Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Branch plate'

There has been much enthusiasm over the power of online brand communities (OBCs). Ensuring that OBCs achieve their potential, however, is a challenge. Adopting the view that an OBC is a social entity at its core, this study examines consumers’ perceptions of OBCs and how consumers manage the continuous tension between social-related and brand-related aspects of OBCs through brand-related and non-brand-related social practices. The researcher took a symbolic interactionist approach and qualitative data were collected using ethnography and in-depth interviews from OBC participants in South Korea. The study was divided into two phases: the exploratory phase and the main study. In the first stage the researcher inspected OBCs and focused on understanding the social context by investigating four OBCs in the fashion and digital camera categories. Evidence of an OBC as a virtual third place (VTP) in the consumer’s mind was revealed. A typology was developed and social practices were revealed and defined. In the main study the researcher developed the framework of brand meaning negotiation and revealed how consumers symbolically interact and negotiate brand meaning through social practices. The tension between social-related and the brand-related aspects during this process was illustrated. The key contributions of this research are as follows. Firstly, the study reveals that an OBC has a strong VTP quality, whereby consumers hate to leave. Second, the study extends our understanding of an OBC by categorising consumers’ different perceptions of OBCs according to their attachment to the brand, the OBC and other participants. Third, the study reveals underlying social practices within OBCs that show the characteristics of a collectivistic culture. The study also fills the research gap by examining the brand meaning negotiation process and suggesting a framework that shows how underlying practices link brand and social-related aspects of an OBC together, which was formerly a “black box”. Lastly, it demonstrates that social bonds, regardless of their importance for making an OBC thrive, can be a double-edged sword and should be balanced carefully with brand-related practice.

Titel: Stadsdelen som varumärke - Invånares uppfattningar om Gävles stadsdelar   Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i ämnet företagsekonomi   Författare: Martina Engebretzen Jonsson & Josefin Lundström   Handledare: Jonas Kågström   Datum: 2013 - Augusti Syfte: Syftet med detta examensarbete är att analysera hur varumärket för en stadsdel uppfattas i en medelstor stad och om undersökningar som tidigare gjorts på länder och städer kan appliceras och tas ned till stadsdelsnivå. Metod: I den här studien kommer en kvantitativ metod med en deduktiv ansats att användas. Vidare kommer det positivistiska synsättet att ligga till grund för utformandet av studien. En enkät har utformats, utifrån en modifiering av City Brands Index, anpassad för stadsdelar. Resultatet på enkäten har sedan sammanställts och analyserat i statistikprogrammet Minitab samt Excel där ett nytt index tagits fram. Resultat och slutsats: Vi kan se att det föreligger uppfattningar som gör stadsdelarna till ett varumärke. Det finns tydliga indikationer på vad som utgör en populär stadsdel och till en önskvärd plats att bo på. Ryktet har stor påverkan för såväl den positiva som negativa uppfattningen om stadsdelar som varumärken. Detta är något som både allmännyttan, fastighetsmäkleri, privata fastighetsbolag samt kommunens stadsplanering kan ha intresse av vid utvecklande av områden. Förslag till fortsatt forskning:Studien kan göras om efter ett par år för att se förändringen av uppfattningen kring stadsdelarna, och sedan jämföra med hur lång tid som krävs för stadsdelar gentemot den tid det tar för länder och huvudstäder att ändra sin brand image internationellt. Uppsatsens bidrag: Studien bidrar till den forskning som finns inom områdena för place branding och city branding. Detta då det testas om tidigare forskning kring länder och/eller städer som varumärken även går att applicera på dimensionen stadsdelsnivå, samt att fokus läggs på invånarnas perspektiv.

Doutoramento em Engenharia Civil<br>This PhD thesis is focused on the characterisation of the out-of-plane seismic performance of stone masonry walls, where the development of an innovative fragility-based approach, founded on solid experimental outputs, analytical formulation and post-earthquake damage observation, was outlined as main objective. In order to achieve it, two groups of specific objectives were distinguished in function of the genesis of the work, and are discussed throughout the seven chapters that compose this document. The first chapter presents a brief introduction to the main topic of the work, the description of the general and specific objectives to be achieved and each one of the tasks performed to fulfil them. Chapter 2 presents a compact state-of-art review wherein the principal methodologies proposed to assess the out-of-plane behaviour of unreinforced masonry structures are presented and discussed. The experimental part of this research begins in the third chapter, where an in situ experimental campaign, performed on three masonry wall piers of an existing building, is presented. Chapter 4 aims at describing an experimental program conducted in laboratory environment to characterise the out-of-plane behaviour of unreinforced masonry piers. In the scope of this experimental campaign, six full-scale unreinforced regular stone masonry walls were tested resorting to two different loading techniques. Getting into the analytical part of the work, Chapter 5 presents a simplified analytical approach for the description of the out-of-plane seismic performance of unreinforced regular stone masonry wall, from an overturning moment-rotation relationship and Chapter 6 is focused on the calibration of a seismic vulnerability method, on the basis of fragility results constructed from damage limit-states obtained resorting to the analytical approach proposed in the fifth chapter. Finally, an overall synopsis of the work, the most relevant results and conclusions achieved and some future research lines are presented and discussed in Chapter 7.<br>Esta tese de doutoramento foca-se na caraterização do desempenho sísmico para fora do plano de paredes de alvenaria de pedra, através do desenvolvimento de uma nova metodologia baseada na fragilidade destes elementos, assente em observação experimental, formulação analítica e observação de danos pós-sismo. De forma a atingir este objetivo, definem e discutem-se neste documento dois grupos distintos de objetivos em função da génese experimental ou analítica dos trabalhos. Assim, no primeiro capítulo apresenta-se uma breve introdução ao tópico principal do trabalho e discutemse objetivos gerais e específicos a atingir em cada uma das tarefas definidas. O Capítulo 2 apresenta um estado de arte exaustivo, onde as principais metodologias propostas na bibliografia para avaliar o comportamento sísmico de estruturas de alvenaria de pedra não reforçada, são apresentadas e discutidas. A parte experimental deste trabalho inicia-se no capítulo terceiro, com a apresentação de uma campanha experimental in situ conduzida num edifício existente, localizado na ilha do Faial, Açores, e onde foram ensaiadas três paredes de alvenaria com condições de reforço distintas. O Capítulo 4 descreve um trabalho experimental conduzido em ambiente laboratorial, com o objetivo de caracterizar o comportamento para fora do plano de nembos de parede. No âmbito desta campanha experimental, construíram-se e testaramse seis nembos de parede em alvenaria de pedra regular não reforçada, com recurso a duas técnicas de ensaio distintas. Entrando no parte analítica do trabalho, o Capítulo 5 apresenta uma metodologia analítica capaz de descrever de forma simplificada a resposta sísmica para fora do plano de paredes de alvenaria de pedra regular, através de uma relação de momento fletor-rotação. O Capítulo 6 é dedicado à calibração de uma metodologia de avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica, com base em resultados de fragilidade obtidos através de estados limite de dano definidos através da metodologia analítica proposta no Capítulo 5. Finalmente, no sétimo capítulo apresenta-se a síntese geral do trabalho desenvolvido, discutem-se os principais resultados e conclusões obtidas e desvendam-se algumas linhas de investigação futura.

This study investigates the potential to develop an analytical framework for the measurement of city brands. The research objectives are: (1) to identify any city brand attribute dimensions; (2) to develop a research framework to investigate the city branding related attributes that impact on city branding; (3) to develop a research process to identify additional attributes or variables that have not been recognised as components of city branding in related literature; (4) to develop a city brand measurement tool; and (5) to refine a city brand measurement tool using a case study approach. The research process took a standard format of literature review, method development, data collection and analysis, work critique and further work discussion. The purpose of the literature review was to identify a gap in the city branding academic literature in relation to the existence of a concise city branding measurement framework. A judgement was made that the literature search should also incorporate three brand related subject areas: corporate branding (including corporate reputation); city branding and country branding. The primary research instrument phase 1 was then developed. It took the form of a combined semi-structured interview guideline and a questionnaire. The semi-structured interview was devised to detect potential attributes not identified in the literature review. The questionnaire was devised to test the veracity of the finalised potential city branding attributes derived from the literature review. The target audience consisted of city branding experts from four cities: Dubai; Dublin; Manchester; and Moscow. This enabled views from different cultures and aspects to be explored. They were interviewed and asked to complete the questionnaire. The results of the primary research phase 1 were analysed. New potential attributes were identified from the semi-structured interviews; and added to the listings. Furthermore, most potential city branding attributes were retained from the questionnaire analysis. However, some of the attributes were deemed to be not applicable and deleted from the research instrument. The primary research instrument phase 2, a questionnaire, was derived from the remaining potential city brand attributes from the phase 1 questionnaire analysis and the addition of the potential new attributes. A sample of one hundred and fifty people took part in the research focused on the cities of London and Paris. The sample population consisted of an international population who are UK and Irish residents. It was established that participants had awareness and some knowledge of the two target cities. The results from the primary research instrument phase 2 were initially analysed using exploratory factor analysis. The results provided a refined list of potential city brand attributes. The attribute list was loosely grouped into three dimensions: city brand personality; city business and infrastructure attributes and city cultural/educational and history related attributes. These results were then analysed using confirmatory factor analysis. Subsequently 46 city brand attributes were identified: 16 within a city personality dimension, 16 within a business related and infrastructure dimension and 14 within a history and culture dimension. The finalised city brand measurement framework is then described. An ensuing critique of this study and suggestions or further related work is provided.

The purpose of this study was to identify what business executives do to counteract unwanted cultures within male dominated trades. This study will investigate two questions that are based on how business management experience the culture within an organization and what they do to actively prevent unwanted norms, attitudes and values in a work place. Nine semistructured interviews were conducted utilizing a qualitative method. All interviewees were in a position of power within male dominated trades. Collected data was analysed with an inductive thematic analysis which resulted in four main themes. The first main theme was trade culture, within which jargon and generational shift are discussed. The second main theme was the challenges and advantages of leadership. This theme discusses company leaders' ability to correct behaviors and be a good role model. It is also about diversity and employer - employee relations. The third main theme was safety culture, which concerns the idea of clarifying and reinforcing certain behaviors and expectations. The fourth and last main theme was the work of change. This theme enlightens the support that leaders may offer, as well as the values that permeate a workplace.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-06-15T11:41:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 tiagogorettiribeiro.pdf: 14610105 bytes, checksum: 342856f7fd70b932297dccfbc20df267 (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-13T14:09:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 tiagogorettiribeiro.pdf: 14610105 bytes, checksum: 342856f7fd70b932297dccfbc20df267 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T14:09:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tiagogorettiribeiro.pdf: 14610105 bytes, checksum: 342856f7fd70b932297dccfbc20df267 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25<br>CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>A formação do centro urbano da cidade de Juiz de Fora/MG na região em que se estabeleceu deve-se, em grande medida, à sua principal via, a avenida Barão do Rio Branco. No início do século XIX, a história da cidade integra-se à formação da avenida e as influências cidade-avenida passam a ser recíprocas. Com o intuito de elucidar essas relações, a presente dissertação apresenta o histórico da avenida e suas principais transformações, através da identificação dos marcos históricos na paisagem. O entendimento das características da paisagem urbana e do espaço público tornou-se necessário para a análise das intervenções ocorridas. O recorte temporal da pesquisa aqui relatada inicia-se em 1836, data relacionada ao desvio que deu origem à avenida, estendendo-se até os dias atuais. Como área de estudo, considerou-se a avenida Barão do Rio Branco em toda a sua extensão. Tratou-se de uma pesquisa de natureza básica, configurando um estudo de caráter documental e bibliográfico, através de revisão bibliográfica, coleta de dados primários, iconografia e dados aferidos pelo autor para a caracterização da via na atualidade. A interpretação do histórico da avenida contribui para o esclarecimento dos meandros de sua formação, sobretudo datas específicas e períodos. As intervenções relacionadas cronologicamente possibilitaram a observação dos rebatimentos na conformação da malha urbana, identificando o papel da avenida como importante articuladora da área central. As transformações na paisagem e na conformação da avenida também puderam ser observadas em seus diferentes períodos, visto que, ao longo do tempo, a avenida Barão do Rio Branco passou por muitas alterações que tiveram significativo impacto na paisagem de Juiz de Fora. De caráter estrutural ou embelezamento, essas alterações mostram a grande importância da avenida nesta cidade.<br>The formation of theurbancenter of Juiz de Fora/MG in theregion where it isestablished, is duelargelyto its main route, the Barão do Rio Branco Avenue. In the early nineteenth century the history of the city is part of the formation of the avenue and city-avenue influences become reciprocal.In order to elucidate these relationships, this research shows the history of the avenue and its major transformation, by identifying landmarks in the landscape, space and time. Understanding the features of the urban landscape and public space has become necessary to analyze the interventions occurred. The time frame begins in 1836, when related to the detour that resulted Avenue, extending to the present day. As the study area considered the Barão do Rio Branco Avenue in all their extension. This is a basic nature of search, setting a documentary and bibliographical study, developed at the Post Graduate Program in Built Environment of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, through literature review, primary data collection, iconography and data measured by the author to characterize the road today. The interpretation of the avenue's history helps to clarify the intricacies of their training, particularly specific periods and dates. Related interventions in chronology enable observation of repercussions in shaping the urban fabric, identifying the role of the avenue as an important articulator of the central area. The changes in the landscape and Avenue conformation could be observed at different periods, as over time the Barão do Rio Branco Avenue goes through many changes that had a significant impact on Juiz de Fora landscape. Structural or beautification character, these changes show the great importance of the avenue to the city.

Dans le contexte actuel d'une prise de conscience environnementale générale, concernant plus particulièrement la gestion des polymères en fin vie, la thèse se propose d'étudier la substitution d'une matrice non biodégradable (Polyéthylène) par une matrice biodégradable (Polybutylene Succinate) dans le cadre de la propriété singulière de thermorétraction mise à profit dans le secteur de l'emballage.Ce travail de thèse, cofinancé par un industriel du secteur de l'emballe et par l'Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maitrise de l'Energie (ADEME) a donc consisté à :- Mettre en évidence l'influence des branchements longs contenus dans certains polymères, ainsi que leurs mélanges avec des polymères linéaires sur le comportement rhéologique en cisaillement et en élongation,- Proposer une modélisation de la contrainte interne stockée lors de l'étape de mise en forme par extrusion de film à plat (extrusion dite « cast ») en vue de prédire la contrainte de thermorétraction,- Etablir le lien entre la structure des matériaux, ses conditions de mise en œuvre et la morphologie du film final afin d'établir une corrélation avec le taux de rétraction.Dans un premier temps, cette étude a été réalisée sur des matrices modèles de polyéthylènes et ensuite transposée à une matrice biodégradable de Polybutylène Succinate<br>Due to environmental concerns growth including the management of the end of life of polymer wastes, the present work proposes to study the feasibility of a substitution of conventional non-biodegradable polyethylene by a biodegradable matrix of Polybutylene Succinate in order to produce heat shrinkable films with equivalent properties. This property is mostly used in the packaging industry to wrap product such as six packs bottles, cans or other food products together.This work half-financed by a packaging company based in France and by the French environment and energy management agency consisted on:- Highlight the impact of the macromolecular architectures of the polymers and their blends on the rheological behavior under shear and elongational flow,- Developing a modeling approach of the stress stored in the molten polymer during the cast film extrusion process in order to predict the shrinkage stress,- Correlate the structure of the materials with their processing conditions and the morphology(ies) of the final film in order to correlate them with the shrinkage rate.The first part of this work was dedicated to the understanding of the shrinkage mechanism and to develop an approach on polyethylenes matrices used as models and then to transpose this approach to a biodegradable matrices of Polybutylene Succinate and therefore conclude on the feasibility of the use of such a matrices for heat shrinkable films for packaging application

Le devenir des branches artérielles émergentes de la proximité d’un anévrysme intracrânien et couvertes par un stent à diversion de flux lors le traitement de l’anévrysme reste controversé. Une recherche animalière de caractère translationnel a été conduite afin d’élucider le rôle du flux collatéral dans les changements hémodynamiques apportés par un stent a diversion de flux. La couverture néointimale relative aux modifications hémodynamiques aux ostia de ces artères a été également évaluée. Pour atteindre notre objectif, nous avons cherché à quantifier les changements hémodynamiques dans les artères couvertes à leurs origines et à quantifier leur surface de couverture par le tissu endothélial à 3 mois après le placement du stent à diversion de flux dans un modèle animal porcin.Méthodes Suivant une analyse de pouvoir statistique a priori, deux groupes (A, B), chacun contenant sept porcs de race large white, ont été créés, suivant un modèle de flux de circulation artérielle terminale ou anastomotique. Groupe A correspondait à une configuration artérielle de type anastomotique pour l’artère Pharyngienne ascendante droite et groupe B à une configuration terminale concernant la même branche ; cette configuration terminale a été créée par l’occlusion endovasculaire sélective des apports artériels collatéraux pour le territoire de suppléance de l’artère Pharyngienne ascendante droite. Ensuite, pour chacun des 14 animaux, un stent à diversion de flux a été placé dans la carotide interne droite couvrant ainsi l’ostium de l’artère pharyngienne ascendante homolatérale. Pour mesurer les vélocités à l’origine de cette artère, une séquence IRM de contraste de phase tridimensionnelle avec une résolution temporelle (4D) a été utilisée. Des valeurs ont été obtenues avant et après stenting. Trois mois plus tard, un travail de prélèvement anatomique suivi d’une analyse par microscopie à balayage anatomique a été a été réalisé. Une quantification surfacique a été ainsi obtenue permettant de déterminer la perméabilité des ostia des artères pharyngienne ascendante. Les données ont été ainsi analysées grâce à des tests de statistique descriptive et comparative des deux groupes prédéterminés. Des tests paramétriques et non paramétriques ont également été obtenus. Résultats La faisabilité a pu être obtenue dans tous les spécimens utilisés. Nous n’avons déploré aucune mortalité immédiate ni aucune occlusion intra-stent relatives à la procédure. Les séquences IRM de diffusion ont témoigné de l’absence d’ischémie distale à la phase aigue après la mise en place du stent, Immédiatement, en post stenting, le flux moyen dans les artères pharyngiennes ascendantes droites du groupe a été réduit d’une façon significative, quand on le compare à la valeur moyenne en pré- stenting [P = 0.0008, pouvoir statistique: 0.9548]. Au contraire, le flux moyen dans les artères pharyngiennes ascendantes droites du groupe B est resté comparable à la valeur moyenne pré- stenting. Apres trois mois de suivi, la valeur moyenne de surface perméable était significativement plus élevée dans le groupe B (527,911 ± 306,229 μm2) que dans le groupe A (89,329 ± 59,762 μm2) [P&lt; 0.01, power: 1.00], malgré la similarité les dimensions artérielles initiales (pré-stenting) dans les deux groupes. Une corrélation positive significative a été retrouvée entre les deux groupes concernant le flux moyen post stenting et la surface moyenne de couverture aux ostia, à trois mois de suivi<br>The outcome of jailing arterial branches that emerge near intracranial aneurysms during flow-diverting stent deployment remains controversial. We report an animal research study aiming to elucidate the role of collateral supply in the hemodynamic changes and neointimal modifications resulting from jailing arteries with flow-diverting stents. To serve this purpose, we sought to quantify the hemodynamic changes at the jailed arterial branches immediately after stenting, as well as quantify the ostia surface values at three months post-stenting, in the presence or absence of collateral arterial flow. Methods After a priori power analysis, two groups (A, B), each containing seven large white swine, were created according to an animal flow model for terminal and anastomotic arterial circulation. Group A corresponded to an arterial configuration with anastomotic type of arterial supply for the territory of the right Ascending Pharyngeal artery (APhA) and group B to an arterial configuration of terminal type of arterial supply for the territory of the right APhA. Subsequently, all animals were stented by flow-diverting stents, jailing the right ascending pharyngeal arteries. Mean flow rates and velocities inside the jailed branches were quantified before and after stenting by time-resolved, 3D, phase contrast MRA. After three months the jailed ostia surface values were quantified on scanning electron microscopic images. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and group comparisons with parametric and non-parametric tests.Results Endovascular procedures were feasible, without in situ thrombus formation or ischemic DWI findings on post-procedure MRIs. Immediately following stenting, mean flow rate values at the jailed right ascending pharyngeal arteries were reduced in group A, as compared to the pre-stenting values [P = 0.0008, power: 0.9548]. In contrast, mean flow rates for group B remained similar to the pre-stenting values. At three months post-stenting, mean ostia surface values were significantly higher for group B (527,911 ± 306,229 μm2) than for group A (89,329 ± 59,762 μm2) [P&lt; 0.01, power: 1.00], even though the initial dimensions of the jailed ostia were similar between groups. A statistically significant correlation was found between group (A or B), mean flow rates post-stenting and ostia surface values at three months. ConclusionWhen important collateral supply was present, jailing side arteries with flow-diverters resulted in an immediate, significant reduction in flow rate inside these arteries, as compared to the pre-stenting values. In contrast, when competitive flow was absent, jailing did not result in significant flow rate reductions inside the jailed arteries. Ostium surface values at three months were significantly higher in the terminal group of jailed arteries, compared to the anastomotic group and strongly correlated with the velocity value reductions post- stenting. Key words: flow-diverting stent, collateral arteries, endothelialization, ostium, embolization, magnetic resonance angiography, magnetic resonance imaging

Ce document est la synthèse d'un parcours de recherche en mécanique étalé sur plus de dix ans et intéressant différents secteurs de la mécanique. La thèse se compose de trois parties principales. La première partie concerne les activités rattachées à la thèse de doctorat, portant sur l'optimisation des dimensions de la coque d'une plate-forme pétrolière de type TLP. Les deux thèmes traités dans la recherche sont rapidement présentés: la simplification des solutions pour le calcul des actions de la houle en théorie de la diffraction et la mise au point du procédé pour la détermination des dimensions de la coque de poids minimal. La deuxième partie porte sur une recherche de mécanique non linéaire: l'application de la Méthode Asymptotique Numérique (MAN) à la détection des points de bifurcation de l'équilibre d'une structure élastique et au suivi des branches de réponse post-critique. Après un bref rappel de la MAN, on montre la formulation théorique de la recherche et des exemples numériques traités, avec une discussion des résultats obtenus. La troisième partie concerne une série de travaux dans le domaine des matériaux composites, ayant pour fil conducteur l'utilisation de la méthode polaire en analyse, conception et identification des stratifiés en composite. Après une présentation détaillée et complète de la méthode polaire, les recherches développées dans ce domaine sont présentées, en les distinguant en quatre parties. Le chapitre 8 porte sur les stratifiés découplés ou quasi-homogènes, dont on met en évidence la découverte des solutions de type quasi-trivial, en soulignant leurs propriétés. Ensuite, on aborde la conception de stratifiés isotropes, totalement ou en partie, ainsi que celle des stratifiés formés de couches à symétrie carrée. Le point commun à ces travaux est l'approche entièrement analytique, qui a permis de dégager des solutions exactes pour chacun des problèmes cités. Dans le chapitre 9 on présente une formulation unique, sous forme d'un problème classique de l'optimisation structurale non convexe, d'un grand nombre de problèmes de conception des stratifiés, tandis que le chapitre 10 porte sur la mise au point d'un algorithme génétique de nouvelle conception, BIANCA, pour la conception et optimisation des stratifiés. Toujours en thème d'optimisation, le chapitre 11 porte sur une étude, théorique et numérique, de sensibilité de certaines solutions aux défauts d'orientation des couches. Le chapitre 12 concerne la découverte d'un cas particulier d'orthotropie plane, dite orthotropie R0, dont les caractéristiques assez singulières seront mises en évidence, ainsi que la façon d'obtenir un tel type de lamina et l'intérêt à son utilisation. Finalement, le dernier chapitre concerne certaines applications de la méthode polaire à l'identification des propriétés élastiques et de rupture des composites.

Syfte och Forskningsfråga Följande flerfallsstudie behandlar relationen mellan fenomenet filmturism och destinationsvarumärken. Utifrån fenomenet ställer studien frågan vilka förutsättningar film skapar för uppbyggnad av destinationsvarumärken. Syftet med studien är därmed att göra en inventering av destinationers möjligheter och begränsningar vid varumärkesbyggande vid filmturism.   Metod Flerfallsstudien har härletts ur en deduktiv ansats, där tre fall har utgjort analysobjekt. Insamling av empirisk data har skett genom fem intervjuer med informanter knutna till studiens fall där turismaktörens perspektiv representeras. De tre studerade fallen har utgjorts av Ystad med filmerna om Wallander, Skopelos med filmen Mamma Mia! och Arendal med filmen Frozen. En andra metod som genomförts är webbaserad enkätundersökning med 161 respondenter som representerar turistens perspektiv.   Resultat och Slutsats Studien har kunnat visa på vilket sätt fallen arbetar med sina destinationsvarumärken och vilken påverkan filmerna haft på destinationerna. Det har även framgått att flera förutsättningar uppstått som går att arbeta med vid uppbyggnad av destinationsvarumärken. Slutligen har ett tydligt band mellan film och destination identifierats inom studiens fall och även att redan existerande förutsättningar som funnits på destinationerna är av vikt vid etablering av filmturism. En slutsats som har dragits är att förutsättningar för varumärkesbyggande av destinationer är komplexa och kan påverkas av faktorer som gör varje destinations förutsättningar unika. Studien har kunnat visa på att filmturism inte är ett passivt marknadsföringsverktyg utan måste aktivt arbetas med för att bygga upp destinationens varumärke.<br>Purpose and research question The following multiple case study is treating the relationship between the phenomena of film tourism and destination branding. Within the subject, the thesis is asking the question which prerequisites films creates for building destination brands. The purpose of the study is therefore to do an inventory of destinations possibilities and limitations when building a brand through film tourism.   Method The study has been carried out with a deductive approach, where three cases has been the objects for analysis. Gathering of empirical data has been done by conducting five interviews with informants bound to the cases, representing the tourism actors perspective. The three cases of the study is Ystad with the movies about Wallander, Skopelos with the movie Mamma Mia! and Arendal with the movie Frozen. A second method which has been conducted is a web-based survey with 161 respondents, representing the perspective of the tourist.   Result and Conclusions The study has shown in what ways the cases are working with destination brands and which impact the films has made on the destinations. Findings has also been found in how multiple prerequisites has emerged, which can be used in the work with building a destination brand. As a conclusion, a clear bond between a film and a destination has been identified within the cases of the study, and also how the already existing prerequisites at the destinations is of importance when establishing film tourism. A conclusion which has been drawn is how prerequisites for building a destination brand, are complex and can be influenced by factors which makes every destination’s prerequisites unique. The study has shown how a film is not a passive tool for marketing, but has to be used actively by destinations to build a brand.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:03:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lilian pureza.pdf: 2774999 bytes, checksum: 2a074d04ee02c7e1c87fdbe8c2c68ef6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-10-20<br>The aim of this work is to present a formulation and corresponding computational implementation for sizing optimization of plane frames and cable-stayed columns considering geometric non liner behavior. The structural analysis is based on the finite element method using the updated lagrangian approach for plane frame and cable elements, which are represented by plane truss elements. The non linear system is solved by the Newton-Raphson method coupled to load increment strategies such as the arch length method and the generalized displacement parameter method, which allow the algorithm to transpose any critical point that happen to appear along the equilibrium path. In the optimization process the design variables are the heights of the crosssection of the frame elements, the objective function represents the volume of the structure and the constraints impose limits to displacements and critical load. Lateral constraints impose limits to the design variables. The finite difference method is used in the sensitivity analysis of the displacement and critical load constraints. The optimization process is carried out using three different optimization strategies: the sequential quadratic programming algorithm; the interior points algorithm; and the branch and bound method. Some numerical experiments are carried out so as to test the analysis and the sensitivity strategies. Numerical experiments are presented to show the validity of the implementation presented in this dissertation.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho é a otimização de dimensões de pórticos planos e de colunas estaiadas planas pela minimização do volume da estrutura, considerando os efeitos da não-linearidade geométrica em seu comportamento. A formulação utiliza, para análise das estruturas, elementos finitos de pórtico e de treliça planos e referencial lagrangeano atualizado. O método de Newton-Raphson foi utilizado como estratégia para solução do sistema de equações não lineares. Foram acopladas estratégias especiais para ultrapassagem de pontos críticos que possam existir ao longo da trajetória de equilíbrio, tais como o comprimento de arco cilíndrico e o controle dos deslocamentos generalizados. Na otimização, as variáveis de projeto são as alturas das seções transversais dos elementos, a função objetivo é o volume do material e as restrições dizem respeito a limitações impostas a deslocamentos e à carga limite, além de limitações impostas aos valores das variáveis. A sensibilidade da função objetivo foi obtida por diferenciação direta e a sensibilidade das restrições pelo método das diferenças finitas. Foram utilizados o algoritmo de programação quadrática seqüencial, PQS, o algoritmo de pontos interiores, PI, e o algoritmo de Branch and Bound, B&B. São apresentados exemplos de validação das estratégias de análise não linear e da análise de sensibilidade, além dos exemplos de validação da formulação empregada para a otimização resolvidos pelos métodos implementados.

Although branch plate connections with circular hollow section (CHS) members are simple to fabricate and cost-effective, they are generally very flexible under low load application resulting in the limit states design resistance being governed by an imposed deformation limit. Restricting the ultimate capacity of a branch plate connection by a deformation limit results in the inherent strength of the CHS member being under-utilized, highlighting the need to develop connection stiffening methods. Two methods to stiffen branch plate-to-CHS connections are examined: a through plate connection and a grout-filled CHS branch plate connection. Further, the current design guidelines of various plate-to-CHS connection types are reexamined including the effect of chord axial stress and chord length on connection behaviour. Finally, the behaviour of connections with non-orthogonal or skew plate orientation, which has not previously been examined, was studied in depth.The behaviour of these uniplanar connection types under quasi-static axial loading was studied through 16 large-scale laboratory experiments and 682 numerical finite element analyses, as well as an extensive review of all previous international experimental and numerical findings. The extensive study formed the basis for a complete set of proposed design guidelines and provided insight into plate-to-CHS connection behaviour. For all plate-to-CHS connection types, the plate thickness is shown to effect connection capacity, though previously this was thought not to have significant impact on connection behaviour. The existing ideology of using the same design recommendations for tension- and compression-loaded connections, which was developed from compression results, under-utilizes an inherent increase in capacity provided by a connection primarily loaded in tension. As such, the recommended design guidelines split the two load senses into separate expressions that reflect the difference in behaviour. Stiffened through plate connection behaviour was determined to be the summation of branch plate behaviour in compression and tension, leading to a significant increase in capacity and identical behaviour regardless of branch load sense. The skewed branch plate connection behaviour was found to relate directly to the established behaviour of longitudinal and transverse plate connections. A design function was developed that interpolates the capacities of intermediate angles by using the proposed design recommendations of the two extreme connection types. Finally, the examination of chord axial stress and chord length for plate-to-CHS connections yielded results similar to previous international studies on CHS-to-CHS connections. The effect of chord length, however, has wide-reaching implications as to how experimental and numerical FE research programs are developed.

博士<br>國立中興大學<br>土木工程學系<br>91<br>Hydroelectric engineering never causes pollution of environment. Waterway of hydroelectricity generally is under significant pressure of internal water. The high tensile strength of steel plate is used as constructional material of waterway, called as penstock, for the economical consideration. In order to bring exploitative benefit into full play, the various quantity and types of bifurcation are set up on the basis of design and economical consideration. The cracks, induced by the defects of material or bad construction, affects the safety and endurance of hydroelectric power plant. Thus, this paper is probing into mechanics and buckling problems resulted from the mechanics phenomena of penstock and bifurcation with crack. Furthermore, in order to ensure the reliability of material and construction quality of penstock and bifurcation, a set of analytical methods are set up for evaluating the quality of material, constructional efficiency and performance. The numerical verification of infinitely small element analysis method, proposed in this paper, confirm that these methods are suitable for analyzing the stress intensity factor of penstock and weld line with crack. The proposed method combined with finite difference method is really useful for analyzing the buckling sequence of stiffened plate with crack. Especially, this method can easily analyze the problem of kinked crack that the crack growth rate is higher than the other crack types. The singular orders of crack vertical on weld line and along long axis are 0.499 and 0.545 respectively. The stress intensity factors KI are converged to 0.996. This synthetic method provides a convenient technique for solving cracked plate problems and can definitely locate the local buckling zones. Especially, the sequence of local buckling zones can be pointed out easily. In accordance with the crack on weld line of stiffening plate, the stiffening efficiency will be dropped obviously. To achieve the high engineering quality, the quality evaluation model is established to ensure the superior steel material and engineering quality. A whole set of easy ways and procedures for construction industries to evaluate the quality of hydroelectric power plant based on principles of statistics is proposed in this paper. Where the indices of precision, accuracy degree and tensile strength of steel are used to evaluate the quality of steel. Separately, the multi-process capability analysis chart is proposed to analyze the quality of various types of steel material for judging the quality capability of ironwork. In order to attain the excellent engineering quality, the unilateral quality property of weld efficiency is used to derive and develop an objective evaluation tool. A systematic and practical evaluation method for welding performance is contributive to control and manage quality and performance of weld. Therefore, a set of evaluation method is proposed in this paper to judge the performance of welding operator and welding technician. The characteristic of this research proposes a new skeleton of index of welding performance to adopt explicit quantity expression to calculate this index. A set of hypothesis inspection procedure is proposed to examine the welding performance of welding operator and welding technician that is the basis of substantial theory.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2004.<br>Title from title page screen (viewed Sept. 20, 2004). Thesis advisor: Kenneth Stephenson. Document formatted into pages (vi, 63 p. : ill. (some col.)). Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-62).

碩士<br>國立中正大學<br>電機工程研究所<br>104<br>Abstract The design of compact CMOS branch-line couplers in millimeter-wave bands was presented in this thesis. The ultra-compact chip size was achieved by the combination of capacitive load and ground-plane raise techniques. To demonstrate the proposed design, two branch-line couplers in Q- and V-band were designed in 0.18-m 1P6M standard CMOS technology. The first chip has the simulated 2.2 dB insertion loss, 1.6 dB coupled loss and larger than 15.2 dB return loss in 34-42 GHz. The phase imbalance is ±2°and the amplitude imbalance is±0.7 dB in 34-42 GHz. The chip size is 0.07 mm2, equivalent to 0.0012 λ_"g" ^2, excluding the input and output GSGSG pad area. The second chip achieved a measured insertion loss of 1.8 dB, the coupler loss of 2.1 dB, the return loss of 21.3 dB in 55-65 GHz. The measured phase imbalance is ±2°and amplitude imbalance is ±0.3 dB in 55-65 GHz. The chip size without pad is 0.035 mm2, equivalent to 0.0014 λ_"g" ^2. The measurement results agree very well with the simulation. This demonstrates the proposed capacitive load and the ground-plane raise technique can effectively reduce the chip size while keeping high coupler performance. Index Terms—branch-line coupler, capacitive load, millimeter-wave, CMOS, multilayer circuits, size reduction.

碩士<br>國立交通大學<br>電信工程研究所<br>103<br>This thesis proposes an universal serial bus(USB) dongle antenna design with dual frequency band and miniaturized radiator and ground plane structure for wireless local area network(WLAN). An USB dongle antenna has to be compact and narrow shaped. For a dual-band design, most USB dongle antenna related literatures suggest a solution with dual independent resonant paths to resonate independently at two frequency band. The dual-path method, however, creates the disadvantage of a larger size. In order to reduce the antenna’s size for a narrow substrate, many antenna designs adopt either a folded or a meandering radiator at the cost of decreased gain and efficiency. Furthermore, miniature of the antenna could lead to resonant band shifting and impedance mismatching due to the fact that the major portion of the antenna being the ground plane. The technical challenges described above would be overcome and elaborated on in the thesis. For the optimal signal coverage, the ideal radiation pattern of an USB dongle antenna should be horizontally uniform. While the dipole and monopole antenna designs both meet the pattern requirements, the latter was adopted for it being almost half the size of the former. To overcome the size issue arises in the dual independent path design, a structure of dual L-shape branch strips was introduced for dual frequency band. My design provides a common resonant path for both frequency band with not only minimal mutual interference but also the fact that the modification can be made to both two frequency band separately. By assuring ideal radiation pattern and avoiding the destructive interference, My design could avoid the disadvantages of lower gain and efficiency in folded and meandering designs. General USB dongle antennas requires larger ground plane to decrease the resonant frequency for lower frequency band and better impedance matching. The radiator structure proposed in this thesis possess strong coupling to the ground. The shape of the ground plane can thus be modified for decreased size and increased length of the slot for lower resonant frequencies. The tapered design is used at the feed line for better impedance matching, which results in uniform current distribution and better energy transit. The gap between the radiator and the ground is also adjusted so that the best impedance matching can be met. By utilizing the dual L design and modifying the radiator, the goal of a satisfying miniaturized dual-band USB dongle antenna design can finally be achieved. The testing results showed that the antenna give satisfying gain and bandwidth in dual frequency band which cover 2.4 to 2.483 GHz and 4.9 to 5.9 GHz. Besides, uniform radiation patterns in dual frequency band are also achieved. The design details and the experiment outcomes will be elaborated on in this thesis.

碩士<br>國立中山大學<br>資訊工程學系研究所<br>94<br>Recently magnetic resonance imaging has become more and more popular in clinical applications. In clinical studies, the heart of the TOF patient has some congenital defects. These defects lead to insufficient blood flowing into the pulmonary arteries, rendering the necessary of repair for TOF patients. However, even after repair, the blood in pulmonary arteries still cannot flow in the same way with those of normal people. For this reason, studies on the flow behavior of pulmonary arteries in TOF patients would be valuable in clinical applications. In this study, we focus on the quantitative analysis of in-plane flow in branch pulmonary arteries (left and right pulmonary arteries) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) by means of phase-contrast MR imaging. The regurgitation and turbulence were evaluated by coefficient of variance (CV) and regurgitant fraction. Vector map of in-plane flow was also included in order to facilitate the observation of flow patterns. Our result shows a positive correlation of CV and regurgitant fraction in terms of turbulence and regurgitation. Therefore, we conclude that CV and regurgitant fraction as well as vector maps may be helpful to quantitate in-plane flow for after repair of TOF patients, providing a more accurate analysis in clinical diagnosis.

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Eletrónica Industrial e Computadores<br>Desde sempre, o ser humano procura alternativas para substituir o trabalho que executa. Devido ao avanço tecnológico nos últimos anos e à tendência exigida pela globalização da produção ser contínua, a indústria tem vindo a apostar na automatização das suas fábricas. Com níveis de exigência elevados e com um maior número de processos, que eram antigamente realizados por mão-de-obra humana, a produção é cada vez maior, rápida, programada e contínua. Dos vários processos que têm vindo a ser desenvolvidos de forma automatizada, encontram-se as operações de manipulação. Estas operações, envolvem a movimentação de objetos de um lugar para o outro, sendo pick-and-place um exemplo disso. Devido à exigência atual, os equipamentos têm de ser mais flexíveis, mais rápidos e mais precisos. Assim, a robótica assumiu-se como sendo a solução, pois é conhecida pelas suas características de precisão e repetibilidade de movimento. A solução encontrada propõe retificar um sistema robotizado de montagem automático para substituição de linhas manuais tradicionais, em concreto, a montagem de quadros brancos com peças de plástico (topo e base) e perfis de alumínio (laterais). Estas peças, que compõem a estrutura externa dos quadros, são montadas e aparafusadas manualmente. Por ser um processo repetitivo, aborrecido e com uma produtividade baixa, é natural a necessidade de automatizar esta linha. Assim, foi prevista uma solução utilizando dois robôs (braço robótico - KUKA KR 16-2) e duas mesas para montagem e aparafusamento dos quadros. Na solução geral, o primeiro robô agarra num quadro branco e o mesmo é colocado na primeira mesa, onde ocorre a montagem dos perfis de alumínio e das peças de plástico que compõem a estrutura externa do quadro. De seguida, o segundo robô coloca o quadro completo na segunda mesa, onde ocorre o aparafusamento do quadro e onde se amolga os perfis de alumínio, completando assim o quadro. Esta dissertação descreve parte da solução prevista, que envolve um robô e a mesa de aparafusamento. Assim, é necessário a programação do robô, isto é, a marcação dos pontos de trajetória que é percorrida pelo mesmo, do controlo da mesa de aparafusamento, dos sinais do robô e do HMI, através do controlador lógico programável (PLC). Por fim, é feita a otimização da célula utilizando o programa kuka sim 2.2.<br>Human beings have always been searching for alternatives to replace the work they perform. Due to technological advances in recent years and the trend demanded by globalization for production to be continuous, the industry has been focusing on the automatization of factories. With high levels of demand and with a greater number of processes that were formerly performed by human labor, production is faster, programed and continuous. Of the several processes that have been developed in an automated manner, there are the manipulation operations. These operations include moving objects from one place to another, being pick-and-place an example of this. Due to the current requirements, equipment has to be more flexible, faster and more accurate. Thus, robotics was assumed to be the solution as it is known for its precision and repeatability characteristics of motion. The solution proposes to rectify a robotic automatic assembly system to replace traditional manual lines, specifically the assembly of whiteboards with plastic parts (top and bottom) and aluminum profiles (sides). These parts, which make up the external structure of the frames, are assembled and screwed by hand. As it is a repetitive, boring and with low productivity process, the need to automate this line is natural. Thus, a solution was foreseen using two robots (robotic arm - KUKA (KR 16-2)) and two tables for assembly and screwing the frames. In the general solution, the first robot picks up a whiteboard and places it on the first table, where the aluminum profiles and plastic parts that make up the outer frame of the board are assembled. Then, the second robot places the complete frame on the second table, where the frame is screwed in and the aluminum profiles are dented, thus completing the frame. This dissertation describes part of the intended solution, which involves a robot and the screwing table. This required the programming of the robot, including, the marking of the path points to be crossed by the robot, the control of the screwdriver, the robot signals and the HMI, through the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Finally, cell optimization was carried out using the program (kuka sim 2.2).

Le problème de conception de réseaux est un problème qui a été beaucoup étudié dans le domaine de la recherche opérationnelle pour ses caractéristiques, et ses applications dans des nombreux domaines tels que le transport, les communications, et la logistique. Nous nous intéressons en particulier dans ce mémoire à résoudre le problème de conception de réseaux avec coûts fixes et sans capacité, en satisfaisant les demandes de tous les produits tout en minimisant la somme des coûts de transport de ces produits et des coûts fixes de conception du réseau. Ce problème se modélise généralement sous la forme d’un programme linéaire en nombres entiers incluant des variables continues. Pour le résoudre, nous avons appliqué la méthode exacte de Branch-and-Bound basée sur une relaxation linéaire du problème avec un critère d’arrêt, tout en exploitant les méthodes de génération de colonnes et de génération de coupes. Nous avons testé la méthode de Branch-and-Price-and-Cut sur 156 instances divisées en cinq groupes de différentes tailles, et nous l’avons comparée à Cplex, l’un des meilleurs solveurs d’optimisation mathématique, ainsi qu’à la méthode de Branch-and- Cut. Notre méthode est compétitive et plus performante sur les instances de grande taille ayant un grand nombre de produits.<br>The network design problem has been studied extensively in the field of operational research given its characteristics and applications in many areas such as transportation, communications, and logistics. We are particularly interested in solving the multicommodity uncapacitated fixed-charge network design problem, with the aim of meeting the demands of all the products while minimizing the total cost of transporting commodities and designing the network. This problem is typically modeled as a linear integer program including continuous variables. To solve it, we applied the exact method of Branch-and-bound based on linear relaxation with a stopping criterion, while exploiting the column generation and cutting-plane methods. We tested our Branch-and-Price-and-Cut algorithm on 156 instances divided into five groups of different sizes, and we compared it with Cplex, one of the best mathematical optimization solvers. We compare it also with the Branch-and-Cut method. Numerical results show that our method is competitive and perform better especially on large-scale instances with many commodities.

De nombreux problèmes en transport et en logistique peuvent être formulés comme des modèles de conception de réseau. Ils requièrent généralement de transporter des produits, des passagers ou encore des données dans un réseau afin de satisfaire une certaine demande tout en minimisant les coûts. Dans ce mémoire, nous nous intéressons au problème de conception de réseau avec coûts fixes et capacités. Ce problème consiste à ouvrir un sous-ensemble des liens dans un réseau afin de satisfaire la demande, tout en respectant les contraintes de capacités sur les liens. L'objectif est de minimiser les coûts fixes associés à l'ouverture des liens et les coûts de transport des produits. Nous présentons une méthode exacte pour résoudre ce problème basée sur des techniques utilisées en programmation linéaire en nombres entiers. Notre méthode est une variante de l'algorithme de branch-and-bound, appelée branch-and-price-and-cut, dans laquelle nous exploitons à la fois la génération de colonnes et de coupes pour la résolution d'instances de grande taille, en particulier, celles ayant un grand nombre de produits. En nous comparant à CPLEX, actuellement l'un des meilleurs logiciels d'optimisation mathématique, notre méthode est compétitive sur les instances de taille moyenne et supérieure sur les instances de grande taille ayant un grand nombre de produits, et ce, même si elle n'utilise qu'un seul type d'inégalités valides.<br>Many problems in transportation and logistics can be formulated as network design models. They usually require to transport commodities, passengers or data in a network to satisfy a certain demand while minimizing the costs. In this work, we focus on the multicommodity capacited fixed-charge network design problem which consists of opening a subset of the links in the network to satisfy the demand. Each link has a capacity and a fixed cost that is paid if it is opened. The objective is to minimize the fixed costs of the opened links and the transportation costs of the commodities. We present an exact method to solve this problem based on mixed integer programming techniques. Our method is a specialization of the branch-and-bound algorithm, called branch-and-price-and-cut, in which we use column generation and cutting-plane method to solve large-scale instances. We compare our method with CPLEX, currently one of the best solver. Numerical results show that our method is competitive on medium-scale instances and better on large-scale instances.

A aplicação da comunicação como ferramenta de marketing e estratégia pode ser uma vantagem para as empresas hoteleiras como para as regiões, de maneira a aumentarem a sua competitividade e as cidades divulgarem a sua atratividade. A mudança é necessária e, surge como oportunidade de modificar a imagem regional, o que leva o lugar a assumir-se como marca, que é cada vez mais importante para a formação da cidade. O principal objetivo deste estudo passa por idealizar, antes de mais, uma estratégia de comunicação para a marca Hotéis Bom Jesus, que passará por focar, mais tarde, o posicionamento e o incremento da marca, junto dos seus consumidores, obtendo uma ligação da unidade hoteleira à cidade de Braga, que funcionará como alavanca. No que concerne à metodologia, consiste em uma investigação mista, optando pela elaboração de dois questionários, que foram executados no mês de Maio a Junho de 2018, de forma a perceber o que afeta a perceção do consumidor através da comunicação praticada pelo Hotel, relacionando-o com a cidade de Braga. No questionário efetuado ao público em geral, com uma amostra de 238 inquiridos e no segundo, com os clientes da Cadeia de Hotéis Bom Jesus, com 41 inquiridos. Os resultados apontam para um elemento que assenta na diferenciação por parte dos hotéis, sendo considerado como a localização e, apontam ainda para a possível ligação entre a cidade de Braga e a marca adjacente.

The electromagnetic coupling of a microstrip transmission line (MS-TL) to a metamaterial backward wave Negative-Refractive-Index transmission line (NRI-TL) is the primary investigation of this dissertation. The coupling of forward waves in the MS-TL to the backward waves in the NRI-TL results in the formation of complex modes, characterized by simultaneous phase progression and attenuation along the lossless lines. Through network-theoretic considerations, we investigate the properties of these modes in the complex-frequency plane of the Laplace domain to help unravel the confusion that has existed in the literature regarding the independent excitation of a pair of conjugate complex modes. We show that it is possible to arbitrarily suppress one of the modes over a finite bandwidth and completely eliminate it at a discrete set of frequencies using proper source and load impedances. Hence we use conjugate modes with independent amplitudes in our eigenmode expansion when we analyse various coupling configurations between the two types of lines (MS/NRI-TL coupler). We derive approximate closed-form expression for the scattering parameters of the MS/NRI-TL coupler and these are complemented by design charts that allow the synthesis of a wide range of specifications. Moreover, these expressions reveal that such couplers allow for arbitrary backward coupling levels along with very high-isolation when they are made half a guided wavelength long. The MS/NRI-TL coupler offers some interesting applications which we highlight through the design and testing of a 3-dB power splitter, a high-directivity signal monitor and a compact corporate power divider. We have included design, simulation and experimental data for the fabricated prototypes exhibiting good agreement and thereby justifying the theory that has been developed in this work to explain the coupling between a right-handed MS-TL and a left-handed NRI-TL.

Les problèmes de conception de réseaux ont reçu un intérêt particulier et ont été largement étudiés de par leurs nombreuses applications dans différents domaines, tels que les transports et les télécommunications. Nous nous intéressons dans ce mémoire au problème de conception de réseaux avec coûts d’ajout de capacité. Il s’agit d’installer un ensemble d’équipements sur un réseau en vue de satisfaire la demande, tout en respectant les contraintes de capacité, chaque arc pouvant admettre plusieurs équipements. L’objectif est de minimiser les coûts variables de transport des produits et les coûts fixes d’installation ou d’augmentation de capacité des équipements. La méthode que nous envisageons pour résoudre ce problème est basée sur les techniques utilisées en programmation linéaire en nombres entiers, notamment celles de génération de colonnes et de coupes. Ces méthodes sont introduites dans un algorithme général de branch-and-bound basé sur la relaxation linéaire. Nous avons testé notre méthode sur quatre groupes d’instances de tailles différentes, et nous l’avons comparée à CPLEX, qui constitue un des meilleurs solveurs permettant de résoudre des problèmes d’optimisation, ainsi qu’à une méthode existante dans la littérature combinant des méthodes exactes et heuristiques. Notre méthode a été plus performante que ces deux méthodes, notamment pour les instances de très grandes tailles.<br>Network design problems received a particular interest and have been widely studied because of their many applications in different areas, such as logistics and telecommunications. We focus in this work on the multicommodity capacitated network design problem with capacity expansion costs. It consists in opening a set of facilities on a network in order to meet the demand of some commodities, while respecting the capacity constraints. Each arc can admit several facilities. The objective is to minimize the commodities transportation costs, and the fixed costs of opening or increasing the capacity of the facilities. The method we are using to solve this problem is based on techniques used in integer programming, including column generation and cutting-plane methods. These methods are introduced into a general branch-and-bound algorithm, based on linear relaxation. We test our method on four groups of instances of different sizes, and we compare it with CPLEX, which is one of the best solvers available for optimization problems. We compare it also with an existing method in the literature, combining exact and heuristic methods. Numerical results show that our method was able to outperform both methods, especially when tested on large scale instances.