The underlying aim of this research is to gain a better knowledge of the relationship between the selection criteria and academic performance of the students of architecture; and the specific aim is to evaluate and improve the methods of student selection in Iranian schools of architecture. The thesis consists of three parts. The first part (Chapters 1 to 3) prepares the theoretical ground for the study. Chapter 1 introduces the general issues of student selection, and Chapter 2 presents a review of the related studies. To supplement the review, a survey was conducted to learn about the present state of affairs in a number of university schools of architecture. Describing this survey, Chapter Three reports differing views on the selection criteria and procedures, and the lack of objective knowledge on this subject. The second part (Chapters 4 to 6) is a close examination of two different student selection methods in Iran by means of a qualitative and a quantitative survey. Chapter Four describes the educational practices in Iran which form the background to the case studies. Chapter Five is a quantitative study on the relationship between selection criteria and the subsequent academic performance of the selected students. The possibility of significant non-academic differences between groups of students who were selected through two different methods, and also the predictive ability of some non-academic variables, are studied in a qualitative survey in Chapter Six. In the third part (Chapter 7) various findings of the previous chapters are brought together. It is concluded that the choice between alternative selection methods is more a matter of compromise than perfection. However, the research findings call into question some of the assumptions of the currently applied selection methods. For instance, little evidence was found to support the customary application of an identical entrance examination for all schools of architecture. Moreover, evidence was found for the noticeable relationship between the academic performance of the students and some non-academic characteristics which the rigid academic selection criteria tend to overlook. Finally, some recommendations are proposed for the improvement of selection procedures for the study of architecture in Iran.

The purpose of this thesis is to develop and demonstrate a physically based rigid body simulation with a focus on simplifications to achieve real-time performance. This thesis aims to demonstrate that by improving the efficiency with simplified calculations of possible bottlenecks of a real-time rigid body simulation, the accuracy can be improved. A prototype simulation framework is implemented to evaluate the simplifications. Finally, various real-time rendering features are implemented to achieve a realistic look, and also to imitate the game-like environment where real-time rigid body simulations are mostly utilized. A series of demonstration experiments are used to show that our simulator does, in fact, achieve real-time performance, while maintaining satisfactory accuracy. A direct comparison of this prototype with a commercially available simulator verifies that the simplified approach improves the efficiency and does not damage the accuracy under our test conditions. Integration of rendering elements like advanced shading, shadowing, depth of field and motion blur into our real-time framework also enhanced the perception of simulation outcomes.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-289).

We consider one-dimensional longitudinal vibrations of a rigid rod with a nonuniform cross-section, fixed at its ends with lumped masses and springs. The cross-section inertia effects are taken into account on the basis of the Rayleigh theory. The equation of motion and the boundary conditions are derived from Hamilton’s variational principle. The characteristic equation is constructed and the eigenvalues for the harmonic vibrations of the rod are calculated. It is shown that the eigenvalues are bounded from above. Two types of the orthogonality of the eigenfunctions corresponding to the eigenvalues are discussed. The Green function is constructed for the problem of forced vibrations of the rod governed by a linear fourth-order partial differential equation, which involves mixed derivatives. Exact solutions of the rod vibration problems are found for rods with constant and conical cross-sections. Rigid isotropic waveguides are often used for generating, transmitting, and amplifying mechanical vibrations, for example, in acoustic transducers. Theoretical investigation of acoustic, mechanical, and electromagnetic waveguides is usually based on the analysis of second-order wave equations. This approach is justified in descriptions of the wave propagation in relatively thin and long rigid rods. As was shown by Rayleigh [1], the error due to the neglect of the transverse motion of the rod is proportional to the square of the ratio of the characteristic section radius to the length of the rod (aspect ratio). For a more accurate analysis of the longitudinal vibrations of a relatively thick and short rod, the rod deformation in the transverse direction must also be taken into account. The approach to the analysis of the vibrations of a thick and short rod used in this study is based on the theory of longitudinal vibrations of a rod, in which the effects due to the transverse motion are taken into account (the corresponding mathematical model is called the Rayleigh rod). The equation of motion and the boundary conditions for the onedimensional longitudinal vibrations of the Rayleigh rod with variable cross section and ends fixed by means of lumped masses and springs are derived from Hamilton’s variational principle. As a result, we arrive at a linear fourth-order partial differential equation with variable coefficients, which involves mixed derivatives. Previously, approximate analytical methods, such as the Galerkin method [2] and the method based on the expansion of the solution in a power series in the Poisson coefficient [3], were used for solving this equation. The frequencies of the natural vibrations of a cylindrical rod with rigidly fixed ends were determined in [4, pp. 159, 160]. In this study we use the method of the separation of variables based on the exact solutions of the equations of motion of the Rayleigh rod, which makes it possible to construct the Green function. A similar approach to an analysis of the longitudinal vibrations of stepped rigid waveguides described by second-order wave equations was applied in [5, 6].

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (doctoral)--Techn. Hochschule, Stuttgart, 1924. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PH. D.)--University of Chicago, 1935. / Vita. Lithoprinted. "Private edition, distributed by the University of Chicago libraries, Chicago, Illinois." "List of References": p. 58.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1983. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 199-204).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.