The mainline railway track between Dublin and Belfast in Northern Ireland was constructed during the 1850's. Substantial lengths of railway embankment were constructed over poor-quality peaty soils. This was accomplished using tree trunk fascines placed directly on the natural ground surface; with poor-quality local peaty soils used as light weight fill.<p>In recent years, Northern Ireland Railways have noticed that these sections of railway track have been deteriorating more rapidly than sections of the track where the foundations are more competent. The magnitudes of displacement of the track under train loading appear to be increasing gradually over time and train speeds have had to be reduced.<p>This thesis is based on the research done to monitor the response of these railway track and embankment structures to dynamic train loading. The displacements were monitored for two different embankments under a variety of loading conditions and for various seasonal conditions. These displacements were recorded using a sensor created for this task. The sensor consisted of a photo-sensitive array mounted on the sleepers and a laser, which was placed outside the area of influence of train loading, and shone on the photo-sensitive array. <p>Analytical (Winkler) modelling was conducted to determine the effects of train speed and the cause of the large train-induced displacements. Analytical and finite element modelling were used to determine the effectiveness of alternative methods of embankment stabilization.<p>The results from the analytical modelling suggest that the deformation of the embankment under train loading was not due to dynamic excitation, but static deformation of the poor-quality fill and soft foundation materials. From both the analytical and finite element modelling of possible remediation techniques, methods that stiffen the embankment and foundation material are shown to be the most effective at reducing the train induced deflection of the embankment.

This thesis examines the factors which impact societal willingness to integrate in a post conflict, post power sharing agreement environment. Utilizing the Northern Ireland case, this study analyzes variance in willingness to integrate between Protestant and Catholic groups. Analysis of the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey data illustrates the shifting relationship between political trust and ingroup/outgroup frustrations on levels of willingness to integrate since the Good Friday Agreement. Statistical analyses indicate confirmation of ingroup attachment and elite political trust hypotheses, and reduced impact of outgroup benefit perceptions on willingness to integrate since the Good Friday Agreement.

Svensk doktrin framhåller sex grundläggande förmågor för analys av motståndaren. Dessa är ledning, uthållighet, und/info, rörlighet, verkan och skydd. Förmågorna är en tankemodell avsedd för att nå maximal effekt i sitt agerande. De är ständigt närvarande på stridsfältet, de påverkas av varandra och deras betydelse varierar över tid. Syftet med uppsatsen är att belysa IRA utveckling mellan 1968-1974 utifrån de sex grundläggande förmågorna. Resultatet visar att IRA utveckling under tiden för studien främst skedde inom förmågan verkan, andra förmågor som ledning och und/info tog längre tid att utveckla. En orsak till detta kan vara att studien omfattar inledningen av konflikten och IRA utveckling mot att bli en icke-statlig väpnad aktör. / The Swedish military doctrine stresses six basic capabilities for analysing the opponent. These six capabilities are defined as command, endurance, intelligence and information, mobility, effect and defence. It is a given model designed to gain maximum effect through action and the capabilities are always present in the battlefield. They affect one another and their importance varies over time. The aim of this essay is to highlight the IRA progress during 1968-74 from the capability perspective. The study shows a significant increase in IRA’s ability to use arms and in the area of bomb strategy development. The progress concerning the other five capabilities’ turned out to be of lesser significance. A reason for this could be that the study focuses on the very beginning of the troubles and the IRA’s growth into becoming a non-state armed actor.

The mainline railway track between Dublin and Belfast in Northern Ireland was constructed during the 1850's. Substantial lengths of railway embankment were constructed over poor-quality peaty soils. This was accomplished using tree trunk fascines placed directly on the natural ground surface; with poor-quality local peaty soils used as light weight fill.<p>In recent years, Northern Ireland Railways have noticed that these sections of railway track have been deteriorating more rapidly than sections of the track where the foundations are more competent. The magnitudes of displacement of the track under train loading appear to be increasing gradually over time and train speeds have had to be reduced.<p>This thesis is based on the research done to monitor the response of these railway track and embankment structures to dynamic train loading. The displacements were monitored for two different embankments under a variety of loading conditions and for various seasonal conditions. These displacements were recorded using a sensor created for this task. The sensor consisted of a photo-sensitive array mounted on the sleepers and a laser, which was placed outside the area of influence of train loading, and shone on the photo-sensitive array. <p>Analytical (Winkler) modelling was conducted to determine the effects of train speed and the cause of the large train-induced displacements. Analytical and finite element modelling were used to determine the effectiveness of alternative methods of embankment stabilization.<p>The results from the analytical modelling suggest that the deformation of the embankment under train loading was not due to dynamic excitation, but static deformation of the poor-quality fill and soft foundation materials. From both the analytical and finite element modelling of possible remediation techniques, methods that stiffen the embankment and foundation material are shown to be the most effective at reducing the train induced deflection of the embankment.

<p>Abstract</p><p>This study has two aims:</p><p>[X] to create an analytical framework consisting of factors that might trigger terrorism</p><p>[X] to apply the analytical framework on the case of IRA, in order to be able to examine</p><p>which factors that exist behind the appearance of terrorism in the current case</p><p>To reach the first aim the author has studied the theoretical discourse on the complexed issue</p><p>of terrorism. This has constituted the point of departure for the creation of an own analytical</p><p>framework. The purpose of the framework is to bring clearness to why terrorism appears. The</p><p>analytical framework is not only suited for application on the case of IRA, but for application</p><p>on terrorismcases in general. To reach the second aim the framework was applied on the case</p><p>of IRA.</p><p>The aims of this study have been fulfilled through the method of qualitative text analysis. The</p><p>research method has been applied on the theoretical discourse on terrorism as well as on the</p><p>empirical texts that deal with the conflict in Northern Ireland and the NorthernIrish society in</p><p>general.</p><p>The results of the study suggest that factors triggering terrorism Favourable surroundings,</p><p>Resources, Possibility to recruit members, Protracted armed conflict, Occupation, Strive for</p><p>autonomy, Diplomatic deadlock, Poverty, and Specific events, or actions from the opponent</p><p>all exist in the case at hand. The author would particularly like to highlight the importance of</p><p>the Diplomatic deadlock and Poverty as terrorismtriggering factors.</p>

With a subpoena in one hand and a donor agreement in the other, what choice should an ethical archivist make? Since the legal battle over the Belfast Project—a collection of oral histories from Northern Irish paramilitaries about their involvement in the Troubles—at Boston College erupted in 2011, such a scenario has become a reality. With U.S. attorneys demanding access in the name of truth and justice, and historians advocating denial for the sake of scholarship and honor, the archival profession is facing some troubling legal and ethical issues. Regardless of the ultimate fate of the Belfast Project, the archival field will have to adapt to a new reality. This reality will have to consider the effects of the law and oral history practices on archives. Should archives be granted privilege recognized within the legal system? Should there be oversight for oral histories? Should archives offer privacy protections for third parties? How can the archival community address these issues? This thesis will use the Belfast Project to analyze legal and ethical issues facing archivists and explore what this means for the future of the profession. / text

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This thesis examines Protestant unionist commemorations of the Battle of the Somme in Northern Ireland during a phase in which they exhibited marked popularity and politicization. Filling a gap in the scholarship and building upon it, this thesis pays closer attention to the historical context and development of these commemorations and takes into account a broader swath of forms and locations of commemoration. It argues that, in the face of the perceived threat of Irish unification posed by the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985, unionists employed the memory of the Somme as a political tool on two different but overlapping fronts. On one front, they used it against their collective opponents, who supported or supposedly supported Irish unification. On a second front, conflicting groups within the unionist community, namely unionist politicians, Orangemen, Protestant youths, and loyalist paramilitaries, interpreted the Somme differently to satisfy their partisan agendas. Analyzing Somme commemoration at the Belfast cenotaph, in parades, and in murals, this thesis provides explanations for why the Somme was remembered differently in various mediums and locales of commemoration, with particular attention to the differing degrees and manners in which Protestant commemorators recognized the Catholic contribution in the Somme campaign. / Department of History

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