Macroalgal beds provide the ecological foundations for most shallow reef ecosystems in temperate environments. With distinctive canopies primarily of brown laminarian algae (northern hemisphere), or laminarian or fucalean algae (southern hemisphere), in many areas these habitats are at risk from human activity. Overexploitation, pollution, and other effects of coastal activities have resulted in significant habitat loss in coastal ecosystems, and human-induced climate change is now seen as a major threat to ecosystem health in marine systems. Understanding the impact of climate change is particularly important for habitat-forming ecosystem engineers like kelps, as these species form the basis of hierarchically organised communities and play a fundamental role in determining community structure and ecological processes. South eastern Australia has experienced increases in marine temperatures at nearly four times the global average, and there is now evidence that, in some locations, macroalgae communities are retreating in a manner consistent with ocean warming. Successful management of marine systems requires understanding ecosystem processes, particularly the patterns and magnitude of production. Macroalgal communities often show relatively low resistance to disturbance, yet rapid recovery once disturbances are removed, hence they are generally highly dynamic in response to environmental perturbations. As a result, macroalgae are likely to play an increasingly important role in buffering the short term/dynamic effects of climate change on temperate reef communities.Knowledge of the productivity of seaweed-dominated temperate reef systems is largely a synthesis from studies conducted over small spatial scales utilising a variety of methods that generally measure different characteristics of both individual seaweeds and collectively. As a result of the diversity of measurement methods, estimates of gross primary productivity (GPP), production potential, and macroalgal biomass for temperate reefs are numerous and variable. This can lead to challenges for ecologists attempting to amalgamate research findings to facilitate long-term, broad-scale perspectives or compare short-term research between spatially separated communities. However, to date there has been relatively little research to compare measurement approaches and quantify differences in productivity estimates across the different techniques.The present research provides a unique investigation into some of the techniques and methodology involved in measuring primary productivity in marine systems, particularly kelp forests, using the macroalgae Ecklonia radiata, Phyllospora comosa and Macrocystis pyrifera as study species. The work is based on both field and laboratory exploration of productivity measurements and associated parameters. In situ measurements of primary productivity (diel oxygen modelling, benthic oxygen exchange chambers) or PSII electron transport (PAM fluorometry) are compared, and the possibility of using acoustics as a means of quantifying oxygen production at large scales is explored, as has already been applied in seagrass beds. This thesis also provides an in depth investigation of the effect of variability in sampling methodology with regards to interpretation of PAM fluorometry-derived parameters. Chapter 2 investigates the acoustic properties of Ecklonia radiata. The density, sound speed and resulting adabiatic compressibility of E. radiata tissue were investigated in the laboratory. Four methods were developed and trialled to determine the intrinsic sound speed of Ecklonia radiata tissue based on measurement of the time of flight of an ultrasonic pulse, while compressibility was calculated from density measurements. The results show that Ecklonia radiata sound speed and density are higher, and compressibility lower, than that of seawater. Properties varied according to size and tissue type and the variation likely reflected differences in cell type, packing and structure as well as the concentrations of alginates and other carbohydrates. These are important considerations for acoustic propagation and the results provide valuable inputs for future acoustic work. Chapter 3 focuses on the acoustic modelling of different scenarios of primary production in a shallow water rocky reef environment of Fortescue Bay (Canoe Bay), Tasmania, where E. radiata dominates the canopy. In February 2012, the environment was continuously probed by acoustic signal transmission and monitored by a comprehensive set of oceanographic sensors with the aim to assess the potential for acoustics to quantify excess oxygen production in bubble form. Ray-theory acoustic modelling results indicate that ecologically-significant void fractions of oxygen in the canopy layer from production would be clearly seen in diel variation of propagation features such as the energy decay rate of the medium impulse response. The model can then be used to invert empirical data for retrieving void fraction. However, comparative analysis of part of FORTES 12 data and model suggests that no large excess of bubbles was produced by photosynthesis under the present environmental conditions, in contrast to earlier observations made in seagrasses. As a result, the use of acoustics as a means of measuring primary productivity in kelp could not be further explored during the course of this research.Chapter 4 provides a unique comparison of the estimates of photosynthetic O2 production rates in an Ecklonia radiata dominated community using three different measurement methods: diel oxygen GPP models, benthic oxygen exchange chambers, and electron transport rate from PAM fluorometry which is usually interpreted as a measure of production potential. All three methods were run concurrently in situ in Fortescue Bay, Tasmania. The first diel oxygen model was fitted to in situ measures of dissolved oxygen (DO) in the environment and demonstrated a good fit, however, a consequence of this approach is that large variation in oxygen production was predicted at low PAR levels. A second model was created which utilised an explicit relationship between DO production and PAR, but it didn’t represent DO at the surface as well as the first model. Importantly, the two models indicate similar daily production rates of the seaweed bed (all species combined) that are ~ 2 times that predicted for the kelp alone based on incubations in the benthic chambers and scaling for the average size of adult kelp sporophytes and their population density. Oxygen evolution from incubation of sporophytes in benthic chambers and PAM fluorometry derived electron transport rates showed similar patterns, but the results indicate that the latter method may overestimate potential photosynthesis. The results suggest that diel oxygen modelling, benthic oxygen exchange chambers and PAM fluorescence can all provide good indications of productivity in shallow water marine environments. However, care must be taken in interpretation of results as each method differs in the type of productivity estimates it provides. As a direct measure of total seaweed production per unit area of reef, estimates from models based on empirical measures of environmental DO have much to recommend them.Chapter 5 details a final analysis investigating the effects of diurnal, seasonal and latitudinal variability in ambient light on PAM-derived parameters, as well as possible effects associated with depth, within- and between-alga variation in PSII performance, and latitudinal effects unrelated to the light climate. This research was based on field measurements undertaken in Tasmania, Western Australia and New South Wales, Australia in both summer and winter during 2012 and 2013, focussing on Ecklonia radiata, Macrocystis pyrifera and Phyllospora comosa. Photosynthetic characteristics of all species were highly dependent on the time of day, depth, latitude/region, season, and part of the thallus from which measurements were taken. Patterns dependent on time-of-day, depth and thalli placement varied with season and/or geographic region, and the nature of these patterns varied between species. It is clear from this work that efforts to standardise approaches to taking measurements of seaweeds using PAM fluorometry will be essential if measurements are to be compared meaningfully across studies.The key findings of this thesis are: (1) a first determination of the acoustic properties of E. radiata tissue which enable the development of scattering models to interpret scientific echosounder data collected in kelp beds; (2) a Gaussian beam/finite element beam code (Bellhop) with detailed environmental input and a huge number of beams can predict the acoustic character of a shallow water rocky reef and bubble layers with low-frequency effective sound speed; (3) the model allows prediction of the acoustic energy decay rates due to various scenarios of ecologically-relevant photosynthetic O2 production rates; (4) day vs night acoustic measurement and model data comparisons challenge void fraction predictions made from well established measurements and methods; (5) diel oxygen modelling, benthic oxygen exchange chambers and PAM fluorescence can all provide good indications of productivity, however, understanding the limitations of each method is essential when interpreting the results as the measurements they provide are not directly comparable; and (6) applying a consistent sampling methodology is a key consideration when planning research utilising PAM fluorometry as diurnal, seasonal, and latitudinal variability, as well as effects associated with depth and within- and between-alga variation in PSII performance will have significant impact on PAM-derived parameters. The results of this work give valuable insight into the advantages and disadvantages involved with several main techniques currently utilised to measure production of macroalgal/seagrass beds, and the challenges faced by ecologists attempting to interpret results and compare research between methods and across studies. Last but not least, this study provides important and relevant information on the potential use of acoustics as a future means of determining productivity of benthic habitat on large scales in marine environments. The work presented herein will assist in both development and interpretation of future study of productivity in marine systems. / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur et technologie / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

L'objectif de cette thèse consiste en l'étude d'une stratégie de contrôle actif à faible autorité avec comme application le contrôle actif du rayonnement acoustique d'une plaque. Depuis l'essor du contrôle actif, son application aux problèmes acoustiques et vibracoustiques a été investiguée par de nombreux chercheurs, exploitant soit la théorie du contrôle optimal, soit des approches originales basées plus particulièrement sur la physique. Des notions spécifiques au contrôle vibroacoustique ont été développées comme, par exemple, les modes radiatifs pouvant caractériser le rayonnement acoustique d'une plaque d'une manière adaptée au contrôle. <p>Le contrôle actif à faible autorité, pour lequel le Laboratoire de Structures Actives a développé une expertise dans le domaine de l'amortissement et du contrôle actif des vibrations, est une solution attractive par sa simplicité de mise en oeuvre. Le plus souvent implémenté sous la forme d'un contrôle décentralisé constitué de boucles indépendantes, le contrôle à faible autorité bénéficie de certaines garanties de stabilité et de robustesse. <p>Bien que notre stratégie de contrôle puisse s'appliquer à n'importe quel type de plaque, l'application considérée dans ce travail a été motivée par le contexte socio-économique actuel en rapport avec les nuisances acoustiques. Il était en effet intéressant d'évaluer la stratégie de contrôle pour le problème de la transmission acoustique d'un vitrage. La stratégie de contrôle se divise en deux étapes. Tout d'abord le développement d'un capteur unique destiné à fournir une mesure représentative du bruit rayonné par une plaque en basse fréquence. Deux capteurs de vitesse volumétrique (l'un discret, l'autre distribué) ont ainsi été développés et évalués expérimentalement. <p>Ensuite, une procédure d'optimisation de l'emplacement d'un ensemble d'actionneurs pilotés en parallèle est proposée. L'objectif de cette phase d'optimisation est de forcer la réponse fréquentielle du système à posséder les propriétés d'un système colocalisé. La stratégie de contrôle est ensuite évaluée sur deux structures expérimentales. <p><p>/ This thesis is concerned with a low authority active control strategy applied to the sound radiation control of a baffled plate. Since the development of active control ,numerous researchers have studied its application to acoustical or vibroacoustical problems using either the modern control theory or other methods based rather on the understanding of the physics of the problem. Vibroacoustical active control has lead to the definition of radiation modes allowing to describe the radiated sound of a plate in an appropriate manner for active control purposes. <p>Low autorithy control (LAC), for which the Active Structures Laboratory has gained an expertise for active vibration control applications is an interesting solution for its implementation simplicity. Most of the time it consists of several decentralized control loops, and benefits from guaranteed stability and robustness properties. Although our control strategy can be applied to any kind of plates, the application considered here has been motivated by the present socio-economical context related to noise annoyances. The active control strategy has been applied the problem of the sound transmission loss of glass plates (windows). This strategy is in two steps :first a volume velocity sensor is developed as to give a measure representative of the radiated sound at low frequencies. <p>Two sensors have been developed (one discrete and one distributed) and experimentally tested. Next, an optimisation strategy is proposed which allow to locate on the plate a set of several actuators driven in parallel. The goal of this optimisation task is to obtain an open-loop frequency response which behave like a collocated system. The control strategy is finally evaluated on two plate structures. / Doctorat en sciences appliquées / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This diploma thesis deals the formation of water hammer in pipes and the suppress the nega-tive effects especially for the use of protective devices (surge tank, air chamber, air valve and other). The special attention is paid to the use of the air valve, for which it was developed mathematical model. The solution is based on the use of numerical methods Lax-Wendroff with boundary conditions for the air valve.The numerical results are confronted with the ex-periment in conclusion.

In this diploma thesis called Water column separation under the hydraulic turbine runner during unsteady operating regimes are solved the pressure pulsations of the reverse water hamer. In the thesis is deduced a mathematical relationship of elaboration the numerice model which is based on equations of continuity and equations of forces equilibrium. Numerical model is created in MS Excel uses for computation the numerical method Lax-Wendrof that allows consideration of variable sound speed as function of static pressure and allows variable lenght step in computation domain. Reverse water hammer is in the thesis solved with consideration of rotating flow behind shut-off valve, where we expect forming of vortex rope. This situation can be applied on the closing water turbine which has vertex rope under turbine runner. Specifically for this thesis was carried out the experiment of the reverse water hammer. Constants going into numerical solution are optimalized with using experiment and pressure pulsation are compared between numerical solution and experiment.

Detailed information about the oceanic environment is essential for many applications in the field of marine geology, marine biology, coastal engineering, and marine operations. Especially, knowledge of the properties of the sediment body is often required. Acoustic remote sensing techniques have become highly attractive for classifying the sea bottom and for mapping the sediment properties, due to their high coverage capabilities and low costs compared to common sampling methods. In the last decades, a number of different acoustic devices and related techniques for analyzing their signals have evolved. Each sensor has its specific application due to limitations in the frequency range and resolution. In practice, often a single acoustic tool is chosen based on the current application, supported by other non-acoustic data where required. However, different acoustic remote sensing techniques can supplement each other, as shown in this thesis. Even more, a combination of complementary approaches can contribute to the proper understanding of sound propagation, which is essential when using sound for environmental classification purposes. This includes the knowledge of the relation between acoustics and sediment properties, the focus of this thesis. Providing a detailed three dimensional picture of the sea bottom sediments that allows for gaining maximum insight into this relation is aimed at.<p><p><p>Chapters 4 and 5 are adapted from published work, with permission:<p>DOI:10.1121/1.3569718 (link: http://asadl.org/jasa/resource/1/jasman/v129/i5/p2878_s1) and<p>DOI:10.1109/JOE.2010.2066711 (link: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=&arnumber=5618582&queryText%3Dsiemes)<p>In reference to IEEE copyrighted material which is used with permission in this thesis, the IEEE does not endorse any of the Université libre de Bruxelles' products or services.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences de l'ingénieur / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished