31 research outputs found
Flutter Derivatives Identification and Aerodynamic Performance of an Optimized Multibox Bridge Deck
The bridge deck sections used for long-span suspension bridges have evolved through the years, from the compact box deck girders geometrical configurations to twin-box and three-box bridge decks sections. The latest generation of split and multiple-box bridge decks proved to have better aerodynamic behavior; thus further optimization methods are sought for such geometrical configurations. A new type of multibox bridge deck, consisting of four aerodynamically shaped deck boxes, two side decks for the traffic lanes and two middle decks for the railway traffic, connected between them by stabilizing beams, was tested in the wind tunnel for identifying the flutter derivatives and to verify the aerodynamic performance of the proposed multibox deck. Aerodynamic static force coefficients were measured for the multibox bridge deck model, scaled 1 : 80, for Reynolds numbers up to 5.1 × 105, under angles of attack between −8° and 8°. Iterative Least Squares (ILS) method was employed for identifying the flutter derivatives of the multibox bridge deck model, based on the results obtained from the free vibration tests and based on the frequency analysis the critical flutter wind speed for the corresponding prototype of the multibox bridge was estimated at 188 m/s
An analysis of historical wind-driven rain loads for selected Canadian cities
Abstract The performance and durability of wall assemblies are greatly affected by the moisture load to which they may be subjected, in particular those arising from Wind-Driven Rain (WDR). Standard approaches for estimating such moisture loads assume 1% of the WDR load, whereas these loads have also been assessed from watertightness tests, although these assumed loads have been determined based on limited climate information. To more accurately estimate the moisture loads to which wall assemblies may be subjected over their service life, an analysis of historical WDR loads was completed for 11 cities across Canada. The magnitude, probability of occurrence of WDR loads in different cities and correlations between WDR related climate parameters, are discussed in this paper. Also, a novel WDR severity index is introduced, referred to as the Wind-Driven Rain Pressure Index, to permit quantifying the real-time and simultaneously occurring effects of WDR intensity and Driving Rain Wind Pressure (DRWP). To estimate the WDR intensity and DRWP with a specific probability of occurrence, an Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) was completed for a climate dataset of 31 years (1986–2016) using the Generalized Extreme Value and Gumbel distributions
SKILLS BEYOND EDUCATION An analysis of cognitive skill evolution and its implications for employment chances
Skills are at the core of improving individuals’ employment outcomes and increasing countries productivity and growth while ensuring social cohesiveness. This is particularly relevant as today’s global competition is characterized by a higher share of knowledge-based content which heavily relies on high-level cognitive and behavioral skills. The 1994-1998 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) and the 2012 Survey on Adult Skills (PIAAC) are unique datasets providing measures of individual cognitive skills for a representative sample of the adult age population across a number of OECD countries using methods of educational testing jointly with household survey techniques. Thus, they offer an exceptional opportunity to better understand how cognitive skills have evolved and how they are likely to influence our lives now and in the future, particularly in what refers to employment chances.
The aim of this technical report is threefold: (1) to analyse the current levels and distribution of skills in the working-age population of the sixteen Member States which participated in PIAAC; (2) to investigate to what extent these skills are important for labour market success; and (3) to examine how individuals (and the population) gain, lose and preserve their cognitive skills over time. To further complement this empirical evidence, we investigate the employment dynamics with respect to economic factors. The observed trends go in the direction of a concentration of employment in sectors which are more likely to require a higher educational level and consequently a higher level of skills. With all the caveats in mind, the reasoning behind this simple exercise is to grow awareness about the need to reinforce skills, and desirably, anticipate skills needs, through both efficient education policies and active labour market programs, including training.JRC.DDG.01-Econometrics and applied statistic
SKILLS BEYOND EDUCATION. An analysis of cognitive skill evolution and its implications for employment chances
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Vibration and Control in Structures under Single and Multiple Hazards
Vibrations in civil engineering structures and mechanical systems arise from different sources of excitations including natural hazards induced loadings of structures, machineries and devices, rotating unbalance, and fault bearings. The field of vibration and control is developed into a multidisciplinary thematic which encompasses knowledge from structural dynamics, modelling, modal analysis, electrical engineering, computer sciences, and control theory, crucial for the understanding and treatment of the issues raised from occurrence of excessive vibrations
THE ROLE OF THE PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MODERN ENTERPRISES
Nowadays, the management of any modern enterprise requires a real-time information system which should allow the continuous and quick display of the data which is critical in order to control the company in the current economic context. The performance dashboard is such an information system. It is made up of quantity, quality or financial management indicators or, in other words, of greatly significant pieces of information put together, which have immediate meaning for the person reading it. We must take into consideration the fact that the data is extremely dense and it is in continuous movement, being used in forming plans, in supporting decisions and in achieving control. The quality of decision and the achievement of performance depend on the quality of the information supplied. That is the reason why, in order to be useful for the decision-making process, the information must be reliable, up-to-date, complete, pertinent and accessible for the decision makers. Thus, an efficient performance dashboard is the one that allows the assessment and management of performance by means of the progress methods set in the strategy, and that helps the management face the changes and the challenges in the current economic climate
AN ANALYSIS OF THE FISCAL CONVERGENCE CRITERIA IN THE EUROPEAN UNION IN TERMS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY
Although the convergence criteria in the Maastricht Treaty led to the creation of the EMU and the euro area has resisted more than some of its critics believed, in the context of major macroeconomic imbalances, the issue of nominal convergence has been the subject of numerous research. This paper aims to analyze the capacity of fiscal criteria to reflect the ability of EU Member States to achieve economic development for the integration in the EMU and to comply strict fiscal policy that governing its operation. In the context of certain technical deficiencies of fiscal criteria, we analyzed the developments of budget deficit and gross public debt in the EU during 2000 and 2012. The results show that until 2007 the EU economies were able, overall, to meet the budget deficit criteria, but due to the financial crisis and the prolonged slowdown in economic growth, the fiscal balance had an unfavorable evolution since 2008, while the evolution of the gross public debt has worsened increasingly. Due to this pressure situation on the sustainability of public finances, examining the adoption, application and enforcement of the fiscal policy rules expressed by the evolution of the Fiscal Rule Index for the period 2000-2011, the importance of rules in the fiscal management of the Union and especially of the euro area appears increasingly obvious
CONCEPTUAL DELIMITATIONS REGARDING THE SALES FORECASTING METHODS. CASE STUDY FOR THE SEASONAL COEFFICIENT METHOD
One of the most important stages in the budget drafting process is the sales forecasting. As a matter of fact, the sales affect the whole activity of a company, their variation being considered the main risk factor for the performance and the financial position of the company. Sales forecasting starts with analyzing the turnover over a longer period of time. It includes all the studies and calculations made in order to determine the potential market to which the company can get access, as well as the part of it that the company is estimated to cover. There are several methods for planning the amount of sales, each company being able to choose one or more such methods. All the sales forecasting methods have advantages and disadvantages; however, in practice it was proved that most large companies use a combination of several methods. However, when there are seasonal variations each year, the seasonal coefficient method is used in order to forecast the sales. The exemplification of this method is done on the level of an production industrial company
THE INFLUENCE OF MACROECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON CREDIT RISK: CASE OF ROMANIAN BANKING SYSTEM
This paper aims to explore the interactions between macroeconomic conditions, such as: real GDP growth rate, inflation rate, market interest rate, broad money supply, foreign exchange rate fluctuation and unemployment rate, and credit risk in Romanian banking sector during 2008-2013. The interrelations of indicators’ complexity imply a multidimensional statistical analysis in order to find a relation between the macroeconomic conditions and the credit risk. Our regression analysis findings confirm the hypothesis according to which the money supply growth rate and the market foreign exchange rate are negatively related with credit risk and the unemployment rate is positively related with it. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the credit risk is significantly and negatively affected by the exchange rate fluctuation and significantly and positively affected by the unemployment rate. The results do not indicate a significant relationship between credit risk and real GDP growth rate