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Elastic absorption of kinetic energy and distribution of impact forces are required in many applications. This may be achieved through the use of compliant corrugations. An innovative padding concept is investigated for such applications. Also, recent attention given to the potential for using origami in engineering applications may provide new corrugation configurations that are advantageous for energy absorption and force distribution. This work explores three areas related to these concepts.First, the parameters of a compliant, corrugated padding concept are investigated using Finite Element Analyses (FEA) and physical testing. The shape of the corrugation cross section is explored as well as the wavelength and amplitude by employing a full factorial design of experiments. FEA results are used to choose designs for prototyping and physical testing. The results of the physical testing were consistent with the FEA predictions although the FEA tended to underestimate the peak pressure compared to the physical tests. A performance metric is proposed to compare different padding configurations. The concept shows promise for sports padding applications. It may allow for designs which are smaller, more lightweight, and move better with an athlete than current technologies yet still provide the necessary protective functions.Second, the elastic energy absorbing properties of a particular origami folding pattern, the Miura-ori, is investigated. Analytical models for the kinematics and force-deflection of a unit cell based on two different modes of elastic energy absorption are derived. The models are used to explore the effects of the key geometrical parameters of the tessellation. Physical prototypes are compared to the analytical models.Third, a three-stage strategy is presented for selecting materials for origami-inspired corrugations that can deform to achieve a desired motion without yielding, absorb elastic strain energy, and be light weight or cost effective. Two material indices are derived to meet these requirements based on compliant mechanism theory. Using Finite element analysis, it is shown that the properties of Miura-ori pattern has advantages for energy absorption and force distribution when compared to a triangular wave corrugation. While the focus of these studies is the Miura-ori tessellation, the methods developed can be applied to other tessellated patterns used in energy absorbing or force distribution applications.

The Eskom East Grid Traction Network (EGTN) supplying traction loads and distribution networks has experienced at least one surge arrester failure over the past ten years. These failures results in poor network reliability and customer dissatisfactions which are often overlooked. This is because reliability indices used in the reliability evaluation of transmission and distribution networks are different. It is suspected that fast transient faults in this network initiate system faults leading to surge arrester design parameter exceedances and poor network insulation coordination. Preliminary investigations in network suggest that transient studies were not done during network planning and design stages. This may have resulted in the lack of surge arrester parameter evaluations under transient conditions leading to improper surge arresters being selected and installed in this network resulting in surge arrester failures that are now evident. These failures may also have been exacerbated by the dynamic nature of traction loads as they are highly unbalanced, have poor power factors and emit high voltage distortions. Poor in-service conditions such as defects, insulation partial discharges and overheating, bolted faults in the network and quality of supply emissions can also contribute to surge arrester failures. To address problems arising with different reliability indices in these networks the reliability of the EGTN is evaluated. In this work the reliability evaluation of the EGTN is done by computing common distribution reliability indices using analytic and simulation methods. This is done by applying the analytic method in the EGTN by assessing network failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) when the surge arrester fails in this network. The simulation method is applied by applying and modifying the MATLAB code proposed by Shavuka et al. [1]. These reliability indices are then compared with transmission reliability indices over the same period. This attempts to standardize reliability evaluations in these networks. To assess the impact of transient faults in the surge arrester parameter evaluation the EGTN is modelled and simulated by initiating transient faults sequentially in the network at different nodes and under different loading conditions. This is done by using Power System Blockset (PSB), Power System Analysis Toolbox (PSAT) and Alternate Transient Program (ATP) simulation tools and computing important surge arrester parameters i.e. continuous operating voltage, rated voltage, discharge current and energy absorption capability (EAC). These parameters are assessed by in the EGTN by evaluating computed surge arrester parameters against parameters provided by manufacturers, the Eskom 88 kV surge arrester specification and those parameters recommended in IEC 60099-4. To assess the impact and contribution of in-service conditions, faults and quality of supply emissions in surge arrester failures these contributing factors are investigated by assessing infra-red scans, fault analysis reports, results of the sampled faulted surge arrester in this network and quality of supply parameters around the time of failures. This study found that Eskom transmission and distribution network reliability indices can be standardized as distribution reliability indices i.e. SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI, ASAI and ASUI indices are similar to Eskom transmission indices i.e. SM, NOI, circuit availability index and circuit unavailability index respectively. Transient simulations in this study showed that certain surge arresters in the EGTN had their rated surge arrester parameters exceeded under certain transient conditions and loading conditions. These surge arresters failed as their discharge currents and EACs were exceeded under heavy and light network loading conditions. This study concluded that surge arresters whose discharge currents and EACs exceeded were improperly evaluated and selected prior to their installations in the EGTN. This study found the EAC to be the most import parameter in surge arrester performance evaluations. The Eskom 88 kV surge arrester specification was found to be inadequate, inaccurate and ambiguous as a number of inconsistencies in the usage of IEEE and IEC classified systems terminology were found. It was concluded that these inconsistencies may have led to confusions for manufacturers during surge arrester designs and selections in the EGTN. The evaluation of fault reports showed that two surge arrester failures in this network were caused by hardware failures such as conductor failure and poor network operating as the line was continuously closed onto a fault. There was no evidence that poor in-service and quality of supply emissions contributed to surge arrester failures in this network. PSB, PSAT and ATP simulation tools were found adequate in modelling and simulating the EGTN. However the PSB tool was found to be slow as the network expanded and the PSAT required user defined surge arrester models requiring detailed manufacture data sheets which are not readily available. ATP was found to be superior in terms of speed and accuracy in comparison to the PSB and PSAT tools. The MATLAB code proposed by Shavuka et al. [1] was found to be suitable and accurate in assessing transmission networks as EGTN's reliability indices computed from this code were comparable to benchmarked Eskom distribution reliability indices. The work carried out in this research will assist in improving surge arrester performance evaluations, the current surge arrester specification and surge arrester selections. Simulation tools utilized in this work show great potential in achieving this. Reliability studies conducted in this work will assist in standardizing reliability indices between Eskom's transmission and distribution divisions. In-service condition assessment carried out in this work will improve surge arrester condition monitoring and preventive maintenance practices.

Flexible foams have unique properties that make them well-suited to several engineering systems. They are often used in impact-related applications because of their superior energy absorption performance. Many multifunctional materials are also derived from flexible foams due to their high customizability, which allows them to satisfy a wide range of performance requirements. Though flexible foams have high potential in these and other classes of material applications, their success relies on the proper characterization of their complex behavior. This thesis promotes the application of flexible foams by characterizing their electromechanical response through both experimental and theoretical approaches. One study in this thesis theoretically determines material indices that minimize a foam's mass and cost while meeting particular energy absorption requirements. These novel indices are combined with a common Ashby approach to facilitate materials selection of energy-absorbing foam components. Another study uses a particular multifunctional nanocomposite foam to experimentally determine deviations in its voltage response while under a cyclic impacting regime; specifically, factors of transient effects, environmental conditions (humidity and temperature), and permanent material degradation are investigated. Results presented in this thesis promote the application of flexible foams to various forms of impact-absorbing sports equipment (specifically football helmet pads and gait-sensing shoe insoles), but are also useful in various other engineering designs.

Lightweight materials and structures are essential building blocks for a future with sustainable transportation and automotive industries. Incorporating lightweight materials and structures in today's vehicles, reduces weight and energy consumption while maintaining, or even improving, necessary mechanical properties and behaviors. Due to this, the environmental footprint can be reduced through the incorporation of lightweight structures and materials.  Awareness of the negative effects caused by pollution from emissions is ever increasing. Legislation, forced by authorities, drives industries to find better solutions with regard to the environmental impact. For the automotive industry, this implies more effective vehicles with respect to energy consumption. This can be achieved by introducing new, and improve current, methods of turning power into motion. An additional approach is reducing weight of the body in white (BIW) while maintaining crash worthiness to assure passenger safety. In addition to the structural integrity of the BIW, passenger safety is further increased through electrical systems integrated into the modern vehicle. Besides these safety systems, customers are also able to choose from a long list of gadgets to be fitted to the vehicle. As a result, the curb weight of vehicles are increasing, partly due to customer demands. In order to mitigate the increasing weights the BIW must be optimized with respect to weight, while maintaining its structural integrity and crash worthiness. To achieve this, new and innovative materials, geometries and structures are required, where the right material is used in the right place, resulting in a lightweight structure which can replace current configurations.  A variety of approaches are available for achieving lightweight, one of them being the press-hardening method, in which a heated blank is formed and quenched in the same process step. The result of the process is a component with greatly enhanced properties as compared to those of mild steel. Due to the properties of press hardened components they can be used to reduce the weight of the body-in-white. The process also allows for manufacturing of components with tailored properties, allowing the right material properties in the right place.  The present work aims to investigate, develop and in the end bring forth two types of light weight sandwiches; one intended for crash applications (Type I) and another for stiffness applications (Type II). Type I, based on press hardened boron steel, consists of a perforated core in between two face plates. To evaluate Type I's ability to absorb energy for crash applications a hat profile geometry is utilized. The hat profile is numerically subjected to loading from which the required energy to deform it can be found. These results are compared to those from a reference test, consisting of a hat profile based on solid steel and with an equivalent weight to that of the Type I hat profile. The aim is to minimize the weight of the core while maximizing the energy absorption. Type II consists of a bidirectional corrugated steel plate, placed in between two face plates. The geometry of the bidirectional core requires a large amount of finite elements for discretization causing a small time step and long simulation times. In order to reduce computational time a homogenization approach is suggested where the aim is to be able to predict stiffness of a planar sandwich at a reduced computational cost.  The numerical results from Type I show that it is possible to obtain a higher energy absorption per unit weight by introducing perforated cores in sandwich panels. Typically, energy absorption of such a panels were 20% higher as compared to a solid hat profile of equivalent weight, making it an attractive choice for reducing weight while maintaining performance. However, these results are awaiting experimental validation. The results from Type II show that it is possible, by introducing a homogenization procedure, to predict stiffness at a reduced computational cost. Validation by experiments were carried out as a sandwich panel was subjected to a three point bend in the laboratory. Numerical and experimental results agreed quite well, showing the possibilities of incorporating such panels into larger structure for stiffness applications.

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Shotcrete or sprayed concrete has become an inevitable material for stabilising and supporting hard rock tunnels. To prevent rock block fallouts in the excavated tunnel, shotcrete is pneumatically projected under high pressure on the rock surface. This method has proven to reduce the construction time drastically, and the addition of fibres in the shotcrete material results in Fibre Reinforced Shotcrete (FRS). The fibres increased the strength of the parent matrix and made the reinforcement bar (mesh) placing procedure with its heavy labour work unnecessary. Even though FRS have been in use for many years, to design FRS lining there are currently no complete, widely used guidelines. Traditionally, the most frequently used testing was a traditional beam testing method which helps to determine the FRS mechanical properties. Previous studies prove that the result from beams often show a high scatter in the results. Another proposed standard testing method is the Round Determinate Panel method to determine the energy absorption capacity. This method has the potential to be a reliable test procedure with a repeatable and predictable crack pattern.In this project, an experimental investigation was carried out to understand the behaviour of macro fibres of steel, basalt and synthetic materials in FRS. The specimens were sprayed in situ and cast in laboratory, of which the in situ samples were assigned to different curing conditions. The test standard ASTM C-1550 was used to design the round panels and SS-EN 14488-3 for the beams. Each type of FRS specimen’s compressive strength was tested, evaluated and compared. The single fibre pullout strength was tested to determine the bond strength between shotcrete and fibres.The calculated results showed the coefficient of variation (COV) of energy absorption capacity from panels varied within 3 % – 13 % and the residual strength of beams within 12 % – 35 %. Irrespective of testing method, the Dramix 3D steel fibre and Minibars basalt fibre for the tested cases showed the lowest dispersion of result. Minibars showed a significant increase in compressive strength compared to the other fibres. Single fibre pullout testing concluded that the steel fibre had superior load capacity at the first crack. Minibars showed a strength close to that of steel fibres and a failure mode similar to that with synthetic fibres.