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Currently in Transylvania there are over 600 castles, considered monuments belonging to the world or national heritage. Some of them have disappeared, some are in an advanced degradation, the vast majority being in different stages of degradation, but recoverable, through very expensive investments. The first condition for them to start a program of recovery and put them again in the tourist and cultural circuit is to know exactly the state in which they are, to evaluate the costs. The development of geomatics technologies now allows for the high fidelity assessment of this aspect. These included Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) - Total Stations + Levels precision, terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry, laser scanners with fixed stations, for each presenting technical data and products analyzed sequentially and corroborated-complementary. The purpose of the entire action was to establish a Workflow as dedicated as possible to the requests of the specialists involved in such projects, architects, builders, restorers, historians, cultural people, etc. The paper can highlight a model of good practices in this field, the researches continuing, by consulting the beneficiaries of products from the range offered through these activities.

The paper is focused on identifying the main requirements for developing a CPPS demonstrator prototype. This research aims to categorize the main components and interactions within a new manufacturing system which are required to accommodate a CPPS. The proposed CPPS demonstrator also includes the preliminary requirements identified from the discussions with the regional industry, so that the prototype of the production system could be easily understood and also be the basis for further collaborations. The identified requirements were structured according to the top-down principle focusing on accomplishing the major objectives to be achieved through the prototype of the production system but also on the detailed concepts of the product and the production stations, thus preparing the choice for a concrete technical solution.

Currently, the daily increase in the requirements of fossil fuels such as diesel oil, coal or natural gas is obvious, but at the same time we also witness their excessive consumption. Awareness of the energy and environmental problems associated with the burning of fossil fuels, as well as the need to find other alternatives that meet the growing demand for energy in the world, has encouraged the research for new alternative fuels. The research aims at developing a capitalization method for animal fat waste from the leather industry, by analyzing a combustion technology of mixtures made up of this waste and liquid hydrocarbon.

The paper presents an investigation on the conditions for implementing a methanation membrane decarbonator coupled to an energy installation that generates flue gases. The retention of the carbon dioxide content in the flue gases and its conversion to methane is envisaged. For start, low thermal power installations, employing natural gas as main fuel supply, are considered. Internal combustion engines (also working with natural gas fuel) are taken into account for the testing of the carbon dioxide retention process. For this, a classification of the flue gas composition by fuel categories is initially carried out. The decarbonation efficiency is defined and clarifications are made withal regarding the connection between the decarbonation installation and the energy plant. The first practical achievements are also presented, resulting from a decarbonator with a volume of 940 cm3 (having the inner diameter of 12 cm and a height of 50 cm). The results prove that the proposed solution has great potential for practical applications, further research being however necessary. In terms of operating costs (including hydrogen consumption), it is remarked that they can be reduced by exploiting the methane production and eliminating the carbon tax, extending the integration perspective form economic point of view.

Office workers often lead sedentary lifestyles, a lifestyle responsible for higher risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and premature mortality. Improvements towards a more active lifestyle reduce cardiovascular risks and thus changing the sedentary lifestyle might prevent chronic illness. The Recurring Sedentary Period Detection (RSPD) algorithm described in this paper was designed to identify recurring sedentary periods using data from an activity tracker, summarise the sedentary periods and pinpoint notification times at which the user should be motivated to get some movement. The outcome of the RSPD algorithm was validated using data from a 10-week period of one typical office worker. Our results show that the RSPD algorithm could correctly identify the recurring sedentary periods, compute fitting daily summaries and pinpoint the notification times correctly. With minor differences, the RSPD algorithm was successfully implemented in the healthyMe smartphone applicati

Additive Manufacturing technologies have gained a lot of popularity during the past years. The current challenge being the transition of this manufacturing technology from prototype oriented towards mass production. In order to achieve this, fabrication times and mechanical parameters must be improved. This paper aims to identify which are the parameters that have the highest influence on parts obtained with fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology from ABS material. In addition, this study identifies which are the most accurate methods to test the mechanical properties of FDM parts while still respecting ASTM standard for testing the tensile properties of plastics. It was found that ASTM D638-02a type I samples are the most suitable to perform tests on high anisotropic plastic materials. The experiment also demonstrates that the build orientation and the wall thickness of FDM fabricated parts has the highest influence on the mechanical properties.

This paper introduces a viable and economical solution for reducing the impact of fossil fuels combustion on the environment. The new proposed energy vector solid biomass-hydrogen combines the positive effect of biomass on the carbon emissions and the ones of hydrogen clean gas. The researches regarding hydrogen diffusion (pure or mixed) within biomass are part of a wider research conducted by the authors on utilization of hydrogen as active environment for combustion of solid biomass. The researches focus on the development of an innovative efficient technology for co-combustion of solid biomass with hydrogen enriched gas (HRG). The HRG is produced by an electrolytic system. The combustion of various types of solid biomass like sawdust, chopped wood, straw briquette, ropes of wine, cobs corn, and energy willow with and without HRG is analyzed. The results of thermal and environmental analyses are leading to interesting conclusions. By injecting HRG in the primary air in the co-combustion process of biomass, the flame temperature increased by 10%, the CO concentration decreased by 60–80% for specific ratio 15 L/kg, and the combustion efficiency raised by 2–4%. The results reveal the reduction by 40% of SO 2 concentration, while the NOx concentration increased by 10%.

This work proposes a design method for flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). The method reduces the learning curve by helping employees to solve problems related to the design and optimization of the layout, operation and control of FMS, avoiding the drawbacks of current tools. The approach uses Domain Specific Modeling Languages (DSML) for specification of FMS. The paper presents the definition of the DSML and the implementation of the graphical modeling and simulation tool bringing important contributions to development of the domain through the use of constructions from categories theory for DSML specifications. This mathematical basis allows the definition of constraints to avoid supplementary costs and eventual damages through incorrect or incomplete specification of the solutions. By interconnecting with ADOxx of the DSML and tool developed, facilitates access to other analysis and simulation tools like Bee-up, Petri net, better exploration of the design space and extended support for the design activity.

The organizations from private sector are living into an era of innovation, innovation that can be enhanced through research inside academic sector. The European and national initiative is to foster collaboration between them and develop a climate of challenging both sectors pursuing innovation. The paper is proposing a model of collaboration between a private organization from automotive industry and four layers of higher education. The academic side: bachelor, master and PhD students together with a PhD Adviser, is involved into a vivid bidirectional feedback with the private organization, creating a Research Group. The methodologies used during research consist of bibliographic research, observational research inside organization and interview technique. The research proves that existing models tend to fall off when faced with frequent changes but the proposed one can enrich academic and private results. The main purpose of the model is to develop an efficient collaboration for R&D PPPs into creation of a Software platform that integrates the continuous improvement techniques inside projects, organizations and onto human resources.

In the worlds need for renewable energies environmental friendly solution, biogas production and usage has become one major interest topic which needs adjustments and research for every application domain. The tests carried out in a digester with anaerobic fermentation of animal protein revealed a gas which mainly contains CH4 and CO2. After an initial research of the biogas combustion using a burner with automatic drawing in air, which yielded good results, a burner using diffusion technology was also tested. Due to the fact that this is a feature of medium and large flows, switching to this technology also lead to a theoretical study of the combustion, in order to bring out the constructive solutions for burners and improve their settings. This paper highlights the strong connection between the biogas obtained by anaerobic digestion of the animal protein coming from leather industry and the main characteristics of the combustion process behavior.

In the last decades the major interest topic is the usage of renewable energies and their adjustment in order to comply at an industrial scale in such manner that many technical domains can solve their waste problem in an environmental method. The biogas is well known as an important source of energy that can be used as a solution to wastes with high content of protein, which is the case of leather industry, tanneries producing considerable quantities of organic wastes. The results obtained from an anaerobic digester using animal protein proved the existence of a gas with high concentration of CH4 and CO2. Taking into consideration the benefits that tanneries can achieve by the production and usage of the biogas, combustion tests with two different burners (automatic drawing in air and diffusive) were carried out in order to study the process behavior and to reach the adequate combination of parameters.

We present in this paper an overview of the concepts and potential industrial Augmented Reality applications that can be very efficient. We also present the basic technological requirements for an AR system

The present paper proposes a comparative study in order to determine the springback in single point incremental forming process. Using the Ls-Dyna software the process was simulated for one piece in frustum of pyramid shape. In the end of the explicit dynamic analysis, it was run, using the same software, an implicit analysis to determine the springback. For this comparison study we selected four different shell formulations. The results obtained in this simulation were compared with those obtained experimentally for the same part. The experimental research was conducted on a robot and, on the opposite side of the machined surface, an Aramis measuring optical system was placed to allow the online determination of deformations, displacements and thinning of material. Also, using this system, the springback was determined at the end of forming process. The closest values were obtained when using fully integrated formulation with thickness-stretch with 11 integration points on material thickness.

The development of viable partnerships with the business community is crucial for a sustainable development of universities in the current economic framework. The dialogue between academia and businesses may take place in different areas, like competences and skills needed to be developed for graduates, internships in companies, common research projects, trainings, funding a.s.o. The paper aims to present the experience of different universities across the world in developing successful partnerships and some of the success stories that can be identified in Romania, with the goal of proposing a framework for good practices within Romanian universities that will allow them to benefit from an appropriate dialogue with the business community in accordance with the European Union policies and that will foster their expansion.

Creating a systematic approach in designing and implementing of a new product, by considering all elements from lifecycle is integrating all the aspects of product, manufacturing and services process is one of the most advanced manufacturing method. The constantly team work between designing and manufacturing compartments is always reaching to the same point: higher quality-cost-time. Maturity of internet technologies, market shifts and increased competition forces the adoption of establishing offshore engineering centres where the combination from engineering and CAD software are working together for achieving new market goals. Collaborative Engineering is the key of business competitiveness.

Problem-based learning as a teaching tool is now used globally in many areas of higher education. It provides an opportunity for students to explore technical problems from a system-level perspective and to be self-directed life-long learner which is mandatory for equipping engineering students with the skill and knowledge. This paper presents a case study illustrating the effectiveness of implemented Problem-based learning (PBL) during five semesters in the undergraduate programs of Textile Engineering in Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST). An assessment has been done on the basis of feedback from the students as well as their employers by conducting an empirical survey for the evaluation of PBL impact to enhance the student's competencies. The Evaluations indicate that students have achieved remarkable competencies through PBL practices which helped them to be competent in their professional life.

The automotive industry faces future important changes through adoption of several new complex technologies like” X-by-wire” systems for vehicle dynamic control and high focus on green technology, fuel efficiency hybrids and electric vehicles. The implications of these technologies require in-depth understanding of the vehicle behavior during lifetime cycle, in order to reach a maximum optimized design. Therefore this paper introduces an analysis of a long-term capture data collection from a fleet of serial production vehicles in normal everyday use, as a solution to the lack of information available to describe the vehicle dynamics and load over the systems in a sufficient way. The analysis brings knowledge-based information, where before was difficult to answer and where statements were mainly based on subjective explanation. Results reveals important information describing load cycles during vehicle lifetime for different control events with focus on the braking events.

These paper aims to determine the influence of the most important geometrical parameters (vertical step and punch diameter) on the main strains, thickness reduction and the forces along two directions during the single point incremental forming process (SPIF). The paper comprises a comparative numericalexperimental study, for a simple geometry part obtained by incremental forming. In fact, in the first stage, the punch has a vertical motion with the value of one vertical step. In the second stage, the punch follows a linear trajectory along one side of the die. After each linear trajectory the punch has successive vertical motions, taking one vertical step at a time until the entire geometry of the part is done. In order to study the influence of the geometrical parameters, to the vertical step and the punch diameter were assigned three levels of variation. Following the selection of these geometrical parameters values, a factorial experimental program of type 32 has been adopted. The maximum values of the main strain and thickness reduction rises with the decrease of both vertical step and punch diameter and the maximum values of the forces are reached with the increase of both vertical step and punch diameter.

The present paper aims to develop a simple method based on inverse analysis that allows us to determine the laws of plastic flow coefficients and the friction coefficient between the material and punch. Selecting from different types of tests, we have chosen the Hecker test, because this test requires a single form of punch, the hemispherical one. In this test, the friction between the punch and the blank-sheet is caused by the blank-sheet strains and not by the movement it makes (as in deep drawing case). Besides the friction coefficient, other parameters like hardening and strength coefficients (n and k), influence the distribution of stresses and strains in the material. Using the Hecker test, we determined the curves force vs. displacement and major strain vs. displacement for three points located at different heights on the dome. Obtained from the test, these curves will stay on the basis of multi-criteria optimization analysis performed with LS-Dyna and Ls-Opt. The force vs. displacement curve was obtained using a hydraulic transducer and the major strains vs. displacement curves were obtained using the optical system Aramis which provides full information on the three-dimensional coordinates, displacements, strain variations, etc. On the other hand, using the Ls-Dyna software we will simulate the Hecker test and we will get the same types of curves (force vs. displacement and principal strains vs. displacement). Inverse analysis will consist in minimizing the “distance” between the curves obtained by simulation and experimentally obtained curves. We must to mention that this paper contains a big hypothesis: the identification is valid only for the chosen mesh and modelling of friction.

Agricultural land is one of the main resources for the development of rural communities and the peripheries of urban centres. An area of 936 km2, belonging to Intercommunity Association for Development Alba-Iulia, Transylvania region, Romania, was analysed in order to identify suitable land for agricultural use. This approach represents the stage preceding the identification of crops favourability for agricultural land, thus reducing the time and resources needed for the proper land evaluation mark. The extension of suitable surfaces for agricultural crops was realized using a GIS model based on spatial analysis, taking into account morphometric parameters (slope, altitude, slope orientation, the density of fragmentation) and the risk factors (probability of landslides, flooding, temperature and rainfall). The outcome of the case study was an agricultural land suitability map of the investigated area, which provides valuable information regarding areas suitable for crops. By applying this model, a better management of agricultural lands can be assured, representing an alternative to the classic method of evaluation marks. The proposed model was validated by comparing the results with the grades of crop suitability, method achieved through the land evaluation mark.

In order to be competitive companies evolved towards a Computer-Integrated Manufacturing system. We present in this paper an overview of potential applications of Augmented Reality that can provide positive results to the CIM approach. Also the paper comprises the results regarding how Augmented Reality is successfully tested and implemented on a FESTO assembly line.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the methodology that has adopted to implement PBL in textile engineering education at “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu (LBUS) which also highlights its potential influence on Six Sigma projects that has implemented in a textile manufacturing industry. The function of both PBL and Six Sigma approaches is to solve the problems by executing projects in a systematic way. Structurally, they are quite similar in nature. Many academic institutes around the world are currently introducing PBL to enhance the quality of higher education. On the other hand manufacturing units are trying to shorten their Six Sigma project duration, but interconnection between both issues is not always evident or addressed. Therefore, this study contributes to effective utilization of PBL in implementing Six Sigma projects. In this paper, at first PBL has been introduced in the textile engineering education through a collaborative project with a textile factory, where Six Sigma projects have also been executed simultaneously. The PBL team has contributed to the Six Sigma project team to solve the problem in factory premises. Finally, the students’ performance and the contributing effect of PBL activities to Six Sigma project have been assessed by conducting quantitative survey method containing structured questionnaires. The survey results revealed that the students’ performance has been upgraded through PBL activities. The PBL also showed a positive impact on executing Six Sigma project successfully and able to shorten the project duration. This paper has pointed out the necessity of introducing PBL to enhance the quality of textile engineering education as well as unifying PBL with Six Sigma approach for effective project execution within the Organization.

In Romania, the hydropower is the main form of renewable source with an important share in energy mix. Despite their valuable advantages on supplying energy and balancing the energy system, public acceptance, environmental, social and economic impact has become a common challenge in development of hydropower projects. Increasing of water consumption and raising awareness regarding available water resources leads to an integrated management approach of them. In this paper the water footprint is estimated for one of the largest Romanian hydropower project, namely Hydropower Plant Vidraru. The water footprint from hydroelectricity is evaluated considering electricity production of the hydropower plant, water footprint of dam construction and three different approaches to quantify water footprint of the reservoir: gross water consumption, net water consumption and water balance. Also, water footprint is assessed based on economic value of the reservoir using allocation coefficients for various purposes of the reservoir. It is estimated that economic benefit of the reservoir is 81.92·106 €/y, with hydroelectricity major contributor.

The theoretical term “gendering” encapsulates a constitutive part of organizational processes, reflected in (everyday practices on an institutional and a structural level [Acker, 1999]). Gendering denotes processes of interaction between women and men, often leading to segregation in the labor market, especially discrimination in promotion that favors men in hierarchical arrangements, manifested by higher wages and faster career promotion.

As an emerging concept, Knowledge Management (KM) has a great impact on organization and organizational performance. On the other hand, DMAIC is a well known methodology, used for solving organizational problems through Six Sigma projects.The main purpose of this study is to assess the impact of newly proposed DMAIC-KM integrated methodology in executing Six Sigma projects. For assessment, four Six Sigma projects have been executed using DMAIC-KM methodology within an airbag manufacturing unit. Afterward, the Opinion and Perception have been collected from the Project participant’s through conducting a quantitative survey regarding the Organizational benefits achieved after executing the DMAIC-KM methodology. The results revealed that the participant’s have expressed positive impression on improvement of different organizational measures. Therefore, this study would help to motivate the management of different companies to apply DMAIC-KM methodology in order to enhance their organizational performance.

The purpose of the article is to introduce possibilities of using Augmented Reality instructions in order to better understand technical drawings. The aim of these instructions based on 3D models is to create AR training applications and analyze their impact on the users. These instructions consist in a 3D model, superimposed over the technical drawing. The AR application also offers step by step instructions for 3D modelling in CAD software, which are very useful in creating the 3D model starting from a technical drawing. The AR application was tested by students from the Faculty of Engineering in Sibiu, obtaining great improvements in their 3D modelling times. The results of a survey that the students completed reveal that the AR modelling instructions also aids their spatial visualization capability.

In this paper, we propose an electrical design (implemented on a PCB board) and an accompanying software design for controlling the automatic gear change. The designs complement the mechanical solutions developed in Part 1. The paper also analyses the issues encountered during the intermediate steps of the development of the electronic module, which is expected to be small and adaptable enough to be installed on a motorcycle without changing its ergonomics. The control software runs on the Arduino Nano board and is built as a state machine with one idle state, five active states that cover different stages of the gear change and one error state for preventing malfunctions in case of an unexpected event. The sketch uses 5,760 bytes (or 18%) of program storage space and 706 bytes (or 34%) of the dynamic memory.

The paper presents a comparison study based on the numerical simulation with the finite element method (using the Ls-Dyna software) of incremental sheet metal forming and experimental researches regarding the same process. For this comparison study we selected four different shell formulations: Belytschko-Tsay (shell formulation number 2), fully-integrated shell formulation (shell formulation number 16) and two relatively new shell formulations Belytschko-Tsay with thickness-stretch (shell formulation number 25) and fully integrated with thickness-stretch (shell formulation number 26). In order to compare the results of the numerical simulations with the results of the experimental researches we focused on the maximum values of the main's strains, the thickness reduction and the forces on two directions.