<div>Self-pierce riveting as a relative new technology has been used by automotive industry for decades. Because of the several benefits of the SPR technique, it has been widely used for joining the similar or dissimilar materials to satisfy the light-weighting requirements of automobile. There were many researchers and automotive manufacturers that had been investigated the SPR by experiments and applied this technique to their products. The SPR was designed for joining the materials with sufficient ductility because the joining process was going to introduce the large plastic deformation on the joint button area. Die casting aluminum alloy products became more and more popular to be used for structural components. However, the casting aluminum components have relative low ductility than the wrought alloy product. The cracking problems were easy to occur during the riveting process.</div><div><br></div><div>In terms of the cracking issues on die casting aluminum products, an analysis was conducted in this study to investigate the influence of composition on cracking problem. And the cracking mechanism was also analyzed and summarized. Corresponding to the influence of silicon content difference and silicon morphology, heat treatment was used to modify the eutectic silicon morphology of the casting aluminum alloys to improve the rivetability. Once the silicon network was broken by the heat treatment, the rivetability of die casting aluminum was drastically increased and the cracks on joint button were also suppressed. Under the effect of heat treatment, the joint performance was tightly related to the variation of the eutectic silicon phase and the cracks on the joint button. The joint strength was obtained by shear test to investigate the influence of heat treatment and die depth. A novel cracking statistics has been generated and used to calculate the cracks on the joint button. Eventually, a comprehensive joint performance was obtained by taking into consideration of joint strength, heat treatment and die depth.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, the simulation of the SPR process was conducted and analyzed by FORGE. The die depth as the variable was used to investigate the strain and fracture distribution in</div><div>cross-section view of the joint. In terms of the initial results of the simulation, the die cavity with various sidewall incline angles was simulated to find the optimal die cavity geometry in order to improve the rivetability of the bottom material sheet.</div>

Stochastic kriging (SK) methodology has been known as an effective metamodeling tool for approximating a mean response surface implied by a stochastic simulation. In this paper we provide some theoretical results on the predictive performance of SK, in light of which novel integrated mean squared error-based sequential design strategies are proposed to apply SIC for mean response surface metamodeling with a fixed simulation budget. Through numerical examples of different features, we show that SIC with the proposed strategies applied holds great promise for achieving high predictive accuracy by striking a good balance between exploration and exploitation. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The basis for this thesis involved a four month Accelerate Canada internship at the Grand River Hospital Emergency Department in Kitchener, Ontario. The Emergency Department (ED) Process Committee sought insight into strategies that could potentially reduce patient length of stay in the ED, thereby reducing wait times for emergency patients. This thesis uses discrete event simulation to model the overall system and to analyze the effect of various operational strategies within the fast track area of the emergency department. It discusses the design and development process for the simulation model, proposes various operational strategies to reduce patient wait times, and analyzes the different scenarios for an optimal fast track strategy. The main contribution of this thesis is the use of simulation to determine an optimal fast track strategy that reduces patient length of stay, thereby reducing patient wait times. Wait times were most significantly reduced when there was an increased physician presence/availability towards the fast track system. This had the greatest impact on the total time spent in the ED and also on queue length. The second most significant reduction to the performance measures occurred when an additional emergency nurse practitioner was supplemented to the fast track system. Accordingly, the nurse practitioner’s percent utilization increased. There was only one two-way interaction effect that was statistically significant in reducing the primary performance measure of wait times; however, the effect did not change the queue length, a secondary performance measure, by a significant amount. Finally, the implementation of a See-and-treat model variant for fast track had a negligible effect on both the average length of stay and queue length.

In this research, using the statistic catch data of northwest pacific Ommastrephes bartrami from the Overseas Fisheries Development council of The Republic of China between 1997 to 2007 and FAO between 1982 to 2007 to conduct and resource assessment on Ommastrephes bartrami. First of all, calculate and compare the equilibrium levels of open access fishery and present value maximization fishery, then evaluate the stock size of Ommastrephes bartrami and compare the equilibrium levels of two models with the statistic readings, the result shows the Ommastrephes bartrami has no sign of depletion. By using sensitivity analysis, we understand the changes on the effort and stock effected by varying different parameters. Finally, by simulating the stock size of open access fishery and present value maximization fishery, we find that unrestricted developing can end up the resources, but Ommastrephes bartrami will receive sustainable development, if it can be effectively managed. And expect that the results can be a management reference for the management of Ommastrephes bartrami fisheries.

The study is based on Gordon-Schaefer model, using statistic data from Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission to estimate the resource stock of Albacore between 1960 and 2009. Compare the equilibrium levels of open access model and present value maximization model with the real data, and the result shows that the real stock is close to the equilibrium of present value maximization model. The thesis uses sensitivity analysis to understand the impact of the changed parameters on stock and effort, and by using real examples to understand the impact of the changed situation on stock and effort. Finally, by simulating the stock of open access fishery and present value maximization fishery and government management nowadays fishery. The result shows the stock of government management fishery is higher than the stock of the present value maximization fishery, and the stock both are closed. The management is conservative and effective, hence the management will make the profit maximize and the resource continue forever to develop.

This study used the Gordon-Schaefer model to discuss the equilibrium levels for bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific of open access and present value maximization. And then to compare the catches and the stocks on the two model¡¦s equilibrium value, the result shows the management of bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific tend to present value maximization model. Following that, this paper did sensitivity analysis to understand the impact of the changed parameters on stock size and effort. Finally, using simulation analysis on open access model and present value maximization model. In open access model, the result shows that resources will face extinction crisis if the fishery is not controlled well. In the present value maximization model, the bigeye tuna would be sustainable management. This result is valuable for the fishery management authorities to maintain the development of fishery and cherishing ocean resources at the same time.

This study used the Gordon-Schaefer model which was extended to Open Access (OA) model and Present Value Maximization (MPV) model to discuss the equilibrium levels for bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean by purse seine fishery data. I compared the catches and the biomass with the two model¡¦s equilibrium value, and the result showed that the operating mode of bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean tended to the MPV model, and the bigeye tuna resources were diminishing. In addition, the sensitivity analysis was used in order to understand the impact of various parameter changes on the two fisheries model¡¦s equilibrium value. In the OA model, the change of the price, the cost per unit effort and the catch coefficient would have greater impact on the equilibrium biomass. In the MPV model, the equilibrium biomass was sensitive to the change of the environmental capacity. Finally, in order to understand whether the management of the Western and Central Pacific Commission (WCPFC) was effective, I used simulation analysis in accordance with the catches restriction and effort restriction management strategies. The result showed that the catches restriction strategy which WCPFC established was still not proper enough. It must cut a large number of catches immediately and continue for some time enough to make the resource recover. The effort restriction strategy could make good effect on the bigeye tuna resource recovery.

Abstract This study used the Gordon-Schaefer model to do resource economic analysis on the South Pacific albacore fishery in 1967-2007 . Evaluated the equilibrium standard of open access model and present value maximization model, and then compared them with the real data. The results indicates that the fishing yield, resource stock, effort and catch-per-unit-effort of south Pacific albacore is close to the equilibrium level of present value maximization model after year 2002, which means the South Pacific albacore fishing is under appropriate development. Following that, this paper did sensitivity analysis to understand the impact of the changed parameters on stock size and effort. Finally, using the simulation analysis on open access model and present value maximization model. In open access model, the result shows that resources will face extinction crisis if the fishery is not controlled well. In present value maximization model, the albacore fishery would sustainable management. This result is valuable for the fishery management authorities to maintain the development of fishery and cherishing ocean resources at the same time.

This research is based on Gordon-Schaefer model, using the statistic data from the FAO between 1983 to 2007 to conduct an assessment on Argentine shortfin squid, Illex argentinus. First of all, calculate and compare the equilibrium levels of open access fishery and present value maximization fishery, then evaluate the stock size of Illex argentinus and compare the equilibrium levels of two models with the statistic readings, the result shows that Illex argentinus has no sign of depletion, but it has not yet reached the best status for development. By using sensitivity analysis,we understand the changes on the effort and stock effected by varying different parameters. Finally, by simulating the stock size of open access fishery and present value maximization fishery, we find that unrestricted developing can end up the resources, but Illex argentinus will receive sustainable development, if it can be effectively managed.

The basis for this thesis involved a four month Accelerate Canada internship at the Grand River Hospital Emergency Department in Kitchener, Ontario. The Emergency Department (ED) Process Committee sought insight into strategies that could potentially reduce patient length of stay in the ED, thereby reducing wait times for emergency patients. This thesis uses discrete event simulation to model the overall system and to analyze the effect of various operational strategies within the fast track area of the emergency department. It discusses the design and development process for the simulation model, proposes various operational strategies to reduce patient wait times, and analyzes the different scenarios for an optimal fast track strategy. The main contribution of this thesis is the use of simulation to determine an optimal fast track strategy that reduces patient length of stay, thereby reducing patient wait times. Wait times were most significantly reduced when there was an increased physician presence/availability towards the fast track system. This had the greatest impact on the total time spent in the ED and also on queue length. The second most significant reduction to the performance measures occurred when an additional emergency nurse practitioner was supplemented to the fast track system. Accordingly, the nurse practitioner’s percent utilization increased. There was only one two-way interaction effect that was statistically significant in reducing the primary performance measure of wait times; however, the effect did not change the queue length, a secondary performance measure, by a significant amount. Finally, the implementation of a See-and-treat model variant for fast track had a negligible effect on both the average length of stay and queue length.