Differentiation between the terms ”confined masonry“ and ”infill masonry“

This publication concerns the differentiation between the terms ”confined masonry“ and ”infill masonry“ using the example of the national technical approval Z‐17.1‐1145 – POROTON S9 MW –vertically perforated clay units with integrated thermal insulation using thin layer mortar [1].     

Guides “bimorphes” d''ondes ultrasoniques “bimorph” ultrasonic wave guides”

An analysis of the dispersion of elastic waves is presented for two types of long ultrasonics wave-guides that we qualify of “bimorph”: (i) a “three-layer” guide made of two different materials and (ii) a “clad core” guide built up of a rectangular core surrounded by a cladding, the materials of the rod and cladding having different properties. An analytical model is proposed to describe the extensional, flexural and torsional motions in “bimorph” wave guides having two geometrical and material symmetry axes. The asymptotic behaviour of the model allows one to select the material properties which lead to modes guided essentially either in the central layer or in the core of the bimorph guide. Moreover, the dispersive properties of a “bimorph” can be controlled through the choice of geometrical and material parameters.     

“Style” and technology

A rational approach to dealing with the problems created by developing technologies requires a new account of what is involved in proper management. A tripartite distinction is introduced between being reasonable, being rational, and having style. These notions are based on the commonsense principle of rationality (CPR), to be rational one must learn from experience. The proper management of technology requires more than learning from experience (being rational) and having the proper goals (being reasonable); it requires style, which entails being reasonable and acting in accordance with a given standard systematically over time.     

“Low-Tech” Innovations

This paper is about an industrial sector which, according to the usual socio-scientific indicators, is referred to as “low-tech”, respectively as non-research intensive and which mostly comprises “traditional” industries. The interest in this sector is motivated by the contradictory situation that, on the one hand, the debate about the perspectives of modern societies focuses on the rapidly growing importance of technological innovations, knowledge and research-intensive economic sectors while, on the other hand, traditional industries make up a considerable fraction of employment and production, especially also in developed economies. On the basis of the results of extensive empirical research, this contribution tries to find answers to the basic question, whether one can speak of an innovation mode typical of the low-tech sector. The institutional based innovation systems approach forms the categorical basis of the analysis. In order to elucidate the specific features of low-tech innovations, they are, in conclusion, compared to the general characteristics of high-tech-based innovation processes.     

Formation de “whiskers” et de “hillocks” sur la surface des couches minces de Cu/Sn

The external morphology of free surfaces of Cu/Sn thin films was studied using scanning electron microscopy, electron microprobe analysis and X-ray diffraction. It was shown that the aging of samples of type A (films deposited at room temperature) and type B (copper underlayer deposited at 623 K) at room temperature leads to the formation of hillocks and whiskers; however, the annealing of as-prepared samples at temperatures in the range 363–483 K leads to hillock formation only. The density of hillocks and whiskers in type A samples is two times higher than that in type B samples. The length of the whiskers in type A films (about 4 × 10^-6 m) is one order of magnitude lower than that of the whiskers in type B samples (about 3 × 10^-5 m). This large difference is due to the texture {200} of tin films in type B samples. In type C samples, after aging at room temperature, we observed only hillocks whose diameter could reach 10 × 10^-6 m. Whiskers and hillocks are composed essentially of tin, and the matrix is composed of the Cu₆Sn₅ phase.