Thesis (PhD) -- University of South Australia, 1993

Thesis (PhD) -- University of South Australia, 1993

Condition assessment of water distribution pipeline assets has been the focus of water authorities for many years. Transient response analysis, including Inverse Transient Analysis (ITA), provides a new potential method for performing specific nondestructive tests that gives much broader information regarding the condition of pipelines than existing technologies. The basic concept involves inducing a transient in a pipeline and measuring its pressure response. The pressure response is theoretically a function of the condition of the pipeline wall (which is the fundamental characteristic related to the propagation of a transient wavefront) and reflections and damping from any fault that may be present. If an accurate transient model of the pipeline under examination can be developed then it may then be possible to isolate particular parameters in it (relating to the wall thickness of the pipeline or faults such as blockages, air pockets and leaks) and fit these to give optimal matches between the model predicted and measured response of the pipeline. This process is often referred to as inverse analysis (and hence the derivation of the name Inverse Transient Analysis). While a significant amount of numerical and laboratory investigation has been carried out focussing on the use of ITA for leak detection, few field studies have been undertaken. The goal of this research is to determine whether transient response analysis and Inverse Transient Analysis (ITA) can be applied in field situations to provide useful information regarding the condition of pipeline walls and the presence of specific faults such as blockages, air pockets and leaks. Numerous field tests are conducted on large scale transmission pipelines, small scale distribution pipelines and a distribution network in order to obtain a view of the nature of the measured transient responses at each scale and to identify any common characteristics. The capacity of existing transient models to replicate the measured responses is then assessed and they are found to be generally incapable of replicating the field data. Given the physical complexity of field pipelines, and a number of complex phenomena that have been traditionally neglected, this result is not unexpected. The research proposes the development of transient models that can be calibrated to measured responses. These models incorporate mechanisms for including mechanical dispersion and damping and follow precedents developed in other fields of engineering in which damping of transient phenomena is significant. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1325427 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2008

Thesis (M.P.H.M. (Primary Health Care Management))--Mahidol University, 2008. / LICL has E-Thesis 0038 ; please contact computer services.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 1993. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [217]-221). Also available on the Internet.

[pt] Neste trabalho, apresentam-se modelos mecânicos para previsão da integridade estrutural de tubulações anelásticas conduzindo líquidos, submetidas a transientes hidráulicos. A descrição do fenômeno de transiente hidráulico é feita com base em duas formulações unidimensionais: uma acoplada e outra desacoplada. A formulação acoplada considera a interação dinâmica fluido-estrutura entre os movimentos do fluido e do tubo, enquanto que a desacoplada refere-se ao modelo tradicional de golpe de ariete. A integridade da tubulação é modelada com base na Mecânica do Dano Continuo. O comportamento anelástico da parede do tubo assim como o dano induzido pela deformação anelástica são descritos por uma teoria constitutiva com variáveis internas e forte respaldo termodinâmico. A teoria engloba um grande número de equações constitutivas encontradas na literatura e permite descrever diferentes respostas mecânicas numa mesma estrutura matemática. As equações resultantes para ambos os modelos - acoplado e desacoplado - formam um sistema não linear de equações diferenciais parciais hiperbólicas. Apesar da forte não linearidade, mostra-se que métodos numéricos clássicos podem ser empregados para resolver as equações quando se utiliza uma técnica de decomposição do operador. No trabalho, emprega-se entre outros o método de Glimm. Exemplos numéricos que retratam a evolução do dano induzida por transientes de pressão em tubulações elasto-viscopláticas são apresentados e analisados. Comparações realizadas entre as previsões dos modelos e entre simulações com e sem dano permitem, na análise, caracterizar as influências do acoplamento fluido-estrutura e do dano. / [en] This work presents mechanical models for structural failure prediction of compliant inelastic pipings conveying liquids, submitted to hydraulic transients. Hydraulic transients are described based on two, a coupled and an uncoupled, onedimensional formulations. The coupled formulation takes into account the dynamical fluid-structure interaction between fluid flow and pipewall motions, whereas the uncoupled one refers to the well-known waterhammer model. Piping integrity is modelled on the basis of the Continuum bamage Mechanics. Both pipewall inelastic mechanical behavior and damage induced by inelastic deformations are described by an internal variable constitutive theory with strong thermodynamical support. It encompasses a great number of constitutive equations found in the literature and allows the treatment of several different mechanical responses within a same mathematical framework. The resulting equations of both coupled and uncoupled transient models forma non linear system of hyperbolic partial differential equations. In spite of its strong non linearity, it is shown that classical numerical methods can be used for solving the equations whether a operator splitting technique is employed. Among others, Glimm s scheme has been used in this work. Numerical examples concerning the damage evolution induced by pressure transients in elasto-viscoplastic pipings are presented and analysed. Comparisons between the predictions of the models and simulations with and without damage are presented, so that the fluid-structure coupling and the damage influences on the analysis are investigated.

Afin d’évaluer la sûreté d’ASTRID (Réacteur à Neutrons Rapide refroidi au sodium), les transitoires accidentels sont actuellement étudiés avec des codes de calculs déterministes coûteux en temps de calcul, comme SIMMER-III ou SAS-SFR. En complément de ces études, le CEA a entrepris le développement d’outils de calculs analytiques simulant les différents phénomènes physiques régissant ces transitoires. Ces outils permettent, compte-tenu de leur robustesse et des faibles temps de calculs, de prendre en compte par une approche probabiliste les incertitudes et d’analyser de manière statistique les résultats. Ce traitement s’avère en effet indispensable afin de tenir compte des incertitudes physiques et de la variabilité des scénarios de déroulement du transitoire accidentel. In fine, les études réalisées avec ce type d’outils, couplant une modélisation analytique de la physique à un traitement statistique des résultats, fourniront des informations quantitatives sur les marges de sûreté, vis-à-vis de critères donnés.Le développement et la validation de l’outil dédié aux transitoires de perte de débit primaire non protégé (ULOF - Unprotected Loss Of Flow), résultant du déclenchement des pompes primaires sans reprise de secours ni chute des barres de contrôle, fait l’objet de cette thèse. Cet outil a été nommé MACARENa (Modélisation de l'ACcident d'Arrêt des pompes d'un Réacteur refroidi au sodium). Au cours de cette thèse, seule la phase primaire de l’accident a été traitée.Le début de cette phase, enclenchée par la réduction du débit primaire, est gouverné par le couplage entre la thermohydraulique et les contre-réactions neutroniques. Le code MACARENa simule, selon les conditions initiales, l’établissement de la convection naturelle monophasique ou la stabilisation de l’ébullition dans la partie haute du cœur. Si l’écoulement est instable, l’excursion de débit conduisant à l’assèchement des aiguilles puis à leur dégradation est aussi modélisée. A la suite d’un tel transitoire, l’outil calcule la fusion et la relocalisation des gaines et du combustible ainsi que l’entraînement d’acier liquide par les vapeurs de sodium et le possible bouchage de l’assemblage par des matériaux resolidifiés, avant de suivre l’évolution de bains fondus qui conduisent à la rupture des tubes hexagonaux. Les mouvements de matériaux induisent aussi des effets neutroniques complexes qui sont traités dans la modélisation.Les modélisations effectuées pour construire l’outil MACARENa ont été validées sur des expériences à effets séparés (thermohydraulique ou de dégradation) et des résultats issus de code déterministes.Finalement, des études de propagation d’incertitudes et d’analyses de sensibilité sont réalisées avec cet outil afin d’illustrer son intérêt vis-à-vis de la démonstration de sûreté. / Within the framework of the Generation IV Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) R&D program of CEA (French Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives), safety in case of severe accidents is assessed.Such transients are usually simulated with mechanistic codes (such as SAS-SFR and SIMMER III). As a complement to these codes, which give reference accidental transient calculations, a new physico-statistical approach is currently followed by the CEA; its final objective being to derive the variability of the main results of interest for safety. This approach involves a fast-running description of extended accident sequences coupling physical models for the main phenomena to advanced statistical analysis techniques. It enables to perform a large number of simulations in a reasonable computational time and to describe all the possible bifurcations of the accident transient.In this context, this PhD work presents the physical tool (models and results assessment) dedicated to the initiation and primary phases of an Unprotected Loss Of Flow accident (i.e. until the end of sub-assemblies degradation and before large molten pools formation). The accident phenomenology during these phases is described and illustrated by numerous experimental evidences.It is underlined that the features of the new heterogeneous core concept (called CFV of the French ASTRID prototype) leads to different kinds of ULOF transients than those occurring in the previous past homogeneous cores (SuperPhenix, Phenix...). Indeed, its negative void effect drops the nuclear power when sodium heats-up and possibly boils. This enables three types of ULOF transients characterized by various core final states; the first two types leading to final coolable core states in natural circulation flow (the first one in single phase, the second one in stabilized two-phase flow) whereas the core undergoes a flow excursion followed by sub-assemblies degradation in the last type. In this study, a particular attention is paid to stabilize boiling occurrence which leads to minimize severe accident consequences.The phenomena occurring during the various ULOF transients are modelled in accordance to the level of details required to catch all the possible bifurcations of the transient. The tool coupled different (2D, 1D and 0D) models of thermics, thermo-hydraulics, core degradation (material melting and motions) and neutronics. The assumptions associated to these models are highlighted, discussed and validated. The physical tool capability of simulating the various realistic ULOF transients (without boiling, with stabilized boiling or flow excursion after boiling) is demonstrated by comparisons to experimental results (GR19, SCARABEE experiments) and to mechanistic simulations (CATHARE2 and SIMMER III).Parametric studies are then carried out on two variables: the fuel burn-up and the model of neutronic feedbacks. They underline the important influence of these parameters on the transient and the final core state. Finally, a preliminary sensitivity analysis (2000 simulations) is performed on 26 uncertain parameters (linked to initial core configuration, accident features, model uncertainties and radial nodalization). The variability of the final core state is underlined and quantified; only around 25% of cases lead to core degradation. The main influent parameters on transient phenomena are also identified, enabling to prioritize core design and safety studies.In the future, this tool will be used for safety-informed design and stability analyses of fast reactor systems, allowing to emphasize the main dominant phenomena and trends of significance for safety assessment.

Este trabalho trata de conceitos relacionados à qualidade da Energia Elétrica (EE) e, neste contexto, apresenta a proposta de técnicas para a compressão da representação de transitórios rápidos e da análise tempo-frequência de distúrbios elétricos em geral. A qualidade da Energia Elétrica é medida pelo coeficiente de desvios que os sinais de tensão e corrente apresentam em relação ao sinal senoidal ideal. Tais desvios são denominados de distúrbios, podendo ser classificados como quase estacionários (e.g. distorção de harmônicas) e eventos (e.g. transitórios rápidos). No contexto de EE, os transitórios rápidos possuem pequena duração (i.e. na ordem dos microssegundos), são detectados por altas taxas de amostragem (i.e. na ordem dos MHz) e possuem difícil parametrização. Portanto, as representações das formas de onda geralmente são armazenadas para auxiliar a avaliação subjetiva dos transitórios e dos parâmetros de interesse. Consequentemente, a compressão destas formas de onda torna-se de extrema importância para armazenar dados adquiridos por longos períodos de tempo, e estes modos de compressão são tratados nesta dissertação. Em virtude das altas taxas de amostragem utilizadas, uma técnica baseada em Análise de Componentes Principais (PCA – Principal Component Analysis) é proposta para esta representação mais compacta de transitórios. Resultados mostram que o desempenho em compressão versus qualidade de reconstrução é semelhante ao de trabalhos relacionados com a vantagem de atender aos requisitos de altas taxas de amostragem. A análise tempo-frequência é um mecanismo que auxilia na classificação e caracterização dos distúrbios elétricos. Neste trabalho, a Transformada de Hilbert-Huang é estudada e uma proposta de melhoria na Decomposição Empírica de Modos (EMD – Empirical Mode Decomposition) é apresentada. Nossos resultados mostram que a técnica proposta economiza o custo computacional se comparada com o estado da arte. Em virtude disso, a técnica proposta apresenta uma taxa de redução no tempo médio de execução de 99,76 % em relação à técnica do estado da arte. Além disso, uma verificação acerca do desempenho em eficiência de compressão versus qualidade de reconstrução de trabalhos anteriores é também desenvolvida nesta dissertação. Foi utilizada uma sistemática de avaliação experimental com base em amostras de sinais AC, de forma a avaliar as taxas de compressão atingidas pelas técnicas estudadas, como a Transformada Wavelet Discreta. Resultados mostram que a Transformada Wavelet falha para compressão de todo e qualquer tipo de distúrbio elétrico quando analisado o compromisso entre acuidade de reconstrução versus eficiência de compressão. / This work deals with concepts related to the AC Power Quality theoretical framework and, in this scope, proposes techniques for the representation of fast transient data compression and for the power line disturbances time-frequency analysis. The AC power quality is measured by the differences between actual and ideal sinusoidal voltage/current signals. These differences are known as electrical disturbances, which can be classified as quasi-stationary (e.g. harmonic distortion) or events (e.g. surge or fast transients) disturbances. In the AC Power Quality scope, the fast transients have short duration (i.e. typically on the order of microseconds), are detected by high sampling rates (i.e. typically on the order of MHz), and are hard to characterize and parameterize. Hence, the resultant representation of the waveforms is in general stored to help in the subjective evaluation of these fast transients and their parameters of interest. As a consequence the compression turns out to be of main concern, in order to store this information acquired over long periods of time (like weeks or months). In this work, a compression technique is proposed taking into account the high sampling rates. The proposed technique makes use of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for such compact representation of fast transients. The Compression efficiency versus reconstruction accuracy results show a similar performance for the proposed technique when compared to the related works. On the other hand, the proposed technique can handle the large amount of data provided by the high sampling rates. The time-frequency analysis helps in the classification and characterization of AC power quality disturbances. In this work, the Hilbert-Huang Transform is studied and a modification is proposed in order to improve the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) performance. Our results show that the proposed modification can save computational cost when compared to the state-of-the-art. Therefore, the average execution time is reduced to 99.76 % in comparison with the state-of-the-art technique. Besides that, this work also revisits previous techniques based on the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) in order to verify the trade-off between reconstruction accuracy versus compression efficiency under a more systematic experimental evaluation setup, considering samples of real AC signals. Results show that DWT fails as a general-purpose technique in AC Power Quality scope.