Rapporten handlar om lutens kretslopp på Södra Cell Värö, dess betydelse för pappersmassaproduktionen samt riskerna som finns vid användning av lut. Lut används när pappersmassa framställs på Södra Cell Värö (sulfatprocess). Kokeriet kokar träflis, tunnlut (svartlut) och vitlut. Luten tillsätts för att lösa upp ligninet i träfibrerna. Lignin är som ett lim som håller ihop träfibrerna. Lutvätskan som lämnar kokeriet kallas för tunnlut och indunstningen torkar tunnluten i flera steg. När luten har torkats kallas den för brännlut (tjocklut) och förbränns i sodapannan. Smältan från sodapannan blandas med svaglut och bildar grönlut. I grönluten tillsätts bränd kalk och bildar kalkmjölk. Ur kalkmjölken separeras vitlut och mesa. Vitluten återinförs till kokeriet och kretsloppet fortsätter. Luten har stor betydelse för produktionen av pappersmassa på Södra Cell Värö. Om någon del i lutkretsloppet inte fungerar tvingas hela fabriken att stanna. Användning av lut är inte riskfritt. Lut är ett frätande ämne och det räcker med små kvantiteter för att orsaka stor skada. Därför är det viktigt att rätt skyddsutrustning används och respekt visas. Om Södra Cell Värö inte skulle använda lut skulle tillverkningsprocessen se annorlunda ut. Mekanisk process eller sulfitprocess skulle användas istället. Fördelarna med att använda lut är att kvalitén på pappersmassan blir bättre. Därför får pappersmassan ett större användningsområde. Nackdelarna med att använda lut är dels risken för olyckor, dels att vedutbytet endast är 50 %. Syftet med rapporten är att ge läsaren lärdom om hur lutens kretslopp fungerar och lutens betydelse på ett massabruk som Södra Cell Värö samt informera om vilka risker det finns vid arbete med lut.

Tillverkning av papper och pappersmassa är en energikrävande process och industrin står för över 51 % av energiförbrukningen inom Sveriges industrisektor. Vid tillverkningen av kemisk pappersmassa används sulfatprocessen och då tillsätts lut i kokeriet som därefter kan återbildas i brukets lutcykel. I lutcykeln förvaras lut i cisterner och från dessa sker avdunstningsförluster. Syftet med examensarbetet var att lokalisera de största avdunstningsförlusterna i lutcykeln i kausticeringsprocessen på Södra Cells pappersmassabruk i Mönsterås. Dessutom gavs förslag på hur energiförlusterna kan minskas och hur den sparade energin kan nyttjas. Mätningar på avdunstningsförlusterna genomfördes för att kunna beräkna energiförlusterna. Dessutom togs cisterntemperaturer och lutflöden fram från Södras loggningssystem. De beräknade energiförlusterna var störst i kalkmjölkcisternen på 1,58 MW och vitlutscistern 1 på 0,97 MW. Den totala energiförlusten genom avdunstning från cisternerna i kausticeringsprocessen beräknades till 6,01 MW. Lösningar som undersökts för att minska energiförlusterna har varit att installera en ”breather valve”, nyttja ångorna i en Organic Rankine Cycle eller använda dem för att producera fjärrvärme. Det har även studerats vart den sparade energin kan användas i det undersökta massabruket.

De nombreuses études montrent que les transferts de contrainte co- et postsismiques jouent un rôle majeur dans l’occurrence des séquences de séismes. Cependant, la grande majorité de ces études implique des systèmes de failles à la configuration géométrique simple (e.g. failles parallèles ou colinéaires). Dans cette thèse, nous étudions une séquence de séismes s’étant produite au sein d’un système de failles à la configuration géométrique plus complexe (i.e. failles conjuguées), la séquence du NE Lut (1939-1997, NE Iran), afin d’évaluer (1) si les transferts de contrainte favorisent la succession de séismes de la séquence et (2) s’ils permettent sur le long-terme de synchroniser les ruptures des failles du système. Pour cela, nous mesurons d’abord les déformations de surface produites par la séquence afin de mieux contraindre par la suite la modélisation des transferts de contrainte. A partir de la technique de corrélation subpixel d'images optiques, nous mesurons les champs de déplacements de surface horizontaux produits par les séismes de Khuli-Boniabad (Mw 7.1, 1979) et de Zirkuh (Mw 7.2, 1997). Nous montrons que ces séismes sont caractérisés par la rupture de plusieurs segments dont les limites sont corrélées avec les complexités géométriques des failles. Nous interprétons les différences de leurs caractéristiques de rupture (longueur de rupture, glissement moyen, nombre de segments rompus) comme étant dues à des différences de maturité des failles de Dasht-e-Bayaz et d’Abiz. Nous détectons également les déplacements produits par un séisme historique modéré, le séisme de Korizan (Mw 6.6, 1979). C’est la première fois que les déplacements produits par un séisme historique de si petite taille sont mesurés par corrélation d’images optiques. Ensuite, en combinant le champ de déplacements InSAR déjà publié avec les données optiques proche-faille précédemment acquises, nous estimons un nouveau modèle de source pour le séisme de Zirkuh (Mw 7.2, 1997). Nous montrons que les données proche-faille sont essentielles pour mieux contraindre la géométrie de la rupture et la distribution du glissement en profondeur. Le modèle estimé montre que le séisme de Zirkuh a rompu trois aspérités séparées par des barrières géométriques où les répliques du séisme se localisent. Seul le segment central de la faille présente un déficit de glissement en surface que nous interprétons comme étant dû à de la déformation distribuée dans des dépôts quaternaires non consolidés. Enfin, à partir des informations précédemment acquises, nous modélisons les transferts de contrainte au cours de la séquence du NE Lut. Nous montrons que ceux-ci ont favorisé l’occurrence de 7 des 11 séismes de la séquence et que modéliser précisément la géométrie des ruptures est essentiel à une estimation robuste des transferts de contrainte. De plus, nous montrons que l’occurrence du séisme de Zirkuh (Mw 7.2, 1992) est principalement favorisée par les séismes modérés de la séquence. Pour finir, la simulation d’une multitude de cycles sismiques sur les failles du NE Lut montre que les transferts de contrainte, en particulier les transferts postsismiques liés à la relaxation viscoélastique de la lithosphère, sont le principal processus permettant la mise en place répétée de séquences de séismes sur les failles du NE Lut. Enfin, d'après les simulations réalisées, l'ordre dans lequel se sont produits les séismes majeurs durant la séquence du NE Lut est assez exceptionnel. / Many studies show that static and postseismic stress transfers play an important role in the occurrence of seismic sequences. However, a large majority of these studies involves seismic sequences that occurred within fault systems having simple geometric configurations (e.g. collinear or parallel fault system). In this thesis, we study a seismic sequence that occurred within a complex fault system (i.e. conjugate fault system), the NE Lut seismic sequence (1939-1997, NE Iran), in order to assess if (1) stress transfers can explain the succession of earthquakes in the sequence and (2) stress transfers can lead to the synchronization of the NE Lut faults over multiple seismic cycles. To this end, we first measure the surface displacement field produced by the sequence in order to precisely constrain the stress transfer modeling afterwards. We use optical correlation technique to measure the surface displacement fields of the Khuli-Boniabad (Mw 7.1, 1979) and Zirkuh earthquake (Mw 7.2, 1997). We find that these earthquakes broke several segments limited by geometrical complexities of the faults. We interpret the differences in failure style of these earthquakes (i.e. rupture length, mean slip and number of broken segments) as being due to different level of structural maturity of the Dasht-e-Bayaz and Abiz faults. Furthermore, we succeed to detect offsets produced by the 1979 Mw 6.6 Korizan earthquake. It is the first time that surface displacements for such a small historical earthquake have been measured using optical correlation. Then, combining previously published intermediate-field InSAR data and our near-field optical data, we estimate a new source model for the Zirkuh earthquake (Mw 7.2, 1997). We show that near-field data are crucial to better constrain the fault geometry and the slip distribution at depth. According to our source model, the Zirkuh earthquake broke three asperities separated by geometrical barriers where aftershocks are located. No shallow slip deficit is found for the overall rupture except on the central segment where it could be due to off-fault deformation in quaternary deposits. Finally, we use the information acquired in the first parts of this work to model the stress transfers within the NE Lut sequence. We find that 7 out of 11 earthquakes are triggered by the previous ones and that the precise modeling of the rupture geometry is crucial to robustly estimate the stress transfers. We also show that the Zirkuh earthquake is mainly triggered by the moderate earthquakes of the NE Lut sequence. Lastly, the simulation of multiple seismic cycles on the NE Lut fault system shows that stress transfers, in particular postseismic stress transfers due to viscoelastic relaxation, enhance the number of seismic sequences and synchronize the rupture of the faults. The simulations also show that the order in which the Mw>7 earthquakes occurred during the NE Lut sequence is quite exceptional.

La convergence entre l'Arabie et l'Eurasie est accommodée à l'intérieur du territoire iranien. Nous présentons des champs de vitesse GPS denses couvrant une grande partie de l'Iran (Zagros, block de Lut et Kopeh Dagh) avec des précisions meilleures que 2 mm/an.<br />Dans le Zagros, la convergence est accommodée par du partitionnement dans la partie nord. 2-4 mm/an de décrochement dextre sur la MRF sont transférés sur les failles de Dena, Kazerun et Kareh Bas dans le système de failles de Kazerun, se déplaçant à 3-4 mm/an chacune. Dans le Zagros Central, 8 mm/an de raccourcissement sont concentrés près du Golf Persique, contrastant avec une sismicité plus distribuée et indiquant un découplage de la déformation superficielle du socle.<br />A l'est de l'Iran, entre le block central Iranien et le block de Hellmand, 14 mm/an de cisaillement dextre orienté NS sont observés au travers du block de Lut, avec 6.5 mm/an absorbés à l'ouest (failles de Bam, Gowk et Sabzevaran) et 7.5 mm/an à l'est (zone de suture de Sistan). Des failles majeures senestres orientées EW au nord du block de Lut accommodent une partie du cisaillement (Dasht-e-Bayaz 1.5 mm/an, Doruneh 2.5 mm/an). Au sud de la chaîne du Kopeh Dagh 8 mm/an de cisaillement persistent, dont 3.5 et 2.5 mm/an sont absorbés par du raccourcissement NS dans le Binalud et l'est Kopeh Dagh, 5 mm/an par du décrochement dextre au travers le système de failles de Quchan, et 5-8 mm/an par l'expulsion du basin Sud Caspien vers l'ouest.<br />La comparaison des taux de glissement actuels avec des taux géologiques court et long terme montre une évolution complexe des activités des failles même dans le contexte de collision continental récente de l'Iran.

This thesis presents a semi-automatic method to analyze morphometric features and landscape elements based on Self Organizing Map (SOM) as an unsupervised Artificial Neural Network algorithm in two completely different environments: 1) the Man and Biosphere Reserve “Eastern Carpathians” (Central Europe) as a complex mountainous humid area and 2) Lut Desert, Iran, a hyper arid region characterized by repetition of wind-eroded features. In 2003, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released the SRTM/ SIR-C band data with 3 arc seconds (approx. 90 m resolution) grid for approximately 80 % of Earth’s land surface. The X-band SRTM data were processed with a 1 arc second (approx. 30 m resolution) grid by the German space agency, DLR and the Italian space agency ASI, but due to the smaller X-SAR ground swath, large areas are not covered. The latest version 3.0 SRTM/C DEM and SRTM/X band DEM were re-projected to 90 and 30 m UTM grid and used to generate morphometric parameters of first order (slope) and second order (cross-sectional curvature, maximum curvatures and minimum curvature) by using a bivariate quadratic surface. The morphometric parameters are then used in a SOM to identify morphometric features (or landform elements) e.g. planar, channel, ridge in mountainous areas or yardangs (ridge) and corridors (valley) in hyper-arid areas. Geomorphic phenomena and features are scale-dependent and the characteristics of features vary when measured over different spatial extents or different spatial resolution. Morphometric parameters were derived for nine window sizes of the 90 m DEM ranging from 5 × 5 to 55 ×55. Analysis of the SOM output represents landform entities with ground areas from 450 m to 4950 m that is local to regional scale features. Effect of two SRTM resolutions, C and X bands is studied on morphometric feature identification. The difference change analysis revealed the quantity of resolution dependency of morphometric features. Increasing the DEM spatial resolution from 90 to 30 m (corresponding to X band) by interpolation resulted in a significant improvement of terrain derivatives and morphometric feature identification. Integration of morphometric parameters with climate data (e.g. Sum of active temperature above 10 ° C) in SOM resulted in delineation of morphologically homogenous discrete geo-ecological units. These units were reclassified to produce a Potential Natural Vegetation map. Finally, we combined morphometric parameters and remotely sensed spectral data from Landsat ETM+ to identify and characterize landscape elements. The single integrated data set of geo-ecosystems shows the spatial distribution of geomorphic, climatic and biotic/cultural properties in the Eastern Carpathians. The results demonstrate that a SOM is a very efficient tool to analyze geo-morphometric features under diverse environmental conditions and at different scales and resolution. Finer resolution and decreasing window size reveals information that is more detailed while increasing window size and coarser resolution emphasizes more regional patterns. It was also successfully applied to integrate climatic, morphometric parameters and Landsat ETM+ data for landscape analysis. Despite the stochastic nature of SOM, the results are not sensitive to randomization of initial weight vectors if many iterations are used. This procedure is reproducible with consistent results. / Avhandlingen presenterar en halvautomatisk metod för att analysera morfometriska kännetecken och landskapselement som bygger på Self Organizing Map (SOM), en oövervakad Artificiell Neural Nätverk algoritm, i två helt skilda miljöer: 1) Man and Biosphere Reserve "Eastern Carpathians" (Centraleuropa) som är ett komplext, bergigt och humid område och 2) Lut öken, Iran, en extrem torr region som kännetecknas av återkommande vinderoderade objekt. Basen för undersökningen är det C-band SRTM digital höjd modell (DEM) med 3 bågsekunder rutnät som National Aeronautics and Space Administration släppte 2003 för ungefär 80 % av jordens yta. Dessutom används i ett mindre område X-band SRTM DEM med 1 bågsekund rutnät av den tyska rymdagenturen DLR. DEM transformerades till 90 och 30 m UTM nätet och därav genererades morfometriska parametrar av första (lutning) och andra ordning (tvärsnittböjning, största och minsta böjning). De morfometriska parametrar används sedan i en SOM för att identifiera morfometriska objekt (eller landform element) t.ex. plan yta, kanal, kam i bergsområden eller yardangs (kam) och korridorer (dalgångar) i extrem torra områden. Geomorfiska fenomen och objekt är skalberoende och kännetecken varierar med geografiska områden och upplösning. Morfometriska parametrar har härletts från 90 m DEM för nio fönsterstorlekar från 5 × 5 till 55 × 55. Resultaten representerar landform enheter för områden från 450 m till 4950 m på marken dvs. lokal till regional skala. Inflytande av två SRTM upplösningar i C och X-banden har studerats för identifikation av morfometriska objekt. Förändringsanalys visade storleken av upplösningsberoende av morfometriska objekt. Ökning av DEM upplösningen från 90 till 30 m (motsvarande X-bandet) genom interpolation resulterade i en betydande förbättring av terräng parametrar och identifiering av morfometriska objekt. Integration av morfometriska parametrar med klimatdata (t.ex. summan av aktiv temperatur över 10° C) i SOM resulterade i avgränsningen av homogena geoekologiska enheter. Dessa enheter ha används för att producera en karta av potentiell naturlig vegetation. Slutligen har vi kombinerat morfometriska parametrar och multispektrala fjärranalysdata från Landsat ETM för att identifiera och karaktärisera landskapselement. Dessa integrerade ekosystem data visar den geografiska fördelningen av morfometriska, klimatologiska och biotiska/kulturella egenskaper i östra Karpaterna. Resultaten visar att SOM är ett mycket effektivt verktyg för att analysera geomorfometriska egenskaper under skilda miljöförhållanden, i olika skalor och upplösningar. Finare upplösning och minskad fönsterstorlek visar information som är mer detaljerad. Ökad fönsterstorlek och grövre upplösning betonar mer regionala mönster. Det var också mycket framgångsrikt att integrera klimatiska och morfometriska parametrar med Landsat ETM data för landskapsanalys. Trots den stokastiska natur av SOM, är resultaten inte känsliga för slumpvisa värden i de ursprungliga viktvektorerna när många iterationer används. Detta förfarande är reproducerbart med bestående resultat. / QC 20100924

Le convertisseur analogique-numérique (ADC), fait fonction d’interface entre les domaines de représentation analogique et numérique des systèmes mixtes de traitement du signal.Il est un élément central en cela que ses performances circonscrivent celles des traitements numériques qui lui succèdent et a fortiori celles de son dispositif hôte. C’est notamment le casdes récepteurs radioélectriques numériques à large bande instantanée. De fait, ces systèmes voient leurs performances de dynamiques instantanées monotonale (DTDR) et bitonale (STDR)– i.e. leur capacité à traiter simultanément des composantes de faible puissance en présence d’une ou plusieurs autres composantes de plus forte puissance – limitées par la linéarité de leur ADC.Ce dernier caractère est quantifié par les performances de dynamique sans raies parasites (SFDR)et distorsion d’intermodulation (IMD) d’un ADC.Les critères de DTDR et de STDR sont essentiels pour les récepteurs radios numériques de guerre électronique conçus pour le traitement des signaux de radiocommunications. En effet, ces dispositifs sont employés à l’établissement de la situation tactique de l’environnement électromagnétique à des fins de support de manoeuvres militaires. La fidélité de la représentation numérique du signal analogique reçu est donc critique. Ainsi, cette thèse vise à étudier la linéarisation des ADC, i.e. l’augmentation des SFDR et IMD, en vue de l’amélioration des dynamiques instantanées de ces récepteurs.Dans ce manuscrit, nous traitons cette problématique selon deux axes différents. Le premier consiste à corriger les distorsions introduites par un ADC au moyen de tables de correspondances(LUT) pré-remplies. À cette fin, nous proposons un algorithme de remplissage de LUT procédant d’une méthode de la littérature par la réduction de moitié du nombre de coefficients à déterminer pour estimer la non-linéarité intégrale (INL) d’un ADC. Sur la base de cette nouvelle méthode,nous développons une approche de correction des non-linéarités dynamiques introduites par un ADC reposant sur une paire de LUT statiques et présentons un exemple d’algorithme permettant de l’opérer. Le second axe du manuscrit repose sur la modélisation comportementale de l’ADC par les séries de Volterra à temps discrets et leurs dérivés. En premier lieu, nous considérons les trois problématiques fondamentales de cette approche de linéarisation : la modélisation ;l’identification de modèle ; et l’inversion de modèle. Puis, nous définissons trois solutions de linéarisation d’ADC aveugles. Enfin, nous analysons l’implémentation sur circuits à réseaux logiques programmables (FPGA) de l’un de ces algorithmes afin d’évaluer la pertinence d’uneopération en temps-réel des échantillons de sortie d’un ADC échantillonnant à une fréquence d’environ 400 MHz. / The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a central component of mixed signal systems as the interface between the analog and digital representation spaces. Its performance bounds that of the device it is integrated in. Indeed, ADC linearity is essential for maintaining in the digital space the reliability of its input signal and then that of the information it carries.Wideband digital radio receivers are particularly sensitive to ADC non-linearities. Single-tone and dual-tone dynamic range (respectively STDR and DTDR) of such systems – i.e. the abilityto process simultaneously signal components with high power ratio – are limited by the spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) and intermodulation distortion (IMD) of their internal ADC.DTDR et de STDR are key metrics for electronic warfare wideband digital radio receivers developed for radiocommunication signal processing. As a matter of fact, these equipments are employed for analyzing the tactical situation of the radiofrequency spectrum in order to support military maneuvers. Hence, signal integrity is critical. This thesis deals with the ADC linearization issue in this context. Thus, it aims to study techniques for increasing ADC SFDRand IMD for the purpose of improving dynamic ranges of electronic warfare wideband digitalr eceivers.In this dissertation, the problematic of ADC linearization is approached in two different ways.On the one hand, we consider distortion compensation using pre-filled look-up tables (LUT). Wepropose an algorithm for filling LUTs that stems from an existing method by halving the numberof coefficients required for the integral non-linearity (INL) estimation. Then, based on this new method, we develop an approach for correcting ADC dynamic non-linearities using a couple ofstatic LUTs and we present an example of algorithm for operating this method. On the other hand,we study linearization solutions that rely on behavioural modelling of ADCs using discrete-time Volterra series and its derivatives. First, we address the three fundamental issues of this approach:modelling ; model identification ; and model inversion. Then, we propose three blind linearization algorithms. Finally, we consider the implementation on field programmable gate array (FPGA) of one of them for the purpose of evaluating the relevance of real-time linearization of an ADC sampling at about 400 MHz.

Ferroelectric field-effect transistors (FeFET) based on hafnium oxide offer great opportunities for Logic-in-Memory applications, due to their natural ability to combine logic (transistor) and memory (ferroelectric material), their low-power operation, and CMOS compatible integration. Besides aggressive scaling, dense integration of FeFETs is necessary to make electronic circuits more area-efficient. This paper investigates the impact of ultra-dense co-integration of a FeFET and an n-type selector FET, sharing the same active area, arranged in a 2TNOR memory array. The examined FeFETs exhibit a very similar switching behavior as FeFETs arranged in a standard AND-type array, indicating that the ultra-dense co-integration does not degrade the FeFET performance, and thus, paves the path to a very fine-grained, ultra-dense Logic-in-Memory implementation. Based on this densely integrated 2TNOR array we propose a very compact design of a 4-to-1 multiplexer with a build-in look-up table, thus directly merging logic and memory.

Lubricated friction issues are central to all hydraulic actuation systems undergoing motion and any in-depth understanding of the nature of lubricated friction will advance future component design. The classic friction models of hydraulic actuation systems under steady state conditions and their dependency on velocity and temperature have been studied extensively over the past years. A model which is commonly employed to represent the characteristics of friction is that of Stribeck in which the dependency of the friction force is based on velocity alone. However, experimentally, it has been found that lubricated friction is dependent on acceleration. Thus, the Stribeck model can be considered as a subset of a dynamic friction model in which acceleration is zero. Thus, it can be concluded that the Stribeck model is best applied to cases when the change rate of the velocities is very small. This thesis considers the dependency of lubricated friction on acceleration when pressure and temperature changes are relatively constant. As such, the basic hypothesis for this study was proposed as follows: “Lubricated friction in hydraulic actuation systems is not only a function of velocity, but is also a function of both velocity and acceleration”. In this thesis several terms are defined which facilitate the description under which friction models are developed. For example, the term non-steady state friction is used to account for the effect of acceleration on lubricated friction force while in motion. Further, the lubricated friction models are divided into two groups: steady state friction models and non-steady state friction models. Nonlinear friction modeling and measuring methods are reviewed in this dissertation. This review also includes nonlinear lubricated friction modeling in hydraulic actuation systems. A conclusion from this review was that limited research has been done in documenting and explicitly demonstrating the role of acceleration on lubricated friction. The research first introduced a methodology to experimentally measure friction as a function of acceleration and to demonstrate this dependency in the form of a three dimensional graph. A novel technique to experimentally obtain data for the lubricated friction model was introduced. This allowed the lubricated friction forces to be measured as a function of velocity in a continuous manner, but with acceleration being held constant as a family parameter. Two different valve controlled hydraulic actuation systems (VCHAS) were studied under a wide variety of accelerations at constant temperature and pressure. To enable repeatable data collection for the different friction conditions and to accommodate for the effect of hysteresis, a periodic parabolic displacement waveform was chosen which enabled the acceleration to be a family parameter. The second phase of the research introduced a method of representing the data (lubricated friction model) in a lookup table form. The relationship of lubricated friction (in this work, pressure differential, ΔP across the actuator) as a function of velocity and acceleration was presented in a unique semi-empirical 2D lookup table (2D LUT). Limitations of this experimental approach were identified, but the dependency on acceleration was clearly established. The last phase of the study implemented this 2D LUT model into a practical software model of an actuator and demonstrated its accuracy when compared to its experimental counterpart. The semi-empirical model (2D LUT) was experimentally verified by implementing the semi-empirical and Stribeck models into a real time simulation of an actuator and by comparing the experimental outputs against simulated outputs for a common sinusoidal input. A sinusoidal actuator displacement input was chosen to test the simulations as it was not used in the collection of the original data. The output of the simulation was compared to the experimental results and it was evident that for the range in which data could be collected in developing the model, the proposed 2D LUT model predicted an output that was superior to a model which used a standard Stribeck model. It was concluded that the semi-empirical model could be integrated into a simulation environment and predict outputs in a superior fashion when compared to the Stribeck friction model. Thus it was concluded that the stated hypothesis is consistent with the experimental evidence shown by all hydraulic actuators considered. Further, it was also observed that the traditional Stribeck form (steady state dynamic friction) does change with increasing acceleration to the point that the standard breakaway friction almost disappears. It is evident that the 2D LUT is a viable tool for modeling the non-steady state friction of hydraulic actuation systems. The semi-empirical 2D LUT model so developed is a more global representation of hydraulic actuator lubricated friction. In this research, only linear hydraulic actuators were considered; however, the novel nonlinear semi-empirical 2D LUT lubricated friction model can be applied to any actuator (linear and rotary) and provides a new way in which the dynamic friction can be viewed and modeled.

The first part of this project is focused on theoretical analysis of methods for rendering volume data. Both methods are analyzed showing the volume data using triangle mesh, and methods for direct volume rendering. Ray Casting is presented in detail. Possible way of its realization using graphics card is the subject of implementation part. The paper presents several methods that could be applied to ray casting and achieve different results of visualization of the same data. The work also aims to create a  graphical user interface that allows interactive visualizations.

This thesis contains design of beamforming network designed for passive radar antennas. The first part contains theory of passive radars and beamforming networks. The next part implies design of beamforming network at the block digram level. Then are choosed circuits for amplitude and phase control, including the design of control communication. It follows by realization of IQ phase shifter and his automatic measurement. Based on this results is phase shifter adjusted and PCB of 2x2 beamforming network is designed. Last part includes design of control application (Matlab) and control program for STM32F407VG microcontroller.