An approach for designing robotized marine container terminals

International transportation is rapidly growing. Even during the recent recession, trade growth percentages world-wide exceeded 5-10%. As a consequence, container handling capacity is rapidly growing as well. Larger vessels, bigger container terminals: it appears to be an on-going process of which the limits have not yet been reached. At the...

Modeling of Microstructural Evolution during Homogenization and Simulation of Transient State Recrystallization leading to Peripheral Coarse Grain Structure in Extruded Al-4.5Zn-1Mg Alloy

Peer-to-Peer System Design: A Socioeconomic approach

It has gradually become clear that Peer-to-Peer (P2P) systems should not be conceived in the manner of conventional computing systems. Consequently, over the years, ideas from social science in general and economics in particular have made their way to P2P systems to deal with the novel challenges that such systems throw up. In Chapter 2 of this...

High-speed Impact Modelling and Testing of Dyneema Composite

Dyneema (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene – UHMW PE) is a high performance material that is used in many applications. These applications vary from leisure articles such as sails and kite wires to surgical wires and personal protection products. The reason that Dyneema outperforms many other materials is that it possesses a combination...

Challenges, Design and Analysis of Peer-to-Peer Video-on-Demand Systems

Mathematical Modelling and Simulation of Biogrout

Biogrout is a method to reinforce sand and gravel by the production of calcium carbonate. This calcium carbonate is produced using micro-organisms that are either present in the subsoil or injected into it. The micro-organisms are supplied with urea and calcium. Subsequently, they catalyse the hydrolysis of urea, by which carbonate is formed. In...

Model identification of a flapping wing micro aerial vehicle

Different flapping wing micro aerial vehicles (FWMAV) have been developed for academic (Harvard’s RoboBee), military (Israel Aerospace Industries’ Butterfly) and technology demonstration (Aerovironment’s NanoHummingBird) purposes. Among these, theDelFly II is recognized as one of themost successful configurations of FWMAV, with a broad flight...

Auralization of Environmental Acoustical Sceneries: Synthesis of Road Traffic, Railway and Wind Turbine Noise

Environmental noise caused by traffic and industrial facilities is a relevant health factor in urban areas, along major traffic routes and in the vicinity of airports. The technique of auralization helps exploring the relationships between sound and its impact on people under fully controlled conditions. Further, by directly addressing the...

Managing startle and surprise in the cockpit

After several recent flight safety events, such as the accident of Air France flight 447 in 2009, investigators determined that surprise and startle can severely disrupt pilot responses. They concluded that pilots need to be better prepared for unexpected and potentially startling situations. In response, aviation safety authorities have...

Luminous Glass: A Study on the Optics Governing Luminescent Solar Concentrators and Optimization of Luminescent Materials through Combinatorial Gradient Sputter Deposition

A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) is a concept from the 1970s that can find novel application as an electricity-generating window. An LSC converts sunlight to light of a different color by a process called luminescence. This light is transported to the edges of the LSC, where photovoltaic cells convert this incoming light to electricity....

Simulating Human Routines: Integrating Social Practice Theory in Agent-Based Models

Our routines play an important role in a wide range of social challenges such as climate change, disease outbreaks and coordinating the staff and patients of a hospital. Studying these systems via agent-based simulations (ABS) enables researchers to gain insight into complex aspects of these challenges such as human interaction, learning,...