Absorvedores de vibração são comumente usados em aplicações com intuito de reduzir indesejadas amplitudes de vibração de estruturas e maquinas vibrantes. O conceito de um absorvedor de vibração linear consiste na ideia de projetar um subsistema com frequência de ressonância coincidente com uma dada frequência de interesse, tal que a amplitude de vibração do sistema primário e significativamente reduzida quando comparada a situação original, sem o absorvedor de vibração. Porem, uma deficiência dos absorvedores de vibração lineares típicos e sua estreita faixa de frequência de operação. Para superar essa deficiência, muitas tentativas de solução usando subsistemas não lineares tem sido propostas na literatura, ja que se apropriadamente projetados, eles podem aumentar a faixa de frequência de absorção de vibração e/ou melhorar a redução das amplitudes de vibração do sistema primário. Contudo, a síntese e o projeto de tais absorvedores não lineares não e tão simples e direta como no caso linear. Baseado na geometria de uma topologia proposta e encontrada na literatura, que compreende a inclusão de uma montagem do tipo snap through truss no lugar da mola linear do absorvedor de vibração, este trabalho tem intenção de apresentar um estudo sobre o projeto e otimização de um absorvedor dinâmico de vibrações não linear. Portanto, o efeito dos parâmetros do absorvedor e analisado quanto as perspectivas de redução das amplitudes de vibração do sistema principal como também de aumento da faixa de frequência de operação. A analise paramétrica do absorvedor foi promovida para responder questões sobre as variáveis de projeto, tanto físicas como geométricas. Realizou-se otimização do absorvedor com objetivo de sintoniza-lo a frequência de trabalho desejada, através de busca extensiva e algoritmos genéticos. Os resultados mostram que o absorvedor não linear proposto pode ser mais efetivo que seu correspondente linear em ambos os aspectos, na redução da máxima amplitude de vibração e no aumento da faixa de frequência de absorção. Portanto, apesar da dificuldade inicial de projeto, esse tipo de absorvedor representa uma alternativa interessante na atenuação das amplitudes de vibração ao longo de uma extensa faixa de frequência. / Dynamic vibration absorbers are commonly used in several applications in order to reduce undesired vibration amplitudes of vibrating machinery and structures. The concept of a linear vibration absorber is based on the idea of designing a subsystem with a resonance frequency coincident with a given frequency of interest such that the vibration amplitude of the primary system is significantly reduced when compared to the original situation (without the vibration absorber). But one of the known handicaps of typical linear vibration absorbers is their narrow frequency range of operation. To overcome this handicap, a number of tentative solutions have been proposed in the literature using nonlinear subsystems. If properly designed, they could enlarge the frequency range of vibration absorption and/or improve vibration reduction of the primary system. However, the synthesis and design of such nonlinear absorbers are not as straightforward as for their linear counterpart. A proposed design found in the open literature consists of replacing the linear spring of the vibration absorber by a nonlinear snap-through truss. This work aims to present a study on the design and optimization of a nonlinear dynamic vibration absorber based on snap-through absorber geometry. The effect of the absorber parameters was analyzed on both, the primary system vibration amplitude reduction and the frequency range of operation. Parametric analyses of the absorber were carried out to answer questions about the physical and geometric design variables. The absorber optimization was performed in two different ways, by extensive search and genetic algorithms, in order to tune it in the desired working frequency. The results show that the proposed nonlinear vibration absorber may be more effective than its linear counterpart both in terms of maximum vibration amplitude reduction and absorption frequency-range. Therefore, despite the increased design complexities such an absorber is an interesting alterna- tive in attenuating vibration amplitudes over a wide frequency range.

In this Master's thesis, Maximum Likelihood-based parametric identification methods for discrete-time SISO Hammerstein models from perturbed observations on both input and output, are investigated. Hammerstein models, consisting of a static nonlinear block followed by a dynamic linear one, are widely applied to modeling nonlinear dynamic systems, i.e., dynamic systems having nonlinearity at its input. Two identification methods are proposed. The first one assumes a Hammerstein model where the input signal is noise-free and the output signal is perturbed with colored noise. The second assumes, however, white noises added to the input and output of the nonlinearity and to the output of the whole considered Hammerstein model. Both methods operate directly in the time domain and their properties are illustrated by a number of simulated examples. It should be observed that attention is focused on derivation, numerical calculation, and simulation corresponding to the first identification method mentioned above.

The emphasis on seismic design and assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure has shifted from force-based to performance-based design and assessment to accommodate strength and ductility for required performance of building. RC frame structure may suffer different levels of damage under seismic-induced ground motions, with potentials for formation of hinges in structural elements, depending on the level of stringency in design. Thus it is required to monitor the seismic behaviour and performance of buildings, which depend on the structural system, year of construction and the level of irregularities in the structural system. It is the objective of the current research project to assess seismic performance of RC frame buildings in Canada, while developing fragility curves as analytical tools for such assessment. This was done through dynamic inelastic analysis by modelling selected building structures and using PERFORM-3D as analysis software, while employing incremental dynamic analysis to generate performance data under incrementally increasing seismic intensity of selected earthquake records. The results lead to probabilistic tools to assess the performance of buildings designed following the National Building Code of Canada in different years of construction with and without irregularities. The research consists of three phases; i) regular buildings designed after 1975, ii) regular buildings designed prior to 1975, and iii) irregular buildings designed prior to 1975. The latter two phases address older buildings prior to the development of modern seismic building codes. All three phases were carried out by selecting and designing buildings in Ottawa, representing the seismic region in eastern Canada, as well as buildings in Vancouver, representing the seismic region in western Canada. Buildings had three heights (2; 5; and 10-stories) to cover a wide range of building periods encountered in practice. The resulting fragility curves indicated that the older buildings showed higher probabilities of exceeding life safety and/or collapse prevention performance levels. Newer buildings showed higher probabilities of exceeding target performance levels in western Canada than those located in the east.

Flexible beam structures are popular in civil and mechanical engineering. Many of these structures undergo large displacements and finite rotations, but with small deformations. Their dynamic behaviors are usually investigated using finite beam elements. A well known method to derive such beam elements is the corotational approach. This method has been extensively used in nonlinear static analysis. However, its application in nonlinear dynamics is rather limited. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the nonlinear dynamic behavior of flexible beam structures using the corotational method. For the 2D case, a new dynamic corotational beam formulation is presented. The idea is to adopt the same corotational kinetic description in static and dynamic parts. The main novelty is to use cubic interpolations to derive both inertia terms and internal terms in order to capture correctly all inertia effects. This new formulation is compared with two classic formulations using constant Timoshenko and constant lumped mass matrices. This work is presented in the first appended journal paper. For the 3D case, update procedures of finite rotations, which are central issues in development of nonlinear beam elements in dynamic analysis, are discussed. Three classic and one new formulations of beam elements based on the three different parameterizations of the finite rotations are presented. In these formulations, the corotational method is used to develop expressions of the internal forces and the tangent stiffness matrices, while the dynamic terms are formulated into a total Lagrangian context. Many aspects of the four formulations are investigated. First, theoretical derivations as well as practical implementations are given in details. The similarities and differences between the formulations are pointed out. Second, numerical accuracy and computational efficiency of these four formulations are compared. Regarding efficiency, the choice of the predictor at each time step and the possibility to simplify the tangent inertia matrix are carefully investigated. This work is presented in the second appended journal paper. To make this thesis self-contained, two chapters concerning the parametrization of the finite rotations and the derivation of the 3D corotational beam element in statics are added. / QC 20120521

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This dissertation discusses the potential for using a conventional main lateral-force resisting system, combined with the reserve strength in the gravity framing, and or auxiliary collapse-inhibiting mechanisms deployed throughout the building, or enhanced shear tab connections, to provide adequate serviceability performance and collapse safety for seismic and wind hazards in the central and eastern United States. While the proposed concept is likely applicable to building structures of all materials, the focus of this study is on structural steel-frame buildings using either non-ductile moment frames with fully-restrained flange welded connections not specifically detailed for seismic resistance, or ductile moment frames with reduced beam section connections designed for moderate seismic demands. The research shows that collapse prevention systems were effective at reducing the conditional probability of seismic collapse during Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) level ground motions, and at lowering the seismic and wind collapse risk of a building with moment frames not specifically detailed for seismic resistance. Reserve lateral strength in gravity framing, including the shear tab connections was a significant factor. The pattern of collapse prevention component failure depended on the type of loading, archetype building, and type of collapse prevention system, but most story collapse mechanisms formed in the lower stories of the building. Collapse prevention devices usually did not change the story failure mechanism of the building. Collapse prevention systems with energy dissipation devices contributed to a significant reduction in both repair cost and downtime. Resilience contour plots showed that reserve lateral strength in the gravity framing was effective at reducing recovery time, but less effective at reducing the associated economic losses. A conventional lateral force resisting system or a collapse prevention system with a highly ductile moment frame would be required for regions of higher seismicity or exposed to high hurricane wind speeds, but buildings with collapse prevention systems were adequate for many regions in the central and eastern United States. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MScEng (Process Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A mineral concentrate drying process consisting of a hot gas generator, a flash dryer and a feeding section is found to be the bottleneck in the platinum concentrate smelting process. This operation is used as a case study for system identification and model-based control of dryers. Based on the availability of a month's worth of dryer data obtained from a historian, a third party modelling and control software vendor is interested in the use of this data for data driven model construction and options for dryer control. The aimed contribution of this research is to use only data driven techniques and attempt an SID experiment and use of this model in a controller found in literature to be applicable to the dryer process. No first principle model was available for simulation or interpretation of results. Data were obtained for the operation from the plant historian, reduced, cleaned and investigated for deterministic information through surrogate data comparison – resulting in usable timeseries from the plant data. The best datasets were used for modelling of the flash dryer and hot gas generator operations individually, with the hot gas generator providing usable results. The dynamic, nonlinear autoregressive models with exogenous inputs were identified by means of a genetic programming with orthogonal least squares toolbox. The timeseries were reconstructed as a latent variable set, or “pseudo-embedding”, using the delay parameters as identified by average mutual information, autocorrelation and false nearest neighbours. The latent variable reconstruction resulted in a large solution space, which need to be investigated for an unknown model structure. Genetic Programming is capable of identifying unknown structures. Freerun prediction stability and sensitivity analysis were used to assess the identified best models for use in model based control. The best two models for the hot gas generator were used in a basic model predictive controller in an attempt to only track set point changes. One step ahead modelling of the flash dryer outlet air temperature was unsuccessful with the best model obtaining a validation R2 = 43%. The lack of process information contained in the available process variables are to blame for the poor model identification. One-step ahead prediction of the hot gas generator resulted in a top model with validation R2 = 77.1%. The best two hot gas generator models were implemented in a model predictive controller constructed in a real time plant data flow simulation. This controller's performance was measured against set point tracking ability. The MPC implementation was unsuccessful due to the poor freerun prediction ability of the models. The controller was found to be unable to optimise the control moves using the model. This is assigned to poor model freerun prediction ability in one of the models and a too complex freerun model structure required. It is expected that the number of degrees of freedom in the freerun model is too much for the optimiser to handle. A successful real time simulation architecture for the plant dataflow could however be constructed in the supplied software. It is recommended that further process measurements, specifically feed moisture content, feed temperature and air humidity, be included for the flash dryer; closed loop system identification be investigated for the hot gas generator; and a simpler model structure with smaller reconstructed latent variable regressor set be used for the model predictive controller. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Drogings proses vir mineraal konsentraat bestaan uit drie eenhede: 'n lug verwarmer-, 'n blitsdroeër- en konsentraat toevoer eenheid. Hierdie droeër is geïdentifiseer as die bottelnek in die platinum konsentraat smeltingsproses. Die droeër word gebruik as 'n gevallestudie vir sisteem identifikasie asook model-gebasseerder beheer van droeërs. 'n Maand se data verkry vanaf die proses databasis, het gelei tot 'n derde party industriële sagteware en beheerstelsel maatskappy se belangstelling in data gedrewe modelering en beheer opsies vir die drogings proses. Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om data gedrewe modeleringstegnieke te gebruik en die model in 'n droeër-literatuur relevante beheerder te gebruik. Geen eerste beginsel model is beskikbaar vir simulasie of interpretasie van resultate nie. Die verkrygde data is gereduseer, skoon gemaak en bestudeer om te identifiseer of die tydreeks deterministiese inligting bevat. Dit is gedoen deur die tydreeks met stochastiese surrogaat data te vergelyk. Die mees gepaste datastelle is gebruik vir modellering van die blitsdroeër en lugverwarmer afsonderlik. Die nie-liniêre, dinamiese nie-linieêre outeregressie modelle met eksogene insette was deur 'n genetiese programmering algoritme, met ortogonale minimum kwadrate, identifiseer. Die betrokke tydreeks is omskep in 'n hulp-veranderlike stel deur gebruik te maak van vertragings-parameters wat deur gemiddelde gemeenskaplike inligting, outokorrelasie en vals naaste buurman metodes verkry is. Die GP algoritme is daartoe in staat om the groot oplossings ruimte wat deur hierdie hulp-veranderlike rekonstruksie geskep word, te bestudeer vir 'n onbekende model struktuur. Die vrye vooruitskattings vermoë, asook die model sensitiwiteit is inag geneem tydens die analiese van die resultate. Die beste modelle se gepastheid tot model voorspellende beheer is gemeet deur die uitkomste van 'n sensitiwiteits analise, asook 'n vrylopende voorspelling, in oënskou te neem. Die een-stap vooruit voorspellende model van die droeër was onsusksesvol met die beste model wat slegs 'n validasie R2 = 43% kon behaal. Die gebrekkige meet instrumente in die droeër is te blameer vir die swak resultate. Die een-stap vooruit voorspellende model van die lug verwarmer wat die beste gevaar het, het 'n validasie R2 = 77.1% gehad. 'n Basiese model voorspellende beheerder is gebou deur die 2 beste modelle van slegs die lugverwarmer te gebruik in 'n intydse simulasie van die raffinadery data vloei struktuur. Hierdie beheerder se vermoë om toepaslike beheer uit te oefen, is gemeet deur die slegs die stelpunt te verander. Die beheerder was egter nie daartoe in staat om die insette te optimeer, en so die stelpunt te volg nie. Hierdie onvermoë is as gevolg van die kompleks vrylopende model struktuur wat oor die voorspellingsvenster optimeer moet word, asook die onstabiele vryvooruitspellings vermoë van die modelle. Die vermoede is dat die loslopende voorspelling te veel vryheids grade het om die insette maklik genoeg te optimeer. Die intydse simulasie van die raffinadery se datavloei struktuur was egter suksesvol. Beter meting van noodsaaklike veranderlikes vir die droër, o.a. voginhoud van die voer, voer temperatuur, asook lug humiditeit; geslotelus sisteem identifikasie vir die lugverwarmer; asook meer eenvoudige model struktuur vir gebruik in voorspellende beheer moontlik vermag deur 'n kleiner hulp veranderlike rekonstruksie te gebruik.

O trabalho trata da formulação e implementação numérica de modelos matemáticos do comportamento de estruturas considerando-se as não-linearidades física e geométrica. O equilíbrio na posição deslocada é formulado via Princípio dos Trabalhos Virtuais, empregando-se o método dos elementos finitos para a discretização espacial das estruturas e busca de soluções aproximadas. Inicialmente destaca-se com base no caso de treliças planas o emprego de medidas de deformação e tensão conjugadas energeticamente. Particularizando-se a formulação geral do equilíbrio para os pórticos planos apresenta-se uma análise crítica das formulações lagrangiana total e atualizada. Em seguida, tendo-se em vista aplicações às estruturas em concreto armado, aborda-se o comportamento não-linear físico pela mecânica do dano em meios contínuos, empregando-se os modelos de dano para o concreto propostos por Mazars e La Borderie. Estendem-se os estudos do comportamento estrutural não-linear físico (dano) e geométrico incorporando-se a análise dinâmica. Utiliza-se para integração no domínio do tempo o método implícito de Newmark combinado com o procedimento incremental e iterativo de Newton-Raphson. O amortecimento é levado em conta por meio da regra de Rayleigh. Exemplos consistindo de análises não lineares estática e dinâmica de estruturas reticulares planas compõem numéricas. Os resultados obtidos ilustram o desempenho e as potencialidades das formulações empregadas. / The formulation and numerical implementation of mathematical models of the structural behavior of plane frames considering material and geometrical nonlinearities are treated in this work. The Principle of Virtual Work is presented in order to characterize the equilibrium in the displaced position. The structure is discretized by the finite element method. Plane trusses analysis is performed in order to show how important it is to take into account the strain and stress tensors energetically conjugated. Being particularized, the general equilibrium formulation for the plane frames a critical analysis of the total and updated lagrangian formulations is presented. The material nonlinear behavior is modeled by continuum damage mechanics by using both Mazars and La Boderie\'s damage models. The nonlinear analysis is extended including the dynamic response of the reinforced concrete plane frames. The usual iterative Newton-Raphson technique is used combined with implicit Newmark method in order to carry out the integration at time. The damping is introduced by means of the Rayleigh\'s rule. Numerical analysis by a suitable computer program show the theoretical results considering static and dynamic response of plane frames.

Diversos estudos foram realizados para detecção de patologias na laringe. Essas patologias causam alteração na frequência, amplitude e formato de onda do sinal de voz e podem ser estudadas através dos parâmetros convencionais de análise como jitter e shimmer, ou sob o enfoque da dinâmica não linear. Essas técnicas são não invasivas e servem de apoio ao especialista da área de fonoaudiologia para o diagnóstico de patologias nas pregas vocais. As técnicas de análise acústica baseiam-se no formato de onda vocal no domínio do tempo e domínio da frequência, enquanto que a técnica de análise não linear utilizada nesse trabalho baseia-se no atrator reconstruído do sinal de voz. O objetivo dessa tese é diferenciar vozes normais e patológicas e entre patologias usando a técnica de análise não linear conhecida como Seção de Poincaré. Foram analisados 48 sinais de vozes humanas, divididos em 3 grupos (16 normais, 16 com nódulo e 16 com edema de Reinke). Em seguida foram selecionados 3 trechos de 500 ms nos intervalos 0.5s-1.0s, 2.0s-2.5s e 4.0s-4.5s chamado de primeiro critério e um trecho 500ms no trecho de maior variação de pitch, chamado de segundo critério. Em seguida, o atrator foi reconstruído em 3 dimensões, determinado o atrator médio, e de cada ponto do atrator médio foi extraída a seção de Poincaré. De cada seção de Poincaré foi calculada a dispersão dos pontos do atrator no plano através da média e desvio padrão das dispersão dos pontos da seção de Poincaré em relação ao ponto médio da seção. A validação da ferramenta desenvolvida para essa tese foi realizada utilizando um sinal senoidal inserindo jitter gradativamente, onde verificou-se uma variação proporcional da média da dispersão. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que não foi possível diferenciar patologias mas foi possível classificar vozes normais das patológicas. O melhor intervalo para classificar as vozes normais das patológicas utilizando o primeiro critério foi entre 0.5s-1.0s pois nesse intervalo todas as vozes normais foram classificadas corretamente. No entanto, 6 vozes patológicas foram classificadas como normais com 2 vozes patológicas na fronteira que separa as vozes normais das patológicas. O segundo critério classificou todas as vozes normais corretamente e apenas uma voz patológica foi classificada como patológica. Concluiu-se que a ferramenta proposta utilizando o segundo critério mostrou-se superior em relação ao primeiro critério para diferenciar vozes normais das patológicas. / Several studies have been performed to detect pathologies of the larynx. These pathologies cause changes in the frequency, amplitude, and waveform of the voice signal. They can be studied by means of conventional analysis parameters such as jitter and shimmer, or from nonlinear dynamics concepts. These techniques are noninvasive and can help the speech therapist to better diagnose the pathologies in the vocal folds. The acoustic analysis techniques are based on the voice waveform in the time and frequency domains, while the non-linear analysis techniques are based on the attractor reconstructed from the speech signal.The aim of this thesis is to differentiate normal and pathological voices using a nonlinear analysis technique named Poincaré section. We analyzed 48 human voice signals divided into 3 groups (16 normal, 16 nodule and 16 Reinke\'s edema). Then, we analyzed 3 stretches of 500ms in the intervals 0.5s-1.0s, 2.0s-2.5s e 4.0-4.5s, denominated first criteria, and a stretch of 500ms in a higher variation in pitch, denominated second criteria. The attractor was then reconstructed in three dimensions, the average attractor was determined, and at each point of the average attractor, a Poincaré section was extracted. From each Poincaré section, the dispersion of the points of the attractor was calculated in the plane by means of the statistical average and standard deviation related to the medium point of the section. The validation of the tool developed for this thesis was achieved by inserting jitter gradually in a sinusoidal wave, where there was a proportional variation of average\'s dispersion was observed. The results obtained for this set of voices showed that the average and standard deviation of dispersion of the points in the Poincaré section differentiate the groups of voices, but not the pathological groups. The Statistical tests of Anova and Tukey were used to analyze the 3 groups and all group pairings, two by two, with a statistical significance of 5%. The best interval to classify normal voices from pathological voices by means of the first criteria was between 0.5s-1.0s, given the fact that in this interval, all normal voices were correctly classified. However, 6 pathological voices were classified as normal voices, with 2 voices border lining the frontier between normal voices from pathological voices. The second criteria classified all normal voices correctly, with only one pathological voice incorrectly classified. In conclusion, the second criteria tool proposed by this thesis was proven superior to differentiate normal voices from pathological ones.

The signal structure is a partial structure representation for dynamic systems. It characterizes the causal relationship between manifest variables and is depicted in a weighted graph, where the weights are dynamic operators. Earlier work has defined signal structure for linear time-invariant systems through dynamical structure function. This thesis focuses on the search for the signal structure of nonlinear systems and proves that the signal structure reduces to the linear definition when the systems are linear. Specifically, this work: (1) Defines the complete computational structure for nonlinear systems. (2) Provides a process to find the complete computational structure given a state space model. (3) Defines the signal structure for dynamic systems in general. (4) Provides a process to find the signal structure for a class of dynamic systems from their complete computational structure.