In this thesis project, I have explored ways to reach spatial complexity through the use of a simple system of volumetric building elements. The ambition has been to draw an apartment building with emphasis on a variety in the apartment layouts as well as to let the functions of circulation, which I define as both shared and private functions such as stairs, elevators and passages, become an integrated part of the architectural expression. The volumetric building element, with proportions derived from our infrastructural norms as it requires transformation on a truck, is today an ubiquitous object or even an architectural typology of its own. When they are assembled, it can both become a system of similar parts or one new, larger object. The project has then also been a search for an architectural ambivalence between hiding and exposing the fact that a building is the outcome of a system.

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The deformation capacity of typical buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs) is limited by the rotation capacity of connecting regions. The rotation capacity of the connection region is limited by fracture of the gusset welds and yielding in the beams and columns. A different connection detail with beam-splices outside the gusset has been shown to increase connection rotation capacity when compared to typical connections, in a few component tests. This study expands upon the performed component tests, by analyzing the beam splice connection at the system level under directional dynamic loads. Finite element analysis and dynamic loads are used to analyze two 3-story frames having different connection configurations. The first frame has typical BRBF gusset connections, while the second frame has BRBF gusset connections with beam splices. The two frames are dynamically loaded using a recorded earthquake ground acceleration applied at three directions, relative to the frames, and the performance of each frame is compared. Results indicate that the connections with beam splices effectively prevent large moments from accumulating in the connection regions, reducing gusset stresses. In addition, the use of beam splices more uniformly distributes the brace load into the beams and columns, and has little effect on in and out-of-plane story drift.

<p> The "F-Zone" is part of a migmatitic, radiometrically anomalous belt which forms the contact between a large granitic batholith and a region of homogeneous diatexite. Petrographic and geochemical analysis (including whole rock and rare-earth element analyses) of these three units has been carried out. Results indicate that the batholith was formed by partial fusion of sedimentary and volcanic material; the homogeneous diatexite arose in a similar way although fusion was less complete and; the migmatite incorporates material from both of these units. Late stage metasomatic-hydrothermal activity has concentrated uranium from the country rock in the migmatite zone.</p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

<p> This thesis presents a derivation of a method to obtain two-body, diagonal and non-diagonal, reaction matrix elements for central and tensor forces respectively directly from nucleon-nucleon scattering phase shifts. This procedure eliminates the necessity for constructing a nuclear potential.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

On April 16, 2014 the Sewol Ferry became one of the worst maritime disasters in South Korea with the loss of 304 passenger, the majority being high school students. South Korea is a collectivist culture, structured as a hierarchical system that teaches their students and children to always respect, listen, and trust authority figures especially in dangerous situations. This study explores how collectivist cultural elements impacted the response of the Sewol Ferry. By examining the timeline of the disaster through interviews, documentaries, news articles and media; this thesis offers insight into what happened that day by providing perspectives from the rescue crew, government officials, survivors, volunteers, and family members of those who died. The analysis showed that in collectivist culture, children and students are taught to trust and listen to authority figures when in dangerous situations, however because of the Sewol disasters, the culture of adhering to the hierarchical systems started to collapse. Students who survived stated that they no longer can trust and respect adults after the incident along with family members of the students who passed away and the public. Also, the government withheld information and failed to protect the children aboard the ferry, because they didn't want to show shame and wanted to save the face or honor of their department. The leadership failure within the Sewol Ferry tragedy can potentially make it difficult in the future for people to listen to orders or recommendations given by the disaster management or the government when a disaster event arises.

In this dissertation, a novel method to extrude near-body meshes from surface meshes of arbitrary topology that exploits topologically adaptive generalized elements to improve mesh quality is presented. Specifically, an advancing layer algorithm to generate near-body meshes which are appropriate for viscous fluid flows is discussed. First, an orthogonal two-layer algebraic reference mesh is generated. The reference mesh is then smoothed using a locally three-dimensional Poisson-type mesh generation equation that is generalized to smooth extruded meshes of arbitrary surface topology. Local quality improvement operations such as edge collapse, face refinement, and local reconnection are performed in each layer to drive the mesh toward isotropy. An automatic marching thickness reduction algorithm is used to extrude from multiple geometries in close proximity. A global face refinement algorithm is used to improve the transition from the extruded mesh to the voidilling tetrahedral mesh. A few example meshes along with quality plots are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the algorithms developed.

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Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Engineering, 1977 / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph. D. / Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Engineering

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