Publications

The S2P International Conferences are dedicated to science and technology of semi-solid processing of metals. Since the discovery of the specific flow behaviour of metals in semi-slid state during the seventies, this fascinating technology has experienced a dynamic develoment history which has led to a whole family of new production processes, new equipment and industrial applications.

In order to fully exploit the technical and economical potential of these new ideas it is important to achieve a better understanding of the microsturcture development, flow behaviour, improved material and process modelling as well as process control. The S2P International Conferences have contributed to achieve this goal by providing a forum for scientists form various disciplines as well as for engineers and production specialists to learn from each other, to share the common knowledge and to develop a common sense on fundamental topics and industrial requirements.

The 10th S2P Conference organised by the RWTH aachen University, Germany and the University of Liège (Belgium) took place from September 16th to 18th, 2008.
This book contains the conference contributions.

The main objective of COST Action 298 is to create new knowledge about users’ creativity and to facilitate their empowerment in a broadband information society. This knowledge is crucial in order to strengthen the European Research Area. Moreover, this requires an examination of the factors that can both constrain and enhance users abilities to shape and use ICT’s – nowadays also referred to as information society technologies and services (ISTs).

The main objective of COST Action 354 “Performance Indicators for Road Pavements” was the definition of uniform European performance indicators for road pavements taking the needs of roads users and road operators into account. A quantitative assessment of different aspects of pavement performance, through the implementation of performance indicators, can provide guidance regarding present and future needs in road pavement design and maintenance, at both national and European levels. In total, 23 European countries and the FHWA/USA have sent their delegates to the management Committee: this breath of interest reflects the importance attached to the objective of the Action.

As part of the Action, a spreadsheet tool was developed to facilitate the calculation of single, combined and general performance indicators. This was used to conduct a comprehensive sensitivity analysis to show the effects of changing on the one hand the weights of the input parameters and on the other hand the influence of modifications in the recommended combination procedures. The spreadsheet is provided on the accomplishing CD-ROM and can also be used to implement examples of the calculation of PIs, CPIs and GPI, using actual data available to a road administration, following the procedures developed within the work in COST Action 354.