The paper presents test results for the assessment of the tracer content in a three-component (green peas, sorghum, maize) feed mixture that is based on the fluorescent method. The homogeneity of mixtures was determined on the basis of the maize content (as the key component), which was treated with fluorescent substance: tinopal, rhodamine B, uranine and eosin. The key components were wet-treated with fluorescent substances with different concentrations. Feed components were mixed in a vertical funnel-flow mixer. 10 samples were collected from each mixed batch. Samples were placed in a chamber equipped with UV light and, then, an image recorded as BMP file was generated. The image was analysed by means of the software programme Patan. On the basis of the analyses conducted, data on the maize content marked with a fluorescent marker were obtained. Additionally, the content of the key component was determined in a conventional manner – using an analytical scale. Results indicate the possibility of using this method for homogeneity assessment of the three-component grain mixture. From these tests, fluorescent substances that can be applied in the case of maize as a key component, together with their minimum concentrations, were identified: tinopal 0.3%, rhodamine B 0.001%.

The development of the crystallographic texture in copper subjected to severe plastic deformation (SPD) by means of high pressure torsion (HPT) and equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) was experimentally investigated and analyzed by means of computer modelling. It was demonstrated, that the texture developed in HPT and ECAP Cu is characterized by significant inhomogeneity. Therefore, the analysis focused on the study of the texture distribution and its inhomogeneity in sample space. The detailed texture analysis, based on the X-ray diffraction technique, led to important observations concerning the localization of the maximum texture gradient and the regularity of its changes related to the parameters of the applied deformation. The obtained results provided the basis for certain conclusions concerning complex texture changes in SPD Cu.

Presented study aimed to determine metals distribution on the quartz fiber filters surface coated with particulate matter by using high and low-volume samplers. The distribution pattern was tested using two different sub-sampling schemes. Each sub-sample was mineralized in the nitric acid in a microwave oven. An analysis was performed by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization GF-AAS technique, and the determined elements were: As, Cd, Pb and Ni. A validation of the analytical procedure was carried out using NIES 28 Urban Aerosols standard reference material.

It was assumed that metal is distributed uniformly if its normalized concentrations on a single sub-sample is within ±15% of the mean concentration over the whole filter. The normalized concentrations values exceed this range, indicating a non-homogenous metals distribution. There were no statistically significant differences in metals concentrations between particular sub-samples in the function of its position along the filters diameter.

In the paper a method for correction of heating non-homogeneity applied in defect detection with the use of active thermography is presented. In the method an approximation of thermal background with second- and third-order surfaces was used, what made it possible to remove partially the background. In the paper the simulation results obtained with the abovementioned method are presented. An analysis of the influence of correction of heating non-homogeneity on the effectiveness of defect detection is also carried out. The simulations are carried out for thermograms obtained on the basis of experiments on a test sample with simulated defects, made of a material of low thermal diffusivity.

This paper aims to investigate the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of hot-deformed AlMg4 alloys with Mn, Fe, and Si as the main impurities. For this purpose, solidification behavior and microstructural evolution during hot-rolling and heat-treatment processes are investigated by using theoretical calculations and experimental characterization. The crystallization and morphological transformation of intermetallic Al3Fe, Al6Mn, and Mg2Si phases are revealed and discussed in terms of the variation in chemical composition. Following a homogenization heat-treatment, the effect of heat treatment on the intermetallic compounds is also investigated after hot-rolling. It was revealed that the Mg2Si phase can be broken into small particles and spherodized more easily than the Al3Fe intermetallic phase during the hot-rolling process. For the Mn containing alloys, both yield and ultimate tensile strength of the hot-rolled alloys increased from 270 to 296 MPa while elongation decreased from 17 to 13%, which can be attributed to Mn-containing intermetallic as well as dispersoid.

This paper outlines a method of determining the deformation and strength parameters for a hypothetical, homogeneous, substitute material which approximates the properties of heterogeneous materials in reinforced concrete elements. The model of the substitute material creates a concrete reference model, in which the static - strength - deformation parameters were modified on the basis of the homogenizing function with the homogenization coefficient assumed as the effective reinforcement ratio of the reinforced concrete structural elements. The results of the comparative analysis of the numerical models using the hypothetical substitute material with experimental results for statically loaded beams and deep beams taken from the literature are presented.

A simple empirical study on the orientation, diameter, and extent of radial fractures (long and short) at the vicinity of the face-perpendicular preconditioned boreholes is described. Homogenous and heterogeneous mining faces were considered when studying the orientation of radial fractures, four and five face-perpendicular preconditioning practices were used to investigate the outspread and diameter of radial fractures from one blasted drill hole to another. Long radial fractures were observed to be developed along the direction of the maximum principal stress and short radial fractures were observed to be developed along the direction of the intermediate principal stress in a homogenous mining face. On the other hand, long radial fractures were observed to be developed along the direction of the intermediate principal stress, while short radial fractures were observed to be developed along the direction of the maximum principal stress when the mining faces subjected to heterogeneous rock mass. The diameters of the radial fractures observed were inconsistent and were not nine times the diameter of the original borehole. Furthermore, the extent of radial fractures from one borehole to another was noted to be gradually improved when the additional of preconditioned borehole was in place. This study maintained that the orientation of radial fractures is mostly controlled by the rock properties, however, extend and the diameters of the radial fractures are controlled by rock properties, the effectiveness of the stress wave and gas pressure and brittleness of the rock mass.

The conservation of rainwater and augmentation of groundwater reserve is necessary to meet the increased water de-mands. Precipitation occurring in the smart cities need to be understood for a better water management action plan. There-fore, monotonic precipitation trend analysis was performed for eight smart cities drawn from six monsoon homogeneous regions across India. The precipitation data were investigated for trends using the modified Mann–Kendall (MMK) test and Sen’s slope estimator at annual, seasonal and monthly scales. The trend analysis was carried out over 118 years (from 1901 to 2018) at 95% significance level. The Dehradun city (Northern Himalayan region) showed a significant increasing annual precipitation trend (Z = +3.22). Indore and Bhopal cities from West Central region showed significant increasing annual trend (Z = +2.01) and non-significant decreasing annual trend respectively. Although, Vadodara and Jaipur are lying in the same Northwest region, the trends are opposite in nature. Jaipur city showed a significant increasing annual pre-monsoon trend (Z = +2.44). The winter rainfall in the city of Vadodara is showing a significant decreasing trend (Z = –2.16). The pre-monsoon rainfall in Bhubaneswar (Central Northeast region) and monsoon precipitation in Trivandrum (Peninsular region) are showing significant increasing (Z = +2.56) and decreasing (Z = –2.71) trends, respectively. A non-significant decreasing trend was seen in Guwahati city (Northeast region). The eight smart cities selected for investigation are not truly representing the entire country. However, the study is clearly pointing towards the regional disparity existing in the coun-try. These findings will be helpful for water managers and policymakers in these regions for better water management.

Oxbow lakes occurring in floodplains are those natural elements that are subject to rapid changes, which may lead to their disappearance. These are extremely valuable ecosystems and landscape components, as well as water management units. However, they quickly disappear if they are not periodically fed with river water, which takes place especially when rivers are embanked. Such a situation occurs, among others in Warsaw, in the Vistula valley. There are many opportunities for the reactivation of oxbow lakes, including through technical activities. It is not always possible to restore the naturalvalues of the valley in urbanized areas, however, oxbow lakes can then also play a recreational role and they can fulfill an important task in improving the quality of life, being also an important element of the public space system. The author has carried out research related to land development projects of the new district located in the Vistula River valley in Warsaw (the Siekierkowski Arc). Many different design solutions have been proposed, taking as a leitmotiv the restoration of oxbow lakes, for example: (1) reconstruction of the water channel in the former watercourse with the boulevard along its fragment and with the public park in another part, (2) water supplying of the existing oxbow lake through the green and blue infrastructure system. The author presents few urban designs carried out under her direction for this area and shows that creative reactivation of oxbow lakes can improve water conditions, and be beneficial for the introduction of a new, attractive development.

In the paper, we investigate queueing system M/G/∞ with non–homogeneous customers. As non–homogenity, we mean that each customer is characterized by some arbitrarily distributed random volume. The arriving customers appear according to a stationary Poisson process. Service time of a customer is proportional to his volume. The system is unreliable what means that all its servers can break simultaneously and then the repair period goes on for random time having an arbitrary distribution. During this period, customers present in the system and arriving to it are not served. Their service continues immediately after repair period termination. Time intervals of the system in good repair mode have an exponential distribution. For such system, we determine steady–state sojourn time and total volume of customers present in it distributions. We also estimate the loss probability for the similar system with limited total volume. An analysis of some special cases and some numerical examples are attached as well.

Investigation of influence of TiN thin film morphology on deformation inhomogeneities is an overall subject of the research. Numerical modelling approach that was selected for the study is based on the digital material representation concept, which gives an opportunity to directly replicate columnar microstructure morphology of an investigated thin film. Particular attention in this paper is put on the discussion of the influence of cellular automata neighbourhood on thin-film digital morphologies and their further deformation behaviour. Additionally, an evaluation of representativeness aspects of the digital models, in particular, the analysis of the influence of a number of columns, their dimensions and variations in their properties on the material behaviour during compression tests is also presented. The non-periodic boundary conditions are assumed during the investigation. Obtained data in the form of equivalent stress distributions as well as homogenized stress-strain curves from analyzed case studies are presented and discussed within the paper.

This paper presents the results of Finite Element Method (FEM) modeling of double-twisted steel hexagonal wire mesh used to construct gabion cages. Gabion cages, filled with soil (usually rock particles) are commonly used in civil engineering (for example in order to form a retaining wall). Static tensile tests are modeled and the obtained force - displacements curves are compared with the laboratory test results (known from literature). Good accordance between numerical and laboratory test results is observed. Three different material models for single wire and double twist are tested. Special attention is paid to double-twist modelling. Simulations of the damaged mesh are also performed, strength and stiffness reduction is analyzed. Anisotropic membrane model for mesh is proposed and calibrated. Parameters for homogenized Coulomb - Mohr media for gabion (filling and mesh) are estimated. Such homogenized Coulomb - Mohr model could be used in engineering practice to model behaviour of real gabion structures.