A natureza vibratória, oriunda da transferência energética, manifesta-se em todos os sistemas e estruturas. Na engenharia, essa transferência energética se revela como um fenômeno vibratório indesejável ou desejável. Em sistemas mecânicos, o controle dinâmico para mitigação de vibrações indesejáveis se realiza através de diversas técnicas e configurações, entre os mais usuais, o Amortecedor de Massa Sintonizável (AMS). No entanto, sabe-se que seu desempenho é suscetível a alterações nas frequências de operação e na natureza das excitações. Em sistemas elétricos, as vibrações do ambiente podem ser desejáveis e convertidas em energia elétrica útil para a realimentação de rede de sensores sem fio e computação pervasiva. A fim de combinar estes fenômenos e reduzir custos de operação, é necessário projetar dispositivos sintonizáveis robustos capazes de operar eficientemente em uma banda larga de frequências. Portanto, este trabalho visa projetar e analisar experimentalmente um atenuador de vibrações eletromagnético sintonizável (semi-ativo) com captação energética (AEMSCE) através da introdução deliberada de não linearidades. O AEMSCE consiste em um sistema massa-mola-amortecedor não linear com um ímã oscilante central orientado sob forças repulsivas magnéticas e uma bobina instalada, sendo capaz de dissipar as vibrações da estrutura e convertê-las em energia elétrica útil. Os recursos e parâmetros do AEMSCE são apresentados e identificados. O fator de transdução eletromagnético que acopla o sistema mecânico ao elétrico é quantificado. Mostra-se que a variação da distância entre ímãs promove ao sistema ressonância ajustável e que a força de restauração magnética resultante apresenta uma faixa de operação linear. No trabalho, verifica-se que o campo de máxima captação energética está contido na faixa de operação linear confirmando a relevância deste campo linear. O comportamento do sistema é analisado considerando as influências da força restauradora magnética, das forças amortecidas e da força de atrito. A partir dessas análises e das aproximações realizadas, apresenta-se estratégias de controle passivas e técnicas de otimização para mitigação, cuja resultante é um campo de atenuação ótimo, assim como desenvolve-se métodos de otimalidade para maximizar a conversão energética do AEMSCE, cuja resultante é um amortecimento elétrico ótimo ou um amortecimento admissível ótimo (deslocamento máximo). Métodos analíticos e simulações numéricas são desenvolvidos em todo o trabalho com diferentes configurações para analisar a robustez e eficiência do dispositivo, através do comportamento dinâmico vibratório à resposta transiente e estacionária induzido por excitação de base harmônica. De maneira geral, os resultados mostram que os parâmetros de sintonia e amortecimento do AEMSCE podem ser combinados e ajustados para ampliar o controle de vibrações da estrutura e maximizar a captação energética, principalmente na ressonância. Verifica-se que existe uma relação de importância da tensão induzida e do amortecimento elétrico, através da variação da resistência de carga no resistor, com a atenuação e captação energética. Por fim, este trabalho buscou apresentar os melhores métodos e resultados de parâmetros de amortecimento a fim de obter informações como guia de projeto para otimizar os dispositivos futuros e para a proposição de incorporar um controle semiativo ao AEMSCE. Como forma de melhorar o desempenho em aplicações futuras, é possível combinar as propriedades ótimas resultantes e ajustá-las através de estratégias de controle semiativa, explorando a dinâmica linear e não linear do sistema. / Vibratory nature, derived from the energy transfer, manifests itself in all systems and structures. In engineering, this energy transfer is revealed as an undesirable or desirable vibrational phenomenon. In mechanical systems, the dynamic control to mitigate undesirable vibrations is achieved through several techniques and configurations, among the most usual, the Tunable Mass Damper (TMD). However, it is known that their performance is susceptible to changes in the operating frequencies and the nature of the excitations. In electrical systems, ambient vibrations may be desirable and converted into useful electrical energy for the feedback of wireless sensors network and pervasive computing. In order to combine these phenomena and reduce operating costs, it is necessary to design robust tunable devices capable of operating efficiently over a wide frequency band. Therefore, this work aims to design and experimentally analyze a tunable electromagnetic vibrations absorver (semi-active) with energy harvesting (TEMAEH) through the deliberated introduction of non-linearities. TEMAEH consists of a non-linear mass-spring-damper system with a central oscillating magnet oriented under magnetic repulsive forces and a coil installed, being able to dissipate vibrations of the structure and convert them into useful electrical energy. The TEMAEH features and parameters are presented and identified. Electromagnetic transduction factor that couples the mechanical to electrical system is quantified. It is shown that the variation of the distance between magnets provides adjustable resonance to the system and that the resulting magnetic restoring force has a linear operating range. In the work, it is verified that the field of maximum energy harvesting is contained in the linear operating range confirming the relevance of this linear field. The behavior of the system is analyzed considering the influences of magnetic restoring force, damped forces and frictional force. From these analyzes and the approximations performed, passive control strategies and optimization techniques for mitigation are presented, resulting in an optimum attenuation field, as well as optimization methods to maximize the energy conversion of the TEMAEH, resulting in an optimum electric damping or optimum permissible damping (maximum displacement). Analytical methods and numerical simulations are developed throughout the work with different configurations to analyze the robustness and efficiency of the device through the dynamic behavior of vibration to the transient and stationary response induced by harmonic based excitation. In general, the results show that the tuning and damping parameters of the TEMAEH can be combined and adjusted to increase the vibration control of the structure and to maximize energy harvesting, especially in resonance. It is verified that there is a relation of importance of the induced voltage and the electrical damping, through the variation of the load resistance in the resistor, with the attenuation and power generation. Finally, this work sought to present the best methods and results of damping parameters in order to obtain information as a project guide to optimize future devices and for the proposition to incorporate a semiative control to TEMAEH. As a way to improve performance in future applications, it is possible to combine the resulting optimal properties and adjust them through semiative control strategies, exploring the linear and non-linear dynamics of the system.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:42:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JoseEMS_TESE.pdf: 5374821 bytes, checksum: 56fe60cd3bbf0a42f7512c62fe5b976e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-08 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Were synthesized spinel-type ferrites with general formula Ni0,8Mg0.2-xMxFe2O4, where M represents the doping Mn, Co or Mn + Co simultaneously, x ranges for the values 0.02, 0.05 and 0.1. The value of x was divided by 2 in cases where M equals Mn and Co conjugates. We used the citrate precursor method and heat treatment to obtain the phases at 1100?C. The materials were characterized by XRD, TGA/ DTGA, SEM, MAV and reflectivity measurements by the method of waveguide. Powders to 350?C/3.5 h were crystalline and nanosized. According to the results this temperature all powders have a percentage of ferrite phase over 90%. The composition had the addition of Mn and Co simultaneously showed a higher percentage of secondary phase NiO, 5.8%. The TGA/DTGA curves indicate that this sample reached phase (s) crystalline (s) at lowest temperatures. The X-ray diffractograms of the samples calcined at 350?C and 1100?C were treated with the Rietveld refinament technique. The powders calcined at 1100 ?C/3h in air show to be 100% except spinel phase composition with 0.02 doping. The micrographs show clusters of particles with sizes smaller than 1 μm in calcination temperature of 1100?C which agreed with the result of Rietveld refinement. In the compositions doped with Mn were higher values of magnetization (45.90 and 53.20 Am2/kg), which did not cause high microwave absorption. The theoretical calculation of magnetization (MT) was consistent with the results, considering that there was agreement between the increase of magnetization experimental and theoretical. It was observed that there was the interrelation of the final effect of absorption with the thickness of MARE, the composition of ferrimagnetic materials and in particular the specific values of frequency. The analysis shows that the reflectivity increases in the concentration of cobalt increased the frequency range and also for absorption 10.17 GHz and 84%, respectively. The best result of chemical homogeneity and the value of 2.96 x 10-2 tesla coercive field were crucial for high performance ferrite absorber with 0.1 cobalt. The Cobalt has high magnetocrystalline anisotropy, it is associated with an increased coercive field, Hc. Therefore, this property improves the results of reflectivity of spinel ferrites / Foram sintetizadas ferritas do tipo espin?lio com f?rmula geral Ni0,8Mg0,2-xMxFe2O4, onde M representa os dopantes Mn, Co ou Mn + Co simultaneamente, x varia para os valores 0,02; 0,05 e 0,1. O valor de x foi dividido por 2 nos casos em que M equivale a Mn com Co conjugados. Foi utilizado o m?todo dos citratos precursores e tratamento t?rmico na obten??o das fases a 1100?C. Os materiais foram caracterizados por DRX, TGA/DTGA, MEV, MAV e medidas de refletividade pelo m?todo de guia de ondas. Os p?s a 350?C/3,5h foram cristalinos e nanom?tricos. De acordo com os resultados nesta temperatura todos os p?s apresentam um percentual de fase ferrita superior a 90%. A composi??o que teve a adi??o de Mn e Co simultaneamente apresentou maior percentual de fase secund?ria NiO, 5,8%. As curvas TGA/DTGA indicam que essa amostra alcan?ou fase(s) cristalina(s) em temperaturas mais baixas. Os difratogramas de raios X das amostras calcinadas a 350?C e 1100?C foram tratados pela t?cnica de refinamento Rietveld. Os p?s calcinados a 1100?C/3h em atmosfera ambiente mostram ser 100% de fase espin?lio exceto a composi??o com 0,02 de dopantes. As micrografias apresentam aglomerados de part?culas com tamanhos menores que 1 μm na temperatura de calcina??o de 1100?C, o que concordou com o resultado de refinamento Rietveld. Nas composi??es dopadas com Mn ocorreram os maiores valores de magnetiza??o (45,90 e 53,20 Am2/kg), o que n?o acarretou alta absor??o de microondas. O c?lculo te?rico da magnetiza??o (MT) foi coerente com os resultados, considerando-se que houve concord?ncia entre o aumento das magnetiza??es experimental e te?rica. Observa-se que houve interrela??o do efeito final de absor??o com a espessura do MARE, a composi??o do material ferrimagn?tico em particular e os valores espec?ficos de freq??ncia. A an?lise de refletividade indica que o aumento na concentra??o de cobalto aumentou a faixa de freq??ncia e a absor??o para 10,17 GHz e 84%, respectivamente. O resultado indica que a melhor homogeneidade qu?mica e o valor 2,96 x 10-2 tesla de campo coercitivo foram determinantes para o alto desempenho absorvedor da ferrita com 0,1 de cobalto. O Cobalto tem alta anisotropia magnetocristalina, isto est? associado ao aumento do campo coercitivo, Hc. Portanto, essa propriedade melhora os resultados de refletividade das ferritas espin?lio

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre du 12ème appel à projet du Fonds Unique Interministériel (FUI) lancé par l’Etat au premier semestre 2011. Le projet « EM BILBOQUET » a été colabellisé par les pôles de compétitivité Mer Bretagne, Mer PACA et Tenerrdis. Il consiste en la réalisation d’un nouveau système de génération d’électricité issue du mouvement relatif entre deux corps flottants, mus par la houle. Dans cette thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés au contrôle optimal à appliquer sur la génératrice via les convertisseurs statiques, afin d’extraire le maximum d’énergie de la houle incidente. Dans un premier temps, nous avons établi les équations dynamiques régissant le comportement de la structure dans la houle en adoptant les hypothèses de la théorie potentielle. Pour ce faire, nous avons développé un code de calcul spécifique, basé sur une résolution du problème linéaire de tenue à la mer, par des méthodes dites semi-analytiques. Ce code de calcul permet de déterminer les coefficients hydrodynamiques nécessaires à l’écriture de l’équation dynamique dans le domaine fréquentiel, mais aussi dans le domaine temporel via une modification de la formulation de Cummins. Cette dernière nous permet ainsi, dans un second temps, de formuler le problème de maximisation de l’énergie récupérée comme un problème d’optimisation où la variable à optimiser est le couple résistant de la génératrice. Le problème est résolu en temps réel en adoptant une résolution par algorithme dit à horizon fuyant. / In this thesis, we perform a study on a self-reacting point absorber, project FUI 12 “EM BILBOQUET”, in order to optimise energy extraction from incoming waves. Main researches use seabed for providing reference to a floating body, called buoy. However, as it is well-known that ocean energy is greater far away from the shore, sea-depth becomes a constraint. In this thesis a damping plate attached to a spar keel is proposed to allow the floating body to react against it. Energy resulting from the relative motion between the two concentric bodies i.e. the buoy and the spar is harnessed by a rack-and-pinion, which drive a permanent magnet synchronous generator through a gearbox. In the first part of the thesis we have developed a wave-to-wire model i.e. a model of the whole electro-mechanical chain from sea to grid. To this purpose we have developed our own hydrodynamic code, based on linear potential theory and on a semianalytical approach, solving the seakeeping problem. The hydrodynamic coefficients obtained such as added mass, radiation damping, and wave excitation forces are required for solving the dynamic equation based on Cummins formulation. The second part of the thesis focuses on the self-reacting point-absorber optimal control strategy and the Model Predictive Control (MPC) formulation is proposed. Objective function attempting to optimise the power generation is directly formulated as an absorbed power maximisation problem and thus no optimal references, such as buoy and/or spar velocity, are required. However, rather than using the full-order WEC model in the optimisation problem, that can be time-consuming due to its high order, and also because of the linear assumptions, we propose the use of a “phenomenologically" one-body equivalent model derived from the Thévenin’s theorem.

A centenária indústria automotiva está passando por profundas transformações nos seus modelos de negócio, processos de desenvolvimento em produto e de produção. Inovações tais como veículos autônomos, transporte compartilhado, células de combustível, entre outras, apresentam-se aos estrategistas das montadoras como alternativas para gerar um diferencial competitivo e garantir a sobrevivência das empresas. Assim sendo, o entendimento dos mecanismos e fatores que influenciam na decisão de adoção de inovações em produto pelas montadoras é um tema relevante para a academia. Artigos sobre adoção de inovação em produto pelas organizações da indústria automotiva não são comuns na literatura, e quando realizados concentram-se no estudo de tecnologias de propulsão alternativa. Este estudo propõe, a partir de uma ampla revisão sistemática da literatura disponível sobre adoção de inovações pelas organizações, um modelo teórico contendo dimensões e fatores de influência na adoção de inovações em produto pelas montadoras de veículos, aplicando o modelo a um componente específico do automóvel, os chamados sistemas semiativos de amortecimento ou \'amortecedores inteligentes\'. Um diferencial do modelo conceitual desenvolvido foi a introdução da dimensão \'gestão da inovação\', analisando diversos fatores relacionados à estratégia tecnológica da montadora. A aplicação deste modelo foi realizada utilizando a metodologia de pesquisa qualitativa básica, por meio de entrevistas com funcionários de montadoras e fabricantes de sistemas de suspensão e amortecedores estabelecidos no mercado automotivo brasileiro. Uma pesquisa adicional foi realizada com o objetivo de identificar de que maneira a importância relativa entre os fatores que influem na adoção de inovações em produto pelas montadoras de veículos muda entre um país desenvolvido (EUA) e outro em desenvolvimento (Brasil). Dessa forma, o modelo conceitual desenvolvido foi aplicado por meio de entrevistas realizadas com funcionários de empresas do segmento automotivo estabelecidas no mercado dos EUA. As análises dos resultados permitiram identificar os fatores de maior influência na adoção da inovação em estudo pelas montadoras, bem como os fatores de menor influência. Análises comparativas foram realizadas entre estes fatores, para discutir as razões das semelhanças e diferenças entre eles. Esta tese produziu três artigos correlacionados entre si, o primeiro denominado Adoção de inovações em produto pelas organizações: Uma revisão sistemática de literatura. O segundo artigo foi intitulado como Adoção de inovações em produto na indústria automotiva: Modelo conceitual e aplicação para sistemas semiativos de amortecimento. O artigo Adoção de inovações em produto na indústria automotiva: Um estudo comparativo entre Brasil e EUA é o terceiro e último da tese. Estudos comparando a influência de fatores de adoção de inovação em produto pelas organizações foram realizados em outras áreas da tecnologia, porém artigos com comparações internacionais entre estes fatores não são comuns na literatura. Nenhum estudo sobre adoção de sistemas semiativos de amortecimento ou \'amortecedores inteligentes\' foi identificado na revisão de literatura realizada, o que evidencia o ineditismo deste trabalho de pesquisa. / The centenary automotive industry has gone through significant transformations in its business models, product development and production processes. Innovations like autonomous vehicles, transportation sharing, fuel cells, among others, show themselves as alternatives to create a competitive differential and assure companies survival. Therefore, the understanding of mechanisms and factors that influence automaker\'s decision to adopt product innovations is a relevant issue for the academy. Papers about product innovation adoption by organizations in the automotive industry are not common in the literature. When made, they focus mostly on the study of alternative propulsion technologies. This research proposes a theoretical model comprising dimensions and factors influencing product innovation adoption by automakers based on a broad literature systematic analysis about organizational innovation adoption. This model was applied to a specific automotive component, the so-called semi active damping systems or \"smart shock absorbers.\" The conceptual model presents the unpublished dimension \"innovation management\", which analyses several factors related to the automakers technological strategy. This research used basic qualitative analysis methodology and performed interviews with employees from automakers and suspension system manufacturers settled in the Brazilian automotive market. An extra research aimed to identify the way the relative importance between the factors that influence in the product innovation adoption by the automakers changes from a developed country (USA) and another country in development (Brazil). Interviews with employees from automotive companies settled in the USA market applied the conceptual model. The result of the analysis allowed the identification of the most influencing factors in the adoption of the product innovation by automakers, as well the less influencing factors. Comparative analyses between these factors were made in order to discuss the reasons of similarities and differences between them. This dissertation produced three correlated papers se, the first one is \"Product innovation adoption by organizations: A systematic literature review.\" The second one is \"Product innovation adoption in the automotive industry: Conceptual model and application for semi active damping systems.\" The third and last one of this dissertation is \"Product innovation adoption in the automotive industry: A comparative study between Brazil and USA.\" There are papers comparing the factors influencing product innovation adoption by organizations in other technology fields, but international comparisons between these factors are not common in literature. This research found no paper about semi active damping systems (\"smart shock absorbers\") in the literature review, which evidences the brand new characteristic of this dissertation.

A centenária indústria automotiva está passando por profundas transformações nos seus modelos de negócio, processos de desenvolvimento em produto e de produção. Inovações tais como veículos autônomos, transporte compartilhado, células de combustível, entre outras, apresentam-se aos estrategistas das montadoras como alternativas para gerar um diferencial competitivo e garantir a sobrevivência das empresas. Assim sendo, o entendimento dos mecanismos e fatores que influenciam na decisão de adoção de inovações em produto pelas montadoras é um tema relevante para a academia. Artigos sobre adoção de inovação em produto pelas organizações da indústria automotiva não são comuns na literatura, e quando realizados concentram-se no estudo de tecnologias de propulsão alternativa. Este estudo propõe, a partir de uma ampla revisão sistemática da literatura disponível sobre adoção de inovações pelas organizações, um modelo teórico contendo dimensões e fatores de influência na adoção de inovações em produto pelas montadoras de veículos, aplicando o modelo a um componente específico do automóvel, os chamados sistemas semiativos de amortecimento ou \'amortecedores inteligentes\'. Um diferencial do modelo conceitual desenvolvido foi a introdução da dimensão \'gestão da inovação\', analisando diversos fatores relacionados à estratégia tecnológica da montadora. A aplicação deste modelo foi realizada utilizando a metodologia de pesquisa qualitativa básica, por meio de entrevistas com funcionários de montadoras e fabricantes de sistemas de suspensão e amortecedores estabelecidos no mercado automotivo brasileiro. Uma pesquisa adicional foi realizada com o objetivo de identificar de que maneira a importância relativa entre os fatores que influem na adoção de inovações em produto pelas montadoras de veículos muda entre um país desenvolvido (EUA) e outro em desenvolvimento (Brasil). Dessa forma, o modelo conceitual desenvolvido foi aplicado por meio de entrevistas realizadas com funcionários de empresas do segmento automotivo estabelecidas no mercado dos EUA. As análises dos resultados permitiram identificar os fatores de maior influência na adoção da inovação em estudo pelas montadoras, bem como os fatores de menor influência. Análises comparativas foram realizadas entre estes fatores, para discutir as razões das semelhanças e diferenças entre eles. Esta tese produziu três artigos correlacionados entre si, o primeiro denominado Adoção de inovações em produto pelas organizações: Uma revisão sistemática de literatura. O segundo artigo foi intitulado como Adoção de inovações em produto na indústria automotiva: Modelo conceitual e aplicação para sistemas semiativos de amortecimento. O artigo Adoção de inovações em produto na indústria automotiva: Um estudo comparativo entre Brasil e EUA é o terceiro e último da tese. Estudos comparando a influência de fatores de adoção de inovação em produto pelas organizações foram realizados em outras áreas da tecnologia, porém artigos com comparações internacionais entre estes fatores não são comuns na literatura. Nenhum estudo sobre adoção de sistemas semiativos de amortecimento ou \'amortecedores inteligentes\' foi identificado na revisão de literatura realizada, o que evidencia o ineditismo deste trabalho de pesquisa. / The centenary automotive industry has gone through significant transformations in its business models, product development and production processes. Innovations like autonomous vehicles, transportation sharing, fuel cells, among others, show themselves as alternatives to create a competitive differential and assure companies survival. Therefore, the understanding of mechanisms and factors that influence automaker\'s decision to adopt product innovations is a relevant issue for the academy. Papers about product innovation adoption by organizations in the automotive industry are not common in the literature. When made, they focus mostly on the study of alternative propulsion technologies. This research proposes a theoretical model comprising dimensions and factors influencing product innovation adoption by automakers based on a broad literature systematic analysis about organizational innovation adoption. This model was applied to a specific automotive component, the so-called semi active damping systems or \"smart shock absorbers.\" The conceptual model presents the unpublished dimension \"innovation management\", which analyses several factors related to the automakers technological strategy. This research used basic qualitative analysis methodology and performed interviews with employees from automakers and suspension system manufacturers settled in the Brazilian automotive market. An extra research aimed to identify the way the relative importance between the factors that influence in the product innovation adoption by the automakers changes from a developed country (USA) and another country in development (Brazil). Interviews with employees from automotive companies settled in the USA market applied the conceptual model. The result of the analysis allowed the identification of the most influencing factors in the adoption of the product innovation by automakers, as well the less influencing factors. Comparative analyses between these factors were made in order to discuss the reasons of similarities and differences between them. This dissertation produced three correlated papers se, the first one is \"Product innovation adoption by organizations: A systematic literature review.\" The second one is \"Product innovation adoption in the automotive industry: Conceptual model and application for semi active damping systems.\" The third and last one of this dissertation is \"Product innovation adoption in the automotive industry: A comparative study between Brazil and USA.\" There are papers comparing the factors influencing product innovation adoption by organizations in other technology fields, but international comparisons between these factors are not common in literature. This research found no paper about semi active damping systems (\"smart shock absorbers\") in the literature review, which evidences the brand new characteristic of this dissertation.

<p>This thesis studies the electric aspects of a linear synchronous permanent magnet generator. The generator is designed for use in a wave energy converter, which determines the fundamental requirements of the generator. The electromagnetic properties of the generator are investigated with a finite element based simulation tool. These simulations formed the base of the design and construction of a laboratory prototype. Several experiments where conducted on the prototype generator. The results verify at large the simulation tool. However, a difference between the measured and simulated air gap flux was discovered. This was attributed to the longitudinal ends of the generator, which are ignored in the simulation tool. Experiences from the construction, and further finite element studies, led to a significant change in the support structure of the first offshore prototype generator. A complete wave energy converter was constructed and launched, the 13th of March, on the west coast of Sweden. A study of the load resistance impact on the power absorption has been carried out. An optimal load interval, with regard to power absorption, has been identified. Furthermore, the generator has proofed to withstand short term overload several times larger than the nominal load. Finally, the longitudinal ends’ influence on the flux distribution was investigated with an analytical model, as well as finite element simulations. A possible problem with large induction of eddy currents in the actuator back steel was identified.</p><p>This work is a part of a larger project, which aims do develop a viable wave energy conversion system.</p>

A wave energy converter has been constructed and its function and operational characteristics have been thoroughly investigated and published. The wave energy converter was installed in March of 2006 approximately two kilometers off the Swedish west coast in the proximity of the town Lysekil. Since then the converter has been submerged at the research site for over two and a half years and in operation during three time periods for a total of 12 months, the latest being during five months of 2008. Throughout this time the generated electricity has been transmitted to shore and operational data has been recorded. The wave energy converter and its connected electrical system has been continually upgraded and each of the three operational periods have investigated more advanced stages in the progression toward grid connection. The wave energy system has faced the challenges of the ocean and initial results and insights have been reached, most important being that the overall wave energy concept has been verified. Experiments have shown that slowly varying power generation from ocean waves is possible. Apart from the wave energy converter, three shorter studies have been performed. A sensor was designed for measuring the air gap width of the linear generator used in the wave energy converter. The sensor consists of an etched coil, a search coil, that functions passively through induction. Theory and experiment showed good agreement. The Swedish west coast wave climate has been studied in detail. The study used eight years of wave data from 13 sites in the Skagerrak and Kattegatt, and data from a wave measurement buoy located at the wave energy research site. The study resulted in scatter diagrams, hundred year extreme wave estimations, and a mapping of the energy flux in the area. The average energy flux was found to be approximately 5.2 kW/m in the offshore Skagerrak, 2.8 kW/m in the near shore Skagerrak, and 2.4 kW/m in the Kattegat. A method for evaluating renewable energy technologies in terms of economy and engineering solutions has been investigated. The match between the technologies and the fundamental physics of renewable energy sources can be given in terms of the technology’s utilization. It is argued that engineers should strive for a high utilization if competitive technologies are to be developed.

This thesis is focused on development of models and modelling of a wave energy converter in operation. Through the thesis linear potential wave theory has been used to describe the wave-buoy interaction. The differences lie in the generator models, in the simplest model the generator is a mechanical damper characterized by a damping factor. In the most advanced generator model the magnetic fields is calculated the by a FE-method, which gives detailed description of the electric properties and the effect it has on the buoy dynamics. Moreover, an equivalent circuit description of the generator has been tested. It has the same accuracy as the field based model but with a strongly enhanced CPU time. All models are verified against full scale experiments. The models are intended to be used for design of the next generation wave energy converters. Further, the developed models have also been used to study what effect buoy geometry and generator damping have on the ability to energy absorption. In the spring 2006 a full scale wave energy converter was installed at the west coast of Sweden. It was in operation and collected data during three months. During that period the load resistance was varied in order to study the effect on the energy absorption. These collected data was then used in the verification of the developed models. In the year 2002 a wave energy project started at Uppsala University; this work is a part of that larger project which intendeds to develop a viable wave energy conversion concept.

This thesis studies the electric aspects of a linear synchronous permanent magnet generator. The generator is designed for use in a wave energy converter, which determines the fundamental requirements of the generator. The electromagnetic properties of the generator are investigated with a finite element based simulation tool. These simulations formed the base of the design and construction of a laboratory prototype. Several experiments where conducted on the prototype generator. The results verify at large the simulation tool. However, a difference between the measured and simulated air gap flux was discovered. This was attributed to the longitudinal ends of the generator, which are ignored in the simulation tool. Experiences from the construction, and further finite element studies, led to a significant change in the support structure of the first offshore prototype generator. A complete wave energy converter was constructed and launched, the 13th of March, on the west coast of Sweden. A study of the load resistance impact on the power absorption has been carried out. An optimal load interval, with regard to power absorption, has been identified. Furthermore, the generator has proofed to withstand short term overload several times larger than the nominal load. Finally, the longitudinal ends’ influence on the flux distribution was investigated with an analytical model, as well as finite element simulations. A possible problem with large induction of eddy currents in the actuator back steel was identified. This work is a part of a larger project, which aims do develop a viable wave energy conversion system.

Auxiliary absorbers provide an effective means to attenuate the vibrations of a structural or mechanical system (the "primary structure"). The simplest auxiliary absorber, a tuned mass damper (TMD), provides reliable narrow-band attenuation but is not robust to the effects of detuning. Strongly nonlinear tuned mass dampers (NTMDs) are capable of wide-band, irreversible energy transfer known as "energy pumping" but can also exhibit high amplitude solutions which significantly amplify the response of the primary structure. Semi-active tuned mass dampers (STMDs) incorporate an actuating element in order to achieve real-time tuning adjustment capability. This thesis presents a global dynamic analysis of the response of a primary structure with an NTMD and then explores the performance of a novel absorber configuration consisting of an NTMD and STMD attached to the primary structure in series. The global dynamic analysis is conducted using a new cell mapping method developed by the author and introduced within the thesis: the parallelized multi-degrees-of-freedom cell mapping (PMDCM) method. The benefits of the additional STMD component are explored for two distinct applications: (1) restoring the performance of a linear TMD which develops a weak nonlinearity due to operation outside of the intended range or other means, and (2) acting as a safety device to eliminate or minimize convergence to the detached high-amplitude response. In the weakly nonlinear case, the STMD is shown to reduce the effects of the nonlinearity and improve attenuation capability by constraining the motion of the NTMD. In the strongly nonlinear case, the STMD effectively eliminates the complex response behavior and high amplitude solutions which were present in the original system, resulting in a single low amplitude response. Experimental tests using an adjustable-length pendulum STMD verify the numerical results.