At Saab Aerostructures they are manufacturing a lot of parts for Airbus and Boeing. When these components are investigated using finite element analysis four-node Kirchhoff shell elements and a very fine mesh is often used. In order to make the pre-processing easier Saab would like to offset the shell mid surface from the nodal plane (the modeling surface) rather than to extract mid surfaces for the entire component. This would also make it easier to model a component which needs a thickness change later on, this since the original modeling surface could be used but with an offset of the elements in order to represent the new geometry. When offset is used in Nastran multi point constraints are created between the nodes and the shell mid surface points. All loads, which are applied in the nodal plane, are then transformed to the mid surface where the stiffness matrices, displacements and stresses are calculated. In order to be able to use this method more knowledge about its effects are needed, which is the reason for this thesis work. The offset is studied for two simpler cases, thickness variation and a 90°corner, as well as fora more complicated component called a C-bar. This is a hinge connecting the flaps to the wings of an airplane. The simpler cases are modeled using both mid surface and offset models subject to either a transverse load, an in-plane load or a bending moment. These are compared to a solid model in order to determine which is the most accurate. When mid surface modeling is used fort he thickness variation the surfaces are connected using rigid links. The conclusion made from these simulations is that using offset may give different results if the load is an in-plane load. This kind of load leads to the creation of a bending moment, which is linearly dependent on the amount of offset. The severity of this depends on the overall geometry and how this load is applied.

Existing classes of centrifugal clutch concepts were reviewed. The pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM), rigid-body replacement synthesis, force-deflection analysis, compliance potential evaluation, and compliant concept evaluation were used to develop effective new centrifugal clutch concepts. These methods helped develop and model four novel compliant centrifugal clutch designs, model two existing designs, and identify a concept with excellent potential for low-cost centrifugal clutch applications. This concept, the floating opposing arm (FOA) clutch, doubles the torque capacity metric relative to existing compliant designs. Torque and engagement speed models for this clutch were developed and verified against four prototype clutches. Additional novel designs devel-oped through this work have lower torque capacities, but also show good potential because of other unique characteristics. All of the designs were prototyped and tested to measure their torque-speed relationships.

No description available.

No description available.

To represent and reason about contextualized knowledge often two-dimensional Description Logics (DLs) are employed, where one DL is used to describe contexts (or possible worlds) and the other DL is used to describe the objects, i.e. the relational structure of the specific contexts. Previous approaches for DLs of context that combined pairs of DLs resulted in undecidability in those cases where so-called rigid roles are admitted, i.e. if parts of the relational structure are the same in all contexts. In this paper, we present a novel combination of pairs of DLs and show that reasoning stays decidable even in the presence of rigid roles. We give complexity results for various combinations of DLs involving ALC, SHOQ, and EL.

Reach truck masts are subjected to oscillations, which have significant impacts on the dynamics of the entire vehicle. Mast oscillations can cause undesirable outcomes in extreme situations and therefore it is desirable to be able to predict these outcomes before they occur. A forklift manufacturer in Mjölby initiated a thesis with the intention to obtain a model that can simulate mast sway for situations where oscillations occur. The objective of the thesis was to create a model of Triplex masts and find dependencies between model parameters and variables such as fork height and load. The thesis was conducted modelling the mast with a rigid multibody approach where torsion springs and dampers were used between mast parts to simulate mast elasticity. Clearance at the connections were considered and included in the model. The obtained model constitutes of 8 parameters that could be tuned to attain different oscillation characteristics. Parametric optimisation was carried out to find optimal sets of parameters for compliance with sway measurement tests with different load and fork height cases.  The thesis has resulted in a model that is able to simulate mast sway with different oscillation characteristics depending on model parameters. Performed parametric optimisation resulted in parameters that reveal useful information about how model parameters depend on load and fork height. The method used for obtaining optimal parameters can likewise be applied to other mast models in order to gain insight into model parameters as functions of load and fork height.

Σκοπός της εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση των εξισώσεων κίνησης του στερεού σώματος και η μελέτη δύο σημαντικών επιλύσιμων περιπτώσεων κίνησης στρόβου (Lagrange, Euler) . Στo πρώτο κεφάλαιο περιγράφουμε την κίνηση ενός στερεού σώματος χρησιμοποιώντας την ομάδα στροφών. Αποδεικνύουμε το θεώρημα Chasles το οποίο μας δείχνει πως η μετακίνηση ενός στερεού μπορεί να αποσυντεθεί σε περιστροφή γύρω από έναν άξονα και μεταφορά πάνω σε αυτόν. Στη συνέχεια σκοπός μας είναι η κατανόηση της γωνιακής ταχύτητας ενός στερεού σώματος. Σημαντικό ρόλο σε αυτή την πορεία παίζει τόσο το αδρανειακό όσο και το ενσωματωμένο στο στερεό σύστημα αναφοράς. Έπειτα δίνονται οι ορισμοί της ενέργειας, της στροφορμής, της ροπής και οι εκφράσεις τους συναρτήσει γνωστών πλέον εννοιών από τα προηγούμενα. Το κεφάλαιο ολοκληρώνεται με την Δυναμική που έχει ως αντικείμενο μελέτης και έρευνας τη κίνηση των σωμάτων υπό την επίδραση δυνάμεων, και καταλήγει στην παρουσίαση των εξισώσεων Euler. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο στρέφουμε το ενδιαφέρον μας στις εφαρμογές και παρουσιάζουμε την επίλυση δύο σημαντικών προβλημάτων της μηχανικής: η κίνηση ενός συμμετρικού στρόβου που κινείται υπό την επίδραση του βάρους του έχοντας ένα σταθερό σημείο (ο στρόβος του Lagrange) και η κίνηση ενός στερεού που κινείται χωρίς την επίδραση εξωτερικών ροπών (ο στρόβος του Euler). Οι λύσεις εκφράζονται μέσω Ελλειπτικών Συναρτήσεων. Τέλος, στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο παρατίθενται σχόλια στις εργασίες των Holmes - Marsden και των Heijden - Yagasaki που αφορούν την ύπαρξη χαοτικής συμπεριφοράς στην διαταραγμένη περίπτωση Lagrange, που αναφέρεται σε σχεδόν συμμετρικό στρόβο. / Σκοπός της εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση των εξισώσεων κίνησης του στερεού σώματος και η μελέτη δύο σημαντικών επιλύσιμων περιπτώσεων κίνησης στρόβου (Lagrange, Euler) . Στo πρώτο κεφάλαιο περιγράφουμε την κίνηση ενός στερεού σώματος χρησιμοποιώντας την ομάδα στροφών. Αποδεικνύουμε το θεώρημα Chasles το οποίο μας δείχνει πως η μετακίνηση ενός στερεού μπορεί να αποσυντεθεί σε περιστροφή γύρω από έναν άξονα και μεταφορά πάνω σε αυτόν. Στη συνέχεια σκοπός μας είναι η κατανόηση της γωνιακής ταχύτητας ενός στερεού σώματος. Σημαντικό ρόλο σε αυτή την πορεία παίζει τόσο το αδρανειακό όσο και το ενσωματωμένο στο στερεό σύστημα αναφοράς. Έπειτα δίνονται οι ορισμοί της ενέργειας, της στροφορμής, της ροπής και οι εκφράσεις τους συναρτήσει γνωστών πλέον εννοιών από τα προηγούμενα. Το κεφάλαιο ολοκληρώνεται με την Δυναμική που έχει ως αντικείμενο μελέτης και έρευνας τη κίνηση των σωμάτων υπό την επίδραση δυνάμεων, και καταλήγει στην παρουσίαση των εξισώσεων Euler. Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο στρέφουμε το ενδιαφέρον μας στις εφαρμογές και παρουσιάζουμε την επίλυση δύο σημαντικών προβλημάτων της μηχανικής: η κίνηση ενός συμμετρικού στρόβου που κινείται υπό την επίδραση του βάρους του έχοντας ένα σταθερό σημείο (ο στρόβος του Lagrange) και η κίνηση ενός στερεού που κινείται χωρίς την επίδραση εξωτερικών ροπών (ο στρόβος του Euler). Οι λύσεις εκφράζονται μέσω Ελλειπτικών Συναρτήσεων. Τέλος, στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο παρατίθενται σχόλια στις εργασίες των Holmes - Marsden και των Heijden - Yagasaki που αφορούν την ύπαρξη χαοτικής συμπεριφοράς στην διαταραγμένη περίπτωση Lagrange, που αναφέρεται σε σχεδόν συμμετρικό στρόβο.

The performance of joints in buried gravity flow pipelines are important since failure of these elements can affect the structural capacity of soil-pipe systems and reduce their longevity. Currently, there are no clear guidelines to design joints for gravity flow pipelines and therefore their design is based on semi-empirical methods. It is necessary to identify and quantify the demands that act across joints when subjected to service loading conditions to establish adequate design guidelines. Such demands will vary depending on the type of joint, type of pipe, burial and loading conditions. Therefore work is needed to investigate the influence of these conditions on the performance of joints. Full-scale laboratory tests have been performed on rigid (reinforced concrete) and flexible (corrugated steel and thermoplastic) pipelines to investigate the response of their joints when buried and subjected to surface loading. The joints investigated are either ‘moment-release’ joints (those that accommodate rotation and reduce the longitudinal bending moments close to zero), or ‘moment-transfer’ joints (those that limit rotation and transfer longitudinal bending moments from one pipe to the next). These experiments evaluate the influence of different cover depths, loading locations, and installation conditions on the response of the joints. Additionally, the performance of each joint when the pipeline was buried with shallow cover and subjected to surface loads up to and beyond fully factored loads were also investigated. Furthermore, three-dimensional finite element analyses of a gasketed bell and spigot joint in a buried reinforced concrete pipeline subjected to surface loading have been developed employing material properties and joint rotational characteristics experimentally obtained. The data obtained from the experimental and computational studies are used to evaluate joint performance and to identify key demands (shear force and rotation or moment) acting across them. In addition, the different patterns of vertical displacement along rigid and flexible pipes were established. It was found that the stiffness of the pipeline, the geometry of the joint, the loading and burial conditions influence the response (and therefore the demands) of the joints examined. Finally, recommendations are provided regarding development of structural design methods for these pipeline and joint systems. / Thesis (Ph.D, Civil Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-29 12:47:31.826

Gear rattle is caused by engine torsional vibration (engine order response) imparted to the transmission components, further causing the gears to oscillate within their functional backlashes. These oscillations lead to the repetitive impact of gear teeth, which lead to noisy responses, referred to as gear rattle. The lack of in-depth research into the effect of lubricant on gear rattle has been identified as a deficiency in the previous research in rattle. The aim ofthe current work is to address this shortcoming. The thesis outlines a new approach in investigating the problem of idle gear rattle. The approach is based on the assumption that under idling condition the teeth-pair impact loads are sufficiently low and the gear speeds are sufficiently high to permit the formation of a hydrodynamic lubricant film between the mating gear teeth. This film acts as a non-linear spring-damper that couples the driver and the driven gears. A torsional single-degree of freedom model is used in the development of the theory. The model is then expanded into a seven-degree of freedom torsional model and finally into an Il-degree of freedom model that also includes the lateral vibrations of the supporting shafts. The Il-degree of freedom model is based on a real life transmission that is also used in experimental studies to validate the model. It is found that lubricant viscosity and bearing clearance (lubricant resistance in squeeze) play important roles in determining the dynamics of the system and its propensity to rattle. At low temperatures, the lateral vibrations of the shafts, carrying the gears interfere with the gear teeth impact action. The severity of rattle is determined by the relationship between the entraining and squeeze film actions of the hydrodynamic film. When the latter dominates, the system can rattle more severely. The numerical results are found to correlate well with the experimental findings obtained from vehicle tests in a semi-anechoic chamber and also with those from a transmission test rig in the powertrain laboratory.

Physics engines have become increasingly prevalent in everyday technology. In the context of this thesis they are regarded as a readily available data set that has the potential to intuitively present the process of sonification to a wide audience. Unfortunately, this process is not the focus of attention when formative decisions are made concerning the continued development of these engines. This may reveal a missed opportunity when considering that the field of interactive sonification upholds the importance of physical causalities for the analysis of data through sound. The following investigation deliberates the contextual framework of this field to argue that the physics engine, as part of typical game engine architecture, is an appropriate foundation on which to design and implement a dynamic toolset for interactive sonification. The basis for this design is supported by a number of significant theories which suggest that the underlying data of a rigid body dynamics physics system can sustain an inherent audiovisual metaphor for interaction, interpretation and analysis. Furthermore, it is determined that this metaphor can be enhanced by the extraordinary potential of the computer in order to construct unique abstractions which build upon the many pertinent ideas and practices within the surrounding literature. These abstractions result in a mental model for the transformation of data to sound that has a number of advantages in contrast to a physical modelling approach while maintaining its same creative potential for instrument building, composition and live performance. Ambitions for both sonification and its creative potential are realised by several components which present the user with a range of options for interacting with this model. The implementation of these components effectuates a design that can be demonstrated to offer a unique interpretation of existing strategies as well as overcoming certain limitations of comparable work.