title: Strengthening mechanisms of Ti via Al addition

authors: Bolzoni, Leandro

subjects: low-cost titanium alloy

abstract: Pure Ti is characterised by an interesting combination of performance from an engineering point of view. The addition of Al to Ti can be used to reduce the intrinsic cost of the material, decrease the density of the alloy, and increase the mechanical performance. This study is focused on evaluating the physical properties, microstructural evolution and mechanical behaviour of Ti-xAl alloys (where x = 1–6 wt%) in order to scientifically understand the strengthening mechanisms of the addition of Al to pure Ti manufactured via the conventional powder metallurgy route of cold uniaxial pressing plus solid state sintering. The addition of Al to Ti does not affect the compressibility of the alloy but changes the consolidation and densification of the alloy. The incremental addition of Al results in the progressive strengthening of Ti via the simultaneous contribution from substitutional solid solution and grain refinement strengthening which outdo the negative effect of the residual porosity.

text: Strengthening mechanisms of Ti via Al addition Pure Ti is characterised by an interesting combination of performance from an engineering point of view. The addition of Al to Ti can be used to reduce the intrinsic cost of the material, decrease the density of the alloy, and increase the mechanical performance. This study is focused on evaluating the physical properties, microstructural evolution and mechanical behaviour of Ti-xAl alloys (where x = 1–6 wt%) in order to scientifically understand the strengthening mechanisms of the addition of Al to pure Ti manufactured via the conventional powder metallurgy route of cold uniaxial pressing plus solid state sintering. The addition of Al to Ti does not affect the compressibility of the alloy but changes the consolidation and densification of the alloy. The incremental addition of Al results in the progressive strengthening of Ti via the simultaneous contribution from substitutional solid solution and grain refinement strengthening which outdo the negative effect of the residual porosity.

year: 2020

title: Interactive solar panel simulation tool - from GHI to PV output

authors: Suppers, Joris

subjects: computer science

abstract: The production and integration of solar panels is steadily growing in New Zealand and worldwide. The most common way to install solar panels in New Zealand is flat on top of the most north-facing roof. This method is used as it is space efficient, reduces mounting costs and will capture most of the sun’s movement throughout the day. New Zealand homes typically have a small roof pitch. This means an installed solar panel will have a low tilt, allowing for best input in summer. However, this may not be the best result for individuals, as they may want a different outcome such as: maximum energy output in winter, maximum yearly output or a balanced output throughout each month. This paper describes a solar panel tool, which has been developed to enable users to explore interactively the impact on electricity production based on the orientation of the panels.

text: Interactive solar panel simulation tool - from GHI to PV output The production and integration of solar panels is steadily growing in New Zealand and worldwide. The most common way to install solar panels in New Zealand is flat on top of the most north-facing roof. This method is used as it is space efficient, reduces mounting costs and will capture most of the sun’s movement throughout the day. New Zealand homes typically have a small roof pitch. This means an installed solar panel will have a low tilt, allowing for best input in summer. However, this may not be the best result for individuals, as they may want a different outcome such as: maximum energy output in winter, maximum yearly output or a balanced output throughout each month. This paper describes a solar panel tool, which has been developed to enable users to explore interactively the impact on electricity production based on the orientation of the panels.

year: 2017

title: Contextualising Māori writing: a study of prose fiction written in English by Witi Ihimaera, Patricia Grace, Keri Hulme and Alan Duff

authors: Calvert, Julia Helen

abstract: All prose fiction written in English by Māori is political on one level or another. The authors considered in this thesis, Witi Ihimaera, Patricia Grace, Keri Hulme and Alan Duff, choose to identify as Māori, but for each writer exactly what this entails implies something different. The diverse range of Māori characters represented in their work illustrates the heterogeneity of contemporary Māori identity. Whilst bearing in mind that there is no fixed Māori identity, this thesis proposes that all fiction written in English by Māori is motivated by a belief that Māori are a disadvantaged group within New Zealand society. 

Three of the four writers, Ihimaera, Grace and Hulme, write against a background of colonisation. Their fiction confronts grievances based on perceived injustices committed against Māori in the past by European colonists and is concerned with the restoration of Māori rights pertaining to land, language, identity and political voice. While all three engage with these issues in their fiction, this thesis specifically considers the way in which Ihimaera treats the theme of land, Grace focuses on issues of education and Hulme explores Māori mythology.

Alan Duff stands apart from the other three writers in his belief that colonisation is not to blame for contemporary Māori disadvantage. Rather, Duff considers the situation to be the result of inherent flaws within Māori society. Through his often didactic writing he proposes that improved Māori socioeconomic levels can only be achieved through a radical structural and economic re-evaluation of Māori culture.

This thesis contextualises the work of the four authors and explores the ways in which their fiction engages with historical and contemporary issues of “race relations” and cultural identity in New Zealand. A sociological approach has been applied to the texts. This approach derives from the Māori writers’ own insistent reading of contemporary Māori identity as the product of historical encounter between Māori and Pākehā. The authors work in a dialectical relationship to previous Pākehā representations of Māori in literature, are historically revisionist, and are frequently adversarial. 

Despite the differences in personal and political perspectives held by the authors, their fictions share a common goal in their search for Māori pathways to empowerment. This thesis argues that prose fiction written in English by Māori writers contributes to the political activism of the Māori people and helps to foster an environment in which new perspectives on Māori culture and bicultural relations can be articulated.

text: Contextualising Māori writing: a study of prose fiction written in English by Witi Ihimaera, Patricia Grace, Keri Hulme and Alan Duff All prose fiction written in English by Māori is political on one level or another. The authors considered in this thesis, Witi Ihimaera, Patricia Grace, Keri Hulme and Alan Duff, choose to identify as Māori, but for each writer exactly what this entails implies something different. The diverse range of Māori characters represented in their work illustrates the heterogeneity of contemporary Māori identity. Whilst bearing in mind that there is no fixed Māori identity, this thesis proposes that all fiction written in English by Māori is motivated by a belief that Māori are a disadvantaged group within New Zealand society. 

Three of the four writers, Ihimaera, Grace and Hulme, write against a background of colonisation. Their fiction confronts grievances based on perceived injustices committed against Māori in the past by European colonists and is concerned with the restoration of Māori rights pertaining to land, language, identity and political voice. While all three engage with these issues in their fiction, this thesis specifically considers the way in which Ihimaera treats the theme of land, Grace focuses on issues of education and Hulme explores Māori mythology.

Alan Duff stands apart from the other three writers in his belief that colonisation is not to blame for contemporary Māori disadvantage. Rather, Duff considers the situation to be the result of inherent flaws within Māori society. Through his often didactic writing he proposes that improved Māori socioeconomic levels can only be achieved through a radical structural and economic re-evaluation of Māori culture.

This thesis contextualises the work of the four authors and explores the ways in which their fiction engages with historical and contemporary issues of “race relations” and cultural identity in New Zealand. A sociological approach has been applied to the texts. This approach derives from the Māori writers’ own insistent reading of contemporary Māori identity as the product of historical encounter between Māori and Pākehā. The authors work in a dialectical relationship to previous Pākehā representations of Māori in literature, are historically revisionist, and are frequently adversarial. 

Despite the differences in personal and political perspectives held by the authors, their fictions share a common goal in their search for Māori pathways to empowerment. This thesis argues that prose fiction written in English by Māori writers contributes to the political activism of the Māori people and helps to foster an environment in which new perspectives on Māori culture and bicultural relations can be articulated.

year: 2002