The use of natural light is very beneficial in office buildings because energy consumption can be reduced, and working conditions can be enhanced, which positively affect workers' health and productivity. However, bringing natural light into deep plan office buildings is not possible with simple windows or skylights, and light transport systems are necessary to bring natural light into the deep cores of buildings. Light transport systems usually need sun-tracking devices to collect natural light that are complicated, expensive and require continual maintenance. Mirrored light pipes coupled with laser cut panels (LCP) are a passive and simpler daylight transport solution and are the focus of this PhD research. The primary aim has been to improve the technology and achieve the most efficient passive solution possible through the interactive use of theoretical modelling, experimental measurements and case studies. Applications of this technology were investigated in two case studies: 1) as horizontal light pipes for daylight illumination of a high rise building proposal in the tropics; and 2) as vertical light pipes for daylight illumination of a middle-rise deep plan building proposal in a subtropical environment. In both cases, quantitative system performance under best (clear sunny sky) and worst (overcast) case scenarios was undertaken via scale model testing and mathematical modelling. The major conclusion for both case studies was that mirrored light pipe technologies, when coupled with LCP, were effective in introducing sufficient ambient light levels inside buildings and over distances > 20 m from the façade or roof. Average lux levels achieved in the space were 150 to 350 lux for the horizontal light pipes and 50 to 300 lux for vertical light pipes. However, as a passive solution, this technology has two major limitations: 1) the dependence on sun azimuth and elevation angles, which result in variations in illuminance levels during the day and the year; and potentially 2) pipe size, as pipes with a large diameter (e.g. 2 m in diameter for 20 m long pipes) are required for optimal performance, such that the large pipes may limit integration in building design. Two other solutions were assessed to circumvent these limitations to the mirrored light pipe technology: 1) a passive collector that concentrate natural light by using a fluorescent panel to reduce the size of the pipe, and 2) an active collector comprising a LCP rotating 360 degrees in a 24 hour cycle to reduce system dependence on sun azimuth and elevation angles. The low light-to-light efficiency of the fluorescent panels made them inappropriate for collecting sufficient amounts of daylight necessary for daylighting of large buildings. In contrast, the rotating LCP is a very simple active system that by rotating constantly at 15 degrees per hour, reduces the deviation angle between the panel orientation and sun azimuth angle, and significantly increased the system performance. The performance was generally better (e.g. 2.5 times better for light collection under low sun elevation angles) than the passive light pipe system with fixed LCP. However, active systems raise other issues in terms of cost-benefit in constructing, operating and maintaining such systems. Passive mirrored light pipes coupled with LCPs or simple active systems with rotating LCPs have great potential as daylight solutions for deep plan buildings as they can contribute to lowering overall energy consumption, improve workplace health and become an architectural design element. Research is still required on the implementation of the technology into buildings, but the growing trend towards 'green buildings', sustainable design and government regulations or building codes will require more daylighting use in buildings, and will motivate designers to increasingly consider and incorporate such daylighting strategies into future building designs.

Dams are vital infrastructure for society as they provide various services (e.g., flood prevention, storage of byproducts from mining operations, water storage for irrigation and hydropower generation) by the impoundment of liquids. However, the storage of considerable volumes of liquids introduces a risk of uncontrolled discharge, due to dam failure, which could result in catastrophic outcomes. Consequently, the safety must be ensured throughout a dam’s service life and thus regular assessments are required. For concrete dams, the current practices of stability assessment methods found in guidelines and regulatory rules require idealizations. This need for idealization is a weakness of current assessment methods as elucidated by the appended scientific articles. The essence of the results of the appended articles demonstrates that certain parameters and features of a dam, which are commonly neglected in current dam assessment, significantly influences the load capacity of a dam. Therefore, this study primarily deals with alternative assessment methods that can be used for dams. Therefore, as an outcome of an extensive literature review on probabilistic analysis and scale model testing, summarized in the chapters of the thesis, a framework for concrete dam assessment is proposed. Even though the methods can be individually employed to assess the stability and safety of a dam, an approach that integrates the strengths of each method is currently not available. The proposed framework is novel and combines scale model testing, finite element analysis, probabilistic analysis and is intended to resolve issues identified with current assessment methods. The framework integrates the strengths of each method provides a robust assessment strategy where cross-validation of the failure mode and capacity is achieved by utilizing both finite element analysis and scale model testing. Furthermore, in contrast to current dam assessment methods, it allows for large geometrical variations in the rock-concrete interface to be included in the analysis, which contributes significantly to the capacity of a concrete dam as elucidated by the appended articles. The work in this thesis presents the theoretical foundation of the framework. It is intended to be applied in a future case study to evaluate its performance on an existing buttress dam.

No description available.

When processing materials, there are a number of factors which influence the final quality of products. The possibility of defects occurrence, both sub-surface and surface ones, is one of the factors. In the precision engineering production, the automotive, bearing or aerospace industry in particular, no level of defects is tolerable. The thesis deals with the causes and consequences of the occurrence of such defects, and the methods for their identification. For this purpose, a new contactless optical method for the fully automatic inspection of the surface defects has been developed by Mesing, spol. s r.o. In order to verify the performance of the aforementioned method, four specific products have been tested by the author using the method. Finally, there are examples of the successful implementation of the automatic machines, for a design of which the results of the model testing were utilized.

Despite advancements in the analysis of statnamic load testing data, there exists uncertainty with underlying procedural assumptions. Two such assumptions are that the system mass and soil-related damping coefficient remain constant throughout the loading event. These assumptions are the culprit of aberrant predictions of the static capacity at small displacements when the overall displacement is large. An exploration of the assumptions may validate prior existing test results as well as solidify the current analysis process. However, an exploration could also reveal an overestimation or underestimation of portions of the predicted static load responses. The testing program outlined herein consists of a two-phase sequential agenda devoted toward the preparation and familiarization of a new laboratory statnamic device. The first phase involves the development of user guidelines for accurately targeting a desired statnamic test, and the second incorporates the guidelines into a preliminary testing regime specifically targeted at determining a suspected strain-dependant statnamic damping coefficient. The steps taken in this thesis are intended to launch future research endeavors toward obtaining a better understanding of the statnamic damping coefficient.

This thesis aimed to: (a) design a factorially valid survey to assess sub-themes relating to ‘involvement opportunities’ (IOs), which are an antecedent variable in the sport commitment model (Wilson et al., 2004); (b) examine the placement of enjoyment alongside IOs in the sport commitment model; (c) determine the pathways (i.e., direct and/or indirect) by which specific IOs sub-themes affect functional and obligatory commitment and if they differ in number, strength and direction of association (Choosakul et al., 2009); and (d) examine differences between recent initiates compared to those who have been more continuously involved (Chu & Wang, 2012) in Masters swimming. Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of survey data from 725 swimmers (260 males, 465 females, M age = 50.5, range = 25-92), results confirmed a 10 factor solution of IOs sub-themes. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that the number, direction, and strength of associations between specific IOs sub-themes and commitment vary depending on commitment type, as do the nature of direct and indirect pathways affecting commitment. Invariance testing showed recent initiates and continuously-involved swimmers to be invariant across measurement and structural models. Overall, results support the need to measure and assess IOs at the level of the sub-theme and to consider a bi-dimensional (Santi et al., 2014; Wilson et al., 2004) sport commitment model.

To understand the modeling challenges and to examine the important factors considered in Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) distribution studies, we reviewed 33 peer-reviewed articles published from 2003-2023. These studies used 54 environmental or anthropogenic variable types to investigate the distribution, habitat preference, and home range composition of sun bears. Most variable types are human disturbance (n=4), climate (n=3), topography (n=1), vegetation (n=11), or other ecological factors (n=3). Nevertheless, a number of rarely used variables might also be useful to include in future evaluations (i.e., food abundance), and observational evidence suggests that predator occurrence could also be informative. Importantly, no studies tested the performance of model prediction by using other presence points of the species in a similar or adjacent biogeographical area. In Myanmar, where the bear’s distribution is not well-known, we set up three annual surveys using 120 camera-trap stations in a portion of the Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary (HWS) in northern Myanmar during 2016-17 to 2018-19 to identify factors influencing bear distribution. From a total effort of 15,315 trap nights, we obtained 47 independent photo events of sun bears at 16%, 13%, and 9% of the stations each year. We analyzed eight factors potentially influencing the bear distribution and found that the top three ranked models were a combination of elevation, NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), distance to water, and slope. The presence of tigers (Panthera tigris) in the area was found to have a positive relation with mean sun bear occupancy. In this study, we tested the prediction performance of the single-season occupancy model with another dataset. We tested the prediction performance of the top six models in the PresenceAbsence Package and calculated the AUC (Area under receiver curved), TSS (True skill statistics), and Kappa scores. The AUC score ranged from 0.5 to 0.6, while the TSS score ranged from -0.001 to 0.28. None of the top six models’ predictions perfectly agreed with the sanctuary-wide survey data. The discrepancies may be due to the limited sample size, the temporal scale of the prediction, and the presence of other ecological factors (e.g., predators, competitors, or food availability) not accounted for in the habitat use prediction. To improve the prediction performance of occupancy models, we recommend that future sun bear surveys increase the number and size of sampling efforts and include ecological covariates such as potential predators when possible.

A vibração induzida por vórtices - VIV é um assunto muito estudado na engenharia oceânica, tendo seu nome adaptado para VIM por ocasião de observação semelhante em plataformas do tipo Spar no Golfo do México. Com o início da utilização de plataformas monocolunas, especificamente com a instalação da Sevan Piranema no Nordeste Brasileiro, em 2007, questionou-se sobre a ocorrência deste fenômeno nestas unidades de seção cilíndricas, aplicando cargas não previstas aos sistemas de ancoragem, e eventualmente tornando estes subdimensionados. Em um primeiro momento, foi realizado estudo detalhado sobre os trabalhos já realizados na área, e tendo sido encontrado material insuficiente sobre o VIM em plataformas monocolunas, buscou-se a sua caracterização em termos de amplitudes e períodos de oscilação a partir de ensaios em tanques de prova, estratégia justificada pela dificuldade em se obter tais resultados de forma confiável via uma abordagem analítica e/ou numérica. Posteriormente, com o objetivo de se verificar o impacto do VIM nas cargas extremas, e principalmente na fadiga do sistema de ancoragem, foram realizadas análises com dois métodos distintos encontrados na literatura. Em linhas gerais, o primeiro método é descrito como aquele que considera a aplicação do VIM via movimentos equivalentes aos identificados experimentalmente e o segundo, por sua vez, via a consideração apenas das respectivas forças. Para esses estudos foi analisado o sistema de amarração em um cenário típico, sob condições ambientais de vento, onda e correnteza. Finalmente, dada a sua importância observada nos resultados, foram discutidas as relações entre o VIM e alguns fatores externos, tais como: a razão de aspecto da plataforma; a presença concomitante de ondas e o amortecimento viscoso atuante nas linhas de ancoragem, sendo apresentados para este último uma comparação dos resultados obtidos numericamente com aqueles experimentais. / The vortex induced vibration VIV is a main subject studied in the offshore engineering, having its name adapted to VIM by the occurrence in Spar platforms in the Gulf of México. As the first monocolumn unit, the Sevan Piranema, was in Northeast Brazil in 2007, VIM occurrence in cylindrical units like this was questioned, having the mooring lines design dimensioned without this load. Firstly a detailed study about the works developed in this field was performed, and not being found enough publications about VIM in monocolumns, its characterization was aimed in terms of oscillation amplitude and period through model tests, due to the difficulty to obtain reliable results by means of analytical or numerical approaches. Later, with the objective of verifying the impact of VIM in extreme loads and, mainly, in fatigue damage, analyses with two different methods found in the literature were performed. The first consider the application of VIM as a motion in the numerical model, based on the experimental results, and the second applies the observed forces. For these studies the mooring system for a typical scenario was analyzed, under the wave, wind and current environmental force. At last, due to the importance observed from the results, there were discussed the relation of VIM with some external factors, like span wise relation, presence of waves and viscous damping, being presented for this last a comparison of the numerical model results with the experimental is presented.

In developing countries, there is a great demand for university education. In order to select students to universities a standardized test score is used. In Turkey, the Student Selection Test (SST) have important role in admission to universities. However, there is very limited knowledge about what SST mathematics sections actually measures. The main purpose of the present study is to evaluate the content of the mathematics subtest of the SST in line with mathematical cognitive skills and eventually provide construct related evidence for dimensionality of the test items. Within this framework, it is aimed to cross validate the mathematics subtest across gender groups, school types and two consecutive years. Also relations among mathematical abilities are investigated. This study is first in investigating what is measured by SST Mathematics sections and analyzing construct validity by testing several nested confirmatory factor models. Comparison of fit indices of five competitive models showed three-factor model has better fit indices in which Basic Computation Ability, Advanced Computation Ability and Geometry Ability is measured. It is concluded that problem solving items are not measuring a different process, but measures some sort of computation ability. There is a problem related to the content of the mathematics subtests of the SST in line with mathematical cognitive skills. Higher order cognitive skills are not measured properly. Three-factor model is tested about the invariance of the factors across gender, school types and years. It is concluded that invariant factor structure indicates that SST mathematics section is operating similarly for subgroups and years. The relations among mathematical abilities on three-factor model are investigated by item mapping and structural equation models. It is seen that Basic Computation Ability is a prerequisite to acquire Geometry Ability and Advanced Computation Ability.

A vibração induzida por vórtices - VIV é um assunto muito estudado na engenharia oceânica, tendo seu nome adaptado para VIM por ocasião de observação semelhante em plataformas do tipo Spar no Golfo do México. Com o início da utilização de plataformas monocolunas, especificamente com a instalação da Sevan Piranema no Nordeste Brasileiro, em 2007, questionou-se sobre a ocorrência deste fenômeno nestas unidades de seção cilíndricas, aplicando cargas não previstas aos sistemas de ancoragem, e eventualmente tornando estes subdimensionados. Em um primeiro momento, foi realizado estudo detalhado sobre os trabalhos já realizados na área, e tendo sido encontrado material insuficiente sobre o VIM em plataformas monocolunas, buscou-se a sua caracterização em termos de amplitudes e períodos de oscilação a partir de ensaios em tanques de prova, estratégia justificada pela dificuldade em se obter tais resultados de forma confiável via uma abordagem analítica e/ou numérica. Posteriormente, com o objetivo de se verificar o impacto do VIM nas cargas extremas, e principalmente na fadiga do sistema de ancoragem, foram realizadas análises com dois métodos distintos encontrados na literatura. Em linhas gerais, o primeiro método é descrito como aquele que considera a aplicação do VIM via movimentos equivalentes aos identificados experimentalmente e o segundo, por sua vez, via a consideração apenas das respectivas forças. Para esses estudos foi analisado o sistema de amarração em um cenário típico, sob condições ambientais de vento, onda e correnteza. Finalmente, dada a sua importância observada nos resultados, foram discutidas as relações entre o VIM e alguns fatores externos, tais como: a razão de aspecto da plataforma; a presença concomitante de ondas e o amortecimento viscoso atuante nas linhas de ancoragem, sendo apresentados para este último uma comparação dos resultados obtidos numericamente com aqueles experimentais. / The vortex induced vibration VIV is a main subject studied in the offshore engineering, having its name adapted to VIM by the occurrence in Spar platforms in the Gulf of México. As the first monocolumn unit, the Sevan Piranema, was in Northeast Brazil in 2007, VIM occurrence in cylindrical units like this was questioned, having the mooring lines design dimensioned without this load. Firstly a detailed study about the works developed in this field was performed, and not being found enough publications about VIM in monocolumns, its characterization was aimed in terms of oscillation amplitude and period through model tests, due to the difficulty to obtain reliable results by means of analytical or numerical approaches. Later, with the objective of verifying the impact of VIM in extreme loads and, mainly, in fatigue damage, analyses with two different methods found in the literature were performed. The first consider the application of VIM as a motion in the numerical model, based on the experimental results, and the second applies the observed forces. For these studies the mooring system for a typical scenario was analyzed, under the wave, wind and current environmental force. At last, due to the importance observed from the results, there were discussed the relation of VIM with some external factors, like span wise relation, presence of waves and viscous damping, being presented for this last a comparison of the numerical model results with the experimental is presented.