Recent advances in the field of computational intelligence have led to a numberof promising optimization algorithms. These algorithms have the potential to findoptimal or near-optimal solutions to complex problems within a reasonable timeframe. Structural optimization is a research field where such algorithms are appliedto optimally design structures. Although a significant amount of research has been published in the field ofstructural optimization since the 1960s, little of the research effort has been utilizedin structural design practice. One reason for this is that only a small portion ofthe research targets real-world applications. Therefore there is a need to conductresearch on cost optimization of realistic structures, particularly large structureswhere significant cost savings may be possible. To address this need, a software application for cost optimization of beam bridgeswas developed. The software application was limited to road bridges in concretethat are straight and has a constant width of the bridge deck. Several simplificationswere also made to limit the scope of the thesis. For instance, a rough design ofthe substructure was implemented, and the design of some structural parts wereneglected. This thesis introduces the subject of cost optimization, treats fundamentaloptimization theory, explains how the software application works, and presents acase study that was carried out to evaluate the application. The result of the case study suggests a potential for significant cost savings. Yet,the speeding up of the design process is perhaps the major benefit that should inclinedesigners to favor optimization. These findings mean that current optimizationalgorithms are robust enough to decrease the cost of beam bridges compared to aconventional design. However, the software application needs several improvementsbefore it can be used in a real design situation, which is a topic for future research. / Nya framsteg inom forskningen har lett till ett antal lovande optimeringsalgoritmer.Dessa algoritmer har potentialen att hitta optimala eller nästan optimala lösningartill komplexa problem inom rimlig tid. Strukturoptimering är ett forskningsområdedär dessa algoritmer tillämpas för att dimensionera konstruktioner på ett optimaltsätt. Även om en betydande mängd forskning har publicerats inom området strukturoptimeringsedan 1960-talet, så har endast lite av forskningsinsatserna kommit tillanvändning i praktiken. Ett skäl till detta är att endast en liten del av forskningenär inriktad mot verklighetsförankrade tillämpningar. Därför finns det ett behov avatt bedriva forskning på kostnadsoptimering av realistiska konstruktioner, särskiltstora konstruktioner där betydande kostnadsbesparingar kan vara möjligt. För att möta detta behov har ett datorprogram för kostnadsoptimering avbalkbroar utvecklats. Programmet begränsades till vägbroar i betong som är rakaoch har en konstant bredd. Flera förenklingar gjordes också för att begränsaomfattningen av arbetet. Till exempel implementerades en grov dimensionering avunderbyggnaden, och dimensioneringen av vissa komponenter försummades helt ochhållet. Detta examensarbete presenterar ämnet kostnadsoptimering, behandlar grundläggandeoptimeringsteori, förklarar hur programmet fungerar, och presenterar enfallstudie som genomfördes för att utvärdera programmet. Resultatet av fallstudien visar en potential för betydande kostnadsbesparingar.Trots det så är tidsbesparingarna i dimensioneringsprocessen kanske den störstafördelen som borde locka konstruktörer att använda optimering. Dessa upptäckterinnebär att aktuella optimeringsalgoritmer är tillräckligt robusta för att minskakostnaden för balkbroar jämfört med en konventionell dimensionering. Dock måsteprogrammet förbättras på flera punkter innan det kan användas i en verklig dimensioneringssituation,vilket är ett ämne för framtida forskning.

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This thesis involves the study of dust particles trapped in silica aerogel for fusion dust diagnostics purpose. The low velocity impact experiments are done by implanting predefined dust particles into silica aerogel by using a springpiston air gun. The impact experiment results show that the hypervelocity impact model may not suitable for describing the fusion characteristic dust particles. The samples made by impact experiment are analyzed by ion microbeam analysis methods: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and Particle-induced X-ray Emission spectrometry (PIXE). The elements of dust particles are well identified by the X-ray spectra. The X-ray maps clearly show the dust shape. RBS and NRA spectra of an individual particle or a specific region show the depth information of the trapped particles, which is useful for determining the dust velocities. For the interpretation of ion beam analysis result, simulation of dust particles for RBS and NRA are done. The accessible depth for ion beam analysis in silica aerogel can be several hundred micrometers, which is adequate for dust diagnostics.

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Content: Preface Selected publications Statistics (Publications and patents, Concluded scientific degrees; Appointments and honors; Invited conference contributions, colloquia, lectures and talks; Conferences, workshops, colloquia and seminars; Exchange of researchers; Projects) Doctoral training programme Experimental equipment User facilities and services Organization chart and personnel

Radioactive ion beam production by Isotope Separator On Line method (ISOL) has motivated the construction of several nuclear facilities over the world. The method consists in impinging solid target material with beams of stable nucleus. Radioactive nuclei produced during the collision are stopped in the target material and must diffuse out of it as fast as possible to transform them into ions before their radioactive decay. The release time must thus be as short as possible to avoid their losses. The release of the nuclei depends on several parameters, which are related to the chemistry of the atoms in the target matrix, to the geometry and micro-structure of the target, and to its temperature. In the case of targets made of grains, we assumed that an optimum grain size of the grains existed. To make possible its easy determination, we aimed to calculate it analytically. Thus we have built a description of the propagation of the atoms in the target material, while conserving the different physico-chemical parameters and avoiding the use of adjustable parameters. The description of the propagation process will be presented as well as the assumptions. Finally, the optimum grain size will be given for the radioactive Ar atoms out of graphite.

Diffusion of adsorbed n-alkanes was studied by means of electron beam induced deposition (EBID) technique. Carbon ring-like and pillar-like deposits were produced on bulk and thin substrates in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) operated in a “spot” mode. Residual nalkanes used as a precursor gas were delivered to the beam interaction region (BIR) via surface diffusion. The model of adsorbate diffusion along a heterogeneous surface with different diffusion coefficients D1 and D2 outside and inside the BIR, respectively, was proposed to explain the measured deposition rates. The estimates for diffusion coefficients ranging from ~1x10-10 to ~1x10-7 cm2s-1 at room temperature on surfaces with different roughness were obtained. These estimates most likely should be attributed to n-decane molecules expected to play the key role in the deposition process. Clusters of polymerized molecules produced by irradiation were assumed to act as effective traps hampering surface diffusion. For high D1/D2 ratios the deposition rates were found to be practically independent of the substrate material and initial roughness.

The shaped charges on the market today ranges from about 20 to 200 mm in diameter but there is a need of smaller sizes for example in applications where a small projectile with a high speed is needed or to equip or take out drones with. The objective of this thesis work was to develop a miniaturized shaped charge with dimensions smaller than those available today and preferably with a diameter down to 10 mm. The project was conducted at Karlstad University in collaboration with Saab Dynamics AB. The process used during this project was to start with a feasibility study to obtain information about the limits on dimensions in order to investigate how small dimensions can be used for the casing and liner with respect to manufacturability. The feasibility study was conducted by studying academic literature, contacting companies with expertise within the field of manufacturing. A previously used shaped charge was used as a starting point and the dimensions was scaled in accordance with the objective. The influence of the design parameters was examined using the γSPH module in IMPETUS Afea. The liner material used was restricted to oxygen-free high thermal conductivity copper and different materials for the casing was tested. Two material selections for the casing were made with the aid of Granta Edupack. It has been concluded that it is possible to manufacture a miniaturized shaped charge with dimensions down to about ten mm. Both a design for a jet forming shaped charge and an explosively formed penetrator was developed during the project. The resulting projectile for the explosively formed penetrator had a velocity of 2450 m/s, a total length of 7.3 mm and 3.5 mm in diameter, and the jet forming shaped charge had a jet tip velocity of 7060 m/s and was able to penetrate 38-mm into an AISI 4340 steel target according to the models used in IMPETUS Afea. A prototype was planned but due to cost restrictions, it is left as future work. / Riktad sprängverkan (RSV)-laddningarna som finns på marknaden idag sträcker sig från ungefär 20 till 200 mm i diameter. Det finns dock ett behov för storlekar mindre än detta, till exempel i tillämpningar där en liten projektil med hög fart krävs, alternativt att utrusta eller sänka drönare med. Målet med detta examensarbete var att utveckla en miniatyriserad RSV-laddning med dimensioner mindre än vad som finns tillgängligt idag och helst med en diameter neråt tio mm. Projektet utfördes på Karlstads universitet i samarbete med Saab Dynamics AB. Processen som användes under detta projekt gick ut på att börja med en förstudie for att erhålla information om gränserna för mått för att undersöka hur små dimensioner som kan användas för höljet och linern med avseende på tillverkningsbarhet. Förstudien genomfördes genom att studera akademisk litteratur och kontakta företag med expertis inom tillverkningsområdet. En tidigare använd RSV-laddning användes som startpunkt och dimensionerna justerades i enlighet med målet. Påverkan av parametrar på prestanda undersöktes genom att använda γSPH modulen i IMPETUS Afea. Det använda materialet för linern begränsades till OFHC koppar och olika material för höljet testades. Två materialval gjordes för höljet med hjälp av Granta Edupack. Slutsatsen som kan dras utifrån arbetet är att det är möjligt att tillverka miniatyriserade RSV-laddningar med dimensioner neråt tio mm. Både en design för en strålbildande RSV-laddning och en projektilbildande RSV-laddning utvecklades under projektet. Den resulterande projektilen för den projektilbilande RSV-laddningen hade en fart på 2450 m/s, en längd av totalt 7.3 mm och 3.5 mm i diameter och den strålbildande RSV-laddningen hade en spetsfart på 7060 km/s och kunde penetrera 38 mm AISI 4340 stål enligt modellen som användes i IMPETUS Afea. En prototyp planerades men på grund av kostnadsrestriktioner lämnades det som framtida arbete.

No description available.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of proton beam therapy (PBT) centers operating worldwide. For certain cases, proton beams have been shown to provide dosimetric and radiobiological advantages when used for cancer treatment, compared to the regular photon-beam based treatments. Under ideal circumstances, the dose given to the tissues surrounding a target can be reduced with PBT. The risk for side effects following treatment is then expected to decrease. Until present, mainly stationary targets, e.g. targets in the brain, have been treated with PBT. There is currently a growing interest to treat also target volumes in other parts of the body with PBT. However, there are sources of uncertainties, which must be more carefully considered when PBT is used, especially for PBT carried out with scanned proton beams. PBT is more sensitive to anatomical changes, e.g. organ motion or a variable gas content in the intestines, which requires that special precautions are taken prior to treating new tumour sites. In photon beam radiotherapy (RT) of moving targets, the main consequence of organ motion is the loss of sharpness of the dose gradients (dose smearing). When scanned proton beams are used, dose deformation caused by the fluctuations in the proton beam range, due to varying tissue heterogeneities (e.g., the ribs moving in and out of the beam path) and the so-called interplay effect, can be expected to impact the dose distributions in addition to the dose smearing. The dosimetric uncertainties, if not accounted for, may cause the planned and accurately calculated dose distribution to be distorted, compromising the main goal of RT of achieving the maximal local disease control while accepting certain risks for normal tissue complications. Currently there is a lack of clinical follow-up data regarding the outcome of PBT for different tumour sites, in particular for extra-cranial tumour sites in moving organs. On the other hand, the use of photon beams for this kind of cancer treatment is well-stablished. A treatment planning comparison between RT carried out with photons and with protons may provide guidelines for when PBT could be more suitable. New clinical applications of particle beams in cancer therapy can also be transferred from photon-beam treatments, for which there is a vast clinical experience. The evaluation of the different uncertainties influencing RT of different tumour sites carried out with photon- and with proton-beams, will hopefully create an understanding for the feasibility of treating cancers with scanned proton beams instead of photon beams. The comparison of two distinct RT modalities is normally performed by studying the dosimetric values obtained from the dose volume histograms (DVH). However, in dosimetric evaluations, the outcome of the treatments in terms of local disease control and healthy tissue toxicity are not estimated. In this regard, radiobiological models can be an indispensable tool for the prediction of the outcome of cancer treatments performed with different types of ionising radiation. In this thesis, different factors that should be taken into consideration in PBT, for treatments influenced by organ motion and density heterogeneities, were studied and their importance quantified. This thesis consists of three published articles (Articles I, II and III). In these reports, the dosimetric and biological evaluations of photon-beam and scanned proton-beam RT were performed and the results obtained were compared. The studies were made for two tumour sites influenced by organ motion and density changes, gastric cancer (GC) and liver metastases. For the GC cases, the impact of changes in tissue density, resulting from variable gas content (which can be observed inter-fractionally), was also studied. In this thesis, both conventional fractionations (implemented in the planning for GC treatments) and hypofractionated regimens (implemented in the planning for the liver metastases cases) were considered. In this work, it was found that proton therapy provided the possibility to reduce the irradiations of the normal tissue located near the target volumes, compared to photon beam RT. However, the effects of density changes were found to be more pronounced in the plans for PBT. Furthermore, with proton beams, the reduction of the integral dose given to the OARs resulted in reduced risks of treatment-induced secondary malignancies.