This thesis presents the results of a study into the use of H^ꝏ-optimization for the design of feedback control laws for improving the handling qualities of a Lynx helicopter. An important improvement to the H^ꝏ-optimization procedure is the reduction in the number of iterative steps in the γ-iteration before convergence to the optimal γ. Some new algorithms are derived which significantly reduce the computation time for the γ-iteration. Both 2-block and 4-block cases are considered. Control laws are designed for precise control of pitch and roll attitude, yaw rate and heave velocity. Analysis of the raw helicopter showed the need for a stability augmentation system as the dynamic characteristics of the unaugmented helicopter do not comply with military helicopter handling qualities requirements. Results from current research on helicopter handling qualities were used as guidelines in order to define the required dynamic characteristics. A six-degree of freedom nonlinear simulation was used to analyse the helicopter dynamic time histories. A possible solution to the problem of incorporating helicopter handling qualities in the design of robust controllers is to use a two-degree of freedom controller structure. This is illustrated using both H₂ and H^ꝏ-optimization. A piloted simulation study to assess the effectiveness of advanced control laws was initiated at RAE, Bedford. The trials were carried out in the single seat cockpit flight simulator, at the Flight Research Division and represent the first ever real-time piloted simulation using a H^ꝏ-controller.

Ice jams have caused serious hazards such as floods in northern countries. Despite several studies focused on river ice jams, a lack of research has been identified in the existing literature to analyze impacts of an ice jam on turbulent flow characteristics. Thus, this research attempts to address this knowledge gap. A better comprehension of flow features beneath an ice jam will help river ice engineers to reduce economic, environmental, and ecological damages. Technical difficulties and safety concerns limit data collection in ice jam field studies. Therefore, a physical model of a river ice jam was constructed in the Hydraulics Research & Testing Facility at the University of Manitoba. Two scenarios were proposed to simulate an ice jam. The first scenario was to use a basic model with constant upstream and downstream water depth. The second scenario was developed as an extension of the first scenario, with a modified setup to allow the upstream water depth to be greater than the downstream water depth. This was done to increase similarity with the real ice jam in nature and improve the results. For the second scenario, different roughness ratios of channel bed to ice jam were defined. Experiments were conducted to quantify the turbulent flow characteristics including streamwise velocity and streamwise turbulence intensity distribution beneath the ice jam. The flow velocities were measured at different locations beneath the ice jam using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The turbulence intensities and bed shear stresses were calculated using the measured velocities. The results indicated that the flow velocity and turbulence intensity were a function of the streamwise location beneath the ice jam as well as the roughness of the bed and ice jam. Significant changes were observed in the velocity and turbulence intensity profiles where the boundaries were fully rough, which could influence an ice jam formation, sediment concentration and water quality, as well as river bed deformation. It is believed that the results from this research will improve our fundamental understanding of flow beneath an ice jam, and can be used for validation of subsequent ice jam numerical models. / October 2016

For this work, the decision was made to contrast two serological tests, that of the tube agglutination technique and the fluorescent antibody technique for correlation with the coagulase and other characteristics of Staphylococcus strains. This has been a preliminary survey in the hope that as further knowledge is obtained about the staphylococci, grouping of the organisms will become more routine and relatively less complex.

This study was concerned with determining whether those foster grandparents employed at Denton State School and seen as more or less successful in job performance could be differentiated on the basis of selected psychological and sociological characteristics. In summary, it may be said that the study was exploratory in terms of the population involved but borrowed its methods and variables for investigation from studies of similar purpose of groups participating in "helping relationships."

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the personality characteristics of high school male gymnasts and the personality characteristics of high school football athletes and non-athletes. An attempt was made to answer three specific questions: I. Do personality differences exist between the gymnastic group and the non-athletic group? II. Do personality differences exist between the gymnastic group and the football group? III. Do personality differences exist between the football group and the non-athletic group?

The problem of this study was to determine if psychiatric registered nurses differ significantly in certain personality and temperament trait characteristics from non-psychiatric registered nurses. The characteristics investigated were scores make on the individual scales of the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey.

The problem of this study was to determine the relationship between certain aspects of vocational choice and certain non-intellectual personal characteristics.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between treadmill time, maximal oxygen consumption and pace characteristics of the 1.5 and 3 mile runs and to compare the distances and pace characteristics as predictors of aerobic capacity. Subjects were 70 college aged males, ages 18 to 25, enrolled in jogging and conditioning classes at North Texas State University. Three tests were administered: the 1.5 mile run, the 3 mile run and the Bruce treadmill test. The data were analyzed using correlations and factor analysis. Conclusions of the investigation were (1) the 1.5 and 3 mile runs are valid measures of aerobic capacity, (2) the 3 mile run does not significantly increase the correlation between VO2max and endurance runs and (3) pacing characteristics are evident in the 1.5 and 3 mile runs.

The present study empirically investigates the level of compliance by listed Indian firms with disclosure requirements of Indian Accounting Standards. India’s Accounting Standards have been gradually converging with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) since 2001. India currently stands on the verge of adopting the International standards. Indian companies are working fervently towards adopting IFRS. This provides an extraordinary research environment to assess the level of compliance during this transitional time as well as lending an opportunity for a post adoption study. This study addresses two research questions developed to review annual reports of 156 listed Indian firms to determine (1) their current level of compliance with selected disclosure requirements of Indian Accounting Standards, and (2) key corporate characteristics that affect their level of compliance. The data used for the study pertains to the financial year 2009-2010 and utilizes disclosure and compliance index methodology to calculate the level of disclosure. Overall, the findings of this study indicate none of the companies in the sample was fully compliant with the mandatory requirements of the Indian Accounting Standards. On average, level of disclosure made by Indian companies based on selected mandatory disclosures is 70.91%. Nevertheless, the disclosure levels were on an average comparable to results from similar studies conducted in other developing countries. Moreover, results indicated a strong and positive association between level of disclosure and the size, profitability and timeliness of reporting of the sample companies.

The purpose of this study was to collect data and analyze the cultural diversity behavioral characteristics among freshman engineering students attending a large southeastern urban institute of technology. A secondary purpose was to examine freshman students' behavioral patterns as they are demonstrated in a university setting during cultural, educational, and pre-professional or work related interactions. This study was also designed to contribute to the current knowledge base of relevant data designed to improve the technological institute's level of diversity and increase service to its diverse population. The Survey of Contemporary Cultural Diversity Attitudes was used to determine the behavioral characteristics among freshman engineering students. The subjects in this study consisted of a select group of 213 freshman students enrolled in the institute's Psychology 1010 (freshman orientation) classes. Frequency Analysis in numbers and percentages were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that the survey respondents agreed with cultural diversity in social settings, disagreed with cultural diversity in educational settings and agreed with cultural diversity in the workforce.