In recent years, autoregressive conditional duration models (ACD models) introduced by Engle and Russell in 1998 have become very popular in modelling of the durations between selected events of the transaction process (trade durations or price durations) and modelling of financial market microstructure effects. The aim of the paper is to develop Bayesian inference for the ACD models. Different specifications of ACD models will be considered and compared with particular emphasis on the linear ACD model, Box-Cox ACD model, augmented Box-Cox ACD model and augmented (Hentschel) ACD model. The analysis will consider models with the Burr distribution and the generalized Gamma distribution for the innovation term. Bayesian inference will be presented and practically used in estimation of and prediction within ACD models describing trade durations. The MCMC methods including Metropolis-Hastings algorithm are suitably adopted to obtain samples from the posterior densities of interest. The empirical part of the work includes modelling of trade durations of selected equities from the Polish stock market.

We calculate the dynamics of tax evasion within a multi-agent econophysics model which is adopted from the theory of magnetism and previously has been shown to capture the main characteristics from agent-based based models which build on the standard Allingham and Sandmo approach. In particular, we implement a feedback of public goods provision on the decision-making of selfish agents which aim to pursue their self interest. Our results imply that such a feedback enhances the moral attitude of selfish agents thus reducing the percentage of tax evasion. Two parameters govern the behavior of selfish agents, (i) the rate of adaption to changes in public goods provision and (ii) the threshold of perception of public goods provision. Furtheron we analyze the tax evasion dynamics for different agent compositions and under the feedback of public goods provision. We conclude that policymakers may enhance tax compliance behavior via the threshold of perception by means of targeted public relations.

We study the autocovariance structure of a general Markov switching second-order stationary VARMA model.Then we give stable finite order VARMA(p*, q*) representations for those M-state Markov switching VARMA(p, q) processes where the observables are uncorrelated with the regime variables. This allows us to obtain sharper bounds for p* and q* with respect to the ones existing in literature. Our results provide new insights into stochastic properties and facilitate statistical inference about the orders of MS-VARMA models and the underlying number of hidden states.

In the paper methods for conducting Road Safety Inspections (SIs) in Italy and Poland are described and compared. The goal of the study is to improve the quality and efficiency of the safety inspections of road network by using low cost equipment (GPS, Tablet, Camera) and specific software. Particular attention was paid to the need for proper calibration of factors, causing traffic safety hazard associated with road infrastructure. The model developed according to the Italian procedures was adapted to comply with the checklists and evaluation criteria of the Polish guidelines. Overall, a good agreement between the two approaches was identified, however some modification was required to include new safety issues, characteristic for the Polish network for safety inspection of two lane rural roads. To test the applicability about 100 km of regional two lane roads in Poland were inspected with Polish and Italian procedures.

This paper is devoted to the application of ultrasonic wave propagation phenomena for the diagnostics of prestressed, concrete, bridge T-beams. A multi-point damage detection system is studied with use of numerically obtained data. The system is designed to detect the presence of the material discontinuities as well as their location.

The vibration and stability analysis of uniform beams supported on two-parameter elastic foundation are performed. The second foundation parameter is a function of the total rotation of the beam. The effects of axial force, foundation stiffness parameters, transverse shear deformation and rotatory inertia are incorporated into the accurate vibration analysis. The work shows very important question of relationships between the parameters describing the beam vibration, the compressive force and the foundation parameters. For the free supported beam, the exact formulas for the natural vibration frequencies, the critical forces and the formula defining the relationship between the vibration frequency and the compressive forces are derived. For other conditions of the beam support conditional equations were received. These equations determine the dependence of the frequency of vibration of the compressive force for the assumed parameters of elastic foundation and the slenderness of the beam.

Alkali-aggregate reactivity (AAR) is one of the major causes of damage in concrete. Potential susceptibility of aggregates to this reaction can be determined using several methods. This study compares gravel alkali reactivity results obtained from different tests conducted on coarse aggregates with complex petrography. The potential for the reactivity in the aggregates was revealed in the chemical test using treatment with sodium hydroxide. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to identify the reactive constituents. The expansion measured in the mortar bars test confirmed that the aggregate was potentially capable of alkali silica reactivity with consequent deleterious effect on concrete.

The topic of smart structures, their active control and implementation, is relatively new. Therefore, different approaches to the problem can be met. The present paper discusses variable aspects of the active control of structures. It explains the idea of smart systems, introduces different terms used in smart technique and defines the structural smartness. The author indicates differences between actively controlled structures and structural health monitoring systems and shows an example of an actively controlled smart footbridge. The analyses presented in the study concern tensegrity structures, which are prone to the structural control through self-stress state adjustment. The paper introduces examples of structural control performed on tensegrity modules and plates. An influence of several self-stress states on displacements is analyzed and a study concerning damage due to member loss is presented.

Early detection of potential defects and identification of their location are necessary to ensure safe, reliable and long-term use of engineering structures. Non-destructive diagnostic tests based on guided wave propagation are becoming more popular because of the possibility to inspect large areas during a single measurement with a small number of sensors. The aim of this study is the application of guided wave propagation in non-destructive diagnostics of steel bridges. The paper contains results of numerical analyses for a typical railway bridge. The ability of damage detection using guided Lamb waves was demonstrated on the example of a part of a plate girder as well as a bolted connection. In addition, laboratory tests were performed to investigate the practical application of wave propagation for a steel plate and a prestressed bolted joint.

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the effects of lamination orientation on the fracture behaviour of rectangular steel wires for civil engineering applications using finite element (FE) analysis. The presence of mid-thickness across-the-width lamination changes the cup and cone fracture shape exhibited by the lamination-free wire to a V-shaped fracture with an opening at the bottom/pointed end of the V-shape at the mid-thickness across-the-width lamination location. The presence of mid-width across-the-thickness lamination changes the cup and cone fracture shape of the lamination-free wire without an opening to a cup and cone fracture shape with an opening at the lamination location. The FE fracture behaviour prediction approach adopted in this work provides an understanding of the effects of lamination orientation on the fracture behaviour of wires for civil engineering applications which cannot be understood through experimental investigations because it is impossible to machine laminations in different orientations into wire specimens.

Influence of geometric imperfections of mast shaft in form of initial mast span curvatures both on internal forces status in the structure elements as well as on those elements effort, which is particularly important at the design stage, was analysed based on an example of certain specific mast. The calculations were performed taking into account L/1000 imperfections equal to the permissible assembly deviations as per [1], and L/500 equal to initial imperfections as for uniform built-up columns according to [2]. Remarks and final conclusions have practical meaning and can be useful in design practice.