Browsing by Subject "transfer"
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Item Bursting and spalling in pretensioned U-beams(2009-12) Dunkman, David Andrew; Bayrak, Oguzhan, 1969-; Jirsa, James O.An experimental program was conducted at the Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory of The University of Texas at Austin, under the auspices of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Research Project 5831, to investigate the tensile stresses that develop in the end regions of pretensioned concrete U-beams at transfer of prestress. Understanding the effect of these “bursting” and “spalling” stresses is essential in order to design standard details that might lead to reliably-serviceable end regions. Two full-scale beam specimens, designed to be worst-case scenarios for bursting and spalling, were fabricated. Each beam had one square and one highly skewed end. Extensive instrumentation, including strain gages on transverse and lateral reinforcing bars, was employed in the end regions of these U-beams. Experimentally determined bursting and spalling stresses in these bars were compared to results of past projects (from the literature) investigating I-beams and inverted T-beams. Preliminary recommendations are made for changes in the standard reinforcing details for U-beam end regions. Such recommended details will be tested in the upcoming phase of Research Project 5831.Item Financial Implications of Intergenerational Farm Transfers(2013-11-25) Peterson, Devin RichardThis study seeks to address the challenge of family farm succession. A recursive, stochastic, simulation model is employed to estimate the financial impacts and accompanying risk incurred through the intergenerational transfer of farm assets and management. The model assists in creating a before and after comparative analysis of succession for a large, medium, and small sized representative farm in Texas. Eight methods of farm transfer are analyzed: a will, trust, buy-sell and lease-to-buy agreements, the formation of business entities, life insurance, gifting, and selling farmland to outside investors. These methods are employed to help minimize estate taxes, create retirement income for the owner, or decrease general transfer costs such as probate fees. The simulation model utilizes stochastic and control variables to create pro -forma financial statements that aid in determining net income, debt requirements, and debt outstanding each year for a ten year time period. Key output variables such as combined net present value (NPV) of the owner and successor and the debt to asset ratio are used to analyze financial performance and position. Combined NPV is also employed to rank risky alternatives from most to least preferred using the method of stochastic efficiency with respect to a function. Output variables of estate and gift taxes and debt capital volume are also examined to compare across methods of transfer and to view their effects upon NPV, debt levels, and cash flows. The study finds that the most preferred method varies by farm size, net worth, and the underlying goals of the farmer.Item Proportional and non-proportional transfer of movement sequences(Texas A&M University, 2006-04-12) Wilde, Heather JoThe ability of spatial transfer to occur in movement sequences is reflected upon in theoretical perspectives, but limited research has been done to verify to what extent spatial characteristics of a sequential learning task occur. Three experiments were designed to determine participants?? ability to transfer a learned movement sequence to new spatial locations. A 16-element dynamic arm movement sequence was used in all experiments. The task required participants to move a horizontal lever to sequentially projected targets. Experiment 1 included 2 groups. One group practiced a pattern in which targets were located at 20, 40, 60, and 80?? from the start position. The other group practiced a pattern with targets at 20, 26.67, 60, and 80??. The results indicated that participants could effectively transfer to new target configurations regardless of whether they required proportional or non-proportional spatial changes to the movement pattern. Experiment 2 assessed the effects of extended practice on proportional and non-proportional spatial transfer. The data indicated that while participants can effectively transfer to both proportional and non-proportional spatial transfer conditions after one day of practice, they are only effective at transferring to proportional transfer conditions after 4 days of practice. The results are discussed in terms of the mechanism by which response sequences become increasingly specific over extended practice in an attempt to optimize movement production. Just as response sequences became more fluent and thus more specific with extended practice in Experiment 2, Experiment 3 tested whether this stage of specificity may occur sooner in an easier task than in a more difficult task. The 2 groups in Experiment 3 included a less difficult sequential pattern practiced over either 1 or 4 days. The results support the existence of practice improvement limitations based upon simplicity versus complexity of the task.