Produktionsfunktion und Kostenfunktion bei flexibler Automatisierung der Produktion

The advantages of flexible production are well known in practical application. Theorectial understanding, however, is still not satisfactory. An explanation may be founded on differences in the consumption rate of process elements during preparation, of production capacity. This in, turn also results in different cost factors in the forefield of production caopacity. These costs can be quite considerable, given the tendency towards smaller series. Flexible automation permits the minimizing of these costs. The consideration mentioned above are based on analysis of the production function, on a comparison of more or less flexible production systems and of different cost functions.     

Developing a pragmatic evaluation of ICTs for older adults with cognitive impairment at scale: the IN LIFE experience

Implementing information and communications technology (ICT) at scale requires evaluation processes to capture the impact on users as well as the infrastructure into which it is being introduced. For older adults living with cognitive impairment, this requires evaluation that can accommodate different levels of cognitive impairment, alongside input from family and formal caregivers, plus stakeholder organisations. The European Horizon 2020 project INdependent LIving support Functions for the Elderly (IN LIFE) set out to integrate 17 technologies into a single digital platform for older people living with cognitive impairment plus their families, care providers and stakeholders. The IN LIFE evaluation took place across six national pilot sites to examine a number of variables including impact on the users, user acceptance of the individual services and the overall platform, plus the economic case for the IN LIFE platform. The results confirmed the interest and need among older adults, family caregivers, formal caregivers and stakeholders, for information and communications technology (ICT). Relative to the baseline, quality of life improved and cognition stabilised; however, there was an overall reluctance to pay for the platform. The findings provide insights into existing barriers and challenges for adoption of ICT for older people living with cognitive impairment.

     

Life-cycle assessment and repair of the railway transition zones of an existing bridge using geocomposite materials

The railway infrastructure is a very important component of the world’s total transportation network. Investment in its construction and maintenance is therefore significant on a global scale. Up to now, some results of the life-cycle assessment (LCA) of open railway line, as well as railway bridges and tunnels, have been published, but detailed analyses of transition zones have not so far been performed. In railway networks, transitional zones are a critical area where the transition from open rail to solid bridge construction can cause significant settlements. The goal of these analyses was to compare two different types of track renewal methods for railway transition zones. In the first method, traditional cement stabilisation is used, whereas the second solution makes use of a geocomposite anchored by steel anchors. The paper presents some results from an environmental study for railway transition zones based on the demonstration case. The results of the performed LCA showed that, in the case of track renewal for transition zones by means of a geocomposite and anchors, the environmental impact is lower than in the case when cement stabilisation works are performed. Less extensive excavation works and thus lower quantities of used material are additional benefits.     

Internal Oxidation of an Ag–1.3 at.% Te Alloy

The internal oxidation of Ag–1.3 at.% Te was studied at 750, 800, and 830°C in pure oxygen (1 atm). The internal oxidation under such high oxygen pressure resulted in formation of two different types of oxide particles and two different fronts of internal oxidation in the internal oxidation zone. The coarser Ag₂TeO₃ particles were formed through the in situ internal oxidation of Ag₂Te particles and the tiny oxide precipitates (most probably also Ag₂TeO₃) were formed through internal oxidation of tellurium from solid solution. Considering the mechanism of internal oxidation, both diffusionless and diffusive modes were found to be present simultaneously in the oxidation of Ag–1.3 at.% Te alloy. These results were examined with regard to the solubility of tellurium in silver, which was found to be 0.1 at.% Te at 750°C and 0.26 at.% Te at 830°C, as well as the presence and dissolution of Ag₂Te particles.     

Circuit breaker model for digital simulation based on Mayr's andCassie's differential arc equations

A model of a circuit breaker for digital simulation programs based on the Mayr's and Cassie's differential arc equations was developed. The model can be used to determine the current interruption capability of the circuit breaker. The theoretical basis and the structure of the model are described. The model is verified on a sample of measured results, and the use of the model for practical application is demonstrated. Although the validation of the model is limited to the vicinity of current zero, it can be usefully used. Its advantage lies in the fact that the simulation programs set and solve the system of breaker and network differential equations. Calculation of a breaker capability can so be done using a complex network     

Internal Oxidation of a Ag-l.3 at.% Se Alloy. Part I: Composition and Appearance of Oxidation Products

The internal oxidation of a two-phase Ag-1.3 at.% Se alloy in pure oxygen was studied at 750, 800 and 830°C. The alloy is composed of a dilute solid solution of selenium in silver) and Ag₂Se intermetallic particles. The internal oxidation of this alloy proceeds through gradual in-situ oxidation of the Ag₂Se particles as well as through diffusive internal oxidation of selenium from solid solution. Gradual in-situ internal oxidation of Ag₂Se particles reflects itself in the appearance of two internal-oxidation fronts, inner and outer, marking the beginning and end of the in-situ oxidation of Ag₂Se particles. The oxide phase formed during in-situ oxidation is the molten double oxide, Ag₂SeO₃. A theoretical treatment of the phase relationships in a hypothetical Ag–Ag₂Se–Ag₂SeO₃ ternary phase diagram is presented to assist the explanation of the mechanism of in-situ oxidation. The kinetics of oxidation are presented in Part II.     

Comprehensive Behavioral Modeling of Conventional and Dual-Tuning PLLs

This paper presents a modular and comprehensive nonlinear time-domain behavioral model for phase-locked loops (PLLs) that are suitable for analyzing the impact on the output signal of the noise contribution and nonidealities of the constituent building blocks. The model building blocks are described by Simulink submodels and can be configured to implement different PLL topologies. Postprocessing of the PLL output provides the PLL phase noise and spur-to-carrier-ratio performances. The calculated phase-noise spectra are compared with those obtained with the well-known linear model and with measurements. To show the flexibility of this approach, many case studies are reported; among them, the analysis of the spurs due to charge pump mismatch and the transient phase noise, and spurs performances of a PLL featuring a dual control of the voltage-controlled oscillator.      

Life cycle assessment of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil bridge system – A case study

Road infrastructures are a very important component of the world's total transportation network. Investment in its construction and maintenance is significant on a global scale. The paper presents some results from an environmental study of a geosynthetic-reinforced soil integrated bridge system. The Pavlovski potok stream in Slovenia was used as a demonstration case for this study. It is the first GRS bridge system with full-height rigid (FHR) facings in Europe. It was constructed at the end of 2014. The goal of these analyses was to compare two different types of bridges: the new GRS bridge system, which is comprised of a simple girder partially structurally integrated to FHR facings of GRS bridge abutments and a conventional reinforced concrete road bridge. The results of an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) show that the GRS bridge system has a much lower environmental impact than an equivalent bridge conventionally built with reinforced concrete.