Computer simulation is an essential tool in the development process of childseats, particularly when it comes to ensuring the safety of child passengers.As awareness regarding child passenger safety continues to grow, the use ofsuitable materials in the development of child seats becomes increasinglycrucial. Numerical simulations play a vital role throughout the entiredevelopment phase, enabling accurate analysis and evaluation. Toeffectively reduce development costs and time, it is imperative to have amaterial model that accurately predicts the behavior of materials innumerical simulations. This enables optimized performance of child seatswhile maintaining safety standards. The objective of the thesis is to implement a standard procedure forextracting material data for numerical modelling of foam materials andvalidating it. In this study, material models available in LS-DYNA, such asMAT_083 and MAT_057 for foam materials, are utilized along withcompression test data to create the material model. The model is furtherenhanced by optimizing the material parameters to establish a correlationbetween the test and simulation results. The improved material model is thenvalidated by comparing it with the impact drop test results. However,THULE's current impact drop test equipment is not considered accurate orefficient, and addressing this issue is one of the main objectives of thisthesis. Within this thesis, the identified problems are thoroughly examined,and suitable solutions are proposed to ensure the accurate extraction ofmaterial data and its validation, particularly when introducing new foammaterials.

No description available.

The amount of information that we are dealing with today is being generated at an ever-increasing rate. On one hand, data compression is needed to efficiently store, organize the data and transport the data over the limited-bandwidth network. On the other hand, efficient information retrieval is needed to speedily find the relevant information from this huge mass of data using available resources. The compressed pattern matching problem can be stated as: given the compressed format of a text or an image and a pattern string or a pattern image, report the occurrence(s) of the pattern in the text or image with minimal (or no) decompression. The main advantages of compressed pattern matching versus the naïve decompress-then-search approach are: First, reduced storage cost. Since there is no need to decompress the data or there is only minimal decompression required, the disk space and the memory cost is reduced. Second, less search time. Since the size of the compressed data is smaller than that of the original data, a searching performed on the compressed data will result in a shorter search time. The challenge of efficient compressed pattern matching can be met from two inseparable aspects: First, to utilize effectively the full potential of compression for the information retrieval systems, there is a need to develop search-aware compression algorithms. Second, for data that is compressed using a particular compression technique, regardless whether the compression is search-aware or not, we need to develop efficient searching techniques. This means that techniques must be developed to search the compressed data with no or minimal decompression and with not too much extra cost. Compressed pattern matching algorithms can be categorized as either for text compression or for image compression. Although compressed pattern matching for text compression has been studied for a few years and many publications are available in the literature, there is still room to improve the efficiency in terms of both compression and searching. None of the search engines available today make explicit use of compressed pattern matching. Compressed pattern matching for image compression, on the other hand, has been relatively unexplored. However, it is getting more attention because lossless compression has become more important for the ever-increasing large amount of medical images, satellite images and aerospace photos, which requires the data to be losslessly stored. Developing efficient information retrieval techniques from the losslessly compressed data is therefore a fundamental research challenge. In this dissertation, we have studied compressed pattern matching problem for both text and images. We present a series of novel compressed pattern matching algorithms, which are divided into two major parts. The first major work is done for the popular LZW compression algorithm. The second major work is done for the current lossless image compression standard JPEG-LS. Specifically, our contributions from the first major work are: 1. We have developed an "almost-optimal" compressed pattern matching algorithm that reports all pattern occurrences. An earlier "almost-optimal" algorithm reported in the literature is only capable of detecting the first occurrence of the pattern and the practical performance of the algorithm is not clear. We have implemented our algorithm and provide extensive experimental results measuring the speed of our algorithm. We also developed a faster implementation for so-called "simple patterns". The simple patterns are patterns that no unique symbol appears more than once. The algorithm takes advantage of this property and runs in optimal time. 2. We have developed a novel compressed pattern matching algorithm for multiple patterns using the Aho-Corasick algorithm. The algorithm takes O(mt+n+r) time with O(mt) extra space, where n is the size of the compressed file, m is the total size of all patterns, t is the size of the LZW trie and r is the number of occurrences of the patterns. The algorithm is particularly efficient when being applied on archival search if the archives are compressed with a common LZW trie. All the above algorithms have been implemented and extensive experiments have been conducted to test the performance of our algorithms and to compare with the best existing algorithms. The experimental results show that our compressed pattern matching algorithm for multiple patterns is competitive among the best algorithms and is practically the fastest among all approaches when the number of patterns is not very large. Therefore, our algorithm is preferable for general string matching applications. LZW is one of the most efficient and popular compression algorithms used extensively and both of our algorithms require no modification on the compression algorithm. Our work, therefore, has great economical and market potential Our contributions from the second major work are: 1 We have developed a new global context variation of the JPEG-LS compression algorithm and the corresponding compressed pattern matching algorithm. Comparing to the original JPEG-LS, the global context variation is search-aware and has faster encoding and decoding speeds. The searching algorithm based on the global-context variation requires partial decompression of the compressed image. The experimental results show that it improves the search speed by about 30% comparing to the decompress-then-search approach. Based on our best knowledge, this is the first two-dimensional compressed pattern matching work for the JPEG-LS standard. 2 We have developed a two-pass variation of the JPEG-LS algorithm and the corresponding compressed pattern matching algorithm. The two-pass variation achieves search-awareness through a common compression technique called semi-static dictionary. Comparing to the original algorithm, the compression of the new algorithm is equally well but the encoding takes slightly longer. The searching algorithm based on the two-pass variation requires no decompression at all and therefore works in the fully compressed domain. It runs in time O(nc+mc+nm+m^2) with extra space O(n+m+mc), where n is the number of columns of the image, m is the number of rows and columns of the pattern, nc is the compressed image size and mc is the compressed pattern size. The algorithm is the first known two-dimensional algorithm that works in the fully compressed domain.

Many of today’s engineering advancements rely on minerals such as copper, gold and iron. For this reason, the mining industry plays an important role for the development of society and technological wonders. Mining excavators are commonly used tools for extracting the minerals from the mine. Mining excavators are large machines used to breakdown, penetrate and load the rock ores onto trucks that transport the minerals. During the dynamic loading, the excavator bucket experiences significant amount of wear and tear that negatively affects the production by increasing the downtime. The bucket teeth are arguably the most worn parts of the bucket and are responsible for significant amounts of downtime. This thesis aims to provide a better understanding of the load and wear on the bucket teeth of large scale mining excavators used in Bolidens Aitik copper mine in Sweden. Because of how much wear and tear the bucket teeth are exposed to, there is a need to better understand the wear behaviour of the teeth and for the whole bucket in general. This understanding can then be used to improve the service life of the teeth and other parts of the bucket and thus increase work efficiency and reduce downtime. This project was divided into two parts. The first part consisted of regular field measurements to follow the wear on the bucket for about two weeks of digging and loading. The gathered data was then analysed to provide a better understand about the wear behaviour. The second part was to develop a numerical model that could predict the wear on the bucket and could be verified by the field measurements. The field measurements consisted of seven 3D laser scans of the bucket starting with brand new teeth. At the time of the last scan, the buckets total loaded tonnage was approximately 542 kton and the excavator had operated in total of approximately 195 hours. After the raw data from the scans was gathered and analysed, various information about the wear behaviour on the teeth was achieved. The 3D scanned data was also used to provide a complete wear development cycle which allowed to track the wear of any point in the bucket. The method could also be used to create animations of the teeth as they were being worn. From the results, it was concluded that the wear rate for the teeth slowed down and even converged as the geometry changed due to wear. When comparing all nine teeth on the bucket, it was also found that the middle teeth on the bucket were most exposed to wear. The most worn tooth was found to lose around 50 kg of weight after approximately 117 operating hours, which accounts for 40 % of the original weight. The animations from the complete wear development results also showed how the individual teeth and the whole leading edge with all nine teeth were being worn as the buckets loaded tonnage increased from 0 to 542 kton. The numerical model consisted of simulations of loading with the rocks being modelled with the Discrete Element Method (DEM). These were divided into four cases, the first being with the bucket with all new teeth. The second bucket with a mixture of new and worn teeth. The third bucket with all worn teeth and then finally the fourth bucket in which a new tooth geometry was tested. The numerical model showed promising results and potential for being a reliable way to predict the wear on the bucket. The results showed that both the penetration force and wear for the middle teeth was higher than the other neighbouring teeth. It also showed that the completely worn teeth had a lower wear rate than the new teeth which is in agreement with the results from field measurements. Other factors such as tooth shape and length were also observed to have a significant impact on the wear and penetration force. Lastly, the new teeth geometry also showed potential for design improvements in terms of wear resistance but can be further optimised. From the new teeth geometry, a suggestion was given for using an existing tooth system that might be more wear resistant.

The motivation behind the project was to update the Livermore Software Technology Corporation (LSTC) Hybrid III 95th percentile finite element model, such that the neck assembly response under varying simulated loading conditions equals that of the federally regulated Hybrid III 95th percentile anthropomorphic testing device (ATD). The family of Hybrid III crash test dummies approximate the physical properties and response of the human body in a frontal automotive crash. The Hybrid III is used to assess the effectiveness of vehicle restraint systems. LSTC offers Hybrid III finite element models for use in their Multiphysics simulation software package, LS-DYNA. The Hybrid III models are used as cost-effective alternative to physical crash tests in the development of vehicle crashworthiness. However, the neck response of the LSTC Hybrid III 95th percentile model in simulation was poorly correlated to that of the physical Hybrid III neck in corresponding tests. The source of the dissimilarity was inadequate dimensions, element behavior, and material properties of the neck. To improve correlation to the physical ATD, a number of modifications were made to the LSTC Hybrid III 95th percentile neck. Development of the neck model began with improvements in mass and geometry. Element formulation and element discretization were altered to improve model durability and accuracy. A mesh convergence study and simulation under extreme-severity loading were completed to validate the foregoing model alterations. Test data from a physical compression test and NASA-performed Neck Sled Tests were collated with data from simulation to adjust material type and material properties. The model was further calibrated according to Code of Federal Regulations neck calibration test response requirements. The resulting neck model developed in LS-DYNA exhibited improved dynamic characteristics and reliability under both low and high-severity loading. Computational efficiency was enhanced along with model tendency to normally terminate under excessive loading. The updated model moreover demonstrated consistent element behavior and realistic feedback in bending. The revised neck model will be adopted by NASA for use in predicting potential occupant injury during spacecraft landing. A similar model with reworked material properties attuned to higher loading will be implemented into the full consumer version of the Hybrid III 95th percentile model for employment in high-severity frontal crash simulation.

High-strength steel (HSS) conforming to ASTM A1035 is becoming increasingly used in various structural applications, including in high-rise buildings and bridges. Due to their chemistry and manufacturing process, ASTM A1035 steel bars result in a combination of high tensile strength to yield ratio and varying levels of corrosion resistance. One potential application of ASTM A1035 bars is in the blast-resistant design of concrete structures, where their use can allow for reduced steel congestion, and increased blast resistance. Despite their high initial cost, stainless steel (SS) reinforcing bars are also seeing increased use in concrete construction. Solid stainless steel bars are referenced in ASTM A955, which is applicable to various stainless steel alloys. In addition to their inherent corrosion resistance, most stainless steel bars possess greater tensile strength, and importantly, exceptional ductility, when compared to ordinary steel reinforcement. This unique combination of strength and ductility makes SS bars well-suited for blast design applications. The overarching aim of this thesis is to gain better understanding of the blast behavior of RC flexural members designed with high-strength (HSS) and stainless steel (SS) reinforcement. This objective is achieved through a combined experimental and numerical research program. As part of the experimental research, a large set of beams, subdivided into three series, are tested under either quasi-static bending or simulated blast loads using the University of Ottawa shock-tube. Series 1 (HSC-HSS) and Series 2 (HSC-SS) aim at examining the effects of blast detailing (as recommended in modern blast codes,) on the quasi-static, blast and post-blast behaviour of high-strength concrete (HSC) beams reinforced with either ASTM A1035 high-strength bars (8 beams) or ASTM A955 stainless steel bars (16 beams). In addition to the influence of detailing, the effects of steel grade/type, steel ratio and steel fibers are also studied. Series 3 further studies the benefits of combining higher grade or higher ductility reinforcement, with more advanced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). This series includes 20 UHPC beams built with either ordinary, HSS or SS reinforcing bars (UHPC-NSS, UHPC-HSS and UHPC-SS). In addition to the effect of steel grade/type, concrete type, steel ratio and steel detailing are also studied. The results from Series 1 and 2 demonstrate the benefits of implementing high-strength and stainless steel reinforcement in HSC beams subjected to blast loads, where their use leads to increased blast capacity, reduced support rotations, and higher damage tolerance. The results further demonstrate the benefits of “blast detailing” on the ductility and resilience of such beams, under both static and blast loads. The results also show that the use of steel fibers can be used to relax blast detailing in the beams with high-strength or stainless steel by increasing the required tie spacing from d/4 to d/2. The results from Series 3 confirm that the use of UHPC in beams enhances flexural response (in terms of strength and stiffness), which in turn results in superior blast resistance. Conversely, the high bond capacity of UHPC makes such beams more vulnerable to bar fracture. Increasing the steel ratio is found to effectively increase the failure displacement and ductility of the UHPC beams. The use of high-strength steel is found to increase load capacity and blast resistance, while the use of stainless steel results in remarkable ductility, which further enhances beam response under blast loading. As part of the numerical research program, the static and blast responses of the test beams are simulated using either 2D or 3D finite element (FE) modelling, using software VecTor2 and LS-DYNA. The numerical results show that the 2D FE modelling using software VecTor2 can provide reliable predictions of the static and blast responses of the HSS or SS reinforced HSC beams built with varying detailing, in terms of load-deflection response, cracking patterns, failure mode, displacement time histories and dynamic reactions. Likewise, the 3D FE modelling using software LS-DYNA with appropriate modelling of UHPC (using the Winfrith Concrete or CSCM models) can well predict the blast responses of UHPC beams with ordinary, high-strength and stainless steel, in terms of displacement/load-time histories, damage and failure modes.

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Masonry is one of the most commonly used materials in building construction throughout the world. Unreinforced masonry (URM) walls typically have very low flexural capacities and tend to posses brittle failure modes. Due to brittle nature of URM walls, it is critical to predict the behaviour of the wall when exposed to extreme out of plane loadings such as blast loads. An effective way to enhance the ability of unreinforced masonry walls to withstand blast loads and consequently to limit the amount of wall damage is imposing arching mechanism on the wall. Since carrying out physical experiments to study the response of URM walls subjected to blast load is both dangerous and expensive, finite element modeling has become more attractive to researchers. In this research, an unreinforced one-way arching wall is simulated using the finite element program LS-DYNA and its behaviour subjected blast loading is studied. The model is constructed based on the data recorded earlier during a physical blast experiment. Close agreement was observed between the numerical and experimental results which validated the developed model. A sensitivity study is then performed where the influence of variation of some input parameters such as mortar strength, coefficients of friction, scaled distance, boundary condition, wall height and the effect of two-way arching action on the wall’s response is evaluated. The most influential parameters in this study found to be the scaled distance, wall height and two-way arching action. Smaller scaled distances result in high deflection and as the scaled distance increases the maximum deflection decreases. The wall height also significantly affect the wall’s response to blast loads, i.e. the taller the wall the larger the maximum displacement. It is also concluded that two-way arching action can significantly reduce the wall’s maximum deflection.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Yes / Lung surfactant (LS) monolayers that continuously expand and compress during breathing cycles, act as the first line barrier for inhaled nanoparticles. It is known that nanoparticles which adsorb to the surface of the surfactant layer facilitate the rearrangement of lipids and peptides at various stages of the breathing cycle. However, the structural mechanisms for this ability of the lipid rearrangement are not yet fully understood. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the role of surfactant protein B (SP-B) segments (SP-B1–25) in modulating the biophysical properties of the surfactant monolayer in the presence of polydisperse gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) at different concentrations. Herein, we observe that the AuNPs significantly alter the inherent structural and dynamical properties of the monolayer and its components in three different breathing states. When adsorbed into the monolayer, the AuNPs inhibit the ability of the monolayer to recover its surface tension and other properties. The presence of SP-B1–25 in the monolayer accelerates the diffusion of the monolayer phospholipids, contrarily to the role of AuNPs on phospholipid diffusion. Also, the AuNPs and the peptides in the monolayer significantly increase their agglomeration in the presence of one another. Overall, the simulations predict that the presence of polydisperse AuNPs hampers the stability and biophysical functions of the LS in contrast to the role of the peptide. This study provides a clear view of the hydrophobic peptide role in the LS monolayer at the interface along with the interactions and the translocation of AuNPs that could have a significant impact to assess the NPs inhalation. / This work was completed with the support of University of Technology Sydney (UTS) FEIT Research Scholarship, UTS IRS (S. I. H.).