Air-gap structures are of particular interest for packaging of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In this work, an overcoat material is used to cover a sacrificial polymer, which protects the MEMS device during packaging. Once the overcoat is in place, the sacrificial polymer is thermally decomposed freeing the MEMS structure while the overcoat dielectric provides mechanical protection from the environment. An epoxy POSS dielectric was used as a high-selectivity etch mask for the PPC and a rigid overcoat for the structure leading to the process improvements. The packaging structures can be designed for a range of MEMS device sizes and operating environments. However, the air-cavity structures need additional rigidity to withstand chip-level packaging conditions. Metalized air cavity packages were molded under traditional lead frame molding pressures and tested for mechanical integrity. The experimental molding tests and mechanical models were used to establish processing conditions and physical designs for the cavities as a function of cavity size. A semi-hermetic package was created using an in-situ sacrificial decomposition/epoxy cure molding step for creating large cavity chip packages. Through the optimization of the air cavity, new materials and processes were tested for general microfabrication. The epoxy POSS dielectric provides a resilient, strong inorganic/organic hybrid dielectric for use in microfabrication and packaging applications. Polycarbonates can be used for low cost temporary adhesives in wafer-wafer bonding. An improved electroless deposition process for silver and copper was developed. The Sn/Pd activation was replaced by a cost efficient Sn/Ag catalyst. The process was shown to be able to deposit adherent copper on smooth POSS and silicon dioxide surfaces. Electroless copper was demonstrated on untreated silicon oxide wafers for TSV sidewall deposition.

Sweden has a climate target to get a total renewable electricity production by 2040, in order to succeed with the goal, the proportion of solar energy needs to increase. Increased environmental awareness and increased profitability of solar cells have led to an increase. A new way of attaching solar cells to buildings is by integrating them into building materials. A solution that optimizes material, makes the installation easier and creates better design. Today, there is concern that the temperature of the solar cells may become very high as their cooling decreases. The consequences of an increased temperature in the solar cells is that the efficiency of the electricity production decreases. The purpose of this study is therefore to increase understanding of the influence of modular temperature on electricity production. The aim of the study was to find out how much electricity production [kWh/m2, year] varies in solar cells depending on whether they are applied to buildings or if they are integrated into building materials for solar cells placed in Nordic climate. In order to do this, a calculation model was built in Simulink Matlab to calculate how the modular temperature varied during the varying weather conditions that occur during a year in Gothenburg. Air flow in the gap is created by self-convection. Some periods blew the wind into the gap in the ceiling and then the wind was also assumed to contribute with an air flow. In order to describe the self-conception, a theoretical relationship was established, to describe how the wind influenced the airflow of the roof, a connection from an experimental study was used. With the help of the calculated calculation model, it was possible to determine how much electricity production varied during integrated or applied assembly in Gothenburg. The result found was an increase of 4% for ceiling-mounted and 2% respectively for wall-mounted solar cells with applied mounting compared to integrated installation. The model was also tested for a warmer and a colder climate, Rome and Luleå. The conclusion was that building-applied solar cells can increase electricity production by up to 4% for solar cells on roofs and up to 2% for solar cells placed on the wall in Nordic climate compared to fully integrated solar cells, an air gap is therefore more effective for solar cells placed on roofs than on the wall. It was found that in warmer climates, as in Rome, the corresponding increase in electricity production was about double that for both roof and wall, an air gap is therefore more efficient in a warmer climate.

The tonal character of the low frequency internal noise in cars is often due to energy transmission through the tyre at the first few eigenfrequencies of the air cavity of the tyre. The first acoustic mode in the air cavity of a typical stationary car tyre is approximately 224 Hz. At this frequency the tyre is comparatively stiff resulting in a high transmission of energy from the road wheel contact to the car body itself. In order to investigate possible means of reducing this effect, the acoustic field inside a tyre is modelled. Theoretically it is found that the pressure inside a tyre and the energy transmission through the tyre to the wheel axle and the car body can be reduced by adding a sound absorbing material inside the tyre. This was confirmed by measurements on stationary as well as rotating tyres with and without added sound absorption. For a rotating tyre there is a split of the natural frequency depending on the rotational speed of the tyre. Measurements in a standard passenger car reveal that the noise level inside the car is rather high in a fairly wide frequency range around 224 Hz at normal velocities. This tonal noise can be reduced by adding sound absorption inside a tyre. Models for the prediction and the reduction of the tonal noise are presented. Measured and predicted results are compared and the agreement is found to be good. It is found that the tonal noise can be reduced by up to 9 dB. The effects of the air cavity resonances on the external noise have also been studied. It is estimated that external tyre noise can be reduced 1 dB by adding a sound absorbing material inside tyres. For a car travelling on a road a strong acoustic field is induced between the floor of the car and the road. The impact of this acoustic field can be reduced by mounting a sound absorbing material underneath the car. It is estimated that the A-weighted sound pressure level close to a running car could be reduced by 3 dB by adding this type sound absorption. It is found that aluminium foam could be a suitable sound absorbing material which could be mounted inside tyres and underneath cars. The acoustic and dynamic properties of various types of aluminium foams are discussed. In particular measurement techniques for determining sound absorption at grazing incidence are investigated. / QC 20100923

This dissertation aims to contribute toward the understanding of water-entry and -exit behaviors in nature. Since water is nearly a thousand times denser than air, transitioning between the two mediums is often associated with significant changes in force. Three topics with implications in water-entry are discussed, along with a fourth topic on water-exit. For a plunge-diving seabird, the first two stages of water-entry (initial impact and air-cavity formation) create large stresses on the bird's neck. Linear stability analysis of a cone-beam system impacting water shows buckling and non-buckling behaviors on the beam, which is extended to the diving birds. The next topic is related to the third stage of water-entry (air-cavity pinch-off), in which the chest feathers come in contact with the water. Here, the elasticity of Northern Gannet contour feathers is calculated using the nonlinear bending equation. The third topic will explore the formation of ripples along air cavity walls and their resulting force after pinch-off. An acoustic model predicts the observed wavelengths of the ripples. The final topic will delve into the mechanics of how animals leap out of water. A scaling law that balances the power of thrust and drag will predict the height of the jump. Finally, a bio-inspired robot was built to help identify physical conditions required to jump out of water. / Ph. D.

The dissertation thesis is focused on thermal insulating properties of reflective insulation under boundary conditions typical for low-energy buildings. In the introductory part of this thesis the attention is focused on the heat transfer process. There is described primarily heat transfer by radiation. There is also described the reflective insulation and the methods of determination their thermal performance. The remaining part of the thesis deals with the analysis of the results obtained in experimental measurements. Measurement results are compared with the calculation model. Conclusions for technical practice including possibilities of further research are summarized in the final section.

<p> The tire air cavity mode is known to be a significant source of vehicle structure-borne road noise near 200 Hz. A porous lining placed on the inner surface of a tire is an effective countermeasure to attenuate that resonance. The two noticeable effects of such a lining are the reduction in frequency and the attenuation of the air cavity mode. In this thesis, through both theoretical and numerical analysis, the mechanism of the effects of a porous lining was studied. A two-dimensional duct-shaped theoretical model and a torus-shaped numerical model were built to investigate the lined tire in conjunction with the Johnson-Champoux-Allard model describing the viscous and thermal dissipative effects of the porous material. Design parameters of the porous lining were varied to study their impact and optimal ranges of the design parameters were identified. Finally, in an experimental analysis, the sound attenuation and the frequency drop were observed in measurements of force, acceleration, and sound pressure. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the suggested theoretical and numerical models successfully predict the effects of porous linings and that the frequency reduction results from the decreased sound speed within the tire owing to the presence of the liner. </p>