The work described was carried out as part of a collaborative Alvey software engineering project (project number SE057). The project collaborators were the Inter-Disciplinary Higher Degrees Scheme of the University of Aston in Birmingham, BIS Applied Systems Ltd. (BIS) and the British Steel Corporation. The aim of the project was to investigate the potential application of knowledge-based systems (KBSs) to the design of commercial data processing (DP) systems. The work was primarily concerned with BIS's Structured Systems Design (SSD) methodology for DP systems development and how users of this methodology could be supported using KBS tools. The problems encountered by users of SSD are discussed and potential forms of computer-based support for inexpert designers are identified. The architecture for a support environment for SSD is proposed based on the integration of KBS and non-KBS tools for individual design tasks within SSD - The Intellipse system. The Intellipse system has two modes of operation - Advisor and Designer. The design, implementation and user-evaluation of Advisor are discussed. The results of a Designer feasibility study, the aim of which was to analyse major design tasks in SSD to assess their suitability for KBS support, are reported. The potential role of KBS tools in the domain of database design is discussed. The project involved extensive knowledge engineering sessions with expert DP systems designers. Some practical lessons in relation to KBS development are derived from this experience. The nature of the expertise possessed by expert designers is discussed. The need for operational KBSs to be built to the same standards as other commercial and industrial software is identified. A comparison between current KBS and conventional DP systems development is made. On the basis of this analysis, a structured development method for KBSs in proposed - the POLITE model. Some initial results of applying this method to KBS development are discussed. Several areas for further research and development are identified.

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This investigation is in two parts, theory and experimental verification. (1) Theoretical Study In this study it is, for obvious reasons, necessary to analyse the concept of formability first. For the purpose of the present investigation it is sufficient to define the four aspects of formability as follows: (a) the formability of the material at a critical section, (b) the formability of the material in general, (c) process efficiency, (d) proportional increase in surface area. A method of quantitative assessment is proposed for each of the four aspects of formability. The theoretical study also includes the distinction between coaxial and non-coaxial strains which occur, respectively, in axisymmetrical and unsymmetrical forming processes and the inadequacy of the circular grid system for the assessment of formability is explained in the light of this distinction. (2) Experimental Study As one of the bases of the experimental work, the determination of the end point of a forming process, which sets the limit to the formability of the work material, is discussed. The effects of three process parameters on draw-in are shown graphically. Then the delay of fracture in sheet metal forming resulting from draw-in is analysed in kinematical terms, namely, through the radial displacements, the radial and the circumferential strains, and the projected thickness of the workpiece. Through the equilibrium equation of the membrane stresses, the effect on the shape of the unsupported region of the workpiece, and hence the position of the critical section is explained. Then, the effect of draw-in on the four aspects of formability is discussed throughout this investigation. The triangular coordinate system is used to present and analyse the triaxial strains involved. This coordinate system has the advantage of showing all the three principal strains in a material simultaneously, as well as representing clearly the many types of strains involved in sheet metal work.

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Industrial development has had a major role in creating the situation where bio-diverse materials and services essential for sustaining business are under threat. A key contributory factor to biodiversity decline comes from the cumulative impacts of extended supply chain business operations. In order to contribute to stopping this decline, the industrial world needs to form a better understanding of the way it utilizes the business and biodiversity agenda in its wider operations. This thesis investigates the perceptions and attitudes to biodiversity from government, society and a wide cross-section of industry. The research includes the extent of corporate attention to and use of environmental business tools and guidelines in reporting on biodiversity issues. A case study of three companies from different industrial sectors is undertaken to observe procurement and related environmental management of their supply chains. The use of accredited and non-accredited environmental management systems (EMS) are analysed as frameworks for introducing biodiversity aspects into supply chain management. The outcome is a methodology, which can be used either as a bespoke in-house biodiversity management system or within an accredited ISO 14001 EMS, for incorporating the assessment and management of the potential risks and opportunities involving environmental impacts on biodiversity of supply chain companies.

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The dynamics of fluid flow unveils complicated dynamical behaviour. Systems such as a dripping tap are no exception. Flow through a nozzle produces three different modes: periodic dripping, chaotic dripping and jetting streams. This research concentrates on a study of the chaotic behaviour of a dripping tap. This involves both mathematical model studies and experimental studies. In addition, the work involves the development of an experimental facility to allow future study of the system in microgravity conditions. The facility to achieve microgravity conditions is a Drop Tower type, which uses a novel approach to achieve these conditions. The novelty is in the use of linear electromagnetic motors. The facility was built and is in the final stage of the commissioning process, and when it is ready it will allow up to 2.12 s of test time. The mathematical model uses an existing Mass-Spring-Damper model, with Reynolds numbers between 4 to 175, and a step size of 0.4. The results showed multiple bifurcation regions appearing before chaotic regions. Similarly, experimental results showed that some instabilities exist in this region. The model also explained and showed multiple bifurcations and an increase in dripping time due to instabilities, and has identified that those processes are due either to perturbations of the system or due to initial instabilities of the system. These results were confirmed by experiment. To achieve the required experimental goals a test module was developed whose requirements were set to fulfil the microgravity experiment conditions, in case future research is required. The experimental results showed some similarities with the mathematical model. At the same time, there was found to be quite a lot of disagreement. Results identified two different limit cycle attractors in periodic dripping mode: strong single-point attractors and regional attractors. Also, limit cycle attractors and strange attractors in chaotic mode were identified. More importantly, it has been identified that the chaotic region consists of areas where the system is stable (and produces a single region attractor), and others where the system is not (and this produces strange attractors), and there are points where, depending on the disturbances to the system, both types can be observed. The work done has led to several discoveries and achievements. Although the Drop Tower project could not be completed it may nonetheless be considered as a success. The facility has been fully assembled and calibrated to meet the set of design requirements, and to some extent was commissioned allowing future progress to discover modification requirements. The study of the Mass-Spring-Damper model led to the conclusion that the model is oversimplified and in its current state should be used only for descriptive purposes, when illustrating chaotic behaviour. Additionally, it was found that the model predicts bifurcations outside the experimentally determined chaotic region. Nevertheless, the work identified some possible improvements to the model. Experimentally it was found that the region of chaotic behaviour is located around a Reynolds number of 43 in contrast to what was previously reported. The study of the periodic dripping region showed that the system, if disturbed, can develop history dependent phenomena (where the subsequent drop periods follow a well identified sequence). Satellite drops were discovered to exist beyond the previously predicted value of flow rate. It was discovered that the fluid supply system can have a major effect on the drop dynamics (different types of post-detachment developments were found - termed here regular residual mass and wetted mass - along with the discovery of different types of drop detachment (regular mass, mid-size drops and jets) coexisting within the chaotic region. The drop horizontal disturbance study led to the unconfirmed discovery of two modes of vibrations, where the system response follows a standard damped response and an amplitude modulated damped response.