Vid användande av polymerer och elastomerer i konstruktioner, lämnar leverantörer oftast endast materialparametrar i form av ett hårdhetstal. De vanligaste provningsmetoderna för hårdhetsmätning av polymerer och elastomerer är Shore samt IRHD (International Rubber Hardness Degree). Hårdhetstalen som erhålls är svåra att använda i Finita Elementanalyser, då de ej direkt kan översättas till mer lätthanterliga storheter. Syftet med examensarbetet är att utveckla en metod för att omvandla hårdhetstal till användbara Finita Elementstorheter. Det finns flera olika metoder för hårdhetsmätning inom Shore och IRHD.Arbetet begränsades dock till att enbart täcka en metod för Shore samt två metoder för IRHD. Arbetet inleddes med litteraturstudier följt av modellering samt simulering av hårdhetsprovningarna. Optimeringar har genomförts för att erhålla materialparameterns värden för olika hårdheter. Med hjälp av dessa värden har sedan samband mellan hårdhet och materialparametrar tagits fram. Erhållna slutsatser är att det med metodens hjälp går att finna samband mellan hårdhet och materialparametrar. Dessa parametrar kan anta olika värden för samma hårdhet. Om hårdhetsprovning kompletteras med andra provningsresultat blir resultaten mer entydiga.

Dreissenid mussels alter particle transport dynamics in the near shore environment of the Great Lakes by intercepting, retaining and recycling suspended solids that might otherwise be exported to the offshore environment (Hecky et al., 2004). Particulate materials filtered from the water column by dreissenids are subsequently released as either feces or pseudofeces (Walz, 1978). This bio-transformation process alters the nature (grain size distribution, settling velocity and density) and transport properties (critical shear stress for erosion, erosion rates and bed stability) of particulate matter in surficial sediments. While knowledge of the transport characteristics of this material is required to refine particle transport dynamics and energy flow models in the Great Lakes, few studies have been specifically conducted to directly quantify these processes. An annular flume was used to determine the bed stability, rate of erosion and critical shear stress for erosion of dreissenid biodeposits. Materials studied in the flume consisted of 1) a combination of biodeposits and surface sediments collected from dreissenid beds and 2) biodeposits harvested in a weir box with dreissenids. The results show that erosion characteristics and sediment transport properties were strongly influenced by bed age; however particle sizes did not increase in the presence of mussels as originally speculated. Bed stability increased after 7 days, with a τcrit of 0.26 Pa compared to the 2 and 14 day consolidation periods (τcrit= 0.13 and 0.15 Pa respectively). In 2010, following a 2 day consolidation period, pure biodeposits harvested in the weir box had a critical shear stress for erosion of 0.052 Pa. The decrease in bed stability found in biodeposits from 2010 compared to the 2008 biodeposit mixture, may be a result of a more diffuse biofilm developing on the highly organic substrate. The mixture of biodeposits collected in 2008 were a combination organic and inorganic materials which may be creating a nutrient limited environment, where biofilm structure consists of more tightly organized biofilm cells and as a result enhance stability in the bed sediments. The decrease observed after 14 days is likely a result of the microbes depleting their resources and dying off. Due to the added roughness the mussels created in the flume, τcrit could not be measured and critical revolutions per minute (RPM) for erosion are reported for flume runs with mussels. During experiments conducted in 2009 with pure biodeposits and mussels the critical RPM was 5.83 while in 2010 in the presence of mussels a critical RPM was not observed. Settling experiments found biodeposits from both years (2008 and 2010) had decreased settling velocities when compared to different sediment types from lacustrine environments. I speculate that the added enrichment of the surficial sediments by mussel biodeposits is enhancing the process of biostabilization and increasing the bed stability and that the presence mussels themselves may additionally be enhancing bed stability by inhibiting flow from reaching the surface sediments/biodeposits.

The system of General Health Insurance was carried out since 1995 promoting the convenience for people seeking the medical care and helping a lot of medical disadvantaged minority. Moreover, this system also makes the medical resource differential obviously in the area of off-shore and main islands of Taiwan. The medical resource in main island of Taiwan is centralized and syndicated which reveals the helpless plight of poor medical resources and isolated geography in the remote area of off-shore islands conspicuously. This study researches into the mutual moderating effects of the doctors' perception of the work environment, job satisfaction, role stress, and intent to stay for the doctors in the off-shore islands of Penghu. This study retrieves 102 effective questionnaires by a census-taking. The collected data is carried on SPSS15.0 statistical analysis and test by utilizing t-test and ANOVA analysis to calculate the differences of the demographic statistics parameters, perception of the work environment, job satisfaction, role stress, and intent to stay in isolated island area. Moreover, the mutually influenced degree of constructs is scrutinized by multi-regression and path analyses. This research finds that: 1. Sufficient medical and human resources, good medical cooperation, and high working aspiration can improve the doctors' job satisfaction in the off-shore islands of Penghu. 2. Ample medical and human resources and good medical cooperation can reduce the role stress of doctors. 3. Application of the factors in stimulation and sound health care will lead negative and positive influences on doctors. 4. Good medical cooperation encourages the doctors to concentrate their attention on medical work and seldom interference in the doctor's medical work or values can further their intent to stay in the off-shore islands of Penghu.

In the last few decades, academic and institutions advanced in coastal research in Europe and America have rigorously engaged in developing numerical models for coastal wave hydrodynamic simulations. The notable products include MIKE21 from DHI in Denmark, CEDAS (with GENESIS and SBEACH) from Veri-Tech in the United States, and the SMC from University of Cantabria in Spain. Among them, the Spanish Coastal Modeling System (SMC) is the only integrated package for coastal planning and modeling. With a unique preprocess module which pre-stores the bathymetry and wave data, the SMC provides a user-friendly interface directly using the screen display for a series of coastal planning and design applications which comprise artificial nourishment with headland-bay beach, breakwater construction and extension, and dredging of navigation channel etc., as well as the usual wave-current simulation for countermeasures in coastal protection and disaster mitigation. Despite the availability of several numerical programs for wave-current simulations and beach changes that have been developed by the coastal professional in Taiwan, and the continuous effort of the Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs to establish a national coastal database, it is imperative to develop/setup an integrated bathymetry-hydrodynamics-protection system, such as the Spanish SMC, as the key element in the national platform for coastal planning and modeling. This dissertation first describes the coastal environment in Taiwan, major causes for shoreline evolution and then reviews the history of shore protection since 1970s, together with the current prospective for coastal environment and strategies to sustain the natural shoreline ratio. To accomplish these goals, the Water Resources Agency has endeavored to implement artificial nourishment with headland-bay beaches, in order to raise the ratio of natural shoreline, in addition to establish a national coastal planning and simulation platform. As a response to this call for eco-engineering approach, we recommend that headland-bay beach in static equilibrium be adopted for mitigating coastal erosion, beach restoration and creation of recreational beaches, which can be designed directly on the screen using the empirical bay shape equation in conjunction with the SMC. Based on the framework of the Spanish SMC, this writer has successfully attempted the preliminary pre-process module of Baco (bathymetry) and Odin (wave climate) for Taiwan, using data from digitized nautical charts, nearshore depth surveys, and long-term wave observation results around Taiwan from the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS). The effort generates the first version of SMC in Taiwan. Having pre-stored the bathymetry and wave data for Dapeng bay in Pingtung County and Sizihwan Bay in Kaohsiung City, a series of coastal planning and modeling procedures for these two model sites are demonstrated in this dissertation, including a series of calculations of wave-current distribution for monsoon and storm waves, as well as planning of bay beach using artificial nourishment. Upon executing the Taiwanese version of SMC introduced in this dissertation, the modeling results can be applied to assist the planners and decision makers in comprehending the coastal environment, devising a feasible shore protection strategy, and promoting an earlier accomplishment of the so-called ¡ugeo-engineering ¡u in our country. Finally, the writer also wishes the outcome of this study could help relevant government agency to accomplish the prospective of sustainable coastal development upon implementing the strategies of establishing an appropriate coastal planning platform and promoting a systematic approach for coastal planning and design, as revealed in the "Sustainable Regeneration of Coastal Environment Project (98 ~ 103 fiscal year)".

The western population of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) is endangered with approximately 130 individuals remaining. Many individuals return annually to the same feeding sites off northeastern Sakhalin Island, indicating a site-specific dependence to this geographic area. This apparently critically important habitat is especially vital for nursing females and their calves, as female energetic requirements are increased during lactation, and calves need to be ready to separate and begin to feed on their own. This study focuses on movements, respirations and behavioral patterns of mother/calf pairs on their feeding ground, with data collected during summer-autumn of 2002-2009. Shore-based observations included three methods: theodolite tracking, focal-animal behavior sampling, and photo-identification. Whales were categorized as three groups of individuals: mother/calf pairs, weaned calves, and other individuals. Analyses were performed to assess differences between groups of individuals, and in relation to their behavior. The null hypothesis of the study was that there were no differences in movement/respiration/behavioral patterns and habitat use between different groups of individuals. Results did not support this hypothesis. Significant differences in movements and respirations were found for certain groups of individuals. These differences also varied in relation to the whales' behavioral activity (feeding, feeding/traveling, and traveling). The shore-based photography was used to obtain additional information on individuals (especially mother/calf pairs) and their sightings, as well as to evaluate the success of this approach. A total of 144 individuals, including 10 females (sighted with calves) and 31 calves were identified during 2004-2009. The shore-based photo-identification approach was successful, and due to being a non-invasive technique, is recommended as a supplemental approach to vessel-based photo-ID efforts. Reproductive success and survival of western gray whales are concern especially due to the presence of industrial activity in the area, as well as recently increased mortalities of female gray whales off Japan. Therefore, the results of this study indicate the importance of considering differences in needs and habitat utilization of different groups of individuals for basic science information as well as for management purposes of protection of western gray whales.

The main concern of this thesis is to evaluate the land-cut as an alternative urban design tool instead of landfill in the creation of shore in waterfront areas in terms of improving space quality, increasing the shoreline length for the use and benefit of public, decreasing the risks of natural disasters while increasing the marine ecosystem and habitat, and promoting the development of the land economy. The development of the idea dates back to an urban design studio study carried out in 2005 in Eceabat, &Ccedil / anakkale by Middle East Technical University Urban Design Master Program. During the study, it was observed that the interaction of small town of Eceabat with water was partially blocked by a seaside road and a ferry port created by landfill. Therefore, the ways of integrating the town life with water was searched and in the design schemes proposed after the analyses, the possibility to create a new shore by land-cut method in Eceabat was evaluated. Within this framework, the possibility of using land-cut method is evaluated in a more detailed case study of KuSdili Meadow and KuSdili Stream (Kurbagali v Dere) located in Kadik&ouml / y, Istanbul where there is a potential to create urban space with an approach which has not been used so far in Turkey. Prior to the analysis, the life near waterside has been studied in order to clarify how people from different geographies developed settlements near waterside and how those settlements existed with water. The reasons and the problematic of landfill has been evaluated with specific examples in order to put forward from what aspects the use of an alternative method be considered is necessary. Therefore, the legal and administrative aspects which resulted in the creation of landfills as problematic spaces on the waterside have also been discussed. At the end of the study, the potentiality of the site has been studied to find out from various urban design aspects with a specific reference to the applicability of land-cut method. Therefore, the analysis of the site has been carried out. And the thesis has shown that land-cut may possibly be an alternative to landfill in the development of waterside urban spaces from various spatial, social, and economic aspects.

Large off-shore wind farms raise the concern of widespread tripping of off-shore wind generator in the presence of system faults and corresponding voltage dips that could potentially cause system wide blackout. In this thesis an offshore wind farm and three different types of power transmission are modeled and studied using simulation software. Off-shore wind farm composed of fixed speed induction generators and HVAC interconnection, HVAC interconnection plus STATCOM and HVDC interconnections are studied. Onshore grid faults are simulated for each interconnection. Voltage tolerance curves are established to assess fault ride through capability of each interconnection and compared with different grid transmission ride through capacity required by grid operator.

Although flow deflectors are routinely placed in streams to create fish pool habitat, there is dissent in the literature as to what constitutes for them an appropriate design height to ensure their success. Our objectives were to (1) examine the temporal evolution of bed topography around submerged deflectors in a laboratory flume, for different deflector heights and discharge; and (2) quantify the flow dynamics in their vicinity. Results indicate that, all else being equal, higher deflectors (characterized by less overtopping) produce a greater volume of fish pools. In contrast, over a fixed deflector design, a higher discharge (synonymous with greater overtopping) results in larger pools, because flow velocities are then faster. We also observed differences in the temporal behaviour of scour: that next to high and medium height deflectors is self-similar, but not that for the shorter model. Our results challenge the notion that low deflectors are ineffective, provide information on the development of scour next to submerged structures, and reveal key differences between the geometry of the scour holes engendered by the different deflector height models.

A three-dimensional numerical model (PHOENICS) was used to investigate the role of stream deflector angle and length on the flow field in a rectangular laboratory flume. Subsequent bed topography surveys were performed to examine the role of obstruction angle on scour hole development over time. The model was capable of predicting laboratory velocity and turbulent kinetic energy measurements, performing better for flow over a flat stable bed than over a deformed sand bed. A new method of incorporating complex bed topography into a structured Cartesian mesh was developed in the process. Flow field properties such as dynamic pressure, velocity amplification, separation zone length and width, and downwelling extent and magnitude were found to be strongly dependent on deflector geometry. Equilibrium scour hole depths and geometry are also angle-dependent. A predictive equation was produced explaining the rate at which scour holes reach equilibrium, and compared well with existing literature. Finally, a method was developed whereby characteristics of the flow field over a flat, stable bed could be used to predict equilibrium scour hole geometry.

Global Software Development (GSD) is based on a geographical distance where teams are spread throughout the world. The related research have for a long time addressed the challenges presented by geographical distances. GSD is basically a necessity for many businesses to use in order to reduce development costs, reduce production time and to maintain high quality. The study aims to investigate the relationship between the reality of a specific maintenance project. Thus, our research question: How do distributed maintenance teams experience temporal, geographical and socio-cultural distances? To achieve the purpose of the study, we chose to perform a case study of a global consulting company which recently started a new system maintenance project. The data collection was done through interviews and observations at the premises of the consulting company. We have confirmed the previous research and come up with our own contributions to the field. The findings of our thesis provides aspects of communication, coordination and control related to the three distances stated in our research question. A new collective term has also emerged, off-shore blackboxing.