Natural frequencies of the double and triple-walled carbon nanotubes are determined exactly and approximately for both types. Approximate solutions are found by using Bubnov-Galerkin and Petrov-Galerkin methods. For the first time explicit expressions are obtained for the natural frequencies of double and triple-walled carbon nanotubes for different combinations of boundary conditions. Comparison of the results with recent studies shows that the above methods constitute quick and effective alternative techniques to exact solution for studying the vibration properties of carbon nanotubes. The natural frequencies of the clamped-clamped double-walled carbon nanotubes are obtained; exact solution is provided and compared with the solution reported in the literature. In contrast to earlier investigation, an analytical criterion is derived to establish the behavior of the roots of the characteristic equation. Approximate Bubnov-Galerkin solution is also obtained to compare natural frequencies at the lower end of the spectrum. Simplified version of the Bresse-Timoshenko theory that incorporates the shear deformation and the rotary inertia is proposed for free vibration study of double-walled carbon nanotubes. It is demonstrated that the suggested set yields extremely accurate results for the lower spectrum of double-walled carbon nanotube. The natural frequencies of double-walled carbon nanotubes based on simplified versions of Donnell shell theory are also obtained. The buckling behavior of the double-walled carbon nanotubes under various boundary conditions is studied. First, the case of the simply supported double-walled carbon nanotubes at both ends is considered which is amenable to exact solution. / Then, approximate methods of Bubnov-Galerkin and Petrov-Galerkin are utilized to check the efficacy of these approximations for the simply supported double-walled carbon nanotubes. Once the extreme accuracy is demonstrated for simply supported conditions, the approximate techniques are applied to two other cases of the boundary conditions, namely to clamped-clamped and simply supported-clamped double-walled carbon nanotubes. For the first time in the literature approximate expression for the buckling loads are reported for these boundary conditions. The dynamic deflection of a single-walled carbon nanotube under impact loading is analyzed by following a recently study reported on the energy absorption capacity of carbon nanotubes under ballistic impact. / by Demetris Pentaras. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Vibration signals generated from spalled elements in rolling element bearings (REBs) are investigated in this thesis. A novel signal-processing algorithm to diagnose localized faults in rolling element bearings has been developed and tested on a variety of signals. The algorithm is based on Spectral Kurtosis (SK), which has special qualities for detecting REBs faults. The algorithm includes three steps. It starts by pre-whitening the signal's power spectral density using an autoregressive (AR) model. The impulses, which are contained in the residual of the AR model, are then enhanced using the minimum entropy deconvolution (MED) technique, which effectively deconvolves the effect of the transmission path and clarifies the impulses. Finally the output of the MED filter is decomposed using complex Morlet wavelets and the SK is calculated to select the best filter for the envelope analysis. Results show the superiority of the developed algorithm and its effectiveness in extracting fault features from the raw vibration signal. The problem of modelling the vibration signals from a spalled bearing in a gearbox environment is discussed. This problem has been addressed through the incorporation of a time varying, non-linear stiffness bearing model into a previously developed gear model. It has the new capacity of modeling localized faults and extended faults in the different components of the bearing. The simulated signals were found to have the same basic characteristics as measured signals, and moreover were found to have a characteristic seen in the measured signals, and also referred to in the literature, of double pulses corresponding to entry into and exit from a localized fault, which could be made more evident by the MED technique. The simulation model is useful for producing typical fault signals from gearboxes to test new diagnostic algorithms, and also prognostic algorithms. The thesis provides two main tools (SK algorithm and the gear bearing simulation model), which could be effectively employed to develop a successful prognostic model.

Vibration signals generated from spalled elements in rolling element bearings (REBs) are investigated in this thesis. A novel signal-processing algorithm to diagnose localized faults in rolling element bearings has been developed and tested on a variety of signals. The algorithm is based on Spectral Kurtosis (SK), which has special qualities for detecting REBs faults. The algorithm includes three steps. It starts by pre-whitening the signal's power spectral density using an autoregressive (AR) model. The impulses, which are contained in the residual of the AR model, are then enhanced using the minimum entropy deconvolution (MED) technique, which effectively deconvolves the effect of the transmission path and clarifies the impulses. Finally the output of the MED filter is decomposed using complex Morlet wavelets and the SK is calculated to select the best filter for the envelope analysis. Results show the superiority of the developed algorithm and its effectiveness in extracting fault features from the raw vibration signal. The problem of modelling the vibration signals from a spalled bearing in a gearbox environment is discussed. This problem has been addressed through the incorporation of a time varying, non-linear stiffness bearing model into a previously developed gear model. It has the new capacity of modeling localized faults and extended faults in the different components of the bearing. The simulated signals were found to have the same basic characteristics as measured signals, and moreover were found to have a characteristic seen in the measured signals, and also referred to in the literature, of double pulses corresponding to entry into and exit from a localized fault, which could be made more evident by the MED technique. The simulation model is useful for producing typical fault signals from gearboxes to test new diagnostic algorithms, and also prognostic algorithms. The thesis provides two main tools (SK algorithm and the gear bearing simulation model), which could be effectively employed to develop a successful prognostic model.

Bibliography: leaves 260-282. / viii, 312 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This thesis develops an alternative control strategy, for active noise and vibration control systems, that does not require identification of the cancellation path transfer function. The Independent Quadratic Optimisation algorithm, developed in this work, is meant to optimise the coefficients of the control filter independently. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1997?

The design and analysis of finite length, multiple layered, induced strain actuators is investigated. A model of an arbitrary multiple layered actuator is utilized to predict the applied force and moment from the i^th layer onto a structure. The transverse equations of motion of a simply supported beam are derived using Timoshenko beam theory. This approach accounts for shear deformation and allows the actuator-applied moments to be directly incorporated into the equations of motion without further approximation. The model is cast in state space form and an assumed mode method is used to solve for the forced response of a nonuniform beam. Experiments are performed verifying the developed analytical model. The first experiment characterizes the dynamic properties of five different actuator/substructure configurations. Results indicate the system natural frequencies decreased and the structural damping increased with more attached actuators. Analytical predictions are shown to be in good agreement with the experimental results. / Master of Science

The vibration control of composite beams and plates subjected to a travelling load is studied in this dissertation. By comparing the controlled as well as uncontrolled responses of classical and refined structural models, the influence of several important composite structure properties which are not included in the classical structural model is revealed. The modal control approach is employed to suppress the structural vibration. In modal control, the control is effected by controlling the modes of the system. The control law is obtained by using the optimal control theory. Comparison of two variants of the modal control approach, the coupled modal control (CMC) and independent modal-space control (IMSC), is made. The results are found to be in agreement with those obtained by previous investigators. The differences between the controlled responses as well as actuator outputs that are predicted by the classical and the refined structural models are outlined in this work. In conclusion, it is found that, when performing the structural analysis and control system design for a composite structure, the classical structural models (such as the Euler-Bernoulli beam and Kirchhoff plate) yield erroneous conclusions concerning the performance of the actual structural system. Furthermore, transverse shear deformation, anisotropy, damping, and the parameters associated with the travelling load are shown to have great influence on the controlled as well as uncontrolled responses of the composite structure. / Ph. D.

An experimental method for determination and analysis of the impulse response function of linear, elastic, vibrating systems is developed. A deconvolution method is developed for estimation of the impulse response function. The estimator is shown to be unbiased in the presence of measurement noise. Modal parameters are extracted from impulse response estimates using a modification of the Pisarenko harmonic decomposition method. The advantages of a time-domain approach over traditional Fourier analysis procedures, including avoidance of leakage and enhanced statistical significance, are described. Several tests used to determine the performance of the impulse response estimator are described, and the results of these tests, are presented. It is shown that the method can provide accurate estimates of modal parameters even for short data sets or high noise levels. / Master of Science

The area of powertrain dynamics has received considerable attention over a number of years. The recent introduction of more stringent emission requirements together with economic pressure has led to a particular focus on increasing powertrain efficiency. This has seen the incorporation of on-board, real-time measurements to predict system behaviour and engine condition. In this domain, accurate models for all powertrain components are important. One strategy to improve accuracy is to evaluate the assumptions made when deriving each model and then to address the simplifications that may introduce large errors. To this end, the aim of the work presented in this dissertation was to investigate the consequences of some of the more common assumptions and simplifications made in low frequency torsional powertrain models, and to propose improved models where appropriate. In particular, the effects of piston-tocylinder friction, crank/gudgeon pin offset, and the torsional behaviour of tyres were studied. Frequency and time domain models were used to investigate system behaviour and model predictions were compared with measurements on a small single cylinder engine. All time domain engine and powertrain models also include a variable inertia function for each reciprocating mechanism. It was found that piston-to-cylinder friction can increase the apparent inertia variation of a single reciprocating engine mechanism. This has implications for the nonlinear behaviour of engines and the drivetrains they are connected to. The effect of crank/gudgeon pin offset also modified the nonlinear behaviour of the mechanism. Though, for typical (small) gudgeon offset values these effects are small. However, for large offset values, achievable practically with crank offset, the modification to the nonlinear behaviour should not be ignored. The low frequency torsional damping properties of a small pneumatic tyre were found to be more accurately represented as hysteretic rather than viscous. Time domain modelling was then used to extend the results to a multi-cylinder engine powertrain and was achieved using the Time Domain Receptance (TDR) method. Various powertrain component TDRs were developed using Laplacians. Powertrain simulations showed that piston-to-cylinder friction can provide additional excitation to the system.

This research is aimed at investigating and analyzing the rain-windinduced cable vibration phenomena experienced in cables of cable-stayed bridges and also the countermeasures employed by engineers to mitigate the large-amplitude vibration problem reported by various researchers around the world. In order to investigate the problem of the water rivulet creation at the top of the cable surface, a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) analytical model was developed and analyzed. This thesis studies the aerodynamic instability of cables in cable-stayed bridges by doing literature review of a typical in-situ test, developing a single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) analytical model, and an ANSYS finite element model. Furthermore, a linear viscous damper that acts as a countermeasure to the large amplitudes of vibration is reported and analyzed. The suppression characteristics and damper effectiveness of such countermeasure are summarized. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This dissertation is concerned with the problem of slewing large flexible structures in space and simultaneously suppressing any vibrations. The equations of motion for a three-dimensional spacecraft undergoing large rigid-body maneuvers are derived. The elastic motions are assumed to remain in the linear range. A method of substructure synthesis is presented which spatially discretizes the equations of motion. A perturbation approach is used to solve the equations of motion. The zero-order equations describing the rigid-body maneuver are independent of the first-order vibration problem which includes small rigid-body motions. The vibration problem is described by linear nonself-adjoint equations with time-dependent coefficients. Minimum-time, single-axis rotational maneuvers are considered. The axis of rotation is not necessarily a principal axis. The optimal maneuver force distribution is proportional to the corresponding rigid-body modes with the mass acting as the control gain. The premaneuver eigenvectors are used as admissible vectors to reduce the degrees of freedom describing the vibration of the spacecraft during the maneuver. Natural control and uniform damping control are used to suppress the vibrations during the maneuver. Actuator dynamics cause a degradation of control performance. The inclusion of the actuator dynamics in the control formulation partially offsets this effect. The performance of these control techniques is adversely affected by actuator saturation but they remain effective. Numerical results are presented for a spacecraft in orbit and in an earth-based laboratory. / Ph. D.