This paper presents the results of an experimental program that investigates the influence of specimen geometry on the compressive and split tensile strength of laterized concrete (LATCON). Four cylinder sizes were considered for the investigations: Ø150 mm × 300 mm, Ø150 mm × 250 mm, Ø100 mm × 200 mm and Ø100 mm × 100 mm. Analysis of variance tests showed that specimen geometry had significant impact on the strength of LATCON. The results further revealed that the average conversion factor (ratio of 28 days strength of non-standard cylinder to the strength Ø150 mm x 300 mm standard cylinder) was 0.90 to 1.18 for compressive strength and 0.46 to 0.91 for split tensile strength. A regression model using the data obtained in this study is also proposed to relate the 28-day strength of Ø100 mm x 100 mm nonstandard cylinder to that of Ø150 mm × 300 mm standard cylinders.

Several topics related to the renewable energy and the historical records of the petrol prices currently dominate the international scene. This rapid inflating fuel price resulted in the growing of the world's energies consumption related the growth of the world economy. In addition, the enormous environmental degradation, the political and socio-economic events which reveal the world’s precarious position related to the exhaustion of fossil energy reserves of the planet, have led most countries of the world to set a policy framework to promote energy conservation, environmental security and encourage the use of renewable energy technologies. This article presents a study of an Autonomous environmental friendly System of Electricity Production by a Mechanical Power Generation based on Solar-Heated HFC -134a Rankine Cycles system (ASEP-MPG-SHRC). This study is developed at the Laboratory of Electromechanical Systems of the National Engineering School of Sfax – Tunisia in order to produce autonomous electricity generation satisfying the priority needs of small villages non accessible to the electricity framework. This work focuses on the design, the modelling of the different components and the numerical simulation of the system functioning using the developed model based on a three types of mode: summer mode, yearly mode and winter mode of the ambient temperature and solar flux for Gafsa city-Tunisia. This simulation allows predicting the behaviour of the system following variations in both command parameters and external perturbations. The proposed design of the ASEP-MPG-SHRC consists of four loops, using an expander for electricity generation based on a solar-heated thermodynamic Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) operating at low temperature range.

Modification of Newton's method with higher-order convergence is presented. The modification of Newton's method is based on Bi's eighth-order method. Per iteration of the new method requires four-step. Analysis of convergence demonstrates that the order of convergence is 12. Some numerical examples illustrate that the algorithm is more efficient and performs better than classical Newton's method and other methods.

In this paper the classical Lie group formalism is applied to deduce new classes of solutions of a nonlinear partial differential equation (nPDE) of the fourth order, the so called Derrida-Lebowitz-Speer-Spohn equation (DLSS) importantly in several physical applications. Up to now no carefully performed symmetry analysis is available. Therefore we determine the classical Lie point symmetries including algebraic properties. Similarity solutions are given as well as new nonlinear transformations could derived. It is further shown that algebraic solution techniques fail so a symmetry analysis justifies the application. In addition, we discuss approximate symmetries to the first time and moreover we shall see that the DLSS equation admits a new symmetry, the so called potential symmetry. Broadly speaking, the analysis allows one to deduce wider classes of new unknown solutions either of practical and theoretical usage.

In this paper a new algebraic procedure is introduced to compute new classes of solutions of (1+1)-nonlinear partial differential equations (nPDEs) of scientific and technical relevance. The crucial step of the method is the basic assumption that the unknown solution of the nPDE under consideration satisfies an ordinary differential equation (ODE) of the first order that can be integrated completely. A further important aspect of this paper however is the fact that we have the freedom in choosing some parameters bearing positively on the algorithm. So the solution-manifold of any nPDE under consideration is augmented naturally. Since Lambert function involves several classes of unknown solutions in terms of further special functions could obtain. The present algebraic procedure can widely be used to study several nPDEs and is not only restricted to time-dependent problems. We note that no numerical methods are necessary and so closed-form analytical classes of solutions result. The algorithm works accurately, is clear structured and can be converted in any computer language. On the contrary it is worth to stress out the necessity of such sophisticated methods since a general theory of nPDEs does not exist.

This paper is devoted to a study of Orlicz function.

The universality discovered by M.J.Feigenbaum with non-linear models has successfully led to observe that large classes of non-linear systems exhibit transitions to chaos through period doubling route. In this paper, we consider a two parameter map of the plane viz. the Henon map, develop some useful numerical algorithms to obtain fixed points and bifurcation values of periods , We have shown how the ratio of three successive period doubling bifurcation points ultimately converge to the Feigenbaum constant. This ascertains that the Henon map follows the period doubling route to chaos.

The tanh method is a powerful solution method, various extension forms of the tanh method have been developed with a computerized symbolic computation and is used for constructing the exact travelling wave solutions, of coupled nonlinear equations arising in physics. The obtained solutions include solitons, kinks and plane periodic solutions. First a power series in tanh was used as an ansatz to obtain analytical solutions of traveling wave type of certain nonlinear evolution equations .The main properties of the method will be explained and then applied to particular and well-chosen examples in further works to establish more entirely new solutions for other kinds of nonlinear evolution equations arising in physics.

Macromolecular crystallization behaviour, especially those of liquid crystalline polymers, has been a subject of great interest. The crystallization process for the polyester samples under discussion are analyzed assuming a nucleation controlled process and by using the Avrami equation. The study mainly deals with the crystallization process from the mesophase of two thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters exhibiting smectic order in their mesophasic state. In order to analyze crystallization behavior of the polyesters, crystallization rate constant and the Avrami exponent have been estimated. Total heat of crystallization and entropy change during the transition have been calculated for both the polyesters.

Fuzzy control has been widely used in industrial controls, particularly in situations where conventional control design techniques have been difficult to apply. Number of fuzzy rules is very important for real time fuzzy control applications. This paper proposes a novel approach called block based fuzzy controllers. This study is motivated by the increasing need in the industry to design highly reliable, efficiency and low complexity controllers. The proposed block based fuzzy controller is constructed by several fuzzy controllers with less fuzzy rules to carry out control tasks. Performances of the proposed fuzzy controller are investigated and compared to those obtained from the conventional fuzzy controller. For this reason, a position control problem of dc motor and a speed control problem of vector controlled induction motor are chosen. With low computational complexity, simulation results show that the proposed block based fuzzy controllers effectively control the system.

Reputation systems aim to reduce the risk of loss due to untrustworthy peers. This loss is aggravated by dishonest recommenders trying to pollute the recommendation network. The objective of an honesty checking mechanism is to detect dishonest recommenders. Existing honesty checking mechanisms assume that contradicting recommendations are due to the dishonesty of the recommenders. However, such difference may be also due to the behavior change of the target peer. This paper shows the effect of such behavior change on the performance of existing honesty checking mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt at linking the behavior change to honesty checking.