This thesis investigates the relationships between projects in the form of resistance. The thesis is accompanied by a series of projects that investigate a number of resistances. These resistances spur relationships to other works in progress; descendents. The projects are a testing ground for the ideological content in an architects work. Each project we undertake is a part of a much larger whole that may or may not be a life's work, but is, certainly, an influence in the creation of coherence as we move forth in our practice. This is not to say that everything must look alike, rather it is to keep one involved in the fundamental aspects of a project that may give clues as to what you as an architect stand for. It is itself a resistance to the problems facing us as we attempt to build. Those problems that may begin to bog us down and force us to lose sight of architecture. There are many things on one's plate as a project proceeds, it is not easy to keep focus. The architect must seek aspects that put us into dialogue with those things outside that inevitably influence the specific work at hand. A way of arriving at conclusions that do not confound an architecture. I see it as being analogous to Hertzberger's discussion of warp and weft, a defined structure into which possibilities may be woven creating relationships between the elements of the architecture. This asserts a set of rules that an architect learns how to work with, and even violate. This formulation creates multiple possibilities within and outside a framework of the architect's order. The architect learns to question within the boundaries of his times, and perhaps beyond those bounds with that understanding. He learns what to ask and what not to ask; which resistances offer stimulus and which do not. The work, through time, acts as an analogue to history itself. The designer may then create with a better grasp of the full potentiality of Architecture. / Master of Architecture

This thesis discusses topics in the field of process engineering that have received much attention over the past twenty years: (1) conceptual process synthesis using heuristic shortcut methods and (2) process integration through heat-exchanger networks and energy-saving power and refrigeration systems. The shortcut methods for conceptual process synthesis presented in Chapter 2, utilize Residue Curve Maps in ternary diagrams and are illustrated with examples of processes for separating azeotropic mixtures. This chapter constitutes a comprehensive review of the most relevant literature of the last twenty years and was itself accepted for publication in Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research in the Spring of 1994. We demonstrate the usefulness of RCMs as both a tool for teaching the complex techniques necessary for separating azeotropic mixtures and as a practical engineering aid for conceptual design of separation processes. We also give proper clarifications of some traditional misconceptions and contradicting recommendations in the literature. The introduction to and demonstration of process-integration topics in Chapters 3 through 6 are of value to both new and more experienced process engineers. The in-depth treatment of meaningful case studies in Chapters 4, 5 and 6 contain much useful information concerning complex heat-integration and process-retrofit problems. Chapter 4 discusses aspects of multiple-pinch heat-integration problems and ways to tackle them with two of the latest commercial process-integration softwares. Chapter 5 presents a review of and an extension to an Ethylene Plant Retrofit case study taken from the ADVENT Examples Manual (Aspen Technology, 1993), while Chapter 6 does the same for an Ethylene Plant Retrofit case study published earlier by the CACHE Corporation in 1985. / Ph. D.

This research was initiated to address a shortfall in some of the previous work reviewed with respect to capital budgeting and allocation. This shortfall has to do with the very general manner in which the public sector is addressed. The public sector poses problems which are unique to its environment and the simple extension of private sector tools to this domain is considered ineffective. The central aim of this research is to develop an initial methodology for capital allocation to projects in the public sector. In developing this methodology the fundamental differences between the public and private sectors are pointed out. The methodology devised utilizes knowledge from the fields of Engineering Economy, Capital Budgeting, and Multi-Attribute Decision Analysis. Basic principles of Engineering Economy and Capital Budgeting are reviewed. The Multi-Attribute Decision Model selected for implementation in this research methodology is the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The procedure followed by the AHP is presented and its benefits and limitations are discussed. The research addresses the quantitative and qualitative aspects of assessing projects in the public sector. A hypothetical example is presented to demonstrate the manner in which the methodology works. The thesis concludes with recommendations and proposes areas for further research. / Master of Science

Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements and hydrogen-bubble flow-visualization techniques were used to examine the near-wall flow structure of 2-D and 3-D turbulent boundary layers (TBLs) over a range of low Reynolds numbers. The goals of this research were (1) an increased understanding of the flow physics in the near wall region of turbulent boundary layers, (2) to observe and quantify differences between 2-D and 3-D TBL flow structures, and (3) to document Reynolds number effects for 3-D TBLs. An ultimate application of this work would be to improve turbulence modeling for 3-D flows. The LDV data have provided results detailing the turbulence structure of the 2-D and 3-D TBLs, as well as low uncertainty skin friction estimates. These results include mean Reynolds stress distributions, flow skewing results, and U and V spectra. Effects of Reynolds number for the 3-D flow were examined when possible. Comparison to results with the same 3-D flow geometry but at a significantly higher Reynolds number provided unique insight into the structure of 3-D TBLs. While the 3-D mean and fluctuating velocities were found to be highly dependent on Reynolds number, a previously defined shear stress parameter was discovered to be invariant with Reynolds number. The hydrogen-bubble technique was used as a flow-visualization tool to examine the near-wall flow structure of 2-D and 3-D TBLs. Both the quantitative and qualitative results displayed larger turbulent fluctuations with more highly concentrated vorticity regions for the 2-D flow. The 2-D low-speed streaky structures experienced greater interaction with the outer region high-momentum fluid than observed for the 3-D flow. The near-wall 3-D flow structures were generally more quiescent. Numerical parameters quantified the observed differences, and characterized the low-speed streak and high-speed sweep events. All observations indicated a more stable near-wall flow structure with less turbulent interactions occurring between the inner and log regions for a 3-D TBL. / Ph. D.

In this project, the cycle time concept in supply chain is introduced. Considered as in important metric, the cycle time should be well evaluated and compressed. The cycle time estimation and improvement are the main purpose of this work. To identify time delay problems, the dynamic system's modeling methods are explained. Among the set of methods, the value stream mapping (VSM) will be selected as the diagnostic methodology because of its simplicity, its ease on use and its ability to present simultaneously the material and the information flow. An application of VSM methodology in drying and planing process is realized in sawmill. Many time delay problems are detected mainly maintenance management. An assessment and relevance analysis are then realized. The information availability was the main problem in data collection which directly affects the diagnostic ability to describe the current state. / Dans ce mémoire, le concept de temps de cycle pour les réseaux de création de valeur est introduit. 11 s'agit d'un indicateur de performance particulièrement important dont l'évaluation et la réduction constituent l'objectif principal de ce projet. Les principales méthodes utilisées pour la modélisation des flux de matière et d'information sont examinées. Le but étant d'identifier les sources de gaspillage, l'approche VSM (Value Stream Mapping) pour la cartographie des processus est retenue comme outil principal de diagnostic. Ce choix est, principalement, justifié par sa simplicité, son efficacité et sa capacité de bien analyser le processus. Une application de l'approche VSM pour la cartographie des processus de sciage, de séchage et de rabotage est réalisée chez un partenaire. Plusieurs problèmes ont été détectés dont principalement la maintenance. Finalement, une application critique de l'application est réalisée; montrant la disponibilité de l'information comme une critère essentiel du succès de l'approche.

Cette thèse traite la problématique de la planification intégrée de la maintenance préventive et de la production des systèmes multi-états. Il s'agit d'un système de production modélisé comme étant un système multi-états avec un nombre fini de niveaux de capacité allant du fonctionnement parfait jusqu'à la défaillance totale. Il doit produire un ensemble de produits pour satisfaire une demande donnée durant l'horizon de planification. Les composantes du système multi-états sont assujetties à des remplacements préventifs et à une réparation minimale en cas de panne. Ce travail présente des modèles de planification permettant de générer simultanément le plan optimal de production au niveau tactique (problème de taille de lot capaci-taire) et les instants ou les intervalles d'intervention pour des actions de maintenance préventive. Les fonctions des objectifs de ces modèles minimisent la somme des coûts de la maintenance (préventive et corrective) et des coûts de production sujets à des contraintes de satisfaction de demande et de capacité. La méthodologie proposée développe des modèles mathématiques, des méthodes d'évaluation des temps de maintenance, des coûts de maintenance, les capacités relatives aux systèmes et des algorithmes de résolution pour obtenir des solutions optimales (recherche exhaustive) ou approximatives (algorithmes génétiques et recuit simulé). Cette méthodologie a été utilisée dans les trois contributions suivantes : 1. La première contribution propose un modèle de planification de la maintenance préventive périodique et de la production pour un système multi-états. Il s'agit de déterminer le plan de production optimal et les longueurs des intervalles de remplacement pour chaque composante du système. 2. La deuxième contribution traite du problème de la planification intégrée de la maintenance préventive acyclique et de la production dans le cas d'une seule machine. Le plan optimal détermine le plan de production et les instants d'intervention pour des activités de maintenance préventive. 3. La troisième contribution propose un modèle une planification simultanée de la maintenance préventive acyclique et de la production pour un système multi-états composé de plusieurs composantes. Les résultats obtenus dans cette thèse montrent l'impact économique réalisé par l'intégration de la planification de la maintenance préventive et de la production, ainsi que pour l'élimination de la contrainte de périodicité, surtout dans le cas d'une demande fluctuante. Les méthodes de résolution développées dans ces travaux permettent la résolution de problèmes de petite ou de grande taille.