With the growing threat of orbital debris impacts to space structures, the development of space shielding concepts has been a critical research topic. In this study, numerical simulations of the hypervelocity impact response of stacked aluminum 6061-T6 sheets were performed to assess the effects of layering on penetration resistance. This work was initially motivated by set of experimental tests where a stack of four aluminum sheets of equal thickness was observed to have a higher hypervelocity ballistic resistance than a monolithic aluminum sheet with the same total thickness. A set of smoothed particle hydrodynamic simulations predicted a 40% increase in the ballistic limit for a 6-layer target compared to a monolithic sheet. In addition, the effect of variable sheet thickness and sheet ordering on the impact resistance was investigated, while still maintaining a constant overall thickness. A set of thin layers in front of a thick layer generally lead to a higher predicted ballistic limit than the inverse configuration. This work demonstrates an increase in the performance of advanced space shielding structures associated with multi-layering. This suggests that it may be possible to dramatically improve the performance of such structures by tailoring the material properties, interfaces, and layering concepts.

Cette thèse présente un modèle thermique et électrique de paroi photovoltaïque (PV) intégrée ou semi-intégrée au bâtiment. La particularité du modèle est le transfert de chaleur entre le panneau et le bâtiment, décrit de telle manière que leurs modèles respectifs soient totalement couplés. Ceci a l'avantage de permettre la prédiction de l'impact de l'installation PV sur le champ de température du bâtiment et donc sur le confort thermique associé. Le but de l'étude est de mettre en évidence l'impact des panneaux PV en termes d'isolation thermique ou de protection solaire pour le bâtiment et la résultante en termes de gain énergétique. De plus, une séquence expérimentale a été menée à l'île de La Réunion, où le climat est tropical et humide, avec un rayonnement solaire important. Dans de telles conditions, il est important de minimiser la sollicitation thermique à travers l'enveloppe du bâtiment, en particulier la toiture. Le modèle est intégré à un code de simulation thermique du bâtiment (ISOLAB) et peut prédire l'impact des panneaux PV installés selon différentes configurations, mais aussi le productible photovoltaïque de l'installation. Finalement, l'étude expérimentale est utilisée pour fournir des éléments de validation du modèle numérique et une analyse de sensibilité est lancée pour mettre en évidence les paramètres les plus influents du modèle. Il a été démontré que les paramètres radiatifs du panneau PV ont un impact important sur le champ de température du bâtiment et que leur détermination doit être faite correctement. Les résultats de cette analyse sont ensuite utilisés pour optimiser le modèle thermique à l'aide du logiciel d'optimisation GenOpt. / This thesis presents a thermal and electrical modelling of PV walls integrated to buildings. The particularity of this model is that the heat transfer that occurs through the panel to the building is described so that both building and PV thermal modelling are fully coupled. This has the advantage of allowing the prediction of the impact of PV installation on the building temperature field and also the comfort inside it. The aim of this study is to show the impact of the PV panels in terms of level of insulation or solar protection for the building. Moreover, the study has been conducted in La Reunion Island, where the climate is tropical and humid, with a strong solar radiation. In such conditions, it is important to minimise the thermal load through the roof of the building. The thermal model is integrated in a building simulation code and is able to predict the thermal impact of PV panels installed on buildings in several configurations and also their production of electricity. Finally, the experimental study is used to give elements of validation for the numerical model and a sensitivity analysis has been run to put in evidence the governing parameters. It has been shown that the radiative properties of the PV panel have a great impact on the temperature field of the tested building and the determination of these parameters has to be taken with care. Results of sensitivity analysis are used to optimize the PV thermal model using the GenOpt optimization program.

De nos jours, une gestion optimale de l'énergie électrique est devenue un enjeu majeur. La conversion de l'énergie entre une source et sa charge est réalisée par un élément central : le convertisseur statique utilisé aussi bien pour des faibles puissances (quelques Watts) que pour des très fortes (plusieurs MWatt). La brique élémentaire est la cellule de commutation constituée de semi-conducteurs de puissance (à commutation commandée ou spontanée) généralement réunis au sein d'un " module de puissance ". La nécessaire réduction des volumes dans certaines applications (comme les systèmes embarqués par exemple) ainsi que l'augmentation des calibres de tensions des nouveaux semi- conducteurs grands gaps auront comme conséquence directe d'augmenter les contraintes sur les systèmes d'isolation des convertisseurs. Une répartition contrôlée de ces contraintes dans le volume présente alors un intérêt pour maintenir la fiabilité du système d'isolation. Il est donc nécessaire d'effectuer une caractérisation la plus large possible de l'ensemble des matériaux isolants utilisés dans le packaging des dits " modules de puissance ", ainsi qu'une bonne compréhension de leurs mécanismes de défaillances. Le travail présenté ici consiste en l'étude d'une nouvelle stratégie de répartition du potentiel dans le volume appelée gradation de potentiel. L'isolation de volume développée est un assemblage multicouche constitué d'un matériau à conductivité contrôlée (Epoxy/Graphene) jouant le rôle de gradateur et d'une fine couche isolante (parylène) assurant la tenue en tension. Différents outils, tant théoriques (simulation) qu'expérimentaux, ont été ainsi utilisés pour aider au dimensionnent du système d'isolation électrique. La modélisation par la méthode des éléments finis (MEF) permet-elle de prédéterminer la répartition de la contrainte (potentiel et champ électrique) dans une structure de test prédéfini ou de décrire l'étude de l'influence de la conductivité du matériau gradateur et de l'épaisseur du film sur la répartition des équipotentielles. D'un point de vue expérimental le film sélectionné a été caractérisé pour des épaisseurs comprises entre 10 et 40 µm. Le matériau à conductivité contrôlée a été ensuite élaboré puis caractérisé pour différents taux de chargement. Après l'incorporation du système d'isolation dans différentes structures tests (substrats métallisés et structure double face), différentes méthodes permettant de caractériser le système d'isolation ont été utilisées qu'il s'agisse de mesures directes de la contrainte électrique par sonde à champ nul (potentiel de surface) ou indirectes par des mesures de décharges partielles. L'isolation multi-couches présente des améliorations dans la répartition du potentiel mais aussi des limites d'utilisation en fonction de la conductivité du matériau gradateur. Cette isolation doit donc être dimensionnée au plus près des caractéristiques d'utilisation et offre une approche intéressante pour le dimensionnement des modules de puissances double face. / Nowadays, an optimal management of the electrical energy becomes a key point in electric systems. The conversion of energy is realized by a main component: the power converter. It is used as well for low power (few Watts) as for very high power (MWatts). The elementary block of the converters, is the switching cell made up of semiconductor power devices. The trend to reduce both the volume and the weight in many applications (for example in embedded systems) and the increase of the rating voltage of the new wide band gap semiconductors will have for consequence an increase of the stresses on the electrical insulating systems of the power module . A controlled grading of these electrical constraints in the volume is highly interesting to ensure the reliability of the system. It is therefore necessary to perform a precise characterization of the insulated materials used in the packaging of the power modules, as well as to get a good understanding of their failures mechanisms. The works presented in this dissertation consists in the study of a new strategy for the field gradation in power modules. The proposed insulation is an assembly of multi-layers made up of a thick material of electrically controlled conductivity (Epoxy/Graphene nanocomposite) and of a thin insulating layer (Parylene films). Various tools were used (both theoretical and experimental) to help dimensioning of the Electrical Insulation System (EIS). The Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to simulate the equipotential and field distribution in the structure under study and to analyse on one hand, the influence of the changes in the conductivity values of the Epoxy/Graphene nanocomposite materials and, on the other hand, the impact of the parylene (PA) films thickness on the stress grading. From an experimental point of view, the PA films were characterized for different thicknesses ranging between 10 µm and 40 µm. The Epoxy/Graphene nanocomposites of controlled conductivity were manufactured and characterized (0 to 5 % wt) for various filler contents. The field grading effects were evaluated directly in different structures thanks to surface potential measurements and (indirectly) to partial discharges measurements. The proposed multilayer EIS exhibits some improvements regarding the stress grading but also some limits depending on the conductivity of the nanocomposite. Such an EIS will have to be dimensioned taking into account the rating voltage and could offer an interesting approach for the future design of the power modules.

Energy efficiency is a vital key component when designing and miniaturizing self sustained microsystems. The smaller the system, the smaller is the possibility to store enough stored energy for a long and continuous operational time. To move such a system in an energy efficient way, a piezoelectrical locomotion module consisting of four resonating cantilevers has been designed, manufactured and evaluated in this work. The combination of a suitable substrate, a multilayered piezoelectric material to reduce the voltage, and a resonating drive mechanism resulted in a low power demand. A manufacturing process for multilayer cantilever actuators made of P(VDF-TrFE) with aluminum electrodes on a substrate of flexible printed circuit board (FPC), has been developed. An important step in this process was the development of an etch recipe for dry etching the multilayer actuators in an inductive plasma equipment. Formulas for the quasi static tip deflection and resonance frequency of a multilayered cantilever, have been derived. Through theses, it was found that the multilayered structures should be deposited on the polymer side of the FPC in order to maximize the tip deflection. Both a large and a miniaturized locomotion module were manufactured and connected by wires to verify that the three legged motion principal worked to move the structures forward and backward, and turn it right and left. By touching and adding load, to a fourth miniaturized cantilever, its ability to act as a contact sensor and carry object was verified. The presented locomotion module is part of a multifunctional microsystem, intended to be energy efficient and powered by a solar panel with a total volume of less than 25 mm3 and weight 65 mg. The whole system, consisting of a solar cell, an infra red communication module, an integrated circuit for control, three capacitors for power regulating, the locomotion module and an FPC connecting the different modules, was surface mounted using a state of the art industrial facility. Two fully assembled systems could be programmed both through a test connector and through optical sensors in the multifunctional solar cell. One of these was folded together to the final configuration of a robot. However, the entire system could not be tested under full autonomous operating conditions. On the other hand, using wires, the locomotion module could be operated and used to move the entire system from a peak-to-peak voltage of 3.0 V.

Layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes is a simple technique based on the self-assembly of polycations and polyanions mainly by electrostatic interactions, which has gained considerable scientific interest for its versatility of applications. Ease of fabrication process, inexpensive approach and use to coat surfaces with various geometries prompts the researchers to select this technique not only for the surface modification applications but also to study the processes which exploit the 3D matrix properties of polyelectrolyte multilayer films (PEMs). Recent advances have been made where PEMs coatings have been utilized for their bio-applications like drug delivery and in tissue engineering for modifying the biomaterial's surfaces. In the field of drug delivery and tissue engineering the location and availability of the constituent molecules is very important, which is defined by their ability to diffuse through the encapsulating material or reservoir. So the main objective of this thesis is to understand the transport of molecules in ultrathin Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Films in lateral as well as transverse direction to the substrate. To study this transport behaviour in PEMs, we have employed various strategies which can enhance or suppress the diffusivity across PEMs. Thus, understanding the diffusion at nanoscale resolution will lead us to design better host materials for loading of drugs and growth factors for various biomedical applications.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:55:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 HumbertoDA_TESE.pdf: 4762435 bytes, checksum: 20aae983d6895db90a85b0e2b107200f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-09-02 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / In the globalized world modern telecommunications have assumed key role within the company, causing a large increase in demand for the wireless technology of communication, which has been happening in recent years have greatly increased the number of applications using this technology. Due to this demand, new materials are developed to enable new control mechanisms and propagation of electromagnetic waves. The research to develop new technologies for wireless communication presents a multidisciplinary study that covers from the new geometries for passive antennas, active up to the development of materials for devices that improve the performance at the frequency range of operation. Recently, planar antennas have attracted interest due to their characteristics and advantages when compared with other types of antennas. In the area of mobile communications the need for antennas of this type has become increasingly used, due to intensive development, which needs to operate in multifrequency antennas and broadband. The microstrip antennas have narrow bandwidth due to the dielectric losses generated by irradiation. Another limitation is the degradation of the radiation pattern due to the generation of surface waves in the substrate. Some techniques have been developed to minimize this limitation of bandwidth, such as the study of type materials PBG - Photonic Band Gap, to form the dielectric material. This work has as main objective the development project of a slot resonator with multiple layers and use the type PBG substrate, which carried out the optimization from the numerical analysis and then designed the device initially proposed for the band electromagnetic spectrum between 3-9 GHz, which basically includes the band S to X. Was used as the dielectric material RT/Duroid 5870 and RT/Duroid 6010.LM where both are laminated ceramic-filled PTFE dielectric constants 2.33 and 10.2, respectively. Through an experimental investigation was conducted an analysis of the simulated versus measured by observing the behavior of the radiation characteristics from the height variation of the dielectric multilayer substrates. We also used the LTT method resonators structures rectangular slot with multiple layers of material photonic PBG in order to obtain the resonance frequency and the entire theory involving the electromagnetic parameters of the structure under consideration. xviii The analysis developed in this work was performed using the method LTT - Transverse Transmission Line, in the field of Fourier transform that uses a component propagating in the y direction (transverse to the real direction of propagation z), thus treating the general equations of the fields electric and magnetic and function. The PBG theory is applied to obtain the relative permittivity of the polarizations for the sep photonic composite substrates material. The results are obtained with the commercial software Ansoft HFSS, used for accurate analysis of the electromagnetic behavior of the planar device under study through the Finite Element Method (FEM). Numerical computational results are presented in graphical form in two and three dimensions, playing in the parameters of return loss, frequency of radiation and radiation diagram, radiation efficiency and surface current for the device under study, and have as substrates, photonic materials and had been simulated in an appropriate computational tool. With respect to the planar device design study are presented in the simulated and measured results that show good agreement with measurements made. These results are mainly in the identification of resonance modes and determining the characteristics of the designed device, such as resonant frequency, return loss and radiation pattern / No mundo globalizado moderno, as telecomunica??es assumiram um papel fundamental dentro das sociedades, provocando um grande aumento da demanda por tecnologia de comunica??o sem fio, isto vem acontecendo nos ?ltimos anos e tem aumentado bastante o n?mero de aplica??es que utilizam esta tecnologia. Em decorr?ncia dessa demanda, novos materiais s?o desenvolvidos no sentido de possibilitar novos mecanismos de controle e propaga??o de ondas eletromagn?ticas. A pesquisa para o desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias para comunica??o sem fios apresenta um car?ter multidisciplinar que abrange desde o estudo de novas geometrias para antenas passivas e ativas at? o de desenvolvimento de materiais para dispositivos que melhorem o desempenho naquela faixa de frequ?ncia de opera??o. Recentemente as antenas planares tem despertado interesses devido as suas caracter?sticas e vantagens que oferecem quando comparadas com os demais tipos de antenas. Na ?rea de comunica??es m?veis a necessidade de antenas desse tipo tem se tornado cada vez maior, devido ao seu intenso desenvolvimento, que necessita de antenas que operem em multifrequ?ncia e em banda larga. As antenas de microfita apresentam largura de banda estreita devido ?s perdas no diel?trico geradas pela irradia??o. Outra limita??o ? a degrada??o do diagrama de irradia??o devido ? gera??o de ondas de superf?cie no substrato. Algumas t?cnicas est?o sendo desenvolvidas para minimizar esta limita??o de banda, como ? o caso do estudo de materiais do tipo PBG Photonic Band Gap, para compor o material diel?trico. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal o desenvolvimento do projeto de um ressoador de fenda com m?ltiplas camadas e com a utiliza??o de substrato do tipo PBG, onde foi realizada a otimiza??o a partir da analise num?rica e em seguida, projetado o dispositivo proposto inicialmente para a faixa do espectro eletromagn?tico compreendida entre 3-9 GHz, que inclui basicamente a banda S at? X. Foi utilizado como material diel?trico o RT/Duroid 5870 e RT/Duroid 6010.2LM onde ambos s?o laminados cer?micos PTFE com constantes diel?tricas de 2.33 e 10.2, respectivamente. Atrav?s de uma investiga??o experimental foi realizada uma an?lise dos resultados simulados versus medidos observando o comportamento das xvi caracter?sticas de radia??o a partir da varia??o da altura das multicamadas de subtrato diel?trico. Foi utilizado tamb?m o m?todo LTT ?s estruturas ressoadoras retangulares de fenda com m?ltiplas camadas, para a obten??o da freq??ncia de resson?ncia bem como toda a teoria que envolva os par?metros eletromagn?ticos da estrutura em estudo. As an?lises desenvolvidas neste trabalho foram realizadas com utiliza??o do m?todo LTT Linha de Transmiss?o Transversa, no dom?nio da Transformada de Fourier que utiliza uma componente de propaga??o na dire??o y (transversa ? dire??o real de propaga??o z), tratando assim as equa??es gerais dos campos el?tricos e magn?ticos em fun??o de yE e yH . A teoria PBG ser? aplicada para a obten??o da permissividade relativa para as polariza??es s e p dos substratos compostos de material fot?nico. Os resultados s?o obtidos com o software comercial Ansoft HFSS, usado para a an?lise precisa do comportamento eletromagn?tico do dispositivo planar em estudo, por meio do M?todo dos Elementos Finitos (FEM). Resultados num?rico-computacionais s?o apresentados em forma de gr?fico em duas e tr?s dimens?es, para aos par?metros de perda de retorno, frequ?ncia de radia??o, e diagrama de radia??o, efici?ncia de radia??o e densidade superficial de corrente para o dispositivo em estudo, e que tem como substratos, materiais fot?nicos e que fora simulado em uma ferramenta computacional apropriada. . No que diz respeito ao projeto do dispositivo planar em estudo s?o apresentados os resultados medidos e os simulados que apresentam boa concord?ncia com as medi??es efetuadas. Estes resultados consistem principalmente na identifica??o dos modos de resson?ncia e na determina??o das caracter?sticas do dispositivo projetado, como freq??ncia de resson?ncia, perda de retorno e diagrama de radia??o

The electrostatic layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly of polyelectrolyte’s has shown applications in thin film coatings, micro patterning, nano-bioreactors and capsules for drug delivery. The film architecture can be precisely designed and controlled to nanometer scale precision with a range from 5 nm to a few microns. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate potential applications in biology, pharmaceutics, medicine, and other biomedical areas. This thesis work focused on the design and development of protocols to fabricate polyelectrolyte multi-layer patterns on a variety of substrates such as glass, metals and plastics such as acrylic and polycarbonate. The micro-scale polyelectrolyte patterns have applications in the creation of DNA, protein or cell based microarrays. This work also demonstrated the use of polyelectrolyte multi-layers in the enhancement of fluorescence signals from fluorophore-tagged molecules captured within the multi-layers. In-situ measurements using Fiber Bragg Gratings were carried out to study the kinetics of adsorption and desorption of polyelectrolytes participating in the layer buildup process under different process environmental conditions.

Les modèles de réflexion complexes, avec leurs nombreux paramètres dont certains restent non intuitifs, sont difficiles à contrôler pour obtenir une apparence désirée. De plus, même si un artiste peut plus aisément comprendre la forme de la micro-géométrie d'une surface, sa modélisation en 3D et sa simulation en 4D demeurent extrêmement fastidieuses et coûteuses en mémoire. Nous proposons une solution intermédiaire, où l'artiste représente en 2D une coupe dans un matériau, en dessinant une micro-géométrie de surface en multi-couches. Une simulation efficace par lancer de rayons en seulement 2D capture les distributions de lumière affectées par les micro-géométries. La déviation hors-plan est calculée automatiquement de façon probabiliste en fonction de la normale au point d'intersection et de la direction du rayon incident. Il en résulte des BRDFs isotropes complètes et complexes, simulées à des vitesses interactives, et permettant ainsi une édition interactive de l'apparence de réflectances riches et variées. / Complex reflection models, with their many parameters, some of which are not intuitive at all, are difficult to control when trying to achieve a desired appearance. Moreover, even if an artist can more easily understand the shape of the surface micro-geometry, its 3D modeling and 4D simulation remain extremely tedious and expensive in memory. We propose an intermediate solution, where the artist represents a 2D cross section of a material, by drawing a multi-layered surface micro-geometry. An efficient 2D ray tracing simulation captures the light distribution specific to those micro-geometries. Off plane deflection is automatically calculated in a probabilistic way, based on the surface normal at the intersection point and the incident ray direction. This results in complete and complex isotropic BRDFs, simulated at interactive rates, and allowing interactive editing of rich and varied materials.

Les modèles de réflexion complexes, avec leurs nombreux paramètres dont certains restent non intuitifs, sont difficiles à contrôler pour obtenir une apparence désirée. De plus, même si un artiste peut plus aisément comprendre la forme de la micro-géométrie d'une surface, sa modélisation en 3D et sa simulation en 4D demeurent extrêmement fastidieuses et coûteuses en mémoire. Nous proposons une solution intermédiaire, où l'artiste représente en 2D une coupe dans un matériau, en dessinant une micro-géométrie de surface en multi-couches. Une simulation efficace par lancer de rayons en seulement 2D capture les distributions de lumière affectées par les micro-géométries. La déviation hors-plan est calculée automatiquement de façon probabiliste en fonction de la normale au point d'intersection et de la direction du rayon incident. Il en résulte des BRDFs isotropes complètes et complexes, simulées à des vitesses interactives, et permettant ainsi une édition interactive de l'apparence de réflectances riches et variées. / Complex reflection models, with their many parameters, some of which are not intuitive at all, are difficult to control when trying to achieve a desired appearance. Moreover, even if an artist can more easily understand the shape of the surface micro-geometry, its 3D modeling and 4D simulation remain extremely tedious and expensive in memory. We propose an intermediate solution, where the artist represents a 2D cross section of a material, by drawing a multi-layered surface micro-geometry. An efficient 2D ray tracing simulation captures the light distribution specific to those micro-geometries. Off plane deflection is automatically calculated in a probabilistic way, based on the surface normal at the intersection point and the incident ray direction. This results in complete and complex isotropic BRDFs, simulated at interactive rates, and allowing interactive editing of rich and varied materials.