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Cette recherche s’inscrit dans le contexte actuel où bon nombre de disciplines créatrices cherchent à redéfinir le contour de leur activité. La scénographie n’en fait pas exception. Dans une période très récente, des questions sur les limites de la scénographie et son rapport avec les autres arts se sont posées. Cette thèse prétend démontrer que les bouleversements à l’œuvre ces dernières années sont majeurs en affectant le rôle même du scénographe. Il nous a paru cohérent de concentrer la recherche sur la 12e édition de la Quadriennale de Prague en 2011. En effet, cette édition fut le premier événement qui effectua un changement terminologique, introduisant dans ce contexte le terme de Performance Design en le substituant le terme traditionnel de scénographie. L’accent mis sur ce concept prétendait inclure de nouvelles formes de créations émergeantes. Ce changement provoqua des échos importants et suscite depuis de nombreux débats dans le domaine des arts de la scène. Il semblait donc nécessaire de déterminer les nouveaux contours de la discipline. Quelles sont les fonctions actuelles du scénographe ? Quelles compétences doit-il avoir aujourd’hui pour répondre aux enjeux propres de la mise en scène ? Quels sont les domaines où le scénographe exerce sa pratique ? Quelles sont les limites de la scénographie ? Ou encore, quels sont les nouveaux espaces, au-delà des domaines traditionnels, qui s’ouvrent comme champs de pratique ? Interroger le statut actuel du scénographe exige inévitablement de revenir sur ses définitions historiques. Cette recherche ne prétend pas être une étude exhaustive de l’histoire de l’évolution du rôle du scénographe. Cela nous a cependant permis d’isoler trois fissures dans son évolution. Nous proposons de développer cette analyse à partir de trois catégories : fonction, domaine, et compétence. Afin de compléter un débat somme toute théorique, nous avons souhaité entendre les voix de scénographes de différents pays dans le monde. Cette diversité d’entretiens nous a permis d’avoir un exemple vivant de la réalité particulière de ceux qui exercent la discipline aujourd’hui. / This research fits into the current context in which many creative disciplines seek to redefine the outline of their activity. The scenography is no exception. In recent years, questions have arisen about the limits of scenography and its relationship with other arts. This thesis aims to show that the upheavals at work in the last years have profoundly affected the role of the scenographer. It has seemed coherent to us to focus the research on the 12th edition of the Prague Quadrennial in 2011. Indeed, this edition was the first event that made a terminological change, introducing in this context the term Performance Design substituting the traditional term of Scenography. The emphasis on this concept had the purpose of including new forms of emerging creations. This change provoked important echoes and has been the subject of many debates in the field of the performing arts. It therefore seemed necessary to determine the new contours of the discipline. What are the current functions of the scenographer? What skills must he have today to respond to the specific challenges of staging? What are the areas where the scenographer practices? What are the limits of the scenography? Or again, what are the new spaces, beyond traditional domains, that open up as fields of practice? To question the current status of the scenographer inevitably requires a reconsideration of his historical definitions. This research does not claim to be an exhaustive study of the evolution of the scenographer's role. Nonetheless it has allowed us to isolate three cracks in its evolution. We propose to develop this analysis by means of three categories: function, domain, and competence. In order to complete a theoretical debate, we wanted to hear the voices of scenographers from different countries around the world. This diversity of interviews has allowed us to have a living example of the particular reality of those who exercise the discipline today.

The design processes for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is improved to achieve higher reliability and reduced levelised cost of energy (LCOE) throughout this thesis. The design processes currently used in the development of PV systems are reviewed. This review process included embedding the author in a project to deliver four rooftop PV systems which totalled a megawatt of installed generating capacity, which at the time represented very significant system sizes. The processes used in this are analysed to identify improvement potential. Shortcomings are identified in three main areas: safety assurance, design process integration and financial optimisation. Better design process integration is required because data is not readily exchanged between the industry standard software tools. There is also a lack of clarity about how to optimise design decisions with respect to factors such as shading and cable size. Financial optimisation is identified as a challenge because current software tools facilitate optimising for maximum output or minimum cost, but do not readily optimise for minimum levelised cost of energy which is the primary objective in striving for grid parity. To achieve improved design process integration and financial optimisation, a new modelling framework with the working title SolaSIM is conceived to accurately model the performance of solar photovoltaic systems. This framework is developed for grid connected systems operating in the UK climate, but it could readily be adapted for other climates with appropriate weather data. This software development was conducted using an overarching systems engineering approach from design and architecture through to verification and validation. Within this SolaSIM framework, the impact of shading on array and inverter efficiency is identified as a significant area of uncertainty. A novel method for the calculation of shaded irradiance on each cell of an array with high computational efficiency is presented. The shading sub-model is validated against outdoor measurements with a modelling accuracy within one percent. Final verification of the over-arching SolaSIM framework found that it satisfied the requirements which were identified and actioned. The author installed the new CREST outdoor measurement system version 4 (COMS4). COMS4 is a calibrated system which measures 26 PV devices simultaneously. Validation of SolaSIM models against COMS4 found the modelling error to be within the 4% accuracy target except two sub-systems which had electronic faults. The model is validated against PV systems and found to be within the specified limits.

Gas turbine engines are conceptually designed using performance maps that describe the compressor’s effect on the cycle. During the traditional design process, the cycle designer selects a compressor design point based on criteria to meet cycle design point requirements, and performance maps are found or created for off-design analysis that meet this design point selection. Although the maps always have a pedigree to an existing compressor design, oftentimes these maps are scaled to account for design or technology changes. Scaling practices disconnect the maps from the geometry and flow associated with the reference compressor, or the design parameters which are needed for compressor preliminary design. A goal in gas turbine engine research is to bridge this disconnect in order to produce acceptable performance maps that are coupled with compressor design parameters. A new compressor conceptual design and performance prediction method has been developed which will couple performance maps to conceptual design parameters. This method will adapt and combine the key elements of compressor conceptual design with multiple-meanline analysis, allowing for a map of optimal performance that is attached to reasonable design parameters to be defined for cycle design. This method is prompted by the development of multi-fidelity (zooming) analysis capabilities, which allow compressor analysis to be incorporated into cycle analysis. Integrating compressor conceptual design and map generation into cycle analysis will allow for more realistic decisions to be made sooner, which will reduce the time and cost used for design iterations.

The world’s energy use in buildings (residential and commercial) accounts for around 40% of the worldwide energy consumption, and space heating is the responsible for half of the energy need in the building sector. In Europe, only a small share (less than 10%) of existing buildings was built after 1990. Most of the building stock does not satisfy the recent energy technical standards; in addition there is a very low trend to construct new buildings in the last years. Renovation of the existing buildings is a feasible option to reduce the energy need in Europe, but finding the optimum solutions for a renovation is not a simple task. Each design parameter differently influences the final energy need of buildings and, furthermore, the different variables are differently correlated each other. Building refurbishment will benefit from a tool for the selection of the best measures in term of energy need. This work, through a global sensitivity analysis, aims at determining the contribution of the design parameters to the building energy demand and the correlation between the different variables. The considered parameters are related to the improvement of the thermal transmittance of both the opaque envelope and the windows, the solar transmittance of the glazing surfaces, the window size, the thermal inertia of the internal walls and the external sunshades for windows. Several dynamic simulations have been performed varying the design parameters from different starting conditions. Finally, due to the large number of cases elaborated, an inferential statistical analysis has been performed in order to identify the predominant factors and the correlation between the design parameters in a global context.

`FRACTION, an investigation on principles of functional design and its expressive potential´ is dealing with the interaction between the body, the worn garment and the closer space around it, in the context of the three being individual functional systems. Based on my findings, I am questioning the existing paradigms for a functional expression with the aim of generating an outlook for a possible development of what can be considered a functional visual. How much function can an expression contain and how much expression can still be considered functional?Revisiting the historic context of functional design, not garment construction, profound thoughts on aesthetics and function as well as the current status of the branch, this article is aiming for a more holistic view on functional creation and fashion design. Based on this theoretical background ten outfits got developed. All of them serve as a conceptual proposal of what the findings could mean in reality. / Program: Konstnärligt masterprogram i mode- och textildesign med inriktning mot modedesign eller textildesign

In this thesis, effects of some software design patterns on real time software performance will be investigated. In real time systems, performance requirements are critical. Real time system developers usually use functional languages to meet the requirements. Using an object oriented language may be expected to reduce performance. However, if suitable software design patterns are applied carefully, the reduction in performance can be avoided. In this thesis, appropriate real time software performance metrics are selected and used to measure the performance of real time software systems.

This thesis presents an investigation of braking system characteristics, brake system performance and brake system component design parameters that influence brake pedal force / displacement characteristics as ‘felt’ by the driver in a passenger car. It includes detailed studies of individual brake system component design parameters, operation, and the linear and nonlinear characteristics of internal components through experimental study and simulation modelling. The prediction of brake pedal ‘feel’ in brake system simulation has been achieved using the simulation modelling package AMESim. Each individual brake system component was modelled individually before combining them into the whole brake system in order to identify the parameters and the internal components characteristics that influence the brake pedal ‘feel’. The simulation predictions were validated by experimentally measured data and demonstrated the accuracy of simulation modelling. Axisymmetric Finite Element Analysis (using the ABAQUS software) was used to predict the behaviour of nonlinear elastomeric internal components such as the piston seal and the booster reaction disc which was then included in the AMESim simulation model. The seal model FEA highlighted the effects of master cylinder and caliper seal deformation on the brake pedal ‘feel’. The characteristics of the brake booster reaction disc were predicted by the FEA and AMESim simulation modelling and these results highlighted the importance of the nonlinear material characteristics, and their potential contribution to brake pedal ‘feel’ improvement. A full brake system simulation model was designed, prepared, and used to predict brake system performance and to design a system with better brake pedal ‘feel’. Each of the brake system component design parameters was validated to ensure that the braking system performance was accurately predicted. The critical parameter of brake booster air valve spring stiffness was identified to improve the brake ‘pedal ‘feel’. This research has contributed to the advancement of automotive engineering by providing a method for brake system engineers to design a braking system with improved pedal ‘feel’. The simulation model can be used in the future to provide an accurate prediction of brake system performance at the design stage thereby saving time and cost.

‘Project performance’ is the metric of delivering project objectives. This research is motivated by levels of project failure and the purpose of the research is to investigate improved project performance. The scientific spectrum is considered; arguing project management as a sub-field of management science based in ‘design science’. Despite research since the 1950s, there is no established community paradigm for project management, illustrated by multiple ‘schools of thought’ failing to stimulate performance improvement. This is investigated with respect to the changing nature of projects and their management; application in numerous industrial sectors, across increasing scope of the product lifecycle (including service projects), and the changing role of project managers as value adding ‘implementers’ rather than status ‘reporters’. Methodology examines the community paradigm and identifies the lack of community paradigm and argues that gap spotting is not appropriate. Conducting research that fills knowledge gaps does not identify underlying issues and reinforces fundamental failings. Underlying assumptions are identified and challenged. Key characteristics are examined in the context of requirements of the community paradigm. The purpose of theory is to describe, explain and predict. Some techniques describe and explain. Few, if any, predict. This locates ‘performance prediction’ as the research issue and suggests it is a missing function for performance improvement. The research focus considers single tasks within a project network. A research model of early stage deviation from plan is developed from the literature on project pathogens and incubation processes. ‘Deviation lifecycle’ as a project function is identified as having no previous evidence in literature. This is developed into a practice model extending the role of failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and integrating weak signals and tipping point theory to test performance. Case studies examine representative application of the model and build on the previous cases to illustrate potential for practice. The case studies were reviewed by industrial experts. The changing role of project managers to value added implementers implies a need to improve performance. Research found potential to understand and predict early stage deviation and develops the deviation lifecycle and research model. Across the case studies the research model illustrated potential application. Practical implications indicate potential contribution of project management techniques based on prediction rather than traditional reporting. Developing the community paradigm based on design science is discussed as further work. The originality of the research challenges the lack of theoretical foundation for project management by discussion of the community paradigm and proposes design science as a candidate. The work identifies ‘prediction’ as a relevant but missing function from the project management ‘toolbox’, and introduces the concept of the deviation lifecycle and note no previous literature. The research develops an industrial research model that extends the application of FMEA to examine ‘performance’ and integrates weak signals and tipping point analysis to manage the resolution.

This thesis presents an investigation of braking system characteristics, brake system performance and brake system component design parameters that influence brake pedal force / displacement characteristics as ‘felt’ by the driver in a passenger car. It includes detailed studies of individual brake system component design parameters, operation, and the linear and nonlinear characteristics of internal components through experimental study and simulation modelling. The prediction of brake pedal ‘feel’ in brake system simulation has been achieved using the simulation modelling package AMESim. Each individual brake system component was modelled individually before combining them into the whole brake system in order to identify the parameters and the internal components characteristics that influence the brake pedal ‘feel’. The simulation predictions were validated by experimentally measured data and demonstrated the accuracy of simulation modelling. Axisymmetric Finite Element Analysis (using the ABAQUS software) was used to predict the behaviour of nonlinear elastomeric internal components such as the piston seal and the booster reaction disc which was then included in the AMESim simulation model. The seal model FEA highlighted the effects of master cylinder and caliper seal deformation on the brake pedal ‘feel’. The characteristics of the brake booster reaction disc were predicted by the FEA and AMESim simulation modelling and these results highlighted the importance of the nonlinear material characteristics, and their potential contribution to brake pedal ‘feel’ improvement. A full brake system simulation model was designed, prepared, and used to predict brake system performance and to design a system with better brake pedal ‘feel’. Each of the brake system component design parameters was validated to ensure that the braking system performance was accurately predicted. The critical parameter of brake booster air valve spring stiffness was identified to improve the brake ‘pedal ‘feel’. This research has contributed to the advancement of automotive engineering by providing a method for brake system engineers to design a braking system with improved pedal ‘feel’. The simulation model can be used in the future to provide an accurate prediction of brake system performance at the design stage thereby saving time and cost.