An application of binary state latch device with proper real-time control algorithm for energy redistribution application is introduced in this thesis. Unlike traditional tuned vibration absorber, the latch device can be viewed as variable semi-active dampers such as magnetorheological (MR) and piezoelectric friction dampers. The distinct difference between other semi-active dampers and our latch device is that other semi-active dampers can provide continuous resistance according to the amount of input current, however, the binary latch device can only provide two different values of resistance - either the maximum or no resistance at all. This property brings the latch possibly having higher maximum and minimum ratio of resistance than MR dampers. As for the operating structure, the mechanism of latch element is nearly the same as the piezoelectric friction dampers which the resistance force is provided according to the normal force acting on two rough plates. Nonetheless, because of the characteristic of the binary states output of the latch element, this make it very different from the ordinary variable dampers. Since it is either being turned on or turned off, a novel control law is required for shifting energy. Also, because of the simplicity of the binary states output, it is very accessible to implement the controller on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). With this accessibility, it is promising to apply plenty of latch elements in the same time for large scale application, such as multi-agent networks. In this thesis, an energy-based analytic solution is proposed to illustrate the universal latch-off condition. And a latch-on condition under ideal situations is discussed. At the end, a control law under nonideal condition is being suggested for real-time periodically excited system. We found that energy redistribution is achievable by using the proper control law under fairly broad conditions. / Master of Science

High Mach-number compressible flows with heat release are inherently more complicated than incompressible flows due to, among other reasons, the activation of the thermal energy mode. Such flow fields can experience significant fluctuations in density, temperature, viscosity, conductivity and specific heat, which affect velocity and pressure fluctuations. Furthermore, the flow field cannot be assumed to be dilatation-free in high Mach numbers and even in low Mach-number flows involving combustion, or in boundary layers on heated walls. The main issue in these high-speed and highly-compressible flows is the effect of thermal gradients and fluctuations on turbulence. The thermal field has various routes through which it affects flow structures of compressible turbulence. First, it has direct influence through pressure, which affects turbulence via pressure-strain correlation. The indirect effects of thermal fields on compressible turbulence are through the changes in flow properties. The high temperature gradients alter the transport coefficient and compressibility of the flow. The objective of this work is to answer the following questions: How do temperature fluctuations change the compressible flow structure and energetics? How does compressibility in the flow affect the non-linear pressure redistribution process? What is the main effect of spatial transport-coefficient variation? We perform direct numerical simulations (DNS) to answer the above questions. The investigations are categorized into four parts: 1) Turbulent energy cascade and kinetic-internal energy interactions under the influence of temperature fluctuations; 2) Return-to-isotropy of anisotropic turbulence under the influence of large temperature fluctuations; 3) The effect of turbulent Mach number and dilatation level on small-scale (velocity-gradient) dynamics; 4) The effect of variable transport-coefficients (viscosity and diffusivity) on cascade and dissipation processes of turbulence. The findings lead to a better understanding of temperature fluctuation effects on non-linear processes in compressible turbulence. This improved understanding is expected to provide direction for improving second-order closure models of compressible turbulence.