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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
101

Use of triple beam resonant gauges in torque measurement transfer standard

Intiang, Jittakant January 2010 (has links)
A new torque transfer standard using metallic TBTF resonant sensor was developed to overcome the overload capability problem which occurs with conventional metallic resistance strain gauges. Previous research work, however, has shown that the first prototype of the metallic TBTF resonant sensor was not suitable for use in a torque transfer standard due to its size and subsequent sensitivity to parasitic lateral forces. To maximize the benefits from this sensor, particularly overload capability and long-term stability, in the high accuracy torque measurement application area, there is a need to develop significantly smaller devices. The aim of this thesis is to research through FEA modelling and experimental characterisation the key performance parameters required to produce a miniaturised metallic TBTF resonant sensor that provides better performance when applied in a torque measurement system. For high accuracy any torque transducer using these sensors ought to have low sensitivity to parasitic influences such as bending moments and lateral forces, which can only be achieved with reduced size. The problems with the existing design, key design issues, possible configuration and packaging solutions of the metallic TBTF resonant sensor that could be used for achieving a higher accuracy torque transfer standard are considered. Two designs of miniaturised metallic TBTF resonant sensors, SL20 and SL12, are considered and experimentally investigated. The lateral forces are reduced by 52% for SL20 design and by 80% for SL12 design when compared to the original SL40 design. A torque transducer using the SL20 design was calibrated falling into the Torque Transfer Standard class of accuracy 1 category, uncertainty 0.8%. A torque transducer using the SL12 design was made and calibration showed a class of accuracy 0.5 category, uncertainty 0.2%. The results from this research indicate that the SL12 design is suitable for use in a torque transfer standard. The SL12 design is optimal and the smallest size possible based on the overload capability design criteria requiring the tine cross sectional area to remain constant.
102

Utveckling av ett vakuumgrepphuvud till tubfyllningsmaskiner för olika tubstorlekar / Development of a sizepart for tubefillers handeling different tube sizes

Göransson, Tony, Johansson, Adam January 2019 (has links)
Utvecklingen och användandet av modulbaserade system ökar konstant idag. Industrin efterfrågar dessa system för att kunna använda en produktionslina till många olika detaljer. Samtidigt vill tillverkarna av system gärna att deras system är så lika varandra som möjligt för att kunna minska tillverkningskostnaderna och lagerhålla större volymer och minska ledtiderna. Tubfyllningsmaskiner idag måste kunna hantera en variation av tubformat. Kunderna gör en stor investering när de köper in denna maskin och vill då kunna köra samtliga av sina produkter genom denna. Detta leder till att tubfyllaren måste kunna ställas om snabbt och enkelt mellan de olika formaten. För tillverkaren innebär detta att många olika formatbitar måste tas fram, en idag kostsam och tidsödande procedur. För att minska ledtiderna för verktygen kommer dessa att 3D-printas, tillsammans med att verktyget kommer kunna hantera en mängd tubformat kommer detta minska kostnaderna.
103

Influência das concentrações de AGNE na qualidade oocitária e produção in vitro de embriões de vacas Holandesas no início da lactação / Influence of NEFA concentrations on oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production in Holstein cows during early lactation

Sala, Rodrigo Vasconcellos 26 June 2013 (has links)
O presente estudo avaliou a influência das concentrações de ácidos graxos não esterificados (AGNE Alto vs. Baixo) no dia 44±3 pós-parto, e dos dias pós-parto nas concentrações de metabólitos (ǰ-hidroxibutirato e glicose) e na qualidade oocitária e produção in vitro de embriões de vacas Holandesas no início da lactação (até 90 dias pós-parto). O experimento foi realizado na Fazenda Santa Rita (Agrindus S/A) localizada no município de Descalvado SP. A partir da data do parto foram selecionadas 30 vacas Holandesas para serem aspiradas a cada 14 dias em cinco diferentes momentos no início da lactação (30±3, 44±3, 58±3, 72±3 e 86±3 dias pós-parto). No momento da aspiração folicular (OPU), foram realizadas as colheitas de sangue para dosagem dos metabólitos, a avaliação do escore de condição corporal (ECC) e a contagem dos folículos visualizados. Os procedimentos de produção in vitro de embriões (maturação, fertilização e cultivo) foram realizados no laboratório da Bioembryo, localizado no município de Bauru - SP. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo procedimento GLM do SAS. Não se observou efeito de tratamento (Alto AGNE = 0,45 vs. Baixo AGNE = 0,52 mmol/L; P=0,20) e de tempo (30±3 = 0,54; 44±3 = 0,43; 58±3 = 0,43; 72±3 = 0,52 e 86±3 = 0,51 mmol/L; P=0,11) para as concentrações de β-hidroxibutirato. Para as concentrações de glicose não se verificou efeito do tratamento (Alto AGNE = 61,1 vs. Baixo AGNE = 63,6 mg/dL; P=0,26). No entanto, observou-se efeito de tempo para as concentrações de glicose (30±3 = 60,1; 44±3 = 63,0; 58±3 = 63,5; 72±3 = 62,1 e 86±3 = 63,0 mg/dL; P=0,03). O tratamento (Alto vs. Baixo AGNE) não influenciou a quantidade de folículos recrutados (P=0,36), oócitos totais recuperados (P=0,28) e oócitos viáveis (P=0,25). Assim como o tempo não alterou a quantidade de folículos recrutados (P=0,87), oócitos totais recuperados (P=0,42) e oócitos viáveis (P=0,44). A quantidade de oócitos grau I não foi influenciada pelo tratamento (Alto vs. Baixo AGNE; P=0,14). Porém, os dias pós-parto reduziram a sua quantidade (P=0,05). A quantidade de oócitos clivados por vaca aspirada (P=0,45) e a taxa de clivagem (P=0,95) não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas conforme as concentrações de AGNE (Alto vs. Baixo) no dia 44 pós-parto. Os dias pós-parto também não alteraram a quantidade de oócitos clivados por vaca aspirada (P=0,31) e a taxa de clivagem (P=0,80). Para a produção in vitro de embriões, a quantidade de blastocisto por vaca aspirada conforme as concentrações de AGNE (Alto = 0,4 vs. Baixo = 1,2; P=0,37) e os dias pós-parto (30±3 = 0,4; 44±3 = 0,7; 58±3 = 0,8; 72±3 = 0,9 e 86±3 = 1,2; P=0,39) não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas. Assim como, a taxa de blastocisto para os animais dos grupos (Alto AGNE = 6,2% vs. Baixo AGNE = 11,6%; P=0,51) e para os diferentes momentos pós-parto (30±3 = 4,8%; 44±3 = 8,9%; 58±3 = 10,7%; 72±3 = 10,0% e 86±3 = 12,8%; P=0,41). Conclui-se que a maior concentração de AGNE no dia 44 pós-parto em vacas Holandesas não influenciou as concentrações de β-hidroxibutirato e de glicose, assim como a qualidade e a produção in vitro de embriões. No entanto, o aumento dos dias pós-parto incrementou as concentrações de glicose e reduziu a quantidade de oócitos grau I de vacas holandesas submetidas à OPU/PIV até 90 dias após o parto. / The present study evaluated the influence of the days postpartum and the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA - High vs. Low) on concentrations of metabolites (β-hydroxybutyrate and glucose), oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production of Holstein cows during early lactation (90 days postpartum). The experiment was carried out in a commercial dairy farm (Santa Rita - Agrindus S/A), located at Descalvado - SP. At the calving moment, 30 Holstein cows were selected to be submitted to ovum pick-up (OPU) procedures each 14 days, in 5 different moments during the early lactation (30 ± 3, 44 ± 3, 58 ± 3, 72 ± 3 and 86 ± 3 days postpartum). Previously to the OPU session blood samples were collected for metabolite assay, body condition score (BCS) was recorded and the number of follicles able to be aspirated was also registered. The High and Low concentration of NEFA were stablished with the samples of day 44 ± 3 postpartum. The laboratory procedures for in vitro embryo production (in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture) were performed in the same laboratory (Bioembryo, Bauru - SP). Statistical analysis was performed by the GLM procedure of SAS. No effect was observed for different NEFA concentrations (High NEFA = 0.45 vs. Low NEFA = 0.52 mmol / L, P = 0.20), nor for days postpartum (30±3 = 0.54; 44±3 = 0.43; 58±3 = 0.43; 72±3 = 0.52 e 86±3 = 0.51 mmol/L; P=0.11) on β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Considering glucose concentrations there was no treatment effect (High NEFA = 61.1 vs. Low NEFA = 63.6 mg / dL, P = 0.26). However, the glucose concentrations were influenced by days postpartum (30±3 = 60.1; 44±3 = 63.0; 58±3 = 63.5; 72±3 = 62.1 e 86±3 = 63.0 mg/dL; P=0.03). Treatment (High vs. Low NEFA) did not impact the number of recruited follicles (P = 0.36), total oocytes recovered (P = 0.28) and viable oocytes (P = .25). As well as, time did not alter the amount of recruited follicles (P = 0.87), total oocytes recovered (P = 0.42) and viable oocytes (P = .44). The amount of grade I oocytes was not influenced by treatment (High NEFA vs. Low NEFA, P = 0.14). However, days postpartum reduced the quantity of grade I oocytes (P = 0.05). Also, no treatment effect (High and Low NEFA) was observed for number of cleaved oocytes per OPU session (P = 0.45) and cleavage rate (P = 0.95). In the same way, days postpartum had no influence in the amount of cleaved oocytes per OPU session (P = 0.31) and cleavage rate (P = 0.80). In addition, for the in vitro embryo production, the NEFA concentrations (High NEFA = 0.4 vs. Low NEFA = 1.2, P = 0.37) and days postpartum (30±3 = 0.4; 44±3 = 0.7; 58±3 = 0.8; 72±3 = 0.9 e 86±3 = 1.2; P=0.39) did not affect the number of blastocysts per OPU session. Also, the blastocyst rate was not influenced by treatment (High NEFA = 6.2% vs. Low NEFA = 11.6%, P = 0.51) and days postpartum (30±3 = 4.8%; 44±3 = 8.9%; 58±3 = 10.7%; 72±3 = 10.0% e 86±3 = 12.8%; P=0.41). It was concluded that high concentration of NEFA on day 44 postpartum in Holstein cows did not alter the concentrations of β- hydroxybutyrate and glucose, as well as, the oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production. However, the increase in days postpartum elevated the glucose concentrations and decreased the number of grade I oocytes of Holstein cows submitted to OPU and in vitro embryo production up to 90 days postpartum.
104

A contribuição das cooperativas de catadores no gerenciamento e retorno de resíduos sólidos urbanos à indústria: estudo de caso

Saueressig, Gislaine Gabriele 22 December 2015 (has links)
Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-02-18T15:59:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Gislaine Gabriele Saueressig_.pdf: 1665433 bytes, checksum: 1ac1be17b780b896e271daca3e1fb51d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-18T15:59:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gislaine Gabriele Saueressig_.pdf: 1665433 bytes, checksum: 1ac1be17b780b896e271daca3e1fb51d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-22 / Nenhuma / O aumento do consumo e a diminuição da vida útil de bens duráveis, devida em parte pela obsolescência planejada, contribuem para o aumento dos Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos - RSU. Estes resíduos têm origem em atividades domésticas, comerciais e de povoações, e são tema de pesquisas acadêmicas com ênfase em reciclagem, logística reversa, aterros sanitários, entre outros assuntos de interesse social, ambiental e industrial. Este trabalho tem como objetivo descrever o papel das cooperativas de catadores no processo de retorno de RSU à indústria, em forma de matéria prima, através de práticas de logística reversa. A abordagem escolhida foi o estudo de caso duplo, com método qualitativo/quantitativo. Foi descrita a maneira como as cooperativas estudadas estão organizadas, compreendendo o histórico e a estrutura física de que dispõem. Além disso, foi explorado o fluxo do RSU que chega até as cooperativas, ou seja, como se dá a coleta, triagem e a revenda dos materiais e bens pós-consumo. Os dados foram coletados diretamente nas cooperativas, através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas com os respectivos presidentes e com demais integrantes das organizações. Também foram coletadas informações em documentos administrativos. O trabalho das cooperativas de reciclagem tem impacto econômico, social e ambiental. Além de gerar renda para comunidades e parcelas da população em situação de vulnerabilidade social, contribuir para a conservação de recursos naturais e aumentar a vida útil de aterros sanitários, também possui papel importante na redução do custo da matéria prima para as empresas. Através do cruzamento dos dados, identificou-se que as cooperativas atuam entre o consumidor final e a indústria da reciclagem, como uma ponte, contribuindo com a coleta, a separação e o beneficiamento de alguns materiais, não tendo, porém, contato direto com a indústria da reciclagem. O trabalho das cooperativas contribui para o reaproveitamento de RSU, pois possibilita que a indústria da reciclagem tenha acesso aos resíduos, que são retirados do meio urbano, separados, enfardados, algumas vezes beneficiados, e revendidos a atravessadores. / The increased consumption and reduced life of durable goods, due in part by planned obsolescence, contribute to the increasing amount of urban solid waste. These wastes arise from the consumption of households and productive process of industry, and are the subject of academic research with an emphasis on recycling, reverse logistics, landfills, among other issues of social, environmental and industrial concern. This work aims to describe the role of cooperatives in the reverse logistics practices, in chains of Urban Solid Waste - USW. The approach chosen was the double case study with qualitative / quantitative method. It will be described how studied cooperatives are organized, comprising the historic and physical structure available. In addition, the waste flow will be explored, how is the collection and resale of materials. Data will be collected directly in cooperatives, through semi-structured interviews with the respective presidents and other members of the organizations. Also will be collected information on office documents. The work of recycling cooperatives has economic, social and environmental impact. In addition to generating income for communities and segments of the population in social vulnerability, it contributes to the conservation of natural resources and to the increasing of lifespan of landfills, also plays an important role in reducing the cost of raw materials for companies. By crossing the data, it was found that the cooperative work between the end consumer and the recycling industry, as a bridge, contributing to the collection, separation and processing of some materials not having, however, direct contact with the recycling industry. The work of cooperatives contributes to the reuse of RSU, because it allows the recycling industry has access to waste, which are taken from the urban areas, separated, baled, sometimes benefited, and re-sold to middlemen.
105

Annexin A6 involvement in the organization of cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains : evidence from cells of the Niemann-Pick type C disease patients and biomimetic lipid monolayers

Domoń, Magdalena 13 December 2011 (has links) (PDF)
The Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a lysosomal lipid storage disorder caused by mutations in one of the two genes NPC1 or NPC2 encoding proteins of the late endosome/lysosome compartment (LE/LY). Defect in these proteins alters vesicular transport and leads to abnormal accumulation of cholesterol (Chol) in LE/LY. There are some lines of evidence suggesting that annexin A6 (AnxA6) participates in vesicular transport of Chol and may interact with membrane domains enriched in Chol and bind Chol. In this work we characterized the membrane microdomains resistant to Triton X-100, i.e., detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) isolated from NPC patient-derived fibroblasts and from control cells. NPC cells contain a significantly higher amount of DRMs than the control cells that is consistent with the defect in Chol turnover in NPC cells. We also studied the mechanism of AnxA6 involvement in the NPC-induced changes in the membrane organization and showed that in the presence of calcium some AnxA6 molecules associate with the DRMs. This suggests that AnxA6 may play a role in the membrane lateral organization, contributing thus to the etiology of NPC disease. We then focused on the interaction of AnxA6-1 with Chol-rich membranes and on the involvement of its flexible region and VAAEIL sequence in these interactions. For this purpose, kinetics of the interfacial adsorption of human recombinant AnxA6 to Langmuir monolayers containing phosphatidylcholine, Chol and/or cholesteryl acetate were measured. Our data suggest that AnxA6 exhibits the highest affinity to Chol-containing monolayers and that the hydroxyl group of Chol plays a pivotal role in the AnxA6-lipid interactions in vitro.
106

Contribution au pilotage de la charge pour accroître la flexibilité du système électrique.

Saker, Nathalie 30 January 2013 (has links) (PDF)
Les défis environnementaux et l'augmentation de la population viennent en preuve de l'importance de réfléchir à d'autres moyens de production tout en maintenant la sécurité et la fiabilité du système électrique. La sûreté du système électrique exige à tout moment que la production soit égale à la demande des consommateurs, pour ça, différentes solutions sont déjà mises en place, ces solutions consistent à mettre en marche des moyens de pointes couteux et polluants pendant les périodes de pointes, mais comme les moyens de production son insuffisants et vue la difficulté d'exploitation de nouveaux moyens de production, une nouvelle réflexion sur la gestion de la demande est apparue; celle-ci se base sur la possibilité à gérer la demande du consommateur final au lieu de la satisfaire.L'objectif de la thèse est d'étudier la possibilité à rendre des services au système électrique en appliquant des actions de contrôle dites de DR (Demand Response), sur différents types de charges électriques. Ces actions de DR représentent des interruptions partielles appliquées sur les charges électriques de type thermique. Notre choix s'est basé sur ces types de charges parce que celles-ci emmagasinent de la chaleur respectivement dans l'air et dans l'eau; qui peut être restituée pendant la période de contrôle ou d'interruption. Néanmoins, il existe un effet négatif qui suit le contrôle de ces charges car l'énergie effacée de ces charges est reportée à l'instant de reconnexion de celles-ci; ce report prend la forme d'un pic de consommation nommé CLPU (Cold Load Pick-Up) et qui apparait au moment de la reconnexion. Le CLPU représente un problème qui doit être géré, et sa magnitude dépend des types d'actions de contrôle qu'on veut implanter et aussi des conditions du système électrique (contingence, défaillance d'une unité de production ou besoin de réserve de puissance). Pendant la thèse, le CLPU est contrôlé et optimisé ainsi que la puissance effacée. Un cas d'étude est présenté sur la contribution des actions de gestion de la demande à l'ajustement entre la demande et la production et l'effet généré sur le réglage secondaire de fréquence.
107

Det kompetenta och beroende barnet : en undersökning om omsorg, lärande och kön / The competent and dependent child : a study on care, education and gender

Louthander, Jessica January 2013 (has links)
Uppsatsen undersöker hur samtal om omsorg och lärande fördelas under förskolans hämtningssituation. Syftet är att analysera hur det kan förstås konstruera barn och barndom. Lärande och omsorg ses som separerade begrepp för att synliggöra omsorg i en övrigt dominant diskurs om lärande. Uppsatsens teoretiska utgångspunkt är socialkonstruktivistisk och delvis kopplad till barndomsforskning. För att uppnå syftet har hämtningar observerats på två kommunala förskolor under fyra eftermiddagar i Stockholm under mars-april 2013. Uppsatsen bygger på en etnografisk ansats och insamlat material tolkas utifrån en hermeneutisk tolkningsram. Samtalen under observerade hämtningar handlar övervägande om omsorg varav endast fyra samtal berör lärande. De fyra samtalen om lärande handlar om flickor. När barnens kön skrevs ut även gällande samtal om omsorg, exponerades fler aspekter av hur kön konstrueras under observerade hämtningssituationer. Observationerna visar på en tendens där samtal om omsorg gällande pojkars mat och sömnrutiner beskrivs mer ingående än flickors. När det gäller kläder, som en del av omsorg, förväntas flickor ta ansvar för sina kläder men inte pojkar. Detta åskådliggör en tendens i observerade hämtningssituationer där pojkar i högre grad konstrueras som beroende av omsorg medan flickor istället konstrueras som kompetenta och ansvarstagande. / This essay is an attempt to investigate how conversations about learning and care are distributed in the pick-up situation in preschool. The intention is to analyse how that could be understood in constructing children and childhood. Education and care are in the text separated concepts to clarify aspects of care in an otherwise dominant discourse of learning. The theoretical viewpoint is based on social constructivism and partly on childhood studies. To reach the purpose of this essay, observations where done during four afternoons at two public preschools in Stockholm March- April 2013. This essay is based on an ethnographic approach, and understood from a hermeneutic view. The conclusion and result from the observations is that conversations during observed pick-up situations are mainly about care. Only four conversation concerns learning, these four conversations are about girls. When the children’s gender was written out in conversations about care as well, it exposed other aspects of how gender is constructed in observed pick-up situations. The observations reveals a tendency whereas conversations about care, understood as routines connected to eating and sleeping, are described more in detail about boys. When it comes to clothes, as an aspect of care, girls are expected to take responsibility over their clothes, but never boys. This elucidates how boys are more likely to be constructed as depending on care, whereas girls are constructed as reasonable and learning in observed pick-up situations.
108

Generalizations of Ahlfors lemma and boundary behavior of analytic functions

Arman, Andrii 23 August 2013 (has links)
In this thesis we will consider and investigate the properties of analytic functions via their behavior near the boundary of the domain on which they are defined. To do that we introduce the notion of the hyperbolic distortion and the hyperbolic derivative. Classical results state that the hyperbolic derivative is bounded from above by 1, and we will consider the case when it is bounded from below by some positive constant. Boundedness from below of the hyperbolic derivative implies some nice properties of the function near the boundary. For instance Krauss & all in 2007 proved that, if the function is defined on a domain bounded by analytic curve, then boundedness from below of the hyperbolic derivative implies that the function has an analytic continuation across the boundary. We extend this result for the domains with slightly more general boundary, namely for smooth Jordan domains, and get that in this case the function and its derivative will have only continuous extensions to the boundary.
109

Generalizations of Ahlfors lemma and boundary behavior of analytic functions

Arman, Andrii 23 August 2013 (has links)
In this thesis we will consider and investigate the properties of analytic functions via their behavior near the boundary of the domain on which they are defined. To do that we introduce the notion of the hyperbolic distortion and the hyperbolic derivative. Classical results state that the hyperbolic derivative is bounded from above by 1, and we will consider the case when it is bounded from below by some positive constant. Boundedness from below of the hyperbolic derivative implies some nice properties of the function near the boundary. For instance Krauss & all in 2007 proved that, if the function is defined on a domain bounded by analytic curve, then boundedness from below of the hyperbolic derivative implies that the function has an analytic continuation across the boundary. We extend this result for the domains with slightly more general boundary, namely for smooth Jordan domains, and get that in this case the function and its derivative will have only continuous extensions to the boundary.
110

Modelling road and rail freight energy consumption: A comparative study

Parajuli, Ashis January 2005 (has links)
After reviewing land based freight growth trends nationally and internationally, this thesis discusses the main parameters governing fuel consumption, as well as past approaches in modelling road and rail energy consumption. Past work on comparing these two main modes is also reviewed here. The review included ways of estimating energy consumption of a complete freight task i.e., from origin to destination. Mathematical models estimating modal energy consumption are presented in this thesis. Modal energy consumption is a complex function to be approximated in practice due to numerous variables affecting their outcome. Energy demands are particularly sensitive to changes in vehicle characteristics such as mass and size; route parameters such as grade and curvature; traffic conditions such as level of congestion; and less sensitive to ambient conditions, such as temperature and altitude. There is a large set of energy estimation models available to transportation planners. Unfortunately, unless simple relationships are established for energy estimation and modal comparison, their application in freight movement planning and corridor development becomes computationally prohibitive. This thesis describes the development of a modal freight energy comparison tool to quantify the energy advantage from mode choice, corridor development and vehicle types and loading improvements. The thesis also describes the used modelling processes and the trade-offs between model complexity and data quality. The tool developed in this thesis is based on well established relationships between energy consumption and traffic flow, route and vehicle operating characteristics for road freight movement. The rail freight component was developed from equations of motion together with parameters obtained from past studies. The relationships have been enhanced to fit the purpose of corridor level comparative analysis. The comparison tool has been implemented using a spreadsheet based approach developed specifically to calculate the total door to door energy consumption for given task options. A series of linked sheets enable the user to: specify all necessary inputs; estimate road and rail energy by trip segment. The outputs consist of trip segment energy demand and total energy efficiency of each option. A case study approach, for aiding in model development and testing, is presented. Toowoomba second range crossing in Southern Queensland, Australia (section between below Postman's Ridge and Gowrie Junction) was selected. Four options considered include existing and proposed road and rail corridors. The existing rail and road corridors could be taken as a typical poor case, with very high grades and sharp curvatures. The proposed new road section has a relaxed curvature and gradient. The section of proposed rail corridor, under consideration here, still contains a high grade section. However, the proposed track length is considerably shorter than the base-case. The new proposed train alignment was found as the most efficient mode and the existing trains as the least efficient mode when measured based on absolute expected fuel gain (litres/tonnage of freight moved). This could be attributed to the improvement in curvature and load carrying capacity. However, when the options are compared in terms of litres/1000 NTK, the new train option did not show a significant advantage. Furthermore, the developed model was applied on some simulated cases to test the functionality of other aspects of the model. The total door-to-door energy consumption and the efficiency were compared for all the simulated cases. It showed that the energy efficiency of scenarios varies exponentially with the variation in the ratio of road pickup and delivery legs to the rail line-haul length. In general, energy efficiency of the intermodal options was found to be better unless the best case of the road and the worst case of intermodal option was compared. The modelling approaches presented in the thesis and the comparison model developed in this study could be used for several purposes namely: to assess the energy (and hence greenhouse gas) implications of specific modal freight movements; to aid in the economic and environmental evaluation of transport options; and to assess the potential for energy efficiency gains from vehicle and infrastructure improvements. A number of suggested improvements to the model are also discussed.

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