The Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences (Bull.Pol. Ac.: Tech.) is published bimonthly by the Division IV Engineering Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, since the beginning of the existence of the PAS in 1952. The journal is peer‐reviewed and is published both in printed and electronic form. It is established for the publication of original high quality papers from multidisciplinary Engineering sciences with the following topics preferred: Artificial and Computational Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Control, Informatics and Robotics, Electronics, Telecommunication and Optoelectronics, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Material Science and Nanotechnology, Power Systems and Power Electronics.

Journal Metrics: JCR Impact Factor 2018: 1.361, 5 Year Impact Factor: 1.323, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) 2017: 0.319, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) 2017: 1.005, CiteScore 2017: 1.27, The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2017: 25 points.

Abbreviations/Acronym: Journal citation: Bull. Pol. Ac.: Tech., ISO: Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci.-Tech. Sci., JCR Abbrev: B POL ACAD SCI-TECH Acronym in the Editorial System: BPASTS.

Wytwarzane dzięki symulacjom modele zastępujące świat są wolne od uwarunkowań biologicznych, emocjonalnych, historycznych, logicznych, życiowych.

Safe mine operations and optimal economical decision making in the context of lignite resources require an adequate level of knowledge about the spatial distribution of critical attributes in terms of geometry and quality in the deposit. Therefore, ore body models are generated using different approaches in geostatistics, depending on the problem to be solved. In this article the analysis of geostatistical methods used for deposits modeling has been presented. Based on exploration data concerning caloric value Q, models of one exemplary lignite deposit has been made. Two models of deposit were prepared using two different methods: ordinary kriging (OK) and sequential Gaussian conditional simulation (SGSIM). Different models of the same deposit were analyzed and compared with source data using criterion of fidelity to statistical attributes like: mean value, variance, statistical distribution. Models, which have been created based on exploration data, were compared with in-situ data gained from survey activities in the exploitation process. As a result of comparison correlation factor and measures of deviations were computed: average relative error, absolute relative error. Models were compared with in situ data, considering statistical features and local variability as well. In conclusion, the study gives valuable information into the benefits of using certain geostatistical approaches for variable tasks and problems in the lignite deposits design process. For the assessment of average values of deposit parameters ordinary kriging provides appropriate effects. Geostatisical simulation (e.g. sequential Gaussian simulation - SGSIM) provides much more relevant information for tasks connected to probability (or risk) of defined threshold exceedences than ordinary kriging. Models made with simulation method are characterized by high fidelity of spatial distribution in comparison to source data.

This paper summarized results of estimation of concentrations of pollutants (chemical and bacteriological) in a barrier lake on the river Łęg (Wilcza Wola near Raniżów, subkarpatian province). The second goal of the research was aimed at a trial of forecasting the pollution of apparently stagnant water (as the test bed the barrier lake mentioned was used) applying pattern recognition method in a variant called ,,look-ahead-and-back-KNN" [8, 9]. It was found, that concentrations of some contaminating species can be predicted with satisfactory accuracy. The approach tested allows to develop a dense grid, partly consisting of nodes with real (experimentally estimated) results, and partly consisting of nodes with these values predicted. Additionally, our research has been recently augmented with results achieved using data mining methodology based on virtual visualization [12].

O tym, dlaczego obawiamy się humanoidalnych robotów, a także o tym, czy oglądanie maszyn grających w piłkę jest przyjemne, opowiada dr Aleksandra Przegalinska.

Na czym polega modelowanie hydrologiczne, czyli zastosowanie nowoczesnych metod obliczeniowych do odwzorowania lokalnych i regionalnych systemów obiegu wody? I jakie korzyści przynosi?

The aim of the presented paper is to show the results of shape optimization of railway polynomial transition curves (TCs) of 5th, 7th, and 9th degrees through the use of the full vehicle model and new criteria of assessement concerning the jerk value. The search for the proper shape of TCs means that in this work, the evaluation of TC properties is based on select quantities and the generation of such a shape through the use of mathematically understood optimization methods. The studies presented have got a character of the numerical tests. For this work, advanced vehicle models describing dynamical track-vehicle and vehicle-passenger interactions as well as optimization methods were exploited. In the software vehicle model of a 2-axle freight car, the track discrete model, non-linear descriptions of wheel-rail contact are applied. This part of the software, the vehicle simulation software, is combined with a library optimization procedure into the final computer program.

Architecture changes the environment. This process generates permanent, long-term effects and limits future development. The paper presents the impact of model methodology on the ability to predict the consequences of architectural designs and realizations. The categories of threats and model simulation strategies were ordered. The significance of the digital breakthrough in modeling is outlined in historical perspective and opportunities the paradigm shift creates are characterized.

Najnowsze metody badań, takie jak rentgenowska tomografia komputerowa, są pomocne w poszukiwaniach złóż ropy naftowej i gazu ziemnego. A zastosowanie nowoczesnych metod obliczeniowych pozwala określić rodzaj złoża oraz jego zasobność.

Każdy człowiek codziennie staje przed różnej wagi wyborami.

O tym, jak może w nich pomóc sztuczna inteligencja, opowiada dr hab. inż. Miłosz Kadziński.

This paper addresses the problem of road safety regarding barrier placement as relative to the curb. A short summary of existing regulations is presented. Numerical simulations using the explicit finite element system Ls-Dyna are shown. In the analysis, variable distance between the barrier and the curb is assumed. The obtained result reveals that the distance has little impact on the working width of the barrier.

A description of direct simulation of crosswind loads caused by critical vortex excitation and the response of the structure to these loads are presented in this paper. Tower-like structures of circular cross-sections are considered. A proposed mathematical model of vortex excitation has been numerically implemented and a selfserving computer program was created for the purpose. This software, cooperating with the FEM system, allows for a simulation of a crosswind load and lateral response in real time, meaning that at each time step of the calculations the load is generated using information regarding displacements seen beforehand. A detailed description of the mathematical model is neglected in this paper, which is focused on numerical simulations. WAWS and AR methods are used in simulations.

In the article, the topic of mentalization as the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others is considered. The author concentrates on the aspect of the mental states in different approaches to mentalization. She proposes that the inclusion of various mental states is justified, although it induces some difficulties. In the conclusion, consequences of applying current conceptions and using them to elucidate the variety of mental states are presented.

Henryk Elzenberg ewoluował od racjonalizmu i zachwytu logiką do radykalnej opozycji wobec scjentyzmu i „biurokratów ścisłości” ze szkoły lwowsko-warszawskiej. W obecnej filozofii akademickiej istnieje nieszczęśliwy ostry podział na filozofię analityczną i tzw. kontynentalną. Czy tę filozofię nieanalityczną da się określić w sposób pozytywny? Zasugerowanych jest kilka pomysłów, ale żaden nie wydaje się dostatecznie dobry. Czy ten podział da się przezwyciężyć? Niektórzy usiłują, np. Hilary Putnam i Alain Badiou, chociaż Putnam nie próbuje syntezy, a Badiou próbuje, ale rezultat jego działań rozczarowuje i nie jest wolny od błędów, gdy filozof powołuje się na zaawansowaną logikę matematyczną. W każdym razie filozofia musi funkcjonować pomiędzy dwoma biegunami: naukowym, logicznym i humanistycznym, literackim. W naszych czasach nowym źródłem doświadczeń powinny być dla filozofii komputery. Możliwość cyfrowej symulacji każe na nowo rozważyć pytanie o specyfikę człowieka. W tej dziedzinie oba podejścia do filozofii stają się niezbędne. Przykładem uwzględnienia zarówno logiki, jak i filozofii dialogu jest zaproponowane wcześniej przez autora ostateczne wzmocnienie Testu Turinga, czyli eksperyment myślowy, w którym dziecko jest od urodzenia wychowywane przez roboty i ma się okazać, czy tak ukształtowany człowiek okaże się w miarę „normalny”.

The object of the present study is to investigate the influence of damping uncertainty and statistical correlation on the dynamic response of structures with random damping parameters in the neighbourhood of a resonant frequency. A Non-Linear Statistical model (NLSM) is successfully demonstrated to predict the probabilistic response of an industrial building structure with correlated random damping. A practical computational technique to generate first and second-order sensitivity derivatives is presented and the validity of the predicted statistical moments is checked by traditional Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the NLSM to estimate uncertainty propagation in structural dynamics. In addition, it is demonstrated that the uncertainty in damping indeed influences the system response with the effects being more pronounced for lightly damped structures, higher variability and higher statistical correlation of damping parameters.

This study aims to design a novel air cleaning facility which conforms to the current situation in China, and moreover can satisfy our demand on air purification under the condition of poor air quality, as well as discuss the development means of a prototype product. Air conditions in the operating room of a hospital were measured as the research subject of this study. First, a suitable turbulence model and boundary conditions were selected and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was used to simulate indoor air distribution. The analysis and comparison of the simulation results suggested that increasing the area of air supply outlets and the number of return air inlets would not only increase the area of unidirectional flow region in main flow region, but also avoid an indoor vortex and turbulivity of the operating area. Based on the summary of heat and humidity management methods, the system operation mode and relevant parameter technologies as well as the characteristics of the thermal-humidity load of the operating room were analyzed and compiled. According to the load value and parameters of indoor design obtained after our calculations, the airflow distribution of purifying the air-conditioning system in a clean operating room was designed and checked. The research results suggested that the application of a secondary return air system in the summer could reduce energy consumption and be consistent with the concept of primary humidity control. This study analyzed the feasibility and energy conservation properties of cleaning air-conditioning technology in operating rooms, proposed some solutions to the problem, and performed a feasible simulation, which provides a reference for practical engineering.

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.

This study was carried out on the background of Sutong Bridge project based on fracture mechanics, aiming at analyzing the growth mechanism of fatigue cracks of a bridge under the load of vehicles. Stress intensity factor (SIF) can be calculated by various methods. Three steel plates with different kinds of cracks were taken as the samples in this study. With the combination of finite element analysis software ABAQUS and the J integral method, SIF values of the samples were calculated. After that, the extended finite element method in the simulation of fatigue crack growth was introduced, and the simulation of crack growth paths under different external loads was analyzed. At last, we took a partial model from the Sutong Bridge and supposed its two dangerous parts already had fine cracks; then simulative vehicle load was added onto the U-rib to predict crack growth paths using the extended finite element method.