Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ASTRACT: The very high strength, enhanced ductility and long-term durability of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) makes it an ideal material to be used for building structures in the future. The non-heat treated UHPC requires less quality control than heat treated UHPC, which makes it more relevant to be applied in South Africa. This research focuses on developing non-heat treated UHPC with locally available materials, with the exception of short, straight, high strength steel fibre. While UHPC mix design guidelines have been proposed, ingredient materials available locally, but which do not necessarily comply with recommended property ranges, may be compensated for by particular strategies. The local ingredient materials are compared based on their mineralogy, specific surface area, particle size and grading by researchers who successful developed non-heat treat UHPC. The majority of local materials were found not that ideal for UHPC. Under such circumstances, following the general UHPC mix design, it is difficult to reach the same designated strength as those achieved by the other researchers. One of the problems for non-heat treated UHPC is its large shrinkage caused by very low water to cement ratio. A new mix design philosophy is developed for UHPC by making use of steel fibre to improve its compressive strength. Instead of avoiding the large shrinkage, this method uses shrinkage to improve the bond between steel fibre and matrix through the mechanism of shrinkage induced clamping pressure. Subsequently, the mechanism of bridging effect of steel fibre is used to confine shrinkage evolvement in UHPC. Through such a mix design philosophy, the steel fibres are pre-stressed inside UHPC so that it both improves the compressive strength and ductility. A UHPC strength of 168 MPa is achieve in this research. After the UHPC has successfully been developed, factors that can affect UHPC strength are tested. It is found that the environmental temperature of UHPC, cement composition and specimen cover during the moulded period significantly influence UHPC strength by approximately 24%. It is also found that after two days of de-moulding, the UHPC exposed to the air, achieved similar strength as that cured in water, which is helpful for future industrial application.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The phenolic content of wine is responsible for determining characteristics such as the organoleptic qualities, colour stability, ageing properties and health-beneficial effects associated with wine. The aim ofthis study was to investigate the possibilities offered by capillary electrophoresis (CE) as an alternative separation technique to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of polyphenols in wine. The complexity of wine samples was the cause that neither technique was capable of a satisfactory singlestep analysis of wine. Suitable sample preparation techniques such as Sephadex- and Sep- Pak fractionation and ether extraction of wine polyphenols were investigated. These techniques did not, however, prove to be universal. A novel form of sample preparation namely a process analogous to lyophylization used to separate wine volatiles from nonvolatiles was introduced. The versatility of CE was further investigated in an attempt to eliminate the need for sample preparation. The use of polyvinylalcohol (PVA) coated capillaries, micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) were investigated in this regard. Although none of these techniques could offer conclusive results, useful applications were forthcoming and routes for further investigation were outlined. Liquid chromatography coupled to electro spray ionisation mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI-MS) and capillary electrophoresis coupled to electro spray ionisation mass spectroscopy (CE-ESI-MS) were compared for the analysis of polyphenols in wine. While the latter technique could not produce sufficient separation compared to the former, future development ofCE-ESI-MS should make it a powerful technique for these analyses. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fenoliese komponente in wyn speel 'n bepalende rol by eienskappe soos die organoleptiese karakter, kleur stabiliteit, verouderingspotensiaal en gesondheids-voordele wat met wyn geassosieër word. Die doel van hierdie projek was om ondersoek in te stel na die potensiaal wat kapillêre elektroforese (CE, "capillary electrophoresis") as 'n alternatiewe skeidingstegniek teenoor hoë druk vloeistof chromatografie (HDVC) vir die analise van die polifenole in wyn bied. Die kompleksiteit van wyn monsters is van so 'n aard dat 'n bevredigend enkelstap analise met geeneen van die tegnieke moontlik is nie. Gepaste monster-voorbereidingstappe soos Sephadex- en Sep-Pak fraksionering asook eter ekstraksie van die polifenole in wyn is ondersoek. Geeneen van die tegnieke was egter universeel toepaslik nie. 'n Nuwe metode van monster-voorbereiding, naamlik 'n proses analoog aan liofilisasie wat gebruik word om die wyn te skei in vlugtige en nievlugtige komponente is gedemonstreer. Die veelsydigheid van CE was gevolglik ondersoek in 'n poging om monstervoorbereiding uit te skakel. Die gebruik van polyvinielalkohol-(pVA) bedekte kapillêre, missellêre elektrokinetiese chromatografie (MEKC) en kapillêre gel elektroforese (CGE, "capillary gel electrophoresis) is in hierdie verband ondersoek. Alhoewel geeneen van hierdie tegnieke onweerlegbare resultate gelewer het nie, het bruikbare toepassings hieruit voortgespruit en is die grondslag vir verdere navorsing gelê. Vloeistof chromatografie gekoppel aan eIektrosproei ionisasie massaspektroskopie (LCESI- MS) en kapillêre elektroforese gekoppel aan elektrosproei ionisasie massaspektroskopie (CE-ESI-MS) is vergelyk vir die analise van polifenole in wyn. Alhoewel laasgenoemde tegniek onvoldoende skeiding lewer vergeleke met eersgenoemde, behoort toekomstige ontwikkelinge op die gebied van CE-ESI-MS dit 'n kragtige tegniek vir die analise van hierdie monsters te maak.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study, the analysis of ammo acids usmg High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with pre-column derivatisation was optimised. The derivatisation reagents include o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA), 9- fluorenylmethylchloroformate (FMOC) and iodoacetic acid (IDA). Detection was performed using UV and fluorescence in series. The developed method was utilised for the analysis and quantitation of amino acids in eighteen wines. The application of chemometric data evaluation was initiated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie ondersoek behels die optimisering van die aminosuuranalise deur gebruik te maak van Hoë Druk Vloeistof Chromatografie (HDVC) in kombinasie met pre-kolom derivatisering. Die derivativatiserings reagense sluit in o-phthaldialdehied (OPA), 9- fluorenielmetielchloroformaat (FMOC) en jodoasynsuur (IDA). Deteksie is gedoen deur gebruik gemaak van 'n ultraviolet (UV) en 'n fluorosensie detektor in serie. Die metode sodoende ontwikkel is gebruik vir die analise en kwantifisering van aminosure in agtien wyne. Die toepassing van chemometriese data evaluasie is ook geïnisieer.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: See item for full text / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sien item vir volteks

ITC/USA 2011 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Seventh Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 24-27, 2011 / Bally's Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada / A novel dual-band S and C band antenna for high-performance autotracking applications is described. The antenna provides simultaneous dual band coverage for targets with circular or linear polarization. A vertex mounted C-band multi-mode common aperture feed is added in a Cassegrain configuration augmenting the existing ViaSat patented [1-4] ESCAN® S-band prime focus feed. A dichroic subreflector is also added allowing simultaneous dual band operation for the prime focus and Cassegrain configurations with minimal interaction. Existing S-band antennas are easily upgraded for dual band capability with only the additions of the vertex mounted C-band feed and dichroic subreflector.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

La parallélisation automatique est une des approches visant une plus grande facilité d'utilisation des ordinateurs parallèles. La parallélisation consiste prendre un programme écrit pour une machine séquentielle (qui n'a qu'un processeur) et de l'adapter une machine parallèle. L'intérêt de faire faire cette parallélisation automatiquement par un programme appelé paralléliseur est qu'on pourrait alors réutiliser tout le code déjà écrit en Fortran pour machine séquentielles, après parallélisation, sur des machines parallèles. Nous n'y sommes pas encore, mais on s'en approche. C'est dans ce cadre que se situe mon travail. Une moitié approximativement de ma thèse est consacrée à la réalisation d'un logiciel qui parallélise automatiquement une classe réduite de programmes (les nids de boucles uniformes qui utilisent des translations comme accès aux tableaux de données) en HPF (High Performance Fortran). J'insiste surtout sur la partie génération de code HPF, qui est la partie la plus novatrice de ce programme. Outre la réalisation de Bouclettes, ma contribution au domaine est aussi théorique avec une étude sur un partitionnement des données appelé pavage par des parallélépipèdes et une étude de l'optimisation des calculs d' « expressions de tableaux » dans le langage High Performance Fortran. Le pavage est une technique permettant d'optimiser la taille des tâches qu'on répartit sur les processeurs pour diminuer le temps passé en communications. L'évaluation d'expressions de tableaux est une étape d'optimisation du compilateur parallèle (le programme qui traduit le code parallèle écrit dans un langage de haut niveau comme HPF en code machine directement exécutable par l'ordinateur parallèle).

Abstract The aim of this thesis is to assess the time-dependent behavior of a new kind of composite railway bridge deck composed by two precambered and prestressed beams. The method used until now to design these bridge decks is a simple classical computation method with a variable modular ratio. They have been placed only with simply supported spans up to 26 m. It is now considered to apply this construction method for the building of continuous bridges (with larger spans) by connecting simply supported decks on their supports. It is known that this kind of construction will induce an additional and strong time-dependent redistribution of internal forces within the structure. It was felt that an in-depth understanding of the influence of the concrete time-dependent effects in this kind of composite structures is needed before proceeding with the design of statically indeterminate bridges. Two cross-section analysis programs applying the principle of superposition were developed: the first used the age adjusted effective modulus method and the second the step-by-step method. However, it is known that the delayed behavior of concrete does not fully comply with the principle of superposition. It appears that after a period of compression creep, creep recovery is significantly less than predicted by the superposition principle. In the construction phases of this bridge deck, the concrete fibers belonging to the bottom side of prestressed beams undergo a stress/strain history of significant unloading when the permanent loads are applied step-by-step. Moreover, these methods assume that the relative humidity remains constant. Finally, a lot of bridge decks are heated in order to transfer the prestressing as soon as possible. To evaluate more finely the time-dependent effects of concrete in such composite (and rather complex) structures with variable loading history, several steps have been carried out: -Analysis of the influence of the heat treatment applied in the workshop and the level of applied stress on the creep and the shrinkage of the concrete. -Analysis of the recovery phenomenon of the concrete resulting in the selection of the two-function method with the recovery function proposed by Yue and Taerwe. -Development of a cross-section analysis program applying the two-function method to take into account more finely the recovery phenomenon, what resulted in a optimization of the phases of construction of the bridge decks by decreasing the minimum age of concrete before prestressing from 40 hours to 20 hours. -Development of a structural analysis program with beam finite elements and applying the two-function method,what has resulted in an optimization of the phases of construction of continuous bridges composed by the junction of two bridge decks. -Proposition of a modelling based on the understanding of the physico-chemical phenomenona which are at the origin of the delayed effects and coupled to a local analysis of the evolution of the degree of hydration and the internal relative humidity in order to take into account the changes of the boundaries conditions in terms of heat and moisture exchanges occurring along the construction history of the bridge decks in the evaluation of their long-term behavior. For each component of the delayed strains (the thermal strain, the autogenous shrinkage, the desiccation shrinkage, the desiccation creep, the basic creep), a modelling has been proposed. -Development of a cross-section analysis program based on the numerically stable algorithm with increasing time steps for integral-type aging creep proposed by Bažant and including the different components of the delayed effects according to the proposed modelling. The results seem to be very promising since it was possible to reproduce in a more realistic way the evolutions of the measured strains of the composite railway bridge deck instrumented in June 2000 and situated near Brussels South Station. /Résumé L’objectif de cette thèse est de prédire le comportement à long terme de structure mixte type pont-bac composée de poutres préfléchies, précontraintes et construites par phases. A l’heure actuelle, ils sont dimensionnés à l’état limite de service par une méthode traditionnelle pseudo-élastique avec un coefficient d’équivalence acier-béton variable. Il est envisagé d’étendre ce type de construction à la réalisation de viaducs hyperstatiques permettant de franchir de plus grandes portées en établissant une continuité entre deux travées au droit de leur support commun. Il est connu que ce type de construction induit une importante redistribution des efforts internes dans la structure. Il est donc indispensable d’évaluer très finement l’influence des effets différés du béton sur ce type de construction. Deux programmes généraux d’analyse de section basés sur la méthode du module effectif ajusté et la méthode pas-à-pas ont tout d’abord été développés. Ces méthodes appliquent le principe de superposition. Des limitations propres à ces méthodes ont été relevées pour des historiques où le béton subit plusieurs déchargements significatifs par rapport à son état de contrainte initial juste après le transfert de la précontrainte. Ces méthodes ont aussi l’inconvénient de supposer une humidité relative constante. Enfin,pour pouvoir être mis en précontrainte le plus tôt possible, les ponts-bacs sont chauffés. Les caractéristiques de retrait et de fluage s’écartent de celles déterminées en laboratoire sur des éprouvettes conservées à 20°C. Pour lever les limitations des méthodes classiques et évaluer plus finement l’état de contrainte et de déformation à long terme dans ce type de structure, plusieurs étapes ont été effectuées : -Analyse de l’influence d’un traitement thermique appliqué dans les mêmes conditions que celles effectuées chez le préfabricant ainsi que du niveau de contrainte appliqué sur les déformations différées du béton. -Analyse de l’influence de l’application de déchargements à des âges divers sur les éprouvettes de béton permettant de mettre en évidence le fait que la méthode dite aux deux fonctions avec la fonction de recouvrance proposée par Yue et Taerwe reproduit la plupart des résultats expérimentaux de manière très satisfaisante. -Développement d’un programme d’analyse en section suivant la méthode pas-à-pas étendu à la méthode aux deux fonctions afin de mieux tenir compte de la recouvrance, ce qui a permis d’optimiser les phases de préfabrication des ponts-bacs en changeant l’instant de mise en précontrainte. Les simulations ont montré que si le béton du pont-bac est chauffé, la mise en précontrainte peut s’effectuer à 20 heures d’âge du béton. -Développement d’un programme d’analyse de structure au moyen d’éléments finis de type poutre et dont l’algorithme de résolution applique la méthode aux deux fonctions, ce qui a permis d’optimiser les phases de construction de viaducs hyperstatiques constitués par la jonction de deux ponts-bacs. -Proposition d’une modélisation fondée sur la compréhension des phénomènes physico-chimiques à l’origine des effets différés et couplée à une étude locale de l’évolution du degré d’hydratation et de la teneur en eau permettant de tenir compte des changements de conditions aux limites en terme d’échange de chaleur et d’humidité qui ont lieu au cours de l’histoire des ponts-bacs dans l’évaluation de leur comportement à long terme. Pour chaque composante des déformations différées (le retrait thermique, le retrait endogène, le retrait et le fluage de dessiccation, le fluage fondamental), une modélisation a été proposée. -Développement d’un programme d’analyse de section basé sur une approche incrémentale avec l’algorithme récursif et exponentiel proposé par Bažant et dans lequel les composantes des effets différés ont été intégrées suivant la modélisation proposée. Les résultats sont encourageants car ils ont permis de reproduire de manière beaucoup plus réaliste les évolutions des déformations mesurées dans le pont-bac instrumenté à Bruxelles.

A study of Elite Salespeople (ES), those salespeople who maintain and sustain consistent high performance in the sales task was completed to discover and understand elite salesperson behavior. Analysis of participants' responses to structured depth interview questions led to the emergence of a construct called a Selling Orientation (SO). SO is made up of behaviors that guide salespeople to build, maintain, and monitor their personal credibility both with customers and industry members, as well as within the company. A number of field pre-tests were performed to derive a measurement scale for SO. This process was followed by a field survey that measured SO in a sales force. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the validity of the measurement scale and results support internal consistency and construct validity of a short 9 item scale for SO. This study advances the understanding of sales performance related theory by illuminating attributes of ES's. Additionally, this study introduces the concept of a Selling Orientation that is associated with high sales performance and key account management. Finally, the study introduces a measurement scale useful in the study of salespeople's selling orientation.

Dynamic balancing of computation and communication load is vital for the execution stability and performance of distributed, parallel simulations deployed on shared, unreliable resources of large-scale environments. High Level Architecture (HLA) based simulations can experience a decrease in performance due to imbalances that are produced initially and/or during run-time. These imbalances are generated by the dynamic load changes of distributed simulations or by unknown, non-managed background processes resulting from the non-dedication of shared resources. Due to the dynamic execution characteristics of elements that compose distributed simulation applications, the computational load and interaction dependencies of each simulation entity change during run-time. These dynamic changes lead to an irregular load and communication distribution, which increases overhead of resources and execution delays. A static partitioning of load is limited to deterministic applications and is incapable of predicting the dynamic changes caused by distributed applications or by external background processes. Due to the relevance in dynamically balancing load for distributed simulations, many balancing approaches have been proposed in order to offer a sub-optimal balancing solution, but they are limited to certain simulation aspects, specific to determined applications, or unaware of HLA-based simulation characteristics. Therefore, schemes for balancing the communication and computational load during the execution of distributed simulations are devised, adopting a hierarchical architecture. First, in order to enable the development of such balancing schemes, a migration technique is also employed to perform reliable and low-latency simulation load transfers. Then, a centralized balancing scheme is designed; this scheme employs local and cluster monitoring mechanisms in order to observe the distributed load changes and identify imbalances, and it uses load reallocation policies to determine a distribution of load and minimize imbalances. As a measure to overcome the drawbacks of this scheme, such as bottlenecks, overheads, global synchronization, and single point of failure, a distributed redistribution algorithm is designed. Extensions of the distributed balancing scheme are also developed to improve the detection of and the reaction to load imbalances. These extensions introduce communication delay detection, migration latency awareness, self-adaptation, and load oscillation prediction in the load redistribution algorithm. Such developed balancing systems successfully improved the use of shared resources and increased distributed simulations' performance.