This thesis presents results from testing of interlocking compressed earth block (CEB) masonry shear walls. CEBs are low strength earth masonry units sometimes stabilized with cement or lime. The interlocking compressed earth blocks (ICEBs) used in this experiment are dry stacked interlocking hollow units, which can be reinforced and grouted after they are laid. Although significant research has been undertaken to optimize the material properties of CEBs, little has been done to investigate the performance of structural systems currently being built using this technology. Test results are reported for three 1800 mm x 1800 mm wall specimens constructed with cement stabilized ICEBs and subjected to cyclic in-plane lateral loading. Wall specifications were varied to identify the shear performance of partial and fully grouted walls, and to observe the performance of a flexure dominated wall panel. It was determined that the shear strength of fully grouted walls is significantly higher than that of partially grouted walls and calculation of capacity based on current ACI 530-08 masonry provisions significantly overestimates the shear strength of ICEB wall panels. Based on the observed performance, recommendations are made for limiting the calculated nominal shear strength in design. Results also indicate that calculations based on simple bending theory conservatively predict the flexural strength of a fully grouted ICEB wall. Discussion of ICEB material properties and recommendations for design and construction procedures are included.

Ökade krav på företags hållbarhetsrapportering och investerare som ställer krav på implementering av ESG-kriterier i Private Equity-fonder är drivkrafter för Private Equity-företag att arbeta med ESG. Syftet med uppsatsen är att få en ökad förståelse för hur tre nordiska Private Equity-företag utformar styrelsen i portföljbolagen för att arbeta med ESG. För att förklara detta har en komparativ undersökning genomförts, där vi jämförde Summa Equity, Altor Equity Partners och Nordic Capital. Information om Private Equity-företagen samlades in från intervjuer med företagen och från dokument om företagen. Vi har hittat att Private Equity-företagen främst tillsätter styrelseledamöter med ESG-expertis i sina portföljbolag vid särskilda behov av kunskap inom ESG. Eftersom portföljbolagen styrs genom styrelsen är det viktigt att tillsätta styrelseledamöter med olika erfarenheter och expertis som kompletterar varandra. Vidare har vi hittat att Private Equity-företagen inte enbart bidrar med kunskap inom ESG genom portföljbolagens styrelse, utan även genom rådgivning till ledning och anställda.

Background and Objectives: Freehand distal interlocking of intramedullary nails is technically demanding and prone to handling issues. It requires precise placement of a screw through the nail under fluoroscopy guidance and can result in a time consuming and radiation expensive procedure. Dedicated training could help overcome these problems. The aim of this study was to assess construct and face validity of new Digitally Enhanced Hands-On Surgical Training (DEHST) concept and device for training of distal interlocking of intramedullary nails. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine novices and twenty-four expert surgeons performed interlocking on a DEHST device. Construct validity was evaluated by comparing captured performance metrics—number of X-rays, nail hole roundness, drill tip position and drill hole accuracy—between experts and novices. Face validity was evaluated with a questionnaire concerning training potential and quality of simulated reality using a 7-point Likert scale. Results: Face validity: mean realism of the training device was rated 6.3 (range 4–7). Training potential and need for distal interlocking training were both rated with a mean of 6.5 (range 5–7), with no significant differences between experts and novices, p 0.234. All participants (100%) stated that the device is useful for procedural training of distal nail interlocking, 96% wanted to have it at their institution and 98% would recommend it to colleagues. Construct validity: total number of X-rays was significantly higher for novices (20.9 6.4 versus 15.5 5.3, p = 0.003). Success rate (ratio of hit and miss attempts) was significantly higher for experts (novices hit: n = 15; 55.6%; experts hit: n = 19; 83%, p = 0.040). Conclusion: The evaluated training device for distal interlocking of intramedullary nails yielded high scores in terms of training capability and realism. Furthermore, construct validity was proven by reliably discriminating between experts and novices. Participants indicate high further training potential as the device may be easily adapted to other surgical tasks.

<p>This thesis investigates the effects of sample preparation methods, which has substantial influence on the internal structure or fabric of the sample, and interparticle locking on the behaviour of sand through experimental study. Extensive laboratory tests were conducted on two sands (namely, Ottawa sand and crushed limestone) with distinct particle shape and surface texture, using a Bishop-type triaxial testing system.</p><p>A total of eight sample preparation methods were used to fabricate specimens with different initial fabric, with specimens being fabricated using water pluviation, moist tamping, and moist rodding. The experimental data reveal that sample preparation methods have significant effect on both deformation characteristics and shear strength of sand, in addition to the density and the effective confining pressure applied to the specimens. More specifically, water pluviation and moist tamping tend to yield specimens of high anisotropy and large dilation, which in turn results in higher friction angle in conventional triaxial compression. The effect of sample preparation methods was also observed from undrained tests on saturated sand.</p><p>Laboratory tests on crushed limestone consisting of angular particles demonstrate that strong interparticle locking may develop owing to particle angularity. The shear resistance of sand with angular particles has contributions from interparticle friction, dilatation and interparticle locking. Moreover, interparticle locking, which largely exists at the peak shear resistance of sand but vanishes with dilation at large deformation, exists under both low and high stress levels investigated in this study. A conceptual model was proposed to take into account the energy consumption associated with breaking interparticle locking during deformation when estimating the dilatancy and strength of granular soils.</P><P>The behaviour of sand along proportional strain paths was also investigated, with the focus being placed on strain softening and material instability in the context of Hill's second order work. Depending on the strain path or the deformation history, a dilatant sand displaying hardening and stable behaviour under isochronic (undrained) conditions, which is often used as a reference in soil mechanics, may succumb to unstable flow type behaviour along dilative strain paths. More specifically, when the imposed rate of dilation exceeds the inherent rate of dilation of the material, a dense sand specimen will have flow failure similar to that of a saturated loose specimen subjected to undrained compression. On the other hand, a loose sand may not have a flow failure when it is forced to have contractive volume change along imposed strain paths.</P> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No / This paper employs the concept of power geometries that has been applied in analyses of today¿s corporate elite and the globalisation of the economy to explore the networks of an economic actor who ran British multinational companies in the early 1930s. By focusing on the contacts engendered by the Bank of England director who was appointed in 1931 as the 30th governor of the Hudson¿s Bay Company in order to rescue this most emblematic of imperial trading companies, we examine not only the architecture of the web of connections within which both the company and its governor were embedded, but also the ways in which channels of interaction and communication were actually used. We show that while structural analyses of multiple and interlocking directorships offer a useful initial means of understanding power geometries, more detailed, `thick description¿ approaches, based on archival material, reveal that not all apparent links were active and, in the case of the early-20th century multinational elite, networks appear to have embraced a much broader array of contacts. These extended in both social and geographical space well beyond the corporate boardrooms of London.

yes / In this work, the interfacial bond performance of recycled aggregate concrete filled stainless steel tube (RAC-FSST) members was investigated through the repeated push-out tests. Three coarse recycled aggregate (CRA) replacements (0, 50% and 100%) and two cross-sectional dimensions were considered in the experimental program. The failure pattern, bond stress-slip response and strain development of stainless steel tube were obtained, and the bond mechanisms under different loading stages were analyzed. Test results showed that the ultimate bond stress increases with the increasing CRA content and decreasing cross-sectional dimensions. Compared with CFST members having carbon steel, RAC-FSST members present lower bond stress. The macro-interlocking effect is obvious in the later loading stage, resulting in a significant increase in the post-peak bond slip curves. Finally, the ultimate bond strength and idealized bond stress-slip models for the RAC-FSST members were suggested on the basis of the test results.

The Vertically Oriented Interlocking Timber (VOIT) panel is a new solid wood panel similar to Interlocking Cross Laminated Timber (ICLT) and the more commonly known Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Like ICLT, VOIT panels use timber connections instead of the adhesives or metal fasteners common to CLT. The difference of VOIT is the orientation of the layers. Where CLT and ICLT panels alternate the orientation of each layer, VOIT panels orient all the layers in the same direction. The vertically oriented layers are then attached to one another by smaller horizontal dovetail members.Two types of VOIT panels were provided to be tested for in-plane lateral loading. Type I had three rows of horizontal dovetail members connecting the layers and Type II had four rows of dovetail members as well as two diagonal members to provide stiffness. Two panels of each type were provided, measuring 8 ft. wide, 8 ft. tall, and 13.75 in. thick. Each panel was disassembled after monotonic lateral in-plane loading to determine possible failure modes. Testing results suggest the VOIT panels to be comparable in shear strength to other wood shear walls, including light frame, CLT, and ICLT walls. A two-part analytical model was created to determine the deflection of the wall when loaded as well as the shear strength of the wall. The model predicted deflection and wall strength reasonably well. Due to the small sample size, additional testing is necessary to confirm the results of the Type I and Type II VOIT panels. Additional testing with more variations of the panel and member geometries is also needed to validate the scope of the model.

Die Verbundkonstruktion aus Bodenmaterial und Geogitter bietet vielfältige Möglichkeiten zur kosteneffizienten Realisierung komplexer geotechnischer Bauvorhaben. Die wirkenden Effekte innerhalb des Verzahnungsbereiches von Geogitter und Bodenkörnern, die maßgeblich zur Stabilisierung des Verbundsystems beitragen, sind jedoch bislang nur unzureichend beschrieben bzw. nachgewiesen. Die Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der numerischen Simulation, insbesondere hinsichtlich diskontinuumsmechanischer Verfahren, eröffnen innovative Möglichkeiten zur Analyse der Wirkungsmechanismen auf mikromechanischer Ebene. Die vorliegende Forschungsarbeit befasst sich daher mit der Entwicklung und Validierung numerischer Modelle in PFC3D, basierend auf den Randbedingungen und Ergebnissen von systematisch durchgeführten Laborversuchen, zur Reproduktion des natürlichen Interaktionsverhaltens innerhalb eines Geogitter-Boden Verbundsystems. Ein spezieller Fokus richtet sich auf die Modellierung granularer Böden unter Berücksichtigung der wesentlichen kornspezifischen Merkmale, insbesondere der Kornform. Die modelltechnische Beschreibung von Bodenkörnern erfolgt unter Anwendung der sog. Clump-Logik und basiert hauptsächlich auf den Ergebnissen einer fotooptischen Messmethode. Ein neu entwickeltes Verfahren zur Generierung von Kornzusammensetzungen mit spezifischer Lagerungsdichte wird vorgestellt. Die Kalibrierung eines einheitlichen mikromechanischen Parametersatzes zur Reproduktion des bodenmechanischen Verhaltens erfolgt anhand der Simulation von fünf standardisierten Prüfverfahren. Die charakteristische Struktur eines ausgewählten Geogitters wird modelltechnisch implementiert sowie das Verhalten unter Zug- und Torsionsbeanspruchung reproduziert. Der Nachweis eines realistischen Interaktionsverhaltens umfasst die Kalibrierung der Kontaktparameter zwischen den modellierten Verbundkomponenten anhand der Simulation von Herausziehversuchen. Die labor- und modelltechnische Entwicklung spezieller Interaktionsversuche ermöglicht es, präzise Aussagen zum Verbundverhalten unter verschiedenen Belastungssituationen zu treffen. Die wesentlichen Wirkungsmechanismen und Effekte werden unter Berücksichtigung von signifikanten Kennwerten quantifiziert, um zum einen die Effizienz dieser speziellen polymeren Baustoffe zu analysieren und zum anderen eine Grundlage zur Beurteilung und Bemessung von geogitterbewehrten Konstruktionen anhand von allgemeingültigen Systemparametern zu schaffen.

Memoria (licenciado en ciencias jurídicas y sociales) / Este trabajo pretende exponer las distorsiones que se introducen en el funcionamiento de los mercados cuando se establecen vínculos estructurales (de propiedad) o personales (directores comunes) entre empresas competidoras. Junto con una exposición de estos riesgos, se hará un análisis crítico de la capacidad de las categorías tradicionales del derecho de la libre competencia para regular estas conductas, mediante una revisión detallada de la evolución que ha tenido en esta materia la jurisprudencia de los organismos de defensa de la libre competencia de la Unión Europea (la Dirección General de Competencia de la Comisión Europea –en adelante, y salvo que se indicación en contrario, la “Comisión”– y la Cortes).

Dentre a vasta gama de alternativas estruturais possíveis para a construção de pavimentos, os revestimentos com blocos pré-moldados de concreto têm sua aplicação consolidada em pavimentação de áreas portuárias. Além disso, em muitos países, este tipo de pavimento tem sido utilizado com sucesso em aplicações rodoviárias, aeroportuárias, em pátios industriais e em demais aplicações para tráfegos veiculares e de pedestres. No Brasil, no entanto, devido a insucessos em sua utilização, motivados, muitas vezes, pela inobservância de parâmetros técnicos relevantes a essa tecnologia, contribuíram para que este tipo de pavimento tenha sido subutilizado. Todavia, as recentes revisões nas normas nacionais que tratam deste tema, a criação de novas normatizações e a recente construção de importantes rodovias utilizando este tipo de revestimento, contribuem para o aperfeiçoamento de profissionais e a diminuição do prejulgamento desta tecnologia. Neste sentido, é de suma importância estudar o comportamento estrutural e funcional deste tipo de pavimento. De modo que, neste trabalho, foram estudadas quatro seções de dois trechos experimentais construídos entre julho e setembro de 2010. Foram realizadas avaliações destrutivas e não destrutivas para análise dos materiais, suas espessuras e confronto com os parâmetros construtivos oriundos do projeto e da literatura, bem como a verificação das condições para realização de retroanálise dos módulos de resiliência das camadas do pavimento. Os levantamentos deflectométricos apresentaram patamares muito elevados de deflexões reversíveis em todas as seções estudadas. Das aberturas de cavas e confronto com a estrutura de projeto, verificou-se incompatibilidades entre os materiais e espessuras das camadas do pavimento projetado x pavimento construído, destacando-se a condição verificada na camada de base por apresentar significativa desagregação do material, cujo projeto indicava utilização de concreto compactado com rolo (CCR), o que evidencia problemas no controle tecnológico dos materiais e falhas no gerenciamento da obra. Por meio das retroanálises foram verificadas diminuições significativas dos módulos de resiliência das camadas do pavimento, quando comparado com os parâmetros de projeto. Os índices de condições do pavimento (ICP) apontaram condições distintas nas seções avaliadas mesmo sujeitas ao mesmo tráfego de veículos. / Among the wide range of possible structural alternatives for the construction of pavements, interlocking concrete pavements are the orthodox solution for paving ports. Furthermore, in many countries, this type of pavement has been successfully used in highways, airport applications, in industrial areas and other applications for vehicular traffic and pedestrians. In Brazil, however, due to failures in its use, driven often by the lack of relevant technical parameters to this technology, contributed to the fact that this type of pavement has been misused. Although, recent reviews from the national standards that deal with this type of pavement, the creation of new standards and the recent construction of important highways using this type of structure, have contributed to the improvement of professionals and decreased the prejudice of this technology. In this sense, it is extremely important to study the structural and functional behavior of this type of pavement. Therefore, in this research it was studied two experimental sections built between July and September 2010 that carried out destructive and nondestructive evaluations for the analysis of materials, their thicknesses and constructive confrontation with the parameters derived from the project and the literature, as well verifying the conditions to accomplish the back calculation of the elastic modulus of the pavement layers. The displacement tests surveys demonstrated very high levels of reversible displacements in all studied sections. From the inspection pits openings and confrontation with the project structure, there is incompatibility between the materials and thicknesses of the layers of the designed pavement versus constructed pavement, the condition verified highlighting the base layer for introducing significant breakdown of the material, which design indicated use of roller-compacted concrete (RCC), which indicates problems in the quality control of materials and failures in the management. The back calculation showed that decreases were observed elastic modulus of the pavement layers when compared with the design parameters. Surveys concerning pavement condition index (PCI) showed different conditions for the evaluated sections even supporting the same traffic.