Given the advantages of parallel manipulators and lightweight manipulators, a 3-PRR planar parallel manipulator with three lightweight intermediate links has been developed to provide an alternative high-speed pick-and-place positioning mechanism to serial architecture manipulators in electronic manufacturing, such as X-Y tables or gantry robots. Lightweight members are more likely to exhibit structural defection and vibrate due to the inertial forces from high speed motion, and external forces from actuators. Structural flexibility effects are much more pronounced at high operational speeds and accelerations. Therefore, this thesis presents the dynamics and vibration control of a 3-PRR parallel manipulator with three flexible links. Firstly, a procedure for the generation of dynamic equations for a 3-PRR parallel manipulator with three flexible intermediate links is presented based on the assumed mode method. The dynamic equations of the parallel manipulator with three flexible intermediate links are developed using pinned-pinned boundary conditions. Experimental modal tests are performed using an impact hammer and an accelerometer to identify the mode shapes, frequencies, and damping ratios of flexible intermediate links. The mode shapes and frequencies, obtained from experimental modal tests, match very well the assumed mode shapes and frequencies obtained based on pinned-pinned boundary conditions, and therefore the dynamic model developed is validated. Secondly, this thesis presents the investigation on dynamic stiffening and buckling of the flexible links of a 3-PRR parallel manipulator by including the effect of longitudinal forces on the modal characteristics. Natural frequencies of bending vibration of the intermediate links are derived as the functions of axial force and rigid-body motion of the manipulator. Dynamic stiffening and buckling of intermediate links is investigated and configuration-dependant frequencies are analyzed. Furthermore, using Lagrange multipliers, the fully coupled equations of motions of the flexible parallel manipulator are developed by incorporating the rigid body motions with elastic motions. The mutual dependence of elastic deformations and rigid body motions are investigated from the analysis of the derived equations of motion. Open-loop simulation without joint motion controls and closed-loop simulation with joint motion controls are performed to illustrate the effect of elastic motion on rigid body motions and the coupling effect amongst flexible links. These analyses and results provide valuable insight into the design and control of the parallel manipulator with flexible intermediate links. Thirdly, an active vibration control strategy is developed for a moving 3-PRR parallel manipulator with flexible links, each of which is equipped with multiple PZT control pairs. The active vibration controllers are designed using the modal strain rate feedback (MSRF). The amplification behavior of high modes is addressed, and the control gain selection strategy for high modes is developed through modifying the IMSC method. The filters are developed for the on-line estimation of modal coordinates and modal velocity. The second compensator is used to cut off the amplified noises and unmodeled dynamics due to the differentiation operation in the developed controller. The modal coupling behavior of intermediate links is examined with the modal analysis of vibrations measured by the PZT sensors. The error estimation of the moving platform is examined using the measurement of PZT sensors. Finally, an active vibration control experimental system is built to implement the active vibration control of a moving 3-PRR parallel manipulator with three flexible links. The smart structures are built through mounting three PZT control pairs to each intermediate flexible link. The active vibration control system is set up using National Instruments LabVIEW Real-Time Module. Active vibration control experiments are conducted for the manipulator moving with high-speed, and experimental results demonstrate that the vibration of each link is significantly reduced.

Given the advantages of parallel manipulators and lightweight manipulators, a 3-PRR planar parallel manipulator with three lightweight intermediate links has been developed to provide an alternative high-speed pick-and-place positioning mechanism to serial architecture manipulators in electronic manufacturing, such as X-Y tables or gantry robots. Lightweight members are more likely to exhibit structural defection and vibrate due to the inertial forces from high speed motion, and external forces from actuators. Structural flexibility effects are much more pronounced at high operational speeds and accelerations. Therefore, this thesis presents the dynamics and vibration control of a 3-PRR parallel manipulator with three flexible links. Firstly, a procedure for the generation of dynamic equations for a 3-PRR parallel manipulator with three flexible intermediate links is presented based on the assumed mode method. The dynamic equations of the parallel manipulator with three flexible intermediate links are developed using pinned-pinned boundary conditions. Experimental modal tests are performed using an impact hammer and an accelerometer to identify the mode shapes, frequencies, and damping ratios of flexible intermediate links. The mode shapes and frequencies, obtained from experimental modal tests, match very well the assumed mode shapes and frequencies obtained based on pinned-pinned boundary conditions, and therefore the dynamic model developed is validated. Secondly, this thesis presents the investigation on dynamic stiffening and buckling of the flexible links of a 3-PRR parallel manipulator by including the effect of longitudinal forces on the modal characteristics. Natural frequencies of bending vibration of the intermediate links are derived as the functions of axial force and rigid-body motion of the manipulator. Dynamic stiffening and buckling of intermediate links is investigated and configuration-dependant frequencies are analyzed. Furthermore, using Lagrange multipliers, the fully coupled equations of motions of the flexible parallel manipulator are developed by incorporating the rigid body motions with elastic motions. The mutual dependence of elastic deformations and rigid body motions are investigated from the analysis of the derived equations of motion. Open-loop simulation without joint motion controls and closed-loop simulation with joint motion controls are performed to illustrate the effect of elastic motion on rigid body motions and the coupling effect amongst flexible links. These analyses and results provide valuable insight into the design and control of the parallel manipulator with flexible intermediate links. Thirdly, an active vibration control strategy is developed for a moving 3-PRR parallel manipulator with flexible links, each of which is equipped with multiple PZT control pairs. The active vibration controllers are designed using the modal strain rate feedback (MSRF). The amplification behavior of high modes is addressed, and the control gain selection strategy for high modes is developed through modifying the IMSC method. The filters are developed for the on-line estimation of modal coordinates and modal velocity. The second compensator is used to cut off the amplified noises and unmodeled dynamics due to the differentiation operation in the developed controller. The modal coupling behavior of intermediate links is examined with the modal analysis of vibrations measured by the PZT sensors. The error estimation of the moving platform is examined using the measurement of PZT sensors. Finally, an active vibration control experimental system is built to implement the active vibration control of a moving 3-PRR parallel manipulator with three flexible links. The smart structures are built through mounting three PZT control pairs to each intermediate flexible link. The active vibration control system is set up using National Instruments LabVIEW Real-Time Module. Active vibration control experiments are conducted for the manipulator moving with high-speed, and experimental results demonstrate that the vibration of each link is significantly reduced.

Gelžbetonis yra kompozitinė medžiaga, kurios komponentai yra betonas ir plieninė armatūra. Kaip žinoma, betono stipris tempiant yra 1020 kartų mažesnis nei stipris gniuždant. Atrodytų, kad tempiamojo betono įtaka, atlaikant įrąžas skerspjūvyje, yra nereikšminga. Iš tiesų, nustatant lenkiamųjų elementų stiprumą normaliniame pjūvyje, tempiamo betono įtempių galima nevertinti. Kita vertus, skaičiuojant įlinkius, neįvertinus tempiamojo betono įtakos, gali būti daroma didesnė nei 100 % paklaida. Adekvatus supleišėjusio tempiamojo betono įtakos įvertinimas, nustatant trumpalaike apkrova veikiamų gelžbetoninių elementų deformacijas, yra bene svarbiausia ir sudėtingiausia problema. Plyšio vietoje betonas negali atlaikyti tempimo įtempių, todėl visą įrąžą atlaiko armatūra. Kadangi plyšyje ir gretimuose pjūviuose armatūra praslysta betono atžvilgiu, kontakto zonoje atsiranda tangentiniai įtempiai. Šie įtempiai perduodami betonui, todėl jis atlaiko tempimo įtempius. Armatūros ir betono sąveika ruožuose tarp plyšių standina gelžbetoninį elementą. Supleišėjusio betono gebėjimas atlaikyti tempimo įtempius vadinama tempimo sustandėjimu (angl. tension stiffening). Šis efektas dažniausiai modeliuojamas supleišėjusio betono įtempių ir deformacijų diagrama, taikant vidutinių plyšių koncepciją. Tuomet neatsižvelgiama į diskrečius plyšius, o supleišėjęs betonas traktuojamas kaip ortotropinė medžiaga su pakitusiomis savybėmis. Dauguma tempimo sustandėjimo modelių įvertina betono įtempių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Modelling behaviour of cracked tensile concrete is a complicated issue. Due to bond with reinforcement, the cracked concrete between cracks carries a certain amount of tensile force normal to the cracked plane. Concrete adheres to rein-forcement bars and contributes to overall stiffness of the structure. The phe-nomenon, called tension-stiffening, has significant influence on the results of short-term deformational analysis. Assumption of a tension-stiffening law has great influence on numerical results of load – deflection behaviour of reinforced concrete members subjected to short – term loading. Under wrong assumption of this law, errors in calculated deflections, particularly for lightly members, may exceed 100 %. Most known tension-stiffening relationships relate average stresses to average strains. However, some experimental and theoretical investi-gations have shown that tension-stiffening may be affected by other parameters. The scientific supervisor of the thesis has proposed a tension-stiffening model depending on reinforcement ratio. This model has been developed using experi-mental data reported in the literature. Besides, concrete shrinkage effect was not taken into account. The main objective of this PhD dissertation is to propose a tension-stiffening law for bending RC members subjected to short-term loading with eliminated concrete shrinkage effect.

Application of refined ultimate state theories and use of high strength materials have resulted in longer spans and smaller depths of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. Consequently, the condition of the limiting deflection rather than the strength requirement often is the governing design criterion. Long-term deflections might be up to 3 to 4 times larger than the short-term deflections. Such increments are caused by complex physical effects such as concrete creep, shrinkage and cracking, bond defects, etc. Long-term concrete creep and shrinkage deformations govern prestress losses. Structural analysis can be carried out either by traditional design code methods or numerical techniques. Although design code methods ensure safe design, they have significant limitations. Different techniques are used for strength, deflection, crack width and prestress loss analyses. Besides, most of the simplified approaches do not assess such factors as concrete shrinkage, cracking or tension stiffening. Based on a large number of empirical expressions and factors, they lack physical interpretation and do not reveal the actual stress-strain state of cracked structures. On the other hand, numerical techniques are universal and can take into account each physical effect. However, inadequacies made in the prediction of each effect might lead to significant inaccuracies when integral magnitudes such as deflection are to be assessed. Consequently, the predictions by the numerical... [to full text]

Modelling behaviour of cracked tensile concrete is a complicated issue. Due to bond with reinforcement, the cracked concrete between cracks carries a certain amount of tensile force normal to the cracked plane. Concrete adheres to rein-forcement bars and contributes to overall stiffness of the structure. The phe-nomenon, called tension-stiffening, has significant influence on the results of short-term deformational analysis. Assumption of a tension-stiffening law has great influence on numerical results of load – deflection behaviour of reinforced concrete members subjected to short – term loading. Under wrong assumption of this law, errors in calculated deflections, particularly for lightly members, may exceed 100 %. Most known tension-stiffening relationships relate average stresses to average strains. However, some experimental and theoretical investi-gations have shown that tension-stiffening may be affected by other parameters. The scientific supervisor of the thesis has proposed a tension-stiffening model depending on reinforcement ratio. This model has been developed using experi-mental data reported in the literature. Besides, concrete shrinkage effect was not taken into account. The main objective of this PhD dissertation is to propose a tension-stiffening law for bending RC members subjected to short-term loading with eliminated concrete shrinkage effect. / Gelžbetonis yra kompozitinė medžiaga, kurios komponentai yra betonas ir plieninė armatūra. Kaip žinoma, betono stipris tempiant yra 10-20 kartų mažesnis nei stipris gniuždant. Atrodytų, kad tempiamojo betono įtaka, atlaikant įrąžas skerspjūvyje, yra nereikšminga. Iš tiesų, nustatant lenkiamųjų elementų stiprumą normaliniame pjūvyje, tempiamo betono įtempių galima nevertinti. Kita vertus, skaičiuojant įlinkius, neįvertinus tempiamojo betono įtakos, gali būti daroma didesnė nei 100 % paklaida. Adekvatus supleišėjusio tempiamojo betono įtakos įvertinimas, nustatant trumpalaike apkrova veikiamų gelžbetoninių elementų deformacijas, yra bene svarbiausia ir sudėtingiausia problema. Plyšio vietoje betonas negali atlaikyti tempimo įtempių, todėl visą įrąžą atlaiko armatūra. Kadangi plyšyje ir gretimuose pjūviuose armatūra praslysta betono atžvilgiu, kontakto zonoje atsiranda tangentiniai įtempiai. Šie įtempiai perduodami betonui, todėl jis atlaiko tempimo įtempius. Armatūros ir betono sąveika ruožuose tarp plyšių standina gelžbetoninį elementą. Supleišėjusio betono gebėjimas atlaikyti tempimo įtempius vadinama tempimo sustandėjimu (angl. tension stiffening). Šis efektas dažniausiai modeliuojamas supleišėjusio betono įtempių ir deformacijų diagrama, taikant vidutinių plyšių koncepciją. Tuomet neatsižvelgiama į diskrečius plyšius, o supleišėjęs betonas traktuojamas kaip ortotropinė medžiaga su pakitusiomis savybėmis. Dauguma tempimo sustandėjimo modelių įvertina betono įtempių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Nowadays, welded structures are widely employed in engineering design. Generally, these structures have internal stresses (residual stresses) generated by the thermal cycle to which these parts are submitted during welding process. In many cases, these stresses are not minimized by means of thermal treatment. Thus, one must take into account the residual stresses in the design of welded components. However, computation of residual stress field is not an easy task and, besides, it is important to evaluate the quality of welded components. Therefore, by using the advantage of the fact that the stress state influences the mechanical behavior of components and structures (stress stiffening effect), it was proposed to evaluate the viability of a methodology to control the quality of welded components, by means of dynamic responses. This way, it was verified experimentally the sensitivity of vibrating natural frequencies to welding residual stress in different structures. It was confirmed that thin structures are more sensitive to the stress stiffening effect. To evaluate this effect numerically, a procedure to simulate welding was validated by using experimental data from literature. This procedure was used to obtain the residual stress field. This stress field is included in a modal analysis to verify the modifications of natural frequencies. Numerical results were compared to experimental results obtained here, showing a good agreement. It was also proposed to use the electromechanic impedance technique to evaluate the stress stiffening effect. An analysis of the results shows the possibility of use the stress stiffening effect to implement a methodology for quality control of welded components. / Atualmente, estruturas soldadas encontram-se amplamente aplicadas em projetos de engenharia. Normalmente, estas estruturas apresentam tensões internas (residuais) devidas ao ciclo térmico ao qual são submetidas durante a soldagem. Em muitos casos, estas tensões não são minimizadas por meio de tratamento térmico, havendo assim a necessidade de inclusão destas em projeto. Entretanto, a determinação do campo de tensões residuais não é tarefa fácil e, no caso de uma produção em série, é importante avaliar a qualidade do componente confeccionado. Sendo assim, aproveitando o bem conhecido fato de o comportamento mecânico de componentes e estruturas sofrer influência do estado de tensão (enrijecimento por tensão), propõe-se avaliar a viabilidade de uma metodologia de controle de qualidade de peças soldadas por meio de respostas dinâmicas. Desta forma foi verificada experimentalmente a sensibilidade das freqüências naturais de vibração ao estado de tensões residuais de soldagem em diferentes estruturas. Confirmou-se que estruturas esbeltas são mais sensíveis ao enrijecimento por tensões residuais de soldagem. Com a finalidade de avaliar este efeito numericamente, um procedimento para simulação da soldagem foi validado utilizando-se dados experimentais da literatura. Na seqüência, utilizou-se tal procedimento para, após a determinação das tensões residuais de soldagem, realizar uma análise modal e avaliar as alterações nas freqüências naturais de vibração (e conseqüentemente o efeito do enrijecimento por tensão). Os resultados numéricos foram confrontados com os resultados experimentais obtidos neste trabalho, apresentando uma boa concordância. Finalizando o trabalho, propõe-se utilizar a técnica da impedância eletromecânica para avaliar o enrijecimento por tensão. Uma avaliação dos resultados mostra ser possível utilizar o enrijecimento por tensão para implementar uma metodologia para controle de qualidade de componentes soldados. / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

Master thesis describes the design and assessment of main parts monolithic reinforced concrete construction of office building. Solved elements are locally supported slab, stiffening perimeter beam, column, wall and fundamention strip. Components of master thesis are also drawings of shape and reinforcement. Calculation of internal forces was performed by computer program SCIA Engineer. It was control by simplified method of replacement frames and results were compared.

[pt] A utilização de barras de polímero reforçado por fibras de vidro (glass fiber reinforced polymer, GFRP, em inglês) como reforço de estruturas de concreto armado, vem ganhando popularidade principalmente devido à sua resistência à corrosão e resistência mecânica. Entretanto, seu baixo módulo de elasticidade pode acarretar em problemas na estrutura em serviço, como grandes aberturas de fissuras e deflexões quando comparado com concreto armado por barras de aço. No presente estudo, um programa experimental foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da adição de 10 kg/m3 de fibras de polipropileno (PP) em elementos de concreto armado por barras de GFRP submetidos à tração direta e flexão. Caracterização mecânica e ensaios de arrancamento (pullout) foram realizados para avaliar as propriedades dos materiais constituintes e de sua interface, respectivamente. A formação e evolução das fissuras, bem como o efeito de enrijecimento à tração no material proposto, foram avaliados por meio de ensaios de tração direta em prismas de concreto armado. Ensaios de flexão em quatro pontos foram realizados para investigar o desenvolvimento da deflexão com o carregamento, o padrão de fissuração e o comportamento momento-curvatura dos espécimes. Correlação de imagem digital (digital image correlation, DIC, em inglês) foi utilizada para monitoramento de deformações, distâncias e aberturas de fissuras relevantes para a análise. Por fim, os resultados dos ensaios de flexão foram comparados com um modelo analítico. Uma redução considerável da abertura de fissuras e um melhor comportamento de múltipla fissuração foi observado para os espécimes com adição de fibras, além de um pequeno acréscimo de rigidez à flexão. / [en] Glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars have been more often used in reinforced concrete (RC) structures mainly due to superior corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. However, the low modulus of elasticity leads to serviceability issues such as wider crack openings and larger deflections when compared to conventional RC. To improve the performance and allow for a more effective use of GFRP reinforcement, the addition of randomly disperse short polypropylene fibers (PP) to the concrete matrix is proposed. In the present study, an experimental program intending to investigate the flexural and tensile behavior of concrete members reinforced with GFRP bars and 10 kg/m3 of PP is carried out. Mechanical characterization and pull-out tests were carried out respectively to characterize the materials and interface between GFRP bar and concrete. Crack formation and growth, and tension stiffening effect in the proposed construction material were investigated by tension tests in reinforced concrete prisms. Four points bending tests were performed to evaluate the mid-span deflection, crack opening and moment-curvature relationship of the specimen. Digital image correlation was used to gather information about relevant data. It was proposed an analytical model to compare the results obtained in bending tests. A considerable reduction in crack openings, a better multiple cracks behavior and a slightly stiffer behavior was obtained due to fiber addition.

Aufgrund der großen Bedeutung technischer Gummiwerkstoffe in industriellen Anwendungen ist die Vorhersage des Materialverhaltens ein aktuelles Forschungsgebiet. Insbesondere die Veränderung der Eigenschaften, die durch chemische Prozesse herbeigeführt werden, spielen eine große Rolle, da aufgrund gestiegener Anforderungen an die Haltbarkeit von Bauteilen diese Alterungseffekte verstanden, vorhergesagt und abgeschwächt werden müssen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird ein mathematisches Modell hergeleitet, das die chemischen Vorgänge vorhersagt und deren Auswirkungen auf wichtige Eigenschaften in einem mechanischen Materialmodell beachtet. Insbesondere der Oxidation durch Luftsauerstoff wird Rechnung getragen. Das mechanische Materialverhalten alternder Gummiwerkstoffe wird mit Hilfe eines neuartigen Ansatzes modelliert. Das in dieser Arbeit vorgestellte Dynamische-Netzwerk-Modell betrachtet die Auswirkungen der chemischen Reaktionen auf das mechanische Verhalten als einen kontinuierlichen Netzwerkumbau durch das Entfernen und neue Einsetzen von Verbindungen zwischen Polymerketten. Basierend auf experimentellen Erkenntnissen werden Hypothesen formuliert, die eine Kopplung zwischen den Oxidationsreaktionen und der Veränderung des mechanischen Verhaltens herstellen. Durch Beachtung von Diffusion und Reaktion kann die lokale Sauerstoffverteilung in großvolumigen Bauteilen berechnet und der Effekt der diffusionslimitierten Oxidation (DLO-Effekt) vorhergesagt werden. Um eine Bestimmung der Modellparameter zu ermöglichen, werden verschiedene Experimente vorgeschlagen, mathematisch modelliert und deren Eignung zur Parameteridentifikation analysiert. Mit einer vergleichsweise geringen Anzahl von Experimenten können sowohl die chemischen als auch die mechanischen Modellparameter sicher identifiziert werden. In dieser Arbeit wird zudem ein sogenannter gestaffelter Lösungsalgorithmus vorgeschlagen, der das Alterungsproblem nach einer mathematischen Entkopplung unterschiedlicher Feldprobleme über geeignete Kopplungsvariablen effizient berechnen kann. Mit Hilfe dieses Algorithmus kann eine Simulation effizient durchgeführt und das Alterungsverhalten komplexer Strukturen vorhergesagt werden. Die Simulation anwendungsnaher Strukturen zeigt, dass die abgeleiteten Modelle und Algorithmen problemlos in einem industriellen Umfeld einsetzbar sind. / Due to the great importance of rubber materials in industrial applications, the prediction of the material behavior is a current research field. Particularly the property changes that are induced by chemical processes play a major role, as these aging effects must be understood, predicted and reduced due to the increased requirements regarding the durability of components. In the context of this thesis, a mathematical model that predicts and considers the chemical processes and their effects on important properties in a mechanical material model is derived. Oxidation through atmospheric oxygen is specifically examined in this work. The mechanical material behavior of aging rubber materials is modeled using a novel approach. The dynamic network model introduced in this paper considers the effects of the chemical reactions on the mechanical behavior as a continuous restructuring of the network by removing and inserting new crosslinks between polymer chains. Based on experimental obervations a coupling between the oxidation reactions and a change of the mechanical material behavior is proposed. By taking into account the diffusion and reaction the local distribution of oxygen in large sized components can be computed. Thus, the effect of diffusion limited oxidation (DLO effect) can be predicted. In order to make an identification of the model parameters possible, different experiments are suggested, modeled mathematically and their suitability for parameter identification is analyzed. Not only the chemical, but also the mechanical model parameters can be identified reliably using a comparably few number of experiments. Moreover, a so-called staggered solution algorithm that can calculate the aging problem efficiently after a mathematical uncoupling of the field problems using a suitable coupling variable is introduced. This algorithm can perform a simulation efficiently and predict the aging behavior of complex structures. The simulation of application oriented structures proofs the applicability of the derived models and algorithms within an industrial environment.

In this study, the &ldquo / Free Flexural (or Bending) Vibrations of Stiffened Plates or Panels&rdquo / are investigated in detail. Two different Groups of &ldquo / Stiffened Plates&rdquo / will be considered. In the first group, the &ldquo / Type 4&rdquo / and the &ldquo / Type 6&rdquo / of &ldquo / Group I&rdquo / of the &ldquo / Integrally-Stiffened and/or Stepped-Thickness Plate or Panel Systems&rdquo / are theoretically analyzed and numerically solved by making use of the &ldquo / Mindlin Plate Theory&rdquo / . Here, the natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes, up to the sixth mode, are obtained for each &ldquo / Dynamic System&rdquo / . Some important parametric studies are also presented for each case. In the second group, the &ldquo / Class 2&rdquo / and the &ldquo / Class 3&rdquo / of the &ldquo / Bonded and Stiffened Plate or Panel Systems&rdquo / are also analyzed and solved in terms of the natural frequencies with their corresponding mode shapes. In this case, the &ldquo / Plate Assembly&rdquo / is constructed by bonding &ldquo / Stiffening Plate Strips&rdquo / to a &ldquo / Base Plate or Panel&rdquo / by dissimilar relatively thin adhesive layers. This is done with the purpose of reinforcing the &ldquo / Base Plate or Panel&rdquo / by these &ldquo / Stiffening Strips&rdquo / in the appropriate locations, so that the &ldquo / Base Plate or Panel&rdquo / will exhibit satisfactory dynamic response. The forementioned &ldquo / Bonded and Stiffened Systems&rdquo / may also be used to repair a damaged (or rather cracked) &ldquo / Base Plate or Panel&rdquo / . Here in the analysis, the &ldquo / Base Plate or Panel&rdquo / , the &ldquo / Stiffening Plate Strips&rdquo / as well as the in- between &ldquo / adhesive layers&rdquo / are assumed to be linearly elastic continua. They are assumed to be dissimilar &ldquo / Orthotropic Mindlin Plates&rdquo / . Therefore, the effects of shear deformations and rotary moments of inertia are considered in the theoretical formulation. In each case of the &ldquo / Group I&rdquo / and &ldquo / Group II&rdquo / problems, the &ldquo / Governing System of Dynamic Equations&rdquo / for every problem is reduced to the &ldquo / First Order Ordinary Differential Equations&rdquo / . In other words the &ldquo / Free Vibrations Problem&rdquo / , in both cases, is an &ldquo / Initial and Boundary Value Problem&rdquo / is reduced to a &ldquo / Two- Point or Multi-Point Boundary Value Problem&rdquo / by using the present &ldquo / Solution Technique&rdquo / . For this purpose, these &ldquo / Governing Equations&rdquo / are expressed in &ldquo / compact forms&rdquo / or &ldquo / state vector&rdquo / forms. These equations are numerically integrated by the so-called &ldquo / Modified Transfer Matrix Method (MTMM) (with Interpolation Polynomials)&rdquo / . In the numerical results, the mode shapes together with their corresponding non-dimensional natural frequencies are presented up to the sixth mode and for various sets of &ldquo / Boundary Conditions&rdquo / for each structural &ldquo / System&rdquo / . The effects of several important parameters on the natural frequencies of the aforementioned &ldquo / Systems&rdquo / are also investigated and are graphically presented for each &ldquo / Stiffened and Stiffened and Bonded Plate or Panel System&rdquo / . Additionally, in the case of the &ldquo / Bonded and Stiffened System&rdquo / , the significant effects of the &ldquo / adhesive material properties&rdquo / (i.e. the &ldquo / Hard&rdquo / adhesive and the &ldquo / Soft&rdquo / adhesive cases) on the dynamic response of the &ldquo / plate assembly&rdquo / are also presented.