Com o aumento dos tratamentos químicos e/ou físicos nos cabelos aos quais são realizados mediante o uso de dispositivos térmicos, há uma maior preocupação a respeito dos danos causados aos cabelos por estes tipos de tratamentos. O conhecimento dos efeitos, benefícios e/ou malefícios, de ingredientes cosméticos em cabelos torna-se necessário, pois facilita a busca por produtos baseada no tipo de cabelo. O principal objetivo do trabalho foi a caracterização físico-química, analítica e térmica de mechas de cabelo de diferentes etnias (caucasiano, oriental e afro-étnico virgem e brasileiro virgem e descolorido) antes e após o uso de ingredientes cosméticos seguido de um tratamento térmico (utilizando piastra) e intercalando com lavagens. O estudo das amostras de cabelo e de uma amostra de queratina animal envolveu a utilização das técnicas de TG/DTG, DSC, análise elementar, FTIR, MEV e técnicas de avaliação de eficácia, como tensão/deformação, penteabilidade e quebra por escovação. A partir da TG/DTG, foi possível avaliar as etapas de decomposição térmica das amostras de cabelo virgem e de queratina animal e estas apresentaram um comportamento térmico semelhante entre si. O estudo cinético não isotérmico por TG mostrou que, dos diferentes tipos de amostras de cabelo virgem, o afro-étnico apresentou menor estabilidade térmica e o oriental foi o mais estável termicamente. Os resultados de DSC corroboraram os obtidos por TG, demonstrando que a amostra de cabelo afro-étnico apresentou temperatura de desnaturação térmica das cadeias de α-queratina menor (TD = 223°C) do que as amostras dos outros tipos de cabelo (TD = 236°C). As mechas de cabelo virgem e clareadas foram tratadas com formulações cosméticas contendo silicones e avaliadas quanto a eficiência destes na proteção térmica dos cabelos. Algumas delas mostraram eficiência na proteção térmica das cadeias de α-queratina, diminuindo o seu grau de desnaturação. Foi possível observar que a associação do calor da piastra com as lavagens sucessivas causou danos tanto à cutícula (conforme resultados de FTIR e MEV), como também, ao córtex dos cabelos (conforme resultados de DSC). Em alguns casos, os danos causados foram tão graves que as camadas mais superficiais da cutícula sofreram descamações. O estudo mostrou, também, que a eficiência da proteção térmica nos cabelos depende do tipo da formulação cosmética em que estes protetores estão incorporados e do estado em que os cabelos se encontram. A DSC permitiu a avaliação da modificação termicamente induzida das cadeias de α-queratina e sua posterior desnaturação. O estudo envolvendo a associação das diferentes técnicas apresentou-se viável na avaliação tanto dos danos causados aos cabelos quanto na eficiência dos ingredientes cosméticos na proteção térmica dos mesmos. / With the increase of chemical and/or physical hair treatments, there is an increased concern about the damage caused by the continued use of thermal equipment. This is due to products identified as \"progressive brush\", widely used by individuals of various types of hair, in order to straighten them that are employed with the mandatory use of piastra. Thus, knowledge about the effects, benefits and/or detriments, of cosmetic ingredients in hair of different ethnic groups becomes necessary because it facilitates the search for products based on the type of hair. The main objective this work was the physicochemical, analytical and thermal characterization of hair samples of different ethnic groups (caucasian, oriental, african-ethnic and brazilian type II) before and after the use of cosmetic ingredients followed by heat treatment, using piastra, interleaved by washes. For such purpose, it was used the TG/DTG, DSC, EA, FTIR, SEM and techniques for evaluation of effectiveness as stress/strain and combing. By TG/DTG, it was possible to evaluate the thermal decomposition events of hair and animal keratin samples and these showed a similar thermal behavior between them. The TG-non isothermal kinetic study showed that, from the different types of virgin hair samples, the african-ethnic hair samples had the lowest thermal stability and oriental hair samples were more thermally stable. The DSC results confirm the results obtained by TG, demonstrating that african-ethnic hair samples had thermal denaturation temperature of α-keratin chains (TD = 223°C) lower than the samples from other types of hair (TD = 236°C). The virgin and bleached hair tresses were treated with cosmetic formulations containing silicones and evaluated the efficiency of the thermal protection of the hair. Some of the formulations tested have shown to be efficient as to its protective effect on the degradation of the α-keratin chains, decreasing the degree of denaturation. It was observed that the combination of the heat of piastra with successive washes caused damage to the hair cuticle (according to the IR and SEM results) as well as the cortex of hair (according DSC results). In some cases, the damage was so severe that the most superficial layers of the cuticle suffered flaking. The study also showed that the efficiency of the thermal protection in the hair depends on the type of cosmetic formulation that these protectors are incorporated and the condition of the hair. DSC technique allowed monitoring of the thermally induced modification of the α-keratin chains and subsequent denaturation. The study of the combination of all the techniques, as presented, is feasible in measuring damage to hair and the efficiency of cosmetic ingredients in protecting them.

Cette thèse est consacrée au développement d'outils de simulation numérique permettant d'appréhender les phénomènes multi-physiques complexes (thermique, mécanique des solides, mécanique des fluides et sciences des matériaux) mis en jeu lors d'opérations de soudage TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) de tôles minces de type 316L utilisées dans l'industrie agroalimentaire. La fusion locale des éléments à assembler par soudage présente en effet l'inconvénient d'induire des déformations locales importantes qui compliquent le montage des pièces. Un autre désavantage est l'apparition de contraintes résiduelles qui impactent la durabilité de la structure soudée. Afin de prédire ces déformations et contraintes pendant la phase de conception, en vue par exemple de les minimiser en jouant sur des paramètres tels que la vitesse d'exécution et l'intensité du courant de soudage, des outils numériques prédictifs ont été développés dans le cadre de ce travail.Un modèle éléments finis 3D de couplage entre la thermique et la mécanique, dans les domaines transitoire et nonlinéaire,a notamment été programmé en langage APDL (Ansys Parametric Design Language) à l'aide du logiciel multi-physique ANSYS. La source mobile de chaleur par soudage a été représentée par un profil Gaussien dont les paramètres ont été calibrés de manière à optimiser la forme géométrique du cordon. Pour ce faire, la surface de réponse d'un plan d'expérience factoriel a été utilisée. Les résultats numériques obtenus sont tout à fait satisfaisants puisque les paramètres de la source de chaleur gaussienne identifiés à l'aide du plan d'expérience factoriel permettent une reproduction fidèle de la géométrie du cordon. La comparaison entre les valeurs expérimentales et calculées de la déviation montre par ailleurs une bonne cohérence avec un écart relatif inférieur à 5%. Afin d'étudier la tension et la conductibilité électrique lors de l'amorçage et du maintien de l'arc de soudure, un modèle axisymétrique bidimensionnel de l'arc électrique a été réalisé en utilisant le logiciel FLUENT. La géométrie réelle des composantes de la torche telles que le diffuseur de gaz, la buse et l'électrode a été prise en compte. Lemodèle intègre un couplage fluide-structure dans lequel les équations électromagnétiques et thermiques sont résolues dans la cathode solide. Les équations supplémentaires régissant l'écoulement sont considérées dans le domaine gazeux où l'arc est généré. Pour le maintien de l'arc, ces équations, qui ont été programmées en langage C++, permettent de s'affranchir de la conductibilité artificielle souvent utilisée dans la littérature. Le modèle permet d'obtenir les champs de température du plasma, les chutes de tension à l'anode et à la cathode de l'appareil de soudage, la tension dans l'arc ainsi que le rendement de l'apport d'énergie. Les résultats numériques indiquent que la température et la vitesse d'écoulement du plasma augmentent avecl'intensité du courant et avec la distance inter électrode. Il en va de même pour le potentiel électrique mais avec une influence plus forte de la distance inter électrode. Enfin, le débit de gaz ne joue aucun rôle sur la température et sur le potentiel électrique. Il influe par contre sur la vitesse d'écoulement du plasma. Plus le débit est élevé, plus la vitesse d'écoulement du plasma est faible. / This thesis is dedicated to the development of numerical simulation tools allowing to understand complex multi-physics phenomena (thermal, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics and sciences materials) involved in TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding operations of 316L thin plate used in the food industry. The local fusion of the elements to be assembled by welding has indeedthe disadvantage of inducing significant local deformations that complicate the assembly of parts. Another The disadvantage is the appearance of residual stresses that impact the durability of the welded structure. In order to predict these deformations and constraints during the design phase, for example in order to minimize them in playing on parameters such as the speed of execution and the intensity of the welding current, digital tools Predictors have been developed as part of this work.A model finite elements 3D of coupling between the thermal one and the mechanics, in the transient and nonlinear domains,was programmed in Ansys Parametric Design Language (APDL) using the software multi-physics ANSYS. The mobile source of heat by welding has been represented by a Gaussian profile whose parameters have been calibrated to optimize the geometric shape of the cord. To do this, the surface of Response of a factorial experiment plan was used. The numerical results obtained are quite satisfactory since the parameters of the Gaussian heat source identified using the factorial experiment planallow a faithful reproduction of the geometry of the cord. The comparison between the experimental values ​​and Calculated deviation also shows good consistency with a relative difference of less than 5%. In order to study the voltage and the electrical conductivity during the priming and the maintenance of the welding arc, a Two-dimensional axisymmetric model of the electric arc was realized using FLUENT software. Geometry actual torch components such as the gas diffuser, the nozzle and the electrode were taken into account. The model integrates a fluid-structure coupling in which the electromagnetic and thermal equations are resolved in the solid cathode. The additional equations governing the flow are considered in the gaseous domain where the arc is generated. For the maintenance of the arc, these equations, which have been programmed in C ++, make it possible to overcome the artificial conductivity often used in the literature. The model allows to obtain the plasma temperature fields, the voltage drops at the anode and at the cathode of the welding, the voltage in the arc as well as the efficiency of the energy input. Numerical results indicate that plasma temperature and flow velocity increase with the intensity of the current and with the inter-electrode distance. The same goes for the electric potential but with a stronger influence of the inter-electrode distance. Finally, the gas flow plays no role on the temperature and on the electric potential. It influences the speed of flow of the plasma. The higher the flow, the higher the Plasma flow rate is low.

A degradação de rejeites de polímeros sintéticos tem sido o foco de crescente atenção, devido ao seu uso potencial como combustível e como fonte de produtos químicos. O aproveitamento de rejeitas poliméricos contribui para a solução dos problemas de poluição. O uso de catalisadores adequados pode facilitar a degradação térmica de polímeros sintéticos, a qual pode ser monitorada por métodos termoanalíticos. Este trabalho apresenta um conjunto de atividades envolvendo estudos de síntese e caracterização de catalisadores zeolíticos de estrutura faujasítica (zeólita HY e o silicoaluminofosfato SAPO-37), para serem utilizados na degradação térmica do polietileno de alta densidade (HDPE). A fim de avaliar a atividade catalítica destes materiais zeolíticos utilizou-se Termogravimetria (TG), análise térmica diferencial (DTA) e calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC). Os parâmetros cinéticos do processo de degaradção térmica do HDPE sem e com catalisador foram calculados usando-se o método integral a múltiplas razões de aquecimento de Flynn e Wall bem como o método de Vyazovkin (Model Free Kinetics). Promoveu-se também o monitoramento dos produtos formados na degradação térmica do polímero com e sem catalisador utilizando-se um sistema simultâneo e acoplado TG/DTA-GC/MS. Os resultados obtidos, mostraram que os materiais zeolíticos facilitaram o processo. / Degradation of waste synthetic polymers has been the focus of increased attention because of their potential use as fuels or chemical resource. Besides, recycling of polymers from waste products can contribute to solve pollution problems. The use of suitable catalysts can enhance the thermal degradation of synthetic polymers, which may be monitored by thermoanalytical techniques. In this study, catalysts with zeolite structure (Zeolite HY and SAPO-37 silicoaluminophosphate) were synthesized and characterized, in order to be screened up for the thermal degradation of high density polyethylene (HDPE). Catalytical activity was evaluated for these materiais using thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Kinetic parameters related to the HDPE thermal degradation process with and without catalyst were calculated employing the multiple heating rate integral method proposed by Flynn and Wall as well by using Vyazovkin (Model Free Kinetics). AII the evolved products were analyzed using a TG/DTA-GC/MS simul and coupled system. The data showed a positive catalytic activity for the zeolite structure materials.

The research programme studied the cure reaction of a phenolic novolak resin and the effects of various additives and fillers on the reaction. The programme utilised the recently developed thermal analysis technique of temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) performed in conjunction with other available thermal analysis techniques. TMDSC enables the signal for the heat of reaction to be separated from the underlying specific heat change in the resin. This meant that the reaction could be studied without interference from any physical changes in the resin. The manufacture of composite brake materials required the use of numerous additives and fillers to produce the desired properties. The influence of such additives on the cure rate and final properties of the resin was known to occur but had not previously been measured due to the difficulties presented by the presence of opaque additives. Some additives also underwent thermally induced physical changes in the temperature range of the cure. The final properties and the processing of new brake materials undergoing development often required trial and error adjustments to compensate for changes in cure rate. An understanding of the influence of additives would enable more rapid commercial development of brake materials through an improvement in the ability to predict both the properties of the product and the optimal processing parameters. Processing efficiency could also be improved through detailed knowledge of the kinetics. Moulding cycle times and post-baking times and temperatures were longer than necessary in order to ensure adequate cure at the end of each stage because of the lack of kinetic data. The cure of phenolic resin has been shown to be highly complicated with numerous alternate and competing reactions. For the manufacture of composite materials, knowledge of the kinetic parameters of individual reactions is not considered to be important; rather the overall kinetic parameters are required for prediction. Therefore the kinetic model parameters that best described the observed behaviour were chosen even though the model had no basis in the molecular interaction theory of reaction. Rather it served as a convenient tool for predictions. Characterisation of the resin proved to be difficult due to the presence of overlapping peaks, and volatile reaction products. TMDSC was successfully used to determine the reaction kinetics of the pure resin and the influence of certain additives on the reaction kinetics. The determination of the kinetic parameters using TMDSC agreed well with the traditional Differential Scanning Calorimetry isothermal and non-isothermal techniques. Both the Perkin-Elmer and TA Instruments were utilised for the research and were found to provide reasonably good agreement with each other. The capabilities and limitations of the individual instruments were critically examined, frequently beyond the manufacturers' specifications. TMDSC suffers from a limitation in the heating rate of the sample compared to DSC. However, it was observed that valuable information could still be obtained from TMDSC despite using heating rates that were higher than specified by manufacturers. Hot Stage Microscopy and thermogravimetry were additional experimental techniques used to aid in the characterisation of the resin. Some inhomogeneity of the resin was identified as well as differences in the behaviour of the cure between open (constant pressure) and closed (constant volume) environments were observed. A novel method of determining the orders of the cure reactions and their kinetic parameters was utilised. Reaction models for the overall cure reactions were postulated and tested by fitment to sections of experimental data in temperature regions which appeared to be free of interference from overlapping peaks. Once an individual peak was reasonably well modelled, adjacent overlapping peaks were able to be modelled both individually and in combinations by fitment to experimental data. The Solver function in Microsoft Excel was utilised to find the best fitting model parameters for the experimental data. The model parameters were able to be refined as overlapping peaks were progressively incorporated into the calculations. This method produced results that agreed well with the traditional method of analysing reaction peak temperatures at multiple scanning rates. Model fitment was shown to be of benefit where overlapping reactions occur. Various model scenarios could be tested and optimised to particular sections of experimental data. This enabled the researcher to easily identify areas of possible anomalies and postulate alternative scenarios. The accuracy of the postulated model was able to be determined by its successful fitment to experimental data from experiments run under different conditions.

<p>Black liquors are presently combusted in recovery boilers where the inorganic cooking chemicals are recovered and the energy in the organic material is converted to steam and electricity. A new technology, developed by Chemrec AB, is black liquor gasification (BLG). BLG has more to offer compared to the recovery boiler process, in terms of on-site generation of electric power, liquid fuel and process chemicals. A prerequisite for both optimization of existing processes and the commercialization of BLG is better understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved including interactions with the refractory lining. The chemistry in the BLG process is very complex and to minimize extensive and expensive time-consuming studies otherwise required accurate and reliable model descriptions are needed for a full understanding of most chemical and physical processes as well as for up-scaling of the new BLG processes. However, by using these calculated model results in practice, the errors in the state of the art thermochemical data have to be considered. An extensive literature review was therefore performed to update the data needed for unary, binary and higher order systems. The results from the review reviled that there is a significant range of uncertainty for several condensed phases and a few gas species. This resulted in experimental re-determinations of the binary phase diagrams sodium carbonate-sodium sulfide (Na2CO3-Na2S) and sodium sulfate-sodium sulfide (Na2SO4-Na2S) using High Temperature Microscopy (HTM), High Temperature X-ray Diffraction (HT-XRD) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). For the Na2CO3-Na2S system, measurements were carried out in dry inert atmosphere at temperatures from 25 to 1200 °C. To examine the influence of pure CO2 atmosphere on the melting behavior, HTM experiments in the same temperature interval were made. The results include re-determination of liquidus curves, in the Na2CO3 rich area, melting points of the pure components as well as determination of the extent of the solid solution, Na2CO3(ss), area. The thermal stability of Na2SO3 was studied and the binary phase diagram Na2SO4-Na2S was re-determined. The results indicate that Na2SO3 can exist for a short time up to 750 °C, before it melts. It was also proved that a solid/solid transformation, not reported earlier, occurs at 675 ± 10 °C. At around 700 °C, Na2SO3 gradually breaks down within a few hours, to finally form the solid phases Na2SO4 and Na2S. From HTM measurements a metastable phase diagram including Na2SO3, as well as an equilibrium phase diagram have been constructed for the binary system Na2SO4-Na2S. Improved data on Na2S was experimentally obtained by using solid-state EMF measurements. The equilibrium constant for Na2S(s) was determined to be log Kf(Na2S(s)) (± 0.05) = 216.28 – 4750(T/K)–1 – 28.28878 ln (T/K). Gibbs energy of formation for Na2S(s) was obtained as ΔfG°(Na2S(s))/(kJ mol–1) (± 1.0) = 90.9 – 4.1407(T/K) + 0.5415849(T/K) ln (T/K). The standard enthalpy of formation of Na2S(s) was evaluated to be ΔfH°(Na2S(s), 298.15 K)/(kJ mol–1) (± 1.0) = – 369.0. The standard entropy was evaluated to be S°(Na2S(s), 298.15 K)/(J mol–1 K–1) (± 2.0) = 97.0. Analyses of used refractory material from the Chemrec gasifier were also performed in order to elucidate the stability of the refractory lining. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the chemical attack was limited to 250-300 μm, of the surface directly exposed to the gasification atmosphere and the smelt. From XRD analysis it was found that the phases in this surface layer of the refractory were dominated by sodiumaluminosilicates, mainly Na1.55Al1.55Si0.45O4.</p>

Black liquors are presently combusted in recovery boilers where the inorganic cooking chemicals are recovered and the energy in the organic material is converted to steam and electricity. A new technology, developed by Chemrec AB, is black liquor gasification (BLG). BLG has more to offer compared to the recovery boiler process, in terms of on-site generation of electric power, liquid fuel and process chemicals. A prerequisite for both optimization of existing processes and the commercialization of BLG is better understanding of the physical and chemical processes involved including interactions with the refractory lining. The chemistry in the BLG process is very complex and to minimize extensive and expensive time-consuming studies otherwise required accurate and reliable model descriptions are needed for a full understanding of most chemical and physical processes as well as for up-scaling of the new BLG processes. However, by using these calculated model results in practice, the errors in the state of the art thermochemical data have to be considered. An extensive literature review was therefore performed to update the data needed for unary, binary and higher order systems. The results from the review reviled that there is a significant range of uncertainty for several condensed phases and a few gas species. This resulted in experimental re-determinations of the binary phase diagrams sodium carbonate-sodium sulfide (Na2CO3-Na2S) and sodium sulfate-sodium sulfide (Na2SO4-Na2S) using High Temperature Microscopy (HTM), High Temperature X-ray Diffraction (HT-XRD) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). For the Na2CO3-Na2S system, measurements were carried out in dry inert atmosphere at temperatures from 25 to 1200 °C. To examine the influence of pure CO2 atmosphere on the melting behavior, HTM experiments in the same temperature interval were made. The results include re-determination of liquidus curves, in the Na2CO3 rich area, melting points of the pure components as well as determination of the extent of the solid solution, Na2CO3(ss), area. The thermal stability of Na2SO3 was studied and the binary phase diagram Na2SO4-Na2S was re-determined. The results indicate that Na2SO3 can exist for a short time up to 750 °C, before it melts. It was also proved that a solid/solid transformation, not reported earlier, occurs at 675 ± 10 °C. At around 700 °C, Na2SO3 gradually breaks down within a few hours, to finally form the solid phases Na2SO4 and Na2S. From HTM measurements a metastable phase diagram including Na2SO3, as well as an equilibrium phase diagram have been constructed for the binary system Na2SO4-Na2S. Improved data on Na2S was experimentally obtained by using solid-state EMF measurements. The equilibrium constant for Na2S(s) was determined to be log Kf(Na2S(s)) (± 0.05) = 216.28 – 4750(T/K)–1 – 28.28878 ln (T/K). Gibbs energy of formation for Na2S(s) was obtained as ΔfG°(Na2S(s))/(kJ mol–1) (± 1.0) = 90.9 – 4.1407(T/K) + 0.5415849(T/K) ln (T/K). The standard enthalpy of formation of Na2S(s) was evaluated to be ΔfH°(Na2S(s), 298.15 K)/(kJ mol–1) (± 1.0) = – 369.0. The standard entropy was evaluated to be S°(Na2S(s), 298.15 K)/(J mol–1 K–1) (± 2.0) = 97.0. Analyses of used refractory material from the Chemrec gasifier were also performed in order to elucidate the stability of the refractory lining. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the chemical attack was limited to 250-300 μm, of the surface directly exposed to the gasification atmosphere and the smelt. From XRD analysis it was found that the phases in this surface layer of the refractory were dominated by sodiumaluminosilicates, mainly Na1.55Al1.55Si0.45O4.

The objective of this research is to increase the understanding of the solidification behaviour of some industrially important wrought aluminium alloys. The investigation methods range from direct investigations of as-cast ingots to laboratory-scale techniques in which ingot casting is simulated. The methods span from directional solidification at different cooling rates to more fundamental and controlled techniques such as DTA and DSC. The microstructure characteristics of the castings have been investigated by optical and Scanning Electron microscopy. Hardness tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties. The effects of adding alloying elements to 3XXX and 6XXX aluminium alloys have been studied with special focus on the effects of Zn, Cu, Si and Ti. These elements influence the strength and corrosion properties, which are important for the performance of final components of these alloys. Solidification studies of 0-5wt% Zn additions to 3003 alloys showed that the most important effect on the microstructure was noticed at 2.5 wt% Zn, where the structure was fine, and the hardness had a maximum. Si addition to a level of about 2% gave a finer structure, having a relatively large fraction of eutectic structure, however, it also gave a long solidification interval. The addition of small amounts of Cu, 0.35 and 1.0 wt%, showed a beneficial effect on the hardness. Differences have been observed in the ingot surface microstructures of 6xxx billets with different Mg and Si ratios. Excess Si compositions showed a coarser grain structure and more precipitations with possible negative implications for surface defect formation during DC casting. The comparison of alloys of different Ti content showed that the addition of titanium to a level of about 0.15 wt% gave a coarser grain structure than alloys with a normal Ti content for grain refinement, i.e. &lt; 0.02 wt%, although a better corrosion resistance can be obtained at higher Ti contents. The larger grain size results in crack sensitivity during DC casting. A macroscopic etching technique was developed, based on a NaOH solution, and used in inclusion assessment along DC cast billets. Good quantitative data with respect to the size and spatial distribution of inclusions were obtained. The results from studied billets reveal a decreasing number of inclusions going from bottom to top, and the presence of a ring-shaped distribution of a large number of small defects in the beginning of the casting. The present study shows how composition modifications, i.e. additions of certain amounts of alloying elements to the 3xxx and 6xxx Al alloys, significantly change the microstructures of the materials, its castability, and consequently its mechanical properties / QC 20100901

This work presents a study and implementation of the simulation of residual stresses in castings. The objects of study are a cast iron truck Hub part (provided by the company Volvo 3P) and an optimized version of the Hub resulting from the application of a topology optimization process. The models are solved through an uncoupled thermo-mechanical solidification analysis, performed both in the FE commercial software Abaqus and the FD commercial software Magmasoft and the results are compared. First, a thermal analysis is carried out where the casting is cooled down from a super-heated temperature to room temperature. The thermal history obtained, is then used as an external force to calculate the residual stresses by means of a quasi-static mechanical analysis, using a J2-plasticity model. The simulation procedures are explained through a simplified model of the Hub and then applied to the geometries of interest. A results comparison between the original Hub and its optimized version is also presented. The theoretical base is given in this work as well as detailed implementation procedures. The results shows that the part subjected to the topology optimization process develop less residual stresses than its original version.

Process variability is the pivotal factor impacting the design of high yield integrated circuits and systems in deep sub-micron CMOS technologies. The electrical and physical properties of transistors and interconnects, the building blocks of integrated circuits, are prone to significant variations that directly impact the performance and power consumption of the fabricated devices, severely impacting the manufacturing yield. However, the large number of the transistors on a single chip adds even more challenges for the analysis of the variation effects, a critical task in diagnosing the cause of failure and designing for yield. Reliable and efficient statistical analysis methodologies in various design phases are key to predict the yield before entering such an expensive fabrication process. In this thesis, the impacts of process variations are examined at three different levels: device, circuit, and micro-architecture. The variation models are provided for each level of abstraction, and new methodologies are proposed for efficient statistical analysis and design under variation. At the circuit level, the variability analysis of three crucial sub-blocks of today's system-on-chips, namely, digital circuits, memory cells, and analog blocks, are targeted. The accurate and efficient yield analysis of circuits is recognized as an extremely challenging task within the electronic design automation community. The large scale of the digital circuits, the extremely high yield requirement for memory cells, and the time-consuming analog circuit simulation are major concerns in the development of any statistical analysis technique. In this thesis, several sampling-based methods have been proposed for these three types of circuits to significantly improve the run-time of the traditional Monte Carlo method, without compromising accuracy. The proposed sampling-based yield analysis methods benefit from the very appealing feature of the MC method, that is, the capability to consider any complex circuit model. However, through the use and engineering of advanced variance reduction and sampling methods, ultra-fast yield estimation solutions are provided for different types of VLSI circuits. Such methods include control variate, importance sampling, correlation-controlled Latin Hypercube Sampling, and Quasi Monte Carlo. At the device level, a methodology is proposed which introduces a variation-aware design perspective for designing MOS devices in aggressively scaled geometries. The method introduces a yield measure at the device level which targets the saturation and leakage currents of an MOS transistor. A statistical method is developed to optimize the advanced doping profiles and geometry features of a device for achieving a maximum device-level yield. Finally, a statistical thermal analysis framework is proposed. It accounts for the process and thermal variations simultaneously, at the micro-architectural level. The analyzer is developed, based on the fact that the process variations lead to uncertain leakage power sources, so that the thermal profile, itself, would have a probabilistic nature. Therefore, by a co-process-thermal-leakage analysis, a more reliable full-chip statistical leakage power yield is calculated.

<p>This work presents a study and implementation of the simulation of residual stresses in castings. The objects of study are a cast iron truck Hub part (provided by the company Volvo 3P) and an optimized version of the Hub resulting from the application of a topology optimization process. The models are solved through an uncoupled thermo-mechanical solidification analysis, performed both in the FE commercial software Abaqus and the FD commercial software Magmasoft and the results are compared. First, a thermal analysis is carried out where the casting is cooled down from a super-heated temperature to room temperature. The thermal history obtained, is then used as an external force to calculate the residual stresses by means of a quasi-static mechanical analysis, using a J2-plasticity model. The simulation procedures are explained through a simplified model of the Hub and then applied to the geometries of interest. A results comparison between the original Hub and its optimized version is also presented. The theoretical base is given in this work as well as detailed implementation procedures. The results shows that the part subjected to the topology optimization process develop less residual stresses than its original version.</p>