"RF excited CO2 lasers are widely used in industry. They provide relatively high power discharge levels while maintaining compactness, simplicity, and durability with respect to other competing laser technologies. To attain high power levels in the range of 5-10 KW, lasers with large electrode areas have to be designed. Unfortunately, due to the large electrode length requirements, transmission line effects make the discharge loading nonlinear, adversely affecting the efficiency of the CO2 laser. A standard approach to linearize the discharge loading is to introduce shunt inductors across the length of the electrodes in an effort to counter the capacitive nature of the discharge behavior. This thesis investigates and improves the theoretical models found in the literature in an effort to predict the discharge non-uniformity and allow for multiple shunt inductors installation. Specifically, we discuss the coupling of a CO2 laser discharge model with an electrical circuit solving scheme and how it can be characterized as one dimensional (1-D) and two dimensional (2-D) systems. The 1-D system is modeled using transmission line (TL) theory, where as the 2-D system is modeled using a finite difference time domain (FDTD) scheme. All our models were implemented in standard MATLAB code and the results are compared with those found in the literature with the goal to analyze and ascertain model limitations."

Dans l'industrie sidérurgique, les fours de réchauffage sont les plus grands consommateurs d'énergie après les hauts fourneaux. Réduire leur consommation énergétique est donc la préoccupation majeure de la commande des fours. Dans un four de réchauffage, des brames d'acier sont chauffées en traversant successivement plusieurs zones, de la température ambiante à un profil de température homogène de 1250 °C en sortie du four, avant d’être laminées dans les laminoirs à chaud. La température de brames est contrôlée par une structure de commande hiérarchisée à deux niveaux (niveau 1 et 2).L'objectif de ces travaux est d'améliorer la performance du chauffage et donc de réduire la consommation énergétique du four via une stratégie de commande prédictive distribuée hiérarchisée sur les deux niveaux de commande. Une approche de commande prédictive distribuée est tout d’abord développée pour le niveau 1 afin de suivre les consignes de température de zone, prenant en compte les couplages entre les zones et induisant une moindre complexité d’implantation par rapport à une approche centralisée. L’implantation industrielle a permis une amélioration significative de la précision du suivi de température et une réduction de la consommation d'énergie de 3%. Une deuxième étape propose l’élaboration de la commande prédictive hiérarchisée du niveau 2 afin, à partir de la consigne de température de brame, de déterminer les consignes de température optimales des zones en se fondant sur un modèle de transfert thermique du four. Les résultats de simulation, comparés aux données industrielles, montrent une réduction de la consommation énergétique de 5% et une meilleure qualité de chauffage des brames. L’approche précédente est enfin étendue pour prendre en compte et optimiser le cadencement des brames afin d’augmenter la productivité du four. La simulation montre une augmentation potentielle de productivité du four de 15 tonnes par heure tout en améliorant la qualité de chauffage des brames. / In steel industry, reheating furnaces are the biggest energy consumers after blast furnaces. As a result, reduction of energy consumption is the major concern of furnace control. In a walking-beam slab reheating furnace, steel slabs are heated by moving through successive zones from ambient temperature to a homogenous temperature profile of 1250°C at the furnace exit, to be rolled subsequently in the hot rolling mills. Temperature of slabs is controlled mainly by a two-level hierarchical structure, so called level 1 and level 2.The aim of this thesis is to improve the heating performance and consequently to reduce the energy consumption of the furnace by using hierarchical distributed model predictive control (MPC) strategy for both levels. In a first step, distributed model predictive controllers are developed for the level 1 in order to track zone temperature set-points. The distributed feature of the control law enables to consider coupling effects between zones while reducing the computation complexity compared to a complete centralized approach. The industrial results showed significant improvement on temperature tracking accuracy and an energy consumption reduction of 3%. In a second step, the hierarchical MPC is constructed for the level 2 in order to determine the optimal zones temperature setpoint from the slab temperature setpoint, based on a numerical heat transfer model of the furnace. The simulation results obtained with this strategy compared against industrial data show an energy consumption reduction of 5% and a better heating quality. The previous structure is finally extended to take into account and optimize the scheduling of the slabs within the MPC level 2 in order to increase productivity of the considered furnace. The simulation shows a potential increase of productivity of the furnace of 15 tons per hour while improving the slab heating quality.

Na construção de novas estruturas ou mesmo durante sua recuperação, a velocidade de construção influencia de maneira significativa, não apenas nos custos, mas também pelo potencial efeito nocivo (ruído, poluição, problemas no transito de veículos e pessoas, etc.) advindo da construção. Assim, para a construção, é desejável um período de construção tão breve quanto possível. As estruturas mistas de aço e concreto correspondem satisfatoriamente a essa necessidade, pois tanto os elementos de aço quanto os de concreto podem ser pré-fabricados industrialmente, ficando apenas as etapas de içamento e montagem a serem realizadas in-loco. Correntemente, entretanto, as ligações entre aço e concreto utilizadas em estruturas mistas, não estão bem adaptadas à utilização de lajes pré-fabricadas, pois tendem a diminuir a rapidez de montagem e a durabilidade do pavimento. Desta forma, a necessidade de desenvolvimento de novos tipos de ligações se evidencia. Ligações por aderência, na qual a resistência se dá pelo atrito entre varias interfaces, constitui-se de uma solução particularmente promissora. O conhecimento atual a respeito deste tipo de ligações é incompleto, e necessita ser complementado de maneira a possibilitar a utilização das ligações por aderência na prática. A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar e discutir o comportamento das ligações por aderência aço concreto, por meio da ligação entre lajes pré-fabricadas e vigas de aço de seção I através de ensaios estáticos. Em complemento, ensaios dinâmicos não destrutivos visando à observação do comportamento vibracional do protótipo provocado por impacto, foram realizados a fim de avaliar a influência do estado de danificação na frequência natural da viga mista, após o ensaio monotônico. Complementando a avaliação experimental, a simulação numérica dos protótipos experimentais foi realizada utilizando o pacote computacional Fx + Diana® e uma análise paramétrica desenvolvida. Os resultados obtidos na presente investigação para a ligação proposta se demostraram promissores, para todos os conectores analisados, L, R e RP, especialmente no que se refere à resistência ao cisalhamento da ligação. Ressalta-se que o modelo numérico desenvolvido foi capaz de estimar satisfatoriamente a capacidade resistente dos protótipos experimentais e o deslizamento na carga máxima. / For new structures, or even retrofitting old ones, the speed of construction has a significant impact not only on costs but also by potential harmful effects (noise, pollution, traffic of vehicles and people, etc.) provoked during the process. In this way, it is desirable a construction period as short as possible. Steel concrete composite structures respond satisfactorily to this need, since they have steel and concrete elements that can be industrially pre-fabricated, and only lifting and assembly are developed in-loco. Currently, however, the connections between steel and concrete used in composite structures are not well adapted to the use of precast concrete slabs, reducing the speed of assembling and also the durability of the produced floor. So, the need for the development of new types of connections becomes evident. Connections based on adherence, where the resistance comes from friction at interface, are a promising solution. Due to the lack of knowledge regarding this type of connections, additional studies must be conducted to make possible the use of connections by adherence. Present research aimed to analyze and discuss the behavior of connections by adherence between steel and concrete, through the combination of precast concrete slabs and steel beams with I cross sections. The connections are studied by means of experimental tests considering static loads. Additionally, dynamic tests are also carried out, aiming to observe the vibration produced by impact after static loads. The influence of damage provoked by static test on the natural frequencies of the beams was also investigated. The results obtained in the experimental program showed the good performance of the proposed connection and the feasibility of applying this solution to future composite structures. A nonlinear numerical analysis using commercially available software based on finite elements method was also performed, showing a good agreement with the experimental results.

Les zones de subduction présentent un intérêt majeur en termes de ressources minérales, notamment à cuivre et or. De nombreuses études se sont focalisées sur les mécanismes physico-chimiques de formation de ces minéralisations, mais très peu se sont intéressées aux processus géodynamiques qui contrôlent ces mécanismes. Dans cette étude, j’identifie les processus mantelliques et crustaux, liés à la dynamique tridimensionnelle (3D) de la subduction, qui favorisent la genèse de ces concentrations métalliques. La zone de subduction est-Méditerranéenne présente une évolution tectonique et magmatique complexe, avec de nombreuses données métallogéniques disponibles, ce qui en fait une zone d’étude privilégiée afin d’étudier ces interactions entre subduction et minéralisations. Ce travail a consisté à (1) réaliser un nouveau modèle de reconstructions cinématiques de la région, (2) caractériser la distribution spatiale et temporelle des occurrences magmatiques et minéralisées à partir de ce modèle, (3) mettre en évidence, via une étude de terrain, le contrôle structural de ces minéralisations et (4) apporter des contraintes physiques aux modèles conceptuels alors proposés, à l’aide d’une étude de modélisation numérique thermo-mécanique 3D. Deux provinces métallogéniques ont ainsi été mises en évidence : (1) au Crétacé supérieur, une province riche en cuivre qui s’est développée dans un environnement d’arc et (2) à l’Oligocène-Miocène, une province riche en plomb-zinc puis en or, qui s’est mise en place dans un contexte d’arrière-arc. Ces épisodes fertiles sont contrôlés par le retrait de la zone de subduction et les flux asthénosphériques associés qui permettent l’instauration d’un régime tectonique extensif (ou transtensif) dans la lithosphère, favorisant la genèse de ces systèmes minéralisés. Leur contenu métallique ainsi que leur typologie est alors fonction (1) de l’intensité avec laquelle ces processus influent sur la cinématique de subduction et (2) de l’histoire géodynamique antérieure de cette zone de subduction. / Subduction zones display a major economic interest, in terms of mineral resources, with mainly copper and gold deposits. While many studies focus on ore-forming physico-chemical mechanisms, the control of geodynamic processes on such deposits remains poorly investigated. In this study, I track tridimensional (3D) subduction-related mantle and crustal processes that promote ore genesis. The eastern Mediterranean subduction zone is a relevant study area to explore subduction-mineralization interactions, because of its complex tectonic and magmatic evolution and the large number of available metallogenic data. This work consisted in (1) performing a new kinematic reconstruction model of this region, (2) using this model, characterizing the spatial and temporal distribution of magmatic and ore occurrences, (3) evidencing, on the field, the relations between mineralization and large-scale tectonic structures and (4) providing physical constrains to proposed conceptual models, using 3D thermo-mechanical numerical modeling. Two main metallogenic provinces are evidenced: a late Cretaceous copper-rich and an Oligocene-Miocene lead-zinc- then gold-rich provinces emplaced in an arc and back-arc context, respectively. These metallogenic periods are controlled by the subduction zone retreat and associated asthenospheric flow that results in an extensional (or transtensional) tectonic regime in the overriding lithosphere, promoting ore genesis. Their metal content, as well as their typology then depend on (1) how much these processes affect the subduction kinematics and (2) the past geodynamic evolution of this subduction zone.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Um método de Matriz Resposta (MR) é descrito para gerar soluções numéricas livres de erros de truncamento espacial para problemas multigrupo de transporte de nêutrons com fonte fixa e em geometria unidimensional na formulação de ordenadas discretas (SN). Portanto, o método multigrupo MR com esquema iterativo de inversão nodal parcial (NBI) converge valores numéricos para os fluxos angulares nas fronteiras das regiões que coincidem com os valores da solução analítica das equações multigrupo SN, afora os erros de arredondamento da aritmética finita computacional. É também desenvolvido um esquema numérico de reconstrução espacial, que fornece a saída para os fluxos escalares de nêutrons em cada grupo de energia em um intervalo qualquer do domínio definido pelo usuário, com um passo de avanço também escolhido pelo usuário. Resultados numéricos são apresentados para ilustrar a precisão do presente método em cálculos de malha grossa.

A via permanente representa um elemento imprescindível na composição do transporte ferroviário e seu desempenho deve ser adequado, de forma a garantir tanto segurança quanto conforto. Assim, diversos aspectos devem ser analisados ainda na fase de projeto, através de dimensionamentos que confrontem diferentes parâmetros da resposta da via e os limites estabelecidos. Dessa forma, o conhecimento do comportamento mecânico da via, devido aos esforços impostos pela passagem do material rodante, passa a ser essencial no projeto de uma estrutura que garanta os requisitos necessários, sem ser inviável economicamente. Visto que esse comportamento mecânico é muito sensível à rigidez vertical da estrutura, o presente trabalho apresenta análises da influência desse parâmetro na resposta da via e, consequentemente, no seu dimensionamento. Nesse contexto, o trabalho abrange tanto o caso de vias em lastro solicitadas por trens de carga, quanto o caso de vias em laje solicitadas por trens de passageiros em meios urbanos. No primeiro caso são realizados estudos paramétricos, por meio de modelos clássicos e um modelo mecanicista, para a análise de momentos fletores e deflexões nos trilhos, bem como tensões verticais nas camadas de lastro, sub-lastro e subleito. Já no segundo caso, são realizados estudos paramétricos relativos à transmissibilidade e à atenuação de vibrações causadoras de ruído secundário. Também é feita uma análise da influência da rigidez vertical na amplificação dinâmica das cargas estáticas, que pode ser aplicada a ambos os casos citados e até extrapolada para casos de vias de alta velocidade. Os resultados mostraram que aumentos de rigidez vertical resultam em ganhos do ponto de vista de momentos fletores e deflexões nos trilhos, além de maior resistência e capacidade de dissipação de tensões verticais nas camadas de lastro, sub-lastro e subleito. Por outro lado, esses aumentos também levaram a maiores tensões nas camadas subjacentes à grade citadas, além de atenuações de vibrações em menores intervalos de frequência e maiores amplificações dinâmicas das cargas estáticas em vias de alta velocidade. Assim, é mostrado que a influência da rigidez vertical, tanto da via como um todo quanto de alguns elementos específicos, não deve ser analisada de forma genérica, pois, dependendo do parâmetro da resposta da via considerado no dimensionamento, seu aumento pode representar uma influência positiva ou negativa. / The railway track is an essential element in the composition of rail transport and its performance should be adequate to ensure both safety and comfort. Therefore, several aspects should be analyzed still in the project phase, through project designs that compare the response of the track from the point of view of different parameters and some stablished limits. Thus, the knowledge of the mechanical behavior of the track due to stresses imposed by the passage of rolling stock becomes essential to the design of a structure which ensures the necessary requirements, without being uneconomic. Since this mechanical behavior is very sensitive to vertical stiffness of the structure, this thesis presents some analyses about the influence of this parameter in the track response and, consequently, in its design. In this context, the research covers both the case of ballasted tracks with freight trains and the case of slab tracks with passenger trains in urban areas. In the first case, parametric studies are performed by means of classical and mechanistic models with analyses of bending moments and deflections in rails, as well as the vertical stresses on ballast, sub-ballast and subgrade layers. In the second, it was analyzed in the parametric studies the transmission and attenuation of vibrations causing ground borne vibration. In addition to these, there is also an analysis of the influence of the vertical stiffness in dynamic amplification of the static loads, which can be applied to both the mentioned cases and even extrapolated to cases of high-speed railways. The results showed that stiffness increases result in positive gains from the point of view of bending moments and deflections in rails, as well as higher strength and dissipation of vertical stresses on ballast, sub-ballast and subgrade layers. On the other hand, this increase of stiffness also lead to higher pressures on the layers cited, in addition to attenuation of vibrations in lower frequency ranges and higher dynamic amplifications of static loads in the case of high-speed operation. Thus, the influence of vertical stiffness should not be analyzed in a generic way, because, depending on the parameter of the track response considered, it can represent a positive or negative influence.

Este trabalho apresenta dois tipos de ensaios não destrutivos para a correlação do módulo dinâmico com a resistência à compressão para elementos de concreto. Os métodos de ensaio são a ultrassonografia e o método de excitação por impulso utilizando o equipamento Sonelastic®. Neste trabalho estão descritos seus funcionamentos, aplicações e limitações. A ultrassonografia, através da propagação de ondas sonoras, fornece, indiretamente, o módulo de elasticidade dinâmico. Com o método de excitação por impulso obtêm-se as frequências naturais e os modos de vibração do elemento estudado, o que permite determinar seu módulo dinâmico. Primeiramente, estes ensaios foram utilizados em corpos-de-prova cilíndricos e lajes alveolares produzidas em laboratório para a obtenção das curvas de correlação e, em seguida, estes mesmos ensaios foram realizados na fábrica de concreto pré-moldado. Para elementos de geometria complexa, como é o caso das lajes alveolares, apresenta-se uma metodologia para a obtenção de uma equação analítica para o cálculo do módulo dinâmico no ensaio de excitação por impulso. Estes métodos tiveram o objetivo final de avaliar a resistência à compressão do concreto na pista de protensão da fábrica, e então determinar o melhor momento para a desforma e corte do cabo de protensão. Com ambos os métodos, obteve-se ótimas correlações do módulo dinâmico com a resistência à compressão dos elementos em laboratório. Na fábrica de concreto pré-moldado não foi possível obter uma curva de correlação representativa de toda a laje na pista de protensão, porém foi possível registrar um bom indicativo de que é possível obter boas correlações para futuras pesquisas no assunto / This work presents two types of non-destructive testing for the correlation of the dynamic elastic modulus with the compressive strength. The test methods are the ultrasonography and the impulse excitation using the Sonelastic® equipment. In this work the equipaments operations, applications and limitations are also described. The ultrasound test indirectly supplies the dynamic elastic modulus through the propagation of sound waves. The natural frequencies and the vibration modes of the studied elements are obtained through impulse excitation method allowing to determine its dynamic modulus. To start, these tests were used in cylindrical specimens and hollow core slabs produced in the laboratory to obtain the correlation curves, and then these same methods were performed in the pre-cast concrete plant. As for complex geometric elements, as in the case of hollow core slabs, a methodology is applied in order to obtain an analytic equation to calculate the dynamic modulus in the impulse excitation test. These methods had the final goal the evaluation of the strength of prestressed concrete lying on track of the plant, so as to determine the best moment to demold and cut the prestressed cable. Excellent correlations of the dynamic modulus with compressive strength of the elements made in laboratory were obtained using both methods. It was not possible to obtain in the precast concrete plant a representative correlation curve of the whole slab on the track, nevertheless, it was possible to record a good indication that it is possible to obtain good correlations for future research.

I en byggnad kan ljud och vibrationer från steg spridas och dessa ljud kan störa de människor som vistas i byggnaden. Stegljudsisoleringsförmågan hos ett bjälklag beror på hur det är konstruerat och hur hög styvhet och massa bjälklaget har. I detta arbete undersöks stegljudsisoleringen hos tre bjälklagstyper. Dessa är monterade i befintliga byggnader, belägna i Växjö och ägda av fastighetsbolaget Videum.   Syftet med arbetet var att undersöka vilket av de tre bjälklagstyperna som är bäst lämpat att ha i en kontors- eller universitetsbyggnad, med avseende på akustik. Vidare var syftet att undersöka vilket av dessa tre bjälklag som avskärmar stegljud i horisontalled mest effektivt. Målet med arbetet har varit att genomföra en standardiserad stegljudsmätning och en enkätundersökning för att kunna fastställa vilket av de undersökta bjälklagen som har bäst stegljudsisolering. Data från dessa undersökningar har analyserats och beräknats.   Resultatet från stegljudsmätning och enkätundersökning visar att det bjälklag som avskärmar stegljud bäst är KL-träskiva med betongpågjutning. De undersökta bjälklagskonstruktionerna inklusive anslutningar till väggar är inte helt jämförbara och därför bör det nämnas att resultaten avser konstruktionslösningen som helhet och inte enbart själva bjälklaget. / Sound and vibration which originate from footsteps can spread in a building and may disturb the people who residence it. Ability to insulate impact sound varies depending on how the joists system is designed and how high its stiffness and mass are. In this thesis the impact sound insulation of three different joists systems will be examined. The joists systems are installed in existing buildings located in Växjö, Sweden and owned by the real estate company Videum.   The purpose of the thesis was to examine which of the three different joists systems that is most suitable for office- and university buildings, concerning acoustics. Furthermore, the purpose was to examine which of the joists systems that has the best ability to sequester impact sound horizontally. The goal with the thesis was to perform a standardized impact sound insulation measurement and a survey to determine which of the joists systems that has the best impact sound insulation. All data was analyzed and calculated.   The results show that the CLT board with a concrete layer reduces the impact sound most efficiently. However, it should be mentioned that the designs of the objects are not fully comparable and therefore the results relate to the entire design including the wall floor connection, rather than to the joists systems alone.

PERFORMANCE-BASED ANALYSIS OF A REINFORCED CONCRETE SHEAR WALL BUILDING Garrett Richard Hagen In this thesis, a special reinforced concrete shear wall building was designed per ASCE 7-05, and then the performance was investigated using the four analysis procedures outlined in ASCE 41-06. The proposed building was planned as a 6-story office building in San Francisco, CA. The structural system consisted of a two-way flat plate and reinforced concrete columns for gravity loads and slender structural walls for seismic loads. The mathematical building models utilized recommendations from ASCE 41-06 and first-principle mechanics. Moment-curvature analysis and fiber cross-section elements were used in developing the computer models for the nonlinear procedures. The results for the analysis procedures showed that the building met the Basic Safety Objective as defined in ASCE 41-06. The performance levels for the nonlinear procedures showed better building performance than for the linear procedures. This paper addresses previously found data for similar studies which used steel special moment frames, special concentric braced frames, and buckling restrained braced frames for their primary lateral systems. The results showcase expected seismic performance levels for a commercial office building designed in a high seismicity region with varying structural systems and when using different analysis procedures. Keywords: reinforced concrete structural walls, shear walls, performance-based analysis, ETABS, Perform-3D, flat plate, two-way slab.

Cette thèse a pour but de contribuer à la qualification du formulaire de calcul neutronique NARVAL, dédié aux coeurs de réacteurs à plaques. En particulier, l’objectif est de développer des méthodes innovantes permettant d’utiliser les données expérimentales inédites du programme HIPPOCAMPE pour évaluer la précision du profil de puissance calculé. La complexité provient de la localisation de l’instrumentation (chambres à fission placées entre les assemblages) et des hétérogénéités caractéristiques de ce type de coeurs (géométrie à plaques, poisons consommables et de contrôle solides). Pour aborder ce problème deux voies ont été mises en oeuvre : la première voie consiste à « combiner puis extrapoler » les écarts C/E observés afin de déterminer les incertitudes associées aux facteurs de puissance. Nous avons utilisé, pour ce faire, la méthode « P/A », traditionnellement employée dans les REP électrogènes mais jamais appliquée aux coeurs à plaques à ce jour. La deuxième voie passe, en revanche, par la reconstruction d’une nappe de puissance à utiliser comme référence (comparaison calcul/« expérience-reconstruite ») : nous avons focalisé notre travail sur des techniques géostatistiques. Après avoir constaté que les deux méthodes conduisent à des résultats satisfaisants (erreur comparable à l’incertitude expérimentale cible) nous avons continué notre recherche, en explorant les possibles développements et en introduisant en particulier une nouvelle méthode hybride (associant les techniques géostatistiques à la méthode P/A) qui permet d'améliorer ultérieurement la qualification du profil de puissance (écart-type des écarts C/E cohérent avec la constatation expérimentale). / The aim of this doctoral thesis work is to contribute to the experimental validation of a neutron physic code, called NARVAL, devoted to the analysis of slab cores reactors. The primary objective is to develop some innovative methods in order to validate the computed power map starting from the original experimental data, provided by the HIPPOCAMPE campaign. The particular position of the instrumentation (fission chambers located between the assemblies) and the strong heterogeneities, characterising this specific core design (slab geometry, burnable and control neutron absorbers in solid state) represent the main challenge of this work. Two different approaches are investigated : the first one consists in “combining and extrapolating” the observed calculated/experimental results in order to evaluate the uncertainty of power coefficients. Among different solutions, the “P/A” method is chosen : it is usually employed to perform conventional PWR plant analysis and has never been applied before to slab cores. The latter aims to reconstruct a power map that could be used as a direct reference for code validation : in this case the geostatistical techniques are selected. These methods provide satisfactory results as estimated errors are in good agreement with the experimental uncertainty target. Nevertheless, in this work a new hybrid method, applying the geostatistical technics to the P/A scheme, is investigated and developed. The good agreement between the experimental and the estimated validations of the computed power map attests the noteworthy performance of this new method.