Buildup dose of Mega Voltage (MV) photon beams can be a limiting factor in intensitymodulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatments. Excessive doses can cause patient discomfort and treatment interruptions, while underdosing may lead to local failure. Many factors which contribute to buildup dose, including the photon beam energy spectrum, scattered or contaminant radiation and their angular distribution, are not modeled well in commercial treatment planning systems. The accurate Monte Carlo method was employed in the studies to estimate the doses. Buildup dose of 6MV photon beams was investigated for three fundamentally different IMRT modalities: between Helical TomoTherapy and traditional opposed tangential beams, solid IMRT and multileaf collimator (MLC)-based IMRT techniques. Solid IMRT, as an alternative to MLC, achieves prescription dose distribution objectives, according to our study. Measurements and Monte Carlo calculations of buildup dose in chest wall treatment were compared between TomoTherapy IMRT and traditional tangential-beam technique. The effect of bolus in helical delivery was also investigated in this study. In addition, measurements and Monte Carlo calculations of buildup dose in solid IMRT and MLC based IMRT treatment modalities were compared. A brass step compensator was designed and built for the solid IMRT. Matching MLC step sequences were used for the MLC IMRT. This dissertation also presents the commissioning of a Monte Carlo code system, BEAMnrc, for a Varian Trilogy linear accelerator (LINAC) and the application in buildup dose calculation. Scattered dose components, MLC component dose and mean spectral energy for the IMRT treatment techniques were analyzed. The agreement between measured 6MV and calculated depth dose and beam profiles was (± 1% or ±1 mm) for 10x10 and 40x40 cm2 fields. The optimum electron beam energy and its radial distribution incident on tungsten target were found to be 6 MeV and 1 mm respectively. The helical delivery study concluded that buildup dose is higher with TomoTherapy compared to the opposed tangential technique in chest wall treatment. The solid and MLC IMRT comparison concluded that buildup dose was up to 7% lower for solid IMRT compared to MLC IMRT due to beam hardening of brass.

The electrodeless plasma discharge is typically driven by radio frequency (RF) power supply within the range (0.2 &iexcl / 40 MHz). The applied power is coupled into the plasma inductively called inductively coupled plasma (ICP). RF ICP technique has achieved significance importance in a diversity of research and industrial applications for over the last threes decades. It is still required to undertake both theoretical and experimental research. In this work, RF ICP technique is applied on the torch modeling in 2D. Based on extended electromagnetic vector potential representation, an axisymmetric model in 2D is proposed for the calculations of the electromagnetic fields in an RF ICP torch. The influence of axial vector potential is included to the vector potential formulations. This is achieved by imposing a helical current carrying wire configuration. The corresponding governing equations are solved numerically by applying finite element method (FEM) using commercial partial differential equation solver (Flex PDE3). Based on this model, the plasma behavior and properties are examined in terms of plasma parameters. Besides, a comparative iii analysis is made between proposed model called helical configuration and the one currently available in the literature called circular configuration. This study shows relatively little difference between temperature fields predicted by two models. However, significant difference is observed between corresponding flows and electromagnetic fields. Especially, tangential flow which is observed in helical configuration vanishes in circular configuration. The proposed model offers an effective means of accounting for the variations of the helical coil geometry on the flow and temperature fields and achieving a better representation of the electromagnetic fields in the discharge. Finally, it is concluded that minimum number of turns (n = 2) yields significant difference between two models whereas, maximum allowable number of turns yield no distinctions on the results of two models in terms of azimuthally applied current. However, axial effect of current still exists but very small with respect to the result obtained with minimum number of turns.

This diploma thesis deals with hot-formed helical compression springs. The first part of the thesis describes related problems and determines market potential. Following theoretical part describes the influence of contact line on behaviour of springs and compares it with normative regulations. Methods suitable for determination of helix shape are covered in the next part. The last part focuses on practical measurement, in which the change of helix shape during manufacture was observed. The main output of this diplomat thesis is suggestion of measures that should contribute to both optimization of manufacture and verification of FEM model.

Crystal engineering is defined as “the understanding of intermolecular interactions in the context of crystal packing and in the utilisation of such understanding in the design of new solids with desired physical and chemical properties”. If crystals are the supramolecular equivalents of molecules, then crystal engineering is the supramolecular equivalent of organic synthesis. The subject considers both crystal structure analysis and design of new structures with targeted properties. The concept of “Supramolecular Synthons” was introduced by G. R. Desiraju in this context, for the rational design of structures. Supramolecular synthons are the smallest reducible structural units that contain geometrical and chemical information required for recognition between functional groups in molecular solids. Crystal engineering has grown very fast after the introduction of this idea in 1995 and engineered solids were found to be useful for application in many diverse fields, from structural chemistry to drug design. Because of the great significance of supramolecular synthons, their identification and analysis in terms of crystallographic, spectroscopic, and computational methods is essential. Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) is a widely used technique for the identification of synthon structure. But the technique has its own limitations like requirement of good quality, suitably sized single crystals, longer times associated with the process which further restricts high throughput analysis. Practically, there is no other way for identification of synthons on a regular basis. In this situation a simple, accurate, and fast method will be of significance; not only for basic studies, but also to scan different solid state phases in pharmaceutical industries. Due to this reason, I have studied IR spectroscopy to find marker bands for different synthons in the first part of the thesis. In chapter 2, I have analyzed a variety of C–H···X based weak synthons. For identification of each synthon, two sets of compounds were taken. In one set the synthon exists and in the other set it does not. Comparison and verification of IR characteristics helps to establish marker bands. Such markers are used to get information on synthon patterns in compounds with unknown crystal structures. The next challenge is whether or not such an IR method can distinguish different geometries of a same interaction. To address this question, different geometries of NO2···I halogen bonded synthons are investigated in chapter 3. This synthon exists in three geometries P, Q and R based on angular and distance criteria. The identification process is divided into five steps. The first step identifies IR signatures from very similar compounds, but with different topologies. The second step verifies earlier features and establishes IR marker bands. In the next step a graded IR protocol is formulated for stepwise discrimination of unknown systems. Such a graded method is applied for clarification of synthon ambiguities and in the identification of synthons in new compounds. Till now synthon information from crystal structures is used as a basis for IR study. Spectroscopy provides chemical information on intermolecular interactions. Is it possible to use such chemical information for crystal engineering? Chapter 4 deals with this aspect. Here, IR investigation is performed on the acid···amide heterodimer synthon. The initial analysis shows contradictory outcomes for synthon formation. According to IR, the N–H···O interaction is significantly destabilized in this synthon. Why then does the acid···amide synthon form? It is found that the answer lies in the higher stability of the other interaction, O–H···O, in the synthon. In other words, dimer formation will be preferred when the O‒H···O interaction is favoured. This is possible when the acidity of H-atom and the basicity of carbonyl O-atom is high. Based on this, a combinatorial study is performed varying the chemical nature of molecules, electron donating or withdrawing. Four quadrants are generated with different combinations of the molecular nature. The result of the combinatorial study shows different acid–amide oriented synthon preferences from different quadrants. A combination of all the observed synthons creates a structural landscape for the acid–amide system. A particular synthon associated with a specific quadrant is found to be responsible for the mechanical property of the synthesized cocrystals. Analysis on the structural aspects of mechanical properties allows for the formulation of models for property engineering. Can it be possible to use these models for targeted property design, other than serendipitous results? Crystal engineering is associated with three aspects, structure analysis, structure design and property engineering. Structure analysis is the first step in any crystal engineering exercise. It also explains the way by which the subject was started in the early days to correlate structure with property. This is the first phase or generation of crystal engineering. The second generation considers rational design of crystal structure which is facilitated by the concept of the supramolecular synthon. This phase has seen in the incorporation of different synthon based strategies to build a variety of supramolecular architectures. However, there is no prediction of a property which is the ultimate aim of crystal engineering. If one can achieve a desired property by predesign, then crystal engineering will see the final and higher stage which is termed third generation crystal engineering in chapter 5. The second part of the thesis discusses work is this direction, where mechanical properties are targeted and achieved by design using models from previous work. Chapter 6 discusses the engineering of elastic crystals from initial brittle precursors. A capping based model is proposed and used to prepare systems that can adopt the desired structure type. Among many other requirements, the crystals need some structurally buffering regions to show elasticity. Type-II electrostatic halogen bonds are used to construct such buffering regions. When the crystals are obtained according to the model type, they show reversible elastic deformation. σ-Hole based halogen bonds are crucial to the synthesis. But, during the project some adverse effects were noticed/realized for the use of halogen bonds. This suggests the need for an alternative methodology. A synthon that can mimic both the geometrical and chemical nature of σ-hole based halogen bonds would be useful to replace the earlier one. A search in this respect results in π-hole oriented orthogonal synthons based on C=O···C=O and NO2···NO2 interactions. A stepwise replacement procedure is applied to see and carry forward structural modularity in the new systems. Cocrystal systems are chosen for easy replacement by changing the constituents. Halogen bonds in cocrystals of the first step are partially substituted by a π-hole mimicking synthon in the second step and completely substituted in the third step. All the structures in the different steps are found to retain the same property, namely elasticity, although they possess dissimilar synthons. These aspects are discussed in chapter 7. Chapter 8 deals with the design of hand twistable helical crystals which are known to result during natural growth. Helical shape crystals are highly impactful for application in metamaterials and lithographic techniques, but at the same time occurrence of such morphology is unpredictable. Such shape generates from the periodic bending of crystals and thus needs multiple deformation directions. Here, a multistep crystal engineering procedure is adopted to get two directionally (2D) plastically bendable crystals, starting from one directional (1D) plastic crystals. Halogen bonds again play a major role in the design. The route follows the order 1D plastic crystals → 1D elastic crystals → 2D elastic crystals → 2D plastic crystals. These 2D plastic crystals are used to obtain hand-twisted helical crystals. Here, different properties namely elastic and plastic are seen in identically structured compounds. Once again, problems in using halogens are noticed. To address the issue of halogens, chapter 9 uses halogen bond/hydrogen bond equivalence to replace halogen bonds by geometrically and chemically similar hydrogen bonds. However, the first designed molecule in this respect did not result in the desired structure. The obligations are removed by applying the molecular/supramolecular equivalence strategy on the earlier molecule. Such an attempt gives another completely hydrogen bonded system that can now adopt the model structure and show a similar 2D plasticity. Crystals of this compound are also hand twistable. Third generation crystal engineering needs predesign models for targeted property engineering. In this context some differently structured elastic crystals are compared with common brittle crystals to identify and ascertain the structural requirements. This analysis helps in constructing different models for future engineering of elastic crystals. It also tabulates the structural and interaction differences in obtaining different mechanical properties namely shearing, plastic, elastic and brittle. In summary, these two major aspects for doing crystal engineering are highlighted in my thesis. One is the identification of robust synthons and the other is the use of synthon based structure design for property engineering. The first part of the thesis discusses the IR spectroscopic method for identification of synthons and then uses the spectral information for crystal structure engineering. The second part is related to deliberate crystal property engineering and uses structure-property relationships from the previous chapters and the literature to formulate predesign models and strategy. Achieving crystal properties in this way is expected to initiate the fast progress of the third generation crystal engineering.

O monitoramento em campo de fundações em estacas metálicas helicoidais é baseado em correlações empíricas entre a capacidade de carga à tração e o torque medido durante a instalação. Nesta pesquisa é proposto um modelo teórico da relação entre o torque de instalação e a capacidade de carga à tração deste tipo de estaca em areias para ser utilizado como procedimento de controle durante a execução deste tipo de fundação. Para validar esta relação teórica e para avaliar o desempenho desta fundação em solos arenosos, foi realizado um programa experimental dividido em dois grupos: ensaios de campo e ensaios de laboratório. Em campo foram realizadas provas de carga à tração na Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC) e em Contagem (Minas Gerais). Os ensaios de laboratório foram divididos em três grupos. O primeiro corresponde aos ensaios de modelagem física em centrífuga realizados no Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC) em Nantes, França. O segundo engloba ensaios de cisalhamento direto de interface entre o aço da hélice da estaca e diferentes areias, parte executada no LCPC e parte na EESC. O terceiro grupo refere-se a ensaios de torção de tubos de estacas metálicas helicoidais efetuados na EESC. A partir dos resultados dos ensaios, o modelo teórico proposto nesta tese foi verificado e mostrou-se adequado para estacas metálicas helicoidais profundas com diferentes dimensões e número de hélices instaladas em solos arenosos. Os resultados das provas de carga realizadas em centrífuga e em campo foram examinados por meio dos métodos existentes na literatura para estimativa de capacidade de carga à tração desenvolvidos para este tipo de fundação. Por meio dos resultados obtidos nos ensaios em centrífuga, constatou-se que nas estacas multi-hélices a porcentagem de capacidade de carga relativa à hélice da ponta aumenta de acordo com o diâmetro da hélice e com a densidade da areia. Nos ensaios de torção de fustes de estacas helicoidais observou-se que, para tubos de mesmo diâmetro e espessura, a ruptura se inicia a partir do mesmo valor de momento torçor aplicado, independentemente de conter ou não emenda. / Empirical correlations between installation torque and uplift capacity of helical screw piles are routinely used as a procedure for quality control on site of this type of foundation. In this work, a theoretical model of the relationship between uplift capacity and installation torque of deep helical screw piles in sand was presented to be used as a quality control method for this type of foundation. An experimental program of laboratory and field investigations was carried out in order to validate this theoretical relationship. The field study included uplift tests of full-scale piles installed at the Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC) and in Contagem (Minas Gerais). The laboratory tests were performed in the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC/ Nantes) and at the EESC. In the LCPC a program of centrifuge and direct shear interface tests was completed. A set of torsion tests on pile shafts and of direct shear interface tests were carried out at the EESC. The results showed that the theoretical model presented is applicable to different pile dimensions, number of helices, and sand relative density. The methods existing in the literature for estimating uplift capacity of helical screw piles were used to verify the results of uplift capacities measured in field and in centrifuge studies. The results of centrifuge modelling tests demonstrated that the fraction of uplift capacity corresponding to the bottom helix increases with helix diameter and sand density. The torsion tests showed that the failure of the pile shaft begins at the same torque magnitude in experiments on shafts with and without connections.

In this thesis, we investigate the electronic structure and transport properties of topologically trivial and non-trivial cylindrical quantum dots (QDs) defined by further confining InAs1-xBix/AlSb quantum wells (QWs). First we predict that common III-V InAs0.85Bi0.15/AlSb QWs can become 2D topological insulators (TIs) for well thicknesses dc > 6.9 nm with a topologically non-trivial gap of about 30 meV (> kBT), which can enable room temperature TI applications. Furthermore, we investigate the cylindrical QDs defined from these Bi-based wells by additional confinement, both in the topologically trivial (d < dc) and non-trivial (d > dc) regimes. Surprisingly, we find that topologically trivial and non-trivial QDs have similar transport properties in stark contrast with their 2D counterparts (i.e., a strip). More specifically, through detailed calculations, which involve an analytical solution of the quantum-dot eigenvalue problem, we demonstrate that both trivial and non-trivial cylindrical QDs possess edge-like states, i.e., helical spin-angular-momentum-locked quantum states protected against non-magnetic elastic scattering. Interestingly, our trivial QDs exhibit these geometrically robust helical states, similarly to topologically non-trivial QDs, over a wide range of system parameters (e.g., dot radius). We also calculate the circulating currents for the topologically trivial and non-trivial QDs and find no substantial differences. However, we note that ordinary III-V or II-VI cylindrical QDs (i.e., QDs not formed from a BHZ model + confinement) do not feature robust edge-like helical states. We further consider topologically trivial and non-trivial QDs with four edge-like states and calculate their two-terminal conductance G via a standard Green-function approach. For both trivial and non-trivial QDs we find that G shows a double-peak resonance at 2e2/h as a function of the dot radius R and gate voltage Vg controlling the dot energy levels. On the other hand, both trivial and non-trivial QDs can have edge-like and bulk state Kramers pairs coexisting at the same energy within the bulk part of their discrete spectra. In this case, G displays a single-peak resonance at 2e2/h as the four levels (two edge states and two bulk states now) become degenerate at some particular parameter values R = Rc and Vg = Vgc for both topologically trivial and non-trivial QDs. We also extend our investigation to HgTe-based QDs and find similar results. / Nesta tese investigamos a estrutura eletrônica e as propriedades de transporte de pontos quânticos cilíndricos topologicamente triviais e não-triviais, definidos por confinamento de poços quânticos (QWs) InAs1-xBix/AlSb. Primeiramente, nós prevemos que os QWs usuais baseados em InAs1-xBix/AlSb podem se tornar isolantes topológicos 2D para largura de poço dc > 6.9 nm, com um gap topologicamente não-trivial de aproximadamente 30 meV (> kBT), o que pode permitir aplicações em temperatura ambiente. Além disso, investigamos pontos quânticos cilíndricos definidos a partir de confinamento desses poços contendo Bi, em ambos os regimes trivial (d < dc) e não-trivial (d > dc). Surpreendentemente, descobrimos que os pontos quânticos topologicamente triviais e não triviais têm propriedades de transporte semelhantes, um resultado em grande contraste com as suas versões semiinfinitas, como por exemplo uma fita. Mais especificamente, através de cálculos detalhados, que envolvem uma solução analítica do problema de autovalores dos pontos quânticos, demonstramos que pontos quânticos cilíndricos triviais e não-triviais possuem estados de borda semelhantes, isto é, estados quânticos helicoidais protegidos contra espalhamento elástico não magnético. Curiosamente, nossos pontos quânticos triviais exibem estados helicoidais geometricamente robustos, similarmente aos pontos quânticos topologicamente não-triviais, em uma ampla faixa de parâmetros do sistema, como por exemplo, o raio do ponto quântico. Nós também calculamos as correntes circulantes para os pontos quânticos topologicamente triviais e não-triviais e não encontramos diferenças substanciais entre elas. No entanto, notamos que os pontos quânticos cilíndricos feitos de materiais ordinários III-V ou II-VI (isto é, pontos quânticos não descritos pelo Hamiltoniano BHZ com confinamento) não apresentam estados helicoidais robustos. Consideramos ainda pontos quânticos triviais e não-triviais com quatro estados de borda e calculamos sua condutância entre dois terminais G através de uma abordagem padrão das funções de Green. Para os pontos quânticos triviais e não-triviais, encontramos que G mostra uma ressonância de pico duplo em 2e2/h como função do raio do ponto quantico R e da tensão Vg que controla os níveis de energia do ponto quântico. Por outro lado, tanto os pontos quânticos triviais como os não-triviais podem ter pares de Kramers localizados na borda (edge) e em todo seu volume (bulk) coexistindo em uma mesma janela de energia na região dos estados de valência. Nesse caso, G exibe uma ressonância de pico único em 2e2/h, já que os quatro níveis (dois estados de borda e dois estados de volume bulk) se tornam degenerados para alguns valores de parâmetros particulares R = Rc and Vg = Vgc, em pontos quânticos topologicamente triviais e não triviais. Nós também estendemos nossa investigação para os pontos quanticos de HgTe onde encontramos resultados similares.

Helical anchors, used widely to resist uplift loading for a variety of applications, including in transmission towers, pipelines, offshore structures, etc., are subjected to environmental cyclic loads that influence the anchor performance and may induce fatigue failure. However, the influence of cyclic loading on helical anchor behaviour is unknown. A comprehensive evaluation of the effect of cyclic loading on the load-displacement response of single-helix anchors in sandy soils is presented here, including an interaction diagram to help designers evaluate the impact of different conditions in cyclic loadings. The experimental work of this thesis includes geotechnical centrifuge modelling and field load tests. The centrifuge model tests were carried out with reduced scale models of helical anchors in sand, at IFSTTAR (Nantes, France). The field load tests were performed on helical anchors installed in a tropical residual soil of the Experimental Site of the University of São Paulo (São Carlos, Brazil). In addition, numerical modelling was used to predict the pre- and postcyclic responses of the single-helix anchors tested in a centrifuge. The main findings of this research are: (a) helical anchor behaviour is governed by helix bearing resistance, and no loss of helix bearing capacity was observed in the range of cyclic loadings tested, (b) the degradation of shaft resistance was noticed mainly during the first 100 cycles, when the accumulation of permanent displacements is more significant, (c) an interaction diagram showing the different conditions of cyclic stability is proposed from the results of the experimental data, (d) modified values of the bearing capacity factor in tension (Nq) are suggested for the estimation of post-cyclic uplift capacity of single-helix anchors in sand, (e) the installation effect of the anchor should be taken into account in the numerical model in order to obtain reliable predictions of the helical anchor performance. / As estacas helicoidais são largamente utilizadas para resistir a carregamentos de tração em uma variedade de aplicações como torres de linhas de transmissão de energia, dutos enterrados, estruturas offshore, etc. Estes tipos de estruturas são normalmente submetidos a carregamentos cíclicos que influenciam o desempenho de fundações por estacas helicoidais submetidas a esforços de tração, e podem induzir ruptura por degradação da capacidade de carga. Contudo, a influência do carregamento cíclico no comportamento das estacas helicoidais (ou ancoragens helicoidais, quando submetidas apenas a esforços de tração) é pouco conhecida. Uma avaliação abrangente do efeito de carregamentos cíclicos sobre o comportamento das ancoragens helicoidais é apresentada nesta tese, incluindo um diagrama de interação para auxiliar na avaliação do impacto de diferentes condições de carregamento cíclico. O trabalho experimental desta tese inclui modelagem em centrífuga geotécnica e ensaios de carregamento cíclico em estacas na grandeza real em campo. Os ensaios em centrífuga foram realizados com modelos reduzidos de estacas helicoidais em areia, no IFSTTAR (Nantes, França). Os ensaios de campo foram realizados em ancoragens helicoidais instaladas no solo residual tropical do Campo Experimental de Fundações da Universidade de São Paulo (São Carlos, Brasil). Além disso, modelos numéricos foram utilizados para simular os resultados do comportamento das ancoragens helicoidais ensaiadas em centrífuga nas condições pré- e pós-ciclos. Os principais resultados desta pesquisa são: (a) a capacidade de carga à tração da ancoragem helicoidal é controlada pela capacidade de carga da hélice, (b) a degradação da resistência por atrito lateral foi observada principalmente durante os primeiros 100 ciclos, período em que a acumulação dos deslocamentos permanentes é mais significante, (c) um diagrama de interação mostrando as diferentes condições de estabilidade cíclica é proposto a partir dos resultados experimentais em centrífuga, (d) valores modificados do fator de capacidade de carga em tração (Nq) são sugeridos para estimativa da capacidade pós-ciclos de ancoragens helicoidais com uma hélice em areia, (e) o efeito da instalação da ancoragem deve ser levado em consideração no modelo numérico para que se obtenha previsões confiáveis do desempenho de ancoragens helicoidais.

Strong light matter interactions in metallic nanoparticles (NPs), especially those made of noble metals such as Gold and Silver is at the heart of much ongoing research in nanoplasmonics. Individual NPs can support collective excitations (Plasmon’s) of the electron plasma at certain wavelengths, known as the localized surface Plasmon resonance (LSPR) which provides a powerful platform for various sensing, imaging and therapeutic applications. For a collection of NPs their optical properties can be signify cannily different from isolated particles, an effect which originates in the electromagnetic interactions between the localised Plasmon modes. An interesting aspect of such interactions is their strong dependence on the geometry of NP collection and accordingly new optical properties can arise. While this problem has been well considered in one and two dimensions with periodic as well as with random arrays of NPs, three dimensional systems are yet to be fully explored. In particular, there are challenges in the successful de-sign and fabrication of three dimensional (3D) plasmonic metamaterials at optical frequencies. In the work presented in this thesis we present a detail investigation of the theoretical and experimental aspects of plasmonic interactions in two geometrically different three dimensional plasmonic nanostructured systems - a chiral system consisting of achiral plasmonic nanoparticles arranged in a helical geometry and an achiral system consisting of achiral plasmonic nanoparticle arrays stacked vertically into three dimensional geometry. The helical arrangement of achiral plasmonic nanoparticles were realised using a wafer scale technique known as Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD). The measured chiro-optical response which arises solely from the interactions of the individual achiral plasmonic NPs was found to be one of the largest reported value in the visible. Semi analytical calculation based on couple dipole approximation was able to model the experimental chiro-optical response including all the variabilities present in the experimental system. Various strategies based on antiparticle spacing, oriented elliptical nanoparticles, dielectric constant value of the dielectric template were explored such as to engineer a strong and tunable chiro-optical response. A key point of the experimental system despite the presence of variabilities, was that the measured chiro-optical response showed less than 10 % variability along the sample surface. Additionally we could exploit the strong near held interactions of the plasmonic nanoparticles to achieve a strongly nonlinear circular differential response of two photon photoluminescent from the helically arranged nanoparticles. In addition to these plasmonic chiral systems, our study also includes investigation of light matter interactions in purely dielectric chiral systems of solid and core shell helical geometry. The chiro-optical response was found to be similar for both the systems and depend strongly on their helical geometry. A core-shell helical geometry provides an easy route for tuning the chiro-optical response over the entire visible and near IR range by simply changing the shell thickness as well as shell material. The measured response of the samples was found to be very large and very uniform over the sample surface. Since the material system is based entirely on dielectrics, losses are minimal and hence could possibly serve as an alternative to conventional plasmonic chiro-optical materials. Finally we demonstrated the used of an achiral three dimensional plasmonic nanostructure as a SERS (surface enhance Raman spectroscopy) substrate. The structure consisted of porous 3D metallic NP arrays that are held in place by dielectric rods. For practically important applications, the enhancement factor, as well as the spatial density of the metallic NPs within the laser illumination volume, arranged in a porous 3D array needs to be large, such that any molecule in the vicinity of the metal NP gives rise to an enhanced Raman signal. Having a large number of metallic NPs within the laser illumination volume, increases the probability of a target molecule to come in the vicinity of the metal NPs. This has been achieved in the structures reported here, where high enhancement factor (EF) in conjunction with large surface area available in a three dimensional structure, makes the 3D NP arrays attractive candidates as SERS substrates.

Ce travail vise à prédire le comportement dynamique de transmissions par engrenages supportées par des paliers hydrodynamiques, semblables à celles utilisées dans le domaine de la propulsion navale. Un modèle couplé de transmission mécanique est présenté ; il traite la plupart des interactions possibles entre les engrenages, les arbres et les paliers. Un élément d’engrenages à dentures larges, avec raideur non linéaire et dépendante du temps, est combiné à des éléments finis de poutre alors que la contribution des paliers est introduite par la résolution directe de l’équation de REYNOLDS et d’un model thermique simplifié. A cause des jeux de fonctionnement des paliers, une attention particulière a été portée à la définition de l’état de référence et des degrés de liberté. La réponse du système est calculée par la combinaison d’un schéma d’intégration temporelle, d’une méthode de NEWTON-RAPHSON et d’un algorithme de contact normal unilatéral de manière à ce que les conditions de contact aux paliers et entre les dents soient simultanément traitées. Les résultats de simulation sont comparés à des mesures réalisées sur un banc d’essai de haute précision possédant un train simple étage en dentures droites et hélicoïdales, supporté par des paliers lisses de type hydrodynamique. Les comparaisons fournissent un bon accord et aboutissent à la validation du modèle de couplage tant sur les aspects globaux que locaux. Bon nombre de résultats sont également présentés, qui montrent que certains paramètres, bien souvent ignorés dans les modèles de la littérature, tels que la position de la zone d’alimentation des paliers, la température de lubrifiant dans les paliers, les accouplements avec l’environnement extérieur peuvent fortement modifier l’équilibre statique et le comportement dynamique du système, jusqu’aux contacts entre les dents. / The present work is aimed at predicting the dynamic behaviour of geared transmissions supported by hydrodynamic journal bearings, similar to those used in naval propulsion. A global model of mechanical transmissions is introduced which deals with most of the possible interactions between gears, shafts and hydrodynamic journal bearings. A specific element for wide-faced gears with non linear time-varying mesh stiffness and tooth shape deviations is combined with shaft finite elements whereas the bearing contributions are introduced based on the direct solution of REYNOLDS’ equation and a simple thermal model. Because of the large bearing clearances, particular attention has been paid to the definition of the degrees-of-freedom and their datum. Solutions are derived by combining a time-step integration scheme, a NEWTON-RAPHSON method and a normal contact algorithm in such a way that the contact conditions in the bearings and on the gear teeth are simultaneously dealt with. The simulation results are compared with the measurement obtained on a high-precision test rig with single stage spur and helical gears supported by hydrodynamic journal bearings. The experimental and simulation results compare well thus validating the simulation strategy both at the global and local scales. A number of results are presented which show that parameters often discarded in global models such as the location of the oil inlet area, the oil temperature in the bearings and external couplings with mechanical parts can be influential on the static and dynamic behaviour of the system.

Medical devices have made a big step forward in the past decades. One of the most noticeable medical events of the twenties century was the development of long-lasting, wireless electronic implants such as identification tags, pacemakers and neuronal stimulators. These devices were only made possible after the development of small scale radio frequency electronics. Small radio electronic circuits provided a way to operate in both transmission and reception mode allowing an implant to communicate with an external world from inside a living organism. Bidirectional communication is a vital feature that has been increasingly implemented in similar systems to continuously record biological parameters, to remotely configure the implant, or to wirelessly stimulate internal organs. Further miniaturisation of implantable devices to make the operation of the device more comfortable for the patient requires rethinking of the whole radio system concept making it both power efficient and of high performance. Nowadays, high data throughput, large bandwidth, and long term operation requires new radio systems to operate at UHF (ultra-high frequency) bands as this is the most suitable for implantable applications. For instance, the MICS (Medical Implant Communication System) band was introduced for the communication with implantable devices. However, this band could only enable communication at low data rates. This was acceptable for the transmission of telemetry data such as heart beat rate, respiratory and temperature with sub Mbps rates. Novel developments such as neuronal and prosthetic implants require significantly higher data rates more than 10 Mbps that can be achieved with large bandwidth communicating systems operating at higher frequencies in a GHz range. Higher operating frequency would also resolve a strong issue of MICS devices, namely the scale of implants defined by dimensions of antennas used at this band. Operation at 2.4 GHz ISM band was recognized to be the most adequate as it has a moderate absorption in the human body providing a compromise between an antenna/implant scale and a total power efficiency of the communicating system. This thesis addresses a key challenge of implantable radio communicating systems namely an efficient and small scale antenna design which allows a high yield fabrication in a microelectronic fashion. It was demonstrated that a helical antenna design allows the designer to precisely tune the operating frequency, input impedance, and bandwidth by changing the geometry of a self-assembled 3D structure defined by an initial 2D planar layout. Novel stimuli responsive materials were synthesized, and the rolled-up technology was explored for fabrication of 5.5-mm-long helical antenna arrays operating in ISM bands at 5.8 and 2.4 GHz. Characterization and various applications of the fabricated antennas are successfully demonstrated in the thesis.