Aufgrund ökonomischer Forderung und dem Trend zum Leichtbau werden Lagergehäusen und Anschlusskonstruktionen zunehmend dünnwandiger gestaltet. Die damit einhergehenden Verformungen begünstigen die Relativbewegungen zwischen Gehäuse/Welle. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht mittels FE-Simulation die Schlupfzustände in der Fuge die aus den Verformungen des dünnwandigen Gehäuses und Anschlusskonstruktionen resultieren. / Due to economic demands and the trend towards lightweight construction, bearing housings are becoming increasingly thin-walled. As a result, the bearing housing become more compliant. The associated deformations favour the relative movements between housing/shaft. The present work investigates the slip conditions in the joint resulting from the deformations of the thin-walled housing by means of FE simulation.

This dissertation studies two important problems in the field of biomass supply chain network. In the first part of the dissertation, we study the pre-disaster planning problem that seeks to strengthen the links between the multi-modal facilities of a biomass supply chain network. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is developed to determine the optimal locations for multi-modal facilities and bio-refineries, offer suggestions on reliability improvement at vulnerable links, production at bio-refineries, and make transportation decision under both normal and disrupted scenarios. The aim is to assist investors in determining which links’ reliability can be improved under specific budget limitations so that the biouel supply chain network can prevent possible losses when transportation links are disrupted because of natural disasters. We used states Mississippi and Alabama as a testing ground for our model. As part of numerical experimentation, some realistic hurricane scenarios are presented to determine the potential impact that pre-investing may have on improving the bio-mass supply chain network’s reliability on vulnerable transportation links considering limited budget availability. In the second part of the dissertation, we study the impact of feedstock supply uncertainty on the design and management of an inbound biomass coiring supply chain network. A two-stage stochastic mixed integer linear programming model is developed to determine the optimal use of multi-modal facilities, biomass storage and processing plants, and shipment routes for delivering biomass to coal plants under feedstock supply uncertainty while considering congestion into account. To represent a more realistic case, we generated a scenario tree based on the prediction errors obtained from historical and forecasted feedstock supply availability. We linearized the nonlinear problem and solved with high quality and in a time efficient manner by using a hybrid decomposition algorithm that connects a Constraint generation algorithm with Sample average approximation algorithm and enhanced Progressive hedging algorithm. We used states Mississippi and Alabama as a testing ground for our study and conducted thorough computational experiments to test our model and to draw managerial insights.

The scheduling of the converter aisle of a nickel smelting plant is a non-trivial task with significant consequences to plant profitability and production. An optimization-based scheduling formulation is developed using a continuous-time paradigm to accurately represent event timings. The formulation accounts for environmental restrictions on sulfur dioxide emissions using event timing constraints. The formulation includes novel semi-continuous modeling to represent flash furnaces which operate with a continuous inlet flow and intermittent discrete material removal, as well as, a novel sequencing and symmetry-breaking scheme to account for identical units operating in parallel. A rolling horizon feature is included in the formulation to accommodate multi-period optimization. Tightening constraints are developed and used to improve the computational performance of the optimization and demonstrate the capacity of the proposed methodology to function as a real-time decision-support tool. A solution procedure is presented where an aggregate model is used to bound the objective function of the master problem in a two layer optimization scheme. Finally, a novel multi-tiered procedure is presented to enhance the optimization solution by re-optimizing for objectives of decreasing priority in order to minimize task start times and penalize deviations in the furnace flow rate. To address the closed-loop properties of scheduling, a reactive scheduling mechanism is included to allow for rescheduling to account the impact of process disturbances on the operating schedule. A methodology for reducing radical scheduling changes due to the optimization during reactive scheduling is presented. The reactive scheduling algorithm utilizes a tiered optimization approach that progressively increases the degrees of freedom available, as required, in order to achieve a feasible production schedule. The use of the reactive scheduling algorithm demonstrates the ability to reject disturbances and transition plant operation in an agile manner. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Linear-motion compliant mechanisms have generally been developed for small displacement applications. The objective of the thesis is to provide a basis for improved large-displacement linear-motion compliant mechanisms (LLCMs). One of the challenges in developing large-displacement compliant mechanisms is the apparent performance tradeoff between displacement and off-axis stiffness. In order to facilitate the evaluation, comparison, and optimization of the performance of LLCMs, this work formulates and presents a set of metrics that evaluates displacement and off-axis stiffness. The metrics are non-dimensionalized and consist of the relevant characteristics that describe mechanism displacement, off-axis stiffness, actuation force, and size. Displacement is normalized by the footprint of the device. Transverse stiffness is normalized by a new performance characteristic called virtual axial stiffness. Torsional stiffness is normalized by a performance characteristic called the characteristic torque. Because large-displacement compliant mechanisms are often characterized by non-constant axial and off-axis stiffnesses, these normalized stiffness metrics are formulated to account for the variation of both axial and off-axis stiffness over the range of displacement. In pursuit of mechanisms with higher performance, this work also investigates the development of a new compliant mechanism element. It presents a pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM) for rolling-contact compliant beams (RCC beams), a compliant element used in the RCC suspension. The loading conditions and boundary conditions for RCC beams can be simplified to an equivalent cantilever beam that has the same force-deflection characteristics as the RCC beam. Building on the PRBM for cantilever beams, this paper defines a model for the force-deflection relationship for RCC beams. Included in the definition of the RCC PRBM are the pseudo-rigid-body model parameters that determine the shape of the beam, the length of the corresponding pseudo-rigid-body links and the stiffness of the equivalent torsional spring. The behavior of the RCC beam is parameterized in terms of a single parameter defined as clearance, or the distance between the contact surfaces. The RCC beams exhibit a unique force-displacement curve where the force is inversely proportional to the clearance squared. The RCC suspension is modeled using the newly defined PRBM. The suspension exhibits unique performance, generating no resistance to axial motion while providing significant off-axis stiffness. The mechanism has a large range of travel and operates with frictionless motion due to the rolling-contact beams. In addition to functioning as a stand-alone linear-motion mechanism, the RCC suspension can be configured with other linear mechanisms in superposition to improve the off-axis stiffness of other mechanisms without affecting their axial resistance.

Infrared (IR) illumination is commonly found in a surveillance camera to improve night-time recording quality. However, the limited available power from Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection in networkenabled cameras restricts the possibilities of increasing image quality by allocating more power to the illumination system.The thesis explored an alternative way to improve the image quality by using strobed IR illumination. Different strobing methods will be discussed in relation to the rolling shutter timing commonly used in CMOS sensors. The method that benefits the evaluation scenario the most was implemented in a prototype which is based on a commercialized fixed-box camera from Axis. The prototype demonstrated how the synchronization of the sensor and the strobing illumination system can be achieved.License plate recognition (LPR) in a dark highway was chosen as the evaluation scenario and an analysis on the car movements was done in a pursue of creating an indoor test. The indoor test provided a controlled environment while the outdoor test exposed the prototype to real-life conditions. The test results show that with strobed IR, the output image experienced brightness improvement and reduction in rolling shutter artifact, compared to constant IR. The theoretical calculation also proved that these improvement does not compromise the average power consumption and eye-safety level of the illumination system. / Infraröd (IR) belysning påträffas ofta i övervakningskameror för att förbättra bildkvalitén vid videoinspelning på natten. Den begränsade tillgängliga effekten från Power over Ethernet-anslutningen (PoE) i nätverksaktiverade kameror sätter dock en övre gräns för hur mycket effekt som kameran tillåts använda till belysningssystemet, och därmed hur pass mycket bildkvalitén kan ökas.I detta examensarbete undersöktes ett alternativt sätt att förbättra bildkvalitén genom att använda blixtrande (eng: ”strobed”) IR-belysning. Olika strobe-metoder undersöktes i relation till rullande slutare, vilket är den slutar-metod som vanligtvis används i CMOS-sensorer. Den metod som gav mest fördelaktiga resultat vid utvärdering implementerades i en prototyp baserad på en kommersiell nätverkskamera av Fixed box-typ från Axis Communications. Denna prototyp visade framgångsrikt ett koncept för hur synkronisering av bildsensorn och belysningssystemet kan uppnås.Registreringsskyltigenkänning (LPR) på en mörk motorväg valdes som utvärderingsscenario och en analys av bilens rörelser gjordes för att skapa en motsvarande testuppställning inomhus. Inomhustesterna gav en kontrollerad miljö medan testerna utomhus utsatte prototypen för verkliga förhållanden. Testresultaten visar att med strobed IR blev bilden från kameran både ljusare och uppvisade mindre artefakter till följd av rullande slutare, jämfört med konstant IR-belysning. Teoretiska beräkningar visade också att dessa förbättringar inte påverkar varken kamerans genomsnittliga effektförbrukning eller ögonsäkerheten för belysningssystemet negativt.

The power and energy optimization of a device can lead to a reduced cost, smaller area, better temperature performance, and higher lifetime. Furthermore, in systems that have limited power budget, it allows running simultaneously more functionalities or using features that require higher power demand.Therefore, both from the user and the company perspective, the value of a product increases as the energy optimization improves. For nighttime surveillance video recording, it is common to use infrared illumination to light the targetscene, which draws a significant portion of the total camera energy consumption. This master thesis examines and discusses how stroboscopic infrared illumination can enhance the energy efficiency in videorecording cameras with rolling shutter image sensors. This report analyzes LED driver circuits, recommends methodologies, and sorts the most relevant parameters to help to dimension and design the illumination system for a light-strobing system. A promising field of use for this technique has been found to be the license-plate recognition (LPR) scenario, for which this thesis dedicates a chapter in this document. This project has been developed at AXIS Communications, where a prototype has been built for one of their network security cameras. The prototype has been tested for LPR for both strobing light systems and conventional IR lighting systems. The results obtained prove that the energy efficiency of the illumination system can be improved more than 95% when stroboscopic illumination is used. / Effektförbrukning och energioptimering av en produkt kan leda till lägre kostnad, mindre storlek, bättre temperaturprestanda och högre livslängd. I system med begränsad effektbudget möjliggör detta dessutom aktivering av fler funktioner samtidigt, eller användning av funktioner med högre strömförbrukning. Därmed gör energioptimering att produktens värde ökar både för användaren och för företaget som tillverkar den. För videoinspelning med övervakningskamera nattetid är det vanligt att använda infraröd belysning för att belysa scenen, vilket ofta förbrukar en betydande del av kamerans totala effektbudget. Detta examensarbete undersöker och diskuterar hur blixtrande (Eng. strobed) infraröd belysning kan förbättra energieffektiviteten vid videoinspelning med bildsensorer med rullande slutare. I denna rapport analyseras LED-drivkretsarna, metodik rekommenderas samt att de mest relevanta parametrarna för att dimensionera och designa ett belysningssystem baserad på strobed IR-belysning sorteras ut. Ett lovande användningsområde för denna teknik har visat sig vara LPR-scenariot (License Plate Recognition), vilket diskuteras i ett eget kapitel i denna rapport. Projektet har genomförts på AXIS Communications, där en prototyp har byggts baserat på en av dess nätverkskameror. Prototypen har utvärderats LPR-sammanhang med både strobed och konventionellt IR belysningssystem. De erhållna resultaten visar att energieffektiviteten hos belysningssystemet kan förbättras med mer än 95% när blixtrande belysning används.

Nondestructive evaluation techniques were employed to fully characterize three 2.3L camshafts tested in an engine simulator for an equivalent of 100,000 miles. Optical microscopy, acoustic microscopy (SAM), and profilometry were used to characterize wear and fatigue, crack depth, and surface roughness, respectively. Results show cracking to occur mainly in the opening ramp of the most abusively ground cam lobes. No clear evidence was found for subsurface cracking at depths as great as 200 μm from the lobe's surface. Profilometry results show no evidence of any major tribological effect due to the sliding friction of the follower. Fractography studies show a difference between fracture surfaces among the cracks examined; straight cracks exhibit features resembling fatigue propagation, while fracture surfaces from pitted cracks show a more brittle behavior. Small grinding cracks (approximately 300 μm in length) were found in the opening ramps of the most abusively ground lobes prior to testing. Knoop and Nanoindenter microhardness indicate a near-surface rehardening for the most abusively ground lobe (confirmed by metallography), and temper burn for the remaining lobes. X-ray residual stress results made in the opening ramp of the tested lobes show evidence of residual stress relaxation. X-ray line width data as a function of depth does not correlate with residual stress. / Master of Science

No description available.

The demand for reliable condition monitoring systems on rotating machinery for power generation is continuously increasing due to a wider use of wind power as an energy source, which requires expertise in the diagnostics of these systems. An alternative to the limited availability of diagnostics and maintenance experts in the wind energy sector is to use unsupervised machine learning algorithms as a support tool for condition monitoring. The way condition monitoring systems can employ unsupervised machine learning algorithms consists on prioritizing the assets to monitor via the number of anomalies detected in the vibration signals of the rolling element bearings. Previous work has focused on the detection of anomalies using features taken directly from the time or frequency domain of the vibration signals to determine if a machine has a fault. In this work, I detect outliers using features derived from encoded vibration signals via sparse coding with dictionary learning. I investigate multiple outlier detection algorithms and evaluate their performance using different features taken from the sparse representation. I show that it is possible to detect an abnormal behavior on a bearing earlier than reported fault dates using typical condition monitoring systems.

Knots are usually regarded as defects when grading lumber. In order to evaluate a member under out-of-plane loading, shear strength is one of the major mechanical properties, specifically, rolling shear (RS) strength is one of the critical mechanical properties of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), which determines the flexural strength of CLT under short-span bending loads. Lower grade lumber with a higher percentage of knots is recommended to be utilized for the cross-layer laminations which are mainly responsible for resisting shear stresses. Firstly, shear tests were performed in order to evaluate the effect of knots on longitudinal shear strength using shear blocks. After that, the effect of knots on the RS strength of 3-ply southern yellow pine CLT were investigated by experimental tests and an analytical model. Center-point bending tests with a span-to-depth ratio of 6 and two-plate shear tests with a loading angle of 14° were conducted on six CLT configurations composed of different types of cross layer laminations: clear flatsawn lumber with/without pith, lumber with sound knots with/without pith, and lumber with decayed knots with/without pith. The shear analogy method was implemented to evaluate the RS strength values from the bending test results, which were also compared against the results from the two-plate shear tests. It was found that: (1) The shear blocks containing sound knots had higher shear strength than matched clear shear blocks, the shear blocks containing unsound knots had lower shear strength than the matched clear shear blocks. (2) CLT specimens with cross-layer laminations with either sound knots or decayed knots had higher RS strength. (3) In general, the shear analogy method underestimated the RS strength of CLT specimens containing knots and pith.