A computational analysis of a metamaterial window design is presented for the purpose of increasing the energy efficiency of buildings in seasonal or cold climates. Commercial low-emissivity windows use nanometer-scale Ag films to reflect infrared energy, while retaining most transmission of optical wavelengths for functionality. An opportunity exists to further increase efficiency through a variable emissivity implementation of Ag thin-film structures. 3-D finite-difference time-domain simulations predict non-linear absorption of near-infrared energy, providing the means to capture a substantial portion of solar energy during cold periods. The effect of various configuration parameters is quantified, with prediction of the net sustainability advantage. Metamaterial window glass technology can be realized as a modification to current, commercial low-emissivity windows through the application of nano-manufactured films, creating the opportunity for both new and after-market sustainable construction. / text

The archaeological and technical questions about ancient glass have lead to various research activities such as identification and sourcing raw materials used in the glass production, investigation of the ways in which colors can be modified according to furnace atmosphere and times of firing. Considering research areas and publications it can be suggested that compositional studies of well-dated samples of ancient glass have disclosed useful information concerning raw materials characteristics and production technology. Within this context, aim of this study was to determine the composition and technology of some 13th century Seljuk period window glasses from Alanya Castle archaeological site. During the excavations at the area called Vaulted Galleria in Alanya Castle many glass pieces in different sizes and colors had been found. In this study 10 samples were examined. Elemental analysis of the samples have been made using two different methods / X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) to determine major, minor and some trace elements. The XRF and ICP-OES data reflect the typical composition of a soda-lime-silica glass with the average values of / 12.9% (Na2O): 7.7% (CaO): and 65.5% (SiO2). Samples were grouped by color as green, blue and purple. Color producing elements are Fe, Mn, Cu and Co. Most of the samples had shown casting character as production technique.

The archaeological questions of historical glass have lead to remarkable research activities such as identification and sourcing the raw materials used in the glass production, investigations of the ways in which the colors of glass can be modified due to dissolved and/or colloidal coloring agents, the furnace conditions, and the time of fritting and melting. Considering publications, it can be suggested that compositional studies of well-dated glass samples have supplied useful information concerning raw materials&rsquo / characteristics and technology of glassmaking. Within this context, the aim of this study was to determine elemental compositions and production techniques of some 13th century Seljukian Period window glasses from Alanya excavation region. During the excavations at Alanya archaeological site involving Inner Castle and out of Inner Castle many glass pieces of varying colors have been found. In this study 25 samples from the area have been examined. Elemental analyses have been carried out using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine major, minor, and trace elements. The data v obtained by XRF has revealed that all samples have typical soda-lime-silica composition with the average values of, 68.22 % (SiO2) / 11.3 % (Na2O) / and 6.7 % (CaO). Hierarchical Cluster analysis has been employed and the samples have been grouped depending on their potassium oxide (K2O) and magnesium oxide (MgO) contents which indicate the probable alkali flux source. The colors of the samples are honey-yellow, brown-yellow, navy blue, blue, turquoise, purple, and green. The coloring agents have been determined as Fe, Cu, Co, and Mn. The data from Optical Microscopy has shown that most of the window glasses might have been produced by cylinder technique. Some other samples have revealed the signs of crown technique, and some might have been produced by casting.

Archaeological investigations of Indian Key Historic State Park in the Florida Keys have uncovered a wide range of historical artifacts from throughout the nineteenth century that reveal how the site was reused and reoccupied through time. This thesis focuses on the glass component recovered from a house cistern complex (Feature F) and a warehouse (Features A and C) during the 1998 to 2002 field seasons. Glass artifacts range from a variety of bottle glass including alcohol bottles and proprietary medicines, to cut glass such as tumblers and decanters, to window glass. Feature F's analysis has shown that it maintained a primarily domestic nature despite having been reused by different groups at different times. Glass recovered from Feature F was primarily alcohol bottles, but large numbers of food bottles, medicines, and window glass was also found. The warehouse was used commercially and appears to have been continuously reused. The most abundant item recovered from the warehouse was window glass; however large quantities of alcohol bottle fragments were also recovered. Also included in the glass analysis is a study of window glass dating techniques using glass thickness. By using a formula originally developed by Randall Moir (1982), and following an example set by Grant L. Day (2001), I was able to illustrate a process for dating nineteenth century window glass that is fairly accurate for determining periods of transition, addition, and reconstruction to buildings occupied over long time periods. Comparison of the glass from these two features using window glass dating formulas and other comparative evaluations as well as dating and functional analysis is revealing useful information about each of these structures individually, as well as about activity on the island as a whole.

Title from PDF of title page. / Document formatted into pages; contains 72 pages. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of South Florida, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. / Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. / ABSTRACT: Archaeological investigations of Indian Key Historic State Park in the Florida Keys have uncovered a wide range of historical artifacts from throughout the nineteenth century that reveal how the site was reused and reoccupied through time. This thesis focuses on the glass component recovered from a house cistern complex (Feature F) and a warehouse (Features A and C) during the 1998 to 2002 field seasons. Glass artifacts range from a variety of bottle glass including alcohol bottles and proprietary medicines, to cut glass such as tumblers and decanters, to window glass. Feature F's analysis has shown that it maintained a primarily domestic nature despite having been reused by different groups at different times. Glass recovered from Feature F was primarily alcohol bottles, but large numbers of food bottles, medicines, and window glass was also found. The warehouse was used commercially and appears to have been continuously reused. / ABSTRACT: The most abundant item recovered from the warehouse was window glass; however large quantities of alcohol bottle fragments were also recovered. Also included in the glass analysis is a study of window glass dating techniques using glass thickness. By using a formula originally developed by Randall Moir (1982), and following an example set by Grant L. Day (2001), I was able to illustrate a process for dating nineteenth century window glass that is fairly accurate for determining periods of transition, addition, and reconstruction to buildings occupied over long time periods. Comparison of the glass from these two features using window glass dating formulas and other comparative evaluations as well as dating and functional analysis is revealing useful information about each of these structures individually, as well as about activity on the island as a whole. / System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader. / Mode of access: World Wide Web.

In the 1960s, a large number of World Councils were founded in a number of industrial branches. One of the most recognized World Councils was established in the multinational glass manufacturer Compagnie de Saint-Gobain in 1969, in connection to an international trade union action against the company. The purpose of this study is to investigate and understand the origin and character of this World Council and international action. The study places great emphasis on the American participation in the Saint-Gobain World Council and the international action, but explores, in addition, the work and function of the World Council, the international action’s outcome in terms of wages and working conditions, the so-called vertical implementation of the trade union action, i.e. the integration of several trade union-organizational levels in a single action, as well as the wider contexts beyond the purely economic to which the World Council and the action can be linked. An essential point of departure is retrieved from the historical materialist tradition in order to understand the conflicts of interests and the ability to realize interests on the labor market, in the production, and within politics. An in-depth discussion on the structuring of overt conflicts and international trade union actions is undertaken based on four specific theories that are based on the assumption that trade unions and employers are rational actors. The survey consists of three main parts. The first empirical section identifies the action itself—its parties, origins, course of events, and aftermath. The second empirical section interprets the parties’ perspectives and interests in the long run. The third, and final empirical section examines the structural conditions in the United States for conflictual sentiments and international action. The study provides new perspectives on the structural background to the American union’s mobilization and international strategies. It also helps to explain why the World Councils were short-lived and, in the end, did not meet the high expectations placed on them. At the same time, the study displays the main achievements and shortcomings of the international campaign against Saint-Gobain and the postwar political context to which the action can be linked.

This work considers finds of medieval glass in the historic centre of Prague on the basis of archaeological material from the National Herritage Institute excavations. Besides the typology of glass vessels, special attention is paid to the concerning the social level of the society of that time, resp. the study of glass imports that can inform us of the commercial or cultural contacts of the given locality. Especially the enameled glass play an important role in studies of the extraordinary social and economic status. The archaeological evidences of medieval glass has been found in Prague since the end of the 19 th century. The end of the sixtieths brought large finds of medieval glass fragments which most has not been studied as yet. Some of them are included into this work, which is aimed at the region of Old and New Town, whereas the finds of Prague Castle has been left aside. In the study of the popularity of glass tableware, it is possible to observe the process well documented in the majority of Czech towns. In Prague glass ware fragments appeared quite early, already in the 12th century and also in the following century glass presented luxury ware intended for the highest social level. Towards the end of the 13th century the situation began to change. During the first half of the 14th century we...