The article presents research results of the strength parameters of HPC achieved in various research conditions. The research was carried out on substantially different samples, both as to the size as the slenderness ratio. Moreover, the assessment of the effect of speed of a load on strength parameters as well as other factors which in a significant way show the difference in the strength values was made. For comparison, the results were also applied to the relations known in ordinary concrete.

This paper addresses the tensile and flexural strength of HPC (high performance concrete). The aim of the paper is to analyse the efficiency of models proposed in different codes. In particular, three design procedures from: the ACI 318 [1], Eurocode 2 [2] and the Model Code 2010 [3] are considered. The associations between design tensile strength of concrete obtained from these three codes and compressive strength are compared with experimental results of tensile strength and flexural strength by statistical tools. Experimental results of tensile strength were obtained in the splitting test. Based on this comparison, conclusions are drawn according to the fit between the design methods and the test data. The comparison shows that tensile strength and flexural strength of HPC depend on more influential factors and not only compressive strength.

The objectives of this study were to develop a framework of the collaboration network, operational

performance, and reverse logistics determinants on the performance outcomes of the

auto parts industry, and to study the direct, indirect, and overall effects of the factors that

influence the performance outcomes of the auto parts industry. This quantitative research

utilized a questionnaire as the tool for data collection, which was completed by the managers

in the auto parts industry from 320 companies. According to the analysis with the Structural

Equation Modeling (SEM), it was found that the collaboration networks, operational

performance, and reverse logistics positively affect the performance outcomes; whereas, the

collaboration networks mainly affect the development of organizations by causing performance

outcomes to continue growing unceasingly, including the enhancement of sustainable

competitive capacity and the operational results of the auto parts industry.

Performance measurement system in supply chain management (SCM) has been receiving increasing

attention by business organizations as a way to evaluate efficiency in supply chain

activities. Assessing the performance of supply chain uncovers the gap between planning

and actual performance as to trace the potential problems thus ascertain necessary areas

for improvement. This research aims to investigate the application of performance measurement

system in SCM as well as exploring its relationship with organization’s performance

among Malaysian manufacturing firms. By utilizing the questionnaire method, respondents

involved were requested to indicate the extent to which they use a number of 24 selected

performance measures that are related to SCM. The results show that the majority of the

observed manufacturing firms utilize specific performance measurement tools in evaluating

the supply chain performance. The current performance measurement techniques, the Balanced

Score Card is adopted by around a quarter of the total responding firms followed

by Supply Chain Operations References Model – SCOR, which attracts total users of only

a fifth of the total respondents. In particular, performance measures under customer service

category recorded the highest number of usage followed by cost-based performance measures

and operations management. The results of this investigation also unveil few major points

that are important to be highlighted. Firstly, the obtained outcomes of this study bring to

light the significant relationships between the utilization of supply chain performance measures

under customer service, operations management and organizational performance. In

addition, this study discovered a significant correlation between the size of the organization

and the extent of use of supply chain performance measures and how these two variables

positively correlated. Lastly, the findings also suggested that the performance measures for

SCM has been playing a crucial role in enhancing the performance of the organizations and

is increasingly operated as the firms grow in size. Based on the brief highlighted points listed

above, it is not an exaggeration to say that this research contributes new information to the

body of knowledge in performance measurement system in SCM and its associations with

organizational performance.

This article reports the effects of CuO/water based coolant on specific fuel consumption and exhaust emissions of four stroke single cylinder diesel engine. The CuO nanoparticles of 27 nm were used to prepare the nanofluid-based engine coolant. Three different volume concentrations (i.e 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2%) of CuO/water nanofluids were prepared by using two-step method. The purpose of this study is to investigate the exhaust emissions (NOx), exhaust gas temperature and specific fuel consumption under different load conditions with CuO/water nanofluid. After a series of experiments, it was observed that the CuO/water nanofluids, even at low volume concentrations, have a significant influence on exhaust emissions. The experimental results revealed that, at full load condition, the specific fuel consumption was reduced by 8.6%, 15.1% and 21.1% for the addition of 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% CuO nanoparticles with water, respectively. Also, the emission tests were concluded that 881 ppm, 853 ppm and 833 ppm of NOx emissions were observed at high load with 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% volume concentrations of CuO/water nanofluids, respectively.

The author investigated traffic flow quality on a new 2+1 long road bypass with an exceptionally high share of heavy vehicles in order to assess rational limits of heavy vehicle shares in traffic flow, dependent on the length of the 2+1 road and the number of passing segments in each direction. This paper presents the results of traffic flow quality analyses through the use of empirical and simulation methods for a single 2+1 road segment with additional passing lanes, as well as for the study of the entire section of the bypass – 2+1 road. Variables include analysis of travel speed distribution, platoon traffic, and amount of passing maneuvers. Results show that large passing demands lead to very high speeds (over 100 km/h) on segments with additional passing lanes. The conclusions include remarks related to the use and operation of 2+1 cross-sections with high shares of heavy vehicles.

A suitable use of software packages for optimization problems can give the possibility to formulate design problems of robotic mechanical systems by taking into account the several aspects and behaviours for optimum solutions both in design and operation. However, an important issue that can be even critical to obtain practical solutions can be recognized in a proper identification and formulation of criteria for optimability purposes and numerical convergence feasibility. In this paper, we have reported experiences that have been developed at LARM in Cassino by referring to the abovementioned issues of determining a design procedure for manipulators both of serial and parallel architectures. The optimality criteria are focused on the well-recognized main aspects of workspace, singularity, and stiffness. Computational aspects are discussed to ensure numerical convergence to solutions that can be also of practical applications. In particular, optimality criteria and computational aspects have been elaborated by taking into account the peculiarity and constraint of each other. The general concepts and formulations are illustrated by referring to specific numerical examples with satisfactory results.

This article describes queueing systems and queueing networks which are successfully used for performance analysis of different systems such as computer, communications, transportation networks and manufacturing. It incorporates classical Markovian systems with exponential service times and a Poisson arrival process, and queueing systems with individual service. Oscillating queueing systems and queueing systems with Cox and Weibull service time distribution as examples of non-Markovian systems are studied. Jackson's, Kelly's and BCMP networks are also briefly characterized. The model of Fork-Join systems applied to parallel processing analysis and the FES approximation making possible of Fork-Join analysis is also presented. Various types of blocking representing the systems with limited resources are briefly described. In addition, examples of queueing theory applications are given. The application of closed BCMP networks in the health care area and performance evaluation of the information system is presented. In recent years the application of queueing systems and queueing networks to modelling of human performance arouses researchers' interest. Hence, in this paper an architecture called the Queueing Network-Model Human Processor is presented.

Starting from consideration that urban intersections are sites with promise for safety and operational improvements, the paper describes the steps taken to develop a crash predictive model for estimating the safety performance of urban unsignalized intersections located in Palermo, Italy. The focus is on unsignalized four-legged one-way intersections widespread in Italian downtowns. The sample considered in the study consist of 92 intersections in Palermo, Italy. For the study were collected crashes occurred in the sites during the years 2006‒2012, geometric design and functional characteristics and traffic flow. Results showed that data were overdispersed and NB1 distributed. In order to account for the correlation within responses Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used under different working correlation matrices.

The joined wing concept is an unconventional airplane configuration, known since the mid-twenties of the last century. It has several possible advantages, like reduction of the induced drag and weight due to the closed wing concept. The inverted joined wing variant is its rarely considered version, with the front wing being situated above the aft wing. The following paper presents a performance prediction of the recently optimized configuration of this airplane. Flight characteristics obtained numerically were compared with the performance of two classical configuration airplanes of similar category. Their computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were created basing on available documentation, photographs and some inverse engineering methods. The analysis included simulations performed for a scale of 3-meter wingspan inverted joined wing demonstrator and also for real-scale manned airplanes. Therefore, the results of CFD calculations allowed us to assess the competitiveness of the presented concept, as compared to the most technologically advanced airplanes designed and manufactured to date. At the end of the paper, the areas where the inverted joined wing is better than conventional airplane were predicted and new research possibilities were described.

The paper is focused on the forthcoming IEEE 802.11ax standard and its influence on Wi-Fi networks performance. The most important features dedicated to improve transmission effectiveness are presented. Furthermore, the simulation results of a new transmission modes are described. The comparison with the legacy IEEE 802.11n/ac standards shows that even partial implementation of a new standard should bring significant throughput improvements.

The performance-based analysis of the large-space steel sports hall is presented. Load-bearing structure of the hall consists of spatial long-span truss girders that are made of modern square hollow sections. Both fire development analysis and mechanical response analysis are discussed in detail. Fire Dynamics Simulator and Safir programs are used. Main focus is put on the factors that could affect the final fire resistance of the structure. Uniform and non-uniform heating, different boundary conditions and local imperfections are taken into account. Structures with and without fireproof insulation are considered. Values of the critical temperature, failure modes and fire resistance estimated for various cases are presented. Computer simulations were carried out both for fire growth and decay phase. As a result it is clearly shown that some reductions of the required fireproof insulation are possible. Moreover, the structure without complete traditional fireproof insulation is able to survive not only the direct fire exposure but also the cooling phase.