A Study of Teams: How It All Began The Apollo Syndrome Teams Containing Similar Personalities Identifying further Team Roles Team Leadership The Missing Team Roles Developing an inventory Unsuccessful teams Winning teams Ideal team size Features of good members of a team Teams in Public Affairs How Belbin reports developed Case Studies in Using Belbin

Management teams: Why they succeed or fail

The presence of a sample in the neutron field of a nuclear reactor creates a perturbation of the local neutron fluxes. In general, the interpretation of the sample activation due to thermal and epithermal neutrons requires the knowledge of two corrective parameters: the thermal neutron self-shielding factor, Gth, and the resonance neutron self-shielding factor, Gres. Thermal neutron self-shielding factors in different materials (Al, Au, Cd, Co, Cu, Eu, Gd, In, Ir, Mo, Ni, Pt, Pb, Rh, Sc, Sm and Ta) and different geometries (foils, wires, spheres and) have been calculated by using the MCNP code.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Topics in current chemistry

Soviet Physics JETP

Plasma Chemistry: References

Adopting a fabric first approach and installing thermal insulation in existing buildings is one of the most effective methods of improving energy efficiency. The use of internal wall insulation (IWI) has been shown to offer an effective thermal solution, especially where other methods of insulation are unsuitable. However, fitting internal wall insulation is not without risk as discontinuities (gaps) are often found in the insulation layer for a variety of reasons. This can lead to increased flow of heat from the interior to the exterior causing reduced local surface temperatures, which can lead to condensation or mould growth. Currently there is little or no consistency in the terminology used to discuss such discontinuities in IWI and as such categorising specific types of discontinuities and their relative magnitude and rate of recurrence in practice is difficult. This paper seeks to address the lack of consistency by proposing a taxonomy that practitioners and researchers can use when describing discontinuities in IWI. This paper brings together the findings from building performance research, part of which involved field studies forensically observing IWI installations. Alongside the site visits, a literature review of IWI research was undertaken to identify the types of discontinuities observed and the terminology used to describe the occurrence and characteristics. From this a taxonomy has been developed to standardise and characterise discontinuities. It is hoped this will improve the understanding of and appreciation for the importance and scale of discontinuities in the industry, in so doing setting out a route for reducing their occurrence. It is also proposed that this taxonomy could be adapted for use in discussion of other insulation types.

Developing a taxonomy for discontinuities in internal wall insulation

The political voice of sustainability has broken. Presidential change in the United States has led to it hardening its tone, re-prioritising its stance and bringing a marked loss of climate change emphasis. The UK, another globally important economy, also amended its discourse making regulatory changes and dropping its commitment to zero carbon buildings. The UK’s impending departure from the European Union (BREXIT) brings future disconnection from EU directives, which had tied the country to reduced emissions commitments.

Reporting Corporate Sustainability: The Challenges of Organisational and Political Rhetoric

ARC Building Solutions Ltd manufacture, market and distribute a range of party wall cavity barriers. Part L of the Building Regulations (HM Government, 2013) stipulates that when cavity barriers are used for edge sealing purposes, then the seal must be effective at restricting air flow between the party wall cavity and the external wall cavity or external environment (Figure 1). The Building Control Alliance (2011) describes how an edge seal is to be judged as being effective in a qualitative manner. However, there is currently no standard test for quantitatively demonstrating the effectiveness of edge sealing using a cavity barrier product. ARC Building Solutions Ltd wished to quantify the effectiveness of the edge seal that could be achieved using the Company’s products under test conditions. This information could prove useful when engaging designers, building control bodies and warranty providers. As there is currently no quantitative benchmark for what is deemed to be an effective edge seal this project aimed to compare the performance of a recognised ‘current practice’ solution against ARC Building Solutions Ltd.’s T-Barrier, and as far as possible compare these to an accepted effective edge seal for a number of different party wall and external wall cavity widths. In addition to this comparative testing, this project may also assist in the development and application of a standardised ‘Edge Seal Test’ for which there is understood to be no current standard or specific precedent. Whilst the test rig may not be fully representative of the actual construction of a party wall/external wall junction in situ, it is hoped that the results may provide insight as to how the performance of these products may compare in real building situations.

Party Wall Cavity Barrier Effective Edge Seal Testing for ARC Building Solutions Ltd

While the UK government withdrew from the zero carbon building agenda, the need to provide a high quality, controllable and comfortable internal environment remains. Regardless of the shifting government sands, the thermal performance and energy efficiency of new buildings has improved, creating a gap between new and the 28 million existing properties in the UK. In Britain, many of the existing buildings are draughty and poorly insulated, making the buildings difficult to control and condition; positioning the UK housing stock amongst the most expensive to heat in Europe. Uninsulated thermal elements, bypassing of the insulation layer, and excessive thermal bridging, are present in many of these properties. The resultant cold temperatures and risk of condensation and mould have an impact on the health and wellbeing of the occupants, contributing to excessive winter death rates. To achieve thermal upgrade at scale, affordable and reliable ‘off-the-shelf’ solutions are required. This research provides the results from a deep retrofit project, where off-the-shelf measures were introduced in stages, under controlled conditions, on a hard to treat property. At each stage, significant reductions were achieved in the energy required to heat the property. The whole retrofit provided a more air-tight, thermally efficient fabric that brings many of the environmental benefits associated with new builds

Upgrading the UK Housing Stock: Insights into the Performance of Ready for Market Retrofit Solutions

There is a school of thought that maths set in a real context has greater relevance to students than theoretical maths that is taught without specific application. Using virtual e-learning it is now possible to link theory to practice, creating a more interesting and stimulating learning environment. Notwithstanding the advantage of seeing where maths can be applied, those engaged in pure maths believe that teaching the subject in a context may limit understanding. Advocates of pure mathematics consider that contextual learning is a form of coaching which limits application outside the subject area. However, for many students not being able to see the practical uses can make the study of maths meaningless. Applied maths is relevant and can be interesting. Capturing the interest of those studying maths is a key agenda for government as the general standard of maths in the UK is falling. Construction students that struggle to see the importance of maths and fail to recognise its use may benefit from multimedia applications that present the maths in a real context. In a virtual environment, with images taken from real sites, it is possible to apply maths to construction situations bringing the subject to life. With interactive platforms students can be guided through the maths problems. Working with industry some simple maths tools have been created and evaluated. Workshops with teachers and students were structured to obtain qualitative data on the tools. The interest levels and potential areas of development were a key consideration for the research. Feedback from teachers, specialists and students suggest that maths applied to construction context supported by web based multimedia has potential to capture interest and support teaching and learning in vocational and non-vocational environments. Reflections, criticism and comments from an initial evaluation are presented and discussed and areas of possible development suggested.

/pdf/developing-maths-skills-in-a-virtual-construction-context-59g0cpg3fk.pdf

Christopher Gorse

Papers

Developing a taxonomy for discontinuities in internal wall insulation

Reporting Corporate Sustainability: The Challenges of Organisational and Political Rhetoric

Party Wall Cavity Barrier Effective Edge Seal Testing for ARC Building Solutions Ltd

Upgrading the UK Housing Stock: Insights into the Performance of Ready for Market Retrofit Solutions

Developing maths skills in a virtual construction context: benefits and challenges