Transient elastic waves in a half-space: comparison of the DBIE-method with the method of generalized ray

Summary The two-dimensional problem of wave propagation in an elastic half-space is studied by the DBIEM (Direct Boundary Integral Equation Method) combined with the finite difference procedure applied to the time variable. The present hybrid formulation employs the fundamental solution depending neither on the frequency nor on the time variable. Time records of surface responses of the half-space are computed and compared with those obtained by the numerical evaluation of exact analytical solutions to this problem.     

Vibration of doubly-curved shallow shells

Summary This paper presents the free vibration of thin doubly-curved shallow shells of rectangular planform. The study covers wide combinations of free, simply supported and clamped boundary conditions. Both positive and negative Gaussian curvatures (spherical and hyperbolic paraboloidal shells resepectively) are considered. Thepb-2 Ritz energy based approach, along with the in-plane and transverse deflections assumed in the form of a product of mathematically complete two-dimensional orthogonal polynomials and a basic function, is employed to model the vibratory characteristic of these shells. Numerical results have been established through convergence study and comparison with published data from the open literature. Extensive sets of new results for various ranges of aspect ratio, curvature ratio andx- andy-shallowness ratios have been presented for future reference.     

On compressible subsonic flow between impeller and casing of radial-flow compressors with superposed throughflow

Summary Subject of this paper is the numerical investigation of the flow between impeller and casing of compressors of radial construction. The solution procedure is based on implicite difference equations, in which parameters of material such as heat conductivity, viscosity and density are variable. Because of the assumption of low density, laminar flow conditions are assumed. The computation method makes possible the determination of the torque coefficient as a function of Reynolds-and Mach number as well as of geometry and superposed throughflow.With 3 Figures     

Computing hysteresis points of nonlinear equations depending on two parameters

A direct method is described for computing a hysteresis point (double turning point) corresponding to a cusp point of a system ofn nonlinear equations inn variables depending on two parameters. By addition of two equations a minimally extended system ofn+2 nonlinear equations is constructed for which the hysteresis point is an isolated solution. An efficient implementation of Newton's method is presented not requiring evaluations of second derivatives of the original problem. Two numerical examples show the efficiency of theQ-quadratically convergent method.     

IV-Controlling in einem Systemhaus

This paper analyses the characteristics of software houses as service providers. The tasks of internal IT-services are determined from these characteristics and a reporting system for the IT-controlling is outlined. The concept results from the analysis of one of the 25 largest German software houses. The paper concludes with a case study of the fiscal year 2000 IT-controlling report of the above-mentioned firm.     

Betriebsvereinbarung contra BDSG?

Ob Betriebsvereinbarungen im Sinne des § 4 Abs. 1 BDSG eine „andere Rechtsvorschrift” sind und damit die Regelungen des BDSG einschr?nken dürfen, geh?rt zu den Standardfragen des praktischen Arbeitnehmerdatenschutzes. Die Autoren befürworten eine weite betriebliche Regelungskompetenz, beschr?nken diese aber zum Schutz der Arbeitnehmer durch eine Reihe datenschutzrechtlicher Mindestanforderungen, die Betriebsvereinbarungen einzuhalten haben.     

Natural convection from a semi-infinite flat plate inclined at a small angle to the horizontal in a saturated porous medium

Summary The free convection boundary layer on a semi-infinite heated flat plate which is inclined at a small angle to the horizontal in a saturated porous medium is considered. When the plate is inclined upwards, series solutions, one valid near the leading edge and the other valid at large distances from it, are obtained. Sufficient terms in the leading edge solution are taken so that the two asymptotic solutions may be joined. When the plate is inclined downwards the series solution valid near the leading edge is again obtained and sufficient terms are again employed to investigate the nature of the boundary layer separation. There is no evidence of a singularity at the separation point and a mathematical explanation of the behaviour at separation is presented.With 10 Figures     

Studies on the sample weight for ochratoxin A determination in raw coffee

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin that may cause damage to the kidneys and the immune system in man. Foods are examined for this contaminant by the laboratories responsible for official food control. At present, there are no specific provisions for the sampling and examination of ochratoxin A in foods. Therefore, recourse is made to the provisions for aflatoxins. They prescribe the processing of samples with a weight of up to 30 kg. The examination of raw coffee for ochratoxin A in conjunction with the German Food Monitoring Programme of 2000 was undertaken with various sample weights (5, 10 and 30 kg) in order to identify the influence of the sample weight on the result. Overall, the sample weight did not have an effect on the detection and level of the ochratoxin A content in the samples of raw coffee examined.