• School Mathematics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.265-290
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to search an effective teaching & learning program by examining how much does Excel affect on problem solving of linear function. This study was based on qualitative case study. Teaching experiment was performed for seven periods with five students in 8th graders. Pre and posts tests were attempted to analyze the changes of student's ability on problem solving of linear function. The analysis of tests were performed in category with correct process-object perspective, near process-object perspective, incorrect process-object perspective. According to this study, the subjects showed an improvement on problem solving perspective of linear function. This meant that lessons using Excel had influenced on the problem solving of linear function. We noticed that exploring the learning environment with Excel could supplement paper-and-pencil environment. We believed that Excel with an intuitive dynamic and explorative skills can play a role in scaffolding to support problem solving of linear function.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.37-65
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• 2015

Modeling and simulation of mechanical response of infrastructure object, solids and structures, relies on the use of computational models to foretell the state of a physical system under conditions for which such computational model has not been validated. Verification and Validation (V&V) procedures are the primary means of assessing accuracy, building confidence and credibility in modeling and computational simulations of behavior of those infrastructure objects. Validation is the process of determining a degree to which a model is an accurate representation of the real world from the perspective of the intended uses of the model. It is mainly a physics issue and provides evidence that the correct model is solved (Oberkampf et al. 2002). Our primary interest is in modeling and simulating behavior of porous particulate media that is fully saturated with pore fluid, including cyclic mobility and liquefaction. Fully saturated soils undergoing dynamic shaking fall in this category. Verification modeling and simulation of fully saturated porous soils is addressed in more detail by (Tasiopoulou et al. 2014), and in this paper we address validation. A set of centrifuge experiments is used for this purpose. Discussion is provided assessing the effects of scaling laws on centrifuge experiments and their influence on the validation. Available validation test are reviewed in view of first and second order phenomena and their importance to validation. For example, dynamics behavior of the system, following the dynamic time, and dissipation of the pore fluid pressures, following diffusion time, are not happening in the same time scale and those discrepancies are discussed. Laboratory tests, performed on soil that is used in centrifuge experiments, were used to calibrate material models that are then used in a validation process. Number of physical and numerical examples are used for validation and to illustrate presented discussion. In particular, it is shown that for the most part, numerical prediction of behavior, using laboratory test data to calibrate soil material model, prior to centrifuge experiments, can be validated using scaled tests. There are, of course, discrepancies, sources of which are analyzed and discussed.