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Irregularities in pavement profiles that exceed standard thresholds are usually rectified using a Diamond Grinding Process. Diamond Grinding is a method of Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation that involves the use of grinding wheels mounted on a machine that scraps off the top surface of the pavement to smooth irregularities. Profile Analysis Software like ProVAL© offers simulation modules that allow users to investigate various grinding strategies and prepare a corrective action plan for the pavement. The major drawback with the current Smoothness Assurance Module© (SAM) in ProVAL© is that it provides numerous grind locations which are both redundant and not feasible in the field. This problem can be overcome by providing a constrained grinding model in which a cost function is minimized; the resulting grinding strategy satisfies requirements at the least possible cost. Another drawback with SAM exists in the built-in grinder models that do not factor in the effect of speed and depth of cut on the grinding head. High speeds or deep cuts will result in the grinding head riding out the cut and likely worsening the roughness. A constrained grinding strategy algorithm with grinder models that factor in speed and depth of cut that results in cost effective grinding with better prediction of post grind surfaces through simulation is developed in this work. The outcome of the developed algorithm is compared to ProVAL's© SAM results. / Master of Science / Irregularities in road surfaces that exceed government standards are usually rectified using a Diamond Grinding Process. Diamond Grinding is a method of Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation that involves the use of grinding wheels mounted on a machine that scraps off the top surface of the pavement to smooth irregularities. The work aims to develop a computer program that can carry out simulations of the grinding process for engineers to use before actual grinding in the field. The developed program is then compared against industry standard simulators to obtain improvements.

Advanced ceramics have long held the front of the list of promising materials for high-tech applications. The most common problem is the high cost of design, production and machining of advanced ceramics parts. The main sense of advanced ceramics processing techniques development is affordable, high-volume production. The dissertation is focused on SiC silicon carbide grinding. SiC is used in the design of machine parts due to its excellent properties The deep knowledge of the diamond wheel grinding process is important because it is one of the finishing methods and therefore has a direct impact on the quality and strength of the SiC parts. The key issue here is the overall surface quality of the parts after diamond wheel grinding and the knowledge of the factors that influence the surface quality. These include, in particular, grinding vibrations. The main purpose of the thesis is to create a system of specific scientific and technical information, which will allow applying optimal technological procedures in the processing of ceramic components. The theoretical part of the thesis contains an analysis of the current state of the art in the advanced ceramics machining area, detailed analysis of the ceramics grinding with diamond grinding wheels, signal analysis theory and analysis of surface quality assessment methods. The experimental part contains analysis and discussion of the results obtained during the monitoring of the silicon carbide grinding process with a diamond grinding wheel. Various diagnostic methods have confirmed the presence of vibrations at a frequency close to the speed frequency of the grinding wheel, which had a significant, negative effect on the samples surface quality. Vibration diagnostics has identified a specific source of vibration (clamping of the workpiece) and it has been removed subsequently.