Abstract
Within the development of motor vehicles, crash safety is one of the most important attributes. To comply with the ever increasing requirements of shorter cycle times and costs reduction, car manufacturers keep intensifying the use of virtual development tools, such as, for crash simulations, the explicit finite element method (FEM). The accuracy of the simulation process is highly dependent on the accuracy of the model, including the midplane mesh. One of the roughest approximations typically made is the actual part thickness which, although most frequently modelled as a constant value, can, in reality, vary locally. Availability of per element thickness information, which does not exist explicitly in the FEM model, is one key enabler and can significantly contribute to an improved crash simulation quality, especially regarding fracture prediction. Although not explicitly available, thickness can be inferred from the original CAD geometric model through geometric calculations. This paper proposes and compares two thickness estimation algorithms based on ray tracing and nearest neighbour 3D range searches. A systematic quantitative analysis of the accuracy of both algorithms is presented, as well as a thorough identification of particular geometric arrangements under which their accuracy can be compared. These results enable the identification of each technique's weaknesses and hint towards a new, integrated, approach to the problem that linearly combines the estimates produced by each algorithm.

Abstract
Within the development of motor vehicles, crash safety (e.g. occupant protection, pedestrian protection, low speed damageability), is one of the most important attributes. In order to be able to fulfill the increased requirements in the framework of shorter cycle times and rising pressure to reduce costs, car manufacturers keep intensifying the use of virtual development tools such as those in the domain of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). For crash simulations, the explicit finite element method (FEM) is applied. The accuracy of the simulation process is highly dependent on the accuracy of the simulation model, including the midplane mesh. One of the roughest approximations typically made is the actual part thickness which, in reality, can vary locally. However, almost always a constant thickness value is defined throughout the entire part due to complexity reasons. On the other hand, for precise fracture analysis within FEM, the correct thickness consideration is one key enabler. hus, availability of per element thickness information, which does not exist explicitly in the FEM model, can significantly contribute to an improved crash simulation quality, especially regarding fracture prediction. Even though the thickness is not explicitly available from the FEM model, it can be inferred from the original CAD geometric model through geometric calculations. This paper proposes and compares two thickness estimation algorithms based on ray tracing and nearest neighbour 3D range searches. A systematic quantitative analysis of the accuracy of both algorithms is presented, as well as a thorough identification of particular geometric arrangements under which their accuracy an be compared. These results enable the identification of each technique's weaknesses and hint towards a new, integrated, approach to the problem that linearly combines the estimates produced by each algorithm.

Abstract

Abstract
In the real world, the human eye is confronted with a wide range of luminances from bright sunshine to low night light. Our eyes cope with this vast range of intensities by adaptation; changing their sensitivity to be responsive at different illumination levels. This adaptation is highly localized, allowing us to see both dark and bright regions of a high dynamic range environment. In this paper we present a new model of eye adaptation based on physiological data. The model, which can be easily integrated into existing renderers, can function either as a static local tone mapping operator for single high dynamic range image, or as a temporal adaptation model taking into account time elapsed and intensity of preadaptation for a dynamic sequence. We finally validate our technique with a high dynamic range display and a psychophysical study. Copyright © 2004 by the Association for Computing Machinery, Inc.

Abstract
Complex applications in distributed-memory parallel systems often follow a demand-driven approach with domain decomposition. A uniform data distribution among the local memories at the processing elements may require frequent remote data access. To keep the processors busy while data is remotely fetched, concurrent application processes are assigned to each transputer-based processing element. Adding more concurrent application processes in a large-scale parallel system may degrade performance, due to the traffic increase with data requests and data block replies. A conditional broadcast mechanism is implemented during data requests, to limit this flow of messages. Monitoring strategies are proposed to further reduce the messages density, and a parameterized model to measure and evaluate global execution times is presented. Simulation data running the model with up to 35 transputers show that monitoring can reduce the performance degradation when more local concurrence is added. However, if too much data replication is present, the simulation data also show that the supply of communication services at each node still imposes a burden, requiring complementary monitoring strategies to allow removal of redundant reply messages.

Abstract
Many of the current approaches used in teaching and learning in engineering education are not the most appropriate to prepare students for the challenges they will face in their professional careers. The active involvement of students in their learning process facilitates the development of the technical and professional competencies they need as professionals. This article describes the organisation and impact of a mini-conference and project work - the creation of a software product and its introduction in the market - aimed at the development of professional competencies in general and writing skills in particular. The course was evaluated by assessing the students' perception of the development of a number of professional competencies through a questionnaire completed by 125 students from two consecutive year groups. The results indicate that the project work and the mini-conference had a positive impact on students' perceptions of the development of professional competencies. © 2012 Copyright SEFI.