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M. Tech. (Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology): Vaal University of Technology / Presently there exist a lot of controversies about the mechanical properties of nanomaterials. Several convincing reasons and justifications have been put forward for the controversies. Some of the reasons are varying processing routes, varying ways of defining equations, varying grain sizes, varying internal constituent structures, varying techniques of imposing strain on the specimen etc. It is therefore necessary for scientists, engineers and technologists to come up with a clearer way of defining and dealing with nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. The parameters of the internal constituent structures of nanomaterials are random in nature with random spatial patterns. So they can best be studied using random processes, specifically as stochastic processes. In this dissertation the tools of stochastic processes have been used as they offer a better approach to understand and analyse random processes. This research adopts the approach of ascertaining the correct mathematical models to be used for experimentation and modelling. After a thorough literature survey it was observed that size and temperature are two important parameters that must be considered in selecting the relevant mathematical definitions for nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. Temperature has a vital role to play during grain refinement since all severe plastic deformation involves thermomechanical processes. The second task performed in this research is to develop the mathematical formulations based on the experimental observation of 2-D grains and 3-D grains deformed by Accumulative Roll-Bonding and Equal Channel Angular Pressing. The experimental observations revealed that grains deformed by Accumulative Roll-Bonding and Equal Channel Angular Pressing are elongated when observed from the rolling direction, and transverse direction, and equiaxed when observed from the normal direction. In this dissertation, the different experimental observations for the grain size variants during grain refinement were established for 2-D and 3-D grains. This led to the development of a stochastic model of grain-elongation for 2-D and 3-D grains. The third task was experimentations and validation of proposed models. Accumulative Roll-Bonding, Equal Channel Angular Pressing and mechanical testing (tensile test) experiments were performed. The effect of size on elongation and material properties were studied to validate the developed models since size has a major effect on material’s properties. The fourth task was obtaining results and discussion of theoretical developed models and experimental results. The following facts were experimentally observed and also revealed by the models. Different approaches of measuring grain size reveal different strains that cannot be directly obtained from plots of the corresponding grain sizes. Grain elongation evolved as small values for larger grains, but became larger for smaller grains. Material properties increased with elongation reaching a maximum and started decreasing as is evident in the Hall-Petch to the Reverse Hall-Petch Relationship. This was alluded to the fact that extreme plastic straining led to distorted structures where grain boundaries and curvatures were in “non-equilibrium” states. Overall, this dissertation contributed new knowledge to the body of knowledge of nanomaterials’ mechanical properties in a number of ways. The major contributions to the body of knowledge by his study can be summarized as follows: (1) The study has contributed in developing a model of elongation for 2-D grain and 3-D grains. It has been generally reported by researchers that materials deformed by Accumulative Roll-Bonding and Equal Channel Angular Pressing are generally elongated but none of these researchers have developed a model of elongation. Elongation revealed more information about “size” during grain refinement. (2) The Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed the grain shape in three directions. The rolling direction or sliding direction, the normal direction and the transverse direction. Most developed models ignored the different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. Most existing models dealt only with the equivalent radius measurement during grain refinement. In this dissertation, the different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties have been considered in the developed models. From this dissertation an accurate correlation can be made from microscopy results and theoretical results. (3) This research has shown that most of the published results on nanomaterials’ mechanical properties may be correct although controversies exist when comparing the different results. This research has also shown that researchers might have considered different approaches to measure nanomaterials’ mechanical properties. The reason for different results is due to different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties as revealed in this research. Since different approaches of measuring nanomaterials’ mechanical properties led to different obtained results, this justify that most published results of nanomaterials’ mechanical properties may be correct. This dissertation revealed more properties of nanomaterials that are ignored by the models that considered only the equivalent length. (4) This research has contributed to the understanding of nanomaterials controversies when comparing results from different researchers.

This thesis describes the development of a new experimental technique for studying tunable-collision-energy, quantum state-selected, low-temperature ion-molecule reactions. This has been achieved through the combination of a Stark decelerator for neutral dipolar molecules, and a linear Paul ion trap. The Stark deceleration process for ND₃ was examined in detail, through the analysis of experimental data in combination with newly written molecular dynamics simulation programs. In order to prepare a sample of molecules appropriate for collision studies, additional beamline components were introduced after the decelerator. These components were: two hexapoles, to provide transverse focussing, maximising the molecular density; a molecular buncher, providing increased longitudinal velocity resolution; and a fast-opening shutter, to separate decelerated molecules from undecelerated molecules. The sympathetic-cooling of Xe⁺ ions and ND⁺₃ ions by laser-cooled, Coulomb crystallised ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ions with the ion trap was also studied. In particular, the stable trapping of Xe⁺ was demonstrated for the first time, and the experimental developments that led to this are discussed. The work in this thesis represents significant progress towards studying the reaction of tunable-energy ND₃ in the |j,mk> = |1,−1> quantum state with cold Xe⁺ ions. Ion-molecule reactions utilising ND₃ molecules electrostatically guided through the Stark decelerator were performed. It was observed that the main source of error in these experiments was in the calculation of the initial number of Xe⁺ ions that had been sympathetically cooled into the Coulomb crystal. The sensitivity of the crystal morphology to the number of Xe⁺ ions was evaluated using molecular dynamics simulations. Strategies have been developed to reduce this uncertainty in future studies. In addition to experimental work, the theory of low temperature ion-molecule reactions has been developed further. The temperature at which classical and quantum mechanical calculations diverge due to purely statistical effects has been investigated using different model intermolecular potentials, for closed-shell and open-shell species, and in the ground and rotationally excited states. From the results of these calculations, several promising candidate reactions have been suggested that might exhibit statistical quantum behaviour at experimentally achievable temperatures.

Utilizando tecnicas de espectroscopia-GAMA em linha e reacoes do tipo (hi, xnypGAMA) que populam estados de alto spin estudou-se a estrutura do nucleo duplamente impar ANTPOT.136 PR atraves das reacoes ANTPOT.123 SB (ANTPOT.16 O, 3n)ANTPOT.136 PR e ANTPOT.126 TE (ANTPOT.14 N 4n)ANTPOT.136 PR. Foram realizadas medidas de funcoes de excitacao em quatro energias, e coincidencias GAMA-GAMA-t e distribuicoes angulares em 69mev e 56mev, respectivamente, utilizando detetores hpge de alta resolucao (2kev) e alvos de isotopos enriquecidos de ANTPOT.123 SB (99%) e ANTPOT.126 TE (94%) com espessuras de aproximadamente 9mg/CENTIMETROS QUADRADOS. O esquema de niveis de energia do ANTPOT.136 PR evidencia duas bandas rotacionais que populam um estado isomerico com meia-vida de 92ns. A banda yrast e caracterizada por um staggering em seus niveis de energia, com transicoes m1 intensas e e2 fracas baseada na configuracao PI (h ind.11/2) IND.1/2 TETA NI (h ind.11/2) IND.9/2, de acordo com a sistematica da regiao de massa a=130, mostrando um pequeno energy splitting de 40kev. Na banda secundaria pressupoe-se a configuracao PI (d ind.5/2) IND.3/2 TETA NI (h ind.11/2) IND.11/2. Os resultados experimentais foram interpretados com base no cranked shell model que predizem deformacoes GAMA pequenas e negativas na regiao dos LA e PR / The structure of the doubly odd nucleus 136pr has been studied using techniques of on-line -spectroscopy with the reactions 123Sb (16O,3n) 136 Pr and 126Te(14 N,4n)136 Pr populating high spin states. The excitation functions were measured at four energies, and - t coincidences and angular distributions at 69MeV and 56MeV , respectively, using high resolution HPGe detectors (2keV) and targets of enriched isotopes of 123 Sb (99%) and 126Te (94%) with thicknesses of approximately 9mg/cm². The energy level scheme of 136Pr shows two rotational bands which populate one isomeric state with a half-life of 92s. The Yrast band is characterized by the staggering in energy levels with intense M1 transitions and weak E2 transitions, based on a configuration (h11/2)1/2 v(h11/2)9/2 in agreemment with the sistematics of the mass region A = 130. There is a small energy splitting of 40keV. For the secondary band a configuration n(d5/2)3/2 (h11/2)11/2 is possible. Experimental results were interpreted within the framework of the Cranked Shell Model which predicts small negative deformations in the La and Pr region.

Nesta tese de doutorado é proposta uma abordagem para estimar a velocidade angular de geradores síncronos conectados em um sistema elétrico de potência, a partir de sinais que podem ser facilmente mensurados, tais como a corrente e a tensão na barra do lado de alta tensão do transformador que conecta o gerador em análise ao restante do sistema. Uma vez que informações precisas sobre o comportamento dinâmico do sistema são de elevada importância para um controle efetivo do SEP, especialmente com o aumento da complexidade da rede, a abordagem proposta nesta tese fornece uma estimativa do sinal de velocidade que pode ser aplicada no estudo da estabilidade a pequenas perturbações para mitigar os problemas inerentes a presença das oscilações eletromecânicas mal amortecidas nos SEPs. A abordagem desenvolvida é composta por dois métodos sendo cada um deles aplicável dependendo das características do problema a ser resolvido e das informações disponíveis para tanto. No primeiro método, uma técnica de sensibilidade da trajetória é aplicada ao sinal de diferença entre a resposta obtida pelo modelo simulado e aquela fornecida por dados amostrados no sistema real emulado. A partir desse sinal de erro e das curvas de sensibilidade, a técnica possibilita calibrar os coeficientes de um modelo linear do SEP e, consequentemente, descrever de forma precisa a resposta da velocidade do gerador em análise. No segundo método, uma técnica de filtragem é utilizada (filtro de Kalman Unscented) a qual fornece uma estimativa adequada para a velocidade angular do rotor mesmo quando elevadas discrepâncias são observadas entre a saída do modelo simulado e a resposta amostrada no sistema real. Os resultados obtidos sobre diferentes sistemas testes evidenciam a eficiência da abordagem proposta. / In this thesis, an approach is proposed to estimate the rotor speed of synchronous generators connected to an electric power system (EPS), from signals that can be easily sampled by measuring equipment, such as current and voltage in high voltage side of the step-up transformer of the power plant. Accurate information about the dynamic behavior of system is essential for effective control and reliable operation of EPS, especially with the increasing complexity of the grid. Hence, the main aim of this work is to provide an estimate of the rotor speed signal that can be applied in the area of small-signal stability, in order to mitigate the detrimental effects of poorly damped electromechanical oscillations in EPSs. The developed approach is composed of two methods, where each of them is applicable depending on the characteristics of the problem to be solved and the available information. In the first method, a trajectory sensitivity technique is applied on the mismatch between the simulated output in the system linear model and the response of the real system. Using this error signal and the sensitivity curves, this method allows to identify and to calibrate some coefficients of the linear model and, consequently, to adequately describe the speed response of the generator under analysis. In this second method, a filtering technique is used, the Unscented Kalman Filter, which provides an adequate estimate for rotor speed even when high discrepancies are observed between the linear model and the sampled response of real system. The results obtained on test systems with different characteristics show the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar estratégias de iluminação natural utilizadas nos estágios iniciais do projeto de arquitetura capazes de aumentar a qualidade da iluminação e a conservação de energia nos edifícios escolares. Essas estratégias têm sido aplicadas com sucesso em edifícios escolares em vários países, melhorando o desempenho e o bem-estar dos estudantes e conservando energia. Entre essas estratégias, o autor selecionou um dispositivo zenital para iluminação natural com seleção angular e difusores opacos, realizou um ensaio experimental em um modelo físico reduzido de uma sala de aula padrão, sob condições de céu real e analisou comparativamente os resultados. O estudo mostrou que a adoção de uma metodologia para utilizar estratégias como a analisada neste trabalho pode conseguir um adequado controle da radiação solar para evitar a incidência direta da luz do Sol, evitar o ofuscamento e o aquecimento excessivo de ambientes de salas de aula em climas quentes e, ao mesmo tempo, aproveitar a iluminação natural, tanto difusa quanto direta refletida, para obter maior conforto visual e economizar energia. / This work aims to analyse daylighting strategies applied in early stages of architectural design as to improve lighting quality and energy savings in school buildings. Similar strategies have already been successfully applied in many countries around the world, enhancing student?s performance and well being while helping to save energy. Among the strategies studied, the author describes an experiment under real sky conditions using a physical scale model of a standard classroom equipped with a roof monitor combined with an overhang and interior vertical diffusing baffles as a way to check its influence in interior lighting conditions. The experiment has shown that the use of daylighting strategies can promote an adequate control of solar radiation, avoiding direct sunlight penetration inside the classrooms, limiting glare problems and excessive heat of hot climates. At the same time, such strategies optimise both direct and defuse use of daylight to improve visual comfort and energy savings.

Bei der internen, extramedullären Osteosynthese des distalen Femurs, auf die sich diese Arbeit fokussiert, haben sich in den letzten Jahren interessante Entwicklungen vollzogen. Ausgehend von unzufriedenstellenden Komplikationsraten wurden neue Wege in der Versorgung dieser schwierigen Frakturen gesucht. Osteosynthesematerialien, Repositionstechniken, die Technik der Implantatplatzierung und die Implantate selbst, bei denen die Entwicklung zu winkelstabilen Systemen gegangen ist, haben sich grundlegend geändert. Die vorliegende Arbeit analysiert in einer retrospektiven Studie distale Femurfrakturen, die zwischen dem 1.1.1995 und 31.9.2000 entweder mit einem Fixateur interne (LISS) oder mit der konventionellen Plattenosteosynthese versorgt wurden. In die Studie konnten 51 Patienten mit 54 distalen Femurfrakturen eingeschlossen werden. Die Infektionsrate war in der LISS-Gruppe (0% versus 11,1%) nichtsignifikant geringer, die Rate der verzögerten Frakturheilungen war nichtsignifikant höher. Die einzige verzögerte Frakturheilung (LISS-Gruppe), die einer sekundären chirurgischen Intervention bedurfte, wurde bei einer Patientin mit einem großen Knochendefekt gesehen, der ohne primäre Spongiosaplastik therapiert worden war. Pseudarthrosen traten in beiden Gruppen nicht auf. Die Rate des Materialversagens unterschied sich nicht signifikant. Beim LISS kam es nicht, wie bei den konventionellen Implantaten zu sekundären Repositionsverlusten, es wurden aber im Anfang der klinischen Einführung proximale Schraubenausrisse aufgrund einer Fehlplatzierung gesehen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass es durch die Verwendung des LISS und die indirekten Repositionstechniken zu keiner Zunahme der Achsfehlstellungen oder der Operationszeit kam. Die funktionellen Einzelergebnisse und die Punktzahl der erhobenen Scores (Neer-Score und Lysholm-Score) unterschieden sich nicht signifikant. / Internal, extramedullary osteosynthesis of distal femoral fractures which are focussed on in this study has been influenced by interesting developments in recent years. Driven by unsatisfying complication rates new fracture treatments have been looked for. Osteosynthesis materials, reduction techniques, techniques of implant placement and implants themselves - where development went to angular stable systems - have changed decisively. This study analyzes in a retrospective setting distal femoral fractures which were treated between 1.1.1995 and 31.9.2000 either with an internal fixator (LISS) or with conventional plate osteosynthesis. In this study 51 patients with 54 distal femoral fractures could be included. The Infection rate was non significantly lower in the LISS group (0% versus 11,1%), the rate of delayed union was non significantly higher. The only delayed union in the LISS group which needed secondary surgical intervention was seen in a patient with considerate bone loss which was not treated by primary bone grafting. Non-unions were not seen in either group. The rate of implant failure did not differ significantly. In the LISS group no secondary loss of reduction (like in the group with conventional plate osteosyntesis) was seen but proximal screw pull out due to malplacement was reported in the beginning of clinical introduction. It could be demonstrated the LISS and indirect reduction leading not to a higher rate of malalignement nor to prolonged theatre times. Functional results and the point score of the Neer Score and the Lysholm Score showed no significant difference.