Different scenarios of the financial situation can take place before the company's bankruptcy. There may be long-term trends in the deteriorating financial situation that indicate the impending corporate bankruptcy, or the bankruptcy may occur unexpectedly, even though the company was ranked among prosperous business units. If the economic situation of the company followed the second scenario, when insolvency was quite predictable, static model, i.e. the model which does not take into account the dynamics of changes in the financial indicators, is a good option to capture the probability of bankruptcy. However, the situation becomes different when the financial indicators fail to show a positive trend throughout some years before the insolvency. In this case, the predictive accuracy of the static model could be increased by a dynamic model by taking into account the fact that the development of the financial indicators in the past periods may affect the company's financial health for the period under consideration.

<p> This thesis is a study of numerically controlled machine tools (NCMT), and is divided into four sections. </p> <p> Section A is a literature survey of current concepts, criteria and techniques in design of MCMT structures and drives. Several of the authors own ideas are also included. </p> <p> Section B deals with NCMT manual and computer aided programming techniques. The structure and function of post processors is also covered. </p> <p> Section C is a practical combination of computer design optimization and numerical control manufacture. In an example the geometrical dimensions of a hydrostatic thrust bearing are optimized and used as an input to a generalized APT programme, written to produce a numerical control tape for manufacture of this bearing type. </p> <p> Section D is the discussion and conclusion. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

The present work describes the finite element (FE) modeling and dynamic response of lightweight, deployable shelters (tent) to large external blast loads. Flexible shelters have been used as temporary storage places for housing equipments, vehicles etc. TEMPER Tents, Small Shelter System have been widely used by Air Force and Army, for various field applications. These shelters have pressurized Collective Protection System (CPS), liner, fitted to the frame structure, which can provide protection against explosives and other harmful agents. Presently, these shelter systems are being tested for the force protection standards against the explosions like air-blast. In the field tests carried out by Air Force Research Laboratory, it was revealed that the liner fitted inside the tent was damaged due to the air blast explosion at some distant from the structure, with major damage being on the back side of the tent. The damage comprised of tearing of liner and separation of zip seals. To investigate the failure, a computational approach, due to its simplicity and ability to solve the complex problems, is used. The response of any structural form to dynamic loading condition is very difficult to predict due to its dependence on multiple factors like the duration of the loading, peak load, shape of the pulse, the impulse energy, boundary conditions and material properties etc. And dynamic analysis of shell structures pose even much greater challenge. Obtaining solution analytically presents a very difficult preposition when nonlinearity is considered. Therefore, the numerical approach is sought which provide simplicity and comparable accuracy. A 3D finite element model has been developed, consisting of fabric skin supported over the frames based on two approaches. ANSYS has been used for obtaining the dynamic response of shelter against the blast loads. In the first approach, the shell is considered as a membrane away from its boundaries, in which the stress couple is neglected in its interior region. In the second approach, stress coupling is neglected over the whole region. Three models were developed using Shell 63, Shell 181 and Shell 41. Shell 63 element supports both the membrane only and membrane-bending combined options and include stress stiffening and large deflection capabilities. Shell 181 include all these options as Shell 63 does and also, accounts for the follower loads. Shell 41 is a membrane element and does not include any bending stiffness. This element also include stress stiffening and large deflection capabilities. A nonlinear static analysis is performed for a simple plate model using the elements, Shell 41 and Shell 63. The membrane dominated behavior is observed for the shell model as the pressure load is increased. It is also observed that the higher value of Young's modulus (E) increases the stresses significantly. Transient analysis is a method of determining the structural response due to time dependent loading conditions. The full method has been used for performing the nonlinear transient analysis. Its more expensive in terms of computation involved but it takes into account all types of nonlinearities such as plasticity, large deflection and large strain etc. Implicit approach has been used where Newmark method along with the Newton-Raphson method has been used for the nonlinear analysis. Dynamic response comprising of displacement-time history and dynamic stresses has been obtained. From the displacement response, it is observed that the first movement of the back wall is out of the tent in contrast to the other sides whose first movement is into the tent. Dynamic stresses showed fluctuations in the region when the blast is acting on the structure and in the initial free vibration zone. A parametric study is performed to provide insight into the design criteria. It is observed that the mass could be an effective means of reducing the peak responses. As the value of the Young's Modulus (E) is increased, the peak displacements are reduced resulting from the increase in stiffness. The increased stiffness lead to reduced transmitted peak pressure and reduced value of maximum strain. But a disproportionate increase lead to higher stresses which could result in failure. Therefore, a high modulus value should be avoided. / Master of Science

Orientador: Jefferson Sidney Camacho / Resumo: Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar o comportamento linear estático e dinâmico de placas, com carregamento perpendicular ao seu plano médio, realizando a discretização estrutural com o elemento finito prismático regular linear. Na dedução das matrizes de rigidez e de massas do elemento finito em questão, utiliza-se a formulação com parâmetros generalizados e com coordenadas homogêneas, cujas funções aproximadoras com vinte e quatro monômios, respectivamente, foram extraídos do polinômio algébrico cúbico em “x”, “y” e “z”. Para a consideração do amortecimento utiliza-se o Método de Rayleigh e para a integração numérica ao longo do tempo utiliza-se o Método de Newmark, via algoritmo previsor / corretor. Ao final deste trabalho foram elaborados exemplos elucidativos visando uma análise quantitativa e qualitativa dos resultados obtidos, que foram comparados com os valores determinados do elemento finito de placa retangular. Como conclusões finais, para placas muito delgadas deve-se utilizar o elemento finito de placa retangular; em placas delgadas é possível a utilização dos elementos finitos de placa retangular e o prismático regular linear; e para placas espessas deve-se utilizar o elemento finito prismático regular linear. / Abstract: The main objective of this work is to analyze the static and dynamic linear behavior of plates with perpendicular loading to its mean plane, performing the structural discretization with the regular linear prismatic finite element. In the deduction of the stiffness and mass matrices of the finite element, it is used the formulation with generalized parameters and with homogeneous coordinates, whose approximate functions with twenty-four monomials, respectively, were extracted from the cubic algebraic polynomial in x, "y" and "z". For the damping consideration, it is used the Rayleigh Method and for the numerical integration by along the time it is used the Newmark Method, via forecaster / corrector algorithm. At the end of this work, elucidative examples were elaborated aiming a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the obtained results which were compared with the finite element determined values of rectangular plate. As final conclusions, for very thin plates must use the rectangular plate finite element; in thin plates it is possible to use the rectangular plate finite elements and the linear regular prismatic; and for thick plates the linear regular prismatic finite element must be used. / Mestre

Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre des recherches menées autour de l'analyse et la visualisation des logiciels, notamment les logiciels à objets, et en particulier Java. Très brièvement, on peut dire que le but de cette thèse revient à tenter de répondre à une question fondamentale: comment faire pour faciliter la compréhension du logiciel par ses développeurs et concepteurs ? Ce travail de recherche est basé en grande partie sur deux axes principaux. Le premier consiste à analyser l'exécution des programmes, non seulement au niveau de la méthode, mais bien au niveau du bloc de base, pour recueillir des données d'exécutions avec un maximum de précision comme par exemple les différents types d'instances sur les sites d'appels. Le second axe considère l'utilisation des informations apportées par notre analyse dynamique de l'exécution pour permettre la visualisation de ces données. En effet, ces informations offrent des détails intéressants sur le fonctionnement du programme et aident à expliquer le comportement du logiciel, aussi bien pour déceler les problèmes de performance que les problèmes de codages. Nous proposons une technique souple et efficace qui effectue une analyse dynamique de l'exécution de programmes Java. Nous introduisons ainsi une nouvelle technique et un nouvel outil permettant de recueillir des informations encore non proposées par d'autres analyseurs. Cette approche trace l'exécution précise des programmes tout en ayant une baisse des performances d'exécution acceptable, laissant le programme final utilisable. De plus, nous proposons et expérimentons une approche basé sur la visualisation des relations au sein d'une représentation du logiciel par une métaphore de ville. Nous introduisons une nouvelle technique de représentation des relations nommée "3D HierarchicalEdge Bundles" qui est basée sur une représentation 2D existante nommée "HierarchicalEdge Bundles". Cette approche conserve la puissance de visualisation du logiciel offerte par la métaphore de la ville tout en ajoutant la représentation des relations, et cela d'une façon lisible. Ces travaux sont validés entre autres par le développement d'un outil d'analyse nommé VITRAIL JBInsTrace et d'un outil de visualisation nommé VITRAIL Visualizer. Ces outils sont la base de nos recherche actuelles sur l'étude de l'exécution des programmes objets / This work falls within the scope of research pertaining to the analysis and the visualization of software systems, especially for object oriented languages, and more precisely Java. In a nutshell, it can be said the aim of this thesis is to try to answer a fundamental question: what can we do to ease the understanding of software by its designers and developers ? This research work is mainly based on two axes. The first axis consists in analyzing software runtime, not only at method level, but also at basic bloc level, so as to be able to get meaningful and precise information about the runtime. For instance, we can acquire the different types of instances on call sites at runtime. The second axis considers the use of information coming from our dynamic analyzer of software runtime and allowing the visualization of these data. Indeed, this kind of information offers important details about software functioning and provide a way to explain the behavior of software, so as to identify performance, coding and even design and architecture issues. We propose a technique that allows flexible and efficient dynamic analysis of the execution of Java programs. We thus introduce a new technique and tool for gathering information not yet offered by other analyzers. This approach precisely traces the execution of programs with acceptable performance penalty, that is while keeping the traced programs usable. In addition, we propose and experiment an approach based on visualizing relationships within a software city representation. We introduce a new technique for representing relationships in 3D named the "3D Hierarchical Edge Bundles" that is based on an existing 2D technique, the "Hierarchical Edge Bundles". This approach keeps the power of the software city metaphor while adding the representation of the relationships within the software, in a readable way. These works are validated by, among others things, the development of a tracer and analyzer tool called VITRAIL JBInsTrace and a visualization tool called VITRAIL Visualizer. These tools are used on our current researches which consist in studying runtime of object-oriented programs

Today many computing resources distributed geographically are idle much of time. The aim of the grid computing is collecting these resources into a single system. It helps to solve problems that are too complex for a single PC. Scheduling plays a critical role in the efficient and effective management of resources to achieve high performance on grid computing environment. Due to the heterogeneity and highly dynamic nature of grid, developing scheduling algorithms for grid computing involves some challenges. In this work, we concentrate on efficient scheduling of distributed tasks on grid. We propose a novel scheduling heuristic for bag-of-tasks applications. The proposed algorithm primarily makes use of history based runtime estimation. The history stores information about the applications whose runtimes and other specific properties are recorded during the previous executions. Scheduling decisions are made according to similarity between the applications. Definition of similarity is an important aspect of this approach, apart from the best resource allocation. The aim of this scheduling algorithm (HISA-History Injected Scheduling Algorithm) is to define and find the similarity, and assign the job to the most suitable resource, making use of the similarity. In our evaluation, we use Grid simulation tool called GridSim. A number of intensive experiments with various simulation settings have been conducted. Based on the experimental results, the effectiveness of HISA scheduling heuristic is studied and compared to the other scheduling algorithms embedded in GridSim. The results show that history injection improves the performance of future job submissions on a grid.

The purpose of this study is to determine the most suitable remediation technique via geotechnical assessment of the landslide that occurred during the construction of Bursa-ineg&ouml / l-Boz&uuml / y&uuml / k Road at KM: 72+000-72+200 in an ancient landslide area. For this purpose, the geotechnical parameters of the mobilized soil along the slide surface was determined by back analyses of the landslide at four profiles by utilizing the Slope/W software. The landslide was then modeled using coupled analyses (with the Seep/W and Slope/W softwares) along the most representative profile of the study area by considering the landslide mechanism, the parameters determined from the geotechnical investigations, the size of the landslide and the location of the slip circle. In addition, since the study area is located in a second degree earthquake hazard region, pseudo-static stability analyses using the Slope/W software were performed incorporating the earthquake potential. The most suitable slope remediation technique was determined to be a combination of surface and subsurface drainage, application of rock buttress at the toe of the slide and unloading of the landslide material. A static and dynamic analyses of the landslide was also performed through utilizing finite element analyses. The static analyses were calibrated using the inclinometer readings in the field. After obtaining a good agreement with the inclinometer readings and finite element analyses results, the dynamic analyses were performed using acceleration time histories, which were determined considering the seismic characteristics of the study area.

This thesis examines the seismic internal retrofitting of existing deficient reinforced concrete (RC) structures by using structural steel members. Both experimental and numerical studies were performed. The strengthening methods utilized with the scope of this work are chevron braces, internal steel frames (ISFs), X-braces and column with shear plate. For this purpose, thirteen strengthened and two as built reference one bay one story portal frame specimens having 1/3 scales were tested under constant gravity load and increasing cyclic lateral displacement excursions. In addition, two &frac12 / scaled three bay-two story frame specimens strengthened with chevron brace and ISF were tested by employing continuous pseudo dynamic testing methods. The test results indicated that the cyclic performance of the Xbrace and column with shear plate assemblage technique were unsatisfactory. On the other hand, both chevron brace and ISF had acceptable cyclic performance and these two techniques were found to be candidate solutions for seismic retrofitting of deficient RC structures. The numerical simulations by conducting nonlinear static and dynamic analysis were used to estimate performance limits of the RC frame and steel members. Suggested strengthening approaches, chevron brace and ISF, were also employed to an existing five story case study RC building to demonstrate the performance efficiency. Finally, design approaches by using existing strengthening guidelines in Turkish Earthquake Code and ASCE/SEI 41 (2007) documents were suggested.

Tyrimo objektas: Kineziterapijos ir kinezioteipavimo momentinis poveikis statinei ir dinaminei pusiausvyrai prieš priekinio kryžminio raiščio operaciją. Tyrimo tikslas: Nustatyti kineziterapijos ir kinezioteipavimo momentinį poveikį statinei bei dinaminei pusiausvyrai prieš priekinio kryžminio raiščio operaciją. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti kineziterapijos poveikį statinei ir dinaminei pusiausvyrai prieš priekinio kryžminio raiščio operaciją. 2. Nustatyti kinezioteipavimo momentinį poveikį statinei ir dinaminei pusiausvyrai taikant kineziterapiją prieš priekinio kryžminio raiščio operaciją. Tyrimo hipotezė: Manome, kad tiriamiesiems prieš priekinio kryžminio raiščio operaciją, taikyta kineziterapija pagerins statinę ir dinaminę pusiausvyrą. Be to, pusiausvyra stovint ant pažeistos kojos bus geresnė su kinezioteipu. Tyrimo rezultatai: Nustatėme, kad svyravimai Ax ir Ay ašyse, stovint ant pažeistos kojos, buvo statistiškai reikšmingai mažesni po kineziterapijos. Taip pat, po kineziterapijos pagerėjo pusiausvyra Ax ašyje stovint ant sveikos kojos. Pusiausvyra po šuolio stovint ant sveikos ir pažeistos kojos statistiškai reikšmingai pagerėjo po kineziterapijos Ay ašyje. Stovint ant pažeistos kojos su kinezioteipu, nustatėme statistiškai patikimą skirtumą tarp dinaminės pusiausvyros stovint ant pažeistos kojos be kinezioteipo ir su juo. Pusiausvyra pagerėjo Ax ir Ay ašyse. Išvados: 1. Po kineziterapijos pagerėjo statinė pusiausvyra pirmyn - atgal ir šonine kryptimis stovint ant... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Object of the study: The effect of physical therapy and instantaneous kinesio taping for static and dynamic balance before anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Aim of the study: To investigate effect of physical therapy and the instantaneous kinesio taping for static and dynamic balance before anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Goals of the study: 1. To investigate the effect of physical therapy for static and dynamic balance before anterior cruciate ligament surgery. 2. To investigate the instantaneous effect of kinesio taping for static and dynamic balance before anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Hypothesis of the study: We think that, static and dynamic balance will improve after physical therapy before anterior cruciate ligament surgery. Moreover, the balance of the injured limb will improve after instantaneous kinesio taping. Results of the study: We found that variations of standing on injured limb was significantly lower after physical therapy in Ax and Ay axis. Also, balance of healthy limb improved after physical therapy. Moreover, the balance after jump of injured and healthy leg improved in Ay axis after physical therapy. Dynamic balance improved with kinesio tape on injured limb before physical therapy. Conclusions: 1. Static balance forward - backward and side to side improved after physical therapy. Moreover, static balance standing on the injured limb improved side to side. Furthermore, dynamic side to side balance improved in both limbs after physical... [to full text]

This thesis presents a new modelling method for information systems analysis and design, where the concept of service and the principles of service orientation are used for integrated modelling and reasoning about information systems architectures across organisational and technical systems boundaries. The concept of service enables cohesion of the intersubjective and objective modelling traditions by using a single type of diagram that facilitates detection of semantic inconsistency, incompleteness, ambiguity and discontinuity between the static and dynamic aspects of information systems specifications. The thesis is focused on three research topics, which are fundamental to the development of a new service-oriented modelling method. The first research topic concerns a pragmatic-driven specification of information systems. It clarifies answers to the research question: How can a conceptual modelling process be driven by pragmatic considerations? The second research topic provides a service-oriented modelling foundation for information systems analysis and design. It answers the research questions: How can the concept of service be used explicitly for the analysis and design of information systems and how can the static and dynamic aspects of information systems specifications be integrated at the conceptual level? The third research topic presents transition principles to implementation-specific design and answers the research question: How can service-oriented conceptual representations be aligned with implementation-specific design? The thesis contributes with a new knowledge to the area of conceptual modelling of information systems. The service-oriented modelling method consists of the modelling process, modelling language and techniques for the analysis and design of information systems on three levels of abstraction: pragmatic, semantic and syntactic. These three levels are necessary for a holistic understanding of enterprise architecture by stakeholders. The advantage of the service-oriented modelling method is that it can help to control traceability from information system design to original requirements. The method facilitates the semantic integration of the structural, behavioural and interactive aspects of information systems conceptual representations by using a single diagram type. The modelling language provides service-oriented constructs that are fundamental to building the major systems analysis patterns. The service-oriented modelling process contributes with seven steps of incremental design, which justifies various information systems components. The method provides the basis for a gradual and systematic way of modelling and an understanding of how pragmatic, semantic and logical information system requirements are linked together. The possibility to detect and eliminate undesirable characteristics of service-oriented diagrams can help to improve communication among stakeholders. Service-oriented specifications are computation-neutral and therefore they are more comprehensible for business analysis experts in comparison to implementation specific graphical representations of information systems. Finally, this thesis presents the challenges for future research, one of which is the development of the automated tools for the alignment of business models with implementation-specific information systems specifications.