Photovoltaic vehicles are designed to harness solar energy and use it for self-propulsion. In order to collect sufficient energy to propel a passenger, a relatively large photovoltaic array is required. Controlling the loads imparted by the array and the body that supports it, while protecting the passenger and minimizing vehicle weight, presents a unique set of design challenges. Weight considerations and geometric constraints often lead system designers toward unconventional structural solutions. This report details analytical and experimental processes aimed at proving the concept of integrating aluminum space-frame elements with composite panels. Finite element analysis is used to simulate load conditions, and results are compared with empirical test data. / text

<p>When studying the structure formation and fragmentation of complex atomic and nuclear systems it is preferable to start with simple systems where all details can be explored. Some of the knowledge gained from studies of atomic dimers can be generalised to more complex systems. Adding a third atom to an atomic dimer gives a first chance to study how the binding between two atoms is affected by a third. Few-body physics is an intermediate area which helps us to understand some but not all phenomena in many-body physics.</p><p>Very weakly bound, spatially very extended quantum systems with a wave function reaching far beyond the classical forbidden region and with low angular momentum are characterized as halo systems. These unusual quantum systems, first discovered in nuclear physics may also exist in systems of neutral atoms.</p><p>Since the first clear theoretical prediction in 1977, of a halo system possessing an Efimov state, manifested in the excited state of the bosonic van der Waals helium trimer ⁴₂He₃, small helium and different spin-polarised halo hydrogen clusters and their corresponding isotopologues have been intensively studied the last three decades.</p><p>In the work presented here, the existence of the spin-polarized tritium trimer ground state, ³₁H₃, is demonstrated, verifying earlier predictions, and the system's properties elucidated. Detailed analysis has found no found evidence for other bound states and shape resonances in this system. The properties of the halo helium trimers, ⁴₂He₃ and ⁴₂He₂-³₂He have been investigated. Earlier predictions concerning the ground state energies and structural properties of these systems are validated using our three-dimensional finite element method. In the last part of this work we present results on the bound states and structural properties of the van der Waals bosonic atomic trimers Ne₃ and Ar₃. We believe to be the first to find evidence of a possible shape resonance just above the three-body dissociation limit of the neon trimer.</p>

This project is centred on an ongoing trailer component failure problem at the STEELBRO New Zealand Ltd due to cracks. In this research the problem has been systematically approached using ANSYS finite element analysis software. The approach involves investigation of the problem and structural analysis of the trailer subjected to two types of service conditions. The service conditions are simulated in ANSYS which involved CAD and finite element modelling of the trailer, and then the finite element model is validated experimentally by strain gauges and geometrically by ANSYS element shape checking capability. The finite element model subjected to static structural analysis confirmed the crack locations and indicated the cause of the failure. Further fatigue analysis on one of the loading condition revealed it’s potential to cause failure at the crack locations. Finally, this research concludes with a proposal of revised component design to overcome the failure at the crack locations and recommendations for further analysis on the trailer.

A survey for the different variational principles and their corresponding finite element model formulations is given. New triangular finite elements for the analysis of stiffened panels are suggested. The derivation of the stiffness matrix for these elements is based on the hybrid stress model. The boundary deflections for these elements are assumed linear. These elements are different in two aspects, the degree of the internal stress polynomials and the number and location of the stiffeners. Numerical studies are carried out and results are compared to the theoretical solutions given by Kuhn as well as to results of the compatible model. Convergence of the stress in stiffeners to the actual solution through mesh refinement is studied. Jumps in the stiffener stresses given by the new elements exist. The use of special Lagrangian elements at the interelement boundaries to eliminate some of these jumps is studied.

General anisotropic constitutive laws and relevant dynamic equations of motion for porous media are described. The accuracy of various discretization algorithms in space and in time was surveyed. Results of these models and algorithms were compared to the exact solutions. Appropriate models and algorithms for further studies of spinal motion segments were then determined. Poroelastic axisymmetric finite element models, simulating spinal motion segments were analyzed and studied. Material properties of the intervertebral disc were derived by fitting experimental data based on porous medium theory using one-dimensional mathematical models. Structural models for the normal and degenerative processes were simulated for investigation of nutritional supply routes in the disc. Detailed structural anaalyses and failure conditions in various spinal motion segments were studied. Results of finite element analyses were consistent with the experimental observations. Nonlinear elastic material behavior of the solid skeleton was assumed and relevant formulas in creep were derived and examined. Preliminary results indicated that the nonlinear poroelastic material law used here may be useful in future analysis of the disc in finite element models of spinal motion segments.

A hp-finite element method is implemented to numerically study the modes of waveguides with two dimensional cross-section and to compute electromagnetic scattering from three dimensional objects. A method to control the chromatic dispersion properties of photonic crystal fibers using the selective hole filling technique is proposed. The method is based on a single hole-size fiber geometry, and uses an appropriate index-matching liquid to modify the effective size of the filled holes. The dependence of dispersion properties of the fiber on the design parameters such as the refractive index of the liquid, lattice constant and hole diameter are studied numerically. It is shown that very small dispersion values between 0±0.5ps/nm-km can be achieved over a bandwidth of 430-510nm in the communication wavelength region of 1300-1900nm. Three such designs are proposed with air hole diameters in the range 1.5-2.0μm. A novel multi-core fiber design strategy for obtaining a at in-phase supermode that optimizes utilization of the active medium inversion in the multiple cores is proposed. The spatially at supermode is achieved by engineering the fiber so that the total mutual coupling between neighboring active cores is equal. Different designs suitable for different fabrication processes such as stack-and-draw and drilling are proposed. An important improvement over previous methods is the design simplicity and better tolerance to perturbations. The optimal implementation of perfectly matched layer (PML) in terms of minimizing the computational overhead it introduces is studied. In one dimension it is shown that PML implementation with a single cell and a high order finite element produces minimal overhead. Estimates of optimal cell size and optimal finite element degree are given. Based on the single cell implementation of PML in three dimensions, field enhancement in metallic bowties is computed.

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This thesis work is based on the analysis of a fan blade attachment whereby a complete 3D model is presented by a partner company. The acceptability of a new design regarding the mechanical loads consisting of dividing the hub into two parts instead of using a solid hub is studied. From the model some critical parameters for the attachment of the blade with respect to the stresses are chosen such as the rotational speed, fillet size of the blade and the neck size of the blade. Parametric studies of these parameters are carried out in order to suggest the new design. Bearing in mind that a safety factor of 2 is the prerequisite, based on the analysis performed on ANSYS Workbench, it is suggested from the preliminary design that the axial fan can operate in two specific scenarios consisting of a rotational speed of 1771 rpm and a rotational speed of 1594 rpm. Using this set of parameters, a suggestion is drawn up on the blade fillet which will give lower stress. Blade fillet size of 30 to 35mm is recommended while a size of 45mm is recommended on the neck of the blade. A modal analysis is performed in order to find at what frequency will the model be vibrating and a lowest and critical frequency of 16.8 Hz is obtained. Finally, a fatigue analysis of some interesting areas is performed in order to determine the numbers of cycles before fatigue failure occur. It is recommended to use the rotational speed since these speeds have offered a High Cycle Fatigue results.

Applying lateral confinement to concrete columns using fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites is a very promising technique. FRP rupture is the typical failure mode of FRP wrapped columns under axial compression. numerous experiments have shown that the FRP rupture strain in an FRP wrapped circular column is significantly lower than the FRP ultimate rupture strain determined from flat coupon test of FRP. Despite a large number of studies on the application of FRP confined columns, the mechanisms and level of lower-than-apparent FRP rupture strain still remain unclear. This thesis presents theoretical, Numerical and experimental studies aiming at developing a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of this phenomenon. A comprehensive literature review was presented providing the background on FRP confined columns, material properties of FRP composites as well as some factors which may lead to premature FRP rupture. A FE analysis was conducted to investigate the FRP hoop strains in the split-disk test, explaining for the first time that the fundamental mechanism of the lower FRP rupture strain in the split-disk test than in the flat coupon test is because strain localisation due to geometric discontinuities at the ends of the FRP and bending of the FRP ring at the gap due to change of curvature caused by the relative moment of the two half disks, as the FRP (as a brittle material) ruptures once the maximum strain at one of these locations reaches the FRP rupture strain. A list of contributory factors affecting the apparent FRP rupture strain in FRP wrapped columns were next identified and classified. An analytical solution was developed to investigate the influence of the triaxial stress state on the FRP strain efficiency, this factor has been shown to have a potentially significant effect on the failure of the FRP wrap but considerable discrepancies exist between predictions using different failure criteria so further research has been identified in this area. FE models were developed to examine the effect of the geometrical discontinuities on the strain efficiency of FRP jackets in FRP wrapped concrete-filled circular steel tubes and FRP wrapped concrete columns. It is demonstrated that severe FRP hoop strain concentrations occur in very small zones near the ends of the FRP wrap in both types of FRP wrapped columns, leading to premature FRP rupture and thus lower strain efficiency. The combined effects of end constraint and FRP overlap on the behaviour of FRP wrapped concrete columns was investigated using a three dimensional FE model considering one half of the length of an FRP-wrapped concrete cylinder. The results have shown that the frication between both ends of a column and the loading platens provides constraints to the ends of the column, but this constraint has little effect on the strain concentration caused by the geometrical discontinuities of the FRP overlap, though the ultimate axial strain of the FRP wrapped columns can be significantly overestimated if the end constraints are not considered.

Braking is mainly controlled by the engine. Friction between a pair of pads and a rotating disc converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into heat. High temperatures can be reached in the system which can be detrimental for both, components and passenger safety. Numerical techniques help simulate load cases and compute the temperatures field in brake disc and brake pads. The present work implements a Finite Element (FE) toolbox in Matlab/Simulink able to simulate different braking manoeuvres used for brake dimensioning mainly in the early phase of car development process. The brake pad/disc geometry is considered as an axisymmetric body assuming negligible temperature gradient along the circumference of the disc. Calibration using three control factors namely: heat coefficient during braking , acceleration  and emissivity  for the implemented thermal model is performed using experimental investigation at Volvo Car Corporation (VCC) for three specific severe load cases. The thermal model is extended to measure brake fluid temperatures to ensure no vaporisation occurs. Simulation results of the brake disc and brake pad show good correlation with the experimental tests. A sensitivity analysis with the control factors showed convective coefficient during acceleration  the most sensitive, with temperature change of around 16%.