Characterization

Characterization or characterisation is the representation of characters (persons, creatures, or other beings) in narrative and dramatic works. The term character development is sometimes used as a synonym. This representation may include direct methods like the attribution of qualities in description or commentary, and indirect (or "dramatic") methods inviting readers to infer qualities from characters' actions, dialogue, or appearance. Such a personage is called a character. Character is a literary element. History The term characterization was introduced in the 19th century. Aristotle promoted the primacy of plot over characters, that is, a plot-driven narrative, arguing in his Poetics that tragedy "is a representation, not of men, but of action and life." This view was reversed in the 19th century, when the primacy of the character, that is, a character-driven narrative, was affirmed first with the realist novel, and increasingly later with the influential development

Precipitation, Characterization, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Modelling of Synthetic C-S-H Systems (C-S-H, CASH, CSH+$)

Maya Nicole Harris

This thesis investigates the effects of aluminates, sulfates, and heterogeneous substrates on the nucleation and growth of synthetic calcium-silicate-hydrates (C-S-H) produced by dropwise precipitation. The use of synthetic C-S-H, separate from other cementitious phases, allows formation mechanisms and kinetics effects to be investigated in a simplified system. The addition of other ions and substrates then allows an approach to the more complicated, multi-phase system of cement and concrete. The first goal of this thesis was to reproducibly synthesize single-phase C-S-H with Ca:Si from 1 to 2. Guidelines were described for collection, drying, and handling of the precipitates to prevent the formation of Ca(OH)2 during synthesis and minimize carbonation. Interlayer spacing in precipitates was studied by transmission XRD to compare the effects of Ca:Si, relative humidity, and time, using the 14Å tobermorite structure as a baseline for synthetic C-S-H. The growth and nucleation kinetics of C-S-H were then investigated with the combined thermodynamic and population balance equation model (PBEM). The surface characteristics of C-S-H, C-A-S-H, and C-S-H +

were investigated by acoustophoresis to compare the effects of Ca:Si, washing, and dispersion media on zeta potential measurements. Results showed the necessity of full characterization of both solutions and precipitates in order to understand and compare acoustophoresis results. In the final section of the thesis C-S-H, C-A-S-H, and C-S-H +

were grown on the surface of heterogeneous substrates, quartz and calcite, to approach C-S-H growth in real systems. Overall, the results from this thesis provided helpful information on synthetic C-S-H, C-A-S-H, and C-S-H + $ at the full range of Ca:Si molar ratios, particularly ratios above 1.5, as observed in Portland cement. As we get closer to understanding and controlling C-S-H in real systems, this work will help provide insight as to how heterogenous substrates and aluminates introduced by SCMs, in addition to sulfates, commonly added to cement via gypsum, affect the early age strength and kinetics of C-S-H formation.

EPFL2022

A generalized mountain-pass theorem: the existence of multiple critical points

Hans-Jörg Ruppen

We analyse the existence of multiple critical points for an even functional J : H -> R in the following context: the Hilbert space H can be split into an orthogonal sum H = Y circle plus Z in such a way that inf{J(u) : u is an element of Z and parallel to u parallel to = rho >= alpha > J(0) and that here exits a point b is an element of H with parallel to b parallel to > rho and with J(b)

Springer Heidelberg2016

Precipitation, Characterization, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Modelling of Synthetic C-S-H Systems (C-S-H, CASH, CSH+$)

Maya Nicole Harris

were investigated by acoustophoresis to compare the effects of Ca:Si, washing, and dispersion media on zeta potential measurements. Results showed the necessity of full characterization of both solutions and precipitates in order to understand and compare acoustophoresis results. In the final section of the thesis C-S-H, C-A-S-H, and C-S-H +

EPFL2022

Precipitation, Characterization, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Modelling of Synthetic C-S-H Systems (C-S-H, CASH, CSH+$)

Automated Performance Characterization of Dynamic Clock Adjustment Techniques on an OpenRISC ISS

A generalized mountain-pass theorem: the existence of multiple critical points

Automated Performance Characterization of Dynamic Clock Adjustment Techniques on an OpenRISC ISS

Precipitation, Characterization, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Modelling of Synthetic C-S-H Systems (C-S-H, CASH, CSH+$)

A generalized mountain-pass theorem: the existence of multiple critical points