This thesis presents the theoretical derivations and the implementation of a contact dynamics modelling system based on compliant contact models. The system was designed to be used as a general-purpose modelling tool to support the task planning process space-based robot manipulator systems. This operational context imposes additional requirements on the contact dynamics modelling system beyond the usual ones of fidelity and accuracy. The system must not only be able to generate accurate and reliable simulation results, but it must do it in a reasonably short period of time, such that an operations engineer can investigate multiple scenarios within a few hours. The system is easy to interface with existing simulation facilities. All physical parameters of the contact model can be identified experimentally or can be obtained by other means through analysis or theoretical derivations based on the material properties. Similarly, the numerical parameters can be selected automatically or by using heuristic rules that give an indication of the range of values that would ensure that the simulations results are qualitatively correct. The contact dynamics modelling system is comprised of two contact models. On one hand, a point contact model is proposed to tackle simulations involving bodies with non-conformal surfaces. Since it is based on Hertz theory, the contacting surfaces must be smooth and without discontinuity, i.e., no corners or sharp edges. The point contact model includes normal damping and tangential friction and assumes the contact surface is very small, such that the contact force is assumed to be acting through a point. An expression to set the normal damping as a function of the effective coefficient of restitution is given. A new seven-parameter friction model is introduced. The friction model is based on a bristle friction model, and is adapted to the context of 3-dimensional frictional impact modelling with introduction of load-dependent bristle stiffness and damping terms, and with the expression of the bristle deformation in vectorial form. The model features a dwell-time stiction force dependency and is shown to be able to reproduce the dynamic nature of the friction phenomenon. A second contact model based on the Winkler elastic foundation model is then proposed to deal with a more general class of geometries. This so-called volumetric contact model is suitable for a broad range of contact geometries, as long as the contact surface can be approximated as being flat. A method to deal with objects where this latter approximation is not reasonable is also presented. The effect of the contact pressure distribution across the contact surface is accounted for in the form of the rolling resistance torque and spinning friction torque. It is shown that the contact forces and moments can be expressed in terms of the volumetric properties of the volume of interference between the two bodies, defined as the volume spanned by the intersection of the two undeformed geometries of the colliding bodies. The properties of interest are: the volume of the volume of interference, the position of its centroid, and its inertia tensor taken about the centroid. The analysis also introduces a new way of defining the contact normal; it is shown that the contact normal must correspond to one of the eigenvectors of the inertia tensor. The investigation also examines how the Coulomb friction is affected by the relative motion of the objects. The concept of average surface velocity is introduced. It accounts for both the relative translational and angular motions of the contacting surfaces. The average surface velocity is then used to find dimensionless factors that relate friction force and spinning torque caused by the Coulomb friction. These latter factors are labelled the Contensou factors. Also, the radius of gyration of the moment of inertia of the volume of interference about the contact normal was shown to correlate the spinning Coulomb friction torque to the translational Coulomb friction force. A volumetric version of the seven-parameter bristle friction model is then presented. The friction model includes both the tangential friction force and spinning friction torque. The Contensou factors are used to control the behaviour of the Coulomb friction. For both contact models, the equations are derived from first principles, and the behaviour of each contact model characteristic was studied and simulated. When available, the simulation results were compared with benchmark results from the literature. Experiments were performed to validate the point contact model using a six degrees-of-freedom manipulator holding a half-spherical payload, and coming into contact with a flat plate. Good correspondence between the simulated and experimental results was obtained.

This thesis presents the theoretical derivations and the implementation of a contact dynamics modelling system based on compliant contact models. The system was designed to be used as a general-purpose modelling tool to support the task planning process space-based robot manipulator systems. This operational context imposes additional requirements on the contact dynamics modelling system beyond the usual ones of fidelity and accuracy. The system must not only be able to generate accurate and reliable simulation results, but it must do it in a reasonably short period of time, such that an operations engineer can investigate multiple scenarios within a few hours. The system is easy to interface with existing simulation facilities. All physical parameters of the contact model can be identified experimentally or can be obtained by other means through analysis or theoretical derivations based on the material properties. Similarly, the numerical parameters can be selected automatically or by using heuristic rules that give an indication of the range of values that would ensure that the simulations results are qualitatively correct. The contact dynamics modelling system is comprised of two contact models. On one hand, a point contact model is proposed to tackle simulations involving bodies with non-conformal surfaces. Since it is based on Hertz theory, the contacting surfaces must be smooth and without discontinuity, i.e., no corners or sharp edges. The point contact model includes normal damping and tangential friction and assumes the contact surface is very small, such that the contact force is assumed to be acting through a point. An expression to set the normal damping as a function of the effective coefficient of restitution is given. A new seven-parameter friction model is introduced. The friction model is based on a bristle friction model, and is adapted to the context of 3-dimensional frictional impact modelling with introduction of load-dependent bristle stiffness and damping terms, and with the expression of the bristle deformation in vectorial form. The model features a dwell-time stiction force dependency and is shown to be able to reproduce the dynamic nature of the friction phenomenon. A second contact model based on the Winkler elastic foundation model is then proposed to deal with a more general class of geometries. This so-called volumetric contact model is suitable for a broad range of contact geometries, as long as the contact surface can be approximated as being flat. A method to deal with objects where this latter approximation is not reasonable is also presented. The effect of the contact pressure distribution across the contact surface is accounted for in the form of the rolling resistance torque and spinning friction torque. It is shown that the contact forces and moments can be expressed in terms of the volumetric properties of the volume of interference between the two bodies, defined as the volume spanned by the intersection of the two undeformed geometries of the colliding bodies. The properties of interest are: the volume of the volume of interference, the position of its centroid, and its inertia tensor taken about the centroid. The analysis also introduces a new way of defining the contact normal; it is shown that the contact normal must correspond to one of the eigenvectors of the inertia tensor. The investigation also examines how the Coulomb friction is affected by the relative motion of the objects. The concept of average surface velocity is introduced. It accounts for both the relative translational and angular motions of the contacting surfaces. The average surface velocity is then used to find dimensionless factors that relate friction force and spinning torque caused by the Coulomb friction. These latter factors are labelled the Contensou factors. Also, the radius of gyration of the moment of inertia of the volume of interference about the contact normal was shown to correlate the spinning Coulomb friction torque to the translational Coulomb friction force. A volumetric version of the seven-parameter bristle friction model is then presented. The friction model includes both the tangential friction force and spinning friction torque. The Contensou factors are used to control the behaviour of the Coulomb friction. For both contact models, the equations are derived from first principles, and the behaviour of each contact model characteristic was studied and simulated. When available, the simulation results were compared with benchmark results from the literature. Experiments were performed to validate the point contact model using a six degrees-of-freedom manipulator holding a half-spherical payload, and coming into contact with a flat plate. Good correspondence between the simulated and experimental results was obtained.

A volumetric contact dynamics model has been proposed by Gonthier et al. [1, 2, 3] for the purpose of rapidly generating reliable simulations of space-based manipulator contact dynamics. By assuming materials behave as a Winkler elastic foundation model, forces and moments between two bodies in contact can be expressed in terms of the volume of interference between the undeformed geometries of the bodies. Friction between bodies is modelled by a dwell-time dependent bristle model for both tangential friction, and spinning friction torque. This volumetric model has a number of advantages. Unlike point-contact models, it allows for the modelling of contact between complex geometries and scenarios where the contact surface is relatively large, while being less computationally expensive than finite element methods. Rolling resistance is included in the model through damping effects across the volume of interference. The friction model accounts for dwell-time dependent slip-stick effects, spinning friction torque, and the Contensou effect. In this thesis, an experimental validation of the volumetric contact model is presented for the first time. Models for simple geometries in contact (e.g. cylinder-on-plane, sphere-on-plane) have been developed for stationary contact and for contact with motion normal and tangential to the contact surface. Tangential motion is modelled with pure translation, pure rotation about the normal axis, and combined motion, in order to separately consider friction forces, spinning friction torque, and the Contensou effect, respectively. An apparatus has been developed to experimentally validate these models for metal-on-metal contact. The apparatus has two configurations, one for validating the normal contact models and the other for the friction models. Experimental measurements of forces and displacements are used to identify model parameters (e.g. volumetric stiffness, friction coefficients, etc.). For normal force experiments, modelling the contact forces as proportional to volume of interference was found to be a reasonable approximation. A Hertzian model was compared with the volumetric model for spherical payloads loaded quasi-statically. Using stiffnesses estimated from spherical experiments, small misalignments of the cylindrical payloads were estimated that corresponded well with measured results. Dynamic experiments suggest an inverse relationship between impact velocity and the hysteretic damping coefficient. The high normal forces applied in the friction experiments were found to create significant wear on the contact surfaces. Coefficients of friction between titanium and aluminum were found to be consistent translationally and rotationally. Friction forces from combined translation and rotation demonstrate that the Contensou effect is accurately described by the volumetric contact model.

Granular matter is defined as a collection of particle grains, such as sand.This type of matter have different characteristics (solid, liquid and gas) depending on the energy level per grain. There are several approaches to modeling and numerical simulations of granular matter. They are used by different groups for different purposes, and the choice between the approaches is based on knowledge and tradition rather than what might be best for the purpose. The key questions are when to use what method and what physical quality is lost depending on the choice.Two regimes of discrete element granular simulations emerge: smooth and non-smooth. To compare the efficiency and physical quality of the two approaches, four physics softwares are examined including Bullet Physics, LMGC90, AgX and LIGGGHTS. Test scenes are setup in each software and the results are compared to each other or to the results of other work.The thesis is performed at UMIT Research Lab at Umeå University.

A volumetric contact dynamics model has been proposed by Gonthier et al. [1, 2, 3] for the purpose of rapidly generating reliable simulations of space-based manipulator contact dynamics. By assuming materials behave as a Winkler elastic foundation model, forces and moments between two bodies in contact can be expressed in terms of the volume of interference between the undeformed geometries of the bodies. Friction between bodies is modelled by a dwell-time dependent bristle model for both tangential friction, and spinning friction torque. This volumetric model has a number of advantages. Unlike point-contact models, it allows for the modelling of contact between complex geometries and scenarios where the contact surface is relatively large, while being less computationally expensive than finite element methods. Rolling resistance is included in the model through damping effects across the volume of interference. The friction model accounts for dwell-time dependent slip-stick effects, spinning friction torque, and the Contensou effect. In this thesis, an experimental validation of the volumetric contact model is presented for the first time. Models for simple geometries in contact (e.g. cylinder-on-plane, sphere-on-plane) have been developed for stationary contact and for contact with motion normal and tangential to the contact surface. Tangential motion is modelled with pure translation, pure rotation about the normal axis, and combined motion, in order to separately consider friction forces, spinning friction torque, and the Contensou effect, respectively. An apparatus has been developed to experimentally validate these models for metal-on-metal contact. The apparatus has two configurations, one for validating the normal contact models and the other for the friction models. Experimental measurements of forces and displacements are used to identify model parameters (e.g. volumetric stiffness, friction coefficients, etc.). For normal force experiments, modelling the contact forces as proportional to volume of interference was found to be a reasonable approximation. A Hertzian model was compared with the volumetric model for spherical payloads loaded quasi-statically. Using stiffnesses estimated from spherical experiments, small misalignments of the cylindrical payloads were estimated that corresponded well with measured results. Dynamic experiments suggest an inverse relationship between impact velocity and the hysteretic damping coefficient. The high normal forces applied in the friction experiments were found to create significant wear on the contact surfaces. Coefficients of friction between titanium and aluminum were found to be consistent translationally and rotationally. Friction forces from combined translation and rotation demonstrate that the Contensou effect is accurately described by the volumetric contact model.

La maçonnerie est une technique de construction très ancienne qui est toujours d'utilisation très répandue sous toutes les latitudes. Elle fait appel à deux éléments essentiels : des blocs et des joints, qui peuvent être éventuellement remplis de mortier. Le matériau obtenu peut être considéré comme continu ou discontinu, selon les propriétés relatives des blocs et des joints. Les blocs sont souvent en pierre, en brique crue ou cuite. Les mortiers sont généralement à base de chaux, de ciment ou d'un mélange de ces deux composants. Depuis l'apparition du béton au XIX° siècle, les calculs se sont concentrés sur des approches continues, et les techniques de conception des maçonneries ont peu bénéficié des avancées scientifiques, et du développement d'outils de calcul largement utilisés dans les bureaux d'études. Corrélativement à cette évolution, la maçonnerie a perdu des parts de marché de la construction, et les méthodes et moyens mis en œuvre pour la conception d'ouvrages en maçonnerie n'ont pas été suffisamment modernisés. Dans ce contexte, le présent travail a pour ambition de contribuer au calcul de structures maçonnées, considérées comme des structures discontinues, avec l'objectif de servir au monde de l'entreprise et de l'architecture.L'échelle d'étude de la structure ou du matériau : comportement général de l'ensemble bâti, comportement d'un panneau de maçonnerie, comportement de l'interface mortier - bloc, ou des contacts blocs-blocs dans le cas de maçonnerie à joints vifs, conduit à l'utilisation de divers cadres théoriques, et méthodes analytiques ou numériques correspondantes. Après une analyse des avantages et inconvénients de diverses méthodes disponibles, numériques ou graphiques, dans le domaine de la mécanique et de l'architecture (stéréotomie), nous présentons en détail la méthode Non Smooth Contact Dynamics. Cette méthode, initiée à la fin du XX° siècle, par Jean-Jacques MOREAU et Michel JEAN, décrit de façon théorique, les conditions de mise en place des efforts de contact entre corps solides, déformables ou rigides, en 2D et 3D, en présence de chocs, et en présence de grands déplacements, ou rotations. Les conditions de non interpénétration entre corps sont régies par un formalisme spécialement développé dans le cadre de l'analyse convexe. Nous avons retenu ce cadre théorique, et utilisé une chaine logicielle développée sur ses bases, pour modéliser des structures réalistes, c'est-à-dire tridimensionnelles, soumises à des chargements dynamiques, et qui sont modernes, dans la mesure où elles intègrent une géométrie complexe, performante (économie de matière et esthétique) et la mise en œuvre d'une précontrainte, avec prise en compte de son phasage.L'exemple de la structure de l'escalier de Ridolfi est utilisé comme support à l'examen de divers paramètres d'optimisation du calcul réalisé avec la plateforme ouverte LMGC90, permettant à l'utilisateur de maîtriser en détail les diverses phases du calcul non-linéaire conduit. Les paramètres du calcul dont nous avons testé l'influence sont : le pas de temps, le critère de convergence, le nombre d'itérations gérées par l'algorithme de Gauss-Seidel, le critère de rétrécissement, le coefficient de frottement entre blocs, et l'intensité de la précontrainte mise en place par post tension dans les câbles. L'expérimentation conduite sur un modèle physique en vraie grandeur, est reconstituée, dans ses différentes phases, sur maquette numérique, et la pertinence des résultats obtenus par simulation est discutée.Les travaux ont été réalisés au Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil de l'Université Montpellier II et du CNRS, et au Laboratoire de Génie de l'Environnement Industriel de l'Ecole des Mines d'Alès. Leur financement a été assuré par le Ministère de l'Education et de la Formation du Vietnam, ainsi que par ARMINES. / Although it is an old construction technique, masonry is still world wide spread nowadays. It uses two main components: blocks and joints, which can be filled with mortar. The resulting material can be considered as continuous or discontinuous, according to the relative performances of the blocks and joints. The blocks are often made of stone, raw earth or brick. The mortars generally incorporate lime or cement or a mixture of those components. Since the discovery of modern concrete during the XIXth century, calculations have been performed in the framework of continuous methods, and the masonry design technics have not fully benefited from the scientific breakthrough, nor from the development of calculation tools used in design offices. Following this evolution, masonry lost some ground in the construction field, and methods and means used for the design of buildings have not been improved enough. In this context, the present work aims at contributing to the calculation of masonry structures, considered as discontinuous structures, with the ultimate goal to be of some use in the field of industry and architecture.The structure or material study scale: general behavior of the building, behavior of a masonry panel, or behavior of the bonding between the blocks and the mortar, or the block-block contacts for dry friction masonry, leads to the use of several theoretical frameworks, and associated analytical or numerical methods. After an analysis of the pros and cons of the different available methods, in the fields of mechanics and architecture (stereotomy), we will present in detail the Non Smooth Contact Dynamics method. This method, initiated at the end of the XXth century, by Jean-Jacques MOREAU et Michel JEAN, describes theoretically, the conditions of the development of contact forces between solids, whether able to support strains or rigid, in 2D or 3D, under the effects of shocks, large displacements or rotations. The conditions of no overlapping between the bodies are described by equations developed using the convex analysis concepts. We chose this theoretical framework, and used the software platform developed on these concepts, for modeling realistic structures that are modern, because they allow to take into account 3D structures with complex and efficient geometries (aesthetic point of view, economy of material), subjected to dynamical loads, and including the sequential set-up of pre-stressing technics.The example of the Ridolfi stair case is used as a support for the examination of several optimization parameters for the calculation performed on the LMGC90 open software, allowing the modeler to supervise in detail several steps of the performed non-linear calculations. The calculation parameters of which we have tested the influence are: the time step, convergence criterion, the iteration number considered in the Gauss-Siedel algorithm, the shrinkage criterion, the friction coefficient between blocks, and the pre-stressing strain applied in the post tension cables. The experiment carried out on a real size physical model is numerically simulated, and the consistency of the computed results is discussed.The work was carried out in the Mechanics and Civil Engineering Laboratory of the University of Montpellier II and the CNRS (French National Scientific Research Agency), and the Laboratory of Industrial Environment Engineering of Alès School of Mines. The funding was provided by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, and ARMINES.

Cette thèse traite de la modélisation du frittage à l’échelle du Volume Élémentaire Représentatif de la pastille de matériau. L’objectif est de développer des outils numériquesde compréhension des phénomènes physiques mis en jeu lors du frittage. Le domaine d’application ciblé est la fabrication du combustible nucléaire. Une approche multi-Échelle a été mise en oeuvre. Dans un premier temps une modélisation à l’échelle d’un empilement, basée sur la méthode des Éléments Discrets, a été adoptée. Différentes études utilisant cette approche ont été proposées dans la littérature ces dernières années. Tous ces travaux utilisent une méthode discrète explicite. Si certains résultats ont pu être validés expérimentalement,une des limites vient de l’utilisation des méthodes explicites dontle pas de temps critique est très petit. Afin d’augmenter le pas de temps, la masse des particules y est augmentée artificiellement de plusieurs ordres de grandeur. Or,il a été démontré que cette pratique conduit, dans certains cas, à une diminution du réarrangement des particules au sein de l’empilement. Dans cette thèse, une méthode Éléments Discrets implicite appelée Dynamique des Contacts a été adaptée au frittage. Elle permet l’utilisation d’un pas de temps très supérieur à celui des méthodes discrètes explicites et ne nécessite pas d’augmenter artificiellement la massedes particules. La comparaison entre la Dynamique des Contacts et la Méthode des Éléments Discrets explicite montre que notre approche conduit à une représentation plus fidèle du réarrangement. Une validation expérimentale par Microtomographie X ainsi qu’une étude paramétrique sur le frittage des poudres bidispersés sont également présentées pour montrer les possibilités de l’approche discrète appliquée au frittage.La seconde partie est consacrée à une modélisation à l’échelle de deux particules parla méthode des Éléments Finis. Ce modèle repose sur une approche mécanique et vise à représenter de façon plus précise le comportement de deux particules en contact. Les diffusions au joint de grains, en surface et en volume peuvent être représentées. Pour le moment, seules les diffusions en surface et au joint de grains ont été étudiées. Si certaines optimisations restent nécessaires pour que le code soit fonctionnel, plusieurs aspects apparaissent déjà déterminants, comme la courbure de la surface à proximité du joint de grains. A l’avenir, le modèle Dynamique des Contacts du frittage pourra être complété etamélioré grâce aux éléments apportés par le modèle mécanique à l’échelle du grain. / This thesis deals with the simulation of the sintering of nuclear fuel on a pellet scale. The goal is to develop numerical tools which can contribute to a better understandingof the physical phenomena involved in the sintering process. Hence, a multi scale approach is proposed. First of all, a Discrete Element model is introduced. It aims at modeling the motion of particles on a Representative Elementary Volume scale using an original Discrete Element Method. The latter is a Non Smooth Method called Contact Dynamics. Recently, there have been numerous papers about the simulation of sintering using Discrete Element Method. As far as we know, all these papers use smooth methods. Different studies show that the results match well experimental data. However, some limits come from the fact that smooth methods use an explicit scheme which needsvery small time steps. In order to obtain an acceptable time step, the mass of particles have to be dramatically increased. The Non Smooth Contact Dynamics uses an implicit scheme, thus time steps can be much larger without scaling up the mass of particles. The comparison between smooth and non smooth approaches shows thatour method leads to a more realistic representation of rearrangement. An experimental validation using synchrotron X-Ray microtomography is then presented, followedby a parametric study on the sintering of bimodal powders that aims at showing the capacity of this model.The second part presents a mechanical model on the sub-Granular scale, using a Finite Element method. This targets a better understanding of the behavior of twograins in contact. The model is currently being developped but the first results already show that some parameters like the shape of the surface of the neck are very sensitive.In the future, the Non smooth Contact Dynamics model of sintering may be improvedusing the results obtained by the sub-Granular scale mechanical model.

Cette thèse porte sur l’étude de la propagation d’ondes mécaniques dans des milieux granulaires secs ou mouillés, avec pour objectif de relier les phénomènes de l’échelle microscopique (dynamique des grains, potentiels d’interactions entre particules, rhéologie du fluide interstitiel) aux propriétés de l’échelle macroscopique (relation de dispersion, vitesse et atténuation des ondes dans l’approximation des grandes longueurs d’ondes). Les systèmes étudiés sont soit des milieux granulaires unidimensionnels de grande taille, analogues des chemins de plus forts contacts entre particules (les chaînes de force) dans les empilements de grains réels, soit les milieux granulaires réels eux-mêmes. Dans un premier temps, nous étudions expérimentalement la transmission d’ondes au travers d’un alignement de sphères centimétriques sèches, que nous modélisons via le potentiel de Hertz. Nous montrons que le couplage élastofrictionnel entre les grains et un substrat (le support des sphères) engendre un potentiel élastique local, qui induit à son tour une bande interdite a fréquence nulle dans la fonction de transfert. Dans un deuxième temps, nous montrons que la présence d'une quantité infime de fluide visqueux au contact entre chaque particule induit une interaction élasto-hydrodynamique (EHD). Ce dernier induit une modification de l’atténuation des ondes et une augmentation très significative de la vitesse de propagation, qui dans ce cas dépendent de manière non-triviale de l’élasticité des particules, de la viscosité du fluide et de la fréquence. Dans un troisième temps, nous vérifions la fiabilité de notre analyse pour décrire la propagation d'ondes ultrasonores dans des milieux granulaires réels, tel que le sable mouillé ou non ; les particules sont ici des sphères millimétriques. Dans le cas sec, nos résultats sont en accord avec un modèle connu de milieux effectifs (EMT) qui relève de l’interaction de Hertz-Mindlin dans l'approximation des grandes longueurs d'ondes. Dans le cas mouille, le modèle EMT combiné à un mécanisme EHD reproduit de manière acceptable nos observations préliminaires. / This thesis deals with the study of mechanical wave propagation in dry or wet granular media, with the aim of relating the phenomena at the microscopic scale (particles dynamics, interaction potentials between grains, rheology of the interstitial fluid) to the features at the macroscopic scale (dispersion relation, wave speed and attenuation in the long wavelength approximation). The systems under study are either large one-dimensional granular media, as the analogs of the paths of the most compressed grains (the force chains) in real granular packings, or the real granular media themselves. In a first place, we study experimentally the wave transmission through alignments of dry centimetric spheres, which we model via the Hertz potential. We show that the elasto-frictional coupling between the grains and a substrate (the spheres’ support) induces an on-site elastic potential, which in turn induces a band gap at zero frequency in the transfer function. In a second place, we show that the presence of an infinitesimal amount of viscous fluid at the contact between every particle induces an elasto-hydrodynamic (EHD) interaction. The later affects the attenuation of waves in addition to a significant increase of the wave speed, which in this case both non-trivially depend on the elasticity of the particles, on the viscosity of the fluid and on the frequency. In a third place, we check the reliability of our analysis to describe ultrasonic wave propagation in real granular materials such as dry or wet sand; our particles are here millimetric spheres. In the dry configuration, our results are consistent with an effective medium theory (EMT) which relies on the Hertz-Mindlin interaction in the long wavelength approximation. In the wet configuration, the EMT model combined with an EHD mechanism fairly reproduces our preliminary observations.

Hybrid testing is an emerging technique for system emulation that uses a transfer system composed of actuators and sensors to couple physical tests of a critical component or substructure to a numerical simulation of the remainder of a system and its complete operating environment. The realisation of modern real-time hybrid tests for multi-body contact-impact problems often proves infeasible due to (i) hardware with bandwidth limitations and (ii) the unavailability of control schemes that provide satisfactory force and position tracking in the presence of sharp non-linearities or discontinuities. Where this is the case, the possibility of employing a pseudo-dynamic technique remains, enabling tests to be conducted on an enlarged time scale thus relaxing bothbandwidth and response time constraints and providing inherent loop stability. Exploiting the pseudo-dynamic technique, this thesis presents the development of Robotic Pseudo-Dynamic Testing (RPsDT), a dedicated method that specifically targets the realisation of hybrid tests for multi-body contact-impact problems using commercial off- the shelve (COTS) industrial robotic manipulators. The RPsDT method is evaluated in on-ground studies of air-to-air refuelling (AAR) maneuvers with probe-hose-drogue systems where the critical contact and coupling phase is tested pseudo-dynamicallywith full-scale refuelling hardware while the flight regime is emulated in simulation. It is shown that the RPsDT method can faithfully reproduce the dominant contact impact phenomena between probe and drogue while minor discrepancies result from the absence of rate-dependant damping in the force feedback measurements. In combination with full-speed robot controlled contact tests, reliable estimates for impact forces, strain distributions and drogue responses to off-centre hits are obtained providing extensive improvements over current predictive capabilities for the in-flight behaviour of refuelling hardware and it is concluded that the technique shows great promise for industrial applications.

In machining centers, with the increasing trends in high precision machining, chatter has become an important problem which results in poor surface finish and low material removal rate. Chatter can be avoided with stability diagrams which provide the stable regions in the machining process for the depth of cut and spindle speed combinations. In order to obtain stability diagrams, tool point frequency response function (FRF) of the system should be obtained. Throughout this study, contact parameters which are the most critical part of the analytical modeling of spindle-holder-tool assembly in order to obtain tool point FRF, are examined. For the accurate identification of the contact parameters, a recently suggested closed form approach based on measured FRFs is improved and applied to real structures by solving several application problems. In addition to the identification of contact parameters from experimental results, in order to eliminate the dependency on experiments, artificial neural networks are used to predict contact parameters for cases for which no experiments were carried out. By using trained neural network, contact parameters are predicted for the first seen combination of tool gauge length and diameter with a high accuracy. Such an application will have an important contribution to the machining stability studies since elimination of dependency on experiments will make it possible to predict stability diagrams for different combinations of spindle, holder and tool without performing any experiments. Additionally, since accurate identification of contact parameters, thus tool point FRFs and stability diagrams are highly dependent on accuracy of the performed experiments, possible errors due the mass of the accelerometers are also investigated. In order to compensate the mass effect of the accelerometers, a structural modification with matrix inversion method is applied to the accelerometer based results.