Thesis (B.Sc.(Hons.)-- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Psychology, 1974.

The objective of this thesis is to provide a reliable and effective iron loss estimation scheme for the electromagnetic steel products in the design and on-line operation stages. To investigate the possible performance of electromagnetic steel products, proper iron loss information of the products that are constructed by different steels is one of the key concerns. Along with the various power electronic device applications and iron core structures, the magnetic fluxes flowing through the machine cores will be non-uniform and include harmonic terms. Unless excessive computation efforts in expensive software tools are performed, large discrepancies will be exhibited the estimated and actual values of machine iron losses. To overcome these drawbacks, a rational machine iron loss estimation scheme is proposed. By adopting the iterative magnetic equivalent circuits and the nonlinear magnetic characteristics of the electromagnetic steels, the preliminary operational flux information in the machine is first obtained, and then a numerical Epstein Frame test circuit with magnetizing inductance modeled by Preisach model is applied. With appropriate circuit input voltages devised from preliminary information, the detailed hysteresis inner-loop characteristics resulting from product structures and magnetization harmonics can be properly modeled. Based on the circuit results, the iron losses of electric machines with any operation can be rationally evaluated, and a valuable reference in machine designing can be provided.

This thesis addresses the results of an experimental and analytical investigation aimed at examining the static load-displacement response of braced plane frame structures composed of fiber reinforced polymeric (FRP) composite material structural members manufactured by the pultrusion process. In the experimental part of this investigation, eighteen full-scale lateral loading tests for FRP composite frames with different brace configurations and beam column connection types were performed. The load-displacement responses of such frames were measured and are reported herein. In the analytical part of this investigation, a frame analysis method that accounts for the anisotropic nature of FRP composite material structural members was investigated. The results from the experimental work are compared with the results from the analytical procedures. The effects of various structural parameters of the frame such as (1) effective mechanical material properties of members, (2) beam-column connection types, and (3) the influence of diagonal structural members on the lateral load-displacement response of the braced plane frames are also investigated. The numerical load-displacement results from the proposed FRP composite frames analysis procedure provided good agreement with the results from the full-scale laboratory tests.