<p> Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLDs) are increasingly being used to suppress the dynamic vibration of tall buildings. An equivalent mechanical model is essential for rapid analysis and design of a TLD. The most common TLD tank geometries are circular, annular and rectangular. Rectangular tanks are utilized for 1-D and 2-D TLDs, whereas circular and annular are usually applied to axisymmetric structures. The amount of fluid that participates in the sloshing motion is directly influenced by the tank geometry. Although not commonly used, a TLD having a curved-bottom tank is expected to perform more effectively due to its relatively large value of effective mass. The main objective of this study is to develop mechanical models for seven TLDs with different tank geometries including the curved-bottom case, and to theoretically investigate the performance of rectangular, vertical-cylindrical and horizontal-cylindrical TLDs.</p> <p> Potential flow theory, linear long wave theory, Lagrange's equations and virtual work method are employed to develop the equivalent mechanical model parameters of TLDs with rectangular, vertical-cylindrical, horizontal-cylindrical, hyperboloid, triangular, sloped-bottom, and parabolic tank geometries. A rectangular, vertical-cylindrical and horizontal-cylindrical TLD are selected for further study using a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model and a two degree of freedom structure-TLD system model applying the derived equivalent mechanical parameters.</p> <p> The dynamic characteristics of the TLDs as a SDOF system are investigated. The mechanical model is verified by comparing calculated values with experimental results for a rectangular TLD. The free surface motion, sloshing force and energy dissipation are found to be dependent upon the excitation amplitude. Analytical results also indicate that the horizontal-cylindrical TLD possesses the greatest normalized sloshing force and energy dissipation among the TLDs considered.</p> <p> The performances of various TLDs installed in a structure are studied in terms of effective damping, efficiency and robustness. Tuning ratio, structural response amplitude, mass ratio and liquid depth are adjusted to investigate their affect on the performance of the studied TLDs. Performance charts are developed and subsequently used to present the results. It is found that small liquid depth ratio and large mass ratio can lead to a robust structure-TLD system with small relative motion ratio between the structure and the vibration absorber. Comparisons of performance between the three TLDs are made and it can be concluded that the horizontal-cylindrical TLD is the most robust and effective device with the smallest relative motion ratio.</p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Práce se zabývá návrhem magnetoreologické (MR) vzpěry vibroizolačního systému (VIS) pro kosmický nosič. V rešeršní části jsou popsány vybrané VIS a vzpěry těchto systémů, které byly v kosmických nosičích využity v minulosti. Každá z těchto vzpěr obsahující kapalinu byla těsněna pomocí statických těsnění a pružných vlnovců vyrobených z oceli. Důkladněji byla analyzována vzpěra pasivního systému VIS s označením ELVIS, jehož konstrukce se stala inspirací pro tuto práci. Jedná se o tříparametrický systém, v němž je tlumič uložen na pružině, jejíž tuhost přibližně odpovídá objemové tuhosti vlnovců respektive jejímu průmětu do axiálního směru (pressure thrust stiffness). V práci je představena metodika pro stanovení “pressure thrust stiffness” na základě geometrie vlnovce a také uvedeny parametry vlnovce díky kterým je možné měnit poměr mezi axiální a “pressure thrust stiffness” vlnovce. Tento poměr ovlivňuje v dané koncepci vzpěry její dynamické chování a tím i chování celého VIS. Pro predikci dynamického chování vzpěry byl vytvořen multi-body model VIS založeného na Stewartově plošině a detailnější model jediné vzpěry. Simulace provedené v tomto modelu odhalily parametry, které mají vliv na výkonost tlumiče ve VIS: časová odezva a dynamický rozsah. Díky modelu byl určen rozsah těchto parametrů, ve kterých bude zaručena efektivní funkce vzpěry ve VIS, konkrétně: časová odezva: 0-5ms, dynamický rozsah: 5-10. Před finálním návrhem vzpěry byla sestrojena vzpěra experimentální vzpěra, jejíž parametry byly přesně naměřeny a využity pro verifikaci jednotlivých modelů. Poznatky získané během experimentů byly využity při návrhu finální vzpěry. Jeden z nejdůležitějších poznatků byla nutnost náhrady feritového magnetického obvodu s ohledem na jeho křehkost. Proto byl odvozen tvarový přístup k navrhování rychlých magnetických obvodů z oceli s využitím 3D tisku, který byl následně patentován. Navržená vzpěra obsahuje magnetoreologický ventil jehož odezva je predikována na 1.2 ms a dynamický rozsah 10. V závěru práce je představena metodika, díky které byla vzpěra navržena.

Hydropower maintains its position as the most important source of renewable electric energy in the world. The efficiency of large hydropower plants is unsurpassed, and after more than hundred years of development, the technology is mature and highly reliable. While new hydro resources are currently being developed in Asia and South America, most European countries go through a phase of intense refurbishment and upgrading of existing plants. Challenges faced by the hydropower industry include a knowledge transfer to new generations and the adaptation of unit designs to meet new operational requirements. As with all branches of engineering, the use of computerized design tools has revolutionized the art of hydropower plant design and the analysis of its performance. In the present work, modern tools like coupled field-circuit models and semi-analytic permeance models are used to address different aspects of electromagnetic analysis of generators in large hydropower plants. The results include the presentation of a mathematical model that uses concepts from rotating field theory to determine the air-gap flux density waveform in a hydroelectric generator. The model was succesfully used to evaluate armature voltage harmonics and damper bar currents at no-load and load conditions. A second study is concerned with the importance of losses due to rotational fields in core loss calculations. It is found that dynamic and rotational effects typically increase the total core loss estimates with about 28% in large hydroelectric generators. In a third study, linear models for the calculation of salient pole shoe form factors at an arbitrary level of magnetic loading are presented. The effect of the damper winding configuration on the damping capability of salient-pole generators is then evaluated in a separate study. The predicted impact of the coupling between damper cages on adjacent poles on the damping torque production is verified in a set of experiments.

Squeeze Film Dampers (SFD) provide viscous damping in rotor bearing systems to reduce lateral vibration amplitudes and to isolate mechanical components. Aircraft engine shafts, often supported on roller bearings, operate at high rotational speeds and are susceptible to large amplitude shaft whirl due to rotor imbalance. SFDs aid to reduce such large whirl amplitudes while also eliminating rotor instabilities. he current work quantifies experimentally the forced performance of two parallel squeeze SFDs separated by a central groove. Force coefficients are identified in a specialized SFD test rig constructed to undergo similar operating and loading conditions as in jet engines. Of interest is to quantify the effect of a central feed groove on the forced performance of SFDs and to validate predictions from a computational tool. The test rig comprises of an elastically supported bearing structure and one of two journals. Tests are conducted on two open ends SFDs, both with diameter D and nominal radial clearance c; each damper with two parallel film land lengths L= 1/5 D and 2L, separated by a feed groove of width L and depth 3/4 L. ISO VG 2 grade lubricant oil flows into the central groove via 3 orifices, 120 degrees apart, and then through the film lands to finally exit to ambient. In operation, a static loader pulls the bearing to various static off center positions with respect to the stationary journal, and electromagnetic shakers (2,200 N) excite the test system with single frequency loads over a frequency range to generate rectilinear, circular and elliptical orbits with specified motion amplitudes. A frequency domain method identifies the SFD mechanical parameters, viz., stiffness, damping, and added mass coefficients. The long damper generates 7 times more direct damping and 2 times more added mass compared to the short length damper. The damping coefficients are sensitive to the static eccentricity (up to 50 percent c) while showing lesser dependency on the amplitude of whirl motion (up to 20 percent c). On the other hand, added mass coefficients are nearly constant with static eccentricity and decrease with higher amplitudes of motion. The magnitudes of identified cross-coupled coefficients are insignificant for all imposed operating conditions for either damper. Large dynamic pressures recorded in the central groove demonstrate the groove does not isolate the film lands by merely acting as a source of lubricant, but contributes to the generation of large added mass coefficients. The recorded dynamic pressures in the film lands and central groove do not evidence lubricant vapor or gas cavitation for the tested static eccentricities and amplitudes of motion. The direct damping coefficients for both dampers are independent of excitation frequency over the frequency range of the tests. Predictions derived from a novel SFD computational tool that includes flow interactions in the central groove and oil supply orifices agree well with the experimental force coefficients for both dampers. The current work advances the state of the art in SFDs for jet engines.

The presented work is concerned with the development and application of an ultrasonic detection scheme suitable for the monitoring of muscle dynamics with high temporal - down to 5 µs - and spatial resolution - down to 0.78 µm. A differential detection scheme has been developed to monitor the variations of the velocity of longitudinal polarized ultrasound waves travelling in contracting and relaxing muscle, compensating for variations of the path length by referencing to a frame. The observed time dependent variations of the time-of-flight of the ultrasonic waves caused by variations in the muscle and in addition by minor deformations of the enclosure are detected each separately and synchronously and are evaluated differentially. Beside of the detected increase of the speed of sound observed for contracted muscle with respect to the relaxed state of about 0.6%, the recovery time from maximum isometric contraction is quantified and relaxation processes are observed for the recovery phase following the isometric contraction. The developed ultrasonic calliper was employed to monitor both, the brain controlled and externally excited muscle dynamics with sampling intervals down to 10 ms synchronously with signals relating to the excitation. Monitored are the activation, hold, and relaxation phase for maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the gastrocnemius muscle. A so far not reported post tetanus overshoot and subsequent exponential recovery are observed. Both are attributed to the muscle as suggested by combined monitoring with EMG and are modelled with a lumped mechanical circuit containing an idealized bidirectional linear motor unit, ratchet, damper, and springs. Both, the rapid contraction and relaxation phases require a high order filter or alternatively a kernel filter, attributed to the nerve system as suggested by external electric stimulation. The respective response function is modelled by an electrical lumped circuit. Together with a reaction time and occasionally observed droops in the hold phase, both adjusted empirically, the monitored response is represented in close approximation by the combined electrical and mechanical lumped circuits. The respectively determined model parameters provide a refined evaluation scheme for the performance of monitored athletes. Valuable parameters relate to the latent period, the muscle response time, the activation and deactivation dynamics, a possible droop and other instabilities of the hold phase, and parameters characterizing the relaxation phase including the observed post tetanus overshoot and subsequent contraction. Monitored and modelled are also the different processes involved in active muscle dynamics including isotonic, isometric, and eccentric contraction or stretching. The developed technology provides time sequential observation of these processes and registration of their path in the extension and force parameter space. Under suitable conditions the closed-loop cycles of mind controlled human muscle movements proceed along characteristic lines coinciding with well identifiable elementary processes. The presentation of the monitored processes in the extension and force parameter space allows the determination of the mechanical energy expenditure for the observed different muscle actions. An elementary macroscopic mechanical model has been developed, suitable to express the basic features of the monitored muscle dynamics.

This thesis advances the state of the art in modeling electric machines in electro-magnetic transient simulation programs, particularly in real-time digital simulators. A new tool, developed in this thesis, expands the application of real-time digital simulators to closed-loop testing of protection relays designed to protect synchronous machines during internal faults. To evaluate the inductances of synchronous machines, a winding function approach was developed in this thesis which is capable of taking into account both the actual distribution of windings and the shape of the pole-arc. Factors such as MMF drop in the iron and effects of slots are compensated by evaluating the effective permeance function of the machine using experimentally measured values of d-, q- and 0- axis inductances. In this winding function approach, the effects of magnetic saturation are also included by considering the actual distribution of magneto-motive force in each loading condition of the machine. The inductances of an experimental machine are evaluated using this approach and validated using the finite-element method and laboratory measurements. This thesis also proposes an embedded phase-domain approach for time-domain simulation of the machine model in electromagnetic transients programs. The approach significantly improves the numerical stability of the simulations. Special numerical techniques are introduced, which speed up the execution of the algorithm as needed for real-time simulation. The machine model is validated in healthy and faulted conditions using simulations and laboratory experiments. Effects of damper grid representation on simulating turn-to-turn faults are investigated. The capability of this new real-time synchronous machine model in closed-loop testing of synchronous machines ground- faults protection relays is clearly demonstrated.

This thesis advances the state of the art in modeling electric machines in electro-magnetic transient simulation programs, particularly in real-time digital simulators. A new tool, developed in this thesis, expands the application of real-time digital simulators to closed-loop testing of protection relays designed to protect synchronous machines during internal faults. To evaluate the inductances of synchronous machines, a winding function approach was developed in this thesis which is capable of taking into account both the actual distribution of windings and the shape of the pole-arc. Factors such as MMF drop in the iron and effects of slots are compensated by evaluating the effective permeance function of the machine using experimentally measured values of d-, q- and 0- axis inductances. In this winding function approach, the effects of magnetic saturation are also included by considering the actual distribution of magneto-motive force in each loading condition of the machine. The inductances of an experimental machine are evaluated using this approach and validated using the finite-element method and laboratory measurements. This thesis also proposes an embedded phase-domain approach for time-domain simulation of the machine model in electromagnetic transients programs. The approach significantly improves the numerical stability of the simulations. Special numerical techniques are introduced, which speed up the execution of the algorithm as needed for real-time simulation. The machine model is validated in healthy and faulted conditions using simulations and laboratory experiments. Effects of damper grid representation on simulating turn-to-turn faults are investigated. The capability of this new real-time synchronous machine model in closed-loop testing of synchronous machines ground- faults protection relays is clearly demonstrated.

This thesis presents a state-of-the-art-review and twodifferent approaches for solving the moving load problem ofcable-stayed and suspension bridges. The first approach uses a simplified analysis method tostudy the dynamic response of simple cable-stayed bridgemodels. The bridge is idealized as a Bernoulli-Euler beam onelastic supports with varying support stiffness. To solve theequation of motion of the bridge, the finite difference methodand the mode superposition technique are used. The second approach is based on the nonlinear finite elementmethod and is used to study the response of more realisticcable-stayed and suspension bridge models considering exactcable behavior and nonlinear geometric effects. The cables aremodeled using a two-node catenary cable element derived using"exact" analytical expressions for the elastic catenary. Twomethods for evaluating the dynamic response are presented. Thefirst for evaluating the linear traffic load response using themode superposition technique and the deformed dead load tangentstiffness matrix, and the second for the nonlinear traffic loadresponse using the Newton-Newmark algorithm. The implemented programs have been verified by comparinganalysis results with those found in the literature and withresults obtained using a commercial finite element code.Several numerical examples are presented including one for theGreat Belt suspension bridge in Denmark. Parametric studieshave been conducted to investigate the effect of, among others,bridge damping, bridge-vehicle interaction, cables vibration,road surface roughness, vehicle speed, and tuned mass dampers.From the numerical study, it was concluded that road surfaceroughness has great influence on the dynamic response andshould always be considered. It was also found that utilizingthe dead load tangent stiffness matrix, linear dynamic trafficload analysis give sufficiently accurate results from theengineering point of view. / QC 20100511

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή πραγματεύεται τη λειτουργική συμπεριφορά μιας σύγχρονης μηχανής με έκτυπους πόλους κατά τη διάρκεια δύο ειδών σφαλμάτων, τα οποία παρουσιάζονται παρακάτω, για τις δύο συνθήκες σύνδεσης μίας σύγχρονης γεννήτριας με το δίκτυο. Ειδικότερα, μελετήθηκε η περίπτωση βραχυκυκλώματος στην τροφοδοσία του τυλίγματος διέγερσης της σύγχρονης μηχανής όταν είναι συνδεδεμένη σε ισχυρό δίκτυο και είτε ο αριθμός στροφών αυτής διατηρείται απόλυτα σταθερός, είτε ένας ελεγκτής τη συγκρατεί στο σύγχρονο αριθμό στροφών. Ακόμη διερευνήθηκε η περίπτωση εσωτερικού σφάλματος στο τύλιγμα του στάτη για τις δύο προαναφερθείσες περιπτώσεις. Υπολογίστηκαν και μελετήθηκαν η ηλεκτρομαγνητική ροπή και η μαγνητική επαγωγή κατά τη διάρκεια κάθε φαινομένου, καθώς επίσης τα ρεύματα σε δρομέα και στάτη συμπεριλαμβανομένων των ρευμάτων στον κλωβό απόσβεσης και του ρεύματος βραχυκύκλωσης σε τμήματα του τυλίγματος του στάτη. Αρχικά, περιγράφεται αναλυτικά ο τρόπος με τον οποίο μοντελοποιήθηκε η σύγχρονη γεννήτρια με έκτυπους πόλους, ενώ παράλληλα αναλύεται η μέθοδος με την οποία μοντελοποιήθηκαν τα σφάλματα σε στάτη και δρομέα και ο τρόπος με τον οποίο προσομοιώθηκε στο πρόγραμμα πεπερασμένων στοιχείων ο παραλληλισμός της μηχανής στο δίκτυο παροχής ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας. Στη συνέχεια, γίνεται αναφορά στον τρόπο με τον οποίο ορίζονται οι περιοχές του μοντέλου, οι εξισώσεις που επιλύει το πρόγραμμα πεπερασμένων στοιχείων για την εξαγωγή των αποτελεσμάτων, ο ορισμός των οριακών συνθηκών και τέλος περιγράφεται η εφαρμογή της μεθόδου πεπερασμένου στοιχείων που εφαρμόσθηκε στο συγκεκριμένο μοντέλο. Έπειτα προσομοιώθηκε η περίπτωση βραχυκυκλώματος στην τροφοδοσία του τυλίγματος διέγερσης, καθώς ο στάτης της σύγχρονης μηχανής είναι συνδεδεμένος σε ισχυρό δίκτυο με το δρομέα να στρέφεται με σταθερό αριθμό στροφών. Κατά τη διάρκεια του σφάλματος πραγματοποιείται λεπτομερής καταγραφή της μαγνητικής επαγωγής και της ηλεκτρομαγνητικής ροπής, καθώς και όλων των ρευμάτων στο τύλιγμα στάτη και δρομέα. Προκύπτουν χρήσιμα συμπεράσματα για τη συμπεριφορά της μηχανής σε όλη τη διάρκεια του σφάλματος και καταγράφονται τα ηλεκτρομαγνητικά μεγέθη και γίνεται αξιολόγηση της συμπεριφοράς της κατά τη διάρκεια αυτού του μεταβατικού φαινομένου. Ακόμη, εξετάζεται η ίδια περίπτωση σφάλματος στο τύλιγμα διέγερσης, αλλά ο αριθμός στροφών του δρομέα διατηρείται σταθερός μέσω ενός ελεγκτή στροφών. Παρατηρείται ότι η συμπεριφορά της μηχανής αλλά και όλα τα ηλεκτρομαγνητικά μεγέθη αυτής είναι τελείως διαφορετικά συγκρινόμενα με την προηγούμενη περίπτωση. Στη συνέχεια αυτής της διδακτορικής διατριβής εξετάζεται η συμπεριφορά της σύγχρονης μηχανής στην περίπτωση εσωτερικού βραχυκυκλώματος στο τύλιγμα του στάτη, καθώς είναι συνδεδεμένη σε ισχυρό δίκτυο με το δρομέα να στρέφεται με σταθερό αριθμό στροφών. Αναλυτικότερα, μελετώνται τα ρεύματα στο τύλιγμα του δρομέα καθώς και στο τύλιγμα του στάτη για βραχυκύκλωμα μεταξύ σπειρών που ανήκουν σε ίδια ή διαφορετική φάση. Υπολογίζεται το ρεύμα βραχυκύκλωσης και μελετάται ο τρόπος που επηρεάζει τα φασικά ρεύματα του στάτη τόσο ποσοτικά όσο και ποιοτικά. Επίσης, αναλύονται τα ρεύματα στον κλωβό απόσβεσης και μελετάται η συμπεριφορά τους κατά τη διάρκεια του βραχυκυκλώματος. Η εισαγωγή ελέγχου στροφών μεταβάλει τη συμπεριφορά της σύγχρονης γεννήτριας και υπολογίζονται αναλυτικά τα ηλεκτρομαγνητικά μεγέθη της σύγχρονης μηχανής προκύπτοντας συμπεράσματα για τον τρόπο με τον οποίο το βραχυκυκλωμένο τύλιγμα επηρεάζει τα μεγέθη αυτά, ενώ παράλληλα καθορίζεται ο ρόλος που έχουν οι φάσεις που συμμετέχουν στο βραχυκύκλωμα. Τέλος, γίνεται μια σύντομη σύγκριση για το πόσο επηρεάζει ο αριθμός σπειρών τη συμπεριφορά της σύγχρονης μηχανής στην περίπτωση σφάλματος στο στάτη κατά την περίπτωση κατά την οποία η μηχανή είναι συνδεδεμένη σε ισχυρό δίκτυο με σταθερό τον αριθμό στροφών του δρομέα. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, αναλύονται τα ρεύματα σε στάτη και δρομέα καθώς και η ηλεκτρομαγνητική ροπή, για τις περιπτώσεις που οι βραχυκυκλωμένες σπείρες ανήκουν στην ίδια και διαφορετική φάση αλλά με διαφορετικό αριθμό βραχυκυκλωμένων σπειρών για κάθε περίπτωση. Προκύπτει το συμπέρασμα ότι καθοριστικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση των ηλεκτρομαγνητικών μεγεθών κατά τη διάρκεια του σφάλματος έχει ο αριθμός των βραχυκυκλωμένων σπειρών, ανεξάρτητα από τον αριθμό των φάσεων που συμμετέχουν στο βραχυκύκλωμα. / This thesis deals with the functional behavior of a salient pole synchronous generator during two kinds of short-circuits. In particular, we studied the case of short circuit in the supply of the excitation winding of the synchronous machine when it is connected to an infinite bus and either the rotor speed was absolutely constant, or a simple PI- Controller maintained the synchronous speed equal to the synchronous. Additionally, the case of an internal fault in the stator winding for the two cases mentioned above was investigated. The electromagnetic torque and the magnetic flux density in each case were calculated and studied, as well as the stator and rotor currents, including the damper cage, and the short-circuit current in the faulty loop of the stator winding. Firstly, it is described in detail the way in which the salient pole synchronous generator was modeled and it is analyzed the method by which the faults are modeled in both stator and rotor and the way these faults were simulated, in the finite element program. Additionally, it is presented the way in how the areas of the model are defined, the equations that were solved through finite element software, in order to extract the results, the definition of the boundary conditions and finally it is described the finite element method, which was applied to this specific model. The case of a short circuit in the supply of the field winding while the stator of the synchronous machine is connected to the grid and the rotor speed is held constant and equal to the synchronous one, is examined. During this fault the magnetic flux, the electromagnetic torque and all the stator and rotor currents are measured in detail. Useful conclusions about the behavior of the machine throughout this kind of short-circuit were derived, all the electromagnetic magnitudes were recorded and an assessment of the generator behavior during this transient phenomenon is made. Similarly, the same type of fault is analyzed, but the speed of the rotor is maintained constant through a speed controller. It is observed that the behavior of the machine and all the electromagnetic magnitudes are quite different compared to the previous case. In this dissertation is examined the behavior of the hydrogenerator in the case of an inter-turn short circuit in the stator winding, while it is connected to the grid with a constant rotor speed. Specifically, it is examined the currents in the rotor and the stator winding for a short circuit between turns that belong to the same or to different phases. The short circuit current is calculated and it is presented the way that it affects quantitative and qualitative the stator phase currents. It is also analyzed the damper currents and it is studied their behavior during the short circuit. The speed controller alters the behavior of the synchronous generator and all the electromagnetic magnitudes of this machine are analytically calculated, resulting significant conclusions on how the faulty loop affects these quantities, while it is set out the role of the participating phases in this short-circuit. Finally, a brief comparison of the way that the number of the shorted turns affects the behavior of the simulated machine in the case of an inter-turn stator fault, while it is connected to the grid with a fixed number of the rotor revolutions. Specifically, it is analyzed the stator and rotor currents and the electromagnetic torque, for the cases that the short-circuited turns belong either to the same or to different phases, but with different number of shorted turns. It is concluded that a key role in determining the electromagnetic magnitudes during this fault has the number of the short-circuited turns and not the number of the phases that are involved in the short circuit.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / This thesis presents the design methodology, the construction of a prototype and the experimental validation of an active vibration damper witch is controlled by a piezoelectric actuator. The proposed device has two flexible metallic bellows connected to a rigid reservoir filled with a viscous fluid. When one of the bellows is connected to a vibrating structure a periodic flow passes through a variable internal orifice and the damping effect is produced. The size of the orifice is adjusted by a piezoelectric control system that positions the conical core into a conical cavity. The damper device finite element computational model was developed considering that the valve body is rigid and that the fluid - structure iteration occurs between the fluid and the flexible bellows. This model is discretized using a lagrangean-eulrian formulation. The actuator has a closed flexible metallic structure that amplifies the displacement produced by an internally mounted stack of piezoelectric ceramic layers, and it is also modeled by the finite element method. The damper prototype was built and experimental tests using impulsive and harmonic excitations were conducted to determine its dynamic behavior and also to validate the developed computational models. The simulation and experimental results are compared by curves that relate the damping coefficient with the size of the orifice. Reduced dynamical models are proposed to represent the behavior of the damper device with fixed and variable orifice sizes. A local classic PID controller for the piezoelectric actuator was design to assure that the valve core assume the correct position, providing the commanded damping coefficient. The damper device was applied to a vibration system that represents the model of a quarter-car vehicle. One on-off controller and another fuzzy controller were design to control the vibrations of the vehicle equipped with the proposed active damper. Experimental tests shown that the damping coefficient values, commanded by the global controller, were achieved in time intervals lesser than 10 milliseconds. These results demonstrate the very good performance of the proposed damper device. / Esta tese apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de projeto, a construção de um protótipo e a validação experimental de um amortecedor ativo de vibrações controlado por um atuador piezelétrico. O dispositivo proposto contém um circuito hidráulico constituído por dois foles metálicos flexíveis conectados a um reservatório rígido cheio com um fluido viscoso. Quando um dos foles é conectado a uma estrutura vibratória um fluxo de fluido é forçado através de um orifício variável, produzindo o efeito de amortecimento. O tamanho do orifício é ajustado por um sistema piezelétrico de controle que posiciona um obturador cônico numa cavidade cônica. O amortecedor é modelado pela técnica dos elementos finitos considerando que o corpo da válvula rígido e que existe interação entre o fluido interno e a estrutura flexível dos foles. Este modelo é discretizado utilizando uma formulação Lagrangeana Euleriana. O atuador, composto por uma estrutura metálica flexível que amplifica o deslocamento produzido por uma pilha de cerâmicas piezelétricas, também é modelado pela técnica dos elementos finitos. Foi construído um protótipo do amortecedor e realizados ensaios experimentais com excitações impulsivas e harmônicas, para determinar o comportamento dinâmico e para validar os modelos computacionais desenvolvidos. A relação entre o tamanho do orifício e a correspondente força de amortecimento produzida é obtida tanto a partir de simulações feitas com o modelo computacional, como através de ensaios com o protótipo, para valores do tamanho do orifício fixos e variáveis. Propõe-se o uso de modelos dinâmicos reduzidos para representar a dinâmica do amortecedor. Para garantir que o atuador piezelétrico posicione corretamente o obturador da válvula, foi incorporado ao amortecedor um controlador local clássico tipo PID. O amortecedor ativo foi aplicado a um sistema vibratório que representa o modelo de um quarto de um automóvel. Desenvolveu-se projeto de um controlador liga - desliga e de um controlador fuzzy para controlar a vibração do veículo equipado com o amortecedor ativo. Testes experimentais mostraram que as alterações no valor do coeficiente de amortecimento da suspensão, comandadas pelo controlador global, foram realizadas em tempos inferiores a 10 milisegundos, indicando excelente desempenho do amortecedor proposto. / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica