We carried out differential measurements of temperature and image motion in a convective Rayleigh-Bénard water tank to test the assumption of Kolmogorov turbulence. Careful selection of the experimental methodology is required to arrive at the agreement between theory and experiment.

Abstract: One of the recurring problems in the construction industry is its recognised lack of productivity due to different factors, among which could be highlighted the fragmentation of the information flow between the different phases of the project life cycle and the difficulty in communication between the different stakeholders. To address this, the industry has reacted through the use of prefabrication and the implementation of new technologies such as Building Information Modelling. The aim is to improve both productivity, through mass customisation, and the flow of information between phases and stakeholders in the projects, through the use of software and platforms, which also give the possibility of automation with processes such as Generative Design. The dissertation investigates the use of these technologies in the area of prefabrication in construction, focusing on the current implementation of configurators and the associated automation that could be derived from their use for the development of projects. Taking a hybrid prefabrication system (wood and concrete) currently used by CASAIS company as a case study, the research seeks to develop a framework that exploits the modular characteristics of these systems, especially in the design phase. It is in this phase where it is possible to take advantage of the limited number of parameters of the prefabricated elements in automating the generation of design proposals and in obtaining information related to KPIs, which would, in turn, allow a more objective feasibility analysis during this first phase of the project. The indicated solution is, firstly, the proposal of a methodology to develop a configurator applied to the case study, which uses tools and/or platforms, that are currently present in the market related to BIM and the construction industry. Then the dissertation continues with the specific development of the section of the methodology corresponding to the generation of the computational model, and for this purpose visual programming is used, taking as initial information the relevant parameters and data to be obtained that are typical of the prefabrication system studied. The research seeks to make a contribution to the current progress in terms of productivity and information flow that has been developed in the construction industry with the implementation of prefabrication and BIM. With the use of configurators, associated with these new technologies, an incursion into automation methods is proposed, especially in the project gestation phases through Generative Design. Thus, by making use of the mass customisation possibilities offered by prefabrication systems and the integration of nonprofessional agents, (taking advantage of the ease of use of the configurators), a more integrated design process and a more objective decision-making process can be achieved, since it is based on more accurate data related to the feasibility of the projects.

Abstract: Risk analysis techniques help to identify threats, problems and anomalies in processes and systems that may affect the health and safety of employees, the environment, equipment reliability and normative compliance. In this thesis, a stochastic risk analysis with Monte Carlo simulation applied to FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis) was performed for a specific model of wind turbine located in the Alpha Ventus offshore wind Park. Monte Carlo simulations provide the decisionmaker with a range of possible outcomes and the probabilities of occurrences of these results, that are derived mainly from the uncertainty associated to the subjectivity of judgement from a group of experts. As a supplementary method to the stochastic FMECA, Risk Assessments Matrix (RAM) was also used for bivariate distributions of Severity and Occurrence of the identified failure modes. The results obtained were compared to the results that would be normally obtained with a conventional FMECA and RAM and will serve in future steps to develop Risk-Based Inspection plans for this model of wind turbine in this offshore wind park.

Abstract: The co-combustion of coal and waste biomass is an advantageous option for combined waste biomass disposal and energy production. However, co-firing coal with waste biomass has to overcome various ash-related operational problems, for example, ash agglomeration and bed defluidisation in fluidised bed boilers. Using spent coffee grounds (SCG) for energy generation via co-combustion is much more sustainable and environmentally friendly than SCG disposal in landfills. The research done so far on the co-combustion of coal and SCG is quite scarce and almost non-existing. Further research is needed to understand how the properties of SCG affect the co-combustion of coal and SCG in existing coal-fired boilers. This study investigates the combustion of a bituminous coal blended with SCG in a pilot-scale (30kWth) bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) combustor focusing on CO and NOx emissions, combustion performance, and agglomeration tendency. The BFB combustion tests were conducted at 900 ?C and atmospheric pressure using silica sand as the bed material. For comparison purposes, combustion tests of the same coal in pure and blended with wheat straw pellets at the same blending ratio were also performed. Further, ash fusibility studies were performed to elucidate the interactions between the coal ash and SCG ash, and the effect of ash compositions on the fusibility temperatures. Samples of the used bed material collected from the combustor and cyclone ash were characterised by SEM-EDS and XRF. The BFB combustion test results revealed that SCG could reduce the efficiency loss of coal combustion under co-combustion conditions. Despite the higher K2O content in SCG compared to wheat straw, a reduced agglomeration tendency was observed with the BFB combustion of the coal-SCG blends. The results from the characterisation of the used bed material, cyclone ash, and ash fusibility studies confirmed this finding, which was attributed to the formation of high melting temperatures Mg- and Ca-bearing compounds.

Cultura 2.0. Técnicas de investigación en entornos digitales, trata de desvelar las técnicas necesarias para introducirse en el apasionante mundo de las comunicaciones mediadas por ordenador y el magnífico escenario que se abre a las ciencias sociales. A través de las experiencias de investigación de los autores en el ciberespacio, se analizan los pros y los contras de cada método. Para comprender los entornos digitales, partimos de la herencia de la antropología clásica, son viejas técnicas para nuevos tiempos, técnicas especiales para trabajos especiales. Una nueva antropología para comprender al nuevo ser humano interactuando con la máquina.

En este libro se proporcionan algunas directrices y soluciones para que la producción de contenidos web sea correcta y eficiente, tanto desde el punto de vista empresarial como desde la perspectiva de los usuarios.

El libro introduce el concepto de interoperabilidad tecnológica y los principales ámbitos de aplicación, como son: comercio electrónico, administración electrónica, elearning, bibliotecas digitales, y otros.

Ahora que Internet se consolida como campo de investigación, este libro quiere desarrollar un análisis sociohistórico y crítico en torno a las principales metáforas que se han utilizado para estudiar la Comunicación Mediada por Ordenador: el ciberespacio, la comunidad virtual y la identidad virtual.

Internet ha dado un nuevo sentido al término contenidos. Los contenidos han cobrado un nuevo valor, mayúsculo, y, en cambio, la mayoría de estos contenidos se acaban ofreciendo gratuitamente. ¿Cuál es la legislación aplicable, cómo se desarrollan y cómo se evalúan estos contenidos? Además, con internet el peso de usuario de los contenidos ha crecido y ahora quien los produce se preocupa por cómo los presenta.