Flotation process is mineral processing technique used for separating valuable minerals from the gangue. The research presented in this thesis deals with assessing features that can help in measuring the performance (observing) bitumen flotation process and modeling damage in flotation units. A timely measure of oilsands and process stream contents can be used to observe and control the separation performance. To this end, flotation experiments were conducted and hyperspectral images of the ore and the process stream were taken to determine whether spectral information can predict the bitumen and fines content of ore samples and establish relationship a between these variables and the froth colour. Several features that appear to correspond to clay and quartz were present. Flotation cells are prone to wear damage by particles entrained in the slurry. A wear damage model was developed to predict the damage accumulated over a period of time. Particle image velocimetry experiments were conducted on physical flotation model to understand the flow behavior of the solid particles near the wall of the flotation unit. A preliminary wear test was conducted for qualitative assessment of wear. Recommendations were made for validating the damage model. / Engineering Management

No description available.

This dissertation proposes a modi ed internal state variable (ISV) inelastic damage model that was motivated by experimental structure{property relations of thermoplastics. In particular, a new damage model was developed for glassy, amorphous thermoplastics. ISV evolution equations are de ned through thermodynamics, kinematics, and kinetics for isotropic damage arising from two di erent inclusion types: pores and particles. The damage arising from the particles and crazes is accounted for by three processes: damage nucleation, growth, and coalescence. Damage nucleation is de ned as the number density of voids/crazes. The associated ISV rate equation is a function of stress state, molecular weight, fracture toughness, particle size, particle volume fraction, temperature, and strain rate. The damage growth is based upon a single void growing and its growth is de ned by an ISV rate equation that is a function of stress state, strain rate sensitivity, and strain rate. The coalescence ISV equation enables interaction between voids and crazes and is a function of the nearest neighbor distance between voids/crazes, size of voids/crazes, temperature, and strain rate. The damage arising from pre-existing voids employs the Cocks{Ashby void growth rule. The total void volume fraction is a summation of the damage arising from particles, pores, and crazes. Micromechanical modeling results for a single void compare well to experimental ndings garnered from the literature. This formulation is then implemented into a nite element analysis. For damage evolution, comparisons are made between a one-dimensional material point simulator and a three-dimensional nite element (FE) simulation. Finally, good agreement is found between impact experiments and FE impact simulations using the implemented model.

This thesis presents investigations on the potential negative effects of wind turbine noise on the human ear from a sound point source (i.e. wind farm). In Chapter 2, the tectorial membrane, which is a crucial gelatinous structural matrix located within the cochlea of the inner ear, is considered to have a similar constitutive stress-strain relationship to that of an elastomer (rubber) in tension. The tectorial membrane appears to stretch when subjected to constant heavy sound stimulation. The tectorial membrane is modeled as a simply-supported beam with an external load Pext applied at midspan. A virtual work approach is used to balance the external work at midspan Pextδz of the tectorial membrane with the internal strain energy from its hysteresis loops. These hysteresis loops quantify the amount of damage that the tectorial membrane undergoes due to an applied external loading. Normalized damage tables are presented at the end of the chapter to suggest safe distances away from the wind turbines to limit damage to the tectorial membrane. Chapter 3 considers a hypothetical autonomous village constructed in South Pretoria, South Africa. This village accommodates approximately 2000 people (~500 families) and receives electricity for hot water from a nearby 2.5 MW wind farm. The design process for the village is discussed from an architectural and design standpoint. The wind farm specifications, specifically the number of 2.5 MW wind turbines needed to provide electricity for hot water, are established. Results from Chapter 2 are used to suggest minimum safe distances between the wind farm and the autonomous village in the context of limiting damage to the tectorial membrane.

<p dir="ltr">Ensuring the reliability and efficiency of engines in marine and mining applications is critical for operational safety and performance. This thesis explores two interconnected areas of engine reliability: the analysis of marine diesel engine faults and the development of a framework that linked together the vehicle simulation model developed by Cummins and the damage model developed by Cummins. The first part of the research describes a comprehensive literature survey on common faults in marine diesel engines, focusing on issues such as fuel system failures, turbocharger malfunctions, and cooling system inefficiencies. Additionally, it investigates various hardware redundancy strategies to mitigate these faults and enhance engine reliability. The findings demonstrated that hardware redundancy is expected to reduce the likelihood of engine failure by ensuring continuous operation even in the event of component malfunctions. </p><p dir="ltr">The second part of the research centers on the development and validate of a framework that links the Cummins vehicle simulation tool and Cummins damage modeling tool to perform damage calculations for mine haul truck engines. The validation of the framework ensures the accuracy of simulation models, which is crucial for predictive maintenance and performance optimization. The validated data is then used in various damage models to estimate and compare the damage accumulation in diesel and hybrid engine scenarios for mine haul applications. The findings provide insights into these engines' relative durability and performance under real-world conditions for this specific duty cycle. Notably, the comparative analysis revealed that hybrid engines tend to accumulate higher levels of oxidation and creep damage in components such as the exhaust manifold and turbine housing. In contrast, diesel engines are more susceptible to high cycle fatigue and wear in components like the piston rings and cylinder heads. </p><p dir="ltr">This thesis aims to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical application by combining a thorough literature review, empirical validation, and damage modeling using tools developed by Cummins. </p>

The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate the mechanical response of stitched T-joints under tension, bending, and combined tensile-flexure loading. The use of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites has increased in primary load-bearing structures due to their many attributes, such as their high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio, and tailorability. Composite T-joints are often used in aerospace, marine, and wind turbine structures to provide load connectivity between orthogonal components, such as stiffeners to skins. However, one of the main drawbacks of polymer matrix composites is their low interlaminar strength, which can lead to delamination when subjected to out-of-plane loads. Techniques such as braiding, knitting, stitching, tufting, and z-pinning have been used to reinforce T-joints in the through-thickness direction. Most research has been focused on the tensile or bending behavior of T-joints, although these joints are often subjected to a combination of tensile and bending loads in service. A few experimental and analytical studies have been conducted on the mechanical response under combined tensile-flexure loading conditions, but no studies have been conducted on stitched T-joints. In this study, mechanical tests of 3D stitched and unstitched T-joints under tension, bending, and combined tensile-flexure were conducted, and the ultimate load, displacement, and absorbed energy were obtained. The average displacement at total failure under tension, bending, and combined tensile-flexure loading conditions for the stitched specimens were found to be 34%, 51%, and 24% greater, respectively, when compared to their unstitched counterparts. Similarly, the average absorbed energy for stitched specimens is 58%, 82%, and 51% greater under tension, bending, and combined tensile-flexure loading conditions. The failure surfaces of stitched and unstitched T-joints were analyzed using an optical microscope, and areas of interest, such as resin-rich regions, stitches, and different damage types, were identified. Furthermore, the skin-flange interface fracture surface of the combined loading T-joint specimens were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. Significant differences in the fracture surface indicated varying degrees of mixed-mode loading conditions within a specimen for all specimen types. A numerical analysis of a stitched double cantilever beam specimen was conducted to evaluate smeared cohesive laws to represent stitched regions. Overall, stitching results in improved damage tolerance in T-joints subjected to various loading conditions.

No description available.

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre de la modélisation multi-échelle des matériaux composites à renfort tissé dans le but de prévoir leur comportement mécanique et leur tenue. Les objectifs de cette étude sont de caractériser et de modéliser de manière discrète les mécanismes d’endommagement à l’échelle mésoscopique (échelle du renfort de fibres) afin d’évaluer leur influence sur le comportement mécanique macroscopique des matériaux composites tissés. La démarche adoptée consiste tout d’abord à caractériser expérimentalement les mécanismes d’endommagement d’un matériau composite tissé à renfort de fibres de verre et matrice époxy. Les mécanismes observés sont des fissures intra-toron et des décohésions inter-torons en pointe de fissure. Afin de modéliser ces mécanismes d’endommagement, une géométrie représentative du composite, obtenue par simulation du procédé de compaction du renfort, et un maillage conforme de cette géométrie sont choisis. Les fissures et les décohésions sont modélisées de manière discrète dans le maillage à éléments finis de la cellule élémentaire représentative du composite. L’amorçage des endommagements dans le composite est déterminé en utilisant un critère couplant une condition en contrainte et une condition en énergie. La propagation de ces endommagements dans le matériau est évaluée à l’aide d’une approche basée sur la mécanique de la rupture incrémentale. L’approche proposée permet de prévoir l’amorçage et la propagation des endommagements en prenant en compte les possibles couplages entre les endommagements, et de faire le lien entre les endommagements observés à l’échelle mésoscopique et le comportement mécanique macroscopique du matériau. / The topic of this PhD thesis is multi-scale modeling of woven composites with the aim of predicting their mechanical behavior and strength. The objectives of the presented work are the experimental characterization and numerical modeling of damage at the mesoscopic scale (scale of the reinforcing fabric) in order to evaluate its influence on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of woven composites. First, the characteristic damage mechanisms of a woven composite made of glass fibers and epoxy matrix are determined experimentally. Intra-yarn cracks and decohesions between yarns at the crack tips are observed. In order to model these damage mechanisms at the mesoscopic scale, a geometry representative of the composite, obtained from numerical simulation of the dry fabric compaction, and a conformal mesh of this geometry have been selected. Discrete cracks and decohesions are inserted into the finite element mesh of the composite unit cell. Crack initiation is studied using a coupled criterion based on both a stress and an energy condition. The propagation of cracks and decohesions is modeled using a method based on Finite Fracture Mechanics. The proposed approach allows evaluating of the influence of the damage mechanisms observed at the mesoscopic scale on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of the studied material.

The paper presents the study of spalling effect occurring under tensile loading in thin-walled TRC specimens. The experimentally observed failure patterns are first classified and the performed experiment design is explained and discussed. A parameter study of spalling effect with varied thickness of concrete cover and reinforcement configurations including both the textile fabrics and the yarns provided the basis for numerical analysis of the effect. The applied numerical model was designed in order to capture the initiation and propagation of longitudinal cracks leading to the separation of concrete blocks from the textile fabrics. A meso-scopic material resolution in a single crack bridge is used for the simulation exploiting the periodic structure of the crack bridges both in the lateral and in the longitudinal direction of the TRC specimens. The matrix was modeled using an anisotropic damage model falling in the microplane-category of material models. The bond between yarn and matrix follows a non-linear bond-law calibrated using pull-out tests. The epoxy-impregnated reinforcement is considered as a homogeneous bar.

The paper presents the study of spalling effect occurring under tensile loading in thin-walled TRC specimens. The experimentally observed failure patterns are first classified and the performed experiment design is explained and discussed. A parameter study of spalling effect with varied thickness of concrete cover and reinforcement configurations including both the textile fabrics and the yarns provided the basis for numerical analysis of the effect. The applied numerical model was designed in order to capture the initiation and propagation of longitudinal cracks leading to the separation of concrete blocks from the textile fabrics. A meso-scopic material resolution in a single crack bridge is used for the simulation exploiting the periodic structure of the crack bridges both in the lateral and in the longitudinal direction of the TRC specimens. The matrix was modeled using an anisotropic damage model falling in the microplane-category of material models. The bond between yarn and matrix follows a non-linear bond-law calibrated using pull-out tests. The epoxy-impregnated reinforcement is considered as a homogeneous bar.