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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.
51

Comparative study of the equivalent moment factor between international steel design specifications

Smalberger, Hermanus Johannes Wessels 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) is an important failure mode that needs to be taken into account during the design of steel beams. The fundamental equation for determining the elastic critical moment of a beam was derived with the assumption that the beam is subjected to a uniform bending moment distribution. Loads on steel structures generate a great variety of bending moment distributions. The effect of the bending moment distribution is taken into account by a parameter known as the equivalent moment factor. The procedure outlined in the South African National Standard for limit-states design of hot-rolled steel work, SANS 10162-1:2011, for determining the equivalent moment factor was originally developed for a bending moment that is uniformly or linearly distributed, however it is currently used for all bending moment distributions. A Finite Element (FE) model was developed in this investigation for determining the equivalent moment factor. The numerical model included residual stresses and initial geometric imperfections commonly found in hot-rolled steel beams. To validate the assumptions made during the development of the FE model an in-depth experimental investigation was conducted on simply supported beams. Three different load configurations were considered in the experimental study in order to simulate various bending moment distributions. A comparison of the equivalent moment factor between the numerical results and the results obtained from various steel specifications, including SANS 10162-1:2011, was carried out in an attempt to quantify the positive and negative attributes of the various methods employed by steel design specifications. The experimental investigation concluded that the FE model is able to successfully represent a simply supported beam with realistic characteristics that include residual stresses and imperfections. The comparative study illustrated that for a bending moment distribution with a constant moment gradient, SANS 10162-1:2011 provides excellent results. However, for the other distributions considered in this investigation highly conservative results were obtained for the equivalent moment factor. The relevance of these findings were made clear by considering three design cases found in steel structures. The resistance moment of the beams in each of these cases was calculated according to each of the steel specifications. It was found that the use of a highly conservative procedure for determining the equivalent moment factor can lead to the uneconomical design of a structure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Laterale-torsie knik is ’n belangrike falings modus wat in ag geneem moet word tydens die ontwerp van staal balke. Die fundamentele vergelyking vir die bepaling van die elastiese kritieke moment van ’n balk is afgelei met die aanname dat die balk onderworpe is aan ’n eenvormige buigmoment verdeling. Belastings op staalstrukture genereer ’n groot verskeidenheid van buigmoment verdelings. Die effek van hierdie buigmoment verdelings word in ag geneem deur ’n parameter wat bekend staan as die ekwivalente moment faktor. Die prosedure uiteengesit in die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Standaard vir die ontwerp van warm-gewalste staalwerk, SANS 10162-1:2011, vir die bepaling van hierdie faktor is oorspronklik ontwikkel vir ’n buigmoment wat uniform of linieêr verdeel is oor die lengte van die balk, maar dit word tans gebruik vir alle buigmoment verdelings. ’n Eindige Element (FE) model is ontwikkel in hierdie ondersoek vir die bepaling van die ekwivalente moment faktor. Die numeriese model sluit die residuele spannings en aanvanklike geometriese imperfeksies wat in die algemeen teenwoordig is in warm-gewalste profiele in. Die aannames wat gemaak is tydens die ontwikkeling van die FE model is bevestig met ’n in diepte eksperimentele ondersoek oor die gedrag van eenvoudig opgelegde balke. Drie verskillende las konfigurasies is oorweeg in die eksperimentele studie om verskeie buigmoment verspreidings na te boots. ’n Vergelyking van die ekwivalente moment faktor tussen die numeriese resultate en die resultate verkry van verskeie staal spesifikasies, insluitend SANS 10162-1:2011, is uitgevoer in ’n poging om die positiewe en negatiewe eienskappe van die verskillende metodes wat gebruik word in verskillende staal ontwerp spesifikasies, te kwantifiseer. Die eksperimentele ondersoek het tot die gevolgtrekking gelei dat die FE model in staat is om ’n eenvoudige opgelegte balk te verteenwoordig, met realistiese eienskappe wat residuele spannings en imperfekies insluit. Die vergelykende studie toon dat SANS 10162-1:2011 uitstekende resultate bied vir ’n buigmoment verdeling met ’n konstante moment gradiënt. Dit was egter gevind dat vir ander verdelings wat in hierdie ondersoek oorweeg is, SANS 10162-1:2011 hoogs konserwatiewe resultate bied. Die toepaslikheid van hierdie bevindinge is duidelik gemaak deur drie ontwerp gevalle wat algemeen in staalstrukture gevind word te bestudeer. Die weerstandsmoment is in elk van die gevalle bereken volgens elke staal spesifikasies. Daar is gevind dat die gebruik van ’n hoogs konserwatiewe prosedure vir die bepaling van die ekwivalente moment faktor kan lei tot die ontwerp van ’n onekonomiese struktuur.
52

Formalisation des transferts de spécifications projet dans le cycle de conception de produits manufacturés : application à un environnement de type Produit-Processus-Organisation / Formalisation of project specifications transfers in the design cycle of manufactured products : application to a Product-Process-Organisation environment

Goncalves, Manuel 13 December 2010 (has links)
La performance d'un projet de conception de produits manufacturés est souvent caractérisée par un ensemble d'indicateurs qui ne repose pas uniquement sur la performance du produit mais sur celle du triptyque produit processus et organisation (PPO). L’utilisation d’indicateurs de performance dans un projet de conception ne peut être efficace que si les liens de traçabilité entre les données sont formalisés. Durant le cycle de conception, de très nombreuses spécifications PPO, également appelées spécifications projet, sont déployées dans un environnement de conception collaborative. Ce déploiement consiste à transférer les spécifications de niveaux de détail donnés vers des niveaux de détail plus affinés (transfert interniveaux) et depuis des vues globales vers des vues particulières (transfert intervues). Ce travail propose de caractériser ces deux mécanismes de transferts, déjà introduits pour les spécifications géométriques, à l’ensemble des spécifications projet. La formalisation et la généralisation de ces mécanismes de transferts ont été identifiées pour un ensemble de modèles pour la conception collaborative (un modèle produit, deux modèles processus (un pour le système décisionnel et un pour le système technologique) et un modèle organisation). Ces modèles constituent ainsi un environnement PPO. Le système décisionnel et le système technologique y sont décrits comme deux aspects du système de conception : l’un s’intéressant à l’organisation et aux processus, l’autre travaillant sur le produit même au travers d’un processus de conception. Les transferts de spécifications y sont ainsi illustrés. La mise en place de perturbations dans un scénario de conception de turbine haute pression permet de mettre en évidence les liens de traçabilité entre les spécifications ainsi que les impacts des perturbations et des solutions censés les corriger. Un indicateur de performance énergétique ayant été défini, des perturbations sont simulées et des solutions sont proposées. La notion de compromis apparaît alors lorsque les solutions améliorent une caractéristique de l’indicateur de performance énergétique mais en dégrade une autre. / Design project performance of manufactured products is often characterised by a set of indicators which does not depend only on the product’s performance but also on that of the product process and organisation (PPO) triptych. The use of performance indicators in a design project can only be effective if the traceability links between the data are formalised. During the design cycle, a lot of PPO specifications, also called project specifications, are deployed in a collaborative design environment. This deployment consists in transferring the specifications from a given detail level towards finer ones (interlevel transfer) and from a global view towards particular ones (interview transfer). This work proposes to characterise these two mechanisms of transfers, already introduced for geometrical specifications, with the whole of project specifications. The formalisation and the generalisation of these mechanisms of transfers were identified for a set of models for collaborative design (one product model, two process models (one for the decision-making system and one for the technological system) and one organisation model). These models provide thus a PPO environment. The decision-making system and the technological system are described there as two aspects of design system: one concerned with the organisation and the processes, the other working on the product through a design process. Specifications transfers are thus illustrated there. The introduction of disturbances in a design scenario of a high-pressure turbine can highlight the traceability links between specifications and the impacts of the disturbances and the solutions to correct them. An energetic performance indicator has been defined, disturbances are simulated and solutions are proposed. The compromise notion appears then when the solutions go better a characteristic of the energetic performance indicator but degrade another one.
53

A study of establishing a new building services company in Hong Kong.

January 1983 (has links)
by So Yat-fan, Yeung Ka-keung. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Bibliography: leaf 107.
54

UTREDNING AV UPPHANDLINGSDOKUMENT VID OFFENTLIG UPPHANDLING MED FOKUS PÅ ÄTA-ARBETEN / Investigation of documents in public procurement with the focus on alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work

Axelsson, Alice, Johansson, Elinor January 2020 (has links)
Purpose: Today two of the biggest problems within the construction industry in Sweden is the exceeding of budgets and that the projects do not finish in time. One of the reasons is the use of alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work that occurs during the project. The purpose is therefore to study the variations that can be related to the documents that are used during public procurement as well as provide some suggestions on how the procurement documents can be improved for future projects. Hence trying to decrease the use of variations in projects. Method: The study consists of a multiple case study with three similar projects. The methods that are used are a literature study that provides the base of the intended study. A study of documents is also a crucial element to be able to draw the connections between the procurement documents and the alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work. There will also be semi structured interviews that will strengthen the case study and increase the knowledge within the area. Findings: the study shows that 60 percent of the alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work can be connected to the procurement documents. There are a few causes that leads to the use of alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work in a project for example coordination between the different technical areas within the projects that can lead to contradictions in the documents. Too much material in the procurement documents can leads to conflicting information which leads to the use of alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work. With greater accuracy and greater coordination between the different technical areas, drawings, and other documents. Coordination between the areas would also improve if it is implemented in the early stages of design. It is important to be clear in the technical description which work is expected from the project which would lead to fewer the alterations, supplementaryand withdrawn work. Implications: the overall problem is in this study is how you can reduce the use off alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work connected to the procurement documents. Most of the alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work in a project can be connected to these documents. To be able to reduce the cost there should be a system implemented regarding the review and coordination of the procurement documents. Limitations: This study is limited to three different projects from different municipalities, to secure a more certain result there should be more equivalent projects included in the study. The interviews are limited to the project managers that where responsible for the specific projects in this study. Keywords: alterations, supplementary- and withdrawn work, procurement documents, public procurement, specifications, regulations, technical specifications
55

A microcomputer program for the design of composite beams

Taha, Nabil M. January 1985 (has links)
Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 T33 / Master of Science
56

Evidence-based design for healthcare buildings in England and Wales

Wanigarathna, Nadeeshani January 2014 (has links)
A substantial amount of credible evidence shows that properly designed healthcare built environments can positively impact upon the health outcomes of the building users. This offers an opportunity to improve the quality of healthcare through appropriately designed healthcare built environments. Evidence-based design (EBD) emerged within healthcare building design practice to enhance the process of designing with credible evidence. This research explored improvement opportunities for EBD in the UK which would subsequently improve the quality of healthcare through built environment interventions. Specifically, three key research gaps were addressed during this research. Firstly, this research explored current practices of evidence use during healthcare designing and opportunities to increase the direct use of research-based evidence and alternative ways of conveying research-based evidence into the design process through other source of generic evidence for design. Secondly, this research explored how evidence could be effectively expressed within healthcare design standards, guidance and tools (SGaTs) in the forms of performance and prescriptive specifications. Finally, considering the unique nature of built environment design, this research explored how project unique contextual circumstances impact EBD processes and how practitioners reflect on these circumstances. These challenges were then transformed into six objectives. Following a comprehensive literature review, this research was divided into four phases. First, a model of the sources and flows of evidence (SaFE) was developed to represent evidence for EBD within generic evidence for design. The initial conceptual model was developed through desk study, based on the literature review, self-experience and the experience. This model was then verified with the comments from five un-structured interviews conducted with lecturers and senior lecturers of the School of Civil and Building Engineering. Finally, the model was validated using 12 semi-structured interviews conducted with design practitioners from the industry. In addition to the validating the sources and flows of evidence these interviews revealed rationales behind design practitioners use of evidence from four types of evidence sources. These results revealed improvement opportunities to increase the intake of research-based evidence use during healthcare built environments designing. The main data collection method for this research was case studies. Eight exemplar design elements within three case studies were investigated to explore details of evidence use practices; practices of using performance and prescriptive specifications; and impact of project unique contextual circumstances for EBD process and how design practitioners reflect on these circumstances. Results of this research revealed that EBD needs to be supported by both externally published research evidence and through internally generated evidence. It was also identified that EBD could be significantly facilitated through research- evidence informed other generic design evidence sources. Healthcare design SGaTs provides a promising prospect to facilitate EBD. Performance specification driven healthcare design SGaTs supplemented by prescriptive specifications to define design outputs and design inputs could improve effective use of evidence-informed SGaTs. These results were incorporated into a framework to guide development of healthcare design SGaTs. Finally, by exploring how projects unique contextual circumstances impact EBD processes and how practitioners reflect on these circumstances, this research identified the need for procedural guidance for designers to guide evidence acquisition, evidence application and new evidence generation.
57

The secondary impact of variation orders : a qualitative analysis

Neff, Melany Mavis 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Variations made to the original scope of works are part of construction projects. Varying the scope of works has a cost and time impact, also referred to as the direct impact of V.Os. The direct impact is generally well understood by both contractor and client. Over and beyond the direct impact, V.Os also have a secondary impact on a project. Unlike the direct impact, the secondary impact appears not to be well recognised and managed by South African contractors. The principal aim of the research is to understand the secondary impact of V.Os. Based on this understanding, it then aims to give guidelines and recommendations to assist contractors to manage the secondary impact of V.Os. A variety of methods are used in this thesis. It includes literature review, questionnaire surveys and interviews. The qualitative analysis consists out of a pre-investigation which provided insight on how contractors deal with the secondary impact of V.Os. The JBCC and the GCC were analysed, which provided an understanding on how the contract deals with V.Os and its secondary impact. A definition was developed for the secondary impact. Key terms in the definition were analysed that assist with its understanding. Through means of a detailed literature review of relevant literature, a collection of delay and disruption events were identified that could be triggered by V.O. Studies are presented that proves V.Os cause a loss of productivity on construction projects. A comprehensive and systematic overview was given that explains the secondary impact of V.Os on construction projects. The main events discussed in the overview were validated for the South African contractor through means of interviews conducted with 2 contractors and questionnaires sent out to 44 individuals. It was found that in general, some South African contractors have accepted the secondary impact as part of construction projects. Contracts do not explicitly consider the secondary impact of change, nor does it provide clear guidelines as to how it should be addressed by the parties in contract. It was concluded that the secondary impact is unforeseen loss of productivity on the unchanged work due to the synergistic effect of the disruption caused by a multitude of V.Os (Jones, 2001, Hanna, 2004 and Ibbs, 2005). The secondary impact is an impact on human factors such as morale, self-esteem, motivation and the cause of difficult working conditions. It is a disruption that prevents project activities and events from starting and ending at the planned time and also prevents contractors from executing activities as planned. The cost due to the secondary impact is a combination of increased labour cost and also the increased cost of completing the unchanged work. It is clear that to pro-actively manage the secondary impact of V.Os will require the cooperation from the contract, the contractor and the client. In short contractors will need to understand the secondary impact, be aware of and prepared for delay and disruption events, keep record of the impact, monitor and control labour productivity and maintain a good relationship with the client. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Veranderinge aan die oorspronklike omvang van die werk is deel van konstruksie-projekte. Wanneer die omvang van die oorspronklikke werke verander word, het dit ‘n tyd en koste implikasie tot gevolg. Dit word na verwys as die direkte impak van veranderringe. Die direkte impak word oor die algemeen goed verstaan deur beide die kontrakteur en die kliënt. Bo en behalwe die direkte impak, het variation orders (V.Os) ook 'n sekondêre impak op 'n projek. In teenstelling met die direkte impak, word die sekondêre impak waarskynlik nie goed erken en bestuur deur die Suid-Afrikaanse kontrakteurs nie. Die hoofdoel van die navorsing is om die impak van sekondêre V.Os. te verstaan. Op grond van hierdie begrip, het dit ten doel om riglyne en aanbevelings te gee wat kontrakteurs kan help om die sekondêre impak van V.Os. te bestuur. 'n Verskeidenheid van metodes word in hierdie tesis gebruik. Dit sluit in literatuurstudies, vrae-lys opnames en onderhoude. Die kwalitatiewe ontleding bestaan uit 'n voor-ondersoek wat insig verskaf oor hoe kontrakteurs die sekondêre impak van V.Os hanteer en beleef. Die JBCC en die GCC is ontleed, met die doel om te verstaan hoe die kontrak V.Os en hul sekondêre impak hanteer. 'n Definisie is ontwikkel vir die sekondêre impak. Sleutelterme in die definisie is ontleed wat help met die begrip. Deur middel van 'n omvattende literatuuroorsig van relevante literatuur, is 'n versameling van die vertraging-en ontwrigtings gebeure geïdentifiseer wat deur V.Os veroorsaak kan word. Studies wat bewys dat V.Os 'n afname in produktiwiteit van konstruksie-projekte veroorsaak, is geraadpleeg. 'n Omvattende en sistematiese oorsig word gegee wat die sekondêre impak van V.Os op konstruksie-projekte verduidelik. Die belangrikste gebeurtenisse wat in die oorsig beskryf word, is bekragtig vir die Suid-Afrikaanse kontrakteur deur middel van onderhoude wat met 2 kontrakteurs gevoer is en vraelyste wat uitgestuur is aan 44 individue. Daar is gevind dat in die algemeen, aanvaar sommige Suid-Afrikaanse kontrakteurs die sekondêre impak as deel van konstruksie-projekte. Kontrakte bevat nie duidelike riglyne wat verduidelik hoe kontrakteurs en kliënte die sekondêre impak van V.Os moet hanteer en aanspreek nie. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat die sekondêre impak ‘n onvoorsiene verlies van produktiwiteit op die onveranderde werk is. Dit is die gevolg van die sinergistiese effek van ontwrigting wat veroorsaak word deur 'n menigte van V.Os (Jones, 2001, Hanna, 2004 en Ibbs, 2005). Die sekondêre uitwerking is 'n impak op menslike faktore soos moraal, selfbeeld, motivering en die oorsaak van die moeilike werksomstandighede. Dit is 'n ontwrigting wat verhoed dat die aktiwiteite en gebeure van die projek begin of eindig op die beplande tye. Ook verhoed die sekondêre impak dat die kontrakteurs aktiwiteite uitvoer soos wat vooruit beplan was. Die koste as gevolg van die sekondêre impak is 'n kombinasie van verhoogde arbeidskoste en ook die verhoogde koste om onveranderde werk te voltooi. Dit is duidelik dat die samewerking van die kontrak, die kontrakteur en die kliënt noodsaaklik is om die sekondêre impak van V.Os op ‘n pro-aktiewe wyse te bestuur. Kortliks, vir kontrakteurs om die sekondêre impak te bestuur, het hul nodig om dit te verstaan, om bewus te wees van en voorbereid te wees vir die vertraging-en ontwrigtings gebeure wat plaasvind, rekord moet gehou word van die impak, die produktiwiteit van arbeid moet gemonitor en beheer word en 'n goeie verhouding met die kliënt moet nagestreef word.
58

Die tekskwaliteit van medisynevoubiljette : teksgerigte vs lesergerigte ondersoek

Maske, Janine Terese 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (PhD (Afrikaans and Dutch))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Medisynevoubiljette (MVB’s) is bekend vir hulle gebrek aan toeganklikheid. Dit word veral dan ook ’n ernstige aangeleentheid indien talle mense siek word en selfs onnodig sterf as gevolg van nie-nakoming of wanbegrip van die instruksies wat in hierdie dokumente voorsien word. Dit is logisties onmoontlik om ’n direkte verband te bewerkstellig tussen nie-nakoming en die tekortkoming van spesifieke mediese voubiljette. Dit is in beginsel ook moontlik om die MVB uit te skakel as moontlike oorsaak van nie-nakoming. Daarom word die beoogde funksies van die voubiljet bepaal, en ondersoekmetodes toegepas om die kwaliteit daarvan te bepaal. Sodoende word tekortkominge in hierdie dokumente teen die beoogde funksie van die dokumente blootgelê en word ruimte geskep vir die herontwerp van die dokumente. Die vakgebied Dokumentontwerp erken verskillende ondersoekmetodes wat op ’n kontinuum tussen teksgerig en lesergerig geplaas word. In hierdie studie word ’n teksgerigte studie uitgevoer deur middel van ’n kontrolelys wat opgestel is om die tekortkominge in medisynevoubiljette bloot te lê. Die teoretiese raamwerk waarbinne dit geskied is die Funksionele en die Sistemies Funksionele Linguistiek. ’n Kenmerk van dié raamwerk is dat dit genre betrek as die struktuur waarbinne dokumente opgestel en evalueer kan word. Die elemente van genre, naamlik register – met inbegrip van die konsepte diskoersveld, tenoor en modus - en kommunikatiewe doelwit, speel ’n belangrike rol hier en omvat beginsels waarby dokumentontwerpstudies kan baat. Die indelingskriterium wat gebruik word vir die genreindeling is doelwit wat implikasies inhou vir die resultate van teksevaluering. Om die daadwerklike kommunikatiewe geslaagdheid van die dokument te bepaal, word ’n lesergerigte studie uitgevoer in die vorm van ’n vraelysondersoek. Hierdeur word die verband gelê tussen die uitsprake wat gelewer word na toepassing van ’n kontrolelys en hoe die leser die teks ervaar. Die kontrolelys stel praktiese kwessies op die voorgrond. Die voordeel van kontrolelyste is dat hulle “Ja”- of “Nee”-antwoorde uitlok wat die evalueerder help om die resultate te kwantifiseer. Daar is ’n magdom faktore wat inwerk op ’n evalueerder se besluit om “Ja” of “Nee” te antwoord daarom moet die antwoorde gewoonlik gekwalifiseer word. Dit is juis in die kwalisering van antwoorde dat die kwantifiseerbare aspek daarvan ondermyn word. Daarom moet die stellings wat vir die kontrolelys geld, voorskriftelik wees. Voorskriftelikheid suggereer veralgemening wat die doel van die ondersoek kan verbysteek. Daarom is daar in die stellings probeer om soveel as moontlik van die omstandighede waaronder “Ja” of “Nee” geantwoord kan word te ondervang. Dit sorg ook in ’n mate vir die kwalitatiewe aspek van die studie. Die kwalitatiewe aspek word verder akkommodeer deur ruimte vir bespreking van die faktore wat teksopstellers se keuses inperk en vir aanbevelings vir verbetering van die stellings. Die benadering neem die polisentriese aard van besluitneming deur teksopstellers in ag. Die studie is bedryfsgerig. Die farmaseutiese bedryf erken die behoefte aan kommunikasie wat spesifiek op die leek gerig is. Daarom is daar deur die bedryf ’n studie geloods waarvoor bepaalde lesergerigte pasiëntinligtingsdokumete geskep is. Die bedryfsaspek van hierdie studie is in die vergelyking tussen hierdie tekstipe, wat die PID genoem word, en die MVB. Daar is ook opsigte waarin die PID verbeter kan word. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pharmaceutical package inserts are renowned for their lack of accessibility. This can prompt a serious situation when people become ill and even die unnecessarily as a result of noncompliance with or misunderstanding of the instructions provided in these documents. It is logistically impossible to establish a direct relationship between non-compliance and the deficiencies of any given package insert. In principle it is possible to eliminate the pharmaceutical package insert as the possible cause of non-compliance. For this reason the envisaged functions of the inserts are established and research methods applied to determine their quality. In this way deficiencies in the document are exposed against the envisaged function of the document and the ground is prepared for these documents to be redesigned. The field Document Design recognizes various research methods which occupy different positions on the continuum between text orientation and reader orientation. In this study the text orientated study is conducted by means of a checklist that has been compiled to expose the shortcomings of pharmaceutical package inserts. The theoretical framework within which the study is undertaken is Functional and Systemic Functional Linguistics. A feature of this framework is that it involves genre as the structure within which documents are compiled and evaluated. The elements of genre, namely register – including the concepts field, tenor and mode – and communicative goals, play an important role here and incorporate concepts from which document design studies can benefit. The criterion for categorizing texts into genres is goal which has implications for the results of text evaluation. In order to determine the actual communicative success of a document, a reader orientated study is conducted in the form of a questionnaire. In this way the relationship between the findings after the application of the checklist and how the reader actually experiences the text is revealed. The checklist brings practical issues to the fore. The advantage of a checklist is that it invites “Yes” or “No” answers which help the evaluator to quantify the results. There is a multitude of factors influencing the evaluator’s decision to choose “Yes” or “No” and therefore the answers usually have to be qualified. It is in this qualification of the answer that the quantification is undermined. Therefore the statements that are valid for the checklist must be prescriptive. Prescriptiveness suggests generalisation which can go beyond the objective of the study. An attempt has therefore been made to preempt the circumstances under which “Yes” or “No” would be an appropriate answer. This, to some extent, takes care of the qualitative aspect of the study. The qualitative aspect is further accommodated by allowing space for the discussion of those factors that restricted the choices of text compilers and for the recommendations for improvement of the statements. The approach takes the polycentric nature of decision making by the text compiler into account. The study is industry orientated. The pharmaceutical industry acknowledges the need for communication that is specifically aimed at the lay person. For this reason the industry launched a study for the purposes of which a Patient Information Leaflet was compiled. The industry orientated part of this study resides in the comparison between this text type, called the PIL, and the existing package insert. There are areas in which the PIL too can be improved.
59

Sources, causes and minimisation of contractual claims in civil engineering projects in Hong Kong

Yogeswaran, Kumaru. January 1998 (has links)
published_or_final_version / Civil and Structural Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy
60

Development of the BaBar trigger for the investigation of CP violation

Andress, John Charles January 2000 (has links)
No description available.

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