Master of Science / Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering / B. Terry Beck / The objective of this project was to first evaluate the feasibility of developing a viscous damping device that used a Non-Newtonian Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) and incorporating it as a door latch into an existing commercial dryer unit. The device would keep the door closed during sudden large magnitude impact loads while still allowing the door to open normally when force is applied gradually at the door handle. The first phase of the project involved performing background research on the subject and performing preliminary analysis in order to determine if the concept was feasible enough to be worth constructing a physical prototype. This preliminary analysis consisted of a literature review of existing damping mechanisms and shear thickening fluids, rheometer testing of shear thickening suspensions to obtain viscosity data, and performing numerical simulations to determine if a damper that fit the size requirements could produce enough resistance force. The focus for the second phase of the project was to demonstrate a proof of concept in the form of a working model prototype. This prototype did not need be of identical shape and proportions as the finalized design, but would be developed to facilitate experimental testing and evaluation of performance under the desired operating conditions. It was also necessary to design and construct the test setup for the dynamic testing of the dryer door opening so that the opening displacement as well as the force applied to the door could be recorded as a function of time. The final phase of the project consisted of improving upon the original prototype in order to prove the validity of a viscous latch beyond the proof of concept phase in a form closer to what is desired for the commercial product. This required reducing the physical size of the new prototype latch so as to fit within the space available in a particular dryer, incorporate a one-way ratcheting device into the latch to allow unrestricted closing of the door, and increase the operational temperature range of the damper.

Seismic isolation systems are widely used to protect reinforced concrete (RC) structures against the effects of strong ground motions. After a magnitude 6.6 earthquake, the outpatient building of Lushan People’s hospital in China remained in good condition due to the seismic isolation technology, while the non-isolated older outpatient building nearby experienced major damage. The building provides a good opportunity to study and assess the contribution of isolation systems to seismic performance of RC structures. In the current research project, the isolated outpatient building was modelled and analyzed using computer software SAP2000. The post-yield behaviour of the structure was modelled by assigning multi-linear plastic links to frame objects. The rubber isolators were represented by rubber isolator link elements, assigned as a single joint element between the ground and the superstructure. The isolated structure was subjected to four earthquake records with increasing intensity. The performances of the isolated structure were compared with those of the fixed-base structures in terms of lateral inter-storey drifts, peak absolute floor accelerations, and residual drifts. The laminated rubber bearings, the high damping isolation devices, composed of rubber bearings and viscous dampers, and the hybrid isolation system of rubber bearings and friction pendulum bearings were analysed. The effectiveness of the three base isolation systems considered in enhancing structural performance was investigated. The results show the level of improvement attained in seismic response by each system. They also illustrate that the rubber bearings coupled with friction pendulum bearings produce the best drift control without causing excessive horizontal displacements at the base level and without adversely affecting floor accelerations.

The purpose of this thesis is design an unconventional powertrain V-6 engine with cylinder opening lines offset 90 degrees and 30 degrees of crank pin offset. It is an analysis of the balance of the crank mechanism, proposed unbalance, build a model of discrete torsion system, design of viscous torsional vibration damper, compares the results of the calculation of strength without crankshaft damper and with damper.

Viscous dampers are widely used to ensure seismic resistance of pipelines and equipment in nuclear power plants. Damping characteristics of these dampers are nonlinearly frequency dependent and thus causing complications in computational modelling of seismic response. Engineers commonly use two ways to deal with this nonlinearity: The first option is to consider damper by means of “snubber”. This is essentially linear spring element that is active for dynamic load and does not resist static loads. Snubber behaviour during seismic event is described by a equivalent stiffness (sometimes called pseudostiffness). The equivalent stiffness could be defined by the iterative calculations of piping natural frequencies and mode shapes taking into account seismic excitation. However, in complicated structures such as the main circulation loop of nuclear power plant the iterative calculation is difficult and could bring significant inaccuracies. On the other hand, the benefit of such modelling is a possibility to apply the commonly used linear response spectrum method for a solution. The second option is to describe damping characteristics using suitable rheological model. The seismic response is than determined by direct integration of the equations of motion. The behaviour of dampers is described exactly enough but the calculation and post-processing, especially nodal stresses time-histories, are time consuming. The goal of this work was to find a methodology for determining the seismic response of complex pipe systems with viscous dampers. Methodology allows a sufficiently accurate determination of the seismic response of piping systems and also allows obtaining of the results in effective time. The procedure is as follows. Firstly, specialized piping program (AutoPIPE) is used for the development of computational model. Next step is to determine a static response of structure and its verification with experimental measurements, if possible. Using script in Python language a computational model is converted from AutoPIPE into general finite element model in ANSYS system. Four-parameter Maxwell rheological model is used to describe behaviour of viscous dampers. Seismic load is represented by synthetic accelerograms. Newmark algorithm of direct integration of the equation of motion is used to obtain seismic response (only reactions and displacements in nodes of interest are necessary). Than is the equivalent stiffness is than gained from displacements and reactions as median value of their ratios. Received stiffness are subsequently transferred to AutoPIPE program where the seismic solution is performed using response spectra method. Finally, the dynamic response is combined with the static response and stress assessment according standards is done. The created methodology was applied in the seismic resistance calculation of the main circulation piping and piping of pressurizer in nuclear power plants type VVER 440 and type VVER 1000.

Terremotos recientes han demostrado la gran vulnerabilidad de algunos puentes ante movimiento fuerte. Los de tipo atirantado constituyen una tipología estructural muy atractiva, y que actualmente es empleada para muchos fines prácticos, por lo que es necesaria su protección sísmica. Entre las actuales estrategias de protección, el uso de dispositivos pasivos es la más robusta, económica y apropiada opción para mejorar el desempeño sísmico de estructuras, de entre los que destacan los sistemas de disipación de energía adicional como una buena alternativa. Debido a sus capacidades, fácil recambio y mantención, así como su buen comportamiento mecánico, los amortiguadores de fluidos viscosos son un excelente sistema de disipación de energía para proteger grandes estructuras contra eventos sísmicos intensos. Es por ello que el análisis, evaluación y comparación de la respuesta sísmica no lineal de puentes atirantados de hormigón, con y sin la incorporación de amortiguamiento viscoso suplementario, con el propósito de investigar su efectividad ante eventos sísmicos, es el principal objetivo de esta investigación aplicada. Para alcanzar lo antes expuesto, se definieron previamente ocho modelos teóricos de puentes atirantados basados en los internacionalmente conocidos puentes de Walter [Walter, 1999], considerando variaciones del esquema de atirantamiento, nivel del tablero, tipo de tablero y espaciamiento de los cables. Como punto de partida para el análisis dinámico no lineal, se realizó un análisis estático no lineal para todos los casos. Luego, se llevó a cabo una caracterización dinámica de los puentes mediante un análisis modal. Como primera aproximación a la respuesta sísmica de los modelos, se ejecutó un análisis mediante espectros de respuesta para cada caso, con el propósito de comparar el comportamiento sísmico en función de las principales variaciones consideradas, y para seleccionar los dos modelos más representativos para ser analizados usando análisis no lineal paso-a-paso. En seguida, se analizaron las estructuras elegidas en el paso previo mediante uso de análisis temporal no lineal por integración directa, sin la consideración de amortiguamiento viscoso suplementario, y tomando en cuenta sismos de campo lejano y campo cercano. En este sentido, se aplicaron cinco eventos sísmicos artificiales para el análisis de campo lejano, y cinco eventos reales que incorporasen pulsos de velocidad de período largo para el análisis de campo cercano, según el Capítulo 3. Finalmente, el análisis de la ubicación óptima de los amortiguadores, un estudio paramétrico tendiente a seleccionar los parámetros óptimos de los mismos, y el análisis paso-a-paso no lineal considerando los amortiguadores viscosos definitivos, fueron investigados con la idea de comparar las respuestas en función de la naturaleza del evento sísmico y el tipo de atirantamiento de los cables, considerando los mismos eventos sísmicos antes expuestos. Los resultados de la investigación muestran que la aplicación de amortiguamiento viscoso suplementario es una eficiente estrategia para incrementar el amortiguamiento de una estructura, absorbiendo una gran cantidad de la energía de entrada, y controlando la respuesta de estructuras de período largo, sobre todo en la dirección longitudinal, en donde se manifiestan las mayores respuestas. Más de un 55% de la energía de entrada puede ser disipada usando éstos dispositivos, los cuales resultan ser igualmente efectivos para sismos de campo lejano y campo cercano, con independencia del esquema de atirantamiento empleado, por lo que constituyen una excelente estrategia de protección pasiva. Debido a la gran no linealidad de éstas estructuras, el método del espectro de respuesta debe ser considerado sólo como primera aproximación al problema, y para propósitos comparativos. Para resultados más precisos, y para aplicaciones de diseño, el análisis no lineal paso-a-paso es siempre la mejor opción. Por otro lado, ésta investigación prueba el despreciable efecto del esquema de atirantamiento en la respuesta sísmica, así como el importante aumento de la respuesta cuando son tomados en cuenta los efectos tipo pulso de la directividad de la falla, característicos de sismos de fuente cercana. / Recent seismic events have demonstrated the vulnerability of some bridges under strong ground motions. Cable-stayed bridges are an attractive bridge typology currently used for many practical purposes, constituting important structural systems to be protected against earthquakes. Amongst the current seismic protection strategies, the use of passive devices is the most robust, economic and well-suited option to improve the seismic performance of structures, in which additional energy dissipation systems is good choice. Because of their capacities, easy replacement and maintenance, as well as their interesting mechanical properties, fluid viscous dampers could be an excellent additional energy dissipation system to protect large structural systems against strong earthquakes. For that reason, the analysis, assessment and comparison of the nonlinear seismic response of concrete cable-stayed bridges, with and without the incorporation of nonlinear fluid viscous dampers in order to investigate their effectiveness for seismic protection purposes, is the main objective of this applied research. To reach the proposed objectives, firstly, eight theoretical cable-stayed bridge models based on the well-known Walter's Bridges [Walter, 1999] were defined; considering variations of the stay cable layout, deck level, deck type and stay spacing. As a starting point of the nonlinear dynamic analysis, a nonlinear static analysis was performed for all the cases. After that, the dynamic characterization of the models was carried out by means of a modal analysis. As a first approach of the seismic response of the bridges, response spectrum analysis was performed in order to compare the seismic behaviour as function of the main variations considered, and to select the two most representative bridges to be analyzed using nonlinear time history analysis. The following stage was the seismic analysis of the selected bridge models from the previous step, applying nonlinear direct integration time history analysis, without additional energy dissipation devices, and considering both far-fault and near-fault ground motions. In these sense, five artificially generated earthquake events were considered for the far-fault analysis, as long as five real earthquake events containing long-period velocity pulses were included for the near-fault analysis, according to Chapter 3. Finally, the analysis of the optimal layout of the dampers, a parametric study to select the optimal damper parameters and the nonlinear step-by-step analysis considering the incorporation of the definitive fluid viscous dampers were investigated in order to compare the seismic responses as a function of the earthquake nature and stay cable layout, taking into account the same earthquake events before mentioned. Results of this investigation show that application of fluid viscous dampers as additional passive energy dissipation systems is a very efficient strategy to increase the damping of a structure, absorbing a significant amount of the seismic input energy, and controlling the seismic response of long-period structures, mainly in the longitudinal direction, where the main responses occur. More than 55% of the input energy can be dissipated with these devices, being equally efficient for far-fault and near-fault ground motions, independent on the stay cable layout, which constitutes a very promising strategy to protect cable-stayed bridges against earthquakes. Because of the highly nonlinear behaviour of those structures, response spectrum analysis must be considered only as first approach to the seismic response and for comparative purposes. For more accurate analysis results, and for design applications, nonlinear time-history analysis is a necessary choice. Likewise, it is demonstrated that the effect of the stay cable layout on the nonlinear seismic response of the bridges is not very important, as well as an important increase of the seismic response when forward rupture directivity pulse effects are considered, a characteristic of near-source ground motions.

Master’s thesis with title Viscous torsional vibration damper of a gas v-sixteen engine deals with torsion vibrafon of the crankshaft and chance how to eliminated it. First part of diploma thesis containes calculation of torsion vibrafon without damper. In second part is added damper. In the end of this thesis is equaiont made of both parts.

In this master thesis the performance of external viscous dampers attached to cables in cable-stayed bridges have been studied. A comparison has been performed between a linear and a non-linear cable model. The comparison was carried out for two bridge cables, one from the Dubrovnik Bridge and the other from the Normandie Bridge. The performance of the dampers have been measured in terms of maximum achieved damping ratio and minimum amplitude of vibration. The analysis was performed using the finite element method. The damping ratio was measured using both the half-power bandwidth method and by calculating the loss factor. The half-power bandwidth method can only be applied to a linear system. Therefore, the loss factor was evaluated for the linear model and compared to the results obtained using the half-power bandwidth method. From the comparison, it was concluded that the damping ratio evaluated using the loss factor was similar to the results obtained when using the half-power bandwidth method. However, when calculating the loss factor, it was of great importance that the resonance frequency of the system was accurately determined. The loss factor was then calculated for the non-linear model and compared to the results obtained for the linear model. Since the loss factor measures the energy dissipated in a system, it could be utilised for the non-linear model. When computing the strain energy for the non-linear model an approximate method was used to take into consideration the strain energy caused by the static deformation of the cable. From the comparison between the linear and non-linear cable models, it was concluded that the optimal damper coefficients obtained by both models are not significantly different. However, there is an uncertainty in the results due to the fact that an approximate method was used when calculating the strain energy for the nonlinear model. It was also observed that a very accurate evaluation of the system’s resonance frequency was needed to calculate the loss factor. It was also observed that the variation in amplitude of vibration for varying damper coefficient was small for all modes of vibration for the Dubrovnik Bridge Cable as well as for the first mode of vibration for the Normandie Bridge Cable. The difference in the results between the two bridge cables needs to be investigated further in order to get a better understanding of the results.

The aim of this thesis is to design crankshaft for in-line six-cylinder diesel engine and to design viscous torsional vibration damper for the cranktrain of specified parameters. The thesis includes the creation of a dynamic torsional model of cranktrain and calculation of forced vibrations of mechanism with and without damper. Part of this thesis is also strength analysis of the designed crankshaft with damper using the Finite Element Method (FEM).

In this master thesis the performance of external viscous dampers attached to cables in cable-stayed bridges have been studied. A comparison has been performed between a linear and a non-linear cable model. The comparison was carried out for two bridge cables, one from the Dubrovnik Bridge and the other from the Normandie Bridge. The performance of the dampers have been measured in terms of maximum achieved damping ratio and minimum amplitude of vibration. The analysis was performed using the finite element method. The damping ratio was measured using both the half-power bandwidth method and by calculating the loss factor. The half-power bandwidth method can only be applied to a linear system. Therefore, the loss factor was evaluated for the linear model and compared to the results obtained using the half-power bandwidth method. From the comparison, it was concluded that the damping ratio evaluated using the loss factor was similar to the results obtained when using the half-power bandwidth method. However, when calculating the loss factor, it was of great importance that the resonance frequency of the system was accurately determined. The loss factor was then calculated for the non-linear model and compared to the results obtained for the linear model. Since the loss factor measures the energy dissipated in a system, it could be utilised for the non-linear model. When computing the strain energy for the non-linear model an approximate method was used to take into consideration the strain energy caused by the static deformation of the cable. From the comparison between the linear and non-linear cable models, it was concluded that the optimal damper coefficients obtained by both models are not significantly different. However, there is an uncertainty in the results due to the fact that an approximate method was used when calculating the strain energy for the nonlinear model. It was also observed that a very accurate evaluation of the system’s resonance frequency was needed to calculate the loss factor. It was also observed that the variation in amplitude of vibration for varying damper coefficient was small for all modes of vibration for the Dubrovnik Bridge Cable as well as for the first mode of vibration for the Normandie Bridge Cable. The difference in the results between the two bridge cables needs to be investigated further in order to get a better understanding of the results.