Wave overtopping pressures and spatial distribution behind rubble mound breakwaters

Currently, there is no widely accepted method to determine the pressure profiles induced by wave overtopping behind the crest of a breakwater other than physical modelling. In this experimental study, the spatial distribution of overtopping pressures on a vertical structure is investigated at various distances behind a rubble mound breakwater with a crown wall. A 2D physical modelling study in presented in an attempt to derive a practical method for estimating these overtopping pressures. The variability of overtopping wave pressures behind the crest of a breakwater is also discussed. Rule of thumb guidelines are proposed which will contribute to better concept and schematic structural designs in advance of physical model testing

An Artificial Immune Network for Distributed Demand-Side Management in Smart Grids

In this work we present a Distributed Demand-Side Management system based on the Artificial Immune Network algorithm. It implements an intelligent, distributed and autonomous control of the customer's Air Conditioning devices in order to meet the desired demand. The system is particularly adapted to tackle the Peak Load problem that appears in Tropical and Subtropical climates due to the use of thousands of these devices at the same time. The design follows the guidelines set by the Smart Grid paradigm, in the sense that it is fault tolerant, distributed and self-controlled. It requires minimal communication infrastructure when compared to a centralized system. The algorithm was evaluated using synthetic and real data. We define Maximal and Average Tolerance as performance metrics, and show that the system keeps the consumption within 1% of the given load limit in all 5 cases

Cost of capital and Australia's banking investment abroad

As foreign direct investment in banking is part of trade in financial services and as the prospects of Australia's trade in financial services to Asian countries has increased, this paper intends to analyse and measure Australia's foreign direct investment in banking. The paper distinguishes between banks' activities abroad and investors' (banks and nonbanks) FDI in banking. The flow model of FDI in banking based on the eclectic theory of FDI identifies those factors which are most relevant to financial services as opposed to manufacturing. The empirical results of this study indicate that the relative cost of capital, the size of the foreign banking market, the exchange rate, relative economic growth, FDI in manufacturing and Australia's banks' foreign assets are the major determinants of her FDI in banking.