The paper presents the modelling measurement results of the load-displacement relation for scaffold stands and bracings. In the case of stands, there are two sections of curves, i.e. a straight-line and curvilinear section, and in the case of bracings, two straight line sections as well as one curvilinear section are distinguished. As a result of analyses, it is concluded that the sections which can be approximated by means of linear functions should be distinguished in graphs, if possible. On the one hand, this results from the evaluation methods of scaffold components. Nevertheless, the determination of elastic-linear scope of components’ operation is useful in engineering practice during computer calculations. Moreover, the method of determining an intersection point between functions, approximating tests results, along with analysis of the impact of polynomial degree, approximating the research results, on the time and effectiveness of the process of approximating functions selection, are all demonstrated in this article. The proposed method can prove useful in all science fields where curves obtained from any research (laboratory test, in situ test, numerical analysis) require approximation or replacement with a simpler description.

Functional properties of some electrical devices are expressed in the form of a dependence between parameters defining a given aspect of device duty or work circumstance (e.g. breakdown voltage): contacts distance for a circuit breaker, current (voltage for voltage limiters or reaction time), and load current for over current protection. Such characteristics are obtained experimentally, usually in a set of test series, each performed with a fixed independent parameter. Results of each series generate sets of data for estimation of statistical properties of a dependent parameter: distribution, expected value, variance and confidence interval. These statistics concern one point of the tested characteristic, so to get data of it as a whole, that would satisfy the needs for designing an electrical system, a large number of tests can be necessary. The way to reduce the number of tests may consists in: defining the characteristic not as a series of points, but as an analytical function with some specific parameters. This can be combined with aggregation of results of all tests in one set of data for estimation of statistical properties of the mentioned parameter. This paper presents an application of the above approach to tests of time-current characteristics of fuses.