University Of Timisoara Research Articles

Intercultural Education in the Pre-service and In-service Teacher Training and Development

Our study proposes an exchange of good practices about the methodology and conception of interculturalism and cultural diversity in formal, non-formal and informal education in the learning communities of the Timiş county, Romania. Our investigation has a two-fold purpose: to involve teachers in action research activities, on the one hand, and, on the other, to make use of the experience of academics in the West University of Timisoara as well as teachers in bilingual state schools and multilingual language schools in order to promote the enactment of the new strategies and approaches in their professional and every-day lives.

Experimental investigations of cold-formed steel beams of corrugated web and built-up section for flanges

The steel beams of corrugated web represent a relatively new structural system which emerged in the past two decades. The thin corrugated web affords a significant weight reduction of these beams, compared with hot-rolled or welded ones. In the solutions existing on the market, the flanges are made of flat plates welded to the sinusoidal web sheet, requiring a specific welding technology. A new solution is proposed in this paper, in which the beam is composed by a web of trapezoidal cold-formed steel sheet and flanges of built-up cold-formed steel members (e.g. back-to-back lipped channel sections or angles with turn lips). The connections between flanges and web can be done by self-drilling screws or by spot welding. The first part of the study, summarised in this paper, is devoted to the evaluation and validation of technical solution, including experimental investigations, carried out at the CEMSIG Research Centre of the Politehnica University of Timisoara (http://www.ct.upt.ro/en/centre/cemsig). In a subsequent paper, numerical investigations aiming to optimise the solution and estimate its technical limits for applications will be presented.

Computational Modeling of Physical and Chemical Properties of Nanomaterials

1School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434023, China 2School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China 3School of Physics and Electronics, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China 4Research and Development Division, Actinium Chemical Research, Via Casilina 1626/A, 00133 Rome, Italy 5Laboratory of Computational and Structural Physical Chemistry for Nanosciences and QSAR, West University of Timisoara, 300115 Timisoara, Romania 6Departamento de Fisica, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Caixa Postal 6030, 60455-760 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil

The Impact of Information Sources on the Quality Values Promoted in the Romanian Universities

In order to make the quality systems functional and efficient, managers have to deal with orienting the organizational culture towards quality. In this context, promoting the quality values through the most efficient sources of information is an instrumental challenge. This challenge becomes even more powerful for the higher education institutions which are not functioning by the same rules as the economic agents. Therefore, our research purpose was to determine if the sources of information used by the members of the academic community may influence the quality values that are promoted and desired in the Romanian public universities. In order to achieve our goal, we developed a survey based on questionnaire among the members of the academic community from five Romanian public universities (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, University of Bucharest, Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, West University of Timisoara) and we applied a logistic regression analysis. The analysis was conducted on two levels – current and desired situation – and the research sample was represented by 1165 persons. The results have showed that using direct observation, university's brochures and other advertising materials have a powerful impact on the quality values currently promoted while these together with other sources of information influence the desired quality values.

A Proposed Methodology for Identifying Multicultural Skills in Heterogeneous Groups

Starting from the conceptual framework definition (describing heterogeneous groups, benefits and risks in managing heterogeneous groups) this paper will focus on a research identifying aspects of multicultural skills in heterogeneous groups. Based on several relevant references, the proposed research methodology uses four questionnaires in order to characterize intercultural competence, communication style, the emotional intelligence level and the potential role that a person could play when he/she is part of a team. The research variables used were age, nationality, residence (urban/rural), high school graduate and profile. The four questionnaires were applied on a sample of 68 subjects (Romanian students from the Politehnica University of Timisoara, interviewed in April 2013) and on a heterogeneous sample of French students from the Université de Limoges, France; the final research results were summarized in a comparative study.

Misunderstandings between Cross-cultural Members within Collaborative Engineering Teams

The article presents the misunderstandings analysis occurred in EMIRAcle virtual community, which is caused by the communication between virtual team members and several layers, analyzed. Those kind misunderstandings might occur in collaborative engineering teams. The proposed model was tested using “Politehnica” University of Timisoara (UPT) involvement in The European Manufacturing and Innovation Research Association a cluster leading excellence, a virtual community (www.emiracle.eu). At the end, a list of advises for cross-cultural communication skills improvement are presented in order to facilitate the knowledge sharing and members interaction in a particular collaborative engineering team as the EMIRAcle is.

Stability Analysis Including Monostability and Multistability in Dynamical System and Applications

1 School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen 361021, China 2Department of Electrical Engineering, Florida State University, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310-6046, USA 3Department of Mathematics, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi 541004, China 4Department of Mathematics, Gandhigram Rural Institute-Deemed University, Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu 624 302, India 5 Department of Mathematics, Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Sichuan 643000, China 6Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, West University of Timisoara, Boulevard Corneliu Coposu, 43300223 Timisoara, Romania

Ulam’s Type Stability and Fixed Points Methods

1 Department of Mathematics, Pedagogical University, Podchorązych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland 2Department of Mathematics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Piaţa Victoriei No. 2, 300006 Timisoara, Romania 3 Faculty of Applied Mathematics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland 4 Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva 5, 6104 Koper, Slovenia 5 Department of Mathematics, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China

Improving The Accuracy of the Empirical Clear Sky Solar Irradiance Models

Abstract This paper is focused on improving the quality of nowcasting solar irradiance by enhancing the clear sky component of the model. A simple linear correction for the average atmospheric transmittance is proposed. The correction is based on the most recent measurements recorded prior the forecasting moment. The proposed procedure was tested against data measured on the Solar Platform of the West University of Timisoara. Overall results demonstrates a notable improvement in the clear sky model accuracy.

SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON THE MECHANICAL TESTING OF ALUMINUM-STEEL CONDUCTORS AND THEIR CORES

Safe electrical energy transport on high-voltage overhead lines requires the physical-mechanical characteristics of aluminum-steel conductors and steel cores to be experimentally determined and compared to standard values. The basic characteristics of aluminum-steel conductors can be obtained by tensile testing to failure. Such tensile tests are regulated by the standards: CEI-IEC 1089, CEI-IEC 61089, SR-CEI 1089 and BS EN 50182. Because of a wide rigidity range, aluminum-steel conductors require adapted testing conditions and experimental data analysis, ensuring that by tensile testing the most important mechanical characteristics can be put into perspective, for the whole conductor and for its core. Therefore, a complete conductor testing procedure has been developed in this paper, according to the European standards in effect and applied for two conductors with a rigidity ratio of 4.42. The experimental tests were carried out on a horizontal tensile machine, designed and built in the Laboratory for Conductors and Cables of the “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, Romania, having a length of 13 m and developing a force up to 2500 kN. The tensile tests have firstly shown that a (sometimes significant) difference can be observed between the stress-strain curves obtained according to the standards in effect and the ones based on the strains measured at the beginning of each hold period. This shows the creep tendency of conductors over a short period of time, when exposed to overloads. Secondly, it has been found that in case of high rigidity conductor steel cores, current standard testing is limited only to the elastic region. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.test.10.1.5105

IT Gaining Ground in Learning

Continuously emerging forms of eLearning like MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses), PLE (Personal Learning Environment) and the use of Semantic Web standards in learning environments, are consistent proof that IT, the Internet, the World Wide Web, Content Management Systems, audio/video lectures, videoconferences, Semantic Web are here to stay, evolve and furthermore, to take control of the learning process, making from it a flexible, viable, profitable and extensively used solution for delivering knowledge. In this general context, the present paper offers an eLearning state-of-the-art and an overview of the trends and technologies proposed, developed and implemented in a particular eLearning environment, over the last years, as part of a postdoctoral research program. The mentioned environment was the Moodle portal used at the “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, the implemented standards were the hCard and hCalendar microformats and the proposed model was one of collective learning through question answering.

Reference Values and Gender Differences of the Functional Parameters in Romanian Elite Junior Tennis Players

Abstract Purpose: To establish the reference values and gender differences regarding fitness, strength, and time reaction of the Romanian elite junior tennis players. Material and Methods: Thirty four junior tennis players (19 male, 15 female) with a mean age of 15 years were selected from the database of the Cardiopulmonary Effort Testing and Physical Performance Laboratory from Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, West University of Timisoara. To be included in the study, a tennis player had to belong to the Romanian Tennis Federation as a junior, be among the 50 best players in his/her category, and have no pathology at the evaluation moment. All subjects underwent functional evaluation by performing a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test, the counter movement jump test and complex opto-acoustic reaction test. Results: The functional performance are significantly different for males and females in all parameters studied, with male tennis players showing better performance than female tennis players. Conclusions: The mean values of functional parameters of the Romanian elite junior tennis players are lower than international competitive tennis athletes. There are significant gender differences in junior tennis players. We hope that the present study results provide useful reference values for coaches and physical trainers in order to improve functional performance of their junior tennis players

Cold‐formed steel beams with corrugated web and discrete web‐to‐flange fasteners

AbstractSteel beams with corrugated webs represent a relatively new structural system that has emerged in the past two decades. The thin corrugated web results in a significant weight reduction in these beams compared with hot‐rolled or welded ones. In the initial solutions the flanges were made of flat plates welded to the sinusoidal web sheet, which required a specific welding technology. A new solution is proposed in this paper in which the beam is composed of a web of trapezoidal cold‐formed steel sheet and flanges of built‐up cold‐formed steel members (e.g. back‐to‐back lipped channels or angles or hat omega). Self‐drilling screws or spot welding are used for the connections between flanges and web. This paper summarizes the experimental and numerical investigations carried out at the CEMSIG Research Centre (http://cemsig.ct.upt.ro), “Politehnica” University of Timisoara, in order to evaluate and validate a new technological solution.

Experimental Evidence of Erosion of Critical Load in Interactive Buckling

AbstractThe paper starts with a selective review of some basic contributions related to local-overall buckling mode interactions in thin-walled steel members. Then, the results of an intensive experimental study carried out at the Politehnica University of Timisoara with the purpose of evaluating the erosion of a theoretical bifurcation load in the distortional-flexural buckling interaction range in pallet rack uprights are presented. Two different sizes of cross sections, with and without perforations, have been studied. To evaluate and quantify the erosion, the erosion of the critical bifurcation load approach is applied. This approach enables one to use the European buckling curves in the Ayrton-Perry format, expressing the imperfection factor (α) in terms of the erosion coefficient (ψ). It allows estimation of the member’s ultimate capacity, taking into account the interaction of sectional (local or distortional) and member (flexural, torsional, or flexural-torsional) instability modes. Test results a...

Behaviour of cold-formed steel perforated sections in compression. Part 1—Experimental investigations

This paper is the first part of a study devoted to interactive buckling of steel pallet racks compression members, carried out at the CEMSIG Research Centre 〈http://cemsig.ct.upt.ro〉 from “Politehnica” University of Timisoara; this part summarizes the experimental program [1,2]. Upright members of two different cross-sections, with and without perforations, were tested according to the guidelines of European design code for pallet rack systems EN15512 [3], in order to determine the ultimate strength for specimens of length corresponding to local buckling, i.e. stub columns, and of length equal to the distance between two subsequent nodes of an upright frame, i.e. upright members. The last set of tests was devoted, mainly, to the observation of distortional buckling of upright members. However, depending on the cross-section dimensions, the length between two subsequent nodes can be often larger than distortional critical length. In such cases the test results correspond rather to the distortional–global interaction, than to pure distortion. Consequently, additional specimens having the length calibrated to correspond to distortional buckling and to interactive distortional-overall buckling range, respectively, were tested. Material tests and imperfection measurements were also performed.

Unsteady Pressure Analysis of a Swirling Flow With Vortex Rope and Axial Water Injection in a Discharge Cone

The variable demand of the energy market requires that hydraulic turbines operate at variable conditions, which includes regimes far from the best efficiency point. The vortex rope developed at partial discharges in the conical diffuser is responsible for large pressure pulsations, runner blades breakdowns and may lead to power swing phenomena. A novel method introduced by Resiga et al. (2006, “Jet Control of the Draft Tube in Francis Turbines at Partial Discharge,” Proceedings of the 23rd IAHR Symposium on Hydraulic Machinery and Systems, Yokohama, Japan, Paper No. F192) injects an axial water jet from the runner crown downstream in the draft tube cone to mitigate the vortex rope and its consequences. A special test rig was developed at “Politehnica” University of Timisoara in order to investigate different flow control techniques. Consequently, a vortex rope similar to the one developed in a Francis turbine cone at 70% partial discharge is generated in the rig’s test section. In order to investigate the new jet control method an auxiliary hydraulic circuit was designed in order to supply the jet. The experimental investigations presented in this paper are concerned with pressure measurements at the wall of the conical diffuser. The pressure fluctuations’ Fourier spectra are analyzed in order to assess how the amplitude and dominating frequency are modified by the water injection. It is shown that the water jet injection significantly reduces both the amplitude and the frequency of pressure fluctuations, while improving the pressure recovery in the conical diffuser.

Magnetodielectric Properties of Transformer Oil Based Magnetic Fluids

M. Timkoa,∗, P. Kopcansky, M. Molcan, L. Tomco, K. Marton, S. Molokac, P. Rybar, F. Stoian, S. Holotescu and A. Taculescu Institute of Experimental Physics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia Faculty of Aeronautic, Technical University in Kosice, 041 21 Kosice, Slovakia Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University in Kosice, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Process Control and Geotechnology, TU Kosice, Letna 9, 042 00 Kosice, Slovakia Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timisoara 300222, Romania Laboratory of Magnetic Fluids, Romanian Academy Timisoara Division, Timisoara, Romania

High Quality Document Digitization Equipment

The paper describes an equipment specialized in digitization of single documents, journal-type documents and books. The equipment is designed and assembled at Politehnica University of Timisoara and works in a station developed within the European project thinkMOTION. The optical calculus aimed optimal illumination of two symmetrical areas and high quality of captured images. The object of scanning is printed matter, which exists exclusively in paper form and originates from different periods of scientific evolution. The mechanical design was based on criteria such as: flatness of active surfaces, quick placement and removal of the original document, mechanical raw focusing facilities, adjustment regarding the thickness of the original document and finding constructive solutions so that no damage is inflicted upon the original document, which may be one of a kind and, hence, historically very valuable. An original software was created in order to control the scanning process, to organize files and folders, which stock captured images in different stages of processing. The effective efficiency of the equipment is 10 12 pages/minute.

Valuing the Principles in Academic Teaching

Abstract Teachers should respect each teaching principles (seven) including academic teaching: The principle of active and conscious learning (P1), The intuition principle (the correlation between sensory - rational, concrete - abstract) (P2), The principle of accessibility and respect for age and individual peculiarities (P3), The principle of linking theory to practice (P4), The principle of sustainable knowledge, skills and abilities (P5), The principle of systematic and continuity learning (P6), The principle of feedback (P7).Which of these principles have a higher weight in academic teaching in the technical field? For this we used a questionnaire and a representative sample of students from nine faculties of the,Politehnica” University of Timisoara. Their answers indicate how students perceive teaching in relation to the dimensions stated. We can also see the variability of teaching principles within each nine field of study and the regularity of some principles.

Developing the Electronic Tools for Translators Syllabus at Politehnica University of Timisoara

The increase in international trade, the need for cooperation in such areas as ndustry, transportations, communications or entertainment, the proliferation of international institutions, and ultimately the enlargement of the European Union are some of the major factors which account for increasing and diversified marked demands for translations and for the ever-growing importance of the translation profession today. To be efficient on today”s translation market, translation projects must meet challenging technological requirements and translators need to have a fresh input on speed, volume, and quality. The Departmentof Communication and Foreign Languages, which coordinates the Translation Program at Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania, has just introduced a new course on Electronic Tools for Translators for 3rd year students, particularly designed to prepare the modern translator for such a market. The present paper presents in detail all the steps taken in developing this new syllabus, its content, the teaching methods used, and its present and future challenges.