O desenvolvimento da indústria offshore fez com que a demanda por unidades flutuantes para operações em águas ultraprofundas aumentasse e, com isso, surgiu um maior interesse nos fenômenos decorrentes de vibrações induzidas pelo escoamento em plataformas do tipo spar, TLP e semissubmersível, além de torres para produção de energia eólica (instaladas no mar). Para ampliar o conhecimento nesta área, experimentos foram realizados com cilindros flutuantes com baixa razão de aspecto (L/D = 2) e com diferentes geometrias na extremidade livre . Experimentos com a vibração induzida pelo escoamento em cilindros de seção quadrada e cilindros de seção quadrada e arestas arredondadas com baixa razão de aspecto foram realizados em um tanque de reboque. Estas diferentes geometrias de cilindros foram testadas e suportadas elasticamente por um conjunto de molas lineares. Dois ângulos de incidência diferentes foram testados: 0 e 45 graus. Os resultados de amplitude na direção transversal para modelos submetidos à incidência de 0 graus mostraram ser maiores. Além disso, as oscilações em yaw se mostraram importantes em todos os caso analisados. O efeito das arestas se mostrou importante, particularmente na incidência de 45 graus, para velocidades reduzidas maiores que 8. / The development of the offshore industry has meant that the demand for ultradeep water floating units has increased, and with this, a greater interest in the phenomena arising from FIV in spar, TLP and semi-submersible platforms has arisen. In order to increase the area knowledge, experiments were performed with floating cylinders with different geometries, with low aspect ratio (L/D = 2). Experiments of flow-induced vibration in cylinders with sharp aokokoknd rounded square section with low aspect ratio were performed in a towing tank. These geometries have been tested and elastically supported by a set of linear springs to provide low structural damping to the system. Two different incidence angles were tested: 0 and 45 degrees. The transverse response amplitudes for the 0-degree flow incidence were found to be larger. Moreover, yaw oscillations are important for all the cases analyzed. The rounded effect on the cylinders of square section were important, particularly for the the 45-degree incidence at reduced velocities higher than 8.

Este trabalho apresenta um novo modelo numérico para simulação de juntas de argamassa em estruturas de alvenaria no plano via método dos elementos finitos. Neste modelo, blocos de alvenaria e juntas de argamassa são representados separadamente. Elementos finitos com alta razão de aspecto são utilizados para representar as juntas de argamassa e são inseridos na malha de elementos finitos através de uma técnica de fragmentação de malha. A principal vantagem desta técnica consiste na utilização de modelos constitutivos contínuos para representar regiões descontínuas, uma vez que seu campo de deformações quando a altura do elemento de interface tende a zero é semelhante ao apresentado pela abordagem de aproximação contínua de descontinuidades fortes. Um modelo constitutivo contínuo baseado na mecânica do dano foi desenvolvido para representar o comportamento dos elementos de interface. Este modelo consegue representar a abertura e fechamento de fraturas, bem como o efeito de atrito em função da tensão de confinamento nas interfaces. Como o objetivo deste trabalho consiste na simulação da formação e propagação de fraturas ao longo das juntas de argamassa, comportamento elástico linear foi atribuindo aos elementos triangulares de três nós utilizados na discretização dos blocos de alvenaria. Vários exemplos numéricos são apresentados. Inicialmente, testes básicos são realizados para demonstrar as principais características do modelo quando submetido a carregamentos de tração, compressão e cisalhamento. Posteriormente, estruturas de alvenaria submetidas a carregamentos estáticos são analisadas e os resultados comparados com as respostas experimentais a fim de validar o modelo proposto. A técnica proposta se mostrou bastante promissora para simulação da formação e propagação de fratura em juntas de argamassa de estruturas de alvenaria. / This work presents a novel numerical model to simulate the failure process in masonry structures subjected to static loads via finite element method. Brick and mortar joints are modeled separately with their own constitutive equations. Interface finite element with high aspect ratio are used to simulate the mortar interface and inserted by the mesh fragmentation technique. The main advantage of this strategy is supported by the fact that, as the aspect ratio of a standard low-order solid finite element increases, the element strains also increase, approaching the same kinematics as the Continuum Strong Discontinuity Approach. A constitutive model was developed, based on the continuum damage mechanics, in order to represent the behavior of the interface finite elements. This model is able to simulate the creation and propagation of cracks, as well as, the frictional effects in dependence on stress confinement on the interfaces. Furthermore, as the objective of this work aims to simulate the failure in the mortar joints, the brick elements are assumed as linear elastic material. Three node standard triangular finite element are used to represent the bricks. Several numerical models are carried out. Initially, basics tests are show in order to demonstrate the main characteristics of the proposed model subjected to tensile, compression and shear loads. Subsequently, masonry structures are subjected to static loads are analyzed and the results compared with the experimental responses in order to validate the proposed model. This technique proved to be very promising for the simulation of failure onset and propagation in mortar joints of masonry structures.

The aerodynamic performance of low aspect ratio wings at low Reynolds numbers applicable to micro air vehicle design was studied in this thesis. There is an overall lack of data for this low Reynolds number range, particularly concerning details of local flow behavior along the span. Experiments were conducted to measure the local pressure distributions on a wing at various spanwise locations in a Reynolds number range 30000 < Re < 90000. The model wing consisted of numerous wing sections and had a rectangular planform with NACA0012 airfoil shape with aspect ratio of one. One wing section, with pressure ports at various chordwise locations, was placed at different spanwise locations on a wing to effectively obtain the local pressure information. Integration of the pressure distributions yielded the local lift coefficients. Comparison of the local lift distributions to optimal elliptic lift distribution was conducted. This comparison showed a sharply peaked lift distribution near the wing tip resulting in a drastic deviation from the equivalent elliptic lift distributions predicted by the finite wing theory. The local lift distributions were further analyzed to determine the total lift coefficients vs angle of attack curves, span efficiency factors and the induced drag coefficients. Measured span efficiency factors, which were lower than predictions of the elliptic wing theory, can be understood by studying deviations of measured lift from the elliptic lift distribution. We conclude that elliptic wing theory is not sufficient to predict these aerodynamic performance parameters. Overall, these local measurements provided a better understanding of the low Reynolds number aerodynamics of the low aspect ratio wings.

"RF excited CO2 lasers are widely used in industry. They provide relatively high power discharge levels while maintaining compactness, simplicity, and durability with respect to other competing laser technologies. To attain high power levels in the range of 5-10 KW, lasers with large electrode areas have to be designed. Unfortunately, due to the large electrode length requirements, transmission line effects make the discharge loading nonlinear, adversely affecting the efficiency of the CO2 laser. A standard approach to linearize the discharge loading is to introduce shunt inductors across the length of the electrodes in an effort to counter the capacitive nature of the discharge behavior. This thesis investigates and improves the theoretical models found in the literature in an effort to predict the discharge non-uniformity and allow for multiple shunt inductors installation. Specifically, we discuss the coupling of a CO2 laser discharge model with an electrical circuit solving scheme and how it can be characterized as one dimensional (1-D) and two dimensional (2-D) systems. The 1-D system is modeled using transmission line (TL) theory, where as the 2-D system is modeled using a finite difference time domain (FDTD) scheme. All our models were implemented in standard MATLAB code and the results are compared with those found in the literature with the goal to analyze and ascertain model limitations."

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2019-03-13T13:12:10Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dionisson de Andrade Michelotto_.pdf: 2807252 bytes, checksum: 019edcb4e2819bea433fa3dde1057c15 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2019-03-13T13:12:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dionisson de Andrade Michelotto_.pdf: 2807252 bytes, checksum: 019edcb4e2819bea433fa3dde1057c15 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-26 / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O impacto ambiental ocasionado pela combustão do carvão mineral em máquinas térmicas estimula buscas de alternativas sustentáveis. Uma das alternativas pode ser a substituição do carvão pela biomassa em reatores de leito fluidizado. A velocidade mínima de fluidização das partículas é um parâmetro fluidodinâmico que influencia fortemente o comportamento em projetos de reatores de leito fluidizado. A maioria das pesquisas utiliza como um dos principais parâmetros em suas correlações a esfericidade. Outros estudos afirmam que a razão de aspecto influencia bastante a velocidade mínima de fluidização. Utilizando um reator de leito fluidizado com distribuidor de placa perfurada, partículas de bambu cilíndricas com razões de aspecto de 2, 4 e 6, pertencente ao grupo D da classificação Geldart, foram fluidizadas. Nos resultados experimentais foi possível observar que a razão de aspecto influência na velocidade mínima de fluidização, quanto maior a razão de aspecto, maior a velocidade. Os resultados foram comparados com outros autores, onde cinco ficaram suficientemente próximos dentro de uma variação de 20% dos valores obtidos nos experimentos. Como a fluidização se comportava tipo jorro, foi comparado com correlações de jorro, onde uma única correlação ficou com variação em torno de 20% dos valores obtidos nos experimentos, enquanto as outras correlações ficaram com diferenças maiores. Uma nova correlação foi proposta modificando-se a equação de Ergun através da substituição da esfericidade pela razão de aspecto e ajustando seus coeficientes. Nesta nova correlação os valores da velocidade mínima de fluidização calculados ficaram próximos aos resultados experimentais dentro de uma variação de 15%. / The environmental impact caused by the combustion of mineral coal in thermal plants stimulates researches for sustainable alternatives. One of the alternatives may be the replacement of coal by biomass in fluidized bed reactors. The particle minimum fluidization velocity is a fluid dynamics parameter that strongly influences the behavior in fluidized bed reactor designs. Most academic papers use the sphericity as one of the main parameters in their correlations. Other studies state that the aspect ratio greatly influences the minimum fluidization velocity. Using a fluidized bed reactor with perforated plate distributor, cylindrical bamboo particles with aspect ratios of 2, 4 and 6, belonging to group D of the Geldart classification, were fluidized. In the experimental results it was possible to observe that the aspect ratio influences the minimum fluidization velocity. The results were compared with other authors, where five were sufficiently close within a variation of 20% of the values obtained in the experiments. As fluidization behaved like a spout, it was compared with spout correlations, where a single correlation achieved differences below 20% than the values obtained in the experiments, while the other correlations obtained larger differences. A new correlation was proposed based in the Ergun equation replacing sphericity by the aspect ratio and adjusting its coefficients. In this new correlation the calculated minimum fluidization velocity values were close to the experimental results within a range of 15%.

O presente trabalho destina-se ao estudo numérico da geometria de tubos de seção elíptica que facilite a transferência de calor adimensional e diminua a queda de pressão adimensional (Δ̃) sofrida pelo escoamento. O método aplicado é o Design Construtal, que visa determinar a geometria que apresentará a menor resistência ao escoamento, ou seja, busca-se determinar a razão de aspecto da elipse (=⁄) que favorece a transferência de calor e diminui a queda de pressão do escoamento. O fluido empregado neste estudo apresenta características de viscoplasticidade. A relação entre a tensão cisalhante e a taxa de deformação obedece ao modelo de Herschel-Bulkley modificado. Considera-se que o escoamento é incompressível, laminar, bidimensional, externo e ocorre em regime permanente. A solução numérica do problema proposto é realizada com um código comercial baseado no método dos volumes finitos. É investigada a influência do índice de potência, , sobre a seção elíptica que facilita o escoamento e, para isso, este índice é variado de 0,4 a 1. A influência dos números de Reynolds (√), Herschel-Bulkley (√) e Prandtl (√) sobre o comportamento do escoamento também é avaliada. √ é variado de 1 a 40, √ é variado de 1 a 100 e √ é variado de 0,1 a 100 Os resultados mostram que, para um escoamento com √=1, √=1 e √=1, o aumento do índice de potência influencia negativamente na transferência de calor adimensional e a seção elíptica, que maximiza esta transferência de calor adimensional, tende a ser mais alongada na direção do escoamento. Já e influenciam positivamente na transferência de calor adimensional. Para um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 conclui-se que com o aumento de a razão de aspecto ótima (q,opt), do ponto de vista térmico, diminui. Quando é considerado um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 conclui-se que q,opt diminui com o aumento de , ou seja, a elipse torna-se mais alongada no sentido do escoamento. A variação de √ em um escoamento com √=1, √=1, =0,4 mostra que o aumento deste parâmetro acarreta em aumento da taxa de transferência adimensional e de Δ̃. / The present work is aimed at the numerical study of the geometry of elliptic section tubes that facilitates the dimensionless heat transfer and decreases the dimensionless pressure drop (Δ̃) suffered by the flow. The applied method is the Construtal Design, which aims to determine the geometry that will present the least resistance to the flow, that is, to determine the aspect ratio of the ellipse (=⁄) that favors heat transfer and decreases the flow pressure drop. The fluid used in this study has viscoplasticity characteristics. The relationship between shear stress and strain rate follows the modified Herschel-Bulkley model. It is considered that the flow is incompressible, laminar, two-dimensional, external and occurs in steady state. The numerical solution of the proposed problem is carried out with a commercial code based on the finite volume method. The influence of the power index, n, on the elliptical section facilitating the flow is investigated, and for this, the index is varied from 0.4 to 1. The influence of the Reynolds number (√), Herschel-Bulkley number (√) and Prandtl number (√) on the flow behavior is also evaluated √ is varied from 1 to 40, √ is varied from 1 to 100 and √ is varied from 0.1 to 100. The results show that for a flow with √=1, √=1 and √=1, the increase of the power index negatively influences the dimensionless heat transfer and the elliptic section, which maximizes this dimensionless heat transfer, tends to be more elongated in the direction of flow. Already √ and √ influence positively the dimensionless heat transfer. For a flow with √=1, √=1, =0.4 it is concluded that with the increase of √ the optimum aspect ratio (q,opt), from the thermal point of view, decreases. When a flow is considered with √=1, √=1, =0.4 it is concluded that q,opt decreases with the increase of √, that is, ellipse becomes more elongated in the flow direction. The variation of √ in a flow with √=1, √=1, =0.4 shows that the increase of this parameter causes an increase of the dimensionless transfer rate and Δ̃.

Orientador: Osvaldo Luís Manzoli / Abstract: This work presents a numerical method based on Discrete Fracture Model (DFM) and the Finite Element Method (FEM), where the fractures are approximated by a reduced model. The flow along and across the fracture is described by a simplified set of equations considering both conductive fractures and barriers. The coupled hydromechanical model is composed of a linear poroelastic Biot medium and a nonlinear model based on damage mechanics for the fractures, which captures the nonlinear normal deformation and shear dilation according to the Barton-Bandis model. Both flow and geomechanical models are approximated using the finite element model. Fractures are explicitly represented by three-node standard finite elements with high aspect ratio (i.e. ratio between the largest and the smallest element dimensions) and appropriate constitutive laws. These interface high aspect ratio elements represent a regularization method which continuously approximate the discontinuous pressure and displacement fields on a narrow material band around the fracture. The complete mathematical formulation is presented together with the algorithm suggested for its numerical implementation. The efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated through numerical examples, as well as the effects of fractures in the hydraulic properties of porous rocks and its dependency of the stress state. / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta um método numérico baseado no Modelo de Fratura Discreta (MFD) e no Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF), onde as fraturas são aproximadas por um modelo reduzido. O fluxo ao longo e através da fratura é descrito por um conjunto simplificado de equações, considerando tanto fraturas condutoras quanto barreiras. O modelo hidromecânico acoplado é composto por um meio poroelástico linear e um modelo não linear para fraturas, baseado na mecânica do dano e que captura a deformação normal não linear e a dilatância ao cisalhamento de acordo com o modelo de Barton-Bandis. Os modelos de fluxo e geomecânico são aproximados usando o método dos elementos finitos. As fraturas são explicitamente representadas por elementos finitos triangulares de três nós com elevada razão de aspecto (isto é, a razão entre a maior e a menor dimensão do elemento) e leis constitutivas apropriadas. Esses elementos de elevada razão de aspecto representam um método de regularização que aproxima de forma contínua os campos de pressão e deslocamento descontínuos em uma estreita faixa material ao redor da fratura. A formulação matemática completa é apresentada juntamente com o algoritmo sugerido para sua implementação numérica. A eficiência do método proposto é demonstrada através de exemplos numéricos, bem como os efeitos de fraturas nas propriedades hidráulicas de rochas porosas e sua dependência do estado de tensão. / Mestre

Five image processing algorithms are proposed to measure the average orientation, eccentricity and size of cells in images of biological tissue. These properties, which can be embodied by an elliptical 'composite cell', are crucial for biomechanical tissue models. To automatically determine these properties is challenging due to the diverse nature of the image data, with tremendous and unpredictable variability in illumination, cell pigmentation, cell shape and cell boundary visibility. One proposed algorithm estimates the composite cell properties directly from the input tissue image, while four others estimate the properties from frequency domain data. The accuracy and stability of the algorithms are quantitatively compared through application to a wide variety of real images. Based on these results, the best algorithm is selected.

Five image processing algorithms are proposed to measure the average orientation, eccentricity and size of cells in images of biological tissue. These properties, which can be embodied by an elliptical 'composite cell', are crucial for biomechanical tissue models. To automatically determine these properties is challenging due to the diverse nature of the image data, with tremendous and unpredictable variability in illumination, cell pigmentation, cell shape and cell boundary visibility. One proposed algorithm estimates the composite cell properties directly from the input tissue image, while four others estimate the properties from frequency domain data. The accuracy and stability of the algorithms are quantitatively compared through application to a wide variety of real images. Based on these results, the best algorithm is selected.

There is an excessive demand for the rehabilitation of frame type reinforced concrete (RC) buildings which do not satisfy current earthquake code provisions. Therefore, it is imperative to develop user-friendly seismic strengthening methodologies which do not necessitate the evacuation of building during rehabilitation period. In this study, it was aimed to strengthen the brick infill walls by means of diagonal Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) fabrics and to integrate them with the existing structural frame in order to form a new lateral load resisting system. The possible effects of height to width (aspect) ratio of the infill walls and scale of the frame test specimens on the overall behavior attained by the developed rehabilitation methodology were investigated. The experimental part of the study was carried out in two steps. In the first step, ten individual panel specimens were tested in order to understand the behavior of strengthened/non-strengthened masonry walls under diagonal earthquake loads. And in the second step, the tests of eight 1/3 and four 1/2 scaled one-bay, two-story RC frames having two different aspect ratios were performed to determine design details. The experimental results were revealed in terms of lateral stiffness, strength, drift and energy dissipation characteristics of the specimens. In the analytical part, an equivalent strut and tie approach was used for modeling the strengthened/non-strengthened infill walls of the frames. The predicted pushover responses of the frame models were compared with the test results. The design criteria required for the aforementioned strengthening methodology was developed referring these analytical results.