Simplified numerical models of LiteSteel Beam floor joists with Web openings for the prediction of section moment capacities

This paper is aimed at investigating the effect of web openings on the plastic bending behaviour and section moment capacity of a new cold-formed steel beam known as LiteSteel beam (LSB) using numerical modelling. Different LSB sections with varying circular hole diameter and spacing were considered. A simplified but appropriate numerical modelling technique was developed for the modelling of monosymmetric sections such as LSBs subject to bending, and was used to simulate a series of section moment capacity tests of LSB flexural members with web openings. The buckling and ultimate strength behaviour was investigated in detail and the modeling technique was further improved through a comparison of numerical and experimental results. This paper describes the simplified finite element modeling technique used in this study that includes all the significant behavioural effects affecting the plastic bending behaviour and section moment capacity of LSB sections with web holes. Numerical and test results and associated findings are also presented.

Introducing a Business Process and Software Centric Approach for Enterprise System Teaching

To meet new challenges of Enterprise Systems that essentially go beyond the initial implementation, contemporary organizations seek employees with business process experts with software skills. Despite a healthy demand from the industry for such expertise, recent studies reveal that most Information Systems (IS) graduates are ill-equipped to meet the challenges of modern organizations. This paper shares insights and experiences from a course that is designed to provide a business process centric view of a market leading Enterprise System. The course, designed for both undergraduate and graduate students, uses two common business processes in a case study that employs both sequential and explorative exercises. Student feedback gained through two longitudinal surveys across two phases of the course demonstrates promising signs of the teaching approach.

Development of lifetime warranty policies and models for estimating costs

In today's fiercely competitive products market, product warranty has started playing an important role. The warranty period offered by the manufacturer/dealer has been progressively increasing since the beginning of the 20th Century. Currently, a large number of products are being sold with long-term warranty policies in the form of extended warranty, warranty for used products, service contracts and lifetime warranty policies. Lifetime warranties are relatively a new concept. The modelling of failures during the warranty period and the costs for such policies are complex since the lifespan in these policies are not defined well and it is often difficult to tell about life measures for the longer period of coverage due to usage pattern/maintenance activities undertaken and uncertainties of costs over the period. This paper focuses on defining lifetime, developing lifetime warranty policies and models for predicting failures and estimating costs for lifetime warranty policies.

Will they know enough? Pre-service primary teachers' knowledge base for teaching intergrated social sciences

A significant issue in primary teacher education is developing a knowledge base which prepares teachers to teach in a range of subject areas. In Australia, the problem in primary social science education is compounded by the integrated nature of the key learning area of Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE). Recent debates on teaching integrated social sciences omit discussions on the knowledge base for teaching. In this paper, a case study approach is used to investigate primary pre-service teachers’ approaches to developing a knowledge base in designing a SOSE curriculum unit. Data from five teacher-educators who taught primary SOSE curriculum indicates that novice teachers’ subject content knowledge, as revealed through their curriculum planning, lacked a disciplinary basis. However, understanding of inquiry learning, which is fundamental to social science education, was much stronger. This paper identifies a gap in the scholarship on teaching integrated social science and illustrates the need to support and develop primary teachers’ disciplinary knowledge in teacher education.

From conceptual process models to running systems: A holistic approach for the configuration of enterprise system processes

This paper proposes a method which aims at increasing the efficiency of enterprise system implementations. First, we argue that existing process modeling languages that feature different degrees of abstraction for different user groups exist and are used for different purposes which makes it necessary to integrate them. We describe how to do this using the meta models of the involved languages. Second, we argue that an integrated process model based on the integrated meta model needs to be configurable and elaborate on the enabling mechanisms. We introduce a business example using SAP modeling techniques to illustrate the proposed method.

An adaptable framework for the teaching and assessment of software development across year levels

Few frameworks exist for the teaching and assessment of programming subjects that are coherent and logical. Nor are they sufficiently generic and adaptable to be used outside the particular tertiary institutions in which they were developed. This paper presents the Teaching and Assessment of Software Development (TASD) frame-work. We describe its development and implementation at an Australian university and demonstrate, with examples, how it has been used, with supporting data. Extracts of criteria sheets (grading rubrics) for a variety of assessment tasks are included. The numerous advantages of this new framework are discussed with comparisons made to those reported in the published literature.

Role of 3D visual conceptualisation of groundwater system models as a management support tool

After the recent prolonged drought conditions in many parts of Australia it is increasingly recognised that many groundwater systems are under stress. Although this is obvious for systems that are utilised for intensive irrigation many other groundwater systems are also impacted.Management strategies are highly variable to non-existent. Policy and regulation are also often inadequate, and are reactive or politically driven. In addition, there is a wide range of opinion by water users and other stakeholders as to what is “reasonable”management practice. These differences are often related to the “value”that is put on the groundwater resource. Opinions vary from “our right to free water”to an awareness that without effective management the resource will be degraded. There is also often misunderstanding of surface water-groundwater linkages, recharge processes, and baseflow to drainage systems.