Planning a Field Test for Software Development

1983 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 896-896
Author(s):  
Arthur Keller
Keyword(s):  
Software Development ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Potential Problem ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Test Plan ◽  
Actual Test

This paper will describe and discuss the contents of a human factors field test plan in support of software development. Defining control of a test is, as pointed out by Shneiderman, of necessity in field testing to avoid getting volumes of “interesting” data which is neither replicable nor generalizable. In addition, the degree to which the test plan supported the actual test and predicted potential problem areas will be discussed.

The importance of aerodynamics for prosthetic limb design used by competitive cyclists with an amputation: An introduction

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryce Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Aerodynamic Drag ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Limb Amputation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Prosthetic Limb ◽  
Testing Method ◽  
Competitive Cyclists

Background/Objectives: This study introduces the importance of the aerodynamics to prosthetic limb design for athletes with either a lower-limb or upper-limb amputation. Study design: The study comprises two elements: 1) An initial experiment investigating the stability of outdoor velodrome-based field tests, and 2) An experiment evaluating the application of outdoor velodrome aerodynamic field tests to detect small-scale changes in aerodynamic drag respective of prosthetic limb componentry changes. Methods: An outdoor field-testing method is used to detect small and repeatable changes in the aerodynamic drag of an able-bodied cyclist. These changes were made at levels typical of alterations in prosthetic componentry. The field-based test method of assessment is used at a smaller level of resolution than previously reported. Results: With a carefully applied protocol, the field test method proved to be statistically stable. The results of the field test experiments demonstrate a noticeable change in overall athlete performance. Aerodynamic refinement of artificial limbs is worthwhile for athletes looking to maximise their competitive performance. Conclusion: A field-testing method illustrates the importance of the aerodynamic optimisation of prosthetic limb components. The field-testing protocol undertaken in this study gives an accessible and affordable means of doing so by prosthetists and sports engineers. Clinical relevance Using simple and accessible field-testing methods, this exploratory experiment demonstrates how small changes to riders’ equipment, consummate of the scale of a small change in prosthetics componentry, can affect the performance of an athlete. Prosthetists should consider such opportunities for performance enhancement when possible.

scholarly journals Measurement Uncertainties Encountered During Gas Turbine Driven Compressor Field Testing

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Brun ◽  
Rainer Kurz
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Uncertainty ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Equations Of State ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Measurement Uncertainties

Field testing of gas turbine compressor packages requires the accurate determination of efficiency, capacity, head, power and fuel flow in sometimes less than ideal working environments. Nonetheless, field test results have significant implication for the compressor and gas turbine manufacturers and their customers. Economic considerations demand that the performance and efficiency of an installation are verified to assure a project’s return on investment. Thus, for the compressor and gas turbine manufacturers, as well as for the end-user, an accurate determination of the field performance is of vital interest. This paper describes an analytic method to predict the measurement uncertainty and, thus, the accuracy, of field test results for gas turbine driven compressors. Namely, a method is presented which can be employed to verify the validity of field test performance results. The equations governing the compressor and gas turbine performance uncertainties are rigorously derived and results are numerically compared to actual field test data. Typical field test measurement uncertainties are presented for different sets of instrumentation. Test parameters that correlate to the most significant influence on the performance uncertainties are identified and suggestions are provided on how to minimize their measurement errors. The effect of different equations of state on the calculated performance is also discussed. Results show that compressor efficiency uncertainties can be unacceptably high when some basic rules for accurate testing are violated. However, by following some simple measurement rules and maintaining commonality of the gas equations of state, the overall compressor package performance measurement uncertainty can be limited and meaningful results can be achieved.

Field testing and probabilistic assessment of ballistic penetration of steel plates for small calibre military ammunition

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark G Stewart ◽  
Brianna Dorrough ◽  
Michael D Netherton
Keyword(s):  
Penetration Depth ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Hardened Steel ◽  
Steel Plates ◽  
Probabilistic Assessment ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Terminal Ballistics

The penetration of projectiles into semi-infinite targets helps in the understanding and modelling of terminal ballistics. The article describes field test results of 5.56×45 mm F1 Ball and 7.62×51 mm M80 Ball ammunition. The targets were 25-mm-thick mild and high strength steel plates of Grade 250 MPa and 350 MPa, respectively. The tests recorded penetration depth, muzzle and impact velocities, and bullet mass. Despite its smaller calibre, the 5.56 mm × 45 mm F1 Ball ammunition recorded deeper penetrations than the larger calibre 7.62 mm × 51 mm M80 Ball ammunition. This is due to the 5.56 mm ammunition comprising a hardened steel penetrator and lead core, whereas the 7.62 mm ammunition comprised only a lead core. Multiple shots were fired for each type of munition. The coefficient of variation of steel penetration is approximately 0.10 and 0.03 for 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rounds, respectively. The article also presents predictive models of steel penetration depth and compares these to the field test results.

Field testing of rocking foundations in cohesive soil: cyclic performance and footing mechanical response

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 828-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshab Sharma ◽  
Lijun Deng
Keyword(s):  
Field Test ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mechanical Response ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Cohesive Soil ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Unit Weight ◽  
Moment Capacity ◽  
Contact Areas ◽  
Rocking Foundations

This paper presents a field test program of a large-scale soil–footing-structure system designed with a rocking foundation in a cohesive soil to examine the behaviour of the system and to provide case histories for possible performance-based seismic design of foundations. The rocking system was subjected to slow cyclic loadings at various drift ratios up to 7%. Twenty-four tests were conducted for foundations with varying initial factors of safety against the bearing failure, loading directions, rotation amplitudes, and embedment. A geotechnical investigation was carried out to determine soil properties before and after the experiments. The system performance indices, such as damping, stiffness, settlement, and re-centering capability, were quantified and compared with the published literature. Field test results showed that the strength and unit weight of soils at footing edges were increased due to rocking, for the present cohesive soil. The rocking moment capacity increased slightly with the increasing soil strength. An empirical equation for the secant stiffness was developed. The rocking system on the cohesive soil exhibited superior performance in terms of small residual settlement and large re-centering capability. Footing’s mechanical response was quantified using strain gauge readings. The footing remained elastic in tension; the transient soil–footing contact areas were estimated with strain gauges, and they agreed very well with the measured or calculated contact areas.

Tool-Support for Software Development Processes

2010 ◽  
pp. 213-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Kuhrmann ◽  
Georg Kalus ◽  
Gerhard Chroust
Keyword(s):  
Software Development ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Tool Support ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
Crucial Step ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
The Many

Software development projects are complex. The more complex a project is, the higher are the requirements related to the software development process. The implementation of a process is a great challenge. This, in part, has to do with human factors (acceptance, etc.) as the benefits of a formal development process might not be obvious immediately and it may take a while until the process becomes the lifeblood of a team. A crucial step towards implementing, enacting and enforcing a process is to provide tool support for the many activities the process asks for. Tool support is necessary to guarantee efficiency in the project, to do the housekeeping and to minimize the “overhead” of the process. This chapter describes challenges and options for supporting process models by tools. Furthermore it describes concrete samples and shows how tool chains can be created with commercial tools as well as with open source tools.

Rainbow Field Test of Coatings for Hot Corrosion Protection of Gas Turbine Hot Section Components

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Van Roode ◽  
Kenneth G. Kubarych ◽  
Russell L. McCarron
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Corrosion Protection ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Hot Corrosion ◽  
Physical Vapor Deposition ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Gas Turbine Blades ◽  
Metal Aluminides ◽  
Overlay Coatings

The work described in this paper was conducted under Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Contract RP 2465, “Rainbow Test of Advanced Coatings for Gas Turbine Blades and Vanes”. A field test of a rainbow rotor and nozzle was carried out to establish the hot corrosion protection of various aluminide and MCrAlX (X = Y, Hf) overlay coatings on first stage blades and nozzles of a Centaur gas turbine operating in Valera, Venezuela. The blade coatings included both simple and precious metal aluminides, Electron Beam-Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) coatings and Low Pressure Plasma Spray (LPPS) coatings on Inconel-738LC, Inconel-792 and MAR-M421 substrates. The turbine nozzle vanes were coated by similar methods on FSX-414 and MAR-M509 substrates. Field testing was performed under industrial conditions where the continuous duty engine, used for power generation, ran on a liquid fuel contaminated with sodium and sulfur. The engine test was terminated after nearly 8,000 hours of operation. Visual examination and micro-structural analysis indicated that EB-PVD and LPPS overlay coatings were more effective than simple and modified aluminides for hot section hot corrosion protection. The protection of overlay coatings on nozzle airfoils was found to increase with their chromium content.

A Human Factors Comparison of Three Cargo Trucks

1976 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 173-177
Author(s):  
Ward A. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Ride Quality ◽  
Passenger Compartment

As part of a U.S. Army field test, three cargo trucks and three truck-tractors were compared on a number of human factors variables. Among the variables were noise level in the passenger compartment and ride quality at the driver's seat. Ride quality was measured in terms of the energy absorbed by the driver as the vehicle traveled over a specified terrain profile at a specified speed. The vehicles were judgmentally evaluated by a sample of 23 drivers on 35 other human factor variables in the categories of adequacy of driver compartment; visibility; instruments; controls; steering, braking and shifting; and ride. Differences were found among the vehicles on most of the variables.

scholarly journals Development and field testing of a rapid and ultra-stable atmospheric carbon dioxide spectrometer

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 8101-8123
Author(s):  
B. Xiang ◽  
D. D. Nelson ◽  
J. B. McManus ◽  
M. S. Zahniser ◽  
R. Wehr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Thermal Control ◽  
Long Term Ecological Research ◽  
Calibration Protocol ◽  
Atmospheric Carbon ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2

Abstract. We present field test results for a new spectroscopic instrument to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) with high precision (0.02 ppm at 1 Hz) and demonstrate high stability (within 0.1 ppm over more than 8 months), without the need for hourly, daily, or even monthly calibration against high-pressure gas cylinders. The technical novelty of this instrument (ABsolute Carbon dioxide, ABC) is the spectral null method using an internal quartz reference cell with known CO2 column density. Compared to a previously described prototype, the field instrument has better stability and benefits from more precise thermal control of the optics and more accurate pressure measurements in the sample cell (at the mTorr level). The instrument has been deployed at a long-term ecological research site (the Harvard Forest, USA), where it has measured for eight months without on-site calibration and with minimal maintenance, showing drift bounds of less than 0.1 ppm. Field measurements agree well with those of another commercially available cavity ring-down CO2 instrument (Picarro G2301) run with a standard calibration protocol. This field test demonstrates that ABC is capable of performing high-accuracy, unattended, continuous field measurements with minimal use of calibration cylinders.

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