Multilayered structures have many application in industry and society: they have peculiar properties and serve a variety of purposes, like structural support, thermal insulation, vibrational and acoustic isolation. This thesis concerns the prediction of sound transmission in multilayered structures. Two problems are herein investigated: the transmission of energy through structures and the transmission of energy along structures. The focus of the analysis is on the mid to high frequency range. To predict sound transmission in these structures, statistical energy analysis (SEA) is used.SEA models are devised for the prediction of the sound reduction index for two kinds of multilayered structures, double-walls used in buildings and trim-panels in vehicles; the double-walls comprise an air cavity in between flat plasterboard or glass plates, whereas the trim-panels a porous layer in between curved aluminium and rubber layers. The SEA models are based upon the wave-types carrying energy. The novelty in these SEAs is an element describing the waves in the air cavity, or in the porous layer, fully coupled to the mass-impeded external layers. Compared to measurements, the proposed SEA performs well: for double-walls, it performs better than previous models; for trim-panels, it is an original result. The parameters of the new SEA element, such as modal density, are derived from the coupling equations describing the fully coupled waves. For double-walls, these equations are derived via Newton's laws. For trim-panels, a variational approach based upon a modified Hamilton's principle valid for non-conservative systems is preferred, because it is a powerful machinery for deriving equations of motion and coupling conditions of a medium as complex as the porous layer. The modified Hamilton's principle for non-conservative systems is based upon a self-adjoint functional analogous to the Lagrangian, inspired by Morse and Feshbach's construction. A self-adjoint variational principle for Biot's equations in the displacement formulation is devised. An equivalent mixed formulation is obtained changing the coordinates of the displacement formulation via Lagrange multipliers. From this mixed formulation, the Lagrangian for a porous material with a limp frame is derived, which yields the continuity of the total displacement of the porous layer. Lagrange multipliers help to obtain the correct coupling functionals between a porous material and a solid. The Lagrange multipliers introducing the continuity of the frame and the solid displacements equal the traction of the in-vacuo frame, thus disappearing if the latter is limp. Measurements to gather material parameters for a Biot model of the porous layer have been conducted.The effects of spatial energy decay in the transmission along structures predicted by SEA is studied: a major effect is the increased relevance of indirect coupling loss factors between SEA elements. This may jeopardize the usefulness of SEA at higher frequencies. / <p>QC 20130218</p>

La thèse est décomposée en trois parties. Dans la première partie, les modèles de la CUF sont présentés. La CUF permet d’obtenir, dans un formalisme générale, de nombreux modèles qui diffèrent 1) selon l’ordre d’expansion dans l'épaisseur choisie pour les variables primaires; 2) selon le type de modèle: modèles couche équivalente (ESL) ou couche discrète (LW); 3) selon le principe variationnel : “Principle of Virtual Displacements” (raffinée) ou “Reissner’s Mixed Variational Theorem” (avancée). Des géométries cylindrique et à double courbure sont traités. La deuxième partie de la thèse est consacrée à l'obtention des équations fondamentales en utilisant différentes méthodes: la méthode analytique de Navier et deux méthodes numériques approchées; la “Finite Element Method” (FEM) et la “Radial Basis Functions” (RBF). La méthode RBF est une méthode sans maillage “meshless” et peut être considérée comme une méthode alternative à la FEM. La FEM est la plus utilisée dans la littérature et le sujet principal de cette thèse.Dans la dernière partie, différents problèmes sont proposés. Navier est utilisé pour l’analyse thermomécanique de coques FGM, l’analyse de coques piézo-électrique et l’analyse dynamique de nanotubes de carbone. Un élément fini coque, présenté dans cette thèse, est utilisé pour l’analyse de coques composites et FGM. Les résultats obtenus démontrent la supériorité de cet élément par rapport aux éléments finis basés sur les théories classiques pour l’analyse des matériaux avancés. Enfin, la méthode RBF est utilisée pour l’analyse de coques composites, permettant d'illustrer l'avantage des méthodes sans maillage. / The dissertation is organized in three main parts. In the first part, the shell models contained in the CUF are presented. The CUF permits to obtain, in a general and unified manner, several models that can differ by 1) the chosen order of expansion in the thickness direction, 2) the equivalent single layer or layer wise approach and 3) the variational statement used: “Principle of Virtual Displacements” (refined models) or “Reissner’s Mixed Variational Theorem” (advanced models). Both the cylindrical and the double-curvature geometries are considered. The second part is devoted to the derivation of the governing equations by means of different methods: an analytical method, that is the Navier method, and two approximated numerical methods, that are the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Radial Basis Functions (RBF) method. The RBF method is based on a meshless approach and it can be considered a good alternative to the FEM. The finite element method is the most common method used in literature and it is the main topic of this thesis. In the last part, different problems are analyzed. The thermo-mechanical analysis of FGM shells, the electromechanical analysis of piezoelectric shells and the dynamic analysis of carbon nanotubes are performed by means of the Navier method. Then, the CUF shell finite element, presented in this thesis, is tested and used for the analysis of composite and FGM shells. The superiority of this element in respect to finite elements based on classical theories is shown. Finally, the RBF method is combined with the CUF for the analysis of composite and FGM shells in order to overcome the numerical problems relative to the mesh that usually affect the finite elements.

Cette thèse traite des problèmes des concentrations de contraintes locales, en particularité des effets des bords libres dans des structures stratifiés. À l'interface entre deux couches avec des propriétés élastiques différentes, les contraintes ont un comportement singulier dans le voisinage du bord libre en supposant un comportement de matériau élastique linéaire. Par conséquent, ils sont essentiels pour promouvoir le délaminage. Via Formulation unifiée de la Carrera (CUF) différents modèles cinématiques sont testés dans le but de capter les concentrations de contraintes. Dans la première partie de ce travail, les approches de modélisation dimensionnelle réduits sont comparées. Deux classe principale sont présentés: la couche équivalent (ESL) et l'approche par couche, LW. Par la suite leurs capacités à capter les singularités sont comparées. En utilisant une fonction a priori singulière, via une expression exponentielle, une mesure des contraintes singulières est introduite. Seulement deux paramètres décrivent pleinement les composantes des contraintes singulières au voisinage du bord libre. Sur la base des paramètres obtenus les modèles sont comparés et aussi les effets sous des charges d'extension et de flexion et pour différents stratifiés. Les résultats montrent une nécessité des modèles complexes dans le voisinage du bord libre. Cependant loin des bords libres, dans le centre de plaques composite, aucune différence significative ne peut être noté pour les modèles plutôt simples. La deuxième partie de ce travail est donc dédiée au couplage de modèles cinématique incompatibles. Modèles complexes et coûteux sont utilisés seulement dans des domaines locaux d'intérêt, tandis que les modèles économiques simples seront modéliser le domaine global. La eXtended Variational Formulation (XVF) est utilisé pour coupler les modèles de dimensionnalité homogènes mais de cinématique hétérogènes. Ici pas de recouvrement de domaine est présent. En outre, le XVF offre la possibilité d'adapter les conditions imposées à l'interface en utilisant un paramètre scalaire unique. On montre que, pour le problème de dimensionnalité homogène, que deux conditions différentes peuvent être imposées par ce paramètre. Un correspondant à des conditions fortes des Multi Point Constraints (MPC) et un second fournir des conditions faibles. La dernière offre la possibilité de réduire extrêmement le domaine qui utilise le modèle cinématique complexe, sans perte de précision locale. Comme il s'agit de la première application de la XVF vers les structures composites, le besoin d'un nouvel opérateur de couplage a été identifié. Un nouveau formulaire est proposé, testé et sa robustesse sera évaluée. / This work considers local stress concentrations, especially the free-Edge effects of multilayered structures. At the interface of two adjacent layers with different elastic properties, the stresses can become singular in the intermediate vicinity of the free edge. This is valid while assuming a linear elastic material behaviour. As a consequence this zones are an essential delamination trigger. Via the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF), different kinematical models are testes in order to obtain the correct local stress concentration. In the first part of this work, the reduced dimensional modelling approaches are compared. Two main class are presented: Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) models treating the layered structure like one homogenous plate of equal mechanical proper- ties, and the Layer Wise approach, treating each layer independently. Subsequently their capabilities to capture the appearing singularities are compared. In order to have a comparable measurement of those singularities, the obtained stress distributions will be expressed via a power law function, which has a priori a singular behaviour. Only two parameters fully describe therefore the singular stress components in the vicinity of the free edge. With the help of these two parameters not only the different models capabilities will be compared, but also the free edge effect itself will be measured and compared for different symmetrical laminates and the case of extensional and uniform bending load. The results for all laminates under both load cases confirm the before stated need for rather complex models in the vicinity of the free edge. However far from the free edges, in the composite plates centre, no significant difference can be noted for rather simple models. The second part of this work is therefore dedicated to the coupling of kinematically incompatible models. The use of costly expensive complex models is restricted to local domains of interest, while economic simple models will model the global do- main. The Extended Variational Formulation (XVF) is identified as the most suitable way to couple the kinematically heterogenous but dimensional homogenous models. As it uses a configuration with one common interface without domain overlap, the additional efforts for establishing the coupling are limited. Further the XVF offers the possibility to adapt the conditions imposed at the interface using a single scalar parameter. It will be shown that for the homogenous dimensional problem under consideration only two different conditions can be imposed by this parameter. One matching the strong conditions imposed by the classical Multi Point Constrains (MPC) and a second one providing a weak condition. The last one is shown to provide the possibility to reduce further the domain using the complex kinematical model, without the loss of local precision. As this is the first application of the XVF towards composite structures, the need for a new coupling operator was identified. A new form is proposed, tested and its robustness will be evaluated.

In the last 10-15 years there has been a renewed interest in amorphous Se (a-Se) and its alloys due to their application as photoconductor materials in the new fully digital direct conversion flat panel x-ray medical image detectors. For a number of reasons, the a-Se photoconductor layer in such x-ray detectors has to be operated at very high electric fields (up to 10 Volts per micron) and one of the most difficult problems related to such applications of a Se is the problem of the dark current (the current in the absence of any radiation) minimization in the photoconductor layer. <p>This PhD work has been devoted to researching the possibilities for dark current minimization in a-Se x-ray photoconductors devices through a systematic study of the charge transport (carrier mobility and carrier lifetimes) and dark currents in single and multilayered a-Se devices as a function of alloying, doping, deposition condition and other fabrication factors. The results of the studies are extensively discussed in the thesis. We have proposed a new technological method for dark current reduction in single and multilayered a-Se based photoconductor for x-ray detector applications. The new technology is based on original experimental findings which demonstrate that both hole transport and the dark currents in a-Se films are a very strong function of the substrate temperature (Tsubstrate) during the film deposition process. We have shown that the new technique reduces the dark currents to approximately the same levels as achievable with the previously existing methods for dark current reduction. However, the new method is simpler to implement, and offers some potential advantages, especially in cases when a very high image resolution (20 cycles/mm) and/or fast pixel readout (more than 30 times per second) are needed. <p>Using the new technology we have fabricated simple single and double (ni-like) photoconductor layers on prototype x-ray image detectors with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) readout circuits. Dark currents in the a-Se photoconductor layer were not a problem for detector operation at all tested electric fields. Compared to the currently available commercial systems for mammography, the prototype detectors have demonstrated an excellent imaging performance, in particular superior spatial resolution (20 cycles/mm). Thus, the newly proposed technology for dark current reduction has shown a potential for commercialization.

In the last 10-15 years there has been a renewed interest in amorphous Se (a-Se) and its alloys due to their application as photoconductor materials in the new fully digital direct conversion flat panel x-ray medical image detectors. For a number of reasons, the a-Se photoconductor layer in such x-ray detectors has to be operated at very high electric fields (up to 10 Volts per micron) and one of the most difficult problems related to such applications of a Se is the problem of the dark current (the current in the absence of any radiation) minimization in the photoconductor layer. <p>This PhD work has been devoted to researching the possibilities for dark current minimization in a-Se x-ray photoconductors devices through a systematic study of the charge transport (carrier mobility and carrier lifetimes) and dark currents in single and multilayered a-Se devices as a function of alloying, doping, deposition condition and other fabrication factors. The results of the studies are extensively discussed in the thesis. We have proposed a new technological method for dark current reduction in single and multilayered a-Se based photoconductor for x-ray detector applications. The new technology is based on original experimental findings which demonstrate that both hole transport and the dark currents in a-Se films are a very strong function of the substrate temperature (Tsubstrate) during the film deposition process. We have shown that the new technique reduces the dark currents to approximately the same levels as achievable with the previously existing methods for dark current reduction. However, the new method is simpler to implement, and offers some potential advantages, especially in cases when a very high image resolution (20 cycles/mm) and/or fast pixel readout (more than 30 times per second) are needed. <p>Using the new technology we have fabricated simple single and double (ni-like) photoconductor layers on prototype x-ray image detectors with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) readout circuits. Dark currents in the a-Se photoconductor layer were not a problem for detector operation at all tested electric fields. Compared to the currently available commercial systems for mammography, the prototype detectors have demonstrated an excellent imaging performance, in particular superior spatial resolution (20 cycles/mm). Thus, the newly proposed technology for dark current reduction has shown a potential for commercialization.