The collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, MN on August 1, 2007 brought into question the design and inspection of gusset plates in steel truss bridges. The experimental tests performed in this research study the sway-buckling strength and behavior of large-scale steel gusset plates in an isolated truss connection. Parameters studied include plate thickness,combination member loading, initial out-of-plane imperfection, diagonal compression member out-of-plane flexural stiffness, corrosion, and alternative retrofits to increase lateral stiffness. The flexural stiffness of the diagonal compression member and retrofit designs were unique to the testing program. The variables monitored during testing include gusset plate surface stresses and strains, member axial strains, out-of-plane displacement of the gusset plate free edge, and buckling capacity. The results were compared with previously established design models for predicting buckling capacity of gusset plates which include the Whitmore effective width, the Modified-Thornton method, and the FHWA Load Rating Guidelines. A parametric finite element model was developed to determine the lateral stiffness of the gusset plate connection and the additional stiffness provided by the alternative retrofit options. The results showed interaction between the diagonal compression member and gusset plate occurs, which affects sway-buckling capacity. Combination of member loads showed evidence of detrimental effects on sway-buckling capacity. Corrosion of the gusset plates along the top edge of the bottom chord did not lead to significant reduction in sway-buckling capacity. The two retrofit designs showed increases in both lateral stiffness and buckling capacity as well as economic benefits over traditional retrofit methods. Comparison of the results to the current design guidelines showed that the current methods are conservative and do not accurately represent the true behavior of gusset plate connections. The research concludes with two proposed models for future use in design and retrofit of gusset plates. The first is a member-gusset plate interaction model based on a stepped column analogy that takes into account the effects of member flexural stiffness and gusset plate stiffness. The second is a general design guideline developed for retrofit of gusset plate connections dominated by sway-buckling behavior which uses a stiffness based approach to increase the capacity of gusset plate connections. / Graduation date: 2012

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of Psychology, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 43-47).

[pt] O equilíbrio corporal é uma importante habilidade física e um aspecto fundamental para a saúde dos idosos, sendo as quedas a principal causa de lesões não intencionais que levam a perda de autonomia e ao óbito neste grupo. Com o envelhecimento da população mundial e sendo os déficits de equilíbrio uma das maiores causas de atendimentos fisioterapêuticos, o uso de instrumentos portáveis de baixo custo e confiáveis para avaliação do equilíbrio são de extrema relevância. Diversos estudos avaliaram a validade concorrente e/ou confiabilidade do Microsoft Kinect (Kinect) e do Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) durante testes de equilíbrio. Estes estudos foram favoráveis ao uso destes equipamentos nestas avaliações em posições semi-estáticas. Este estudo examinou a confiabilidade teste-reteste com o uso concorrente do Kinect e do WBB durante um teste de equilíbrio em três posições semi-estáticas, analisando variáveis do centro de pressão (CoP) e do centro de gravidade (CoG) em manequins e em 70 indivíduos saudáveis. Cada participante executou dois testes na mesma sessão. Os equipamentos demonstraram sensibilidade para identificar diferentes padrões de oscilação corporal. As variáveis mais confiáveis foram a velocidade média e o percurso total em todas as direções e tarefas. A confiabilidade foi considerada de fraca a boa nos testes com pessoas e nos testes com manequins, excelente. Porém, os resultados com as variáveis das pessoas baseadas em dados consolidados das três tarefas alcançaram confiabilidade excelente. Propriedades do CoP demonstraram ser mais confiáveis do que as do CoG, sugerindo que o WBB seja superior ao Kinect nesta tarefa. O presente trabalho corrobora estudos anteriores, podendo, estes dispositivos, prover informações quantitativas confiáveis, aprimorando avaliações qualitativas do equilíbrio. / [en] Body balance is an important physical skill and it is fundamental for elderly´s health, considering that falls are a major cause of unintentional injuries leading to the loss of autonomy and death in this group. Growth of aging in world population and being balance impairment one of the major causes of physiotherapeutic attendance, simple, affordable, portable, and reliable devices for evaluating body balance are of great relevance. Several studies have been examining concurrent validity and reliability of Microsoft Kinect (Kinect) and Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) during balance tests. The majority of these studies suggested that those devices could be used as reliable and valid tools for assessing balance in semi-static positions. Based on that, this study investigated test-retest reliability using Kinect and WBB, concurrently, in three standing positions, and analyzed variables related to center of pressure (CoP) and center of gravity (CoG), in static manikins and in 70 healthy subjects. Each participant performed the set of tests twice in the same day. Our solution demonstrated sensibility to identify different body sway patterns. Tests showed that the most reliable variables were average speed and total path length in all directions and tasks. Despite tests with static manikin signalized excellent reliability, tests with individuals were considered poor to good. However, variables of consolidated data based on different tasks achieved excellent scores. CoP properties outperformed those related to CoG, suggesting that WBB was superior when compared to Kinect in providing more reliable body sway information. This study reinforced that these devices may provide reliable quantitative information that enhances qualitative body balance assessments.

Orientador: Alexandre César Rodrigues da Silva / Resumo: O reconhecimento de atividades humanas abrange diversas técnicas de classificação que permitem identificar padrões específicos do comportamento humano no momento da ocorrência. A identificação é realizada analisando dados gerados por diversos sensores corporais, entre os quais destaca-se o acelerômetro, pois responde tanto à frequência como à intensidade dos movimentos. A identificação de atividades é uma área bastante explorada. Porém, existem desafios que necessitam ser superados, podendo-se mencionar a necessidade de sistemas leves, de fácil uso e aceitação por parte dos usuários e que cumpram com requerimentos de consumo de energia e de processamento de grandes quantidades de dados. Neste trabalho apresenta-se o desenvolvimento do Sistema de Reconhecimento de atividades Humanas e Avaliação do Equilíbrio Postural, denominado SIRAH. O sistema está baseado no uso de um acelerômetro localizado na cintura do usuário. As duas fases do reconhecimento de atividades são apresentadas, fase Offline e fase Online. A fase Offline trata do treinamento de uma rede neural artificial do tipo perceptron de três camadas. No treinamento foram avaliados três estudos de caso com conjuntos de atributos diferentes, visando medir o desempenho do classificador na diferenciação de 3 posturas e 4 atividades. No primeiro caso o treinamento foi realizado com 15 atributos, gerados no domínio do tempo, com os que a rede neural artificial alcançou uma precisão de 94,40%. No segundo caso foram gerados 34 ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

In my dissertation, I explore social strategies that Peruvian subalterns have developed to survive against racism and discrimination. I have identified and coined one of these strategies as etnovaivén (ethno-sway), which I define as a pendulum-like approach that allows subalterns to swing/sway from blanqueamiento to cholificación, and vice versa. In this context, blanqueamiento (whitening) mainly refers to the subaltern's willingness and efforts to assimilate the white culture in order achieve upward social mobility, whereas cholificación depicts the reluctance of Indian and mestizo subalterns to assimilate the cultural norms of the dominant group in certain circumstances, while asserting their own ethnic identity. Conversely, etnobúmeran (ethno-boomerang) is a self-inflicted boycott to one’s own ethnic groups. I claim that Peruvian subalterns shape their cultural singularity between ethno-sway and ethno-boomerang. My research has examined these social phenomena as reflected in the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega’s Comentarios reales (1609), Clorinda Matto de Turner’s Aves sin nido (1889), and Enrique López Albújar’s Matalaché (1928). In addition, in La ciudad y los perros (1963) by Mario Vargas Llosa, Montacerdos (1981) by Cronwell Jara, La violencia del tiempo (1991) by Miguel Gutiérrez, and Hienas en la niebla (2010) by Juan Morillo, I have analyzed the historical connection between miscegenation, discrimination, inequality and violence, which progressively led to the Internal Conflict (1980-2000), the goriest and longest war in Peru’s republican history that resulted in the assassination of approximately 70 000 persons, most of them Quechua-speaking, ordinary civilians. Highlanders fleeing from terrorism during those two decades account for the depopulation of over 2/3 of the Andean region. This study is both relevant and pertinent because it intersects with contemporary debates about national identity formation, and because it provides a means to understand the aftermath of political violence, a phenomenon that periodically threatens the lives of Peruvians. My work contests the traditional thesis of racial and cultural miscegenation as the foundation of Peruvian national identity (the "melting pot" metaphor), which has proven to be ineffective. Instead, I propose a more inclusive identity concept that celebrates cultural diversity and accepts the coexistence of multiple ethnic and cultural groups within the confines of the nation.

Design of load bearing steel structure of a curling building. Examination of main load bearing building blocks. Examination of selected details. Drawing of disposition and selected details. Elaboration of manufactory drawings of chosen segments.

This thesis is about designing and assessmenting timber structure of hangar in Brno - Medlánky. Hangar is designed for small planes at Medlanky airport. Plan view of hangar is 116 m × 64 m and hight is 10,6 m. The building is curved and building forms part of a semicircle. The main frames are irregular and formed of solid girder which statically acting as a double-jointed arches. The structure is designed from glued laminated timber, solid timber and steel connecting elements. Substructure is solved by concrete blocks and foundation strips. A spatial rigidity of the structure is provided by the sway and longitudinal bracings. Roof and peripheral walls are made by sandwich panels.

Diploma thesis includes design and examination of steel load-carrying structure. Construction includes car deal warehouse and car repair shop with extension for car varnishing. Car deal warehouse has ground dimensions 22 x 30 m and total high 10 m. Main frame is composed of Vierendeel trusses with arc shape. Car repair shop has ground dimensions 20 x 30 m and total high 10 m. Main frame is composed of truss girders and web-plate columns. Frame extension has ground dimension 20 x 10 m and total high 6,4 m. Cladding is composed of sandwich panels. Store´s gable wall and a part of the roof are glass. Climatic load is intended for locality Ostrava.