Higher Institute on Territorial Systems for Innovation
PORTO Publications Open Repository TOrinoNot a member yet
91193 research outputs found
Sort by
Diamond wire cutting: A methodology to evaluate stone workability
No full textThe economic relationship between the companies that produce multi-wire cutting machines and the stone slab producers is based on the classification of the rocks, mainly determined by the users themselves, that take into account the relative ease of cutting. This classification is principally based on the cutting speeds (feed and peripheral), which are obviously correlated with stone properties and cannot be evaluated before the working phase. The aim of this study is to use inexpensive and simple tests to make, before cutting, a cuttability prediction of the new stone in order to avoid dangerous and expensive cutting endeavors when an unknown stone is being worked upon. In order to predict stone workability, the results of ultrasonic pulse velocity and Knoop micro-hardness on 18 different types of stone was correlated. Seven classes were drawn as follows : from 1 (easier to cut rocks) to 7 (harder to cut rocks). The results of this rock cuttability scientific classification provide a good correlation with the industrial classificatio
T4T: Tangible Interface for Tuning 3D object manipulation tools
No full textA 3D User Interface for manipulating virtual objects in Augmented Reality scenarios on handheld devices is presented. The proposed solution takes advantage of two interaction techniques. The former (named ``cursor mode'') exploits a cursor, which position and movement are bound to the view of the device; the cursor allows the user to select objects and to perform coarse-grain manipulations by moving the device. The latter (referred to as ``tuning mode'') uses the physical affordances of a tangible interface to provide the user with the possibility to refine objects in all their aspects (position, rotation, scale, color, and so forth) with a fine-grained contro
Node-dependent kinematics, refined zig-zag and multi-line beam theories for the analysis of composite structures
No full textA High-Level Approach to Analyze the Effects of Soft Errors on Lossless Compression Algorithms
No full textIn space applications, the data logging sub-system often requires compression to cope with large amounts of data as well as with limited storage and communication capabilities. The usage of Commercial off-the-Shelf (COTS) hardware components is becoming more common, since they are particularly suitable to meet high performance requirements and also to cut the cost with respect to space qualified ones. On the other side, given the characteristics of the space environment, the usage of COTS components makes radiation-induced soft errors highly probable. The purpose of this work is to analyze a set of lossless compression algorithms in order to compare their robustness against soft errors. The proposed approach works on the unhardened version of the programs, aiming to estimate their intrinsic robustness. The main contribution of the work lies in the investigation of the possibility of performing an early comparison between different compression algorithms at a high level, by only considering their data structures (corresponding to program variables). This approach is virtually agnostic of the downstream implementation details. This means that the proposed approach aims to perform a comparison (in terms of robustness against soft errors) between the considered programs before the final computing platform is defined. The results of the high-level analysis can also be used to collect useful information to optimize the hardening phase. Experimental results based on the OpenRISC processor are reported. They suggest that when properly adopted, the proposed approach makes it possible to perform a comparison between a set of compression algorithms, even with a very limited knowledge of the target computing syste
Application of a global kinetic model on an SCR coated on Filter (SCR-F) catalyst for automotive applications
No full textRisk Taking in Opportunity Evaluation
No full textIn spite of compelling advances in the notion of entrepreneurial opportunities in the past decade, the construct still undergo serious critics such as being metaphorical and not literal. One paramount reason for this shortfall is due to lack of instruments to evaluate objectively varieties of components of business opportunities such as risk and uncertainty. The process of discovering an opportunity starts from a subjective process of recognition, and it then involves further evaluation such as risk assessment to transmit it to an objective value. However, we know little about how the transformation from subjective to the objective state takes place within opportunity evaluation. Using Risky Framing concept, we contribute to this gap in knowledge. We use survey data of proxy entrepreneurs and examine their responses against a control group of non-entrepreneurs. Results show that the both groups adopt different risk levels when they confront opportunity scenarios. In addition, the risk levels adopted by the entrepreneurs was significantly greater than their non-entrepreneur counterparts. These findings provide new insights in the process of entrepreneurial alertness. The results discussed and implications for the future contributions are provide
Environmental and engineering performance assessment of biofilters and retention systems for pavement stormwater
No full textThis work is aimed at investigating the use of green infrastructure technologies for the infiltration of stormwater runoff from urban road pavements into soil, and as a means to support the evapotranspiration and harvesting processes. Porous concrete pavements and vegetated biofilters were considered to assess pollutant removal and hydraulic performances. The investigations were at bench-scale for single materials, and at column and box scale for composite structures. The pollutant reduction was determined on the basis of suspended solids, heavy metals and hydrocarbon concentration, with promising results that were found to be dependent on filter material characteristics, layer distribution, and permeability
Assessment of anaerobic co-digestion in areas with heterogeneous waste production densities
No full textThe investigation of technical and economic feasibility of anaerobic digestion in areas characterized by heterogeneous waste production densities is a crucial problem that needs to be carefully addressed. This research proposes a simple and flexible methodology for energy, economic and environmental analysis of wet and dry processes involving organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and sewer sludge as feedstocks, with biogas or bio-methane valorization in combined heat and power (CHP) units. Compared with existing literature, this methodology is a good tradeoff between the accuracy and amount of input data related with the territory, which is here limiter to the waste production density. The approach was applied to three areas in Italy, characterized by different population densities and socio-economic development, and therefore by variable waste production specific potentials. A comparison with the current waste management system was performed considering energy demand, investment and operational costs and equivalent carbon dioxide emissions. Results show that, with the current Italian subsidies, a wet process and bio-methane production is in general the best choice, but sufficiently large plants (>500 kW) are necessary. When smaller plants are preferred, a dry process with use of biogas in cogeneration systems may be better, particularly for areas characterized by limited waste production density (<4 t/y.km2). Concerning the environmental aspects, the best option in terms of greenhouse gas emissions is bio-methane production for all considered scenario
Estimation of the return period of rockfall blocks according to their size
No full textWith reference to the rockfall risk estimation and the planning of rockfall protection devices, one of the most critical and most discussed problems is the correct definition of the design block by taking into account its return period. In this paper, a methodology for the assessment of the design block linked with its return time is proposed and discussed, following a statistical approach. The procedure is based on the survey of the blocks that were already detached from the slope and had accumulated at the foot of the slope in addition to the available historical data