This dissertation aims to develop, characterize, and fundamentally understand a new class of materials termed "molecular ionic composites" (MICs). MICs show promise as next-generation solid electrolytes for batteries. MICs form when mixing a rigid polyanion with purely ionic fluids, and they behave mechanically as a solid but contain a high density of ions that move nearly as in a neat liquid. Specifically, prototypical MICs are based on solutions of the rigid-rod polyelectrolyte poly(2,2'-disulfonyl-4,4'-benzideneterephthalamide) (PBDT), which forms a double helix, combined with imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs). The IL comprises 75-97 wt% of the final solid, even though the Young's modulus can reach ~ 2 GPa at 80 wt% IL. We propose that these properties are driven by a biphasic internal structure in MICs corresponding to IL-rich "puddles" (an interconnected liquid phase) and PBDT-IL associated "bundles" where IL ions form the collective electrostatic associations that cause the MICs to be a solid. Through this dissertation I will discuss a wide variety of MICs that have been created through the use of two different formation processes, the "ingot" method and the "solvent casting" method, which allow for the use of many different ionic fluid sources to further tune MIC properties. The following chapters build to the fundamental knowledge and our current understanding of the wide variety of materials that can be created from PBDT and IL. / Doctor of Philosophy / Battery electrolytes, biosensors, and hydrogels all depend on new materials for next-generation applications. For these new materials to be used characterization on the interactions, morphological restrictions, and/or what unique internal structures used to generate their properties must be performed. Through This analysis using common polymeric characterization techniques these materials can be further optimized. This dissertation highlights a new class of materials termed "molecular ionic composites" (MICs) which are formed from a rigid double helical polymer, poly(2,2'-disulfonyl-4,4'-benzideneterephthalamide) (PBDT), and fluids composed entirely of ions, including ionic liquids (ILs). These composite systems feature a unique combination of properties including high thermal stability, mechanical stability, and excellent ionic conductivity, all of which are highly tunable through the amount of PBDT incorporated or the fluid ion types. Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6 present fundamental investigations of MICs to determine how tunable they are, the processes by which they form, and the various ways we can fabricate them. Chapter 7 describes the creation of another impressive material formed from PBDT-low-polymer-content hydrogels. These studies are intended to provide deeper understanding of the behaviors of these unique materials and how they may be used in the future.

Geosynthetic tubes filled with a slurry-mix are considered. The mix is usually dredged from a nearby area and pumped directly into the tubes. The tubes are used in a variety of applications including breakwaters, groins, and temporary levees. This thesis considers single and stacked geosynthetic tubes resting on rigid and deformable foundations. A two-dimensional analysis is performed on the cross-section of a very long tube. The program Mathematica is utilized for the analysis. A few assumptions are made regarding the general behavior of the tube. The tube is assumed to be an inextensible membrane with no bending stiffness. To allow for a closed-form integral solution, it is assumed that no friction exists between the tubes and at the foundation. A single tube, two stacked tubes, and a 2-1 formation are studied. Both rigid and deformable foundations are considered. The deformable foundation is modeled as a tensionless Winkler foundation with normal forces proportional to the downward deflection of the ground. An external water load on one side is also investigated for a single tube and a 2-1 formation, with rigid blocks to prevent the structure from sliding along the ground. Example cross-sectional profiles are given. Results from the analysis include structure height, circumferential tension, and ground deflections. / Master of Science

Among the myraid energy storage technologies, polymer electrolytes have been widely employed in diverse applications such as fuel cell membranes, battery separators, mechanical actuators, reverse-osmosis membranes and solar cells. The polymer electrolytes used for these applications usually require a combination of properties, including anisotropic orientation, tunable modulus, high ionic conductivity, light weight, high thermal stability and low cost. These critical properties have motivated researchers to find next-generation polymer electrolytes, for example ion gels. This dissertation aims to develop and characterize a new class of ion gel electrolytes based on ionic liquids and a rigid-rod polyelectrolyte. The rigid-rod polyelectrolyte poly (2,2'-disulfonyl-4,4'-benzidine terephthalamide) (PBDT) is a water-miscible system and forms a liquid crystal phase above a critical concentration. The diverse properties and broad applications of this rigid-rod polyelectrolyte may originate from the double helical conformation of PBDT molecular chains. We primarily develop an ionic liquid-based polymer gel electrolyte that possesses the following exceptional combination of properties: transport anisotropy up to 3.5×, high ionic conductivity (up to 8 mS cm⁻¹), widely tunable modulus (0.03 – 3 GPa) and high thermal stability (up to 300°C). This unique platform that combines ionic liquid and polyelectrolyte is essential to develop more advanced materials for broader applications. After we obtain the ion gels, we then mainly focus on modifying and then applying them in Li-metal batteries. As a next generation of Li batteries, the Li-metal battery offers higher energy capacity compared to the current Li-ion battery, thus satisfying our requirements in developing longer-lasting batteries for portable devices and even electric vehicles. However, Li dendrite growth on the Li metal anode has limited the pratical application of Li-metal batteries. This unexpected Li dendrite growth can be suppressed by developing polymer separators with high modulus (~ Gpa), while maintaining enough ionic conductivity (~ 1 mS/cm). Here, we describe an advanced solid-state electrolyte based on a sulfonated aramid rigid-rod polymer, an ionic liquid (IL), and a lithium salt, showing promise to make a breakthrough. This unique fabrication platform can be a milestone in discovering next-generation electrolyte materials. / Ph. D.

Noise and vibration transmitted through the tire and suspension system are strong indicators of overall vehicle ride quality. Often, during the tire design process, target specifications are used to achieve the desired ride performance. To validate the design, subjective evaluations are performed by expert drivers. These evaluations are usually done on a test track and are both quite expensive and time consuming due to the several experimental sets of tires that must be manufactured, installed, and then tested on the target vehicle. In order to evaluate the performance, expert drivers tune themselves to the frequency response of the tire/vehicle combination. Provided the right models exist, this evaluation can also be achieved in a laboratory. The research presented here is a method which utilizes the principles of frequency based substructuring (FBS) to separate or combine frequency response data for the tire and suspension. This method allows for the possibility of combining high fidelity tire models with analytical or experimental suspension data in order to obtain an overall response of the combined system without requiring an experimental setup or comprehensive simulations. Though high fidelity models are not combined with experimental data in the present work, these coupling/decoupling techniques are applied independently to several quarter car models of varying complexity and to experimental data. These models range from a simplified spring-mass model to a generalized 3D model including rotation. Further, decoupling techniques were applied to simulations of a rigid ring tire model, which allows for inclusion of nonlinearities present in the tire subsystem and provides meaningful information for a loaded tire. By reducing the need for time consuming simulations and experiments, this research has the potential to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with tire design for ride performance. In order to validate the process experimentally, a small-scale quarter car test rig was developed. This novel setup was specifically designed for the challenges associated with the testing necessary to apply FBS techniques to the tire and suspension systems. The small-scale quarter car system was then used to validate both the models and the testing processes unique to this application. By validating the coupling/decoupling process for the first time on the tire/vehicle system with experimental data, this research can potentially improve the current process of tire design for ride performance. / Ph. D. / Noise and vibration transmitted through the tire and suspension system of a vehicle strongly influence the comfort of passengers. Often, during the tire design process, target specifications are used to achieve the desired vibrational characteristics. Subjective evaluations are then performed by expert drivers in order to validate the tire design. These evaluations are usually done on a test track and are both quite expensive and time consuming due to the several experimental sets of tires that must be manufactured, installed, then tested on the target vehicle. The research presented here utilizes techniques from the field of Dynamic Substructuring which allow frequency data for the tire and suspension systems to be separated or combined. This method allows for the possibility of combining high fidelity tire models with analytical or experimental suspension data in order to obtain an overall response of the combined system without requiring an experimental setup or comprehensive simulations. Several analytical tire and suspension models were developed for this work and the process of separating/combining the frequency data was performed. Then, a small scale test system was developed and used to establish experimental procedures to collect the data necessary to carry out the Dynamic Substructuring techniques. Finally, the process was validated by repeating the process of separating/combing the frequency properties of the experimental data.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第25279号 / 工博第5238号 / 新制||工||1998(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科機械理工学専攻 / (主査)教授 黒瀬 良一, 教授 長田 孝二, 教授 平山 朋子 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

I explore five topics in topology using set-theoretic techniques. The first of these is a generalization of 2-point sets called slice sets. I show that, for any small-in-cardinality subset A of the real line, there is a subset of the plane meeting every line in a topological copy of A. Under Martin's Axiom, I show how to improve this result to any totally disconnected A. Secondly, I show that it is consistent with and independent of ZFC to have a topologically rigid subset of the real line that is smaller than the continuum. Thirdly, I define and examine a new cardinal function related to cleavability. Fourthly, I explore the Toronto Problem and prove that any uncountable, Hausdorff, non-discrete Toronto space that is not regular falls into one of two strictly-defined classes. I also prove that for every infinite cardinality there are precisely 3 non-T1 Toronto spaces up to homeomorphism. Lastly, I examine a notion of dimension called the "neight", and prove several theorems that give a lower bound for this cardinal function.

關於產品創新的研究，絕大多數學者均以B2C的企業產品作為研究探討的對象，強調以新的產品設計帶給消費者全新的生活體驗與感受。相較之下B2B的企業產品，特別是客製化零組件產品，業者大多只能以改善製程生產效率、提升良率等手法來維持競爭力。印刷電路板業即為上述B2B客製化零組件產品在台灣地區的代表性產業。本研究即以我國印刷電路板業A公司軟硬複合板的開發為例，探討此種B2B企業的客製化產品之產品創新模式。 本研究由相關文獻探討，推展出以「新產品開發管理」、「製程技術開發管理」與「組織文化」此三個構面的研究架構來探討印刷電路板業在產品創新活動的關鍵因素與管理項目，採個案研究法深入訪談個案公司的高階主管，以瞭解其產品創新過程的實務作為。由個案分析與研究發現得出研究結論如下: 結論一：在B2B企業的客製化產品開發過程中，明確的產品策略，具體的產品概念，和互動良好的客戶參與，是新產品開發成功的關鍵因素。 結論二：機器設備的開發與實驗活動，對B2B製造業的製程技術開發占有關鍵地位。 結論三：有效的知識管理及技術開發人員的管理與領導，是B2B客製化產品企業之製程開發活動中重要的管理項目。 結論四：差異化的企業組織策略，創新的價值觀與高階主管對創新活動的支持，對產品技術創新的成功有正面的影響。 / Regarding product innovation, a lot of studies did focus on B2C business, try to find a way to create “new feeling” product for consumers. For B2B business, especial for customization product, most firms do effort for production efficiency increasing, yield rate improvement, and cost reduction to maintain the competition. Printed circuit board (PCB) is this kind of industry in Taiwan typically. This research bases on a PCB company (A-company) rigid-flex PCB development case, to study B2B business’s product innovation model. The three major constructs of the research framework include new product development and its management, new process development and its management, and organizational culture. This research adopts case-study method to analysis the practice actions in A-company. The research results as below: 1. Clear product strategy, solid product concept, and good customers’ join, are the key points to get new product development success. 2. Equipment development and experiment actions are very important factors for process technology development in B2B firms. 3. Well knowledge management, good R&D people management and leadership, are the important management items for process technology development in B2B firms. 4. Differentiation strategy, innovation value, and top managers’ attitude for innovation action supporting, will lead product technology innovation success.

Šiame darbe nagrinėjama standžių sujungimo mazgų įrengimo įtaka iš anksto įtemptų surenkamų gelžbetoninių sijų laikomajai galiai ir įlinkiams. Laikomosios galios analizės metu nagrinėjama sijų ribinės apkrovos ir tempiamos zonos armatūros kiekio priklausomybė nuo standžiai jungčiai įrengti naudojamos jungiamosios armatūros skerspjūvio ploto ir betono klasės. Sijų įlinkių analizės metu nagrinėjama, kiek galima sumažinti sijų įlinkius, skerspjūvio aukštį ar padidinti tarpatramio ilgį įrengus standžias jungtis. Taip pat atliekama standaus mazgo apspaudimo įtakos sijų įlinkiams analizė. Remiantis moksliniais straipsniais ir mokomosiomis knygomis nagrinėjami įvairūs standaus mazgo įrengimo konstrukciniai sprendiniai bei kontinualių sijų įrąžų ir įlinkių skaičiavimo metodai. Standžios jungties įtempių ir deformacijų būvis tiriamas baigtinių elementų metodu naudojant kompiuterinę statybinių konstrukcijų skaičiavimo programą LUSAS Analyst. Atlikus iš anksto įtemptų surenkamųjų gelžbetoninių sijų, sujungtų tarpusavyje standžiu mazgu, darbo analizę pateikiamos baigiamojo magistro darbo išvados ir pasiūlymai. Darbą sudaro 8 dalys: įvadas, standžių mazgų įrengimo ypatumai ir konstrukcinai sprendiniai, kontinualių sijų įrąžų ir įlinkių skaičiavimo metodai, standžių mazgų įrengimo įtakos sijų laikomajai galiai analizė, standžių mazgų įrengimo įtakos sijų įlinkiams analizė, standaus mazgo analizė baigtinių elementų metodu, išvados ir pasiūlymai, literatūros sąrašas. Darbo apimtis –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The paper investigates precast prestressed beams and increase of their carrying capacity and decrease of deflections by providing rigid connections between adjascent spans. The analysis of carrying capacity includes relations between load capacity (herewith the sectional area of tensile reinforcement) and material properties of rigid connection, such as sectional area of continuity reinforcement and concrete grade. The analaysis of deflections investigates the reduction of beam height and increase of span length by providing moment continuity between adjascent spans. The effects of prestressing rigid connection is also discussed. Various moment continuity provision methods are reviewed. The stress-strain state of rigid connection is analysed by using finite element method. The conclutions and suggestions are made at the end of the thesis. The master thesis includes these parts: introduction, analysis of moment continuity provision methods, review of moment redistribution and deflection calculation methods, analysis of increased load carrying capacity after provision of moment continuity, analysis of decreased deflections after provision of moment continuity, rigid connection analysis using finite element method, conclusions and suggestions, references. Master thesis consists of – 77 p. text without appendixes, 24 pictures, 16 tables, 15 bibliographical entries.

In this thesis, I describe and evaluate two recent accounts of naming. These accounts are motivated by Kripke?s response to Russell?s Description Theory of Names (DTN). Particularly, I consider Kripke?s Modal Argument (MA) and various arguments that have been given against it, as well as Kripke?s responses to these arguments. Further, I outline a version of MA that has recently been presented by Scott Soames, and consider how he responds to the criticisms that the argument faces. In order to evaluate the claim that MA is decisive against all description theories, I outline the Nominal Description Theory (NDT) put forth by Kent Bach and consider whether it constitutes a principled response to MA. I do so by exploring how Bach both responds to Kripke?s arguments against descriptivism and highlights the problems with rigid designation as a purely semantic thesis. Finally, I consider the relative merits of the accounts put forth by Bach and Soames. Upon doing so, I argue that MA is not as decisive against description theories as it has long been thought to be. In fact, NDT seems to provide a better account of our uses of proper names than the rigid designation thesis as presented by Kripke and Soames.

Advancements in computational capabilities have allowed researchers to turn towards modeling as an efficient tool to replicate and predict outcomes of complex systems. Computational models of the musculoskeletal system have gone through various iterations with early versions employing dramatic simplifications. In this work, a three-dimensional computational model of the wrist joint was developed. It accurately recreated the skeletal structures of the hand and wrist and represented the constraints imposed by soft tissue structures like ligaments, tendons, and other surrounding tissues. It was developed to function as a tool to investigate the biomechanical contributions of structures and the kinematic response of the wrist joint. The model was created with the use of a commercially available computer-aided design software employing the rigid body modeling methodology. It was validated against three different cadaveric experimental studies which investigated changes in biomechanical response following radioscapholunate fusion and proximal row carpectomy procedures. The kinematic simulations performed by the model demonstrated quantitatively accurate responses for the range of motions for both surgical procedures. It also provided some understanding to the trends in carpal bone contact force changes observed in surgically altered specimens. The model provided additional insight into the importance of structures like the triangular fibrocartilage and the capsular retinacular structures, both of which are currently not very well understood. As better understanding of components of the wrist joint is achieved, this model could function as an important tool in preoperative planning and generating individualized treatment regiments.