The presence of moisture in hot mix asphalt (HMA) causes loss of strength and durability of the mix, which is referred to as moisture damage. This study deals with the development of experimental methods for measuring total suction in HMA, which can be defined as the free energy state of water in HMA mixes. The total suction is related to the ability of moisture to get into the mix under unsaturated conditions; it is also related to the ability of the mix to retain moisture. Soil suction has been studied extensively. However, suction in HMA as a porous material and its relationship to moisture damage have not been studied. The development of a procedure to measure the total suction in HMA mixes is the first objective of this research. The second objective is to relate suction measurements to physical and chemical properties of the mixtures. The objectives were achieved in two phases. In the first phase, the total suction was measured in HMA specimens with different types of aggregates (limestone and granite), and with different air void distributions and aggregate gradations. The results of this phase showed that the drying test using a 60 oC temperature-controlled room is the proper setup for measuring the total suction in HMA using thermocouple psychrometers. The characteristics of suction-moisture content curves were found to be related to the air void distribution in HMA. In the second phase, total suction was measured in sand asphalt specimens. These specimens had different combinations of aggregates and binders with different bond energies and exhibited different field performance in terms of resistance to moisture damage. The suction measurements in sand asphalt specimens were used to calculate the moisture diffusion coefficient. The results revealed that water diffused into sand asphalt specimens that are known to have poor resistance to moisture damage faster than those that are known to have good resistance to moisture damage

Industrial metal forming operations generally require several deformation steps in order to create the final product. The mechanical behavior of materials undergoing strain path changes can be very different from those deformed in a given direction to fracture. The work presented here employed laser drilled model materials to better understand the effect of pre-strains and strain path changes on void growth and linkage leading to fracture is studied. The experimental results show that increasing pre-strain results in faster void growth which was justified in terms work hardening rate in the sample. Scanning electron microscope images revealed that the ductility of the sample decreased with increasing pre-strain but only slightly compared to the large decrease in far field strain at failure. This suggests that pre-strain affects strain localization significantly and to a lesser extent the ductility. Finally a finite element model has been built to predict the linkage between voids.

Calcium phosphate cements are used in medicine to fill bone defects or give support to screws and plates in fracture fixation. The cements are formed via mixing a powder with water and the mixture harden through a dissolution-precipitation reaction. Today the cement mixing is performed in the operating room and consists of several complicated steps that need to be performed under sterile conditions. This renders the mixing a risk factor, potentially leading to harm for the patient e.g. unsatisfactory healing or infection. To reduce this risk, premixed cements have been developed using glycerol as mixing liquid. The premixed cement sets when it is exposed to body liquids. Therefore, premixed cement can be delivered to the operating room in prefilled syringes ready for use, thus eliminating the mixing step. The aim of this thesis is to describe differences between premixed and water-mixed cements and their advantages and drawbacks. The differences will be discussed based on results obtained from bench testing of specific cement properties as function of cement formulations as well as in vitro and in vivo studies. Several cement formulations were evaluated e.g. the influence of powder to liquid ratio (P/L), powder particle size and addition of water on key properties. The results showed that premixed cements have excellent handling properties and have mechanical properties similar to water-based cements. Both P/L and particle size can be used to control these properties. It was shown that small amounts of water improve certain cement properties while dry raw materials were important for long shelf life. To better understand the setting of premixed cements new methods for evaluating working time and setting of premixed cements were developed. In vivo studies showed that the formulations developed in this thesis are biocompatible, resorbable and show good tissue response in bone. This thesis concludes, that the premixed cements are a promising biomaterial with excellent handling properties and good biological response. The most important challenge for the premixed cements, in order to become commercially successful, is to obtain clinically relevant setting time and shelf life simultaneously. An increasing use of premixed cements in the clinics should shorten operation times and reduce infection rates to the benefit of both patients and medical staff.

The two-phase gas/liquid flow phenomenon can be encountered over a range of gas and liquid flow rates in the chemical engineering industry, particularly in oil and gas production transportation pipelines. Monitoring and measurement of their characteristics, such as the gas void fraction, are necessary to minimise the disruption of downstream process facilities. Thus, over the last decade, the investigation, development and use of multiphase flow metering system have been a major focus for the industry worldwide. However, these meters suffer from several limitations in some flow conditions such as Slug flow regime. This research presents experimental results correlating Acoustic Emission measurements with Gas Void Fraction (GVF) in a two-phase air / water flow. A unique experimental facility was modified to accommodate an investigation into the applicability of the Acoustic Emission (AE) technology in monitoring two-phase gas\liquid flow. The testing facility allowed for investigations over a range of superficial liquid velocities (0.3 to 2.0 ms-1) and superficial gas velocities (0.2 to 1.4 ms-1). The influence of several variables such as temperature, viscosity and surface roughness were also investigated. Measurements of AE for varying gas void fractions were compared to conductive probe measurements and results showed a direct correlation between the AE energy and the gas void fraction. It is concluded that the GVF can be determined by measurement of Acoustic Emission and this forms the major contribution of this thesis.

One of the future reactor technologies defined by the Generation-IV International Forum (GIF) is the Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor (LFR). An advantage with this reactor technology is that steam production is accomplished by means of heat exchangers located within the primary reactor vessel, which decreases costs and increases operational safety. However, a crack in a heat exchanger tube may create steam (void) into the coolant and this process has the potential to introduce reactivity changes, which may cause criticality issues. This fact motivates the development of a methodology to detect such voids. This thesis comprises theoretical investigations on a possible route to detect voids by studying changes of the neutron spectrum in a small LFR as a function of various types of in-core voids .The methodology includes a combination of fission chambers loaded with U-235 and Pu-242 operating in various positions. It is shown that such a combination results in information that can be made independent on reactor power, a feasible property in order to detect the relatively small spectral changes due to void. A sensitivity analysis of various combinations of detectors, fuel burnup and void has also been included in the investigation. The results show that the proposed methodology yields a reasonably large sensitivity to voids down to (1-2) % of the coolant volume. The results obtained so far point in the direction that the proposed methodology is an interesting subject for further studies.

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Beckett celebrates the solidity of selfhood and relation in his erosive texts against the grain. In light of this, this dissertation sets out with the intention to salvage the grains lost by Beckett¡¥s elliptic style with a focus on the device of inversion. In Three Novels, this device is employed to deal with world cultures, Irish landscapes and the looming relations, adumbrating a selfhood enriched by these select fragments. Also, the volatile self performs rites of rebirth with a voice as witness. Under the voice¡¥s narration and an un-specified hearing body, two births, one problematic the other immaculate, are at narthex: the former fading out the latter in. Thus, a selfhood is in transition. In Nohow On, a phosphorescent relation between one¡¥s plural selves and concerned others and between the artist and art denotes Beckett¡¥s ideas of relation to be interpersonal, aesthetical but inchoate. In an effort to explore the scale of inversion in the two trilogies, five aspects of Beckett are highlighted. First, his self-searching by fusing cultural elites and the distinct I into the voice of ¢wnot-I¡ü delivers an oracle about the everlasting soul rather than the ephemeral individual. Second, a kinetic I that acts against time, space and the superficial self indicates a dynamic and vigorous selfhood. Third, many incompatible things are juxtaposed and displaying their mutuality. By their examples, a new occasion and a new term of relation have been introduced. Fourth, aisling, an ancient Irish genre, characterizes Ill Seen Ill Said. It niches a deformed yet beloved hag and helps dissolve Beckett¡¥s trouble with May Beckett, to whom he is, simultaneously, son and lover. Last and not the least, a solipsistic Beckett negotiates the haunting others with virtuosities. His creative managements make others shine like stars in the artist¡¥s cosmos. Not until this constellational allocation of himself and his dear ones does Beckett¡¥s selfhood appear to be in plenum and cornucopia. Together, these five facets feature our author¡¥s triumph over the besieging void. Confronting the void, which Schopenhauer warns against yet Beckett embraces full-heartedly, becomes an opportunity to relate men, art and humor. While deploying selfhood and relation as the double agent to expose the very least things and persons he can¡¥t be without, Beckett accomplishes another task as well. Namely, he tames the void and makes it glow simultaneously. This ploy verifies Beckett¡¥s vow that an art, if not also the self, well done is a consecration to the void. For his capacities to contract laughter despite woes and his determination to have fun despite despair, our author that scrutinizes selfhood and relation with unblinking eyes is rhapsodic all in all.

The hot-workability of Titanium (Ti) alloys is of current interest to the aerospace industry due to its widespread application in the design of strong and light-weight aircraft structural components and engine parts. Motivated by the need for accurate simulation of large scale plastic deformation in metals that exhibit macroscopic plastic anisotropy, such as Ti, a constitutive model is developed for anisotropic materials undergoing plastic deformation coupled with ductile damage in the form of internal cavitation. The model is developed from a rigorous micromechanical basis, following well-known previous works in the field. The model incorporates the porosity and void aspect ratio as internal damage variables, and seeks to provide a more accurate prediction of damage growth compared to previous existing models. A closed form expression for the macroscopic yield locus is derived using a Hill-Mandel homogenization and limit analysis of a porous representative volume element. Analytical expressions are also developed for the evolution of the internal variables, porosity and void shape. The developed yield criterion is validated by comparison to numerically determined yield loci for specific anisotropic materials, using a numerical limit analysis technique developed herein. The evolution laws for the internal variables are validated by comparison with direct finite element simulations of porous unit cells. Comparison with previously published results in the literature indicates that the new model yields better agreement with the numerically determined yield loci for a wide range of loading paths. Use of the new model in continuum finite element simulations of ductile fracture may be expected to lead to improved predictions for damage evolution and fracture modes in plastically anisotropic materials.

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a critical reading of Badiou&rsquo / s theory of truth. Contemporary popular trends such as postmodernism and anti-philosophy champion the principles of pluralism and contingency. They use these against Hegel&rsquo / s conception of history and theory of &lsquo / relational totality&rsquo / . Badiou agrees with these trends. But he criticizes their relativist theory of truth. He wants to provide an &lsquo / objective&rsquo / foundation for &lsquo / truth&rsquo / . The question I wish to explore in this thesis is then to analyze critically Badiou&rsquo / s work to find out whether he succeeds? To do this I am presenting Badiou&rsquo / s philosophical sources in ancient and modern philosophy and his main concepts he relies on. I am analyzing in particular in depth Badiou&rsquo / s understanding of ontology and phenomenology. To explain his concept of truth, I am analyzing his concepts of &lsquo / void&rsquo / , &lsquo / plurality&rsquo / , &lsquo / infinity&rsquo / . However, to make sense of his theory of truth more fully, I am looking also at his conceptions of &lsquo / event&rsquo / and subject&rsquo / , which are the main components of his theory of truth. After having analyzed his theory of of truth, I am looking at his conception of emancipatory politics, to see how his conception of truth works in his practical philosophy.

To calculate the characteristics of electronic parts is divided by 1.Chip. 2.Assembly, i.e. package. 3. PCB (Printed Circuit Board). Analizing the electrical characteristics of package needs consideration from all system can distinguish the influence of function. Although the analysis method may be change but we can get the characteristics results from the parameters of circuit element (i.e. Resistance, Inductance, Capacitance). Different measurement or modeling technology can prove that the list data is correct. That moisture in plastic packages can cause cracking or delamination during the surface mount assembly process. During this process, the packages are heated to 220-240¢J. At these temperatures, any moisture present in the plastic vaporizes and exerts stresses in the package, which can cause delamination between the mold compound and the leadframe or die. The mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients of the package¡¦s components also induces stresses. If these combined stresses are greater than the fracture strength of the plastic, cracks will form. The susceptibility of a package to cracking depends on: 1.amount of absorbed moisture, 2.die size, 3.package design, 4.mold compound characteristics, 5.solder reflow temperature profile. Widely, flip chip technology is defined as mounting the chip to a substrate with any kind of materials and methods, as long as the chip surface (active area) is facing to the substrate. The advantages of FC-BGA is¡G1.Efficient use of PCB area. 2.Area array access for high I/O device. 3.Allow for finer pitches. 4.Fewer joints. 5.Better performance of high frequency application. 6.FC is and will be lowest cost.