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Energy security is of key importance for states and international organizations. An important issue in energy security is the assessment of current and future energy security methods. While the assessment of the current methods is relatively easy, since it is based on recent information, the assessment of the future methods is burdened with uncertainty and is therefore much more difficult. Therefore, the aim of the article is to develop a new approach for assessing current and future energy security issues based on a complex security index, supported by the computationally transparent fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method. The use of the fuzzy MCDA methods allows one to capture the uncertainty of assessments and forecasts, and the forecasts themselves were based on the Holt’s method; the international energy security risk index (IESRI) was used as the source of the data to generate the forecasts. The research compared two data sources for forecasts (IESRI categories and metrics) and two methods of forecast fuzzification. As a result, the forecasted assessments and rankings of energy security for the 2020–2030 period were obtained. On the basis of these forecasts, general trends shaping energy security were also indicated.

In the case of many complex, real-world decision problems solved with the participation of a group of experts, it is important to capture the uncertainty of opinions and preferences expressed. In such situations, one can use many modifications of the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) method, for example, based on fuzzy numbers. In fuzzy TOPSIS, two aggregation methods of fuzzy expert opinions dominate, the first based on the average value technique and the second one extended by the minimum and maximum functions for determining the support of the aggregated fuzzy number. An important disadvantage of both techniques is the fact that the agreement degree of expert opinions is not taken into account. This article proposes the inclusion of the modified procedure for aggregating individual expert opinions, taking into account the degree of agreement of their opinions (called the similarity aggregation method—SAM) and the ranking of experts into the fuzzy TOPSIS method. The fuzzy TOPSIS method extended in this way was used to solve the decision problem of recruiting employees by a group of experts. As part of the solution, the modified SAM was compared with aggregation procedures based on the average value and min-max (minimum and maximum) support. The results of the conducted research indicate that SAM allows fuzzy numbers to be obtained, characterized by less imprecision and greater stability than the other two considered aggregation procedures.

In the countries of the former Eastern Bloc (Central and Eastern Europe) belonging to the European Union, a gradual elimination of the technological gap, greater expenditures, competitiveness and productivity can be noticed. In this context, analysis and forecast of the level of accessibility and use of ICT (information and communication technologies) by households in these countries has become interesting. It allows for the selection of digitally excluded regions, or those threatened with this phenomenon in the coming years (2018⁻2020). To carry out the analysis, a framework based on fuzzy numbers and the NEAT F-PROMETHEE (New Easy Approach To Fuzzy-PROMETHEE) method was developed. The potential of the fuzzy outranking approach taking into account the uncertainty of input data (criteria and preferences) has been demonstrated as an alternative to the IDI (ICT Development Index) methodology widely used in research on regional ICT development based on composite indices. Research has shown that Estonia is the leader in the area of ICT expansion among households, and in the next three years will definitely maintain its dominant position. Slovenia follows shortly after, followed by Latvia. At the end of the ranking were the countries with the largest percentage in Central and Eastern Europe of population excluded digitally or threatened with this phenomenon; these are: Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria and, in last place, Romania. Within this framework, the robustness of the obtained rankings to change in the degree of uncertainty of preferences was also examined. It turned out that eliminating the uncertainty of preferences resulted in an increase in the uncertainty of the aggregate, fuzzy grades obtained at the output.

The basic dynamic characteristics of façade scaffolding are natural frequencies of vibrations and corresponding mode shapes. These properties affect the scaffolding safety, as well as comfort and safety of its users. Many of the dynamic actions present at scaffolding are in the low frequency range, i.e. below 10–15 Hz. The first natural frequency of a structure is usually in the range of 0.7 to 4 Hz which corresponds to resonant frequencies of human body and it means that vibrations induced at scaffolding may strongly affect the human comfort. The easiest way of increasing the rigidity of the structure is by ensuring correct boundary conditions (support, anchorage) and bracing of the structure. The numerical analysis was performed for the real scaffolding structure of medium size. The analysis consisted of natural frequencies calculation for the original structure and for models with modified bracing and anchoring systems. The bracing modifications were introduced by reducing or increasing the number of vertical bracing shafts. The anchor system was modified by reduction of the 6 anchors in the top right corner of the scaffolding in three stages or by evenly removing nearly 1/3 of the total number of anchors. The modifications of bracing and anchor systems resulted in changing the natural frequencies. The increase of natural frequencies due to higher number of anchors and more bracing is not even for all mode shapes. Bracing is more effective in acting against longitudinal vibrations, while anchoring against vibrations perpendicular to the façade.

Scaffolding is equipment usually used at construction sites. A scaffolding structure is lightweight and made of elements used many times. The characteristics of scaffolding make it susceptible to dynamic actions present at the structure or occurring nearby. A scaffolding structure of medium size was subjected to analysis in this paper. The structure FEM model was loaded with single force harmonic excitation with various frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 12 Hz applied in one of many selected points on the scaffolding façade. In the first step, natural frequencies and mode shapes of the analyzed structure were calculated. Then the full dynamic analysis was carried out to obtain maximum displacements of selected control points. The relation of excitation force frequency and location to the amplitudes of generated displacement was observed. It was found that low excitation frequencies close to the natural frequencies of the structure produced vibrations ranging to large areas of the scaffolding surface. Higher excitation frequencies are usually less propagated at the scaffolding but still may produce some discomfort to the structure users in the vicinity of the excitation force location. Scaffolding is equipment usually used at construction sites. A scaffolding structure is lightweight and made of elements used many times. The characteristics of scaffolding make it susceptible to dynamic actions present at the structure or occurring nearby. A scaffolding structure of medium size was subjected to analysis in this paper. The structure FEM model was loaded with single force harmonic excitation with various frequencies ranging from 1 Hz to 12 Hz applied in one of many selected points on the scaffolding façade. In the first step, natural frequencies and mode shapes of the analyzed structure were calculated. Then the full dynamic analysis was carried out to obtain maximum displacements of selected control points. The relation of excitation force frequency and location to the amplitudes of generated displacement was observed. It was found that low excitation frequencies close to the natural frequencies of the structure produced vibrations ranging to large areas of the scaffolding surface. Higher excitation frequencies are usually less propagated at the scaffolding but still may produce some discomfort to the structure users in the vicinity of the excitation force location.

Cable-stayed bridges are stunning structures, which thanks to their dimensions and shapes fascinate not a single observer. Designing such an object is awesome challenge for designers. These structures must transfer forces resulting from dead load, operational loads, temperature changes and coming from wind pressure. Nowadays, each cable-stayed bridge and suspension bridge must be subjected to special analysis to guarantee safe usage. Designers cannot allow the situation, which took place on November 7th,1940 in north-western part of the United States of America near the town Tacoma, where the collapse of the suspension bridge occured. The structure was destroyed as the result of coincidence of natural vibrations and the dynamic wind action. Authors of the paper undertake the task to provide dynamic analysis of Solidarity Bridge in Płock exposed to the wind action. The mentioned structure is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Poland and at the same time, the longest in the world with the arch suspended at one axis to the columnar pylon fixed to a platform. Additionally static analysis is made in order to verify horizontal and vertical displacements as the result of combined variable loads.

Analysis of the steel chimneys response to the wind action has been presented in the paper. The approaches presented in the Polish standards: referring to the steel chimneys [1] and to the wind action [2], as well as in the Eurocode 1 [3] have been shown here. The comparisons of the inline wind action according to these procedures, as well as in the cross-wind directions have been made. The responses to the wind action, i.e. displacements at the top of each chimney, have been compared as well. The real chimneys have been subjected to the analyses. Almost each of them had collapsed, mainly because of the vortex excitation. All chimneys and wind actions have been modelled by FEM system – Autodesk Mechanical Simulation 2013.

The dynamic response of guyed masts models to the wind action in the wind tunnel was analyzed in the paper. Accelerations and forces in guys were measured. Spectra of the response were calculated. The influence of the wind structure on the response was analyzed. The results obtained from experiments were compared to the ones coming from a numerical analysis.

The paper deals with results and analyses of the model investigations which were performed in wind tunnel and were focused on the flow around single circular cylinder. Presented results are related to variations in the distribution of the normalized mean pressure coefficient on the surface of the model as well as its standard deviation. Sic cases of the approaching flow were taken into consideration. The flow was described by vertical profile of the mean wind speed, vertical profile of the intensity of turbulence, and power spectral density functions. The height and dimension of the model were respectively equal: H = 100 cm, D = 20 cm. Selected results of measurements have been shown in the paper as the effect of these experiments.

The paper deals with results of measurements which have been carried out in the wind tunnel. Vertical, fixed prism of the cross-section dimensions 10 cm x 20 cm was the object of the experiment. Distributions of mean wind pressure coefficient on the surface of the prism were accepted as results presentation. The following parameters of the wind structure were analysed: vertical mean wind speed profile, turbulence intensity profile, power spectral density functions with respect to their influence on pressure coefficient values. Changes of the angle of wind attack were taken into consideration.

Measurements of 2-D flows around a square and a rectangle (ratio 2:1) in wind tunnel have been presented in this paper. The results of these measurements presented here are pressure and standard deviation distributions on the models’ walls, components of velocity vectors and statistical moments for fluctuations of velocity in the wind tunnel measuring space. The values of parameters have been presented in graphs and subsequently used in a comparative analysis of the flows around both models.

This paper deals with the problem of vibration that occurs in many industrial buildings. It covers the complete procedure of handling such tasks. Two buildings in a “Lubelski Wegiel S.A.” coal mine were examined in 2003 – 2005. Some years after building vibration of floors appeared (Figs 2-3). It was caused probably by modification in the building structures or improper maintenance of machines. Measurements and numerical simulations (Figs 4-5 and Tab. 1) showed that resonance appeared. It was stated that main elements of the structure were not in danger and vibration concern the floors only. Necessary modifications of the structures were designed (Figs 6-7). Testing measurements after bringing them into effect were conducted (Figs 8-11).

Guyed masts response to wind action, ice load and thermal action has been analysed in this paper. Computational model of wind action based on quasi-steady theory has been applied. It has been assumed that nodal displacements may be expressed as a linear combination of representative mode shapes. Special computer program has been made to allow analysis of such structures. It has been found that the selection of representative mode shapes is very influential on the calculations outcome. The obtained results have been compared with the ones calculated according to patch loads method presented in Eurocode 3. The dynamic part of forces calculated with own method are about half of the ones coming from the standard.

Abstract The main dilemma in the case of classification tasks is to find—from among many combinations of methods, techniques and values of their parameters—such a structure of the classifier model that could achieve the best accuracy and efficiency. The aim of the article is to develop and practically verify a framework for multi-criteria evaluation of classification models for the purposes of credit scoring. The framework is based on the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method called PROSA (PROMETHEE for Sustainability Analysis), which brought added value to the modelling process, allowing the assessment of classifiers to include the consistency of the results obtained on the training set and the validation set, and the consistency of the classification results obtained for the data acquired in different time periods. The study considered two aggregation scenarios of TSC (Time periods, Sub-criteria, Criteria) and SCT (Sub-criteria, Criteria, Time periods), in which very similar results were obtained for the evaluation of classification models. The leading positions in the ranking were taken by borrower classification models using logistic regression and a small number of predictive variables. The obtained rankings were compared to the assessments of the expert team, which turned out to be very similar.

Today, the energy sector is characterized by a high degree of unsustainability in terms of sources and supply systems, infrastructure, and policies, including climate policy. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the functions of planning and to implement new energy strategies, which should lead to the sector’s sustainability in the environmental, social, and economic dimensions. In this context, the aim of the article is to develop a model for the sustainability assessment process and to use it as a benchmarking framework for sustainability assessment indices used in energy problems. The study included 14 indices to assess various aspects of sustainable development. The indices were tested in terms of their sustainability dimensions, data sources, data normalization methods, index aggregation methods, and other elements of the sustainability assessment process. As a result of the research, it was found that none of the analyzed indices meet all the requirements for indices that are to be used for the assessment of sustainability. Therefore, the use of these indices in research problems related to energy sustainability requires a conscious analysis of their features and adaptation to specific research problems related to energy sustainability.

A multimethod approach to the multicriteria analysis and assessment of objects (rankings, grouping, econometric assessments) have been presented. This issue is a field of research and engineering associated with the construction and application of a computerized decision support system (DSS 2.0). In terms of the proposed approach, the functionality of the developed prototype has been illustrated based on a practical example of the assessment of employees and the analysis of remuneration. The Electre TRI method of grouping derived from a relational model complements ranking methods well (e.g., AHP) based on the functional model. Grouping reveals cases, where all or the vast majority of objects in a ranking were clustered within one class (e.g., in the best or the worst one). (original abstract)