The required results of stochastic calculus are introduced as well as sufficient conditions for a diffusin to be ergodic. Invariant densities are obtained for two families of diffusion. These families belong the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck and Cox-Ingersoll & Ross diffusions. The moments of transition density of the Cox-Ingersoll & Ross diffusion were obtained and it was shown that this density converges to the invariant density. Lastly a technique, based on sample partition, is given for parameter estimation for ergodic diffusion. A numerical application of that technique for the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck diffusion is given. Final remarks and comments are included.

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A nonlinear DC servomotor model with friction, saturation, backlash and motor starting voltage is presented in this paper. Traditionally the position of a servo is controlled with a PD-controller. In the presence of disturbance, PID control results with overshoot and long recovery time. In simulations, the integral time of the controller is modified to fasten the recovery time. To control the position of the servomotor is proposed a Hybrid Control Architecture using a nonlinear PID controller and a Fuzzy PID controller. Simulation results with the Hybrid Controller are presented.

The experimental analysis of nine prestressed flat slab models under punching is described and the results are compared with the recommendations of EC2 and MC90. The tests were performed on specimens at a scale 1/3, prestressed with unbonded high strength steel. In the first set, the specimens (AR2 to AR5 and AR7) were only subjected to in-plane compression, to evaluate the effect of the in-plane forces on the punching resistance. The second set of tests (AR8 to AR11) intended to study the effect of the vertical component of the tendon forces near the column in the punching resistance. This work aims to improve the understanding of the behaviour of prestressed flat slabs under punching load and the evaluation of the punching resistance.

The present work reports experimental research carried out on repair and strengthening methods of flat slabs for punching. The repair and strengthening methods studied are: strengthening using transversal prestress, repair by substitution of the damaged concrete; and strengthening using steel beams as a column head, connected to the column and to the slab with epoxy resin and mechanical expansion anchors. Four experimental test slabs (AR1 to AR4) were produced and tested: two with transversal prestress, one only repaired and one strengthened with a steel column head. The execution process, its efficiency and design, are discussed.

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