Yes / Background Previous research has shown that use of a dynamic-response prosthetic foot (DRF) that incorporates a small passive hydraulic ankle device (hyA-F), provides certain biomechanical benefits over using a DRF that has no ankle mechanism (rigA-F). This study investigated whether use of a hyA-F in unilateral trans-tibial amputees (UTA) additionally provides metabolic energy expenditure savings and increases the symmetry in walking kinematics, compared to rigA-F. Methods Nine active UTA completed treadmill walking trials at zero gradient (at 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 of customary walking speed) and for customary walking speed only, at two angles of decline (5° and 10°). The metabolic cost of locomotion was determined using respirometry. To gain insights into the source of any metabolic savings, 3D motion capture was used to determine segment kinematics, allowing body centre of mass dynamics (BCoM), differences in inter-limb symmetry and potential for energy recovery through pendulum-like motion to be quantified for each foot type. Results During both level and decline walking, use of a hyA-F compared to rigA-F significantly reduced the total mechanical work and increased the interchange between the mechanical energies of the BCoM (recovery index), leading to a significant reduction in the metabolic energy cost of locomotion, and hence an associated increase in locomotor efficiency (p < 0.001). It also increased inter-limb symmetry (medio-lateral and progression axes, particularly when walking on a 10° decline), highlighting the improvements in gait were related to a lessening of the kinematic compensations evident when using the rigA-F. Conclusions Findings suggest that use of a DRF that incorporates a small passive hydraulic ankle device will deliver improvements in metabolic energy expenditure and kinematics and thus should provide clinically meaningful benefits to UTAs’ everyday locomotion, particularly for those who are able to walk at a range of speeds and over different terrains. / Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC, reference EP/H010491/1).

No description available.

Geosynthetic tubes have the potential to replace the traditional flood protection device of sandbagging. These tubes are manufactured with many individual designs and configurations. A small number of studies have been conducted on the geosynthetic tubes as water barriers. Within these studies, none have discussed the dynamics of unanchored geosynthetic tubes. A two-dimensional equilibrium and vibration analysis of a freestanding geosynthetic tube is executed. Air and water are the two internal materials investigated. Three foundation variations are considered: rigid, Winkler, and Pasternak. Mathematica 4.2 was employed to solve the nonlinear equilibrium and dynamic equations, incorporating boundary conditions by use of a shooting method. General assumptions are made that involve the geotextile material and supporting surface. The geosynthetic material is assumed to act like an inextensible membrane and bending resistance is neglected. Friction between the tube and rigid supporting surface is neglected. Added features of viscous damping and added mass of the water were applied to the rigid foundation study of the vibrations about the freestanding equilibrium configuration. Results from the equilibrium and dynamic analysis include circumferential tension, contact length, equilibrium and vibration shapes, tube settlement, and natural frequencies. Natural frequencies for the first four mode shapes were computed. Future models may incorporate the frequencies or combinations of the frequencies found here and develop dynamic loading simulations. / Master of Science

This dissertation thesis deals with the computational modelling of the dynamic response of the rotating electrical machine structure on the application of the magnetic forces. Apart from the dynamic response of the ideal symmetrical machine, the influence of the air gap eccentricity on the dynamics response is studied in this work. A basic type of the air gap eccentricity, which is caused by eccentric mounting of the rotor pack on the shaft of the rotor, is considered. The calculations the dependence of the magnetic forces on the time and a misalignment of the rotor pack are performed as first. The computational model of the magnetic field of the rotating electrical machine, which is based on solution of the electromagnetic coupled field analysis by finite element method, is used for this purpose. An analysis of the influence of the unbalanced magnetic pull and the stiffness of some parts of the machine on the modal properties of the machine is performed in the second part of this thesis. A third part of this thesis is focused on the calculation of the dynamic response of the machine during the steady state operation of the machine and the influence of the rotor pack misalignment on the dynamic response is studied. The obtained results showed that the tangential components of the magnetic forces, which act on the stator pack, excite significant torsional vibration of the stator. Besides the vibration of the stator of the machine, the influence of the rotor pack misalignment on the sound power of the machine, vibration of the rotor, loads of rotor bearings and air gap eccentricity is studied in this thesis.

Airport pavements and longitudinal elevation profiles, in conjunction with the aircraft, form a system where vertical displacements are produced that can compromise their performance. Rough pavements are generally responsible for the occurrence of dynamic responses such as vertical accelerations and pavement loads that affect the aircraft, increase stopping distance and difficult to read the cockpit instrumentation. To approach this problem, the International Roughness Index (IRI) and the Boeing Bump Index (BBI) are currently used to quantify airport pavement roughness and to identify sections that need maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) activities. However, such indices were developed only based on the dynamic responses of an automobile at 80 km/h to the irregularities of road pavements, and from the physical characteristics of the irregularities, respectively, without considering the effect of the aircraft dynamic response. In addition, current critical limits for IRI and BBI can misjudge the real condition of the pavement. This research aims to evaluate the effect of airport pavement roughness on aircraft dynamic response in terms of vertical accelerations at the aircraft cockpit (VACP) and at the center of gravity (VACG), as well of dynamic loads at the nose, main and rear landing gear (NGPL, MGPL, and RGPL), which may compromise the aircraft safety and the pavement performance. The ProFAA software was used to compute both indices and to simulate the responses of 4 representative aircraft traversing 20 runway profiles at 10 operational speeds varying from 20 to 200 knots (37 to 370 km/h). Statistical comparisons and regression analyses between roughness indices and dynamic responses were carried out. Principal results indicated that VACP was 50% higher than VACG and that NGPL was approximately 80% higher than MGPL. In addition, it was observed that VACP exceeds 0.40 g when the IRI is higher than 3.7 m/km and that NGPL doubles the static load when the IRI is higher than 3.3 m/km. A case study presented to compare these limits shown that decision-making based on the dynamic response of the aircraft can bring significant differences in the number and quality of M&R activities. / Os pavimentos aeroportuários e os perfis de elevação longitudinal, em conjunto com as aeronaves, formam um sistema onde são produzidos deslocamentos verticais que podem comprometer seu desempenho. Pavimentos irregulares são geralmente responsáveis pela ocorrência de respostas dinâmicas como acelerações verticais e carregamentos no pavimento que podem danificar a aeronave, aumentar a distância de parada e dificultar a leitura dos instrumentos de navegação na cabine dos pilotos. Para abordar esse problema, os índices International Roughness Index (IRI) e Boeing Bump Index (BBI) são utilizados atualmente para quantificar a irregularidade longitudinal dos pavimentos aeroportuários e identificar seções que demandem atividades de manutenção e reabilitação (M&R). No entanto, tais índices foram desenvolvidos apenas com base nas respostas dinâmicas de um automóvel a 80 km/h às irregularidades dos pavimentos rodoviários e a partir das características físicas das irregularidades, respectivamente, sem considerar o efeito da resposta dinâmica das aeronaves. Ainda, os limites críticos atuais para IRI e BBI podem subestimar a condição real do pavimento. Esta pesquisa objetiva avaliar o efeito da irregularidade longitudinal na resposta dinâmica das aeronaves em termos de acelerações verticais na cabine dos pilotos (VACP) e no centro de gravidade (VACG) assim como os carregamentos no trem de pouso de nariz, principal e traseiro (NGPL, MGPL e RGPL, respectivamente), que podem comprometer a segurança das aeronaves e o desempenho do pavimento. O software ProFAA foi utilizado para calcular os dois índices e para simular as respostas de 4 aeronaves representativas operando 20 pistas de pouso e decolagem em 10 velocidades de operação variando de 20 a 200 nós (37 a 370 km/h). Comparações estatísticas e análises de regressão entre índices e respostas dinâmicas foram realizadas. Os principais resultados indicaram que VACP foi 50% maior do que VACG e que NGPL foi aproximadamente 80% maior do que MGPL. Além disso, observou-se que VACP ultrapassa 0,40 g quando o IRI está acima de 3,7 m/km e que NGPL dobra a carga estática quando o IRI está acima de 3,3 m/km. Um estudo de caso apresentado para comparar esses limites indicou que a tomada de decisão baseada na resposta dinâmica das aeronaves pode trazer diferenças significativas na quantidade e qualidade das atividades de M&R.

Caisson or pier foundations are encountered as part of the foundation system of tall structures such as bridges, transmission towers, heliostats, etc, and correspond to rigid blocks of length-to-diameter (D/B) ratio on the order of D/B = 2-6. As a result of their geometry and stiffness characteristics, the mechanisms of load transfer from the superstructure to the surrounding soil and their kinematic response to seismic wave propagation are governed by a complex stress distribution at the pier-soil interface, which cannot be adequately represented by means of simplified Winkler models for shallow foundations or flexible piles. Continuum model solutions, such as 3D finite elements (FE) cannot be employed frequently in practice for the design of non-critical facilities due to the cost and effort associated with these analyses. The objective of this work is to develop a Winkler-type model for the analysis of transversely-loaded caissons, which approximately accounts for all the main soil resistance mechanisms mobilized, while retaining the advantages of simplified methodologies for design at intermediate levels of target accuracy. Investigation of the governing load-transfer mechanisms and development of complex spring functions is formulated on the basis of 3D FE simulations. Initially, the soil-structure stiffness matrix is computed by subjecting the pier to transverse static and dynamic loading at the top, and numerically estimating the response. Complex frequency-dependent functions are next developed for the spring constants by equating the stiffness matrix terms to the analytical expressions developed for the four-spring model. Sensitivity analyses are conducted for optimization of the truncated numerical domain size, finite element size and far-field dynamic boundary conditions to avoid spurious wave reflections. Simulations are next conducted to evaluate the transient response of the foundation subjected to vertically propagating shear waves, and results are compared to the response predicted by means of the 4-spring model. Finally, the applicability of the method is assessed for soil profiles with depth-varying properties. While the methodology developed is applicable for linear elastic media with no material damping, the expressions of complex spring functions may be extended to include hysteretic damping, nonlinear soil behavior and soil-foundation interface separation, as shown in the conclusions.

This thesis recounts the experimental study of the dynamic response of polycarbonate blast resistant glazing systems to explosive loading through the use of triaxial load cells, pressure sensors, and a laser displacement gauge. This instrumentation captured the response of the glazing systems to blast loading over three phases of testing. The first phase of testing characterizes the load distribution around the perimeter and the second phase examines the repeatability of the results. The final phase of testing pushes the samples to failure. The results are then compared to HazL, a commonly used blast resistant glazing system analysis software tool. The experimental data is also compared to data available characterizing the response of laminated glass.

The dynamic behavior of a cracked shaft was studied both in run-up and run-down transient motion. A mathematical model of the shaft was developed , and experimental tests were performed in order to validate the model. A experimental testing rig was conducted, containing an horizontal flexible rotor with a rigid disc in the mid point between the bearings. Experimental and theo retical responses were compared for both cracked and uncracked shafts. All tests were done for several acceleration rates and unbalance conditions. For the theoretical study of dynamic response of the cracked shaft, the stiffness matrix for a cracked element was deduced, using the modified crack Model of Mayes. The rotor model was obtained by using the finite elements method. The equations of motion were integrated in the time domain by using Newmark method to obtain the transient response. Comparing theoretical and experimental results validated the model. For this purpose, the modified Mayes model was used to represent the dynamic response of the crached shaft. Further simulations were conducted to study the influence of acceleration rates, unbalance amplitude /orientation and crack severity on the response of a cracked shaft, running on transient mo tion. / Neste trabalho apresenta -se um estudo do comportamento dinâmico de um rotor com trinca no regime transiente, tanto na parada como na partida. Foi desenvolvido um modelo matemático -computacional de um rotor com trinca e foram também realizados testes experimentais com vistas à validação do modelo. Para o estudo experimental, foi construida uma bancada constituida por um rotor flexível horizontal com um disco rígido montado na posição média do comprimento. A resposta experimental do rotor foi comparada para os casos com e sem trinca. Para tanto, foram usados dois eixos, um com trinca e, o outro, sem trinca. Os testes experimentais foram feitos para diferentes taxas de aceleração e condições de desbalanceamento. Para o estudo teórico da resposta dinâmica do rotor com trinca, foi determinada a matriz de flexibilidade para um elemento com falha, uma vez aplicado o modelo de trinca de Mayes modificado. O modelo do rotor foi obtido através do método dos elementos finitos, e para o cálculo da resposta dinâmica no regime transiente foi utilizado o método de integração numérica de Newmark. O modelo foi validado mediante a comparação dos resultados teóricos com os experimentais, tendo sido mostrado que o Modelo de Mayes modificado representa adequadamente o comportamento dinâmico de um rotor com trinca. Foram feitas simulações para estudar a influência das taxas de aceleração, da intensidade do desbalanceamento presente no sistema e da severidade da trinca sobre o comportamento do rotor com trinca no regime transiente. / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Efterfrågan på höga byggnader ökar i städerna och eftersom hållbarhet är ett viktigt ämne i samhället har intresset för och användandet av trä i höga byggnader ökat de senaste åren. Träbyggnaders flexibilitet och låga vikt gör att svängningar orsakade av horisontella dynamiska vindlaster i bruksgränstillståndet kan uppfattas som störande av personer som vistas i byggnaden och därav bli styrande för dimensioneringen av byggnaden. I detta examensarbete studeras en hybridlösning som använder sig av en vertikalt bärande och horisontellt stabiliserande kärna av KL-trä samt byggs upp med lätta prefabricerade volymelement. Syftet med arbetet är att ta fram en lämplig uppbyggnad och studera dess dynamiska egenskaper samt studera hur förändringar av kärnans parametrar och uppbyggnad påverkar de dynamiska egenskaperna. Målet är att erhålla svar på maximalt antal våningar för respektive alternativ uppbyggnad samt utöka förståelsen på kärnans inverkan på byggnadens dynamiska respons. Byggnaden modelleras upp enligt fyra olika huvudstrukturer där Struktur 1 är byggnadens grundmodell enligt dess enklaste uppbyggnad, inom Struktur 2 varierar KL-träkärnans väggtjocklek, inom Struktur 3 varierar KL-träkärnans storlek och inom Struktur 4 adderas horisontalstabiliserande väggar till KL-träkärnan. I alla modeller antas volymelementen ej bidra till byggnadens globala stabilitet och därför modelleras de in som massor. De olika strukturerna modelleras upp i FEM-programvaran Robot Structural Analysis där en modalanalys utförs för att erhålla byggnadens egenfrekvenser och svängningsmoder. Därefter beräknas toppaccelerationen hos svängningarna, orsakade av dynamisk vind, på golvbjälklaget i byggnadens översta våning ut för hand för att jämföras mot komfortkrav i ISO 10137. Resultaten visar att byggnaden generellt sett har låga egenfrekvenser vilket beror på en förhållandevis hög massa och relativt låg styvhet hos strukturen. Struktur kan uppföras till 20 våningar under de förhållanden som använts i beräkningarna. Förändringar i kärnans tjocklek förstyvar byggnaden något vilket gör att Struktur 2 bör kunna uppföras ett par våningar högre. Förändringar i kärnans storlek visar sig ha en relativt stor påverkan på byggnadens styvhet och därför kan Struktur 3 uppföras till 24 våningar då kärnan är 25 % större i alla riktningar. För Struktur 1, 2 och 3 sker svängning först i y-led, sedan i x-led och sist som vridning kring z-axeln. För Struktur 4 visar sig styvheten påverkas mycket av att stabiliserande väggar adderas till kärnan, dock kan även svängningsriktningar för första och andra svängningsmod förändras och det bör kontrolleras så att problem med vridningssvängningar inte uppkommer. Om stabiliserande väggar läggs till i y-riktning, x-riktning samt del av fasad kan Struktur 4 uppföras hela 28 våningar, med förhållandevis god marginal. Som förslag på fortsatt arbete bör en statisk dimensionering utföras för att vidare utreda om uppbyggnaden är lämplig vad gäller bland annat tvärsnittstorlekar och infästningar. Dessutom bör det undersökas om och hur volymelementens styvhet kan användas för att bidra till strukturens globala stabilitet. Då kärnans storlek har en stor påverkan på byggnadens styvhet bör det utredas ifall lämpliga planlösningar kan arbetas fram med större eller till och med dubbel kärna för att sedan utföra en dynamisk dimensionering på strukturen. Då planlösningen enligt denna och andra studier bedöms ha potential för att bygga högt, vore en jämförelse av olika planlösningar intressant där förslagsvis byggnadens yttermått och form samt placering och antal stabiliserande KL-träkärnor varierar. / The demand on high-rise buildings grows in the cities and since sustainability is an important matter in today’s society, the interest for high-rise timber buildings has grown the past years. The flexibility and weight of timber buildings makes wind-induced vibrations in serviceability limit state an issue that can be deciding for the design of the building since people can find the vibrations disturbing. In this study, a building which uses a vertically load-bearing and horizontally stabilising CLT core and is built-up with light prefabricated volume elements. The objective of this study is to produce a suitable structure and study its dynamic properties and how changes of the core’s parameters and design may change the dynamic properties of the building. The goal is to find the maximum number of floors that can be built for each alternative structure and to expand the knowledge on how the CLT core impacts the dynamic response of the building. The building is modelled by four different main structures where Structure 1 is the building’s basic and most simple model, within Structure 2 the CLT core’s wall thickness varies, within Structure 3 the CLT core’s size varies and within Structure 4 horizontally stabilising walls are added to the core. In all of the models, the volume elements are assumed not to contribute to the global horizontal stability of the building which is why they are modelled as masses. The different structures are modelled into the FEM software Robot Structural Analysis where a modal analysis is being carried out to find the building’s natural eigenfrequencies and modes of vibrations. Subsequently, the top acceleration of the wind-induced vibrations is calculated on the floor slab of the top floor by hand to be compared to comfort limits in ISO 10137. The results show that the building has low eigenfrequencies in general, which is due to the structure’s relatively high mass and low stiffness. Structure 1 can be built up to 20 floors under the conditions used in the calculations. Changes of the core’s wall thickness stiffen the building which means that Structure 2 should be able to build a couple of floors higher. Changes in the size of the core have a relatively large impact on the rigidity of the building and therefore Structure 3 can be built up to 24 floors when the core is 25 % larger in all directions. For Structure 1, 2 and 3, swaying occurs first in the y-direction, second in the x-direction and third as twist around the z-axis. For Structure 4, the rigidity is greatly influenced when stabilising walls are added to the core. However, the direction of the first and second modes of vibration can change and it should be verified that problems with twisting oscillation does not occur. If stabilising walls are added in the y-direction, x-direction and part of the façade, Structure 4 can be built up to 28 floors with a relatively good margin. As a proposal for further work, a static design should be performed to further investigate whether the structure is suitable for e.g. cross-sectional sizes and connections. It should also be examined if and how the rigidity of the volumes can be used to contribute to the global stability of the structure. As the size of the core has a major impact on the rigidity of the building, it should be investigated if a suitable floor layout can be arranged with larger or even double cores and then perform a dynamic design on the structure. As the floor layout, according to this and other studies, is considered to have great potential when building high, a comparison of different floor plans would be interesting where e.g. the external dimensions and shape of the building, as well as the placement of the CLT core and number of cores can vary.

En raison des capacités de mélange limitantes, des hétérogénéités au sein des bioréacteurs se produisent régulièrement lors de l’extrapolation à l’échelle industrielle. En conséquence, les microorganismes circulant au sein de ces bioréacteurs sont continuellement exposés à des gradients locaux au niveau des paramètres fondamentaux du procédé tel que le pH, la température, la concentration en substrat et en oxygène dissous. Ces fluctuations micro-environnementales peuvent affecter la croissance, le métabolisme et la morphologie des cellules, en fonction de la nature, de l’intensité, de la durée et/ou de la fréquence de la perturbation rencontrée. L’objectif de ce travail est l’étude quantitative de l’impact des fluctuations de pH et d’oxygène dissous sur le comportement dynamique de Yarrowia lipolytica, une levure avec un potentiel biotechnologique prometteur, aussi bien aux niveaux morphologique que métabolique. Pour répondre à cet objectif, des cultures en bioréacteur en conditions d’environnement contrôlé ont été mises en œuvre afin d’établir un lien de causalité directe entre la perturbation et la réponse observée. L’implémentation de deux modes de cultures différents (batch et chemostat) a permis de caractériser le comportement dynamique des populations cellulaires dans des états physiologiques différents: En mode continu, toutes les cellules sont dans le même état physiologique et se multiplient à la même vitesse de croissance, tandis que des sous-populations de levures dans des états physiologiques distincts peuvent cohabiter dans les cultures en mode batch. Un effort important a été consacré au développement et validation des méthodes pour une quantification rigoureuse des évolutions morphologiques de Y. lipolytica à l’échelle de la population. Le comportement macroscopique de la levure a été caractérisé par l’évaluation des dynamiques de croissance, la viabilité, les vitesses de consommation du glucose et d’oxygène, ainsi que les vitesses de production d’acide organique et de dioxyde de carbone. Trois techniques, à savoir la cytométrie en flux (CYT), la morpho-granulométrie (MG) et la diffraction dynamique de la lumière (DLS) ont été employé pour la quantification du phénomène d’élongation. Les résultats obtenus démontrent qu’il n’y a pas d’effet significatif des fluctuations de pH et d’oxygène dissous sur le comportement macroscopique (vitesses spécifiques, rendements, viabilité) de la levure. Néanmoins, une transition micellaire a été induite en réponse aux deux facteurs de stress (pH and pO2) seulement en conditions d’excès de glucose, suggérant ainsi un impact de la concentration résiduelle de glucose sur la régulation de dimorphisme chez Y. lipolytica. Le contrôle et la régulation de la concentration de glucose dans le milieu peut contribuer à une meilleure maitrise des changements morphologiques de Y. lipolytica en réponse à des stimuli de l’environnement. / Due to limited mixing capacities, heterogeneities regularly occur when scaling-up bioreactors for large-scale production. Microbial cultures are continuously exposed to local gradients in fundamental process parameters such as substrate, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen DO concentration. These micro-environmental fluctuations may have detrimental effects on cellular growth, metabolism and morphology, depending on the nature, intensity, duration and/or frequency of the fluctuations encountered. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of pH and DO fluctuations on the dynamic behavior of Yarrowia lipolytica, a microorganism with a promising biotechnological potential, at both morphological and metabolic levels. For this purpose, batch and continuous cultivations modes were preferentially adopted, as it enabled respectively, the study of the stress response of yeast populations growing at their maximum specific rate, and at various controlled specific growth rates in physiological steady-states. In addition, an important effort was devoted to the development and validation of morphological methods in order to acquire quantitative characterization of the response dynamics at the population scale. The macroscopic behavior of Y. lipolytica was assessed through examining the patterns of growth, viability, glucose uptake, oxygen consumption, organic acid and carbon dioxide production rates. Changes in the yeast morphology were characterized at the cell population level by means of flow cytometry, morphogranulometry and diffraction light scattering techniques. The results reflected no significant effect of pH and DO fluctuations on the macroscopic behavior (specific rates, yields, viability) of the yeast. Nevertheless, mycelial growth was induced upon exposure to both stressors, only in glucose-excess environments, suggesting therefore an impact of glucose levels on the regulation of dimorphic transition in Y. lipolytica. Controlling residual glucose concentrations in Y. lipolytica fermentations may contribute to a better monitoring of its morphological changes in response to environmental stimuli. Such data would help to optimize bioprocess performances at the industrial scale since it alleviates physico-chemical impacts due to filamentous cells.