Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) are widely used in advanced industry, like aerospace, modern sports, and automobile. Compared to traditional metals, CFRP laminates have a higher strength to weight ratio and better corrosion resistance. Because of the heterogeneous and anisotropic behavior of CFRP laminates, their damage mechanisms include fiber/matrix debonding, diffuse matrix damage, matrix cracking, fiber breakage, and delamination. These damage mechanisms develop in different length scales and are deeply coupled with each other, especially the intra/interlaminar damage coupling. Therefore, a well understanding of intra/interlaminar damage coupling is vital for predicting integrity of laminated structures. The dissipation during delamination process includes the intrinsic (depends on local material) and extrinsic (depends on non-local structural effect) parts. The intrinsic part could be straightly calibrated through standard test, while the non-local extrinsic part is usually not fully elaborated. In this work, we will devote to fill the gap, both in experiments and simulation, which will encounter the effect of intra/inter laminar damage coupling on the extrinsic dissipation during delamination process. The non-local extrinsic dissipation is usually triggered by the intra/inter laminar damage coupling, depending the loading conditions and curing process. In this thesis, we first design a two step test (tensile-DCB) on a cross ply to quantitatively study the influence of intralaminar damage on interlaminar performance. The intralaminar damage effect has proven to be two-fold on the interlaminar performance as the preset transverse cracks could lead to fiber bridging and also local delamination. Secondly, we proposed a hybrid cohesive element to encounter the intra/interlaminar coupling in a pragmatic local way. The hybrid cohesive element not only calculate the out-of-plane separation but also the in-plane strain of the two surfaces of the interface elements, which could be used to estimate the intralaminar damage of adjacent layers. Meanwhile, the coupling damage in multidirectional delamination is also investigated through a modified double cantilever beam (DCB) test. A general hybrid cohesive element is developed, in which the influence of delamination direction on the local apparent toughness is also considered. Last but not least, we implement an experimental campaign to study the curing process effect on fiber bridging development in unidirectional mode I fracture. Through these studies, the intra/interlaminar damage coupling mechanism is better understood and the hybrid cohesive element prove its potential on simulation efficiency and robustness.

The Generation IV International Forum has established several goals for the next generation of nuclear energy systems, which are to be substantial improvements over contemporary designs. In Canada Generation IV research efforts have focused on developing the Pressure Tube type SuperCritical Water-cooled Reactor (PT-SCWR), an evolution of CANada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) technology. An integral part of the PT-SCWR is the High Efficiency Re-entrant Channel (HERC), wherein coolant first travels downward through a centre flow tube and then upward around the fuel. The large density variation of supercritical fluids, combined with the negative Coolant Void Reactivity (CVR), make the concept similar to a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). The objective of this study was thus to apply the state-of-the-art in BWR analysis to the PT-SCWR. Models were created using the DRAGON (neutron transport), DONJON (neutron diffusion/spatial kinetics), and CATHENA (channel thermalhydraulics) computer codes. A procedure for DONJON-CATHENA coupling was developed to enable simulation of coupled transients. The specifications of the HERC necessitated multiple coolant reactivity feedbacks be included in the model, in turn requiring extensions to the DONJON source code. The model created for this work is thus among the first to incorporate multiple coolant feedbacks in core-level coupled spatial kinetics and thermalhydraulics transient analysis, and is uniquely capable of simulating such transients in the PT-SCWR. This work found that while the total CVR was negative as required, the reactivity effect of coolant void solely around the fuel was positive. As a consequence additional heat delivered from fuel to coolant, which decreases the coolant density, has a positive reactivity effect making BWR-like coupled instabilities impossible. On the other hand, in some postulated transients, such as Loss-OfCoolant Accidents (LOCAs) or Loss-Of-Flow Accidents (LOFAs), this positive reactivity results in temporary power excursions. A fast-acting shutdown system is potentially necessary to limit damage to the fuel in such transients. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The objective of this research is to design well-tuned, wideband elements for thin planar or cylindrically conformal arrays of balanced elements fed over ground. These arrays have closely spaced elements to achieve wide bandwidths through mutual coupling. This dissertation develops two wideband designs in infinite, semi-infinite, and finite array configurations. The infinite array is best for element tuning. This research advances a concept of a distributed, parallel capacitance between elements and across feeds that must be mutually altered for tuning. Semi-infinite techniques limit the problem space and determine the proper resistive loads to control the low-frequency array-guided surface wave (AGSW). The tight physical placement also forms a periodic structure that, along with the array boundary, launches a wave across the array surface. Options to suppress this surface wave are resistive loading and cylindrical conformations. AGSW control is necessary to achieve a maximum bandwidth, but lower radiation or aperture efficiency results. Conformation is shown to be an ineffective method for AGSW control alone. The Wrapped Bowtie design emerges as a novel design offering nearly a 10:1 bandwidth as a finite array over ground. Some bandwidth comes from the losses in radiation efficiency, which is necessary to control the AGSW; however, its simulated VSWR < 3 bandwidth in an infinite array is 7.24:1 with full efficiency. Less than perfect efficiency is required to mitigate surface wave effects, unless bandwidth is to be compromised. That loss may be as radiation or aperture efficiency, but it is unavoidable if the infinite array bandwidth is to be maintained in finite array designs. Lastly, this research articulates a development path for tightly-coupled arrays that extends in stages from infinite to semi-infinite, and thence finite layouts. Distinctions are explained and defended for the design focus at each stage. Element design, tuning, and initial feed design occur at the infinite array stage; AGSW suppression occurs at the semi-infinite stage; and design confirmation occurs only with the finite array. / Ph. D.

Reproducibility of results in biomedical research is an area of concern that should be paramount for all researchers. Importantly, this issue has been examined for experiments concerning cardiac electrophysiology. Specifically, multiple labs have found differences in results when comparing cardiac conduction velocity (CV) between healthy mice and mice that were heterozygous null for the gap junction (GJ) forming protein, Connexin 43. While the results of the comparison study showed differing extracellular ionic concentrations of the perfusates, specifically sodium, potassium, and calcium ([Na+]o, [K+]o, and [Ca2+]o), there was a lack of understanding why certain combinations of the aforementioned ions led to specific CV changes. However, more research from our lab indicates that these changes can predict modifications to a secondary form of cardiac coupling known as ephaptic coupling (EpC). Therefore the work in this dissertation was twofold, 1) to examine the effects of modulating EpC through perfusate ionic concentrations while also modulating GJC and 2) to investigate the effects of modulating all three of the main ions contributed with cardiac conduction (Na+, K+, Ca2+) and the interplay between them. Firstly I designed and tested changes from the use of 3D printed bath for optical mapping procedures. After verification that the bath did not modify electrophysiological or contrile parameters, I studied the effects of physiologic changes to EpC determinants ([Na+]o and [K+]o) on CV during various states of GJ inhibition using the non-specific GJ uncoupler carbenoxolone (CBX). Multiple pacing rates were used to further modify EpC, as an increased pacing rate leads to a decrease in sodium channel availability through modification of the resting membrane potential. with no to low (0 and 15 µM CBX) GJ inhibition, physiologic changes in [Na+]o and [K+]o did not affect CV, however increasing pacing rate decreased CV as expected. When CBX was increased to 30 µM, a combination of decreasing [Na+]o and increasing [K+]o significantly decreased cardiac CV, specifically when pacing rate was increased. Next, the combinatory effects of cations associated with EpC (Na+, K+, and Ca2+) were tested in to examine how cardiac CV reacts to changes in perfusate solution and how this may explain differences in experimental outcomes between laboratories. Briefly, experiments were run where [K+]o was varied throughout an experiment and the values for [Na+]o and [Ca2+]o were at one of two specific values during an experiment. 30 µM CBX was added to half of the experiments to see the changes in the CV-[K+]o relationship with GJ inhibition. With unaltered GJ coupling, elevated [Na+]o maintains CV during hyperkalemia. Interestingly, both [Na+]o and [Ca2+]o must be increased to maintain normal CV during hyperkalemia with reduced GJ coupling. These data suggest that optimized fluids can sustain normal conduction under pathophysiologic conditions like hyperkalemia and GJ uncoupling. Taken as a whole, this dissertation attempts to shed light on the importance of ionic concentration balance in perfusate solutions on cardiac conduction. / Ph. D.

Since its discovery in 1979, the Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) reaction has become one of the most widely utilised tools for carbon-carbon bond formation. The palladium catalysed coupling of an organoboron and organohalide compounds proceeds through a three-stage mechanism of oxidative addition, transmetalation and reductive elimination. The transmetalation of boronic acids to a palladium(II) complex has been widely studied. However, very little is known about the transmetalation of boronic esters, which are commonly used as an alternative to unstable boronic acids. Whether these species undergo direct transmetalation or prior hydrolysis to the boronic acid under SM conditions remains unknown. This research aimed to elucidate the mechanism of this cross-coupling process. Initial results under typical SM conditions created a biphasic reaction, promoted by the inorganic base and solvent composition, and showed that the boronic esters and corresponding boronic acid couple at the same absolute rate. This is thought to be a consequence of the formation of a biphasic mixture, rendering phase transfer the turnover-limiting step. The conditions were thus adapted to maintain a monophasic system using an organic soluble base, 2-tert-butyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine, enabling the focus to be transmetalation as the turnover-limiting step. These new conditions show a significant difference in both reaction rate and induction period when using a boronic ester compared to the corresponding boronic acid. The use of guanidine was also shown to have an interesting effect on the boronic acid/ester species by 19F and 11B NMR. Further studies found the use of guanidine to create a boronate species, with this species being an aryl trihydroxyboronate or the hydroxyl"ate"-complex of the boronic ester, depending on the presence of diol in the system. Formation of a boronate species was found to be crucial for efficient cross-coupling. When testing weaker bases, unable to form a boronate species, poor SM cross-coupling conversion was found using the newly developed phosphine-free guanidine conditions, showing the importance of the boronate species under these conditions. The results suggest that depending on the strength of base used, the pathway of transmetalation pathway can be switched, between the boronate pathway and the oxo-palladium pathway, under the specific conditions developed.

In this thesis, we have analyzed the coupling gap dependent micro-ring loss in a single ring all-pass filter configuration using the two dimension (2D) finite difference time domain (FDTD) and EIM (effective index method). We utilized a new analysis scheme by calculating the transmission signal as a function of input wavelength and fitting the transmission spectrum with a phenomenological ring loss parameter. This novel scheme circumvents the complex waveguide mode analysis process, when the coupling gap is narrow and the all-pass coupling region becomes multi-mode. We first find that the radiation loss increases rapidly with decreasing coupling gap width. Our results show that the intrinsic bending losses of silicon micro-rings (on oxide) with the radius of 1.5 £gm, 2.5£gm, and 5£gm are about 20 dB/cm, 3 dB/cm, 1 dB/cm for TE polarization modes, respectively. For TM modes, the intrinsic bending losses with the radius of 1.5£gm, 2.5 £gm, and 5£gm are about 2573 dB/cm, 64 dB/cm, and 0.8 dB/cm, respectively. Next, we find that power coupling coefficients of the single ring all-pass filter configuration using the ring to ring couplers are much higher than the bus to ring couplers. The radiation losses of the ring to ring couplers for TM modes are improved significantly in all coupling gap widths. In a high-density integrated optics circuit, specially designed ring coupling region device structure is needed to address this serious optical loss issue.

Approaching problems with global warming due to the use of fossil fuels, means that new system solutions have to be investigated. This report investigates the possibility to expand an existing photovoltaic system with a wind turbine generator to simplify the expansion of renewable energy sources. Through an extensive literature study and simulation in SIMULINK the result has been developed and tested. It shows that it is possible to connect a wind turbine generator to the same inverter as the PV-modules if no MPPT algorithm for the PV-modules is integrated. To protect the inverter a dump load has to be connected. Because of the complexity a DC-coupled system brings, AC-coupling is advised when expanding PV-modules with a WTG. The optimal wind turbine is considered to be a permanent magnet synchronous generator connected to the AC-bus through a full-effect inverter. The turbine should be chosen according to the intended location based on wind conditions and desired energy production.

Une nouvelle voie d’accès à des structures tri-cycliques originaux les « oxazino-indole di-iodés» a été mise au point à partir des acides 1H-indole-2-carboxyliques commerciaux ou des acides 1H-indole-2-carboxyliques fonctionnalisés obtenus par la réaction d’Hemetsberger-Knittel. La dernière étape de cette séquence est une réaction d’iodocyclisation qui s’est avérée totalement régio- et stéréosélective selon un processus de type 6-exo-dig. Cette méthodologie a ensuite été étendue en série isoindolique permettant un accès à des motifs « oxazino-isoindolique di-iodés » originaux. Afin d'étendre davantage cette méthodologie, de nouveaux « oxazepino-indole di-iodés » ont été préparés en utilisant la même approche synthétique à partir de l'acide 1H-indole-7-carboxylique. La réactivité des structures tri-cycliques di-iodés a été étudiée via des réactions de Cross-Coupling (Stille, Sonogashira, Suzuki) par l’utilisation de sels de palladium permettant une fonctionnalisation régiosélective de l’iode exocyclique. / A new access pathway to the original tricyclic structures "di-iodinated oxazino-indole" was developed from the commercial 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acids or functionalized 1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid obtained by Hemetsberger-Knittel reaction. The last step in this sequence is an iodocyclisation reaction that is proved to be completely regio- and stereoselective via 6-exo-dig process. This methodology was then extended to isoindolic series allowing access to original "di-iodinated oxazino-isoindole" motifs. To further extend this methodology, new"di-iodinated oxazepino-indoles" were prepared using the same synthetic approach from the 1H-indole-7-carboxylic acid. The reactivity of the di-iodinated tri-cyclic structures has been studied via Cross-Coupling reactions (Stille, Sonogashira and Suzuki) by the use of palladium salts allowing a regioselective functionalization of the exocyclic iodine.

Abstract The indirect spin-spin coupling is a molecular internuclear interaction, which is observable by utilizing NMR spectroscopy. This coupling, denoted J, is a second-order tensorial property that consists of rank-0, 1, and 2 components. The present thesis deals with the experimental determination of the rank-0 and rank-2 components of J tensors for different pairs of interacting nuclei by utilizing liquid crystal NMR (LC NMR) method. The experimental information of the rank-2 component of the J tensor appears as Janiso, a combination of tensor elements. In LC NMR, Janiso is manifested as a contribution to the experimental anisotropic coupling (Dexp ) that contains also the corresponding internuclear dipolar coupling, D. The dipolar coupling is defined by the molecular geometry and average orientation, and affected by the molecular motions. Therefore, the molecular geometry and orientation have to be determined together with the studied Janiso couplings. The contributions to D couplings arising from the molecular vibrations and solvent-induced deformation of the molecular geometry are taken into account in the analysis of the experimental data; the contributions are presented briefly in this thesis. The LC NMR experiments are performed for C6H6, HCONH2, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, 1,4-C6H4F2, CH3F, CH2F2, CHF3, and CSiH6 molecules, and some important aspects of the liquid crystal NMR method are discussed. The obtained information of J tensors is compared with the theoretical ab initio MCSCF results. Finally, the systematics of the J tensors in different structural surroundings is found and the significance of the indirect contribution to the corresponding Dexp coupling is discussed.

Yes / In this paper two novel antennas, suitable for access and backhaul links, are designed, fabricated and tested for a Relay Station in a WiMAX wireless network. A single modi¯ed E-shaped patch antenna is described, presenting 10 dB gain over 12.4% bandwidth. This antenna element is used for the design of a 4 £ 4 planar array which provides experimental gain of 21.2 dB. The antenna system on the Relay Station operates at 3.4 GHz and includes one single antenna element for access link realization and an antenna array for the backhaul link realization. These antennas are installed in two con¯guration arrangements and tested in terms of their radiation performances and coupling e®ects. The simulated and measured results are quite satisfactory and in good agreement at which the maximum coupling between the access and backhaul antennas is found below ¡25 dB for all tested cases.