<p>In practice, many systems are modeled by first and second order models including a time delay. These low-order models can often be used to describe the most important and characteristic features of a system and be a base for control design. In industry, it is important to have fast, reliable, and easily applicable methods for estimating the parameters in such models. It is well-known that, for practical reasons, many systems can not be excited by an arbitrary input signal. However, a pulse-shaped input signal can most often be used. The aim with this thesis project is to study identification of low-order models based on pulse-shaped input signals.</p>

In practice, many systems are modeled by first and second order models including a time delay. These low-order models can often be used to describe the most important and characteristic features of a system and be a base for control design. In industry, it is important to have fast, reliable, and easily applicable methods for estimating the parameters in such models. It is well-known that, for practical reasons, many systems can not be excited by an arbitrary input signal. However, a pulse-shaped input signal can most often be used. The aim with this thesis project is to study identification of low-order models based on pulse-shaped input signals.

<p> The pulse response of a full scale aeration tank is mathematically modelled with an arbitrary network of idealized perfectly mixed and plug flow component vessels. The model is fitted in the frequency domain, then inverse transformed to the time domain. The soluble carbon concentration curve of batch biokinetic run is modelled by a modified logistics equation and a piecewise linear expression. The mixing and kinetic models are combined to predict the degree of conversion assuming the degree of segregation, J, to be one. The pulse responses of a lab scale tank for varying water flow rates are also modelled by the same methods. An attempt is made to correlate the mathematical model parameters to the water flow rate. </p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

Le secteur du bâtiment représente 35% des la consommations énergétiques dans les pays membres de l’agence international de l’énergie en 2010 et 39,8% aux Etats-Unis en 2015. Plus de 50% de cette consommation a été utilisée pour la production de chaleur et de froid. Néanmoins cette consommation peut être réduite par l'amélioration la performance énergétique du bâtiment. La performance thermique de l'enveloppe du bâtiment joue un rôle primordial. Par conséquent, le diagnostic thermique de l'enveloppe du bâtiment est nécessaire pour, par exemple, la réception de nouvelles constructions, l'amélioration de la performance énergétique des anciens bâtiments, ainsi que la vente et la location des logements. Pourtant, il existe très peu de méthodes quantitatives pour la caractérisation des parois épaisses. L'objectif de cette étude est d'explorer des méthodes quantitatives innovantes de diagnostic thermique de l'enveloppe du bâtiment. Des mesures expérimentales ont été réalisées en laboratoire (à l’IFSTTAR à Nantes) et in situ (à l’IUT de Bordeaux). Différents capteurs et méthodes d'instrumentation ont été étudiés pour mesurer la densité de flux et la température de surfaces des parois, afin de procurer des recommandations pour le choix des capteurs ainsi que des protocoles de traitement de données. A partir des données mesurées (température et densité de flux des surfaces de l'enveloppe), trois approches numériques ont été proposées pour estimer des paramètres thermiques des parois multicouches épaisses : par méthode inverse, par réponse à un échelon et par réponse impulsionnelle. En outre, une méthode innovante non-destructive utilisant la rayonnement térahertz a été étudiée. Les mesures ont été effectuées au sein du laboratoire I2M. Cette méthode permet de caractériser le coefficient d'absorption des matériaux constructifs ordinaires comme isolation, plâtre, béton, bois… Elle pourrait postérieurement être combinée avec une méthode thermique pour apporter des informations complémentaires. / Buildings represent a large share in terms of energy consumption, such as 35% in the member countries of IEA (2010) and 39.8% in U.S. (2015). Climate controlling (space heating and space cooling) occupies more than half of the consumption. While this consumption can be reduced by improving the building energy efficiency, in which the thermal performance of building envelope plays a critical role. Therefore, the thermal diagnosis of building envelope is of great important, for example, in the case of new building accreditation, retrofitting energy efficiency of old building and the building resale and renting. However, very few diagnostic methods exist for the characterization of thick walls. The present measurement standards that based on steady state heat transfer regime need a long time (several days). The classical transient technologies, such as flash method, are difficult to implement on the walls because of the large thickness of walls and the complex conditions in situ. This thesis aims to explore innovative methodologies for thermal quantitative diagnosis of building envelope. Two experimental cases were carried out: one is in laboratory (IFSTTAR, Nantes) and the other is in situ (IUT, Bordeaux). Different sensors and instruments were studied to measure the wall heat flux and surface temperature, and provided some guidelines for the choice of sensors and data processing protocols as well. Using these measured data, three estimation approaches were proposed to estimate the thermal parameters of the multilayer thick wall: pulse response curve method, step response curve method and inverse method, which can be applied for different diagnostic situations. In addition, an innovative NDE (non-destructive evaluation) method using terahertz (THz) radiation was also investigated. Measurements were carried out in I2M laboratory to characterize the absorption coefficient of standard building materials (insulation, plaster, concrete, wood ...). This THz method can be combined with a previous thermal method to provide some complementary information.

This thesis aims to find out the effective diffusivity (Deff) of a porous material – γ-alumina, using an unsteady state method with two inert gases at ambient condition with no reactions. For porous materials, Deff is important because it determines the amount of reactants that transfers to the surface of pores. When Deff is known, the apparent tortuosity factor of γ-alumina is calculated using the parallel pore model. The apparent tortuosity factor is important because: (a) it can be used to back-calculate Deff at reacting conditions; (b) once Deff with reactions is known, the Thiele modulus can be calculated and hence the global reaction rate can be found; (c) apparent tortuosity factor is also important for modelling purposes (e.g. modelling a packed-bed column or a catalytic combustion reactor packed with porous γ-alumina in various shapes and monoliths). Experimental measurements were performed to determine the effective diffusivity of a binary pair of non-reacting gases (He in N2, and N2 in He) in spherical γ-alumina pellets (1 mm diameter), and in γ-alumina washcoated monoliths (washcoat thickness 20 to 60 µm, on 400 cpsi (cells per square inch) cordierite support). The method used is based on the chromatographic technique, where a gas flows through a tube, which is packed with the sample to be tested. A pulse of tracer gas is injected (e.g. using sample loops: 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 ml) and by using an on-line mass spectrometer the response in the outlet of the packed bed is monitored over time. For the spherical pellets, the tube i.d. = 13.8 mm and the packed bed depths were 200 and 400 mm. For monoliths the tube i.d. = 7 mm and the packed lengths were 500 and 1000 mm. When the chromatographic technique was applied to the monoliths, it was observed that experimental errors can be significant, and it is very difficult to interpret the data. However, the technique worked well with the spherical pellets, and the effective diffusivity of He in N2 was 0.75 – 1.38 × 10-7 m2 s-1, and for N2 in He was 1.81 – 3.10 × 10-7 m2 s-1. Using the parallel pore model to back-calculate the apparent tortuosity factor, then a value between 5 to 9.5 was found for the pellets.

Adjacent precast, prestressed box beam bridges have a history of poor performance and have been observed to exhibit common types of deterioration including longitudinal cracking, concrete spalling, and deterioration of the concrete top flange. The nature of these types of deterioration leads to uncertainty of the extent and effect of deterioration on structural behavior. Due to limitations in previous research and understanding of the strength of deteriorated box beam bridges, conservative assumptions are being made for the assessment and load rating of these bridges. Furthermore, the design of new box beam bridges, which can offer an efficient and economical solution, is often discouraged due to poor past performance. Therefore, the objective of this research is to develop improved recommendations for the inspection, load rating, and design of adjacent box beam bridges. Through a series of bridge inspections, deteriorated box beams were identified and acquired for experimental testing. The extent of corrosion was determined through visual inspection, non-destructive evaluation, and destructive evaluation. Non-destructive tests (NDT) included the use of connectionless electrical pulse response analysis (CEPRA), ground penetrating radar (GPR), and half-cell potentials. The deteriorated capacity was determined through structural testing, and an analysis procedure was developed to estimate deteriorated behavior. A rehabilitation procedure was also developed to restore load transfer of adjacent beams in cases where shear key failures are suspected. Based on the understanding of deterioration developed through study of deteriorated adjacent box beam bridges, improved inspection and load rating procedure are provided along with design recommendations for the next generation of box beam bridges.