The paper considers matters pertaining to optimization of research activity at higher educational institutions. The Belarussian National Technical University, a leading engineering institution, is taken as an example. A wide spectrum of research activity and schools is presented at the University.

The paper studies and solves the problems concerning free oscillations without taking into account resistance forces of cantilever and hinge supported beams and their material do not obey the Hooke’s law. While solving the problems a variation approach has been used. The paper presents examples of calculation of systems with one-, two- and infinite number of degree of freedom.

The reasons of suspended sediment formation in the canals of polder systems are analyzed in the paper. The paper describes a mechanism of carrying out these sediments into natural water basins (rivers and lakes) while the water being pumped by pumping stations. Measures for increasing strength of canal slopes performing under a changeable level regime are proposed in the paper. The paper contains methodology for determination of allowable rates of lowering a water level in the river-bed during pumping process. In order to prevent basin silting it is suggested toform settling ponds at polder systems. The methods for determination of ponds’ parameters are presented in the paper.

The quality of pavements is evaluated by the presence of such defects as: pot-holes, cracks, runs and others. An outward exhibition of defects is pavement evenness. The paper contains correlation dependences between evenness and defects. The critical pavement conditions when it is necessary to execute repair works are determined in the paper.

A statistical analysis of well operation at 11 large water intakes of the Minsk city area has been carried out. Such well longevity factors as hydro-geological conditions, initial specific yield, well screen type and chemical water composition are considered in the paper.

Impact of technological process parameters (pressing pressure, duration and vulcanization temperature) on drive toothed belt longevity has been investigated. Optimum parameters of the technological process that permit to improve a belt resource have been determined. Methodology for determination of a number of cycles intended for loading of belt teeth according to a test duration and transmission parameters has been developed. The paper presents results of industrial resource tests of drive toothed belts manufactured in accordance with an optimized technology

Calculations of average radii of barrel-type roller curvature in different longitudinal sections of rollers have been given in the paper. Due to the difference in a radius the cutting process is discontinuous along contact lines for every double stroke of a stick.

The paper considers an improved technique for determination of a contact wetting angle. Description of the devices that make it possible to determine a contact wetting angle with due account of surface roughness is given in the paper. A specified formula for calculation of a contact wetting angle has been derived.

The paper presents results of investigations pertaining to a mirror anastigmatic afocal optical systems comprising two concave parabolic reflectors and a convex hyperbolic reflector. A variant of constructive problem solution as a combination of the Cassegrein objective and a separate parabolic reflector is shown in the paper.

New methodology for diagnostics of brake lining wear rate has been developed. This methodology is based on a physical process where the usage of friction work is considered as an integral index.

The paper contains a method and a scheme of the device for investigation of energy losses in a cylinder-piston group of internal combustion engine. The method for a separate determination of capacity losses for friction in piston rings and a piston itself is described in the paper.

The Transmission model and software package to investigate stress loading of a hydromechanical transmission of a dump truck have been developed. The given software package allows to model stress loading of transmission gears in taking-off and acceleration modes at various road resistance, positions of an engine control pedal and initial revolutions of an engine crankshaft, various laws of friction clutch switching and some other parameters that permit to reveal a rate of various operational mode influence on stress loading of a dump truck transmission. An equivalence of the developed software is proved by the comparison of the experimentally obtained stress loading process of the hydro-mechanical transmission of a BelAZ- 7555 dump truck with the results of the simulation

The paper considers variants concerning connection of non-linear compensating devices comprising, as a rule, two channels for amplitude and phase characteristics of automatic control systems. It is shown that owing to presence of the mentioned channels it is possible to have much higher number of connections than for ordinary linear compensation means. Some examples with frequency characteristics of such connections that ensure efficient and independent formation of amplitude and phase characteristics of the systems to be compensated are given in the paper.

The paper proposes a methodology for planning personal number of workers at motor transport enterprises that allows to elaborate an enterprise personnel development program with due account of formulated strategic tasks. This program facilitates to determine personnel number that is required tofulfill the prescribed output volume with minimum expenses. The principal difference of the given methodology from the existing ones lies in the fact that it takes into account the achieved level of labor productivity and intensity and also expenses for utilization of enterprise personnel.

The paper considers and analyzes scientific approaches of economists to the essence and contents of the economic mechanism. Proposals for methodological formation of economic mechanism structure are substantiated in the paper.

Competitiveness assessment of products and an enterprise should be considered as a basic element for the analysis of the results pertaining to industrial and economic activity of the enterprise and planning of the main directions of its development evolution and utilization of its resources. In order to give more objective assessment of achievements and potential possibilities it has been proposed to use a complex analysis in terms of five components of the enterprise competitiveness. The paper proposes methodological approaches to evaluation of the mentioned components and calculation of the general enterprise competitiveness assessment.

The paper considers a number of methodological approaches to a definition of the «new economy» concept and its resource potential, points out significant features of new-type economy and defines a criterion of the «new economy» correlation with informational and global economy. The role and importance of the human capital, science and education in the development of «new economy» are studied in the paper. The paper emphasizes the importance of the participation of the Republic of Belarus in «new economy» for more efficient realization of the main competitive advantages of our country.

The paper shows unfavourable state of students’ moral orientations. Some pernicious habits are rather common to a great number of students. It is substantiated to develop an efficient educational mechanism that will encourage spiritual values of social consciousness to be a vital necessity of students.