Study on Customer Perceived Value of Container Loading Equipment

The goal of the thesis was to gain understanding of organizational buying behavior and its effect from the selling perspective and to generate base for verifying customer value propositions for Actiw Oy. The first objective was to discover the current buying decision criteria of current customers to understand the buying motives which had led to the investment initially. Second objective was to understand how the buying decision criteria and customer experiences can be turned into customer value propositions. Research was done with 16 customer interviews, which were focused on obtaining the information on the buying center and the value of the solution. Thesis goes through the main theories of OBB and the theory behind customer value management. Based on customer interviews, the currently used customer value propositions were tested and categorized into points-of-parities and points-ofdifferences. The interviews confirmed customer behavior in new task and modified rebuy situations and also gave confirmation to the internally done customer value propositions. Main finding of the study was, that as the value propositions are possible to present more specifically to each new case instead of using all benefits at the same time.

Yam (Discorea sp) drying with different cuts and temperatures: experimental and simulated results

The yam (Discorea sp) is a tuber rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral salts, besides several components that serve as raw material for medicines. It grows well in tropical and subtropical climates and develops well in zones with an annual pluvial precipitation of around 1300mm, and with cultural treatments, its productivity can exceed 30t/ha. When harvested, the tubers possess about 70% of moisture, and are merchandised "in natura", in the atmospheric temperature, which can cause its fast deterioration. The present work studied the drying of the yam in the form of slices of 1.0 and 2.5cm thickness, as well as in the form of fillets with 1.0 x 1.0 x 5.0cm, with the drying air varying from 40 to 70°C. The equating of the process was accomplished, allowing to simulate the drying as a function of the conditions of the drying air and of the initial and final moisture of the product. Also investigated was the expense of energy as function of the air temperature. The drying in the form of fillets, with the air in a temperature range between 45 and 50°C, was shown to be the most viable process when combining both the quality of the product and the expense of energy.

Use of simulated annealing in standardization and optimization of the acerola wine production

In this study, seven wine samples were prepared varying the amount of pulp of acerola fruits and the sugar content using the simulated annealing technique to obtain the optimal sensory qualities and cost for the wine produced. S. cerevisiae yeast was used in the fermentation process and the sensory attributes were evaluated using a hedonic scale. Acerola wines were classified as sweet, with 11°GL of alcohol concentration and with aroma, taste, and color characteristics of the acerola fruit. The simulated annealing experiments showed that the best conditions were found at mass ratio between 1/7.5-1/6 and total soluble solids between 28.6-29.0 °Brix, from which the sensory acceptance scores of 6.9, 6.8, and 8.8 were obtained for color, aroma, and flavor, respectively, with a production cost 43-45% lower than the cost of traditional wines commercialized in Brazil.

Chassis frame design of a mobile platform equipped with robotic arms

The overall objective of the thesis is to design a robot chassis frame which is a bearing structure of a vehicle supporting all mechanical components and providing structure and stability. Various techniques and scientific principles were used to design a chassis frame.Design principles were applied throughout the process. By using Solid-Works software,virtual models was made for chassis frame. Chassis frame of overall dimension 1597* 800*950 mm3 was designed. Center of mass lieson 1/3 of the length from front wheel at height 338mm in the symmetry plane. Overall weight of the chassis frame is 80.12kg. Manufacturing drawing is also provided. Additionally,structural analysis was done in FEMAP which gives the busting result for chassis design by taking into consideration stress and deflection on different kind of loading resembling real life case. On the basis of simulated result, selected material was verified. Resulting design is expected to perform its intended function without failure. As a suggestion for further research, additional fatigue analysis and proper dynamic analysis can be conducted to make the study more robust.

Effect of loading type on the fatigue strength of symmetric and asymmetric welded joints made of ultra high strength steel

In this study, finite element analyses and experimental tests are carried out in order to investigate the effect of loading type and symmetry on the fatigue strength of three different non-load carrying welded joints. The current codes and recommendations do not give explicit instructions how to consider degree of bending in loading and the effect of symmetry in the fatigue assessment of welded joints. The fatigue assessment is done by using effective notch stress method and linear elastic fracture mechanics. Transverse attachment and cover plate joints are analyzed by using 2D plane strain element models in FEMAP/NxNastran and Franc2D software and longitudinal gusset case is analyzed by using solid element models in Abaqus and Abaqus/XFEM software. By means of the evaluated effective notch stress range and stress intensity factor range, the nominal fatigue strength is assessed. Experimental tests consist of the fatigue tests of transverse attachment joints with total amount of 12 specimens. In the tests, the effect of both loading type and symmetry on the fatigue strength is studied. Finite element analyses showed that the fatigue strength of asymmetric joint is higher in tensile loading and the fatigue strength of symmetric joint is higher in bending loading in terms of nominal and hot spot stress methods. Linear elastic fracture mechanics indicated that bending reduces stress intensity factors when the crack size is relatively large since the normal stress decreases at the crack tip due to the stress gradient. Under tensile loading, experimental tests corresponded with finite element analyzes. Still, the fatigue tested joints subjected to bending showed the bending increased the fatigue strength of non-load carrying welded joints and the fatigue test results did not fully agree with the fatigue assessment. According to the results, it can be concluded that in tensile loading, the symmetry of joint distinctly affects on the fatigue strength. The fatigue life assessment of bending loaded joints is challenging since it depends on whether the crack initiation or propagation is predominant.

Estimating Nonlinear DSGE Models by the Simulated Method of Moments

This paper studies the application of the simulated method of moments (SMM) for the estimation of nonlinear dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. Monte Carlo analysis is employed to examine the small-sample properties of SMM in specifications with different curvature. Results show that SMM is computationally efficient and delivers accurate estimates, even when the simulated series are relatively short. However, asymptotic standard errors tend to overstate the actual variability of the estimates and, consequently, statistical inference is conservative. A simple strategy to incorporate priors in a method of moments context is proposed. An empirical application to the macroeconomic effects of rare events indicates that negatively skewed productivity shocks induce agents to accumulate additional capital and can endogenously generate asymmetric business cycles.

New Simulated Corrugated Scaltering Surface Giving Widebandcharacter I Sti Cs

Simultaneous elimination of specular reflection and backscattered power from a plane metallic surface by simulated corrugated surfaces of constant period and variable strip width for TM polarisation is reported. This new configuration offers almost a ten-fold frequency bandwidth compared with a regularly spaced strip grating of the same size.

Effect of curing temperature , fibre loading and bonding agent on the equilibrium swelling of isora-natural rubbercomposites

Isora fibre-reinforced natural rubber (NR) composites were cured at 80, 100, 120 and 150°C using a low temperature curing accelerator system. Composites were also prepared using a conventional accelerator system and cured at 150°C. The swelling behavior of these composites at varying fibre loadings was studied in toluene and hexane. Results show that the uptake of solvent and volume fraction of rubber due to swelling was lower for the low temperature cured vulcanizates which is an indication of the better fibre/rubber adhesion. The uptake of aromatic solvent was higher than that of aliphatic solvent, for all the composites. As the fibre content increased, the solvent uptake decreased, due to the superior solvent resistance of the fibre and good fibre-rubber interactions. The bonding agent improved the swelling resistance of the composites due to the strong interfacial adhesion. Due to the improved adhesion between the fibre and rubber, the ratio of the change in volume fraction of rubber due to swelling to the volume fraction of rubber in the dry sample (V,) was found to decrease in the presence of bonding agent. At a fixed fibre loading, the alkali treated fibre composite showed a lower percentage swelling than untreated one for both systems showing superior rubber-fibre interactions.

Mechanical Properties of Short-Isora-Fiber-Reinforced Natural Rubber Composites: Effects of Fiber Length, Orientation, and Loading; Alkali Treatment;and Bonding Agent

A series of short-isora-fiber-reinforced natural rubber composites were prepared by the incorporation of fibers of different lengths (6, 10, and 14 mm) at 15 phr loading and at different concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 40 phr) with a 10 mm fiber length. Mixes were also prepared with 10 mm long fibers treated with a 5% NaOH solution. The vulcanization parameters, processability, and stress-strain properties of these composites were analyzed. Properties such as tensile strength, tear strength, and tensile modulus were found to be at maximum for composites containing longitudinally oriented fibers 10 mm in length. Mixes containing fiber loadings of 30 phr with bonding agent (resorcinol-formaldehyde [RF] resin) showed mechanical properties superior to all other composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies were carried out to investigate the fiber surface morphology, fiber pullout, and fiber-rubber interface. SEM studies showed that the bonding between the fiber and rubber was improved with treated fibers and with the use of bonding agent.

Aircraft down-range profiles formed from simulated and compact-range radar backscatter

Compact-range radar backscatter measurements are taken of aircraft scale models. In addition, computer software is used to predict the RCS of the aircraft. Synthetic down-range profiles formed from the two sources of backscatter data are compared and visualized in an innovative manner. Similar discrimination rates between the two aircraft are obtained on data from both source

Loading dependence similarities on the cure time and mechanical properties of rubber ferrite composites containing nickel zinc ferrite

Composite magnetic materials have the unique advantage of property modification for tailoring devices for various applications. Rubber ferrite composites (RFCs) prepared by incorporating ferrites in rubber matrixes have the advantage of easy mouldability and flexibility. RFCs containing various loadings of nickel zinc ferrite (NZF) (Ni1 xZnxFe2O4) in a natural rubber matrix have been prepared. The cure characteristics and the mechanical properties of these composites were evaluated. The effect of loading on the cure characteristics and tensile properties were also evaluated. It is found that the loading dependence on the cure time and mechanical properties exhibit an identical pattern.

Development of a new type of simulated scalar feed

This thesis presents the results of an investigation conducted for the development of a new type of feed horn antenna called "Simulated Scalar Feed". A schematic presentation of the work is given below. A review of the past important work done in the field of conventional/multimode electromagnetic horn antennas is presented in the first part of the second chapter. The work carried out on corrugated horns and surfaces are included in the second part of the review. In the third part, work on dielectric and dielectric loaded metal horns are reviewed. In all the parts of the review, special emphasis is given to theoretical design considerations. The methodology adopted for the experimental investigations is presented in the third chapter. The instrumentation utilized and thThis thesis presents the results of an investigation conducted for the development of a new type of feed horn antenna called "Simulated Scalar Feed". A schematic presentation of the work is given below. A review of the past important work done in the field of conventional/multimode electromagnetic horn antennas is presented in the first part of the second chapter. The work carried out on corrugated horns and surfaces are included in the second part of the review. In the third part, work on dielectric and dielectric loaded metal horns are reviewed. In all the parts of the review, special emphasis is given to theoretical design considerations. The methodology adopted for the experimental investigations is presented in the third chapter. The instrumentation utilized and the details of fabrication ofe details of fabrication of the new simulated scalar feed are described. The method of measurements of radiation characteristics of the antenna are also explained in this chapter. In the fourth chapter the outcome of the experimental results of the investigations carried out on horn antennas fabricated with different physical dimensions and different parameters for the E—plane boundary walls are highlighted. The theoretical explanation used to explain the experimental results is given in the fifth chapter of the thesis. A comparison between the experimental and the theoretical results is also presented in this chapter. In chapter six, the conclusions drawn from the experimental as well as the theoretical investigations are discussed. The advantages and features of the newly developed simulated scalar feed is examined in this chapter. Scope of further investigations in this field is also discussed at the end of this chapter.

Comparative efficacy of MS-222 and benzocaine as anaesthetics under simulated transport conditions of a tropical ornamental fish Puntius filamentosus(Valenciennes)

There is a growing commercial interest in the ¢sh, Puntius ¢lamentosus, in the ornamental ¢sh trade in India and elsewhere.The trade is, however, hampered by severe mortalities during transport of the ¢sh owing to insu⁄cient data available on the use of anaesthetics. To resolve this problem, we evaluated the e⁄cacy of two anaesthetics, MS-222 and benzocaine, in sedating P. ¢lamentosus in simulated transportation experiments and used stress response parameters such as cortisol and blood glucose levels to perform assessments. We observed that MS-222 at 40 mg L 1 and benzocaine at 20mg L 1 were su⁄- cient to induce sedation for 48 h. Above these concentrations, both the anaesthetics adversely a¡ected the ¢sh and resulted inmortalities. Both anaesthetics signi¢cantly lowered the blood cortisol and glucose levels compared with the unsedated controls. Importantly, the anaesthetics treatment signi¢cantly lowered the post-transport mortality in the ¢sh. The results of the study show that MS-222 and benzocaine could be used as sedatives to alleviate transport- related stress in P. ¢lamentosus to improve their post-transport survival and hence reduce economic loss.

Studies on Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Removal of Acetamiprid from Wastewater

Pollution of water with pesticides has become a threat to the man, material and environment. The pesticides released to the environment reach the water bodies through run off. Industrial wastewater from pesticide manufacturing industries contains pesticides at higher concentration and hence a major source of water pollution. Pesticides create a lot of health and environmental hazards which include diseases like cancer, liver and kidney disorders, reproductive disorders, fatal death, birth defects etc. Conventional wastewater treatment plants based on biological treatment are not efficient to remove these compounds to the desired level. Most of the pesticides are phyto-toxic i.e., they kill the microorganism responsible for the degradation and are recalcitrant in nature. Advanced oxidation process (AOP) is a class of oxidation techniques where hydroxyl radicals are employed for oxidation of pollutants. AOPs have the ability to totally mineralise the organic pollutants to CO2 and water. Different methods are employed for the generation of hydroxyl radicals in AOP systems. Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide widely used to control sucking type insects on crops such as leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, pome fruits, grapes, cotton, ornamental flowers. It is now recommended as a substitute for organophosphorous pesticides. Since its use is increasing, its presence is increasingly found in the environment. It has high water solubility and is not easily biodegradable. It has the potential to pollute surface and ground waters. Here, the use of AOPs for the removal of acetamiprid from wastewater has been investigated. Five methods were selected for the study based on literature survey and preliminary experiments conducted. Fenton process, UV treatment, UV/ H2O2 process, photo-Fenton and photocatalysis using TiO2 were selected for study. Undoped TiO2 and TiO2 doped with Cu and Fe were prepared by sol-gel method. Characterisation of the prepared catalysts was done by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Influence of major operating parameters on the removal of acetamiprid has been investigated. All the experiments were designed using central compoiste design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Model equations were developed for Fenton, UV/ H2O2, photo-Fenton and photocatalysis for predicting acetamiprid removal and total organic carbon (TOC) removal for different operating conditions. Quality of the models were analysed by statistical methods. Experimental validations were also done to confirm the quality of the models. Optimum conditions obtained by experiment were verified with that obtained using response optimiser. Fenton Process is the simplest and oldest AOP where hydrogen peroxide and iron are employed for the generation of hydroxyl radicals. Influence of H2O2 and Fe2+ on the acetamiprid removal and TOC removal by Fenton process were investigated and it was found that removal increases with increase in H2O2 and Fe2+ concentration. At an initial concentration of 50 mg/L acetamiprid, 200 mg/L H2O2 and 20 mg/L Fe2+ at pH 3 was found to be optimum for acetamiprid removal. For UV treatment effect of pH was studied and it was found that pH has not much effect on the removal rate. Addition of H2O2 to UV process increased the removal rate because of the hydroxyl radical formation due to photolyis of H2O2. An H2O2 concentration of 110 mg/L at pH 6 was found to be optimum for acetamiprid removal. With photo-Fenton drastic reduction in the treatment time was observed with 10 times reduction in the amount of reagents required. H2O2 concentration of 20 mg/L and Fe2+ concentration of 2 mg/L was found to be optimum at pH 3. With TiO2 photocatalysis improvement in the removal rate was noticed compared to UV treatment. Effect of Cu and Fe doping on the photocatalytic activity under UV light was studied and it was observed that Cu doping enhanced the removal rate slightly while Fe doping has decreased the removal rate. Maximum acetamiprid removal was observed for an optimum catalyst loading of 1000 mg/L and Cu concentration of 1 wt%. It was noticed that mineralisation efficiency of the processes is low compared to acetamiprid removal efficiency. This may be due to the presence of stable intermediate compounds formed during degradation Kinetic studies were conducted for all the treatment processes and it was found that all processes follow pseudo-first order kinetics. Kinetic constants were found out from the experimental data for all the processes and half lives were calculated. The rate of reaction was in the order, photo- Fenton>UV/ H2O2>Fenton> TiO2 photocatalysis>UV. Operating cost was calculated for the processes and it was found that photo-Fenton removes the acetamiprid at lowest operating cost in lesser time. A kinetic model was developed for photo-Fenton process using the elementary reaction data and mass balance equations for the species involved in the process. Variation of acetamiprid concentration with time for different H2O2 and Fe2+ concentration at pH 3 can be found out using this model. The model was validated by comparing the simulated concentration profiles with that obtained from experiments. This study established the viability of the selected AOPs for the removal of acetamiprid from wastewater. Of the studied AOPs photo- Fenton gives the highest removal efficiency with lowest operating cost within shortest time.

Ein Beitrag zur realitätsnahen Modellierung und Analyse von stahlfaserverstärkten Stahlbeton- und Stahlbetonflächentragwerken

Das Werkstoffverhalten von stahlfaserfreiem bzw. stahlfaserverstärktem Stahlbeton unter biaxialle Druck- Zugbeanspruchung wurde experimentell und theoretisch untersucht. Die Basis der experimentellen Untersuchungen waren zahlreiche Versuche, die in der Vergangenheit an faserfreiem Stahlbetonscheiben zur Bestimmung des Werkstoffverhaltens von gerissenem Stahlbeton im ebenen Spannungszustand durchgeführt wurden. Bei diesen Untersuchungen wurde festgestellt, dass infolge einer Querzugbeanspruchung eine Abminderung der biaxialen Druckfestigkeit entsteht. Unter Berücksichtigung dieser Erkenntnisse sind zur Verbesserung der Werkstoffeigenschaften des Betons, Stahlbetonscheiben aus stahlfaserverstärktem Beton hergestellt worden. Die aus der Literatur bekannten Werkstoffmodelle für Beton sowie Stahlbeton, im ungerissenen und gerissenen Zustand wurden hinsichtlich der in der Vergangenheit ermittelten Materialeigenschaften des Betons bzw. Stahlbetons unter proportionalen sowie nichtproportionalen äußeren Belastungen erklärt und kritisch untersucht. In den frischen Beton wurden Stahlfasern hinzugegeben. Dadurch konnte die Festigkeits- und die Materialsteifigkeitsabminderung infolge Rissbildung, die zur Schädigung des Verbundwerkstoffs Beton führt, reduziert werden. Man konnte sehen, dass der Druckfestigkeitsabminderungsfaktor und insbesondere die zur maximal aufnehmbaren Zylinderdruckfestigkeit gehörende Stauchung, durch Zugabe von Stahlfasern besser begrenzt wird. Die experimentelle Untersuchungen wurden an sechs faserfreien und sieben stahlfaserverstärkten Stahlbetonscheiben unter Druck-Zugbelastung zur Bestimmung des Verhaltens des gerissenen faserfreien und stahlfaserverstärkten Stahlbetons durchgeführt. Die aus eigenen Versuchen ermittelten Materialeigenschaften des Betons, des stahlfaserverstärkten Betons und Stahlbetons im gerissenen Zustand wurden dargelegt und diskutiert. Bei der Rissbildung des quasi- spröden Werkstoffs Beton und dem stahlfaserverstärkten Beton wurde neben dem plastischen Fließen, auch die Abnahme des Elastizitätsmoduls festgestellt. Die Abminderung der aufnehmbaren Festigkeit und der zugehörigen Verzerrung lässt sich nicht mit der klassischen Fließtheorie der Plastizität ohne Modifizierung des Verfestigungsgesetzes erfassen. Es wurden auf elasto-plastischen Werkstoffmodellen basierende konstitutive Beziehungen für den faserfreien sowie den stahlfaserverstärkten Beton vorgeschlagen. Darüber hinaus wurde in der vorliegenden Arbeit eine auf dem elasto-plastischen Werkstoffmodell basierende konstitutive Beziehung für Beton und den stahlfaser-verstärkten Beton im gerissenen Zustand formuliert. Die formulierten Werkstoffmodelle wurden mittels dem in einer modularen Form aufgebauten nichtlinearen Finite Elemente Programm DIANA zu numerischen Untersuchungen an ausgewählten experimentell untersuchten Flächentragwerken, wie scheibenartigen-, plattenartigen- und Schalentragwerken aus faserfreiem sowie stahlfaserverstärktem Beton verwendet. Das entwickelte elasto-plastische Modell ermöglichte durch eine modifizierte effektive Spannungs-Verzerrungs-Beziehung für das Verfestigungsmodell, nicht nur die Erfassung des plastischen Fließens sondern auch die Berücksichtigung der Schädigung der Elastizitätsmodule infolge Mikrorissen sowie Makrorissen im Hauptzugspannungs-Hauptdruckspannungs-Bereich. Es wurde bei den numerischen Untersuchungen zur Ermittlung des Last-Verformungsverhaltens von scheibenartigen, plattenartigen- und Schalentragwerken aus faserfreiem und stahlfaserverstärktem Stahlbeton, im Vergleich mit den aus Versuchen ermittelten Ergebnissen, eine gute Übereinstimmung festgestellt.