Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Flour Safety'

High ratio cake formulations such as sponges and cupcakes are well appreciated by the market due to their favourable attributes like sweet taste, moist mouthfeel, and tender texture. To bake a successful cake of such kind, it is necessary to change flour functionality. This can be done by dry heat treatment. The aim of this work was to investigate the dry heat treatment of flour and to implement it on a novel thermal processing equipment, the Revtech system, for the production of high ratio cake flour. For this purpose, flour was heat treated in lab-scale experiments at accurately controlled time-temperature conditions. The effect of heat on flour functionality was evaluated with a variety of analytical methods, e.g. the Rapid-Visco-Analyser (RVA) or the rheometer. The Revtech system is presented for the continuous heat treatment of flour. Particles are conveyed through helical pipes by vibrations and the pipe walls are heated by resistive heating. Residence time distributions were determined depending on process parameters and shown to be narrow. The residence time was generally found to increase during extended periods of operation, which was related to the deposition of a powder layer inside the pipe. Temperature distributions of pipe and flour flow were characterised. After flour heat treatment in the Revtech equipment, high ratio cakes were baked and analysed. A method was developed to compare the results to lab-scale experiments. The time-temperature history of flour was described in terms of equivalent, constant treatment times and temperatures, which may be correlated to cake quality attributes. The approach is industrially relevant for the development of a cake flour specification and the facilitation of process validation.

In South Africa there is a need within the milling industry for controlling food safety especially due to customer's demands and government's regulations. The best way to ensure food safety is with the implementation of a HACCP based food safety system. Therefore, the principal aim of this study was to develop a generic HACCP model for the flour milling industry. Afterwards this generic model can then be adapted for each specific mill and its needs.

Pathogens in low-moisture foods are an emerging food safety concern due to increased survival and thermotolerance in matrices with low water activity. However, limited data is publicly available for the thermotolerance of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 (a Salmonella surrogate). The aims of this study were to identify differences in thermal inactivation rates between these organisms in three different low-moisture foods. Three model low-moisture foods (peanut butter, powder infant formula, and wheat flour) were inoculated with either E. faecium, a Salmonella spp. cocktail, or a L. monocytogenes cocktail using a dry inoculation method for a total of 9 treatments. Samples were heat treated in a hot water bath at predetermined temperatures, and bacterial survival was detected via direct plating on tryptic soy agar with 0.6% yeast extract. In peanut butter and most of the powder infant formula treatments, Salmonella spp. had significantly higher D-values than L. monocytogenes using comparable temperatures (p < 0.05). However, D-values between Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were comparable in wheat flour and one of the treatment temperatures in powder infant formula (p > 0.05). For all but one of the treatments at the same temperature, E. faecium had significantly higher D-values than L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in each food matrix (p < 0.05). The observed matrix effect on thermotolerance for each of the bacteria was reported in descending order as powder infant formula > peanut butter > wheat flour in the majority of the comparable D-values. While Salmonella continues to be the pathogen of concern in low-moisture foods due to survival and outbreaks, these results indicate L. monocytogenes can exhibit similar thermotolerances in relevant model low-moisture foods matrices.

Modern composite steel frame structures possess a high degree of redundancy. This allows them to survive extreme fires without collapse as there are many alternative loadpaths which can be used to transfer load away from the fire affected part of the structure as demonstrated in the Broadgate fire. Subsequent tests carried out on the Cardington frame showed that it was not necessary to apply fire protection to all steel beams. It was possible to leave selected secondary beams without fire protection. In the event of a fire this results in large deflections due to thermal expansion and material degradation, however, in a fire where servicability requirements do not need to be met this is acceptable so long as life safety is ensured. The weakening beams and large deflections result in a change in the load transfer mechanism with load being carried through tensile membrane action in the slab. This thesis presents a method for calculating the membrane load capacity of composite floor slabs in fire. Extensive numerical modelling at the University of Edinburgh has shown that the temperature distribution through a structural member greatly effects the deflection and pattern of internal stresses and strains. Theoretical solutions were produced to calculate the structural response of laterally restrained beams and plates subject to thermal loads. The theoretical deflections and internal forces were shown to compare well with those from numerical models. To determine the membrane load capacity of concrete floor slabs in fire a three-stage design method was developed. Initially the temperature distribution through the slab was calculated for the design fire. From this the deflection of the slab and resulting stress and strain distributions in the steel reinforcement due to the thermal loads were calculated for the design fire. From this the deflection of the slab and resulting stress and strain distributions in the steel reinforcement due to thermal loads were calculated using equations from the theory developed previously. Failure of the slab was defined based on a limiting value of mechanical strain in the reinforcement, this strain corresponded to a limiting deflection. The load capacity of the slab at the limiting deflection was calculated using an energy method. When compared against results from numerical models the ultimate load capacity was shown to be accurately predicted. None of the fire test carried out on the Cardington structure reached failure. Although demonstrating the inherent strength of such buildings this was also a major short coming as it was not possible to define the point of failure. the design method developed was used to calculate the membrane laod capacity of four of the six Cardington tests. All four tests were shown to have had a significant reserve capacity with none being close to failure.

Основни задатак ове докторске дисертације је био да се испита утицај третмана хладном атмосферском плазмом на квалитет и безбедност пшеничног брашна.Прва фаза истраживања спроведених у овој докторској дисертацији била је усмерена на поређење SRC методе (Solvent Retention Capacity) са емпиријским методама на узорцима пасажних брашна. Метода је показала изузетно добру моћ описивања врло различитих својстава пасажних брашна. Поређењем параметара SRC методе са реолошким показатељима квалитета уочена је подела SRC параметара у две групе. Прву групу чинили су параметари способност задржавања раствора млечне киселине и индекс перформанси глутена (SRCLa и GPI) осетљиви на снагу теста, а другу групу параметри способност задржавања раствора натријум карбоната, односно, шећера те способност задржавања воде (SRCSo, SRCSu и SRCw) осетљиви на хидртатациона својства брашна. Обрадом резултата кроз мултиваријантну анализу, одређене су корелације, односно, односи између параметара SRC методе и реолошких параметара. На бази параметара SRC методе развијени су модели применом методе парцијалне регресије најмањих квадрта (PLSR) са високим вредностима коефицијента детерминације, R2 = 0,93 за фаринографску моћ упијања воде (FWA) и R2 = 0,92 за енергију те вишеструких одговора R2 = 0,89.Друга фаза истраживања у оквиру дисертације била је усмерена на сагледавање утицаја различитих услова третмана хладном атмосферском плазмом (време, растојање, степен искоришћености заклона) на показатеље квалитета брашна кроз примену SRC методе, садржаја слободних сулфхидрилних група, ултраљубичасте и инфрацрвене спектроскопије, реолошких анализа на реометру и глутопику, те вредности глутен индекса и саджај влажног глутена. Електрична карактеризација извора плазме указала је да је укупна површина електроде хомогено прекривена плазмом при RMS вредности напона и јачине струје од 2400 V и 0,1 A. Коришћењем OES мерења (Optical Emission Spectroscopy) потврђено је постојање реактивних врста хладне плазме. Оптичке емисије су забележене у секундарној позитивној траци N2, првој позитивној траци N2, линије OH (A-X) опсега побуђених OH радикала као и линије из прве негативне траке молекулског јона азота. Мерења су указала и на низак интензитет побуђених стања атомског кисеоника. Сви посматрани показатељи квалитета су се мењали са условима третмана хладном атмосферском плазмом. Дуже време третмана пшеничног брашна довело је до повећање модула еластичности G’, SRCSu и SRCw параметра. Вредности влажног глутена и глутен индекса (WG и GI) варирале су у уском интервалу, док су вредности садржај слободних сулфхидрилних група SRCLa и GPI параметара опадале. Како је SRC методе исказала добру способност да прати промене на брашну узроковане третманом хладном атмосферском на бази параметара SRC методе уз примену методологије одзивне површине спроведен је поступак моделовања и оптимизације третмана. Развијени модели свих SRC параметара су указали на значајне услове третмана и одликовали су се високим вредностима R² SRCLa (0,92), SRCSu (0,84), SRCSo (0,75), SRCw (0,91) и GPI (0,92). Aнализа секундарних структура указала је да третман доводи до увећања удела α-хеликс секундарне структуре те до смањења удела β равни као и β-окрет + β равни.У трећој фази докторске дисертације, посматран је утицај два правца оптимизације третмана хладне атмосферске плазме на показатење квалитета три групе производа (пшенични хлеб, мешани хлеб од целог зрна и хлеб са мекињама). Циљ првог правца је био минимизација SRCLa и максимизација SRCSu параметара а другог максимизација и SRCLa и SRCSu параметара. Утицај третмана хладном атмосферском плазмом, оба правца оптимизације, на показатеље квалитета све три групе производа посматран је кроз анализу физичких и сензорских параметара квалитета хлеба. Одређивањем физичких показатеља квалитета утврђено је да третман брашна хладном атмосферском плазмом доводи до промена пецивних својстава пшеничног брашна. Третмани су утицали на текстуру као и боју узорака хлеба. Краће време третмана имало повољнији ефекат на ток колоидних процеса током замеса, те и запремину готових производа. Сензорска анализа показала је да супститција 10% брашна третираним при овом третману позитивно утиче на запремину, изглед средине, укус и мирис свих врста хлеба. Резултати указују да је у зависности и од услова третамана, начина примене (количине), али и од квалитета брашна које се супституише третираним брашном, пожељно спровођење оптиизације третмана у складу са наменом брашна.У четвртој фази спроведено је испитивања могућег утицаја третмана хладном атмосферском плазмом на безбедност брашна, односно, производе од брашна. Испитивана је могућност редукције Alternaria токсина у матриксу пшеничног брашна и утицај услова третмана (време и растојање). Испитивања су била фокусирана на три Alternaria токсина: алтернариол (AOH), алтернариол монометил етар (AME) и тентоксин (TEN). Одређени су степени редукције три Alternaria токсина, у „спајкованим“ узорцима пшеничног брашна у зависности од услова третмана. Потом је извршено моделовање третмана применом методологије одзивних површина и одређен значај услова третмана на степен редукције испитиваних Alternaria токсина. Оптимизација је извршена прорачуном стандардне оцене, те је спроведено тестирање оптималног третмана на природно контаминираним узорцима млинских производа од пшенице. Резултати су показали да је могуће постићи значајан степен разградље свих испитиваних Alternaria токсина при релативно кратким временима (180 ѕ) третмана како у „спајкованим“ тако и у природно контаминираним узорцима. Најбољи резултати редукције Alternaria токсина добијени су третманом узорка постављеним на растојању од 6 mm од извора хладне атмосферске плазме, са трајањем третмана од 180 ѕ, при чему је остварен степен редукције од 60,6% за AOH, 73,8% за АМЕ и 54,5% за TEN. Степен редукције испитиваних Alternaria токсина у природно контаминираним узорцима зависио је и од почетних концентрација Alternaria токсина.Сва истраживања проведена у изради ове докторске дисертације указују да се третман пшеничног брашна хладном атмосферском плазмом може користити за модификацију технолошког квалитета, али и унапређење безбедности пшеничног брашна те је потребно наставити истраживања у овим правцима.
Osnovni zadatak ove doktorske disertacije je bio da se ispita uticaj tretmana hladnom atmosferskom plazmom na kvalitet i bezbednost pšeničnog brašna.Prva faza istraživanja sprovedenih u ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji bila je usmerena na poređenje SRC metode (Solvent Retention Capacity) sa empirijskim metodama na uzorcima pasažnih brašna. Metoda je pokazala izuzetno dobru moć opisivanja vrlo različitih svojstava pasažnih brašna. Poređenjem parametara SRC metode sa reološkim pokazateljima kvaliteta uočena je podela SRC parametara u dve grupe. Prvu grupu činili su parametari sposobnost zadržavanja rastvora mlečne kiseline i indeks performansi glutena (SRCLa i GPI) osetljivi na snagu testa, a drugu grupu parametri sposobnost zadržavanja rastvora natrijum karbonata, odnosno, šećera te sposobnost zadržavanja vode (SRCSo, SRCSu i SRCw) osetljivi na hidrtataciona svojstva brašna. Obradom rezultata kroz multivarijantnu analizu, određene su korelacije, odnosno, odnosi između parametara SRC metode i reoloških parametara. Na bazi parametara SRC metode razvijeni su modeli primenom metode parcijalne regresije najmanjih kvadrta (PLSR) sa visokim vrednostima koeficijenta determinacije, R2 = 0,93 za farinografsku moć upijanja vode (FWA) i R2 = 0,92 za energiju te višestrukih odgovora R2 = 0,89.Druga faza istraživanja u okviru disertacije bila je usmerena na sagledavanje uticaja različitih uslova tretmana hladnom atmosferskom plazmom (vreme, rastojanje, stepen iskorišćenosti zaklona) na pokazatelje kvaliteta brašna kroz primenu SRC metode, sadržaja slobodnih sulfhidrilnih grupa, ultraljubičaste i infracrvene spektroskopije, reoloških analiza na reometru i glutopiku, te vrednosti gluten indeksa i sadžaj vlažnog glutena. Električna karakterizacija izvora plazme ukazala je da je ukupna površina elektrode homogeno prekrivena plazmom pri RMS vrednosti napona i jačine struje od 2400 V i 0,1 A. Korišćenjem OES merenja (Optical Emission Spectroscopy) potvrđeno je postojanje reaktivnih vrsta hladne plazme. Optičke emisije su zabeležene u sekundarnoj pozitivnoj traci N2, prvoj pozitivnoj traci N2, linije OH (A-X) opsega pobuđenih OH radikala kao i linije iz prve negativne trake molekulskog jona azota. Merenja su ukazala i na nizak intenzitet pobuđenih stanja atomskog kiseonika. Svi posmatrani pokazatelji kvaliteta su se menjali sa uslovima tretmana hladnom atmosferskom plazmom. Duže vreme tretmana pšeničnog brašna dovelo je do povećanje modula elastičnosti G’, SRCSu i SRCw parametra. Vrednosti vlažnog glutena i gluten indeksa (WG i GI) varirale su u uskom intervalu, dok su vrednosti sadržaj slobodnih sulfhidrilnih grupa SRCLa i GPI parametara opadale. Kako je SRC metode iskazala dobru sposobnost da prati promene na brašnu uzrokovane tretmanom hladnom atmosferskom na bazi parametara SRC metode uz primenu metodologije odzivne površine sproveden je postupak modelovanja i optimizacije tretmana. Razvijeni modeli svih SRC parametara su ukazali na značajne uslove tretmana i odlikovali su se visokim vrednostima R² SRCLa (0,92), SRCSu (0,84), SRCSo (0,75), SRCw (0,91) i GPI (0,92). Analiza sekundarnih struktura ukazala je da tretman dovodi do uvećanja udela α-heliks sekundarne strukture te do smanjenja udela β ravni kao i β-okret + β ravni.U trećoj fazi doktorske disertacije, posmatran je uticaj dva pravca optimizacije tretmana hladne atmosferske plazme na pokazatenje kvaliteta tri grupe proizvoda (pšenični hleb, mešani hleb od celog zrna i hleb sa mekinjama). Cilj prvog pravca je bio minimizacija SRCLa i maksimizacija SRCSu parametara a drugog maksimizacija i SRCLa i SRCSu parametara. Uticaj tretmana hladnom atmosferskom plazmom, oba pravca optimizacije, na pokazatelje kvaliteta sve tri grupe proizvoda posmatran je kroz analizu fizičkih i senzorskih parametara kvaliteta hleba. Određivanjem fizičkih pokazatelja kvaliteta utvrđeno je da tretman brašna hladnom atmosferskom plazmom dovodi do promena pecivnih svojstava pšeničnog brašna. Tretmani su uticali na teksturu kao i boju uzoraka hleba. Kraće vreme tretmana imalo povoljniji efekat na tok koloidnih procesa tokom zamesa, te i zapreminu gotovih proizvoda. Senzorska analiza pokazala je da supstitcija 10% brašna tretiranim pri ovom tretmanu pozitivno utiče na zapreminu, izgled sredine, ukus i miris svih vrsta hleba. Rezultati ukazuju da je u zavisnosti i od uslova tretamana, načina primene (količine), ali i od kvaliteta brašna koje se supstituiše tretiranim brašnom, poželjno sprovođenje optiizacije tretmana u skladu sa namenom brašna.U četvrtoj fazi sprovedeno je ispitivanja mogućeg uticaja tretmana hladnom atmosferskom plazmom na bezbednost brašna, odnosno, proizvode od brašna. Ispitivana je mogućnost redukcije Alternaria toksina u matriksu pšeničnog brašna i uticaj uslova tretmana (vreme i rastojanje). Ispitivanja su bila fokusirana na tri Alternaria toksina: alternariol (AOH), alternariol monometil etar (AME) i tentoksin (TEN). Određeni su stepeni redukcije tri Alternaria toksina, u „spajkovanim“ uzorcima pšeničnog brašna u zavisnosti od uslova tretmana. Potom je izvršeno modelovanje tretmana primenom metodologije odzivnih površina i određen značaj uslova tretmana na stepen redukcije ispitivanih Alternaria toksina. Optimizacija je izvršena proračunom standardne ocene, te je sprovedeno testiranje optimalnog tretmana na prirodno kontaminiranim uzorcima mlinskih proizvoda od pšenice. Rezultati su pokazali da je moguće postići značajan stepen razgradlje svih ispitivanih Alternaria toksina pri relativno kratkim vremenima (180 ѕ) tretmana kako u „spajkovanim“ tako i u prirodno kontaminiranim uzorcima. Najbolji rezultati redukcije Alternaria toksina dobijeni su tretmanom uzorka postavljenim na rastojanju od 6 mm od izvora hladne atmosferske plazme, sa trajanjem tretmana od 180 ѕ, pri čemu je ostvaren stepen redukcije od 60,6% za AOH, 73,8% za AME i 54,5% za TEN. Stepen redukcije ispitivanih Alternaria toksina u prirodno kontaminiranim uzorcima zavisio je i od početnih koncentracija Alternaria toksina.Sva istraživanja provedena u izradi ove doktorske disertacije ukazuju da se tretman pšeničnog brašna hladnom atmosferskom plazmom može koristiti za modifikaciju tehnološkog kvaliteta, ali i unapređenje bezbednosti pšeničnog brašna te je potrebno nastaviti istraživanja u ovim pravcima.
The main aim of this doctoral dissertation was to examine the impact of cold atmospheric plasma treatment on the quality and safety of wheat flour.The first phase of research conducted in this doctoral dissertation was aimed at comparing the SRC method with empirical rheological methods on samples of wheat flour mill streams. The method showed good power to describe very different properties of wheat flour mill streams. By comparing the parameters of the Solvent Retention Capacity method (SRC) with empirical rheological parameters, the division of SRC parameters into two groups is noticed. The first group of SRC, lactic acid and glutenin performance index (SRCLa and GPI) is sensitive to the dough strengths, and the second group, SRC of sodium carbonate, sucrose and water (SRCSо, SRCSu and SRCw) is sensitive to flour hydration potential. Through multivariate analysis, the relationships between the parameters of the SRC method and the rheological parameters were determined. Based on the experimental data of the SRC parameters, models were developed with partial least squares regression (PLSR) to predict the most important rheological parameters. PLSR models with high values of coefficient of determination, R2 = 0.93 for farinographic water absorption (FWA) and R2 = 0.92 for energy and model with multiple responses R2 = 0.89 were developed.In the second phase of the research, the influence of different conditions of cold atmospheric plasma treatment (time, distance, degree of cover utilization) on flour quality indicators determined by the SRC method, as well as the content of free sulfhydryl groups, wet gluten, gluten index, rheological properties and ultraviolet and infrared spectra were analyzed. The electrical characterization of the plasma source indicates that the electrodes are homogeneously covered with plasma at the RMS voltage of 2400 V and current of 0.1 A. Optical emission spectroscopy shows the most intense emission lines are in the N2 second positive system band, as expected for the atmospheric air plasma. Relatively lower intensities of peaks associated with atomic oxygen (triplet at 777 nm) are due to the involvement of O in the creation of O3, and quenching by N2 and O2 molecules. All observed parameters changed with the conditions of cold atmospheric plasma treatment. The prolonged treatment time of wheat flour leads to an increase in the modulus of elasticity G’, SRCSu and SRCw parameter. The values of the wet gluten (WG) and gluten index (GI) parameters vary in a narrow interval and the content of free sulfhydryl groups and SRCL and GPI parameters show a decreasing trend. As the SRC method showed a good ability to monitor changes in flour caused by atmospheric cold plasma treatment. Based on the parameters of the SRC method, with the application of the response surface methodology, the procedure of modeling and optimization of the treatment was performed. Developed models of all SRC parameters indicated significant treatment conditions and were characterized by high values of R² SRCL (0.92), SRCSu (0.84), SRCSo (0.75), SRCw (0.91) and GPI (0, 92) respectively. Analysis of secondary structures indicated that the treatment leads to an increase in the proportion of α-helix secondary structure and to a decrease in the proportion of β-plane as well as β-turn + β-sheet.In the third phase, the influence of two directions of optimization of cold atmospheric plasma treatment on the quality indicators of three groups of products (wheat bread, whole grain bread and bread with bran) was observed. The aim of the first optimization was to minimize SRCL and maximize SRCSu parameters and of the second to maximize both SRCLa and SRCSu parameters. The influence of cold atmospheric plasma treatment, of both directions of optimization, on the quality indicators of all three groups of products, was analyzed through the analysis of volume, physical and sensory properties of bread. Results indicate that the treatment of flour with cold atmospheric plasma leads to changes in all baking properties of wheat flour. Treatments affect texture parameters as well as color parameters. Shorter treatment time had a more favorable effect on the course of colloidal processes during mixing and the volume of finished products. Sensory analysis showed that the substitution of 10% flour with flour treated with Shorter treatment time has a positive effect on the volume, appearance of the crumb, taste and smell of bread. The results indicate that the optimization of flour treatment should be carried out according to the appropriate purpose, quantity as well as the quality of the flour which is substituted by the treated flour.In the fourth phase, investigations of the impact of cold atmospheric plasma treatment on the safety of flour were conducted. The possibility of reduction of Alternaria toxins in the wheat flour matrix and the influence of treatment conditions (time and distance) were investigated. The examinations were focused on three Alternaria toxins: alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), and tentoxin (TEN). The extent of reduction of three Alternaria toxins were determined in "spiked" samples of wheat flour depending on the treatment conditions. The modeling of the treatment was performed by applying the response surfaces methodology and the significance of the treatment conditions on the extent of the reduction rate of the Alternaria toxins were determined. The optimization was performed by calculating the standard scores and testing of the optimal treatment was performed on naturally contaminated samples of wheat mill products. The results showed that it is possible to achieve a significant degree of reduction of all tested Alternaria toxins with relatively short treatment times (180 s) in both "spiked" and naturally contaminated samples. The best results of the reduction of all three Alternaria toxins were obtained for treatment with a sample placed at a distance of 6 mm, with a treatment time of 180 s. Under these treatments, a reduction of 60.6%, 73.8% and 54.5%, for AOH, AME and TEN, respectively, was achieved. Results also showed that the extent of the reduction of Alternaria toxins in naturally contaminated samples also depended on the initial Alternaria toxins concentrations.All research indicates that the treatment of wheat flour with cold atmospheric plasma can be successfully used to modify the technological quality but also to improve the safety of wheat flour and it is justified to continue further research.

A high percentage of highway crashes in the United States occur at intersections. These crashes result in property damage, lost productivity, injury, and even death. Identifying intersections associated with high crash rate is very important to minimize future crashes. The purpose of this study is to develop efficient means to evaluate intersections, which may require safety improvements. The area covered by the analysis in this thesis includes Orange and Seminole Counties and the City of Orlando. The aforementioned counties and city thus represent Central Florida. Each County/City provided data that consisted of signalized intersection drawings that were either in the form of electronic or hard copies, the county's extensive crash database and a list of intersections that underwent modifications during the study period. A total of 786 intersections were used in the analysis and the crash database was made up of 4271 crashes. From the signalized intersection drawings obtained from the county's traffic engineering department, a geometry database was created to classify all intersections by the number of through lanes, number of left turning lanes, Average Annual Daily Traffic and Posted Speed limits on the Major road of the intersection. In this research, crashes and their type, e.g., rear-end, left-turn and angle as well as total crashes were investigated. Numerous models were developed first using the Poisson regression and then using the Negative Binomial approach as the data showed overdispersion. The modeling process aimed to relate geometric and traffic factors to the frequency of crashes at intersections. Expected value analysis tables were also developed to determine if an intersection had an abnormally high number of crashes. These tables can be used in assisting Traffic Engineers in identifying serious safety problems at intersections. The general models illustrated that rear-end crashes were associated with high natural logarithm of AADT on the major road and the number of lanes (major intersections, e.g. 6x4/6x6), whereas AADT on the major road did not affect left-turn crashes. Intersections with the configuration 4x2/6x2 (2 through lanes at the minor roadway) or T intersections as another category experienced an increase in left-turn crashes. Angle crashes were most frequent at one-way intersections especially in the case of 4x4 intersections. Individual models that included interaction terms with one variable at a time concluded that AADT on the major road positively influenced rear-end crashes more compared to angle and left-turn crashes. As the speed increases on the minor road, the left turn crashes are affected more when compared to angle and rear-end crashes, therefore it can be concluded that left-turn crashes are most influenced by the speed limit on the minor road compared to angle crashes and then followed by rear-end crashes. As the total number of left turn lanes increased at the intersection, thereby increasing the size of the intersection, the number of rear-end crashes increased. An overall model that contained natural logarithm of AADT on major road, total number of left turn lanes at the intersection, number of through lanes on the minor road and configuration of the intersection, as independent variables, along with interaction terms, further concluded and supported the individual models that the number of crashes (rear-end, left-turn and angle) increased as the AADT on the major road increased and the number of crashes decreased as the total number of left turn lanes at the intersection increased. Also, crashes increased as the number of through lanes on the minor road increased. The variables' interaction effects with dummies representing rear-end and left-turn crashes in the final model showed that as the AADT on the major road increased, the number of rear-end crashes increased compared to left-turn and angle crashes and also that as the total number of left turn lanes at the intersection increased, the number of left-turn crashes decreased when compared to rear-end and angle crashes. Also the number of rear-end crashes increased at major four leg intersections e.g. 6x4, 6x6 etc. This thesis demonstrated the superiority of Negative Binomial regression in modeling the frequency of crashes at signalized intersections.
M.S.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Engineering and Computer Science
Civil Engineering

Baihetan Dam is sited on the lower reaches of the Jinsha River in the southwest of China between the boarders of Sichuan and Yunnan province. The dam is scheduled to be taken into operation in the year of 2020 with an installed generation capacity of 14 GW which will put Baihetan Dam on the map as the third largest hydropower station in the world considering installed power output. In comparison, the world’s biggest dam Three Gorges has an installed generation capacity of 22,5 GW. To ensure a sufficient safety evaluation in terms of erosion (scour) formation at the bottom of the plunge pool, pressure simulations in the plunge pool floor in an experimental model at the Department of Hydraulic Engineering in Tsinghua University, Beijing, China has been performed. Data from two experiments with two different outflow configurations has been obtained and analyzed together with three earlier performed experiments on the same experimental model. The results from outflow configuration one had an incomplete data set and could not be compared to the other experiments. The results retrieved from the other experiments however showed the importance of a spillway design with nappe splitters and nappe blocks implemented and the value of a sufficient water cushion in the plunge pool. All four outflow configurations with nappe splitters or nappe blocks implemented held a hydrodynamic pressure below the recommended maximum pressure value of 15 cm water head (experimental model scale) stated by the East Asian Investigation and Design Institute, whilst the one configuration with no nappe splitters or nappe blocks exceeded the value. The design of outflow configuration two is four nappe splitters implemented in two spillways and two nappe blocks in two spillways. In this thesis, this configuration has proven to be the most suitable one in terms of maximum pressure minimization and pressure distribution at the plunge pool floor.

This research project aims to investigate the level of risk/safety inherent in intermediate floors of buildings designed to the Compliance Document for the New Zealand Building Code, Fire Safety Clauses C1, C2, C3, C4 (C/AS1), and develop guidance for Fire Engineers on designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors. The project also aims to develop a new set of prescriptive fire safety requirements for intermediate floors and proposes an outline of a verification method for designing fire safety for intermediate floors. This study includes a literature review of the fire safety requirements for intermediate floors (mezzanines) of prescriptive requirements in New Zealand and other countries such as USA, Canada, UK and Australia. The results of this literature review found that the intermediate floor size is limited and varies with country. An intermediate floor that has an area exceeding the limit set out by the prescriptive requirements is considered as a storey in all the countries prescriptive requirements reviewed including the New Zealand prescriptive requirements prior to 1991. Since 1991, in New Zealand Acceptable Solutions, the intermediate floor that has an area exceeding the limit will not be treated as a storey, however, a smoke control system is required. The level of risk was quantified using a factor of safety (FoS) - the ratio of Available Safe Egress Time (ASET) to Required Safe Egress Time (RSET). Two fire models; BRANZFIRE and FDS were used to calculate ASET and SIMULEX, an evacuation program, was used to calculate movement times of the occupants of the studied buildings. Unlike the traditional method in which RSET and FoS are assessed using single value, in this project the distribution of RSET and FoS were assessed using the @RISK software package. The analysis showed that the level of risk to the occupants of the firecells containing intermediate floors is always higher than that of the equivalent firecells without intermediate floors with the same occupant load and the differences in FoS range from 10% to 60%. The analysis also highlighted that the level of risk to the occupants of firecells having intermediate floors increases as the intermediate floor size increases, however, there are no clear cut-off points at which a higher level of fire safety precaution should be provided. The cut-off points in C/AS1 of 20% for a closed intermediate floor and 40% for an open intermediate floor, are not justified by this analysis. Occupant load has significant impact on the level of safety of the occupants of the firecells containing intermediate floors. The higher the occupant load the lower the level of safety is. The definitions for open and closed intermediate floors are proposed to which open and closed intermediate floors are clearly distinguished. The term “limited area intermediate floor” in the current C/AS1 is proposed be removed and all related clauses are proposed to be amended or deleted accordingly. A proposed new set of prescriptive fire safety requirements for intermediate floors has been developed based on the occupant load of intermediate floors and not the intermediate floor size in the form of a table similar to the current Table 4.1 of C/AS1. The occupant load and fire safety precautions (FSPs) of the intermediate floors are determined based on the occupant load and their required FSPs of the equivalent firecells without intermediate floors that have the same factor of safety with the firecells containing intermediate floors. With the proposed FSPs, a firecell with lower occupant load would require lesser fire safety requirements than a firecell with higher occupant load regardless of intermediate floor size. Moreover, with the proposed FSPs for intermediate floors, the level of safety of the occupants of the firecells having intermediate floors would be very similar to the level of safety of the equivalent firecells without intermediate floors. In addition to the proposed tables of FSPs, some clauses regarding the changes in the fire safety requirement and definitions for intermediate floors are proposed. Guidance for designers in designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors in which the methods of modelling using BRANZFIRE and Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) are presented in detail, has been developed. The analysis has pointed out that the location of the exits is critical in designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors and majority of exits from the lower floor should not be located under intermediate floors. Although one of the main objectives of this research project was to propose an outline of a verification method for designing fire safety for intermediate floors, the analysis showed that it is very difficult to develop a rational verification method for designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors. Using the proposed FSPs for intermediate floors which are based on the occupant load of the intermediate floors in designing fire safety for firecells containing intermediate floors is recommended by this study. These recommendations do not preclude the use of specific fire engineering design for designing fire safety for firecells having intermediate floors.

Many organisations which aim to achieve excellent workplace safety choose 'culture change' as the means to achieve this. They make use of employee communication media to help re-form the values, beliefs, norms and behaviours which are generally thought to comprise culture. However, culture is a complex and profound phenomenon. Successful communication between two culturally separate groups requires each to achieve an understanding of the other, no less so in workplaces than in societies composed of different cultures.Yet even employers who believe in communicating fully with their workforces find it difficult to convey viewpoints other than their own. Their communication tends therefore to be one-directional, asymmetrical and controlling, typified by the ubiquitous staff newsletter containing articles about people's contribution to corporate goals. The messages contained in such media have little or none of their desired effect because they tend to be re-interpreted via the cultural forces of the workers to whom the messages are directed.This study investigated a large industrial minerals refinery to analyse the working lives of shop floor employees and the effectiveness of various communication channels. It focused on one group to whom safety messages were communicated, the shop floor `crews', and examined how the organisation's hierarchy, rules, and informal organisation mediated this communication.

Many organisations which aim to achieve excellent workplace safety choose 'culture change' as the means to achieve this. They make use of employee communication media to help re-form the values, beliefs, norms and behaviours which are generally thought to comprise culture. However, culture is a complex and profound phenomenon. Successful communication between two culturally separate groups requires each to achieve an understanding of the other, no less so in workplaces than in societies composed of different cultures.Yet even employers who believe in communicating fully with their workforces find it difficult to convey viewpoints other than their own. Their communication tends therefore to be one-directional, asymmetrical and controlling, typified by the ubiquitous staff newsletter containing articles about people's contribution to corporate goals. The messages contained in such media have little or none of their desired effect because they tend to be re-interpreted via the cultural forces of the workers to whom the messages are directed.This study investigated a large industrial minerals refinery to analyse the working lives of shop floor employees and the effectiveness of various communication channels. It focused on one group to whom safety messages were communicated, the shop floor `crews', and examined how the organisation's hierarchy, rules, and informal organisation mediated this communication.

The customer currently lifts caravans with an ordinary car jack in combination with a beam and a tractor. The customer wants to have a device which grants more safety and stability. The task is executed by two international students. In order to develop a new design, a methodical design process is used. This process does not contain all steps of a product development process and in consists in this case of four steps. The outcome of this product development process is a device which meets the technical requirements and which is validated by a computer simulation. The device is safe to use and stable. Besides, the device is mobile, thus storable, and adjustable, as the customer requested. Lastly, the students made some recommendations for using the device.

An important element in the building fire safety of high-rise buildings in Hong Kong since 1996 has been the use of refuge floors in the building's evacuation system. To prevent smoke collecting and remaining in the refuge floors, the Building Code of Hong Kong requires these floors to have openings on opposite sides to provide adequate wind-induced ventilation. Other researchers using CFD simulations without wind tunnel verification have indicated that under certain conditions smoke could still remain on these floors and thereby reducing the fire safety of the refuge floors. This thesis explores these situations and presents a detailed scientific investigation of the wind movement in and around a refuge floor at mid-height of a high-rise building using wind tunnel testing together with CFD simulations (using CFD CFX-5.6 package). Besides identifying problem areas for smoke logging, this thesis also identifies how the design of a refuge floor can be modified to improve its fire safety. A significant factor on the fire safety of a refuge floor is the blocking effect of the building's central core and its effect on the wind-induced ventilation. Under Hong Kong Building Code, the central core can occupy up to 50% of the refuge floor. Previous investigators did not take into consideration the effect of the maximum core size on natural ventilation of the refuge floor. This thesis investigates the worst case scenario for a refuge floor that has a core occupying 50% of the floor and has two solid walls on opposite side of the floor to identify the problem areas where smoke could collect and remain. In exploring the worst case scenario with two parallel solid walls, the investigations revealed that the ceiling height and the wind direction have a significant effect on the wind ventilation of the refuge floor. These factors were not identified by previous investigators. In the case of the ceiling height, it was found that the head height of the refuge floor should be greater than 0.02 times the building height to achieve the desirable wind environment on the refuge floor. Regarding wind directions, the wind from most angles escapes the floor via the channel-like corridors next to the central core of the building. The main problem area occurred when the wind was perpendicular to the solid side walls. This resulted in noticeable stagnant areas where smoke could remain. To validate the CFD method used in the thesis, wind tunnel experiments were performed to provide the scientific field velocity data of wind flowing over the building and in the refuge floor located at mid-height of the building. Earlier researchers of the refuge floor did not have access to wind tunnel data of a refuge floor. In comparing the wind tunnel experiments with the CFD simulations used in the thesis, acceptable agreement was achieved. These results make it possible for a significant reduction in the CFD computational effort that previous studies required. Based on the findings of the investigations undertaken, design recommendations are proposed to improve the fire safety of the refuge floor in multistorey buildings in Hong Kong.

An important element in the building fire safety of high-rise buildings in Hong Kong since 1996 has been the use of refuge floors in the building's evacuation system. To prevent smoke collecting and remaining in the refuge floors, the Building Code of Hong Kong requires these floors to have openings on opposite sides to provide adequate wind-induced ventilation. Other researchers using CFD simulations without wind tunnel verification have indicated that under certain conditions smoke could still remain on these floors and thereby reducing the fire safety of the refuge floors. This thesis explores these situations and presents a detailed scientific investigation of the wind movement in and around a refuge floor at mid-height of a high-rise building using wind tunnel testing together with CFD simulations (using CFD CFX-5.6 package). Besides identifying problem areas for smoke logging, this thesis also identifies how the design of a refuge floor can be modified to improve its fire safety. A significant factor on the fire safety of a refuge floor is the blocking effect of the building's central core and its effect on the wind-induced ventilation. Under Hong Kong Building Code, the central core can occupy up to 50% of the refuge floor. Previous investigators did not take into consideration the effect of the maximum core size on natural ventilation of the refuge floor. This thesis investigates the worst case scenario for a refuge floor that has a core occupying 50% of the floor and has two solid walls on opposite side of the floor to identify the problem areas where smoke could collect and remain. In exploring the worst case scenario with two parallel solid walls, the investigations revealed that the ceiling height and the wind direction have a significant effect on the wind ventilation of the refuge floor. These factors were not identified by previous investigators. In the case of the ceiling height, it was found that the head height of the refuge floor should be greater than 0.02 times the building height to achieve the desirable wind environment on the refuge floor. Regarding wind directions, the wind from most angles escapes the floor via the channel-like corridors next to the central core of the building. The main problem area occurred when the wind was perpendicular to the solid side walls. This resulted in noticeable stagnant areas where smoke could remain. To validate the CFD method used in the thesis, wind tunnel experiments were performed to provide the scientific field velocity data of wind flowing over the building and in the refuge floor located at mid-height of the building. Earlier researchers of the refuge floor did not have access to wind tunnel data of a refuge floor. In comparing the wind tunnel experiments with the CFD simulations used in the thesis, acceptable agreement was achieved. These results make it possible for a significant reduction in the CFD computational effort that previous studies required. Based on the findings of the investigations undertaken, design recommendations are proposed to improve the fire safety of the refuge floor in multistorey buildings in Hong Kong.

L’exploration des océans devient de plus en plus accessible, notamment grâce aux avancées en robotique. Les applications pour les robots sous-marins sont nombreuses. Dans cette thèse, on s’intéresse particulièrement à la recherche d’épaves, telle que celle de La Cordelière, qui a coulé dans la Rade de Brest en 1512. Le système robotique proposé consiste à tracter un magnétomètre susceptible de détecter les matériaux ferromagnétiques de l’épave. Le capteur ne peut pas être directement embarqué car il est sensible aux perturbations du robot. C’est pourquoi il est déporté. Deux problématiques sont alors étudiées pour appréhender ce système. La première est liée au contrôle de la position du magnétomètre alors que l’on ne peut agir que sur le robot tractant. Une méthode de linéarisation par bouclage est alors utilisée pour construire un contrôleur. Ce contrôleur est ensuite validé sous certaines contraintes d’état en utilisant des outils d’analyse par intervalles. La seconde problématique concerne la localisation sous l’eau de manière fiable. Sont alors étudiés des moyens d’appréhender les incertitudes et les données aberrantes collectées par un capteur acoustique. L’analyse par intervalles permet d’obtenir des premiers résultats, et la logique floue vient compléter l’approche en donnant plus de souplesse dans la priorisation des contraintes. Finalement, des expérimentations sont présentées avec différents robots, et notamment la localisation d’un ROV dans une piscine
The oceans’ exploration becomes more and more reachable, especially thanks to robotics progress. Applications for underwater robots are plentiful. In this thesis, we particularly focus on the search of wrecks, as the Cordelière, which sank in the Bay of Brest (France) in 1512. The proposed robotic system consists of towing a magnetometer likely to detect the ferromagnetic materials of the wreck. The sensor cannot be directly embedded because it is sensitive to the perturbations from the robot. This is why it is deported. Two issues are studied to approach this system. The first one is linked to the control of the magnetometer’s position, whereas we can only act on the towing robot. A feedback linearization method is used to design a controller. Then, this controller is validated under some state constraints by using tools from interval analysis. The second issue relates to underwater localization in a reliable manner. Ways to approach uncertainties and outliers gathered by acoustic sensors are studied. The interval analysis allows to obtain first results, and the fuzzy logic completes the approach by giving more suppleness in the prioritization of the constraints. Finally, some expérimentations are presented with different robots, and especially the localization of a ROV in a pool

Dans le contexte où le secteur automobile apparaît comme l’un des principaux émetteurs de gaz à effet de serre, des efforts doivent être apportés pour répondre à des normes antipollution de plus en plus contraignantes. L’objectif de la thèse est alors de développer un système qui aide le conducteur à adopter globalement une conduite plus économique, et qui plus est, écologique et sécuritaire. Notre approche se différencie des études et systèmes déjà existants par la stratégie utilisée. Celle-ci prend à la fois en compte les caractéristiques du véhicule, celles de l’infrastructure (pente, dévers, courbure) et surtout les contraintes sécuritaires que doit respecter le conducteur (limitation de vitesse légale, distance intervéhiculaire). Partant de ces informations, le problème d’optimisation de la consommation en carburant est formulé et résolu par la programmation dynamique. La stratégie de calcul en ligne est par la suite adoptée pour rendre le système adaptatif aux conditions de trafic. C’est ainsi que, sur la base de cette stratégie, le couplage entre le problème de sécurité routière et de réduction de consommation est réalisé. Des expérimentations de ce système informatif suggestif sur véhicule prototype montrent que le suivi des consignes, données par le système, est tout à fait réalisable par le conducteur. Ces essais confirment aussi le potentiel d’économie en carburant et l’amélioration de la sécurité grâce à notre système. En comparaison avec le style d’éco-conduite des conducteurs, l’économie en carburant en moyenne est de 7.5% et peut atteindre 12.9% et des réductions des dépassements de vitesse de 50% en moyenne et atteint près de 80% pour certains conducteurs
In the context where the automobile sector represents one of the major greenhouse gas emitters, significant efforts should be made to answer the demand for increasingly restricted emissions standards. The object of this thesis is to develop a fuel-efficient support tool which helps the driver to adopt more economical, ecological and safe driving. our approach differs from studies in the literature by the introduction of a strong coupling of fuel optimization and safety maintaining problems. As inputs of the system, we use the vehicle states such as the vehicle and engine speeds, the gear used, the road geometry and information related to safety (inter-vehicle speed, traffic conditions, legal speed limit...). Optimisation algorithms compute in real-time a speed and gear profile for fuel economy and improvement of safety.. The experimental results of this informative and suggestive system show that instructions, given by the system, are quite feasible by the driver. These tests also confirm the potential for fuel economy and the safety

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2019
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 53-54).
Aircraft manufacturing, construction, and agricultural production often involve workers maintaining uncomfortable postures, such as stooping and kneeling, for extended periods of time. We present a wearable robot, named MantisBot Alpha, that consists of two expandable robotic arms that brace a worker near the ground. It allows them to perform bi-manual tasks and assists them in standing up and kneeling down. The key component of this new design is a novel linkage mechanism that provides adjustment of both the worker's distance to the ground and the tilt of their torso. The mechanism link parameters are optimized such that a) its expansion rate is high enough, 1:2.43, to push off the human body from the ground and fully contract the scissor arm when not used, and b) it allows the worker to reach within a larger working space while c) it is light enough for wearability. The linkage mechanism avoids the singularity problem in standard scissor mechanisms. The mechanical design of the system ensures it is fail-safe. A prototype has been fabricated to demonstrate the feasibility of the system. Keywords: Human Augmentation, Supernumerary Robotic Limbs, Exoskeletons, Mechanism Design, Industrial Robotics
by Katie S. Hahm.
S.M.
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The main subject of this diploma thesis is elaboration of construction and technological preparation for the main structure of the Smart Light shop in Bratislava. For main structure has been processed time schedule of the construction, single item budget, machine configuration design, drawing of building site, coordination situation of the building with connection to the infrastructure, safety and health protection during work on building site. Part of the thesis is processing study of main construction technological parts. Diploma thesis in technological prescript focuses on implementation of floor structure with cast epoxy walking surface. There has been elaborated testing and quality plan of this technological part. Additional chapter approximates built-in technology – cooling ceiling structure. For elaboration of this diploma thesis were used programs AutoCAD, CONTEC, BuildPowerS, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word.

L'introduction de systèmes instrumentés dédiés aux applications de sécurité impose l'évaluation de leur sûreté de fonctionnement. On utilise généralement pour cela les bases de données de fiabilité génériques. Cependant, le retour d'expérience pour ces systèmes qui présentent en général des défaillances rares est insuffisant pour valider les résultats obtenus. En outre, la collecte de données de fiabilité et leur extrapolation à d'autres composants introduisent des incertitudes. Les travaux de cette thèse portent sur la problématique de la prise en compte des incertitudes relatives aux données de fiabilité des composants pour l'évaluation de la sûreté de fonctionnement des systèmes par le formalisme des sous ensembles flous. La méthodologie proposée est appliquée à l'évaluation des probabilités de défaillance des Systèmes Instrumentés de Sécurité (SIS) en présence de données de fiabilité imprécises. Nous introduisons deux nouveaux facteurs d'importance pour aider le concepteur. En outre, nous proposons une méthodologie d'aide à la conception des SIS basée sur la modélisation par réseaux de fiabilité et l'optimisation par des algorithmes génétiques de la structure des SIS pour le respect des niveaux d'intégrité de sécurité (SIL) exigés
The use of safety related systems imposes to evaluate their dependability. Laboratory data and generic data are often used to provide failure data of safety components to evaluate their dependability parameters. However, due to the lower solicitation of safety systems in plant, safety components have not been operating long enough to provide statistical valid failure data. Furthermore, measuring and collecting failure data have uncertainty associated with them, and borrowing data from laboratory and generic data sources involve uncertainty as well. Our contribution is to propose a fuzzy approach to evaluate dependability parameters of safety systems when there is an uncertainty about dependability parameters of systems components. This approach is applied to determine the failure probability on demand of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) in presence of uncertainty. Furthermore, we present an optimal design of SIS by using reliability graphs and genetic algorithms to identify the choice of components and design configuration in a SIS to meet the required SIL

The thesis is a project to newbuild a city community centre (house) with 2 above ground and one underground floor. The project is being processed in a stage for construction, with a focus on building and architectural design. Part of the thesis is building-physical and fire-fighting solutions.

This diploma thesis deals with construction and technological preperation of administrative, commercial and residential complex in Prague – Quadrio. The object consists of 6 seperate buildings connected to each other. There is combined underground under buildings, consists of four basements. The first and second underground, ground floor and the first floor are used for shopping mall. On the other floors, there are offices. The D-object is residential. In combined underground is a subway exit and its technology. There are also parking places for cars, supplying and technical facilities of the building. The construction and technological preperation consists of technical report, technological instruction, resolution of the building organization, time binding, occupational healthy and safety etc.

The subjekt of my bachelor thesis is the construction technological project of the new complex of three buildings Campus residential area II located in Brno - Bohunice. The diploma thesis includes technological regulations of piles and cast-in-place reinforced concrete floor. Technological regulations are supplemented by draft of the suitable machinery, equipment of construction site and inspectional and trial plans for these processes. The author also deals with work safety, time and financial plan, budget of substructure and plan for securing material resources. The thesis also addressed work contract and detailsof the roof structure.

Cette thèse porte sur la composition des services de données et l'étude de l'impact de l'incertitude qui peut être associée à leurs données accessibles sur le processus de composition et de sélection de service. En effet, dans un contexte tel que l'Internet, il est de plus en plus reconnu que les données et les services d'accès aux données sont sujettes à des valeurs d'incertitude tout en exigeant des techniques de gestion plus sophistiquées. Dans cette thèse, nous enrichissons la description sémantique des services Web afin de refléter l'incertitude, et nous proposons de nouveaux mécanismes et modèles pour la sélection et la composition des services. Nos mécanismes sont basés sur les ensembles flous et les théories probabilistes. Tout d'abord, nous étendons notre modélisation précédente basée sur les vues RDF afin d'inclure les contraintes floues qui caractérisent les données accédées par les services. Nous proposons une algèbre de composition qui permet de classer les résultats retournés en fonction de leur pertinence par rapport aux préférences de l'utilisateur. Notre algèbre proposée repose sur les fondations de bases de données floues. En outre, nous optons pour l'approche probabiliste pour modéliser l'incertitude des données renvoyées par les services incertains. Nous étendons la description du service Web standard pour représenter les probabilités de sortie. L'invocation des services est également étendue pour tenir compte de l'incertitude. Cette extension est basée sur la théorie des mondes possibles utilisée dans les bases de données probabiliste. Nous définissons un ensemble d'opérateurs de composition qui sont nécessaires pour orchestrer les services de données. Pour chaque composition, plusieurs plans d'orchestration peuvent être possibles mais qui sont pas tous corrects, donc, nous définissons un ensemble de conditions pour vérifier si le plan est correct (Safe) ou pas. Nous fournissons une implémentation de nos différentes techniques et les appliquer aux domaines de l'immobilier et du commerce électronique. Nous implémentons ces services et nous fournissons également une étude de la performance de notre prototype de composition
In this thesis we focus on the data web services composition problem and study the impact of the uncertainty that may be associated with the output of a service on the service selection and composition processes. This work is motivated by the increasing number of application domains where data web services may return uncertain data, including the e-commerce, scientific data exploration, open web data, etc. We call such services that return uncertain data as uncertain services. In this dissertation, we propose new models and techniques for the selection and the composition of uncertain data web services. Our techniques are based on well established fuzzy and probabilistic database theories and can handle the uncertainty efficiently. First, we proposed a composition model that takes into account the user preferences. In our model, user preferences are modelled as fuzzy constraints, and services are described with fuzzy constraints to better characterize their accessed data. The composition model features also a composition algebra that allows us to rank the returned results based on their relevance to user's preferences. Second, we proposed a probabilistic approach to model the uncertainty of the data returned by uncertain data services. Specifically, we extended the web service description standards (e.g., WSDL) to represent the outputs' probabilities. We also extended the service invocation process to take into account the uncertainty of input data. This extension is based on the possible worlds theory used in the probabilistic databases. We proposed also a set of probability-aware composition operators that are necessary to orchestrate uncertain data services. Since a composition may accept multiple orchestration plans and not all of them compute the correct probabilities of outputs, we defined a set of conditions to check if a plan is safe (i.e., computes the probabilities correctly) or not. We implemented our different techniques and applied them to the real-estate and e-commerce domains. We provide a performance study of our different composition techniques

The subject of this final thesis is the construction technological project of extension of the apartment block in Brno. The work contains a comprehensive technical and accompanying report, the proposal for the site facility, also resolves the broader relations of transport routes to the site facility, budget and time plan. In the technological regulations is included the implementation process of ceiling and floor constructions, these regulations also include the proposal of machine set, safety plan and inspection and test plan.

The diploma thesis solves the construction technology project of sports complex. The aim of the thesis is rational proposal of construction and resources. The thesis contains plant building site, technological instruction, budget, time schedule, control and trial plan, design and assessment of lifting mechanism and machinery used over construction, contract for work and safety report. Part of the thesis is specialization in sports surfaces.

The subject of this diploma thesis is the building construction project of Residence Dlouha in Olomouc. It is an apartment building with two to four floors and a basement with garages. The diploma thesis contains a time and finance schedule, a site equipment project and technological procedure of a cast-in-place reinforced concrete floor and a green roof including a quality control. Moreover, a set of machines, usage options of a tower crane or a mobile crane and usage options of a mobile pump or a concrete container have been processed for this building. During the building process it is cared about work safety and environment protection.

The subject of this thesis is the design and project documentation of a new multifunctional house in Strakonice. The building has four floors, without basement, and is located on a slightly sloping land in the suburban part of the town of Strakonice. It is based on shallow foundations and covered with a flat roof. It is a transverse wall structural system, build with clay block masonry, with the semi-assembled ceiling structures of ceramic and concrete beams and inserts. It is conceived as a double-aisle layout. The ground floor of each wing consists of the establishment of shops and house facilities. The overground floors are designed as six residential units of varying size category. Both tracts have separate entrances to both the residential portion and to individual businesses. The building is designed from traditional building materials. In addition to the architectural construction and civil-engineering design, a part of this project is also a fire safety design and an assessment from the perspective of building physics.

This diploma thesis deals with the constructional and technological project of reconstruction of building Rooseveltova in Brno. The basis for this work was the design documentation for the realization of this project. The technical reports provides all the basic information about the construction to this project. Demolition works and implementation of cast-in-place reinforced concrete floor are detailed processing in the technological regulations. Control and test plans, time and financial plans, drawings of building equipment, draft of machinery and plans of health and safety and fire prevention are also component of this project. Another annex of this thesis is budget and selected assembly details.

The aim of this diploma thesis is the construction and technological solution of the warehouse and administrative building in Černá za Bory. The diploma thesis contains technological procedures for assembly of reinforced concrete skeleton and realization of industrial floor. This work solves problems that could arise during the assembly of the skeleton and realization of industrial floor. The thesis contains a construction technology project, a study of the implementation of the main technological stages, the situation of the construction with broader relations of transport routes, the project of construction site equipment and the main design of machines and mechanisms. Furthermore, I created a variant solution of skeleton assembly including financial and time evaluation. Since the project documentation that was provided to me did not include any details for the skeleton placement, I decided to develop design details for the skeleton placement. Subsequently, I developed a plan for occupational safety and health. As a part of this work I made a comparison of industrial floors, both in terms of performance and economic. In order to find out the time demands, I prepared an exact timetable for the implementation of the main building. In order to ensure high safety and quality, I prepared a control and testing plan for the assembly of the skeleton and for the implementation of industrial flooring.

The task of this diploma’s thesis was processing construction-technology project to revitalization the mining towers because of its current worsened state and subsequent adjustments for cultural activities.

The final thesis is focused on construction of the main technological stages of the administrative building of the Vídeňská in Brno. The final thesis contains the object engineering report, technological study, technological report, design of construction machinery and their transport. It also includes control and test plan, detailed schedule, item budget, and device object design. Finally is a plan of safety measures on the building.

This diploma’s dissertation is on project of a new hotel building with three aboveground and one underground floors. This study starts at the building stage and focuses on the construction details and energy demands of the building. Also included is a fire safety solution for the new hotel building. The layout and architectural desing is according to the investor´s requirements, with respect to applicable laws, regulations, standards. Traditional materials are designed for the new building, taking into account the latest developments in the construction industry.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to process a building construction project for the apartment building “Za Pivovarem” in Lázně Bohdaneč. The building is designed as a four-floor object which has a flat roof, 24 apartments, 24 cellars, 10 garage stalls, 3 terraces that belong to the apartments on the 1st floor and enclosed balconies or balconies for the apartments in the above floors. The thesis focuses on the organization and preparation of the construction process. It contains a technological project for the cast-in-place reinforced concrete floors, which includes also drawings of formwork, a technical-economic balance sheet of the formwork costs and a calculation of the time for formwork removal, a technological project for anhydrite floors and inspection and test plans for both of the above mentioned building procedures, which are dealt with in a more detailed way. The implementation of other construction procedures is described in the preliminary design of implementation. Concerning the work safety, the plan of health and safety at work, focusing on work at heights and other dangers connected to work on the floor constructions, has been processed. Furthermore, there is a time and finance schedule for the whole construction, a construction site project, a set of main machines and mechanisms which includes a comparison of a mobile crane and a tower crane. In addition, broader transport relations have been assessed. The thesis also contains an instruction manual on the main object.

Thesis Theme is a primary school, namely the outbuilding primary school Havlíčkův Brod, Konečná 1884. I suggest first grade pavilion and pavilion with school canteen with kitchens. Pavilions are based on the footings. Pavilions are designed as a two-way system from the wall HELUZ. Construction of ceiling are from ferroconcrete slabs are cross reinforced, single-layer roof is flat with a classic sequence of layers. In addition to construction and process layout I solved also the statics of building in specialize of concrete structures. The following are also evaluated heat and acoustic requirements and requirements for fire safety of buildings. New pavilions are solved as wheelchair accessible. Pavilion of the first grade has two floors with 5 classes of stem, 1 vocational and 2 classes are earmarked for after-school clubs. This pavilion is connected to the connecting neck between the former pavilon A and pavilion B. Dining pavilion has one floor, which is divided in the school canteen and kitchen is connected to the connecting neck leading to the gym. The land is mildly sloping to the south side. All consstructions comply with the applicable standards and recommendations ČSN.

This master’s thesis relate to the preparation and organization of the production area’s construction of the SPEDUR company in Žďár nad Sázavou. The thesis contents technical report on the construction technological project, construction site, time plans, project of the equipment site, draft of the mechanisms, control and testing plan, environmental plan, risks of safety and health at work and calculation for this construction.

The subject of this final thesis is the building technological project of the library on the street of Kravi hora in the Brno. The final thesis includes a technical report, a coordination situation, a situation of the construction with wider relations with transport route links, a time schedule and financial plan of the construction, a site equipment project, a design of the main machines and mechanisms, a time schedule of the main building object, a supply plan and a plan for transport routes, a technological regulation for cast-in-place floor structure, a control and test plan, a health and safety plan at work on a construction site binding for a carcass, an itemized budget for carcass, a comparison of the solutions for realization of the cast-in-place floor structure and the technological regulation for technology of capture of rainwater for further use.

This thesis explores the various meanings and implications of transparency in architecture and in learning environments in particular. Architectural transparency, achieved through choice of materials and principles of formal composition, creates a diversity of relationships and can facilitate visual, conceptual, and functional clarity as well as offering simultaneous perception of different spaces. It offers a range of phenomenological qualities and so provides an opportunity to explore and complicate such dichotomies as translucency and opacity, openness and closure, and public space and private space. While celebrated throughout modern and contemporary architecture, transparency raises issues of privacy and safety even as it breaks down hierarchies and social boundaries. The research-based design of transparency in a school building necessitates careful planning to achieve a balance between the access to views, natural light, fresh air, and social interaction that transparency may bring and the continuing obligation to provide a safe, secure environment for schoolchildren.

Застосування борошна кокосового в технології кисломолочних напоїв із розробленням проекту цеху. Магістерська робота присвячена дослідженню технологічних показників напоїв кисломолочних з комбінованим складом з використанням кокосового борошна із розробленням проєкту цеху. Мета роботи – дослідження технологічних особливостей застосування рослинної сировини в технології напоїв кисломолочних, та вивчення технологічних характеристик рослинних інгредієнтів з метою стабілізації системи напою кисломолочного за рахунок використання натуральних компонентів, зокрема кокосового борошна. Обладнання, яке запропоновано для використання на підприємстві, сприятиме зменшенню втрат сировини, збереженню тривалості виробничого циклу, збереженню органолептичних показників готової продукції та забезпечує комплексну переробку сировини.
The master's thesis is devoted to the study of technological indicators of fermented milk drinks with a combined composition using coconut flour with the development of the project of the shop. The purpose of the work is to study the technological features of the use of vegetable raw materials in the technology of sour milk drinks, and to study the technological characteristics of plant ingredients in order to stabilize the sour milk drink system through the use of natural ingredients, including coconut flour. The equipment proposed for use at the enterprise will help reduce the loss of raw materials, preserve the duration of the production cycle, preserve the organoleptic characteristics of finished products and provide comprehensive processing of raw materials.
ВСТУП 1. ТЕХНОЛОГІЧНА ЧАСТИНА 1.1. Технологічні розрахунки виробництва запроєктованого асортименту 1.2. Вибір та обґрунтування технологічних процесів і режимів виробництва 1.3. Забезпечення технологічного процесу виробництва молочних продуктів запроектованого асортименту 1.3.1. Підбір технологічного обладнання 1.3.2. Розрахунок площ виробничих і допоміжних приміщень. 2. НАУКОВО-ДОСЛІДНА ЧАСТИНА 2.1. Аналітичний огляд літературних джерел 2.2. Мета, об’єкт, предмет та методи дослідження 2.3. Результати власних досліджень та їх обговорення 2.4. Техніко-економічні розрахунки 3. ОХОРОНА ПРАЦІ ТА БЕЗПЕКА В НАДЗВИЧАЙНИХ СИТУАЦІЯХ 3.1. Охорона праці 3.2. Безпека в надзвичайних ситуаціях ВИСНОВКИ СПИСОК ВИКОРИСТАНИХ ЛІТЕРАТУРНИХ ДЖЕРЕЛ Додатки

碩士
清雲科技大學
機械工程研究所
94
The twenty-first century is the century of the aged. Since 1996, Taiwan has met the criteria of an old age society set by the United Nations. In order to make the aged people get on the bus easily, some auto manufacturers have developed actively the new type of chassis structure of the bus. In Taiwan, the standard of the security of the bus structure has not been completely set up yet; hence how to design a convenient and safe system of the bus to become an important subject. This research here by uses the concept of easily getting on the bus for the person who is handicapped to design a new chassis structure of low-floor bus. Also used in the research is the technique of Finite Element to simulate the mechanics behavior this chassis, and to analyze the safety of the structure. With the results of the numerical solutions, we can understand the key point of designing the safety chassis structure of low-floor bus, and provide the Manufacturer with establishment of the present design, assemblage and welding for the reference of related technique.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
土木工程學研究所
99
Because of the special geographical location in Taiwan, the earthquake occurred frequently, and some of serious cases like Chi-Chi Earthquake caused school buildings to suffer severe damage or collapse. In depth study for the reasons of damage, the classes were connected to the style of a long row which made the walls were too few to resist the lateral force. Otherwise, the column detailing often used non-ductile reinforced design. They all led the first floor of short columns to fail in shear failure along long row direction under earthquake. Due to aforemetioned reason, the Ministry of Education commissioned National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE) to propose a procedure for enhancing the seismic capacities of school buildings. From 2009 to 2011 April, it had been uploaded by structural engineers to complete 4518 cases of seismic detailed assessment for school buildings. Therefore, this research organized a large amount of accurate analysis in the database, screening the resembling of structural materials, system type for the RC school buildings, then finding their linear correlation by statistical regression between seismic performance and the vertical structural member’s amounts by defined column-to-floor ratio as the ratio of the total area of column at first floor to the total floor area above first floor. Besides, this research also considered the other influences of seismic capacity. For the brick wall contained structures, its amount can be transferred to the columns under the same shear strength, and then used this relationship to discuss with the seismic performance of school buildings. Finally the main results obtained in this research gave a rapid preliminary assessment formula of seismic capacity for the RC schools buildings, furthermore recommended the column-to-floor ratio for seismic safety in each region of Taiwan, and verified with recent research.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1987.
Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (303-310).

A model for estimating the time-dependent reliability of steel beams under real fire conditions has been developed. It gives a more rational basis than time of failure modelling does for design. From risk modelling, some small resistance time from the probabilistic distribution times of failure can be deduced, which gives an acceptably small risk of failure. Time of failure modelling by itself can only give the mean time failure which could lead to excessive risk if the variability of time of failure is large. The model comprises submodels for fire severity, heat transfer, mechanical properties, loads, structural analysis and reliability. Simple submodels have been adopted commensurate with the level of accuracy of other models in fire safety engineering. The submodel for real fire severity is Lie's. Heat transfer submodels have been adopted for three and four sided exposure and have been taken from work by the European Regional Organisation for Steel Construction and the French Technical Centre for Steel Construction. Three sided arises when the beam supports a concrete slab. The mechanical properties submodel was derived from an empirical fit to available test data. It gave better results than the current model in AS4100. It is appropriate for the model but is too complex for replacing the model in AS4100. The structural model four sided exposure was developed from simple plastic theory. For three sided exposure, discrete element analysis was adopted. The load submodels were lognormal for dead load and Weibull arbitrary point in time values for live load. The Monte Carlo method was adopted for the reliability submodel. The overall model was used to obtain the following sensitivities. An increase of lOkg.m-2 in fire load density can increase the risk of failure by 40%. In relation to the sensitivity of risk to ventilation, a reduction of the opening factor from 0.12 to 0.04 m0.5 increases the risk of failure approximately 200 times. Doubling the insulation thickness reduces the risk of failure by a factor ten. Increasing the live load has less effect on the risk of failure than increasing the dead load. If the load present predominantly live load, there is much less risk of failure than if the load is predominantly live load. Four sided exposure has ten times the risk of failure compared with three sided exposure. Accepting larger proof strains reduces the risk of failure; for example, increasing proof strain from 0.2% to 1% reduces the risk of failure by 50%.

Caregivers injure their backs more than workers in any other industry. Efforts to reduce injuries have been on-going for decades with limited results. Mechanical lift devices have been incorporated into clinical practice over the past 30 years to reduce the risk of injury from patient lifting. Yet injury rates remain high. The use of mechanical lifts may be partly to blame. While these devices assist with lifting patients, they also introduce new activities that result in caregivers experiencing unsafe loading on the spine. We measured loads on the lower back during manoeuvres of the two most common lift types (overhead and floor) as well as during sling insertion. A new device called SlingSerterTM was evaluated for use in the clinical environment. We also investigated spine shrinkage as a measurement tool for estimating cumulative load. Caregivers worked alone and in pairs for both lift maneuvering and sling insertion activities. Overhead lift use resulted in much lower loads than floor lift use. We conclude caregivers can safely operate overhead lifts alone, while floor lift use remained unsafe even with two caregivers. Less-experienced caregivers had higher loads than more-experienced counterparts when using floor lifts. There was no corresponding effect of experience with overhead lift use and we found this to be a further benefit of overhead lifts over floor lifts. Most caregivers exceeded the safe limit for spine compression during sling insertion, though a single caregiver was at no higher risk of injury than two caregivers working together. Clinicians who tested SlingSerterTM agreed the device would be useful in clinical practice, particularly with bariatric patients and other special patient populations that are difficult to roll or turn. Finally, we investigated a novel method for estimating cumulative load based on spine shrinkage. There is growing recognition that excess cumulative load may be responsible for back injury. We found the variability in spine shrinkage was too large to estimate cumulative load directly. However, the technique may still be useful for determining the relative importance of the load from different activities to the cumulative total.