The thesis is focused on a test on determination of the fracture-mechanical parameters of quasi-brittle materials, especially concrete. What is referred to as the wedge-splitting test is considered, for which a variety of shapes of notched specimen can be used. This work is exclusively focused on the cylinder-shaped specimen of diameter 150 mm and breadth of 100 mm. The test is performed virtually using Atena 2D FEM software. Progress of failure is observed during loading of the specimen for various notch lengths. The amount of energy released for the development the failure outside of the tested cross-sectional area (weakened by the notch) is quantified and the size of the fracture process zone is investigated. The described analysis is performed for several material sets witch differ in cohesive properties of the quasi-brittle material expressed via the so-called characteristic length. Suitable proportions of the test specimen are sought, in order to avoid the failure and thus also the energy dissipation outside of the specimen ligament area during the experimental tests, which shall lead to more accurate estimates of fracture-mechanical parameters of the tested material.

Thermoelectric generators (TEG) are re-emerging technology that can be used to recover heat waste from commercial and industrial processes to generate electricity, enhancing fuel utilization and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. TEG modules are solid-state heat engines that produce no noise or vibration during operation. Notably, TEG modules are also able to operate at low-temperature differences, which makes them ideal for a wide range of heat waste recovery applications. Annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) modules are optimal in applications where either the heat source or sink are round in shape. Bi2Te3 solution-based compounds are of significant interest in the application of thermoelectric materials (TE) used in low-temperature cooling and power generation applications. The main objective of the current work is to design a mechanically reliable ring-shaped ATEG module with a predictable performance using spark plasma sintered Bi2Te3 TE material for low temperature waste heat recovery applications. In terms of structure, this work is divided into two parts. The first part investigates how the use of a powder pre-treatment technique affects the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of P- and N-type Bi2Te3. In addition, part one also presents the measurements of these materials’ mechanical and thermoelectric properties, which serve as inputs for the finite element models used to design thermoelectric modules with parallel and perpendicular configurations vis-a-vis the sintering pressing direction. The second part evaluates the thermoelectric performance and thermal stresses of a ring-shaped ATEG couple that has been integrated between hot-side and cold-side heat exchangers. To this end, two configurations are compared with respect to their heat/electrical current flow paths: one that allows for radial flow (radial configuration), and one that allows for axial flow (axial configuration). The P- and N-type Bi2Te3 powder was treated using a mechanically agitated fluidized powder reduction facility that was built in-house. The characteristic uniaxial tensile strength of the P-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 increased from 13.9 MPa to 26.3 MPa parallel to the sintering pressure, and from 16.3 MPa to 30.6 MPa perpendicular to the sintering pressure following oxide reduction using 5% H2 ˗ 95% Ar at 380 ℃ for 24 h. The figure of merit, ZT, increased from 0.35 to 0.80 and from 0.42 to 1.13 at room temperature (25 ℃) in the parallel and the perpendicular directions, respectively, after the surface oxide reduction treatment. On the other hand, the annealing effects of the oxide reduction pr-treatment of the N-type (Bi0.95 Sb0.05)2(Se0.05 Te0.95)3 using 5% H2 ˗ 95% Ar at 380 ℃ for 24 h were found to be responsible for the majority of the mechanical properties and ZT enhancement. Additionally, the characteristic uniaxial tensile strengths for this material increased from 30.4 to 34.1 MPa and from 30.8 to 38 MPa in the parallel and the perpendicular directions, respectively. The ZTmax (150 ℃) increased from 0.54 to 0.63 in both the parallel and perpendicular directions due to oxide reduction, while annealing led to an increase to 0.58 and 0.62 in the parallel and the perpendicular directions, respectively. An analytical model was constructed to compare the thermoelectric performance of the two configurations under three different hot-side thermal resistances, and a 3D coupled finite element ANSYS model was constructed to study and compare the thermal stresses of the two configurations at different dimensions. The two models were then used to create 2D maps in order to investigate the effects of ATEG couple configuration and dimensions, as well as the hot-side thermal resistance, with the goal of identifying the optimum design. The optimization of module geometry requires a trade-off between performance and mechanical reliability. The results of these investigations showed that increases in the temperature difference across the ATEG couple (ΔT) led to increases in both power and thermal stresses in both configurations. When both configurations were generating the same power at ΔT = 105 ℃, the thermal stresses in the radial configuration were as much as 67 MPa higher than those in the axial configuration due to the formation of additional tensile hoop stresses. The lowest thermal stress obtained for the axial couple configuration was 67.8 MPa, which was achieved when the couple had an outer diameter of 16 mm, an axial thickness of 1 mm, a ΔT of 14.8 ℃, and power generation of 10.4 mW per couple. The maximum thermal stress values were located at the corners of the interface between the solder and the TE rings due to the mismatched coefficient of thermal expansion. This thesis makes a novel contribution to the state-of-the-art literature in ring-shaped ATEG modules, as it details a well-characterised spark plasma sintered Bi2Te3 TE material and a methodology for designing a ring-shaped ATEG module with reliable, robust, and predictable thermoelectric and mechanical performance. The details of the contribution made by this work have been disseminated in the form of three journal publications, which have been integrated into this sandwich Ph.D. thesis. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD)

The subject of this graduation thesis is a conceptual architectural study of the former house of correction extension, annex and reconstruction and also a new ideological solution of adjacent areas and total building plan . The house is located in the Brno’s Bronx district. The reconstruction is focused on the use of alternative housing concepts with the general target at the whole city quarter reneration – address change.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate acute effects of physical exercise of different intensities on working memory. Method: Twelve young adults, 20-40 years, 8 males and 4 females passed the screening and participated in a randomized experimental crossover within-subject design study with three experimental conditions. Working memory was measured with n-back consisting of three difficulty levels.  Results: No significant interaction effect within subjects between the three different exercise intensity conditions for accuracy or response time was found. A significant main effect of time was detected for n-back response time, F(1,11)=40.2, p=<.001, reflecting an overall shorter response time after exercise compared to before, independent of exercise intensity condition. A two-way interaction effect on accuracy was found between n-back session 1 and 2 in the low fitness group.  Conclusions: The exercise intensity does not seem to matter for the improvement of working memory performance. However, participants response time was shown to be faster following any given exercise intensity.

The wettability and phase change phenomena of water are ubiquitous on biological and artificial surfaces. Properties like water repellency, self-cleaning, coalescence induced condensation jumping, anti-frosting, and dew harvesting arise on surfaces with particular structures and chemistry and are of particular interest for energy and water saving. This thesis collects different studies of wettability and phase change on natural and artificial surfaces: growth and self-ejection of condensation droplets on micro and nanostructured surfaces we fabricated, their applications, the Sliding on Frost of condensation droplets observed on the Cotinus Coggygria leaf, the dew harvesting property of the Old Man of the Andes Cactus enhanced by distance coalescence through microgrooves and finally, a theoretical study of viruses viability in sessile droplets. The first chapter introduces the theoretical framework of wettability and phase changes on surfaces. In the second chapter, we present the self-ejection of condensation droplets from hydrophobic nanostructured microstructures. We modelled analytically the droplets jumping and fabricated surfaces to verify the predictions. The fabricated geometry was inspired by the modelling and the available fabrication techniques. We tested the surfaces in condensation conditions. Using a high frame rate camera coupled with a long working distance microscopy objective, we investigated the growth and ejection transient. We then compared the experimental self-ejection velocity for various structures geometry with our analytical models. In Chapter 3, we investigated the applications of the fabricated surfaces reported in Chapter 2. In Chapter 4, we explore the condensation frosting on the leaf of Cotinus Coggygria, native of our woods and with interesting hydrophobic properties. Covered by wax nanotubules, it exhibits coalescence-induced condensation jumpings that may be a useful cleaning tool. Furthermore, the frost is delayed but not only for the jumping. Surprisingly, at temperatures some degrees below zero, we observed what we called ‘droplet Sliding on Frost bridges’, that further delays frosting. We described the feasibility of this sliding in terms of dynamic contact angles of the surface and contact angles of supercooled water on ice. By capturing high temporal and spatial resolution videos we investigated the sliding on frost and droplet recalescence (fast dendrite growth that partially solidify the liquid). The responsible for the failure of sliding for temperatures from about -8 ° C down appears to be the advancing angle of water on ice that increases with the subcooling rather than the recalescence that blocks the drop in place. These results add a piece to the fundamental research on the supercooled water-ice-vapour interfaces. As it often happens, biological surfaces offer a starting point for the study of fundamental mechanisms and the development of artificial surfaces with optimized properties. In the Chapter 5, the multifunctional roles of hairs and spines in Old Man of the Andes Cactus (Oreocereus trolli) are studied. We study the morphology of the appendages, the hairs wettability, mechanical properties of both, and the dew formation on spines. The longitudinal microgrooves on the spines cause a particular phenomenon of distant coalescence (DC), in which smaller droplets flow totally or partially into larger ones through the microgrooves, with consequent accumulation of water in a few large drops. An earlier study has shown artificial micro-grooved surfaces that exhibit DC are more efficient than flat ones at collecting and sliding dew, and thus these cactus spines could act as soil dew conveyors. The agreement between our analytical model and experimental data verifies that the flow is driven by the Laplace pressure difference between the drops. This allowed us to obtain a general criterion for predicting the total or partial emptying of the smaller drops as a function of the dynamic contact angles of a surface. Based on this criterion, an hydrophilic material with small contact angle hysteresis would allow a greater number of complete drops emptying. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the problem of contagion from airborne and deposited droplets. In the last chapter, we report the state of the art of experiments on the viability of viruses in deposited droplets. Up to date, it has been experimentally highlighted that the relative viability of some viruses (RV) depends on the material chemistry, temperature, and interestingly, on relative humidity (RH) with a U-shaped trend. One of the current hypotheses is that the cumulative dose of salt concentration (CD) affects RV. We model the RV of viruses in sessile droplets by inserting a RV-CD relation in a model of droplet evaporation. By considering a saline water droplet (one salt) as the simplest approximation of real solutions, we analytically simulate the time evolution of salt concentration, vapor pressure, and droplet volume varying contact angles, droplet sizes, and RH in the range 0–100%. The results elucidate some previously not yet well-understood dynamics, demonstrating how three main regimes—directly implicated in nontrivial experimental trends of virus RV—can be recognized as the function of RH. The proposed approach could suggest a chart of a virus fate by predicting its survival time at a given temperature as a function of RH and contact angle. We found a good agreement with experimental data for various enveloped viruses and predicted in particular for the Phi6 virus, a surrogate of coronavirus, the characteristic U-shaped dependence of RV on RH. Given the generality of the model, once experimental data are available that link the vulnerability of a certain virus (such as SARS-CoV-2) to the concentrations of salts or other substances in terms of CD, it is envisioned that this approach could be employed for antivirus strategies and protocols for the prediction/reduction of human health risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses.

No description available.

Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Synthese und der Untersuchung von Struktur-Eigenschaftsbeziehungen neuartiger V-förmiger, formstabiler Mesogene zur Realisierung biaxial nematischer Mesophasen (Nb). Alle synthetisierten Verbindungen besitzen ein formtreues Oligo(phenylenethinylen)-Grundgerüst, an welches laterale Alkyloxyketten und verschiedene terminale Substituenten (z. B. -CN, O(CH2)nCOOEt, Pyridyle) angebunden wurden. Durch dieses spezielle Design erhält man ausschließlich nematische und keine höher geordneten flüssigkristallinen Phasen. Durch den Einsatz verschiedener zentraler heterozyklischer Kernbausteine konnten erfolgreich Öffnungswinkel zwischen 108.9° und 160° realisiert werden. Dabei zeigen Thiadiazolderivate stets enantiotrope Mesophasen, wobei im Hochtemperaturbereich eine uniaxiale Phase mit biaxialen Aggregaten vorliegt. Beim Abkühlen konnte bei etwa 50 °C mittels Polarisationsmikroskopie und dielektrischer Spektroskopie ein Übergang in die Nb-Phase nachgewiesen werden. Die erstmalige Beobachtung eines direkten Übergangs von der isotropen Phase in die Nb-Phase gelang durch den Einsatz von Benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b]dithiophen als Kernbaustein.

This thesis aims to provide adequate analytical information on the spade shaped iron bars of Norrland and central Sweden. While their significance has been thoroughly debated for decades, analytical research on them has been confined to cases of single artefacts or theoretical interpretations of their value, meaning and origin. In this study a comprehensive approach is taken into consideration. Based on X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and metallographical analysis this thesis seeks to facilitate new interpretations on quality, production centres and usage based on analytical results. Aiming to settle some of the long lasting questions regarding the artefacts while producing results which can further the discussion by raising new questions, previously unasked.

The subject of the diploma thesis is a preparation of a prefabricated hall with administration in Prace. The production hall will be used to produce glass fiber reinforced concrete. Next part and extension is an administrative part. The text part of the thesis contains a technical report on the building technological project, time and financial plan of the building - object, coordinating situation of the building with broader relations of the transport routes, study of the realization of the main technological stages of the building object, item budget of the main building object, time schedule of the main building, sets of the main technological stages, detection protocols for individual months, limits, balance of resources and personnel, plan of selected material sources, technical report of construction site equipment, technological regulation of precast reinforced concrete frame, technological regulation of precast concrete frame coverings Kingspan panels, Control and test plan of precast concrete frame, covering of precast concrete frame panels Kingspan and ceiling panels of the Spiroll administration, alternative suggestion of the exchange ceiling construction administration and comparison, noise study and thermal technology.

Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Synthese und der Untersuchung von Struktur-Eigenschaftsbeziehungen neuartiger V-förmiger, formstabiler Mesogene zur Realisierung biaxial nematischer Mesophasen (Nb). Alle synthetisierten Verbindungen besitzen ein formtreues Oligo(phenylenethinylen)-Grundgerüst, an welches laterale Alkyloxyketten und verschiedene terminale Substituenten (z. B. -CN, O(CH2)nCOOEt, Pyridyle) angebunden wurden. Durch dieses spezielle Design erhält man ausschließlich nematische und keine höher geordneten flüssigkristallinen Phasen. Durch den Einsatz verschiedener zentraler heterozyklischer Kernbausteine konnten erfolgreich Öffnungswinkel zwischen 108.9° und 160° realisiert werden. Dabei zeigen Thiadiazolderivate stets enantiotrope Mesophasen, wobei im Hochtemperaturbereich eine uniaxiale Phase mit biaxialen Aggregaten vorliegt. Beim Abkühlen konnte bei etwa 50 °C mittels Polarisationsmikroskopie und dielektrischer Spektroskopie ein Übergang in die Nb-Phase nachgewiesen werden. Die erstmalige Beobachtung eines direkten Übergangs von der isotropen Phase in die Nb-Phase gelang durch den Einsatz von Benzo[1,2-b:4,3-b]dithiophen als Kernbaustein.