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<p dir="ltr">The deep human drive to explore and inhabit new frontiers underpins the emerging field of space architecture, as evidenced by the proliferation of diverse design concepts and growing momentum in extraterrestrial construction. However, the endeavor of building off-world environments remains in its infancy, facing numerous challenges due to remoteness, novelty, complexity, and other inherent characteristics. Significant technical and methodological gaps exist between visionary designs and the practical engineering and management intricacies of complex projects. These gaps must be addressed to overcome the challenges in extraterrestrial construction.</p><p dir="ltr">The field is limited by the scarcity of both failures and successes in extraterrestrial construction from which to draw lessons. Furthermore, the understanding of construction system failures is constrained by the limited application of systems perspectives in construction safety literature. Existing accident causation models in system safety literature are ill-suited for describing construction system failures.</p><p dir="ltr">The overall objective of this research is to inform the planning and design of extraterrestrial construction to mitigate the risk of building and installing defective systems in space. To achieve this goal, the research process followed iterative cycles of failure case studies, extracting insights through the lens of a new accident causation model. The cycles of model application evolved through three major stages: (1) developing a model specifically tailored to construction system failures, (2) deriving concepts and principles for interpreting the model depictions, and (3) compiling lessons from a systematically selected set of failure cases for planners, designers, and key stakeholders of future extraterrestrial construction projects.</p><p dir="ltr">Following a comprehensive literature review, this study developed an accident model termed the framed-and-layered accident pathogen propagation (FLAPP) model. The basic concept of the model consists of frames representing the temporal dimension, layers depicting the hierarchical aspects of the sociotechnical framework of construction projects, and graphical notation illustrating the sequence of defective processes and pathogens embedded in the constructed artifact.</p><p dir="ltr">To interpret the graphical illustrations of failure cases, the study introduced the concept of pathogen threads to describe multiple sequences of defective processes ultimately interacting with the physical artifact. To further explain the underlying mechanisms of how design decisions incubate into system failures, the concept of design-induced strains was proposed. This concept represents the lingering effects that design solutions can have on physical artifacts and downstream organizational processes. Additionally, categories of inadequate organizational factors from the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) were incorporated to explain the underlying causes within project organizations that allowed the mishandling of physical and organizational strains.</p><p dir="ltr">To evaluate the applicability of the FLAPP model and observe general trends in system failures across various contexts, the study selected failure cases attributable to embedded pathogens with sufficient available information. Ensuring that the case set included diverse cases and covered all specific technical challenges of extraterrestrial construction, the selection resulted in a set of 40 cases comprising 10 space systems, 13 buildings, 10 bridges and tunnels, and 7 systems in specialized environments. Results highlighted typical and exceptional cases among different systems and the general trends of occurrence prevalence of concept instances among different system contexts (space, building, bridge/tunnel, specialized environment) and duration ranges (short, medium, long). The comparison of Earth-based and space-based systems revealed several critical questions for the space domain: how to ensure, maintain, and improve the reliability and quality of unique and site-specific systems; how to establish and enforce minimum quality standards to reduce unintended physical strains; and how to prepare for extended project timelines with dynamic and transient organizational networks.</p><p dir="ltr">Future research should address the theoretical and methodological limitations of the FLAPP model by extending it to investigation methods and risk assessment techniques. Additionally, the failure case study approach should be enhanced by expanding the case set, exploring source documents, and applying additional analysis approaches. This dissertation concludes by demonstrating that guidance and principles with discipline-specific vocabulary can be derived by referencing documented best practices in systems engineering and project management.</p><p><br></p>

Abstract The goal of this research is to advance the state of the art in bulk power system reliability assessment. Bulk power system reliability assessment is an important procedure at both power system planning and operating stages to assure reliable and acceptable electricity service to customers. With the increase in the complexity of modern power systems and advances in the power industry toward restructuring, the system models and algorithms of traditional reliability assessment techniques are becoming obsolete as they suffer from nonrealistic system models and slow convergence (even non-convergence) when multi-level contingencies are considered and the system is overstressed. To allow more rigor in system modeling and higher computational efficiency in reliability evaluation procedures, this research proposes an analytically-based security-constrained adequacy evaluation (SCAE) methodology that performs bulk power system reliability assessment. The SCAE methodology adopts a single-phase quadratized power flow (SPQPF) model as a basis and encompasses three main steps: (1) critical contingency selection, (2) effects analysis, and (3) reliability index computations. In the critical contingency selection, an improved contingency selection method is developed using a wind-chime contingency enumeration scheme and a performance index approach based on the system state linearization technique, which can rank critical contingencies with high accuracy and efficiency. In the effects analysis for selected critical contingencies, a non-divergent optimal quadratized power flow (NDOQPF) algorithm is developed to (1) incorporate major system operating practices, security constraints, and remedial actions in a constrained optimization problem and (2) guarantee convergence and provide a solution under all conditions. This algorithm is also capable of efficiently solving the ISO/RTO operational mode in deregulated power systems. Based on the results of the effects analysis, reliability indices that provide a quantitative indication of the system reliability level are computed. In addition, this research extends the proposed SCAE framework to include the effects of protection system hidden failures on bulk power system reliability. The overall SCAE methodology is implemented and applied to IEEE reliability test systems, and evaluation results demonstrate the expected features of proposed advanced techniques. Finally, the contributions of this research are summarized and recommendations for future research are proposed.

This work aims to allocate, size and coordinate protective devices in electric power systems with directly coupled distributed generation and also to adequate protection systems to accommodate these sources. Currently, it is possible to observe distributed generation penetration growth in distribution systems, being encouraged by new laws and implementation costs reduction, the last one due to technological maturity. Dispersed generation brings several benefits in electric networks operation such as: reduction of technical losses, voltage profiles maintenance, increase in energy quality, etc. However, this rise in distributed generation penetration in traditional distribution systems also causes important issues that must be considered. Distribution systems candidate to receive distributed generation have their protection systems already sized and coordinated. Distributed generation contribution alters the devices sensibility, causing miscoordination and the need for new protection studies. These problems are separately treated by authors, however, they are connected. In this work, the objective is to determine protective devices allocation and develop a solution to accommodate distribution generation. Firstly, the allocation, sizing and coordination of protective device is carried out, aiming to reduce reliability indices. Else, it was developed a method to reduce recloser - fuse miscoordination in the presence of distributed generation. To solve the miscoordination problem, Fault Current Limiters are sized and placed. These are inert devices in normal operation, but insert a high impedance in series with a feeder in a short circuit situation, limiting distributed generation contribution for a fault. The protective devices allocation problem is treated using a multiobjective particle swarm algorithm, aiming to reduce reliability indices, which priority is defined by the weight associated with each index. With the optimal protective devices placement established, distributed generation penetration is considered. Then, fault current limiters allocation and sizing is carried out to the best solutions of the protective devices allocation problem. To determine fault current limiters placement, a multiobjective particle swarm algorithm is also applied, aiming to reduce current differences due to distributed generation penetration, maintaining fuse cutout selectivity and also minimize fault current limiter size. The proposed method was tested in two IEEE test systems, presenting quality solutions for protective devices placement and also in adequating these systems to receive distributed generation. / Este trabalho tem o intuito de alocar, dimensionar, coordenar e adequar o sistema de proteção em redes de distribuição de energia elétrica na presença de fontes de geração distribuída (GD) diretamente acopladas à rede. Atualmente, é possível observar o crescimento na inserção de fontes de GD em sistemas de distribuição, sendo isso incentivado por novas legislações e pela redução no custo de implantação dessas fontes, devido à crescente maturidade tecnológica alcançada. A geração dispersa de energia traz diversos benefícios na operação da rede elétrica, podendo-se citar a redução de perdas técnicas, manutenção de perfis de tensão, aumento da qualidade de energia, entre outros. Porém, esse incremento na penetração da GD nas redes elétricas tradicionais também traz problemas que devem ser considerados. Um sistema de distribuição passível à inserção de fontes de GD, possuí dispositivos de proteção já alocados e sua coordenação determinada. A contribuição das fontes de GD para a corrente de falta altera a sensibilidade desses dispositivos, provocando diversas descoordenações e a necessidade de novos estudos de proteção. Esses problemas são tratados separadamente por pesquisadores, porém, são relacionados. Neste trabalho, buscou-se realizar a alocação de dispositivos de proteção e desenvolver uma solução para acomodar as fontes de GD. Primeiramente, é realizada a alocação, dimensionamento e coordenação dos dispositivos de proteção, visando a redução dos indicadores de continuidade responsáveis por avaliar quantitativamente a qualidade do serviço de energia elétrica. Aliado à isto, foi desenvolvido um método para reduzir a descoordenação entre dispositivos religadores e elos fusíveis na presença de GD. Para isso, foi considerada a instalação de Limitadores de Corrente de Falta (LCF), que são dispositivos que não causam interferência no sistema quando em funcionamento normal, porém, na ocorrência de um curto-circuito, inserem uma impedância considerável, limitando assim a contribuição da GD para a corrente de falta. O problema de alocação de dispositivos de proteção foi tratado utilizando algoritmo de enxame de partículas multiobjetivo, visando minimizar os indicadores de continuidade com sua prioridade definida pelo peso que cada um desses recebe do operador na função objetivo. Com as soluções obtidas, é considerada a inserção de fontes de GD no sistema. Então a alocação e dimensionamento de LCF é realizada para as melhores soluções obtidas de alocação de dispositivos de proteção. Para determinar essa alocação, o algoritmo de enxame de partículas multiobjetivo também foi utilizado, com o intuito de reduzir a diferença entre as correntes de falta com e sem GD, garantindo a seletividade entre elos fusíveis e a coordenação religador – elo fusível, bem como reduzir a dimensão do LCF (minimização do custo). Complementando o método, a filosofia operacional dos religadores é verificada, buscando evitar a contribuição da GD para faltas durante a operação rápida deste. O método proposto foi testado em dois sistemas IEEE, apresentando soluções de qualidade tanto na alocação dos dispositivos de proteção quanto na eficiência operacional do sistema de proteção em redes de distribuição com geração distribuída.

Orientador: Walmir de Freitas Filho / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-25T10:49:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Meira_PauloCesarMagalhaes_D.pdf: 11828003 bytes, checksum: 693bdd2a6d139783c1aa0f2a05a3d6de (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A estratégia de eliminação de defeitos (faltas) empregada pela concessionária de distribuição de energia elétrica tem grande impacto na confiabilidade e na qualidade de energia do sistema. Por exemplo, a política de empregar religadores automáticos tipicamente tem um impacto benéfico nos índices de confiabilidade baseados na frequência e duração das interrupções sustentadas mas, por outro lado, tem um impacto negativo nos índices de qualidade de energia baseados na frequência de interrupções temporárias. Isto pode ser comprovado pelo número de concessionárias ao redor do mundo que estão revendo suas estratégias de empregar religadores automáticos de forma generalizada conforme cresce a preocupação do consumidor com a qualidade de energia. Somado a isso, tem-se o fato de o sistema estar sendo modernizado com o uso de mais equipamentos de monitoração e automação, como chaves seccionadoras automáticas, relés digitais, etc., dentro do contexto que se convencionou chamar redes inteligentes (smart grids). Portanto, atualmente, as estratégias de eliminação de faltas e de melhoria dos índices de confiabilidade e de qualidade de energia em sistemas de distribuição estão passando por modificações e têm atraído o interesse da comunidade científica e tecnológica. Este trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver métodos para auxiliar na tomada de decisão sobre a estratégia de eliminação de defeitos em sistemas de distribuição via avaliação integrada dos índices de confiabilidade e qualidade de energia. Os métodos empregados são baseados no uso de registros históricos e de medições da concessionária, no cálculo de índices de confiabilidade e de qualidade de energia e em técnicas de otimização e de tratamentos estatísticos. Para permitir o emprego dos métodos a sistemas reais, algoritmos clássicos para análise de confiabilidade e qualidade de energia são revisitados e reformulados de forma a permitir sua aplicação a sistemas de grande porte em tempo de execução factível. São investigadas também formas de permitir a execução paralela e distribuída dos principais algoritmos empregados nos métodos propostos / Abstract: The fault elimination policy used by an electric energy distribution utility has great impact on the reliability and in the power quality of the system. For example, the policy of using automatic reclosers typically has a positive impact in the reliability indices based on frequency and duration of sustained interruptions but, on the other hand, has a negative impact on the power quality indices based on the frequency of temporary interruptions. This can be verified by the number of utilities around the world that are reevaluating their policies in using automatic reclosers in a generalized fashion as the customers demand better power quality. At the same time, the systems are being modernized, including the usage of more monitoring and automation equipment, such as automatic sectionalizing switches, digital relays, etc., in a context that is usually called smart grids. Therefore, currently, the policies regarding fault elimination and improvement of the reliability and power quality indices in distribution system are being reformulated and have attracted the interest of the academic and technology communities. The objective of this thesis is to develop methods to assist in the decision-making process on the fault elimination policies in distribution systems using the integrated evaluation of reliability and power quality indices. The methods are based on the use of historical records and utility measurements, in the computation of reliability and power quality indices, in optimization techniques and statistical analysis. To achieve the implementation of the methods in actual systems, the classic algorithms used to analyze the reliability and power quality are revisited and reformulated in order to allow their application to large-scale systems in feasible running time. Alternatives to allow the parallel and distributed execution of the main algorithms of the proposed methods are also explored / Doutorado / Energia Eletrica / Doutor em Engenharia Elétrica

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Reliability of the wide-area power system is becoming a greater concern as the power grid is growing. Delivering electric power from the most economical source through fewest and shortest transmission lines to customers frequently increases the stress on the system and prevents it from maintaining its stability. Events like loss of transmission equipment and phase to ground faults can force the system to cross its stability limits by causing the generators to lose their synchronism. Therefore, a helpful solution is detection of these dynamic events and prediction of instability. Decision Trees (DTs) were used as a pattern recognition tool in this thesis. Based on training data, DT generated rules for detecting event, predicting loss of synchronism, and selecting stabilizing control. To evaluate the accuracy of these rules, they were applied to testing data sets. To train DTs of this thesis, direct system measurements like generator rotor angles and bus voltage angles as well as calculated indices such as the rate of change of bus angles, the Integral Square Bus Angle (ISBA) and the gradient of ISBA were used. The initial method of this thesis included a response based DT only for instability prediction. In this method, time and location of the events were unknown and the one shot control was applied when the instability was predicted. The control applied was in the form of fast power changes on four different buses. Further, an event detection DT was combined with the instability prediction such that the data samples of each case was checked with event detection DT rules. In cases that an event was detected, control was applied upon prediction of instability. Later in the research, it was investigated that different control cases could behave differently in terms of the number of cases they stabilize. Therefore, a third DT was trained to select between two different control cases to improve the effectiveness of the methodology. It was learned through internship at Midwest Independent Transmission Operators (MISO) that post-event steady-state analysis is necessary for better understanding the effect of the faults on the power system. Hence, this study was included in this research.

Monte Carlo simulation techniques have emerged as widely accepted computing tools in tackling many problems in modern structural mechanics. Apart from developments in computational hardware, which have undoubtedly made simulation strategies practically feasible, the success of Monte Carlo simulations has also resulted equally significantly from the methodological developments aimed at controlling sampling variance of the Monte Carlo estimates. The study reported in the present thesis is aimed at developing and validating Monte Carlo simulation based approaches with inbuilt variance reduction capabilities to deal with problems of time variant reliability modeling, random vibration testing, and updating reliability models for statically/dynamically loaded instrumented structures. The relevant literature has been reviewed in Chapter 1. Time variant reliability analysis of randomly parametered and randomly driven non-linear vibrating systems has been tackled by combining two Monte Carlo variance reduction strategies into a single framework (Chapter 2). The first of these strategies is based on the application of the Girsanov transformation to account for the randomness in dynamic excitations and, the second approach is fashioned after the subset simulation method to deal with randomness in system parameters. A novel experimental test procedure to estimate the reliability of structural dynamical systems under excitations specified via random process models has been proposed (Chapter 3). The samples of random excitations to be used in the test are modified by the addition of an artificial control force. An unbiased estimator for the reliability is derived based on measured ensemble of responses under these modified inputs based on the tenets of Girsanov’s transformation. The study observes that an acceptable choice for the control force (that can reduce the sampling variance of the estimator) can be made solely based on experimental techniques. This permits the proposed procedure to be applied in the experimental study of time variant reliability of complex structural systems which are difficult to model mathematically. Illustrative example consists of a multi-axes shake table study on bending-torsion coupled, geometrically non-linear, five-storey frame under uni/bi-axial, non-stationary, random base excitation. The first order reliability method (FORM) and inverse FORM have been extended to handle the problem of updating reliability models for existing, statically loaded structures based on measured responses (Chapter 4). The proposed procedures are implemented by combining Matlab based reliability modules with finite element models residing on the Abaqus software. Numerical illustrations on linear and non-linear frames are presented. A solution strategy within the framework of Monte Carlo simulation based dynamic state estimation method and Girsanov’s transformation for variance reduction has been developed to tackle the problem of updating the reliability of instrumented structures based on measured response under random dynamic loading (Chapter 5). For linear Gaussian state space models, the solution is developed based on continuous version of the Kalman filter, while, for non-linear and (or) non-Gaussian state space models, bootstrap particle filters are adopted. Results from laboratory testing of an archetypal five storey bending-torsion coupled frame under seismic base motions form the basis of one of the illustrative examples. A set of three annexures contain details of numerical methods for discretizing Ito’s differential equations (Annexure 1), working of the Girsanov transformation through Kolmogorov’s equations (Annexure 2) and tools for interfacing Matlab and Abaqus codes (Annexure 3).

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / With the advances in embedded technology and the omnipresence of smartphones, tracking systems do not need to be confined to a specific tracking environment. By introducing mobile devices into a tracking system, we can leverage their mobility and the availability of multiple sensors such as camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Inertial sensors. This thesis proposes to improve the existing tracking systems, enhanced Distributed Tracking System (e-DTS 2.0) [19] and enhanced Distributed Object Tracking System (eDOTS)[26], in the form of e-DTS 3.0 and provides an empirical analysis of these improvements. The enhancements proposed are to introduce Android-based mobile devices into the tracking system, to use multiple sensors on the mobile devices such as the camera, the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth sensors and inertial sensors and to utilize possible resources that may be available in the environment to make the tracking opportunistic. This thesis empirically validates the proposed enhancements through the experiments carried out on a prototype of e-DTS 3.0.