In this thesis, a continuum sensitivity analysis method is presented for calculation of shape sensitivities of an elastic bar. The governing differential equations and boundary conditions for the elastic bar are differentiated with respect to the shape design parameter to derive the continuum sensitivity equations. The continuum sensitivity equations are linear ordinary differential equations in terms of local or material shape design derivatives, otherwise known as shape sensitivities. One of the novelties of this work is the derivation of three variational formulations for obtaining shape sensitivities, one in terms of the local sensitivity and two in terms of the material sensitivity. These derivations involve evaluating (a) the variational form of the continuum sensitivity equations, or (b) the sensitivity of the variational form of the analysis equations. We demonstrate their implementation for various combinations of design velocity and global basis functions. These variational formulations are further solved using finite element analysis. The order of convergence of each variational formulation is determined by comparing the sensitivity solutions with the exact solutions for analytical test cases. This research focusses on 1-D structural equations. In future work, the three variational formulations can be derived for 2-D and 3-D structural and fluid domains. / Master of Science / When solving an optimization problem, the extreme value of the performance metric of interest is calculated by tuning the values of the design variables. Some optimization problems involve shape change as one of the design variables. Change in shape leads to change in the boundary locations. This leads to a change in the domain definition and the boundary conditions. We consider a 1-D structural element, an elastic bar, for this study. Subsequently, we demonstrate a method for calculating the sensitivity of solution (e.g. displacement at a point) to change in the shape (length for 1-D case) of the elastic bar. These sensitivities, known as shape sensitivities, are critical for design optimization problems. We make use of continuum analytical shape sensitivity analysis to derive three variational formulations to compute these shape sensitivities. The accuracy and convergence of solutions is verified using a finite element analysis code. In future, the approach can be extended to multi-dimensional structural and fluid domain problems.

This thesis presents fundamental research in the field of laser vibrometry for the application to vibration measurements. A key concern for laser vibrometry is the effect of laser speckle which appears when a coherent laser beam scatters from an optically rough surface. The laser vibrometer is sensitive to changes in laser speckle which result from surface motions not in the direction of the incident beam. This adds speckle noise to the vibrometer output which can be indistinguishable from the genuine surface vibrations. This has been termed ‘pseudo-vibration' and requires careful data interpretation by the vibration engineer. This research has discovered that measurements from smooth surfaces, even when no identifiable speckle pattern is generated, can produce noise and therefore reference to speckle noise, in such circumstances, is inappropriate. This thesis has, therefore, adopted the more general term of pseudo-vibration to include noise generated from any surface roughness or treatment, i.e. including but not limited to speckle noise. This thesis develops and implements novel experimental methods to quantify pseudovibration sensitivities (transverse, tilt and rotation sensitivity) with attention focussed on commercially available laser vibrometers and consideration is given to a range of surface roughnesses and treatments. It investigates, experimentally, the fundamental behaviour of speckles and attempts to formulate, for the first time, a relationship between changes in intensity to pseudo-vibration sensitivity levels. The thesis also develops and implements models for computational simulation of pseudo-vibrations using the fundamental behaviour of speckles. The combination of experimentation and simulation improves current understanding of the pseudo-vibration mechanisms and provides the vibration engineer with a valuable resource to improve data interpretation. Two experimental methods of quantifying pseudo-vibration sensitivity are developed and successfully applied in the evaluation of transverse, tilt and rotation sensitivity for two models of commercial laser vibrometer. These evaluations cover both single beam (translational vibration measurement) and parallel beam (for angular vibration measurement) modes. The first method presented requires correction of the vibrometer measurement with an independent measurement of genuine velocity to produce an iii apparent velocity dominated by the required noise components. The second method requires a differential measurement using two vibrometers to cancel common components such as genuine velocity, leaving only uncorrelated noise from each measurement in the resulting apparent velocity. In each case, a third measurement is required of the surface motion component causing pseudo-vibration and this is used to normalise the apparent velocity. Pseudo-vibration sensitivity is then presented as a map showing the spectral shape of the noise, as a mean and standard deviation of harmonic peaks in the map and as a total rms level across a defined bandwidth. The simulations employ a novel and effective approach to modelling speckle evolution. Transverse and tilt sensitivity are predicted for the first time and are verified by the experimental study. They provide the vibration engineer with the potential to estimate pseudo-vibrations using a simple piece of software. The laser beam spot diameter has a large influence on the pseudo-vibration sensitivity. Transverse sensitivity has been quantified as around 0.03% and 0.01% (per order) of the transverse velocity of the surface for beam spot diameters of 100 μm and 600 μm respectively. Larger beam spots have been shown to significantly reduce transverse sensitivity and measurements from smoother surfaces have also shown a reduced level of transverse sensitivity. Tilt sensitivity has been quantified at about 0.1 μms-1/degs-1 and 0.3 μms-1/degs-1 (per order) of angular velocity of the surface for beam spot diameters of 100 μm and 600 μm respectively. Smaller beam spot diameters significantly reduce tilt sensitivity. The surface roughness or treatment has been shown to have little effect on the level of tilt sensitivity. Rotation sensitivity has been quantified at approximately 0.6 μms- 1/rads-1 and 1.9μms-1/rads-1 (per order) of rotation velocity of the rotor for 90 μm and 520 μm. Smaller beam spot diameters have shown a significant reduction in rotation sensitivity and measurements on smoother surfaces have shown a reduced rotation sensitivity. Focussing the laser beam approximately on the rotation axis has also shown a significant reduction in rotation sensitivity. Parallel beam rotation sensitivity has been quantified at 0.016 degs-1/rads-1 and it is demonstrated that this can adequately be estimated using the single beam rotation sensitivity.

<p>As modeling and simulation becomes a more important part of the modeling process, the demand on a known accuracy of the results of a simulation has grown more important. Sensitivity analysis (SA) is the study of how the variation in the output of a model can be apportioned to different sources of variation. By performing SA on a system, it can be determined which input/inputs influence a certain output the most. The sensitivity measures examined in this thesis are the Effective Influence Matrix, EIM, and the Main Sensitivity Index, MSI.</p><p>To examine the sensitivity measures, two tests have been made. One on a laboratory equipment including a hydraulic servo, and one on the conceptual landing gear model of the Gripen aircraft. The purpose of the landing gear experiment is to examine the influence of different frictions on the unfolding of the landing gear during emergency unfolding. It is also a way to test the sensitivity analysis method on an industrial example and to evaluate the EIM and MSI methods.</p><p>The EIM and MSI have the advantage that no test data is necessary, which means the robustness of a model can be examined early in the modeling process. They are also implementable in the different stages of the modeling and simulation process. With the SA methods in this thesis, documentation can be produced at all stages of the modeling process. To be able to draw correct conclusions, it is essential that the information that is entered into the analysis at the beginning is well chosen, so some knowledge is required of the model developer in order to be able to define reasonable values to use.</p><p>Wishes from the model developers/users include: the method and model quality measure should be easy to understand, easy to use and the results should be easy to understand. The time spent on executing the analysis has also to be well spent, both in the time preparing the analysis and in analyzing the results.</p><p>The sensitivity analysis examined in this thesis display a good compromise between usefulness and computational cost. It does not demand knowledge in programming, nor does it demand any deeper understanding of statistics, making it available to both the model creators, model users and simulation result users.</p>

As modeling and simulation becomes a more important part of the modeling process, the demand on a known accuracy of the results of a simulation has grown more important. Sensitivity analysis (SA) is the study of how the variation in the output of a model can be apportioned to different sources of variation. By performing SA on a system, it can be determined which input/inputs influence a certain output the most. The sensitivity measures examined in this thesis are the Effective Influence Matrix, EIM, and the Main Sensitivity Index, MSI. To examine the sensitivity measures, two tests have been made. One on a laboratory equipment including a hydraulic servo, and one on the conceptual landing gear model of the Gripen aircraft. The purpose of the landing gear experiment is to examine the influence of different frictions on the unfolding of the landing gear during emergency unfolding. It is also a way to test the sensitivity analysis method on an industrial example and to evaluate the EIM and MSI methods. The EIM and MSI have the advantage that no test data is necessary, which means the robustness of a model can be examined early in the modeling process. They are also implementable in the different stages of the modeling and simulation process. With the SA methods in this thesis, documentation can be produced at all stages of the modeling process. To be able to draw correct conclusions, it is essential that the information that is entered into the analysis at the beginning is well chosen, so some knowledge is required of the model developer in order to be able to define reasonable values to use. Wishes from the model developers/users include: the method and model quality measure should be easy to understand, easy to use and the results should be easy to understand. The time spent on executing the analysis has also to be well spent, both in the time preparing the analysis and in analyzing the results. The sensitivity analysis examined in this thesis display a good compromise between usefulness and computational cost. It does not demand knowledge in programming, nor does it demand any deeper understanding of statistics, making it available to both the model creators, model users and simulation result users.

Thesis (doctoral)--Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, 1999. / Originally published: Knegsel : HV Press, 1999. Includes bibliographical references and index.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 28-31, 1996 / Town and Country Hotel and Convention Center, San Diego, California / It is well known that the pulse telemetering system whose system equipment is simple is superior to the continuous one in ultilizing signal power. But in designing a pulse telemetering receiver the frequency shift problem is often encountered, the shift often greatly wider than the signal bandwidth is very unfavorable for improving receiver working sensitivity. Either to limit transmitter frequency stability strictly or to adapt AFC system in receiver for tracking carrier wave can solve the problem above, the AFC system method could improve the receiver’s performance, but the equipment is complicated. To what extent the receiver working sensitivity will be effected and how to judge the effection in case of adapting VF matched filter and RF being wideband in receiver are this paper’s emphasis. In this paper the power density spectrum distribution of the white noise which has passed through the non-linear system-the linear detector is analysed theoretically, and the improved working sensitivity of the receiver with video matched filter and its difference sensitivity value to that of the optimal receiver are derived. The tested working sensitivity data of two kind pulse receivers with different RF bands are given and the theoretical calculation results conform well with these data, thus it is proven that adapting video matched filter in pulse receiver is a effective approach for compensating the receiver working sensitivity dropping from RF bandwidth increase.

Sensitivity analysis was performed on a soot model using a partially stirred reactor (PaSR) in order to determine the effects of mixing model parameters on soot scalar values. The sensitivities of the mixture fraction zeta and progress variable C to the mixing model constant C_phi were calculated; these values were used to compute the sensitivity of water mass fraction Y_H2O to C_phi and several soot quantities to soot moments. Results were validated by evaluating the mean mixture fraction sensitivity and a long simulation time case. From the baseline case, it was noted that soot moment sensitivities tended to peak on the rich side of the stoichiometric mixture fraction zeta_st. Timestep, number of notional particles, mixing timescale tau_mix, and residence time tau_res were varied independently. Choices for timestep and notional particle count were shown to be sufficient to capture relevant scalar profiles, and did not greatly affect sensitivity calculations. Altering tau_mix or tau_res was shown to affect sensitivity to mixing, and it was concluded that the soot model is more heavily influenced by the chemistry than mixing. / text

A preliminary gas detection study was conducted on as-grown multi-walled carbon nanotubes and anodized aluminum oxide (MWNTs/AAO) template. The material demonstrated room temperature gas sensitivity and p-type semiconductor characteristics. Plasma-etched MWNTs/AAO templates were employed to construct capacitive gas sensors. The capacitances of the sensors were sensitive to both reducing and oxidizing gases at room temperature. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) dispersed in binder andamp;aacute;-terpineol were applied on sensor platforms to form resistive gas sensors. The sensors demonstrated excellent sensitivity to low concentrations of reducing and oxidizing gases at room temperature, which suggests the p-type semiconducting behavior of SWNTs. The sensor recovery was found to be incomplete at room temperature in flow of nitrogen and air, thus possible solutions were investigated to enhance sensor performance. The sensor operating principles and suggestions for possible future work are discussed. The room temperature and air background functionality of the sensor suggest that SWNT is a promising gas sensing material for application in ambient conditions.

Scientists have long wondered why some individuals are more sensitive to pain than others. While individual differences in pain have traditionally been discounted due to neuroticism, research has shown that individuals who are more sensitive to pain demonstrate real biological differences in pain perception (Coghill, McHaffie & Yen, 2003). However, individual differences in pain sensitivity remain under-explored in research and clinical settings that can provide further insights into clinical disorders such as addiction. The current research review is interested in examining the link between pain sensitivity and alcohol dependence. Investigating the relationship between pain sensitivity and alcohol addiction prompts many important peripheral questions such as whether increased pain sensitivity can serve as a useful biomarker for alcohol addiction, and how addiction to alcohol can cause changes in sensitivity to pain. Addiction potential or risk for addiction is a research area that is extremely important given that the high rate of addiction in this country is alarmingly high. The literature is sparse on the relationship between hyperalgesia or pain sensitization and risk for alcohol addiction. This literature review synthesizes current relevant research on pain and addiction, as well as addressing possible links between them. / text

<p>Prior knowledge about the possible characteristics of demand and supply is vital in the planning and operation of economically sustainable isolated rural power systems. System modelling and simulation is one of the tools that can be used in planning and assessing the performance of these systems. This thesis is presenting a Monte Carlo simulation methodology for modelling, simulating and analysing the performance of isolated rural electricity markets applicable in developing countries. The definitions of possible power system operators managing these markets are introduced based on different economic objectives of operating the systems. The two system operators considered in the thesis are: altruistic and profit maximising operators. The concept used to define types of isolated rural electricity markets is combining the definitions of operators and the possible combinations of power supply options (purely thermal or hybrid system). It is anticipated that the rural electricity markets under consideration comprise of uncertainties in demand and supply (both demand and generation are modelled as random variables from assumed or estimated probability distributions).</p><p>Demand is price sensitive and modelled as a product of two random variables, relative demand and peak demand. The price sensitivity of demand is shown by representing peak demand using an economic price-demand function. The parameters (price sensitivity and demand factor) of this function are modelled as random variables which reflect the randomness of consumers’ preferences.</p><p>The simulation algorithm is based on the theory of correlated sampling, in order to compare the performance of systems under different operators. The thesis introduces the concept of nested Monte Carlo simulation to be able manage the simulation of different operators subjected to the same market conditions. The performance of electricity markets is assessed by analysing three parameters (tariffs, profit and reliability), which are random variables presented using probability distributions in form of duration curves.</p><p>The methodology is tested on a theoretical case study system using load data obtained from a rural community in Africa.  The case study illustrates how to use the model, preparation of the input variables and how to use the output to estimate and assess the possible performance of isolated rural power systems under different power system operators. It is anticipated that the proposed methodology can be used by researchers, planners and academia as a tool for planning, estimating and assessing the performance of rural power systems in isolated areas of developing countries</p>