Among the many advances and innovations in wireless technologies over the past twenty years, MIMO is perhaps among the most successful. MIMO technology has been evolving over the past two decades. Today, the number of antennas equipped at a base station (BS) or an access point (AP) is increasing, which forms what we call ``many-antenna'' MIMO systems. Many-antenna MIMO will have significant impacts on modern wireless communications, as it will allow numerous wireless applications to operate on the vastly underexplored mid-band and high-band spectrum and is able to deliver ultra-high throughput. Although there are considerable efforts on many-antenna MIMO systems, most of them came from physical (PHY) layer information-theoretic exploitation. There is a lack of investigation of many-antenna MIMO from a networking perspective. On the other hand, new knowledge and understanding begin to emerge at the PHY layer, such as the rank-deficient channel phenomenon. This calls for new theories and models for many-antenna MIMO in a networking environment. In addition, the problem space for many-antenna MIMO systems is much broader and more challenging than conventional MIMO. Reusing existing solutions designed for conventional MIMO systems may suffer from inferior performance or require excessive computation time. The goal of this dissertation is to advance many-antenna MIMO techniques for networking research. We focus on the following two critical areas in the context of many-antenna MIMO networks: (i) DoF-based modeling and (ii) real-time optimization. This dissertation consists of two parts that study these two areas. In the first part, we aim to develop new DoF models and theories under general channel rank conditions for many-antenna MIMO networks, and we explored efficient DoF allocation based on our new DoF model. The main contributions of this part are summarized as follows. New DoF models and theories under general channel rank conditions: Existing DoF-based models in networking community assume that the channel matrix is of full rank. However, this assumption no longer holds when the number of antennas becomes many and the propagation environment is not ideal. In this study, we develop a novel DoF model under general channel rank conditions. In particular, we find that for IC, shared DoF consumption at both transmit and receive nodes is most efficient for DoF allocation, which is contrary to existing unilateral IC models based on full-rank channel assumption. Further, we show that existing DoF models under the full-rank assumption are a special case of our generalized DoF model. The findings of this study pave the way for future research of many-antenna networks under general channel rank conditions. Efficient DoF utilization for MIMO networks: We observes that, in addition to the fact that channel is not full-rank, the strength of signals on different directions in the eigenspace is extremely uneven. This offers us new opportunities to efficiently utilize DoFs in a MIMO network. In this study, we introduce a novel concept called ``effective rank threshold''. Based on this threshold, DoFs are consumed only to cancel strong interferences in the eigenspace while weak interferences are treated as noise in throughput calculation. To better understand the benefits of this approach, we study a fundamental trade-off between network throughput and effective rank threshold for an MU-MIMO network. Our simulation results show that network throughput under optimal rank threshold is significantly higher than that under existing DoF IC models. In the second part, we offered real-time designs and implementations to solve many-antenna MIMO problems for 5G cellular systems. In addition to maximizing a specific optimization objective, we aim at offering a solution that can be implemented in sub-ms to meet requirements in 5G standards. The main contributions of this part are summarized as follows. Turbo-HB---A novel design and implementation for ultra-fast hybrid beamforming: We investigate the beamforming problem under hybrid beamforming (HB) architecture. A major practical challenge for HB is to obtain a solution in 500 $mu$s, which is an extremely stringent but necessary time requirement for its deployment in the field. To address this challenge, we present Turbo-HB---a novel beamforming design under the HB architecture that can obtain the beamforming matrices in about 500 $mu$s. The key ideas of Turbo-HB are two-fold. First, we develop low-complexity SVD by exploiting randomized SVD technique and leveraging channel sparsity at mmWave frequencies. Second, we accelerate the overall computation time through large-scale parallel computation on a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) GPU platform, with special engineering efforts for matrix operations and minimized memory access. Experimental results show that Turbo-HB is able to obtain the beamforming matrices in 500 $mu$s for an MU-MIMO cellular system while achieving similar or better throughput performance by those state-of-the-art algorithms. mCore+---A sub-millisecond scheduler for 5G MU-MIMO systems: We study a scheduling problem in a 5G NR environment. In 5G NR, an MU-MIMO scheduler needs to allocate RBs and assign MCS for each user at each TTI. In particular, multiple users may be co-scheduled on the same RB under MU-MIMO. In addition, the real-time requirement for determining a scheduling solution is at most 1 ms. In this study, we present a novel scheduler mCore+ that can meet the sub-ms real-time requirement. mCore+ is designed through a multi-phase optimization, leveraging large-scale parallelism. In each phase, mCore+ either decomposes the optimization problem into a large number of independent sub-problems, or reduces the search space into a smaller but more promising subspace, or both. We implement mCore+ on a COTS GPU platform. Experimental results show that mCore+ can obtain a scheduling solution in $sim$500 $mu$s. Moreover, mCore+ can achieve better throughput performance than state-of-the-art algorithms. M3---A sub-millisecond scheduler for multi-cell MIMO networks under C-RAN architecture: We investigate a scheduling problem for a multi-cell environment. Under Cloud Radio Access Network (C-RAN) architecture, the signal processing can be performed cooperatively for multiple cells at a centralized baseband unit (BBU) pool. However, a new resource scheduler is needed to jointly determine RB allocation, MCS assignment, and beamforming matrices for all users under multiple cells. In addition, we aim at finding a scheduling solution within each TTI (i.e., at most 1 ms) to conform to the frame structure defined by 5G NR. To do this, we propose M3---a GPU-based real-time scheduler for a multi-cell MIMO system. M3 is developed through a novel multi-pipeline design that exploits large-scale parallelism. Under this design, one pipeline performs a sequence of operations for cell-edge users to explore joint transmission, and in parallel, the other pipeline is for cell-center users to explore MU-MIMO transmission. For validation, we implement M3 on a COTS GPU. We showed that M3 can find a scheduling solution within 1 ms for all tested cases, while it can significantly increase user throughput by leveraging joint transmission among neighboring cells. / Doctor of Philosophy / MIMO is widely considered to be a major breakthrough in modern wireless communications. MIMO comes in different forms. For conventional MIMO, the number of antennas at a base station (BS) or access point (AP) is typically small (< 8). Today, the number of antennas at a BS/AP is typically ranging from 8 to 64 when the carrier frequency is below 24 GHz. When the carrier frequency is above 24 GHz (e.g., mmWave), the number of antennas can be even larger (> 64). We call today's MIMO systems (typically with $ge$ 8 antennas at some nodes) as ``many-antenna'' MIMO systems, and this will be the focus of this dissertation. Although there exists a considerable amount of works on many-antenna MIMO techniques, most efforts focus on physical (PHY) layer for information-theoretic exploitation. There is a lack of investigation on how to efficiently and effectively utilize many-antenna MIMO from a networking perspective. The goal of this dissertation is to advance many-antenna MIMO techniques for networking research. We focus on the following two critical areas in the context of many-antenna MIMO networks: (i) degree-of-freedom (DoF)--based modeling and (ii) real-time optimization. In the first part, we investigate a novel DoF model under general channel rank conditions for many-antenna MIMO networks. The main contributions of this part are summarized as follows. New DoF models and theories under general channel rank conditions: In this study, we develop a novel DoF model under general channel rank conditions. We show that existing works claiming that unilateral DoF consumption is optimal no longer hold when channel rank is deficient (not full-rank). We find that for IC, shared DoF consumption at both Tx and Rx nodes is the most efficient scheme for DoF allocation. Efficient DoF utilization for MIMO networks: In this study, we proposed a new approach to efficiently utilize DoFs in a MIMO network. The DoFs used to cancel interference are conserved by exploiting the interference signal strength in the eigenspace. Our simulation results show that network throughput under our approach is significantly higher than that under existing DoF IC models. In the second part, we offer real-time designs and implementations to solve many-antenna MIMO problems for 5G cellular systems. The timing performance of these designs is tested in actual wall-clock time. A novel design and implementation for ultra-fast hybrid beamforming: We investigate a beamforming problem under the hybrid beamforming (HB) architecture. We propose Turbo-HB---a novel beamforming design under the HB architecture that can obtain the beamforming matrices in about 500 $mu$s. At the same time, Turbo-HB can achieve similar or better throughput performance by those state-of-the-art algorithms. A sub-millisecond scheduler for 5G multi-user (MU)-MIMO systems: We study a resource scheduling problem in 5G NR. We present a novel scheduler called mCore+ that can schedule time-frequency resources to MU-MIMO users and meet the 500 $mu$s real-time requirement in 5G NR. A sub-millisecond scheduler for multi-cell MIMO networks under C-RAN architecture: We investigate the scheduling problem for a multi-cell environment under a centralized architecture. We present M3---a GPU-based real-time scheduler that jointly determines a scheduling solution among multiple cells. M3 can find the scheduling solution within 1 ms.

This thesis presents a technique for the optimal synthesis of planar five-link mechanisms that produce a desired mechanical advantage function over a specified path. Since a five-bar linkage has two degrees of freedom, small deviations from the specified path are possible without significantly altering the mechanical advantage function. The research shows one potential application, the design of strength machines, where it is important to control force while allowing the user freedom of motion. In the past, closed-form analytical synthesis techniques have been used to design mechanical-advantage-generating linkages. This method is time consuming and case specific. However, optimal synthesis techniques apply to the general case and present a robust solution procedure. This thesis uses the non-linear pattern search technique of Hooke and Jeeves to synthesize five-bar linkages. The search technique matches user strength curves and mechanism resistance curves to produce a five-link mechanism. This mechanism produces the desired mechanical-advantage function and serves as the basis for strength training machines. Unlike analytical synthesis, optimization allows direct incorporation of a greater number of design constraints, thus resulting in solutions that are more practical. The pattern search technique aims to minimize a given objective function that depends primarily on the force generating capabilities and kinematic constraints on of the linkage. / Master of Science

Mitigation of the blast risk associated with terrorist attacks and accidental explosions threatening critical infrastructure has become a topic of great interest in the civil engineering community, both in Canada and abroad. One method of mitigating blast risk is to retrofit vulnerable structures to resist the impulsive effects of blast loading. A comprehensive re-search program has been undertaken to develop fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) retrofit methodologies for structural and non-structural elements, specifically reinforced concrete slabs and walls, subjected to blast loading. The results of this investigation are equally valid for flexure dominant reinforced concrete beams subject to blast effects. The objective of the research program was to generate a large volume of research data for the development of blast-resistant design guidelines for externally bonded FRP retrofit systems. A combined experimental and analytical investigation was performed to achieve the objectives of the program. The experimental program involved the construction and simulated blast testing of a total of thirteen reinforced concrete wall and slab specimens divided into five companion sets. These specimens were subjected to a total of sixty simulated explosions generated at the University of Ottawa Shock Tube Testing Facility. Companion sets were designed to study one- and two-way bending, as well as the performance of specimens with simply-supported and fully-fixed boundary conditions. The majority of the specimens were retrofitted with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to improve overall load-deformation characteristics. Specimens within each companion set were subjected to progressively increasing pressure-impulse combinations to study component behaviour from elastic response up to inelastic component failure. The blast performance of companion as-built and retrofitted specimens was quantified in terms of measured load-deformation characteristics, and observed member behaviour throughout all stages of response. The results show that externally bonded FRP retrofits are an effective retrofit technique to improve the blast resistance of reinforced concrete structures, provided that debonding of the composite from the concrete substrate is prevented. The test results also indicate that FRP retrofitted reinforced concrete structures may survive initial inbound displacements, only to failure by moment reversals during the negative displacement phase. The experimental test data was used to verify analytical techniques to model the behaviour of reinforced concrete walls and slabs subjected to blast loading. The force-deformation characteristics of one-way wall strips were established using inelastic sectional and member analyses. The force-deformation characteristics of two-way slab plates were established using commonly accepted design approximations. The response of all specimens was computed by explicit solution of the single degree of freedom dynamic equation of motion. An equivalent static force procedure was used to analyze the response of CFRP retrofitted specimens which remained elastic after testing. The predicted maximum displacements and time-to-maximum displacements were compared against experimental results. The analysis indicates that the modelling procedures accurately describe the response characteristics of both retrofitted and unretrofitted specimens observed during the experiment.

Mitigation of the blast risk associated with terrorist attacks and accidental explosions threatening critical infrastructure has become a topic of great interest in the civil engineering community, both in Canada and abroad. One method of mitigating blast risk is to retrofit vulnerable structures to resist the impulsive effects of blast loading. A comprehensive re-search program has been undertaken to develop fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) retrofit methodologies for structural and non-structural elements, specifically reinforced concrete slabs and walls, subjected to blast loading. The results of this investigation are equally valid for flexure dominant reinforced concrete beams subject to blast effects. The objective of the research program was to generate a large volume of research data for the development of blast-resistant design guidelines for externally bonded FRP retrofit systems. A combined experimental and analytical investigation was performed to achieve the objectives of the program. The experimental program involved the construction and simulated blast testing of a total of thirteen reinforced concrete wall and slab specimens divided into five companion sets. These specimens were subjected to a total of sixty simulated explosions generated at the University of Ottawa Shock Tube Testing Facility. Companion sets were designed to study one- and two-way bending, as well as the performance of specimens with simply-supported and fully-fixed boundary conditions. The majority of the specimens were retrofitted with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to improve overall load-deformation characteristics. Specimens within each companion set were subjected to progressively increasing pressure-impulse combinations to study component behaviour from elastic response up to inelastic component failure. The blast performance of companion as-built and retrofitted specimens was quantified in terms of measured load-deformation characteristics, and observed member behaviour throughout all stages of response. The results show that externally bonded FRP retrofits are an effective retrofit technique to improve the blast resistance of reinforced concrete structures, provided that debonding of the composite from the concrete substrate is prevented. The test results also indicate that FRP retrofitted reinforced concrete structures may survive initial inbound displacements, only to failure by moment reversals during the negative displacement phase. The experimental test data was used to verify analytical techniques to model the behaviour of reinforced concrete walls and slabs subjected to blast loading. The force-deformation characteristics of one-way wall strips were established using inelastic sectional and member analyses. The force-deformation characteristics of two-way slab plates were established using commonly accepted design approximations. The response of all specimens was computed by explicit solution of the single degree of freedom dynamic equation of motion. An equivalent static force procedure was used to analyze the response of CFRP retrofitted specimens which remained elastic after testing. The predicted maximum displacements and time-to-maximum displacements were compared against experimental results. The analysis indicates that the modelling procedures accurately describe the response characteristics of both retrofitted and unretrofitted specimens observed during the experiment.

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate potential links between trunk stiffness, vibration transmission and whole-body vibration (WBV) injuries. The investigation was comprised of field and laboratory studies. Tri-planar trunk postures, operator injury histories and 6-degree-of-freedom (DOF) vibration exposure data were collected from eight forestry skidders during normal field operations in Northern Ontario. Using this skidder posture and vibration exposure data, the laboratory investigation examined interactions between WBV exposure levels and spectra, seated trunk postures, trunk muscle activity, and trunk stiffness on the transmission of 6-DOF vibration from the seat to several levels of the spine. The field study revealed that when driving, skidder operators were exposed to vibrations with higher accelerations and lower frequency exposures while adopting the most neutral postures. When dropping-off (DOAL), picking-up (PUAL) or ploughing a load, operators were exposed to vibrations with lower accelerations and higher frequency exposures while adopting the postures furthest away from neutral. Furthermore, operators who adopted the greatest lateral trunk bending and forward flexion for the greatest percentage of time reported low-back and neck pain, however, interestingly were not exposed to the greatest exposure accelerations. Operators who complained of neck pain as a result of twisting to see the rear of the vehicle while DOAL and PAUL experienced some of the highest translational and rotational vibration exposures during those operating conditions. This suggests that WBV exposures and postures may interact to produce operator injuries. The laboratory study revealed a number of interactions between vibration exposure (magnitude, spectra and axis), posture, muscle activity, trunk stiffness, vibration transmissibility, dominant transmission frequency and spinal level. In general, experiment conditions expected to increase trunk muscle activity and stiffness typically did. In contrast, the expected increase in vibration transmissibility and dominant transmission frequency with increased muscle activity and trunk stiffness was not present under many of the simulated field conditions. Trunk muscle activity patterns necessary to maintain required trunk postures were often out of phase with input accelerations, reducing trunk stiffness and increasing transmissibility. These results are contrary to findings from previous studies thus bringing into question the appropriateness of literature based vibration exposure guidelines.

Mitigation of the blast risk associated with terrorist attacks and accidental explosions threatening critical infrastructure has become a topic of great interest in the civil engineering community, both in Canada and abroad. One method of mitigating blast risk is to retrofit vulnerable structures to resist the impulsive effects of blast loading. A comprehensive re-search program has been undertaken to develop fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) retrofit methodologies for structural and non-structural elements, specifically reinforced concrete slabs and walls, subjected to blast loading. The results of this investigation are equally valid for flexure dominant reinforced concrete beams subject to blast effects. The objective of the research program was to generate a large volume of research data for the development of blast-resistant design guidelines for externally bonded FRP retrofit systems. A combined experimental and analytical investigation was performed to achieve the objectives of the program. The experimental program involved the construction and simulated blast testing of a total of thirteen reinforced concrete wall and slab specimens divided into five companion sets. These specimens were subjected to a total of sixty simulated explosions generated at the University of Ottawa Shock Tube Testing Facility. Companion sets were designed to study one- and two-way bending, as well as the performance of specimens with simply-supported and fully-fixed boundary conditions. The majority of the specimens were retrofitted with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to improve overall load-deformation characteristics. Specimens within each companion set were subjected to progressively increasing pressure-impulse combinations to study component behaviour from elastic response up to inelastic component failure. The blast performance of companion as-built and retrofitted specimens was quantified in terms of measured load-deformation characteristics, and observed member behaviour throughout all stages of response. The results show that externally bonded FRP retrofits are an effective retrofit technique to improve the blast resistance of reinforced concrete structures, provided that debonding of the composite from the concrete substrate is prevented. The test results also indicate that FRP retrofitted reinforced concrete structures may survive initial inbound displacements, only to failure by moment reversals during the negative displacement phase. The experimental test data was used to verify analytical techniques to model the behaviour of reinforced concrete walls and slabs subjected to blast loading. The force-deformation characteristics of one-way wall strips were established using inelastic sectional and member analyses. The force-deformation characteristics of two-way slab plates were established using commonly accepted design approximations. The response of all specimens was computed by explicit solution of the single degree of freedom dynamic equation of motion. An equivalent static force procedure was used to analyze the response of CFRP retrofitted specimens which remained elastic after testing. The predicted maximum displacements and time-to-maximum displacements were compared against experimental results. The analysis indicates that the modelling procedures accurately describe the response characteristics of both retrofitted and unretrofitted specimens observed during the experiment.

The present research is carried out from the viewpoint of primarily space applications where human lives may be in danger if they are to work under these conditions. This work proposes to develop a one-degree-of-freedom (1-DOF) force-reflecting manual controller (FRMC) prototype for teleoperation, and address the effects of time delays commonly found in space applications where the control is accomplished via the earth-based control stations. To test the FRMC, a mobile robot (PPRK) and a slider-bar were developed and integrated to the 1-DOF FRMC. The software developed in Visual Basic is able to telecontrol any platform that uses an SV203 controller through the internet and it allows the remote system to send feedback information which may be in the form of visual or force signals. Time delay experiments were conducted on the platform and the effects of time delay on the FRMC system operation have been studied and delineated.

Most of the research on high strain rate effects on wood since the 1950s has been on impact loading. Very limited work has been conducted on full-scale wood specimens under blast loading. In North America, the prevalence of these structures makes them susceptible to unintended blast effects. The question on how to retrofit and protect these structures against blast loads has still not been addressed adequately, and design provisions for new wood structures against blast are not comprehensive. Far-field explosion effects were simulated using the University of Ottawa shock tube. Twenty-five light-frame wood stud walls were tested dynamically. The research program aimed to determine the response of light-frame wood stud walls to blast loads that correspond to the heavy to blow-out damage levels. The results showed that, under idealized simply supported end conditions, the stud walls failed in flexure. Under heavier loads, ripping of sheathing commonly used in light-frame wood structures was observed, which caused premature failure of the assembly because the load was not fully distributed to the studs. The use of stiffer sheathing or reinforcing the sheathing provided a better load path and the wall was capable of reaching its full capacity. The effect of using realistic boundary connection details was investigated, and the results showed that typical connection detailing performed poorly under blast loads. Designed steel brackets connecting the studs to the rim-joist allowed for the studs to reach their full capacity. An analytical single degree-of-freedom model was generated using material properties obtained from static testing. The model was validated using the experimental results from the shock tube testing. Also, a catcher system consisting of welded-wire-mesh was incorporated into the wall system in order to diminish debris throw.

Mitigation of the blast risk associated with terrorist attacks and accidental explosions threatening critical infrastructure has become a topic of great interest in the civil engineering community, both in Canada and abroad. One method of mitigating blast risk is to retrofit vulnerable structures to resist the impulsive effects of blast loading. A comprehensive re-search program has been undertaken to develop fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) retrofit methodologies for structural and non-structural elements, specifically reinforced concrete slabs and walls, subjected to blast loading. The results of this investigation are equally valid for flexure dominant reinforced concrete beams subject to blast effects. The objective of the research program was to generate a large volume of research data for the development of blast-resistant design guidelines for externally bonded FRP retrofit systems. A combined experimental and analytical investigation was performed to achieve the objectives of the program. The experimental program involved the construction and simulated blast testing of a total of thirteen reinforced concrete wall and slab specimens divided into five companion sets. These specimens were subjected to a total of sixty simulated explosions generated at the University of Ottawa Shock Tube Testing Facility. Companion sets were designed to study one- and two-way bending, as well as the performance of specimens with simply-supported and fully-fixed boundary conditions. The majority of the specimens were retrofitted with externally bonded carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets to improve overall load-deformation characteristics. Specimens within each companion set were subjected to progressively increasing pressure-impulse combinations to study component behaviour from elastic response up to inelastic component failure. The blast performance of companion as-built and retrofitted specimens was quantified in terms of measured load-deformation characteristics, and observed member behaviour throughout all stages of response. The results show that externally bonded FRP retrofits are an effective retrofit technique to improve the blast resistance of reinforced concrete structures, provided that debonding of the composite from the concrete substrate is prevented. The test results also indicate that FRP retrofitted reinforced concrete structures may survive initial inbound displacements, only to failure by moment reversals during the negative displacement phase. The experimental test data was used to verify analytical techniques to model the behaviour of reinforced concrete walls and slabs subjected to blast loading. The force-deformation characteristics of one-way wall strips were established using inelastic sectional and member analyses. The force-deformation characteristics of two-way slab plates were established using commonly accepted design approximations. The response of all specimens was computed by explicit solution of the single degree of freedom dynamic equation of motion. An equivalent static force procedure was used to analyze the response of CFRP retrofitted specimens which remained elastic after testing. The predicted maximum displacements and time-to-maximum displacements were compared against experimental results. The analysis indicates that the modelling procedures accurately describe the response characteristics of both retrofitted and unretrofitted specimens observed during the experiment.

No description available.