For the new generation wireless communication systems, there is an increasing demand for devices that covers more than one frequency band. This results in a need for wide-band tunable front-ends. The main objective of this study is to use dual band filters in the design of a multi-band front-end. A wide-band low noise amplifier is also required. To accomplish this project, a fixed frequency bandstop filter, a tunable dual-band filter and a wide-band LNA are designed and implemented successfully. The predefined specifications of this front-end include gain, gain flatness, spurious signal rejection, frequency tuning range, noise figure and linearity. Total power dissipation and number of elements are also taken into consideration. Test results of the manufactured front-end are compared with the results of existing single band front-ends. In order to design a good tunable wide-band filter, just tuning its center frequency will not be enough. The noise figure of this dual-band filter will be proportional to its insertion loss if it will be used as a pre-selection filter in front of a LNA. Hence its insertion loss will affect the overall noise figure of the system. If it will be used after the LNA, its linearity will be more important. When a bandpass filter is tuned over wide range of frequencies, its bandwidth varies significantly which leads to a degradation in rejection of the spurious signals. Therefore, there must be a simultaneous control of center frequency, bandwidth and insertion loss while providing enough linearity. In order to accomplish this mission, a filter that has two passbands is designed and implemented. The first passband is tunable between 136MHz and 174MHz while the second one is tunable between 380MHz and 470MHz. Also, the low noise amplifier works properly between 136MHz and 470MHz. As a result, a front-end that covers two bands is obtained.

The energy crisis together with greater environmental awareness, has increased interest in the construction of low energy buildings. Fabric thermal storage systems provide a promising approach for reducing building energy use and cost, and consequently, the emission of environmental pollutants. Hollow core ventilated slab systems are a form of fabric thermal storage system that, through the coupling of the ventilation air with the mass of the slab, are effective in utilizing the building fabric as a thermal store. However, the benefit of such systems can only be realized through the effective control of the thermal storage. This thesis investigates an optimum control strategy for the hollow core ventilated slab systems, that reduces the energy cost of the system without prejudicing the building occupants thermal comfort. The controller uses the predicted ambient temperature and solar radiation, together with a model of the building, to predict the energy costs of the system and the thermal comfort conditions in the occupied space. The optimum control strategy is identified by exercising the model with a numerical optimization method, such that the energy costs are minimized without violating the building occupant's thermal comfort. The thesis describes the use of an Auto Regressive Moving Average model to predict the ambient conditions for the next 24 hours. A building dynamic lumped parameter thermal network model, is also described, together with its validation. The implementation of a Genetic Algorithm search method for optimizing the control strategy is described, and its performance in finding an optimum solution analysed. The characteristics of the optimum schedule of control setpoints are investigated for each season, from which a simplified time-stage control strategy is derived. The effects of weather prediction errors on the optimum control strategy are investigated and the performance of the optimum controller is analysed and compared to a conventional rule-based control strategy. The on-line implementation of the optimal predictive controller would require the accurate estimation of parameters for modelling the building, which could form part of future work.

As drop-on-demand (DOD) applications continue to gain ground in desktop inkjet-printing, 3D printing, fluid mixing, and other areas the demand for higher frequency operations are beginning to push against the current physical boundaries in DOD technology. The current research is exploring the possibility of controlling drop volume and velocity at high frequency ranges where meniscus vibrations can occur between drop formations and affect drop formation characteristics. A periodic voltage is applied to a piezoelectric disk in order to generate pressure fluctuations in a single nozzle droplet generator, causing the fluid meniscus at the nozzle to vibrate. A single stronger pulse is then superimposed over the periodic waveform at different phases in order to drive drop ejection. The characteristics of the resulting drop, specifically the volume and velocity, are experimentally measured using a high speed camera with precise timing control. The results of these experiments are then compared to a lumped element model (LEM) developed for the droplet generator geometry used. Within the LEM model framework, special attention was given to the definition of a novel method by which one can measure drop volume within an electroacoustic circuit and also allow meniscus dynamics to affect present and future drop formations. Experimental results indicate a strong dependence of both drop volume and drop velocity on the phase of the vibrating meniscus at the start of drop formation. Positive meniscus displacements and momentums resulted in large drop volumes and velocities while negative displacements could reduce drop volume or altogether eliminate drop formation. Specifically, positive displacements and momentum of a vibrating meniscus could lead to drop volumes approximately 50% larger than the original drop volume without a vibrating meniscus. Meanwhile, negative meniscus displacements and momentums were shown to have the ability to completely prevent drop formation. Additional potential for drop characteristic control with a vibrating meniscus is discussed alongside observations on the stabilizing affect the vibrating meniscus appears to have on drop velocity as a function of time. Also, flow visualization of the drop formation is provided to demonstrate the added affect the meniscus vibrations have on the drop shapes and break-off profiles. The LEM model presented demonstrates qualitative agreement with the experimental model, but fails to quantitatively predict drop volumes. Sources of error for the LEM model and potential improvements are discussed. / Graduation date: 2012

Les progrès réalisés dans les processus de fabrication ont mené vers un contrôle accru des dimensions et de la composition chimique des nanostructures, permettant l’émergence de nouveaux dispositifs appelés Nanosystèmes ElectroMécaniques ou NEMS. Outre leurs propriétés physiques originales, leurs dimensions réduites leurs confèrent un fonctionnement peu coûteux en énergie Ainsi, l’utilisation de l’environnement de tels dispositifs comme source d’énergie est possible. Afin de préserver les avantages liés aux dimensions des NEMS, le système de récupération d’énergie doit présenter un volume réduit. Dans ce contexte, nous étudions les nanoffis de ZnO comme éléments actifs de micro et nanosystèmes de récupération d’énergie à travers deux modèles physiques de nanofils. L’originalité de ces deux modèles vient de la prise en compte du couplage entre les propriétés piezoélectriques et les propriétés semiconductrices du ZnO et de ses effets dans la conversion électromécanique de l’énergie. / Recent progresses in manufacturing processes allow a better control of dimensions and chemical composition of nanostructures, This leads to the emergence of a new family of devices known as Nano ElectroMechanical Systems or NEMS. These devices show novel physical properties and functional characteristics due to their reduced size. Besides, their operating power consumption are tiny, making the use of their environment as energy source highly attractive. The design of a generator that scavenge the surrounding energy of the NEMS is quite a challenge; indeed, such a microharvester should be small enough to ensure that the dimensions of the whole autonomous device are still acceptable. in that context, we investigate ZnO nanowires as active elements of piezoelectric nano and microgenerator. We have specially developed two models of nanowire that take into account of the piezoelectric-semiconducting coupling to appreciate its effects on the electromechanical conversion of energy.

Ce mémoire de thèse constitue une contribution à l'investigation des génératrices destinées à une application éolienne en mer. Le but est de rechercher les solutions optimales dans un domaine de recherche vaste contenant entre huit et onze variables d'optimisation, tout en respectant un cahier de charge bien précis. Afin d'y parvenir, un modèle multi-physique a été développé permettant la détermination des distributions du champ électromagnétique et de température dans les topologies de génératrices choisies avec prise en considération des non-linéarités des matériaux. La méthode des constantes localisées couplée aux fonctions d'interpolations a été choisie comme solution offrant un bon rapport temps de calculs/précision, prenant ainsi en considération les caractéristiques des matériaux (thermiques et magnétiques). Le modèle développé a été couplé à un algorithme d'optimisation génétique, NSGAII, permettant dans un premier temps ; d'investiguer le poids nécessaire des aimants permanents et des parties actives de deux topologies de génératrices synchrones à aimant permanent où dans la première les aimants sont montés en surfaces et dans la seconde insérés en concentration de flux, trois puissances différentes ont été investiguées 5, 8 et 15 [MW]. Dans un second temps, l'intégration d'un multiplicateur de vitesse magnétique dans la chaîne de conversion éolienne a été étudiée à travers la même approche optimale utilisée précédemment tout en comparant le poids nécessaires des aimants permanents pour ce type d'entrainement avec celle des topologies à attaque directe (sans multiplicateur de vitesse). / The aim of this PhD report is the investigation of electrical generators dedicated to an offshore wind turbine application. The main goal is to find optimal solutions in a vast research domain containing between eight and eleven optimization variables, while respecting a the imposed constraints. In order to achieve this goal, a multi-physics model was developed allowing the determination of the electromagnetic and temperature fields distributions in the selected topologies. Lumped models coupled to the interpolation functions were chosen as a solution offering a good computation time / precision ratio, thus taking into consideration the characteristics of the materials (thermal and magnetic). The developed model was coupled to a genetic optimization algorithm, NSGAII, allowing at first; the investigation of the necessary permanent magnets weight and the active parts one of two permanent magnet synchronous generator topologies where in the first the magnets are mounted in surfaces and in the second inserted in order to have flux concentration, three different powers have been investigated 5, 8 and 15 [MW]. Second, the integration of a magnetic gear in the wind energy conversion chain was studied using the same optimal approach previously used, while comparing the weight required of permanent magnets for this type of training with that of direct drive topologies (without gearbox).

Le phénomène de blocage de photon est observé lorsqu'un système à deux niveaux est fortement couplé à une cavité, limitant ainsi le nombre d'occupation des photons dans le mode de la cavité à zéro ou un. Ce phénomène est analogue au blocage de Coulomb en physique mésoscopique et a été observé en optique en couplant un atome unique ou une boîte quantique à une cavité. L'efficacité du blocage, mesurée par la fonction d'autocorrélation du deuxième ordre g2(0) augmente d'autant plus que la non-linéarité du système est grande devant la largeur de la cavité. Ce travail de thèse présente l'étude théorique et expérimentale d'un nouveau phénomène de blocage appelé "phénomène de blocage anormal de photon", dans le régime micro-onde. Ce phénomène apparaît dans un système photonique comprenant deux modes couplés, où au moins un des modes est non-linéaire. Par contraste avec le blocage de photon standard, le blocage anormal permet d'obtenir un blocage parfait (g2(0)=0) pour une non-linéarité arbitrairement faible. Nous présentons les propriétés théoriques du blocage anormal, et notamment sa formulation en termes d'états gaussiens. Afin de mettre en évidence ce phénomène, nous avons réalisé deux résonateurs supraconducteurs couplés, dont l'un est rendu non-linéaire et ajustable en fréquence par l'ajout d'un SQUID. Nous montrons les techniques de fabrication employées et la caractérisation des paramètres de notre échantillon. Enfin, nous présentons les techniques mises en œuvre pour mesurer g2(t). Cette mesure nous a permis de mettre en évidence le phénomène de blocage anormal et d'en étudier les propriétés en fonction des différents paramètres expérimentaux. / Photon blockade is observed when a two level system is strongly coupled to a cavity thus limiting the occupation number of the cavity mode to zero or one photon. This phenomenon is analogous to the Coulomb blockade effect in mesoscopic physics and has been observed in optics by coupling a single atom or a quantum dot to a cavity. The efficiency of the blockade, as measured by the second order auto-correlation function g2(0) increases with the non-linearity of the system in comparison to the cavity width. In this thesis, we present a theoretical and experimental study of a new blockade mechanism, called "anomalous photon blockade effect", in the microwave domain. This effect appears in photonics systems consisting of two coupled modes, where at least one of the mode is non-linear. In contrast to the standard blockade effect, perfect blockade (g2(0)=0) can be achieved with an arbitrary weak non-linearity strength. In the first part, we present a theoretical study of the anomalous blockade, and we use, in particular, a description in terms of gaussian states. To experimentally observe this effect, we have micro-fabricated two coupled superconductive resonators, where one of the resonator is frequency tunable and non-linear thanks to a SQUID. In the second part, we present the fabrication process and the characterization of our sample. Finally, we present the different techniques that we use to measure the auto-correlation function g2(τ). This measurement allowed us to demonstrate the anomalous blockade effect and to study its various properties as a function of the experimental parameters.

Le travail présenté dans ce mémoire traite de la problématique du dimensionnement de structures innovantes de génératrices, à savoir les machines à flux axial ou encore discoïdes, destinées aux éoliennes de grande puissance allant jusqu'à deux dizaines de mégawatts. Les machines synchrones à aimants permanents à flux axial étant intrinsèquement tridimensionnelles, l'optimisation de leur dimensionnement nécessite un modèle dimensionnant tridimensionnel et multiphysique qui peut être, de par sa nature 3D, très consommateur en mémoire et en temps de calcul. On se propose donc, dans ce mémoire, de développer une approche de modélisation par constantes localisées offrant un très bon rapport entre vitesse de calcul et précision afin d'accélérer de façon significative les premières phases de la procédure de dimensionnement. L'approche par constantes localisées peut par ailleurs s'appliquer de manière similaire aux principales physiques concernées (magnétique, thermique et mécanique). Plus particulièrement pour la partie magnétique, l'approche par constantes localisées est mise en œuvre par le biais de réseaux réluctants magnétiques génériques. Le principe de la méthode développée repose sur le découpage de la géométrie de la machine en volumes élémentaires finis parallélépipédiques à l'instar de qui est fait avec la méthode des éléments finis. En effet, chaque volume élémentaire étant modélisé par un réseau réluctant local, le découpage de la géométrie conduit à la génération automatique du système algébrique magnétique de la structure et dont la solution fournit la distribution locale du potentiel scalaire magnétique aux nœuds des volumes élémentaires. Cette approche de modélisation a été implémentée dans un code de calcul interne au GREAH. La modélisation de la génératrice à flux axial par réseaux réluctants a été validée par des simulations 2D et 3D par éléments finis. Le code de calcul développé intègrera les travaux en cours sur les modèles thermique et mécanique au GREAH afin d'aboutir à un code de calcul multi-physique par constantes localisées / The aim of this PhD thesis is to propose a design approach of the axial flux permanent magnet synchronous generator for multi megawatts wind converter application. The axial flux permanent magnet synchronous machine being intrinsically three dimensional, a 3D multiphysics sizing model is needed in order to conduct an efficient optimal design of this type of machines. Unfortunately, 3D multiphysic models are generally issued from finite element method. So, they are very heavy to be handled in a reduced time from an engineer point of view and especially at the first stages of the design procedure. In order to address the faster axial flux machine design, this PhD thesis develops a lumped parameters approach modelling offering a good computation time to precision ratio and thus helping to reduce considerably the spent time in the first stages design procedure. The lumped parameters modelling approach is also well suited for the modelling of the three main physics to be considered in an electrical generator (magnetic model, thermal model and mechanical model). For the magnetic model, the lumped parameters approach consists, in this thesis, in the development of a generic magnetic reluctance network linked to the machine geometry. In fact, the latter is divided into parallelepipedic elementary volumes, each of them is modelled by a local reluctance network. The reluctance network of the hole machine geometry results then automatically in an algebraic magnetic system, the solution of which provides the distribution of the scalar magnetic potential at the elementary volume nodes. The described lumped parameters modelling was implemented in a computational code developed at the GREAH Lab. The effectiveness of the reluctance network axial flux machine modelling was validated by 2D and 3D finite element simulations. The lumped parameters computational code will regroup the ongoing developments of thermal and mechanical models at the GREAH Lab in order to reach the completion of a mutliphysics lumped parameters computational code.

Atualmente existem diversas aplicações envolvendo estmturas flexíveis, principalmente nos domínios da robótica ou ciência espacial. Geralmente, há a necessidade de projetar controladores para atenuarem, de forma ativa, as vibrações oriundas da ativação dos modos de vibração da estrutura, ativação esta provocada por algum esforço externo. A eficiência do controlador e, conseqüentemente, a sua aplicabilidade na prática dependem fundamentalmente da existência de um modelo dinâmico que seja realista e preditivo. Isto deve-se ao fato de que, significativas diferenças entre o modelo nominal (planta nominal) e a planta física podem fazer com que a lei de controle, projetada para o modelo nominal, leve a dinâmica do sistema em malha fechada à instabilidade. Portanto, dentre as etapas de um projeto envolvendo estruturas flexíveis, a fase de obtenção de um modelo dinâmico é fundamental. Entretanto, ao se realizar uma pesquisa bibliográfica envolvendo estruturas flexíveis, percebe-se um grande número de artigos devotados à teoria de controle, principalmente a partir dos anos oitenta, mas pouco se tem publicado especificamente sobre modelagem. Este foi o principal aspecto motivador da realização da presente dissertação, cujo primeiro objetivo é avaliar diversas técnicas de modelagem dinâmica para um tipo de estrutura que encontra bastante aplicação, principalmente no domínio da robótica flexível. Uma formulação analítica é desenvolvida, sendo determinadas assim as funções de transferência analíticas. Respostas freqüenciais oriundas destas funções de transferência servem de referência no processo de validação dos modelos, obtidos com as técnicas Formalismo Discreto {Lumped Mass Approach), Modos Assumidos e Deformações Polinomiais (derivada do método dos elementos finitos). Ao final, uma aplicação à robótica flexível é analisada sob a ótica da influência da dinâmica do atuador sobre a dinâmica estrutural. / Nowadays, several applications exist involvíng flexible structures, mainly in the domains of robotics or space sciences. Generally, it is necessary to project a control law to attenuate, in an active way, the vibrations originating from the structure modes activation, provoked by some externai effort. The efficiency of the control law, and consequently its practical implementation, depends fimdamentally on the existence of a realistic and predictive dynamic model. This happens because signifícant difFerences among the nominal model and the physical system may exist And so, the control law, projected for the nominal model, can lead the closed loop system to instability. Therefore, in a project involving flexible structures, the obtaining stage of a dynamic model is fundamental. However, when making a bibliographical research involving flexible structures, one noticed a great number of papers that deal with control theory, mainly starting at the eighties, but not many papers have specifícally been published on dynamic modeling. This was the main motivation aspect of the accomplishment of the present work, whose fírst objective is to evaluate several techniques of dynamic modeling for a structure with applications mainly in the domain of flexible robotics. An analytical formulation is developed and so, analytical transfer functions are determinated. Frequency responses obtained fi-om these transfer functions are references in the validation process of the models, obtained with the techniques Lumped Mass Approach, Assumed Modes and Polynomial Deformations (derived of the finite elements method). At the end, an application to the flexible robotics area is analyzed under the point of view of the actuator dynamics influence on the structural dynamics.

O fenômeno de fadiga é uma das principais considerações quando se verifica a integridade de estruturas sujeitas a carregamentos cíclicos. Para analisar o problema, devem-se considerar os efeitos da significativa dispersão observada nos dados estatísticos das variáveis relacionadas à fadiga. Para contemplar tais incertezas, métodos de confiabilidade são particularmente recomendados. Nesse sentido, quando utilizada uma técnica baseada em simulações, procuram-se métodos de análise estrutural que minimizem o tempo de processamento para viabilizar a análise de confiabilidade. Este trabalho apresenta uma formulação geral para a análise de fadiga de pórticos planos baseada na Mecânica do Dano Concentrado (LDM) considerando as incertezas associadas. A abordagem proposta é verificada através da comparação dos resultados obtidos com as curvas S-N disponíveis em diversas normas. Exemplos de estruturas mais complexas são apresentados posteriormente. / Fatigue analysis is one of the main tasks when assessing the integrity of structures under cyclic loading. In order to properly approach the fatigue process, the effects of the great scatter observed in statistical data of fatigue variables must be considered. Facing such uncertainties, reliability methods are particularly recommended. If a sampling-based technique is to be used, one of the critical points is the huge number of analyses required for computing failure probabilities. Consequently, those methods of structural analysis that minimize the processing time are highly convenient to make the analysis feasible without significant loss of accuracy. This work presents a general formulation for probabilistic structural fatigue analysis of frames, based on Lumped Damage Mechanics (LDM). The proposed approach is first validated comparing the number of cycles to failure with the S-N curves found in building codes. Further examples of more complex structures, represented as plane frames, are also presented.

A corrosão de armaduras é uma das causas mais comuns de degradação mecânica em estruturas em concreto armado. Esse processo leva à redução da vida útil e, consequentemente, a prejuízos econômicos. Desse modo, o presente trabalho visa contribuir com a análise dos fenômenos associados à degradação mecânica do concreto armado sujeito a processos corrosivos devido à carbonatação e à ação de cloretos. Para tal finalidade, modelos analíticos baseados na segunda lei de Fick são usados para quantificar a difusão de CO2 e de íons cloreto no concreto, os quais permitem determinar o tempo de início da corrosão. A degradação mecânica de estruturas em concreto armado é considerada por meio de um modelo em dano concentrado que contempla perda da rigidez, redução da área de aço e da tensão de escoamento de armaduras devido ao processo corrosivo. A formulação de dano concentrado foi modificada de forma a incluir uma variável de estado de corrosão e uma lei de evolução da corrosão, baseada em equações semi-empíricas disponíveis na literatura. Essas equações determinam a redução no diâmetro das armaduras e a perda da capacidade resistente do aço. O problema da corrosão é formulado como um processo estocástico sendo resolvido por meio do método de simulação de Monte Carlo para dois exemplos: uma viga isostática e um pórtico plano com grau de hiperestaticidade igual a três. A formulação da equação de estado limite é baseada em um valor de dano aceitável. Curvas de probabilidade de início da corrosão e de probabilidade de falha da estrutura são obtidas ao longo de 50 anos. No caso da estrutura hiperestática, o caminho mais provável de falha, também chamado de caminho crítico, é determinado. Observa-se que o processo corrosivo provoca mudanças no caminho crítico, e portanto, deve ser considerado nas análises de reparo estrutural. Mapas de dano e de probabilidade de falha foram desenvolvidos para mostrar as mudanças no comportamento estrutural devido à corrosão. / The reinforcement\'s corrosion is one of the most common causes of mechanical degradation in reinforced concrete structures. This process leads to the reduction of the service life and, consequently, economic loss. Thereby, this study aims to contribute with the analysis of the phenomena associated to the mechanical degradation of reinforced concrete, due to the carbonation and the chloride ions. For this purpose, analytical models based on second Fick\'s law are used to quantify CO2 and chloride ions diffusion, which enables to determine the corrosion time initiation. The mechanical degradation of reinforced concrete structures is modeles by the lumped damage model which accounts for stiffness loss, reinforcement mass loss and yield stress reduction due to the corrosive process. The lumped damage formulation was modified to include the state corrosion variable and the corrosion evolution law based on semi-empirical equations available in the literature. These equations determine the reinforcement\'s diameter reduction and the loss of resistant capacity of the reinforcement\'s bar. The corrosion problem is formulated as a stochastic process and solved by the Monte Carlo simulation for two examples: an isostatic beam and a hyperstatic frame. The limit state functions are based on the acceptable damage value. Curves of probability of corrosion initiation and probability of failure are obtained over a range of 50 years. In the hyperstatic case, the most probable failure path, also named the critical path, is determined. It is observed that the corrosive process causes changes on the critical path and, therefore, it must be accounted on structural repair analysis. Damage and probability of failure maps were developed to show the changes on the structural behavior due to the corrosion.