused by improper placement of the femoral stem, whereas a decrease of global FO > 5 was caused by improper placement of both acetabular and femoral components. The radiological measurement methods used showed substantial to excellent interobserver reliability and intraobserver reproducibility and are therefore clinically useful. The main conclusions of this thesis are: LLD up to 20 mm and reduced global FO more than 5 mm did not influence the functional outcome or quality of life at 12–15 months postoperatively. Lengthening ≥ 10mm was associated with increased use of a shoe lift. A reduction of global FO more than 5 mm compared to the contralateral hip was associated with weaker hip abductor muscles and more use of walking aids. Therefore both should be avoided. The radiographic measurement methods of LLD, global FO, cup inclination and anteversion have the required validity and reliability to be used in clinical practice. Lengthening of the operated leg is mainly caused by improper femoral stem positioning while global FO reduction results from improper positioning of both acetabular and femoral components. Surgeons should be aware of these operative pitfalls in order to minimize component malpositioning. / Varje år opereras ungefär 1 miljon patienter runt om i världen och 16000 patienter i Sverige med en total höftledsprotes (THA). Operation med höftledsprotes anses vara enav de mest framgångsrika, säkra och kostnadseffektiva kirurgiska åtgärderna med syfte att för att återställa livskvalité. Målet är att smärtlindra och återställa rörligheten i dendestruerade höftleden vid artros, reumatisk destruktion eller men efter exempelvis Perthes sjukdom. Vid operation med THA är det viktigt att återställa de biomekaniskakrafterna runt höftleden med en adekvat så kallad femoral offset (FO), postoperativ benlängdsskillnad (BLS) och ett tillfredsställande komponentläge. Den preoperativaplaneringen och den postoperativa bedömning av dessa parametrar kräver god tillförlitlighet, det vill säga validitet och reproducerbarhet både mellan olika bedömareoch vid upprepade mätningar av samma bedömare. Det är fortfarande inte klarlagt hur mycket postoperativ förändring i FO och BLS som är acceptabla. I dagsläget är detacceptabelt om den postoperativa benförlängningen understiger 1 cm och förändringen i FO är under 5 mm. Det finns ingen konsensus huruvida det föreligger ett sambandmellan BLS, FO och den patientrapporterade höftfunktionen och livskvalitén efter THA. Syftet med denna avhandling var: 1. Att studera effekten av icke-korrigerad BLS efter THA på den patientrapporterade höftfunktionen och livskvalitén. 2. Att studera effekten av förändringen i FO efter THA på den patientrapporterade höftfunktion, livskvalitén och muskelstyrka i abduktion. 3. Att utvärdera validitet och reliabilitet av en så kallad global FO genom att jämföra den med den gällande standard metoden samt studera tillförlitlighet av de radiologiskamätningar av postoperativa BLS, FO, cup inklination och anteversion efter THA. 4. Att radiologiskt undersöka i vilken av komponenterna (stam eller cup) somförändringen i FO och BLS verkar vara förlagd. Studie I: En prospektiv kohortstudie med 174 patienter som behandlats med THA för en primär unilateral koxartros. Patienterna delades in i tre grupper; de som fått en BLSförlängning över 10mm, återställning (mellan 9mm förlängning och 5mm förkortning) eller förkortning >5mm av det opererande benet efter THA. Uppföljning gjordes 12-15månader postoperativt. Vi fann att BLS upp till 20mm påverkade inte höftfunktion (WOMAC) och livskvalité (EQ-5D), men den förlängda gruppen visade en mindreförbättring i WOMAC och rapporterade en mer frekvent användning av skoinlägg. Studie II: En prospektiv kohortstudie med 222 patienter som behandlats med THA för en primär unilateral koxartros. Patienterna delades in i tre grupper; de patienter medförminskad FO (> 5mm minskning), återställd FO (inom 5mm) eller ökad FO (>5mm ökning). Uppföljning genomfördes efter 1 år med WOMAC, styrkemätning av höftensabduktorer och en frågeformulär. En minskad FO var associerade med en minskad styrka i höftens abduktorer. Det var ingen skillnad mellan grupperna gällandekvarstående höftsmärta och användning av analgetika. Studie III: En prospektiv kohortstudie med 90 patienter som behandlats med THA på grund av primär unilateral koxartros. På de postoperativa röntgenbilderna uppmättesglobala FO (Sundsvalls metodologi), globala FO (standard metod), BLS, cup inklination och anteversion. Reliabilitet och reproducerbarhet bedömdes mellan treoberoende observatörer. Vi fann att global FO (enligt Sundsvalls metodologi) är lika tillförlitlig som den nuvarande standardmetoden och de utvärderade radiologiskamätmetoderna har hög validitet och reliabilitet och kan således användas i klinisk praxis. Studie IV: En prospektiv kohortstudie med 174 patienter som behandlats med en THA för en primär unilateral koxartros. På de postoperativa röntgenbilderna uppmättes BLSoch globala FO. Patienter med förlängning ≥ 10mm (n=41) och patienter med minskning av globala FO >5mm (n=58) studerades for att mäta förlängning ochglobala FO minskning som sitter i stammen eller i cup jämfört med kontralaterala sidan. Reliabilitet och reproducerbarhet bedömdes av två oberoende observatörer. Vifann att en BLS över 10mm sitter framför allt i stamkomponenten i lårbenet medan en minskning i FO över 5 mm sitter i båda stam och cup. De radiologiska mätmetodernahar hög reliabilitet och reproducerbarhet och kan således användas i klinisk praxis. De viktigaste slutsatserna i denna avhandling är: 1. BLS med en förlängning upp till 20 mm och en minskning av globala FO mer än 5 mm påverkar inte patientrapporterad höftfunktion eller livskvalitet 1 år postoperativt. 2. BLS med en förlängning mer än 9 mm var associerad med mer användning av skoinlägg. En minskad FO med mer än 5 mm jämfört med den icke opererade höftenvar associerad med en sämre muskelstyrka i abduktion och ökat användning av gånghjälpmedel. 3. De radiologiska mätmetoderna av BLS, FO, acetabulära komponentens inklination och anteversion har hög validitet och reliabilitet, vilket kan användas i klinisk praxis. 4. En förlängning av det opererade benet orsakas främst av en positioneringen av stamkomponenten i lårbenet medan förlust av FO beror på otillfredsställande placeringav både stam och den acetabulära komponenten. Kirurger bör vara medveten om dessa operativa fallgropar för att optimera det kirurgiska resultatet.

Nanofluids as an innovative class of heat transfer fluids created by dispersing nanometre-sizedmetallic or non-metallic particles in conventional heat transfer fluids displayed the potential toimprove the thermophysical properties of the heat transfer fluids. The main purpose of this study is toinvestigate the influence of the use of nanofluids on two-phase heat transfer, particularly on thethermal performance of the heat pipes. In the first stage, the properties of the nanofluids were studied,then, these nanofluids were used as the working fluids of the heat pipes. The thermal performance ofthe heat pipes when using different nanofluids was investigated under different operating conditionsexperimentally and analytically. The influences of the concentration of the nanofluids, inclinationangles and heat loads on the thermal performance and maximum heat flux of the heat pipes wereinvestigated.This study shows that the thermal performance of the heat pipes depends not only on thermophysicalproperties of the nanofluids but also on the characteristics of the wick structure through forming aporous coated layer on the heated surface. Forming the porous layer on the surface of the wick at theevaporator section increases the wettability and capillarity and also the heat transfer area at theevaporator of the heat pipes.The thermal performance of the heat pipes increases with increasing particle concentration in all cases,except for the heat pipe using 10 wt.% water/Al2O3 nanofluid. For the inclined heat pipe, irrespectiveof the type of the fluid used as the working fluid, the thermal resistance of the inclined heat pipes waslower than that of the heat pipes in a horizontal state, and the best performance was observed at theinclination angle of 60o, which is in agreement with the results reported in the literature. Otheradvantages of the use of nanofluids as the working fluids of the heat pipes which were investigated inthis study were the increase of the maximum heat flux and also the reduction of the entropy generationof the heat pipes when using a nanofluid.These findings revealed the potential for nanofluids to be used instead of conventional fluids as theworking fluid of the heat pipes, but the commercialization of the heat pipes using nanofluids for largescale industrial applications is still a challenging question, as there are many parameters related to thenanofluids which are not well understood. / <p>QC 20170228</p>

A reabilitação das fissuras labiopalatinas compreende o enxerto ósseo secundário para reparar a ruptura do rebordo alveolar. A avaliação radiográfica dos elementos dentários adjacentes à fissura alveolar é um importante recurso de diagnóstico no planejamento ortodôntico e/ou cirúrgico. A proposta desta pesquisa foi analisar, por meio de radiografia panorâmica, a inclinação e a posição do canino superior permanente (CSP) do segmento fissurado em indivíduos portadores de fissura labiopalatina unilateral completa. Utilizou-se 102 radiografias panorâmicas, sendo 52 de crianças com fissura labiopalatina unilateral completa (grupo de estudo) e 50 de crianças não-fissuradas (grupo controle), na faixa etária de 9 a 11 anos. Após os traçados anatômicos de interesse, mensurou-se o ângulo formado pelo longo eixo do CSP, em relação ao plano bi-orbital, nos segmentos fissurado e não-fissurado, do grupo de estudo, e nos lados direito e esquerdo, do grupo controle. A posição do CSP do segmento fissurado foi considerada mesial ou distal na dependência da projeção de sua junção amelocementária mesial em relação a um ponto prédeterminado na fissura alveolar. Os resultados mostraram que os caninos dos segmentos fissurados apresentaram valor médio de angulação menor (69,20°) do que o dos caninos dos segmentos sem fissura (79,21°) e, estes, por sua vez, não mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significantes em relação aos caninos do grupo controle (78,61°). Observou-se que a posição, mesial ou distal, do CSP do segmento fissurado esteve associada, respectivamente, com a ausência ou presença de um elemento dentário, localizado mesialmente ao canino. O CSP do segmento fissurado, quando em posição mesial, apresentou valor médio de angulação significativamente menor (65,21°) que os caninos em posição distal (77,41°). Este trabalho permitiu concluir que o CSP do segmento fissurado apresenta: inclinação mais horizontal que o seu contralateral, sendo que este se mostra dentro dos padrões da população geral; posição distal associada à presença do incisivo lateral permanente ou supranumerário e à inclinação mais vertical. / The clefts lip and palate rehabilitation involves the secondary bone grafting procedure that aims to provide bony continuity in the alveolar process of maxilla. The radiographic evaluation of the teeth adjacent to the cleft site is an important diagnostic resource for the orthodontic and/or surgical planning. The purpose of this study was to analyze the permanent maxillary canine position and inclination, on the cleft side, in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate, employing panoramic radiographs. An hundred and two radiographs were used, in which fiftytwo were of patients with cleft lip and palate (study group) and fifty were of noncleft patients (control group); both groups were between 9 to 11 years of age. After the anatomic draws, the angle formed by the canine long axis, relative to the bi-orbital plane, in the cleft and noncleft sides, in the study group, and in the right and left sides, in the control group, was measured. The canine position, adjacent to the alveolar defect, was considered mesial or distal according to the canine mesial cement-enamel junction projection relative to a predetermined point at the cleft. The results showed that the cleft side canines presented mean angulation value lower (69,20°) than the noncleft side canines (79,21°), and these didnt show statistically differences in relation to the control group canines (78,61°). It was observed that the mesial or distal canine position was associated, respectively, with an absence or presence of the neighboring permanent tooth, mesial to the canine, in the cleft side. The cleft side canines, when in mesial position, showed mean angulation value significantly lower (65,21°) than the distal located canines (77,41°). This study allowed us to conclude that the cleft side canine present: more horizontal inclination than your contralateral, which fits in the general population pattern; distal position associated with the presence of a permanent lateral incisive or a supernumerary tooth in the cleft side and the association of a more vertical inclination and distal position.

調查研究被廣泛的使用於現今社會，而研究中出現頻繁的「無反應」問題卻常為研究者帶來統計分析過程中的困擾，基於預防重於治療的前提下，「無反應」因素的探究有其必要性。本研究的目的即在現有的理論基礎上，針對「敏感性」問題於「無反應」（收入及投票意向問題）中的情況，應用卡方檢定與logit模型驗証其於本研究的適切性，並進一步建立新的「無反應」問題解釋模型，以幫助我們瞭解此種「無反應」問題在現有台灣調查研究中可能存在的因素，進而減低對研究結果的影響。 影響「無反應」因素的驗證部份，大致上與過去相關的研究結果相同，只有少數的變項有所差異。另外，在模型配適的解釋部份，收入的研究結果中會影響收入「無反應」的因素有：受訪者年齡、受訪者職業、訪員性別、訪員經驗以及調查問題型式。投票意向的研究結果顯示，影響投票意向「無反應」的因素有：受訪者的性別、省籍、政治參與度、對統獨立場的看法、對族群認同的看法、受訪者的性別與對統獨立場看法的交互作用以及受訪者的省籍對族群認同看法的交互作用。本研究的研究結果主要適用於敏感性問題中影響收入與投票意向問題之「無反應」因素情況。 / Investigative process is widely used in our society today. However, statistical analysts are often bothered by the frequent occurrence of the nonresponse problem. Hence, it is important to investigate the cause of the nonresponse situation. The purpose of this research is to create a new model to explain the nonresponse problem in certain sensitive situations. There are two types of questions of sensitive nature; namely, income level and voting inclination, that lead to the nonresponse. We have explored two methodologies, Chi-square test and Logit model, for their applicability to the study. The study will help us to understand what are the factors influencing the nonresponse for investigative process conducted in Taiwan. These findings may be used to reduce the impact of the nonresponse in regards to how we can interpret the results. In terms of verifying influential factors of the nonresponse, there are only a few different outcomes in comparison with previous research results. To find factors in regard to income level, the following five elements are identified: the age of the interviewee, the occupation of the interviewee, the gender of the interviewer, the experience of the interviewer, and styles of the questionnaire. As for the voting inclination, we found the following factors: interviewee's gender, birth origin, degree of political participation, viewpoint toward the issue of unification/independence, and opinion of ethnic identity; interaction between interviewee's gender and his/her viewpoint toward the issue of unification/independence, and interaction between interviewee's birth origin and opinion of ethnic identity. The main application of this study is to identify the various factors causing nonresponse phenomenon in reaction to sensitive questions of income level and voting inclination during an investigative process.

The search for new solutions for the generation of energy is becoming more and more important for our future. Big arguments and disagreements on e.g. the questions of gas transport or the dependence on energy supplied by other countries raise demands on the development of new forms of alternative energy resources. Wave power is one of the main sources of renewable energy due to the high power density stored in ocean waves. Nevertheless, the dynamic forces of waves are so large that serious questions popped up on how to design a system which could work even in an unfavourable wave climate or could at least retain working capabilities after big storms without significant damages. This thesis studies the reliability of the mechanical parts of a linear direct driven permanent magnet generator. The results of offshore experiment where strain gauge sensors instrumented on the capsule and the inner framework structure are presented. Stress estimation analyses using strain gauges are carried out. A method for measuring forces and moments in the mechanical structure of the WEC is developed. Evaluation of the lateral force acting on the outer structure is a key factor for the design and construction of the WEC. A method for the measurement of the lateral force acting on the capsule has been developed. A study of the inclination angle between the Wave Energy Converter and the floating buoy has been carried out. The aim of this work is to contribute to the development of wave energy conversion system, and especially to the estimation of structural loads which are important for the survivability of the system under hard sea states. This work is a step that may influence future design of wave energy devices in terms of material aspect, survivability in a hard wave climate and cost-effective renewable energies.