This research document focuses on prestressed PCBT girders made composite with a cast-in-place concrete deck and continuous over several spans through the use of continuity diaphragms. The current design procedure in AASHTO states that a continuity diaphragm is considered to be fully effective if a compressive stress develops in the bottom of the diaphragm when the superimposed permanent load, settlement, creep, shrinkage, 50 percent live load, and temperature gradient are summed, or if the girders are stored at least 90 days when continuity is established. It is more economical to store girders for fewer days, so it is important to know the minimum number of days that girders must be stored to satisfy AASHTO requirements. In 2005, Charles Newhouse developed the positive moment diaphragm reinforcement detail that is currently being adopted by VDOT. This thesis concludes that Newhouse's detail, four No. 6 bars bent 180° and extended into the diaphragm, is adequate for all girders except for the PCBT-77, PCBT-85, and the PCBT-93 when the girders are stored for a minimum of 90 days. It is recommended that two additional bent strands be extended into the continuity diaphragm for these three girder sizes. It was also concluded that about half of the cases result in a significant reduction in the minimum number of storage days if the designer is willing to perform a detailed analysis. The other half of the cases must be stored for 90 days because the total moment in the diaphragm will never become negative and satisfy the AASHTO requirement. In general, narrower girder spacing and higher concrete compressive strength results in shorter required storage duration. The PCA Method was used in this analysis with the updated AASHTO LRFD creep, shrinkage, and prestress loss models. A recommended quick check is to sum the thermal, composite dead load, and half of the live load restraint moments. The girder must be stored 90 days if that sum is positive, and a more detailed time-dependent analysis would result in a shorter than 90 day storage period if that sum is negative. / Master of Science

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the inelastic rotation capability of flush end-plate moment connections. Seven specimens representing two-bolt and four-bolt flush end-plate configurations were tested under cyclic loading. "Quasi-static" or "slow-cyclic" loading histories suggested by SAC and the Applied Technology Council were used to load the specimens. Experimental results for maximum moment resisted by the connections were compared with analytical predictions. Moment strengths of the connections were calculated using yield-line theory to predict end-plate yielding and maximum bolt force calculations including prying action. Experimental results were also compared to previous research with regards to strength and stiffness. The inelastic rotation of connections was calculated and conclusions were drawn on the compliance of these connections with current AISC specifications. / Master of Science

Shoulder injuries are a focus of work related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) research due to rising healthcare costs, an aging workforce, and long recovery times. Substantial research has been performed in the area of shoulder WMSDs and a number of risk factors have been implicated in their development; including static loads, repetition, and deviated posture. However, knowledge of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms is limited. Thermography provides a non-invasive technique that may offer clues to unknown physiological markers associated with injury development during job task performance. The objective of this study was to quantify anterior deltoid surface temperature changes as function of changing task demands. Skin surface temperature changes of the anterior deltoid, modified Borg CR-10 ratings, and endurance time during overhead static exertions until exhaustion for two work loads (15 and 30% MVC) and shoulder angles (90o and 115o) were quantified. Ten participants (5 males and 5 females) participated in the study and were free of confounding conditions (such as chronic or acute shoulder injury) and were required to meet body fat percentile requirements. Thermography showed that the higher shoulder angle had a reduced blood flow while there were no differences in temperature for exertion. Modified Borg ratings were not found to be well correlated with temperature values. The findings suggest that workers performing overhead work should minimize their deviated posture when available to prevent a high risk of developing a shoulder WMSD. / Master of Science

Stiffeners are used as a means of providing additional support to columns at beam connection locations. They are added when the strength of the column is exceeded but full moment strength of the beam section is desired. In determining the design of column stiffeners, there are no specifications for determining the distribution of load between the column web and stiffeners. The AISC Load and Resistance Factor Design Specifications provides guidelines for determining the stiffener area but no specifications are given. The actual loads taken by the stiffener and web are therefore not truly known. In this study, experiments were done to determine the load supported by the stiffeners and web when tensile forces are applied to the specimen. The initial stiffener design for the test specimens was based on LRFD guidelines. The actual load distribution between the column web and stiffeners is determined from strain data obtained during testing. This distribution is compared with the assumed loads obtained from the initial LRFD calculations. Finite element analysis is also utilized to confirm the consistency of the results obtained from the experiments. Using this information, a new method is developed which better predicts the distribution of load between the column web and the stiffener. / Master of Science

No / This study utilises a rarely examined biomechanical parameter – the free vertical moment to determine age-related differences in rotational kinetics of the body about the vertical-axis when stepping down from a stationary position. Ten older and 10 young adults completed step-downs from three heights. Free vertical moment impulse and peak during step-initiation double-support and the subsequent step-execution phase, and vertical-axis pelvis angular displacement and velocity at instant of landing were compared. The free vertical moment during double-support was directed away from the intended leadlimb side, producing a change in vertical-axis rotational momentum that moved the lead-limb in a forwards- medial direction about the stationary support/trailing limb during the subsequent step-execution phase. The free vertical moment during step-execution was directed towards the lead-limb side and acted to slow/halt the body’s vertical-axis rotation away from lead-limb side. Free vertical moment impulse and peak during double-support were similar between groups (P > 0.05), but during step-execution were significantly reduced in older adults (P = 0.002). As a result older adults had greater verticalaxis pelvis angular displacement and velocity at instant of landing (directed away from lead-limb side), with significant (P < 0.001) group-by-step height interactions indicating that differences between groups became more pronounced with increasing step-height. These findings highlight that older adults were unable to exert the same vertical-axis control during single-support as young subjects did. Findings also highlight that the analysis of free vertical moment data can be a useful biomechanical tool to highlight age-related differences in how steps/stairs are negotiated.

Continuité des *-représentations et opérateurs de Hankel Cette thèse est comporte deux parties indépendantes. Dans le première partie de ce travail, nous établissons une condition nécessaire et suffisante pour qu'une *-représentation d'un *-semi-groupe abélien topologique S est continu à l'identité e de S. Les résultats sont obtenus moyennant un théorème de représentation intégrale par rapport à une mesure portée par les semi caractères continus. Nous donnons ensuite diverses applications de ces résultats. La deuxième partie de cette thèse traite les opérateurs de Hankel de symboles anti-méromorphes sur les couronne. Dans un premier lieu on met en place le cadre de la théorie générale des opérateurs de Hankel associée à un espace de Hilbert de fonctions holomorphes A^2(µ) de carré intégrable par rapport à une mesure admettant des moments d'indice relatif. Ensuite, nous montrons que l'espace des polynômes de Laurent est dense dans A^2(µ) cela nous permet de définir de façon claire les opérateurs de Hankel et étudier leurs propriétés spectrales. En particulier, pour de nombreux exemples, nous établissons des conditions nécessaires et suffisantes, en termes des moments, garantissant la continuité, la compacité et l'appartenance aux classes de Schatten de ces opérateurs de Hankel. / Continuity of *-representation and Hankel operators This thesis consists of two independent parts. In the first part of this work, we establish a necessary and sufficient condition for a *-representation a *-semigroup abelian topological S is continuous at the identity e of S. The results are obtained by means of a theorem of integral representation with respect to a measure supported by continuous semi characters. We then give several applications of these results. The second part of this thesis deals with Hankel operators anti-meromorphic symbols on an annulus. In the first place we put in place the framework of the general theory of Hankel operators associated with a Hilbert space of holomorphic functions A^2(μ) of square integrable with respect to a measure admitting relative index times. Next, we show that the space of Laurent polynomials is dense in A ^ 2 ( μ ) it allows us to clearly define the Hankel operators and study their spectral properties. In particular, many examples, we establish necessary and sufficient conditions, in terms of time, ensuring continuity compactness and Schatten classes of membership of the Hankel operators.

Na construção de edifícios, o cumprimento dos prazos dos projetos é um problema recorrente, pois, freqüentemente, os contratantes reclamam que os projetos atrasam. O processo de projeto é gerido de maneira informal, com técnicas de planejamento inadequadas e com a subutilização dos recursos da Tecnologia da Informação. Pelo lado dos profissionais de projeto, também são grandes as reclamações causadas pelo retrabalho, fator responsável por perda de rentabilidade. Com base nessas justificativas, foi desenvolvida a presente pesquisa com o objetivo principal de estudar o planejamento do processo de projeto e propor formas de melhorar a sua eficácia. O método de pesquisa adotado consistiu em uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os principais modelos gerenciais e técnicas de planejamento adequados ao processo de projeto, e que possam ser aplicadas em nosso mercado. Uma survey com os usuários das extranets de projeto avaliou o estágio atual da utilização dessas ferramentas como suporte à gestão do processo de projeto. Foi realizado um estudo de caso em uma importante empresa de São Paulo, no qual foram analisados seus métodos de planejamento e, a partir do uso da DSM (Design Structure Matrix) como ferramenta de planejamento, foram feitas sugestões para a redução de prazos e simplificações em seu processo de projeto. Como resultado final, foi levantado um amplo quadro diagnóstico e identificadas as causas dos problemas que constituem as principais barreiras atuais à melhoria da eficácia do processo de planejamento do processo de projeto de edifícios. / When talking about building construction, the accomplishment of stated schedules is a constant problem, therefore there is a constant claim of the developers about design delivery being late. The design process is informally managed, with inappropriate planning techniques and the low utilization of the Information Technology resources. There are also claims from the design professionals because of the rework, which is responsible for the profit loss. Based on these justifications, the following research was developed in order to study the design process planning and to come up with ways to improve its efficacy. The research method consisted in doing a bibliographic review about the main management models and planning techniques which are adequate to the design process and can be applied in our market. A survey with the design extranets users evaluated the current stage of these tools utilization as a support to the design process management. A case study in an important company from São Paulo was developed, where its planning techniques were analyzed, and from the use of the DSM (Design Structure Matrix) as a planning tool, suggestions for the reduction of stated schedules and simplifications in its design process were made. As a final result, a great diagnosis was brought out and the causes of the problems which consist the main obstacles to the efficacy?s improvement of the design building planning were identified.

Title: Is sharing caring? A quantitative study about the intention behind sharing viral videos. Level: Student thesis, final assignment for bachelor’s degree in business administration. Author: Amanda Happ and Erik Wilhelmsson Supervisor: Jonas Kågström Date: 2019 – January Aim: The aim of this paper is to analyze factors behind the intention to share a viral video on the internet based on the concepts of video quality, empathy, control, altruism and inclusion. This paper aims to contribute knowledge of the intention behind sharing viral videos to marketers within the subject. Method: A quantitative method has been performed where data has been collected through a web-based survey of 480 female respondents from 16 years and older. Data has been processed in the analysis- and statistical program SPSS by using descriptive-, factor-, cluster- and correlation analysis. Result &amp; Conclusions: The result shows that inclusion, altruism and, to some extent, control are the main factors for creating an intention to share viral videos on the internet. Furthermore, the result shows that people who choose to share viral videos with their friends often want to strengthen ties to other group members and reinforce their role in the social group. Contribution of the thesis: The study contributes to increased knowledge of the behavioral factors behind the decision to share a viral video. Knowledge can help professionals when a marketing campaign is being created with the aim of becoming viral on the internet. Suggestions for future research: Continued research should target other groups, preferably men. It is also relevant to conduct a larger survey where the intention of both creator and receiver of viral content are analyzed to identify any similarities and differences between them. Key words: Viral videos, forwarding intention, eWOM, FIRO, Moment-to-Moment Likeability / Titel: Is sharing caring? En kvantitativ studie om intentionen att dela virala videor Nivå: Examensarbete på Grundnivå (kandidatexamen) i ämnet företagsekonomi Författare: Amanda Happ och Erik Wilhelmsson Handledare: Jonas Kågström Datum: 2019 – Januari Syfte: Syftet med studien är att analysera faktorerna bakom intentionen att dela en viral video på internet utifrån begreppen videokvalitet, empati, kontroll, altruism och inkludering. Studien genomförs således för att bidra med kunskap om intentionen bakom virala videodelningar till marknadsförare inom ämnet. Metod: En kvantitativ metod har använts där data har samlats in genom en webbaserad enkätundersökning med 480 kvinnliga respondenter från 16 år och uppåt. Data har bearbetats i analys- och statistikprogrammet SPSS genom deskriptiv-, faktor-, kluster- och korrelationsanalys. Resultat &amp; slutsats: Resultatet visar att inkludering, altruism och i viss mån kontroll är de främsta faktorerna för att skapa en intention att dela virala videor på internet. Vidare visar resultatet att personer som väljer att dela virala videor med sina vänner ofta vill uppnå förstärkta band till gruppens medlemmar och bekräftelse av sin egen roll i den sociala gruppen. Examensarbetets bidrag: Studien bidrar till ökad kunskap om vilka beteendefaktorer som ligger bakom beslutet att dela en viral video på internet. Denna kunskap kan hjälpa yrkesutövare skapa en marknadsföringskampanj som har till syfte att bli viral på internet. Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Fortsatt forskning bör rikta sig till andra målgrupper, förslagsvis män. Det är även relevant att utföra en större undersökning där intentionen hos både sändare och mottagare (som i sin tur delar videon vidare) analyseras för att kunna påträffa eventuella likheter och skillnader hos dessa olika grupper. Nyckelord: Virala videor, delning, eWOM, FIRO, Moment-to-Moment Likeability

Inverse problems naturally occur in many branches of science and mathematics. An inverse problem entails finding the values of one or more parameters using the values obtained from observed data. A typical example of an inverse problem is the inversion of the Radon transform. Here a function (for example of two variables) is deduced from its integrals along all possible lines. This problem is intimately connected with image reconstruction for X-ray computerized tomography. Moment problems are a special class of inverse problems. While the classical theory of moments dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, the systematic study of truncated moment problems began only a few years ago. In this dissertation we will first survey the elementary theory of truncated moment problems, and then focus on those problems with cubic column relations. For a degree 2n real d-dimensional multisequence β ≡ β (2n) ={β i}i∈Zd+,|i|≤2n to have a representing measure μ, it is necessary for the associated moment matrix Μ(n) to be positive semidefinite, and for the algebraic variety associated to β, Vβ, to satisfy rank Μ(n)≤ card Vβ as well as the following consistency condition: if a polynomial p(x)≡ ∑|i|≤2naixi vanishes on Vβ, then Λ(p):=∑|i|≤2naiβi=0. In 2005, Professor Raúl Curto collaborated with L. Fialkow and M. Möller to prove that for the extremal case (Μ(n)= Vβ), positivity and consistency are sufficient for the existence of a (unique, rank Μ(n)-atomic) representing measure. In joint work with Professor Raúl Curto we have considered cubic column relations in M(3) of the form (in complex notation) Z3=itZ+ubar Z, where u and t are real numbers. For (u,t) in the interior of a real cone, we prove that the algebraic variety Vβ consists of exactly 7 points, and we then apply the above mentioned solution of the extremal moment problem to obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a representing measure. This requires a new representation theorem for sextic polynomials in Z and bar Z which vanish in the 7-point set Vβ. Our proof of this representation theorem relies on two successive applications of the Fundamental Theorem of Linear Algebra. Finally, we use the Division Algorithm from algebraic geometry to extend this result to other situations involving cubic column relations.

It is well established that non-equilibrium flows cannot properly be described by traditional hydrodynamics, namely, the Navier-Stokes-Fourier (NSF) equations. Such flows occur, for example, in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and ultra vacuum systems, where the dimensions of the devices are comparable to the mean free path of a gas molecule. Therefore, the study of non-equilibrium effects in gas flows is extremely important. The general interest of the present study is to explore boundary value problems for moderately rarefied gas flows, with an emphasis on numerical solutions of the regularized 13--moment equations (R13). Boundary conditions for the moment equations are derived based on either phenomenological principles or on microscopic gas-surface scattering models, e.g., Maxwell's accommodation model and the isotropic scattering model. Using asymptotic analysis, several non-linear terms in the R13 equations are transformed into algebraic terms. The reduced equations allow us to obtain numerical solutions for multidimensional boundary value problems, with the same set of boundary conditions for the linearized and fully non-linear equations. Some basic flow configurations are employed to investigate steady and unsteady rarefaction effects in rarefied gas flows, namely, planar and cylindrical Couette flow, stationary heat transfer between two plates, unsteady and oscillatory Couette flow. A comparison with the corresponding results obtained previously by the DSMC method is performed. The influence of rarefaction effects in the lid driven cavity problem is investigated. Solutions obtained from several macroscopic models, in particular the classical NSF equations with jump and slip boundary conditions, and the R13--moment equations are compared. The R13 results compare well with those obtained from more costly solvers for rarefied gas dynamics, such as the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method. Flow and heat transfer in a bottom heated square cavity in a moderately rarefied gas are investigated using the R13 and NSF equations. The results obtained are compared with those from the DSMC method with emphasis on understanding thermal flow characteristics from the slip flow to the early transition regime. The R13 theory gives satisfying results including flow patterns in fair agreement with DSMC in the transition regime, which the conventional Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations are not able to capture. / Graduate / 0548 / anirudh@uvic.ca