In this Dissertation, we develop, and provide proof of principle for, parameter identification techniques for structural systems that can be described in terms of one or two nonlinear normal modes. We model the dynamics of these modes by second-order ordinary-differential equations based on the principles of mechanics, past experience, and engineering judgment. We perform a number of separate experiments on a two-mass structure using several different types of excitation. For the linear tests, the theoretical system response is known in closed-form. For the nonlinear test, we use the method of multiple scales to determine second-order uniform expansions of the model equations and hence determine the approximations to responses of the structure. Then, we estimate the linear and nonlinear parameters by regressive fits between the theoretically and experimentally obtained response relations. We report deviations and agreements between model and experiment. / Ph. D.

This thesis presents the development of a six degree of freedom nonlinear dynamic model for a single-mast fully submerged hydrofoil vehicle. The aim of the model is to aid in evaluating various model-based controllers for autonomous operation by simulating their performance before implementation in the field. Initially, first principles approach is employed to develop an approximate dynamic model of the vehicle. Prediction of the vehicle motion using the first principles model is then compared with the data from the tow tank experiments to assess the accuracy of the assumptions made in estimating the hydrofoil performance. Additionally, the dynamic model is adjusted to reflect the measured hydrodynamic forces in the tow tank tests. Utilizing the modified dynamic model to simulate the vehicle motion, an initial height controller is designed and tuned in field trials until stable foiling state was achieved. We evaluate the field results and discuss the limitation of employing steady-state tow tank data in establishing the vehicle dynamic model. / Master of Science / This thesis presents the development of a model describing the motion of a hydrofoil vehicle. The craft uses hydrofoils which act like conventional airplane wings that work in water instead of air to lift the hull fully out of the water. In order to maintain a set height above the water and direction of travel, the vehicle needs some form of a controller for autonomous operation. The purpose of the vehicle model is to aid in development of these controllers by simulating and evaluating their performance before implementation in the field. Initially, forces acting on the vehicle are approximated using fundamental hydrodynamic theory. The theoretical model is then compared with experimental data to assist in characterization of the hydrofoils. Building upon the measured test data, we create a preliminary height controller in simulation and conduct field trials to achieve stable foiling state.

Although the finite element method is often applied to analyze the dynamics of structures, its application to large, complex structures can be time-consuming and errors in the modeling process may negatively affect the accuracy of analyses based on the model. System identification techniques attempt to circumvent these problems by using experimental response data to characterize or identify a system. However, identification of structures that are time-varying or nonlinear is problematic because the available methods generally require prior understanding about the equations of motion for the system. Nonlinear system identification techniques are generally only applicable to nonlinearities where the functional form of the nonlinearity is known and a general nonlinear system identification theory is not available as is the case with linear theory. Linear time-varying identification methods have been proposed for application to nonlinear systems, but methods for general time-varying systems where the form of the time variance is unknown have only been available for single-input single-output models. This dissertation presents several general linear time-varying methods for multiple-input multiple-output systems where the form of the time variance is entirely unknown. The methods use the proper orthogonal decomposition of measured response data combined with linear system theory to construct a model for predicting the response of an arbitrary linear or nonlinear system without any knowledge of the equations of motion. Separate methods are derived for predicting responses to initial displacements, initial velocities, and forcing functions. Some methods require only one data set but only promise accurate solutions for linear, time-invariant systems that are lightly damped and have a mass matrix proportional to the identity matrix. Other methods use multiple data sets and are valid for general time-varying systems. The proposed methods are applied to linear time-invariant, time-varying, and nonlinear systems via numerical examples and experiments and the factors affecting the accuracy of the methods are discussed. / Ph. D.

Central to tapping mode atomic force microscopy is an oscillating cantilever whose tip interacts with a sample surface. The tip-surface interactions are strongly nonlinear, rapidly changing, and hysteretic. We explore numerically a lumped-mass model that includes attractive, adhesive, and repulsive contributions as well as the interaction of the capillary fluid layers that cover both tip and sample in the ambient conditions common in experiment. To accomplish this, we have developed and used numerical techniques specifically tailored for discontinuous, nonlinear, and hysteretic dynamical systems. In particular, we use forward-time simulation with event handling and the numerical pseudo-arclength continuation of periodic solutions. We first use these numerical approaches to explore the nonlinear dynamics of the cantilever. We find the coexistence of three steady state oscillating solutions: (i) periodic with low-amplitude, (ii) periodic with high-amplitude, and (iii) high-periodic or irregular behavior. Furthermore, the branches of periodic solutions are found to end precisely where the cantilever comes into grazing contact with event surfaces in state space corresponding to the onset of capillary interactions and the onset of repulsive forces associated with surface contact. Also, the branches of periodic solutions are found to be separated by windows of irregular dynamics. These windows coexist with the periodic branches of solutions and exist beyond the termination of the periodic solution. We also explore the power dissipated through the interaction of the capillary fluid layers. The source of this dissipation is the hysteresis in the conservative capillary force interaction. We relate the power dissipation with the fraction of oscillations that break the fluid meniscus. Using forward-time simulation with event handling, this is done exactly and we explore the dissipated power over a range of experimentally relevant conditions. It is found that the dissipated power as a function of the equilibrium cantilever-surface separation has a characteristic shape that we directly relate to the cantilever dynamics. We also find that despite the highly irregular cantilever dynamics, the fraction of oscillations breaking the meniscus behaves in a fairly simple manner. We have also performed a large number of forward-time simulations over a wide range of initial conditions to approximate the basins of attraction of steady oscillating solutions. Overall, the simulations show a complex pattern of high and low amplitude periodic solutions over the range of initial conditions explored. We find that for large equilibrium separations, the basin of attraction is dominated by the low-amplitude periodic solution and for the small equilibrium separations by the high-amplitude periodic solution. / Ph. D.

The cochlea is known to exhibit a nonlinear, mechanical amplification which allows the ear to detect faint sounds, improves frequency discrimination, and broadens the range of sound pressure levels that can be detected. In this work, active artificial hair cells (AHC) are proposed and developed which mimic the nonlinear cochlear amplifier. Active AHCs can be used to transduce sound pressures, fluid flow, accelerations, or another form of dynamic input. These nonlinear sensors consist of piezoelectric cantilever beams which utilize various feedback control laws inspired by the living cochlea. A phenomenological control law is first examined which exhibits similar behavior as the living cochlea. Two sets of physiological models are also examined: one set based on outer hair cell somatic motility and the other set inspired by active hair bundle motility. Compared to passive AHCs, simulation and experimental results for active AHCs show an amplified response due to small stimuli, a sharpened resonance peak, and a compressive nonlinearity between response amplitude and input level. These bio-inspired devices could lead to new sensors with lower thresholds of sound or vibration detection, improved frequency sensitivities, and the ability to detect a wider range of input levels. These bio-inspired, active sensors lay the foundation for a new generation of sensors for acoustic, fluid flow, or vibration sensing. / Ph. D.

Trial and error and the use of highly time-consuming methods are often necessary for modeling, simulating and characterizing nonlinear dynamical systems. However, for the rather common special case when a nonlinear system has linear relations between many of its degrees of freedom there are particularly interesting opportunities for more efficient approaches. The aim of this thesis is to develop and validate new efficient methods for the theoretical and experimental study of mechanical systems that include significant zero-memory or hysteretic nonlinearities related to only small parts of the whole system. The basic idea is to take advantage of the fact that most of the system is linear and to use much of the linear theories behind forced response simulations. This is made possible by modeling the nonlinearities as external forces acting on the underlying linear system. The result is very fast simulation routines where the model is based on the residues and poles of the underlying linear system. These residues and poles can be obtained analytically, from finite element models or from experimental measurements, making these forced response routines very versatile. Using this approach, a complete nonlinear model contains both linear and nonlinear parts. Thus, it is also important to have robust and accurate methods for estimating both the linear and nonlinear system parameters from experimental data. The results of this work include robust and user-friendly routines based on sinusoidal and random noise excitation signals for characterization and description of nonlinearities from experimental measurements. These routines are used to create models of the studied systems. When combined with efficient simulation routines, complete tools are created which are both versatile and computationally inexpensive. The developed methods have been tested both by simulations and with experimental test rigs with promising results. This indicates that they are useful in practice and can provide a basis for future research and development of methods capable of handling more complex nonlinear systems.

Complexity lies halfway between stochasticity and determinism, suggesting that brain activity is neither fully random nor fully predictable but lives by the rules of nonlinear high- and low-complexity dynamics. One important aspect of brain function is noise-like activity (NLA), defined as background, electrical potential fluctuations in the nervous system distinct from spiking rhythms in the foreground. The objective of this thesis was to investigate the neurodynamical complexity of NLA recorded at the cellular and local network scales in in vitro preparations of mouse and human hippocampal tissue, under healthy and epileptiform conditions. In particular, it was found that neuronal NLA arises out of the physiological contributions of gap junctions and chemical synaptic channels and is characterized by a spectrum of complexity, ranging from high- to low-complexity, that was measured using methods from nonlinear dynamical systems theory. Importantly, the complexity of background, neuronal NLA was shown to depend on the degree of cellular interconnectivity to the surrounding local network. In addition, the complexity and multifractality of NLA was further studied at the cellular and local network scales in epileptiform transitions to seizure-like events, identifying emergent low-complexity and reduced multifractality (bordering on monofractal-type dynamics) in the pathological ictal state. Finally, dual intracellular recordings of hippocampal epileptiform activity were analyzed to measure NLA synchronicity, showing evidence for increased same- and cross-frequency correlations and increased phase synchronization in the pathological ictal state. Convergence towards increased phase synchrony manifested in lower frequency regions including theta (4-10 Hz) and beta (12-30 Hz), but also in higher frequency bands (gamma, 30-80 Hz). In summary, there is evidence to suggest that background NLA captures important neurodynamical information pertinent to the classification and identification of brain state transitions in healthy and epileptiform hippocampal dynamics, using sophisticated neuroengineering analyses of these physiological signals.

[pt] Arcos abatidos são usados com frequência para vencer grandes vãos. Exemplos incluem pontes em arco e coberturas de grandes espaços como galpões industriais e estádios. Em muitos casos empregam-se arcos atirantados ou apoiados em estruturas flexíveis, fazendo com que os apoios se movam quando o arco é carregado. Isto aumenta a flexibilidade do sistema e a probabilidade de perda de estabilidade na presença de cargas estáticas e dinâmicas. Em muitos casos estas estruturas podem ser modeladas como arcos com apoios elásticos. No presente trabalho resolve-se o problema de estabilidade estática de forma analítica e através de uma aproximação usando o método de Ritz, servindo a solução analítica para aferir a precisão do modelo numérico. A seguir, com base neste estudo, desenvolve-se, usando o método de Ritz, a formulação para análise das vibrações não lineares do arco com apoios elásticos, assunto inédito na literatura. Os resultados mostram a grande influência dos apoios nas vibrações não lineares e na estabilidade do arco sob cargas estáticas e dinâmicas. / [en] Shallow arches are often used to overcome large spans, for example, arch bridges or steel roofs to cover large spaces such as industrial sheds and stadiums. In many cases the arches are tied or are supported by a flexibility structure, causing that supports to move when the arch has been loaded. This increases the flexibility of the system and the probability of loss of stability in the presence of static and dynamic loads. In many cases, these structures can be modeled as arches with elastic supports. In the present work the static stability has been solved analytically and through the Ritz method, serving the analytical solution to assess the accuracy of the numerical model. Then, based on this study, the analysis of nonlinear vibrations of shallow arches with elastic supports is developed, using the Ritz method, a subject not yet studied in the literature. The results show the noticeable influence of the supports on the nonlinear vibration and stability of shallow arches under static and dynamic loads.

La tribologie et l'analyse non-linéaire du signal est le sujet de mon travail de thèse. Dans la nature, les phénomènes linéaires sont l'exception ; rares sont les systèmes réels qui obéissent exclusivement à des lois linéaires. A l'opposée, les non-linéarités sont impliquées dans tous les processus naturels (réactions chimiques, mécanique, économie, etc.). Les systèmes frottant en sont un des exemples les plus courants, avec des applications très variées. Dans les systèmes de freinage, le frottement se trouve être à l'origine de nombreux problèmes d'instabilités. Les types d'instabilités auxquelles on a affaire dans ce cas sont celles des vibrations induites par le frottement. C'est justement sur ces instabilités que repose le principe Modalsens; un capteur- une lamelle- vient frotter sur un échantillon et ce frottement génère la vibration de celui-ci : le post-traitement par analyse de Fourier du signal vibratoire permet de distinguer des composantes liées au relief, au frottement et à la compressibilité des aspérités. Dans le cas de la méthode Modalsens, l'analyse de Fourier, qui est un outil linéaire, agit comme des lunettes aux travers desquelles est observé le signal et qui filtrerait toutes les composantes non-linéaires. Notre contribution s'inscrit dans cette optique: mettre en place une méthode performante d'analyse non-linéaire pour permettre de mieux appréhender l'analyse du comportement dynamique de Modalsens et de dégager de nouveaux estimateurs pour la caractérisation des surfaces textiles. Partant de là, les résultats obtenus nous serviront à proposer une modélisation du contact sur matériaux fibreux. / Tribology and nonlinear time series analysis are the main subject of my thesis. In nature, the Iinear events are the exception; few real systems follow linear laws exclusively. At the opposite, nonlinearities are involved in all natural processes (chemical reactions, mechanical engineering, economies, etc.). Systems involving dry friction are one of the most common examples, with a variety of applications. In braking systems, friction is found to cause many problems of instability. Types of instabilities addressed in this case are those of friction induced vibrations. The Modalsens method is precisely based on the exploitation of those instabilities: a sensor- a thin blade- rubs on a sample and friction induces its vibrations. Post-processing by Fourier analysis of the vibration signal can separate several components of the sample related to the relief, friction and compressibility of asperities. However, in the case of Modalsens method, Fourier analysis, which is a linear tool, acts like eyeglasses through which the signal is observed and that filters out all non-linear components. Our contribution is in this perspective: the establishment of an efficient method of nonlinear signal analysis to better understand the dynamic behavior of Modalsens and also generate new estimators for the characterization of textile surfaces. Hence, a model of contact on fibrous surface is proposed based on the obtained results.

Este estudo trata do desenvolvimento de uma formulação matemática para ligações deslizantes aplicada à análise dinâmica não linear geométrica de estruturas e mecanismos tridimensionais conjuntamente à sua implementação computacional. Esses tipos de ligações possuem diversas aplicações nas indústrias aeroespacial, mecânica e civil sendo de interesse prático na simulação de, por exemplo: antenas de satélite, braços robóticos e guindastes; estruturas civis aporticadas, como estruturas pré-moldadas; e o acoplamento veicular móvel em pontes de geometria qualquer. Para a introdução das ligações deslizantes nos elementos finitos de pórtico plano, pórtico espacial e de casca são empregados os métodos dos multiplicadores de Lagrange, Lagrangeano aumentado e função de penalização como forma de imposição das restrições cinemáticas das juntas. Aspectos como rugosidade e dissipação por atrito na trajetória de deslizamento das ligações são considerados de forma a complementar o modelo numérico. Conexões rotacionais entre os elementos finitos empregados são também consideradas. Adicionalmente, uma formulação para atuadores flexíveis é desenvolvida de forma a introduzir movimentação aos corpos. Para simulação do comportamento dos sólidos emprega-se uma formulação do método dos elementos finitos em uma versão Lagrangeana total baseada em posições. Utiliza-se a relação constitutiva de Saint-Venant-Kirchhoff para caracterização dos materiais. Estuda-se a integração temporal das equações não lineares do movimento com restrições através dos métodos de Newmark e α-generalizado e a solução do sistema não linear é obtida pelo método de Newton-Raphson. Diversos exemplos são apresentados para verificação das formulações propostas. / This study deals with the development of a mathematical formulation for sliding connections applied to the geometrical nonlinear dynamical analysis of three-dimensional structures and mechanisms along with its computational implementation. These kinds of connections have several applications in aerospace, mechanical and civil industries when simulating, e.g.: satellite antennas, robotic arms and cranes; frame like civil structures, such precast structures; and the coupling between moving vehicles and bridges of any geometry. For the introduction of sliding connections in plane frames, spatial frames and shell finite elements the Lagrange multipliers, augmented Lagrangian and penalty function methods are employed as to enforce the joints kinematic constraints. Aspects such as roughness and friction dissipation on the connections sliding path are considered as to complement the numerical model. Rotational connections between the employed finite elements are also considered. In addition, a formulation for flexible actuators is developed to introduce motion to the bodies. In order to simulate the behaviour of solids, a total Lagrangian finite element method formulation based on positions is employed. The Saint-Venant-Kirchhoff constitutive relation is used to characterize the materials. The time integration of the constrained nonlinear equations of motion is studied by the Newmark and generalized-α methods and the solution of the nonlinear system is obtained by the Newton-Raphson method. Several examples are presented to verify the proposed formulations.