This research focuses on studying the feasibility of placing large wind turbines on deep-ocean platforms. Water tank studies have been conducted using the facilities at Alden Research Laboratories (ARL) on 100:1 scale Tension Leg Platform (TLP) and Spar Buoy (SB) models. Froude scaling was used for modeling the offshore wind turbine designs. Primary components of the platform turbine, tower, and cable attachments were fabricated in ABS plastic using rapid prototyping. A wireless data acquisition system was installed to prevent umbilical data cables from affecting the behavior of the platform when exposed to wave loading. In Phase I testing, Froude-scaled TLP and Spar Buoy models at a 100:1 scale were placed in a water flume and exposed to periodic waves at amplitudes ranging from 0.5 cm - 7.5 cm and frequencies ranging from 0.25 Hz - 1.5 Hz. The testing was conducted on simple tower and turbine models that only accounted for turbine weight at the nacelle. In Phase II testing, emphasis was placed on further testing of the tension leg platform as a more viable design for floating offshore wind turbines. The tension leg platform scale model was improved by adding a disc to simulate drag force incident at the top of the tower, as well as a rotor and blades to simulate the gyroscopic force due to turbine blade rotation at the top of the tower. Periodic wave motions of known amplitude and frequency were imposed on the model to study pitch, heave, roll, surge, sway motions and mooring cable tensions (in Phase II only) using accelerometers, inclinometers, capacitance wave gage, and load cells. Signal analysis and filtering techniques were used to refine the obtained data, and a Fourier analysis was conducted to study the dominant frequencies. Finally, Response Amplitude Operators (RAO's) were plotted for each data set to standardize the results and study the overall trend with respect to changes in wave amplitude and frequency. For Phase I testing, it is shown that surge motion of the platform dominates other motions for both the tension leg platform and spar buoy, and varying tether pretension has little effect on response amplitude operator values. For phase II testing, it was found that the introduction of thrust and gyroscopic forces increases sway and pitch motions as well as upstream tether forces. Coupling effects of pitch motion with roll and sway due to the presence of gyroscopic forces were also seen. The present experimental results can be used to validate the hydrodynamic kernels of linear frequency-domain models, time-domain dynamics models, and computational simulations on floating wind turbines. Numerical analysis and simulations have been conducted in a separate study at WPI. These simulations are comparable to the experimental results.

Thesis. 1976. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Engineering. / Bibliography: p.163-164. / M.S.

Nesta dissertação, é apresentado o projeto de uma interface que permite o controle e monitoramento de cargas de alta tensão alimentadas na faixa de 8,5V a 35V. A interface fornece duas funções básicas: a primeira é permitir que circuitos alimentados no domínio dos 5V controlem o chaveamento de transistores de potência PMOS com uma tensão de porta 5V abaixo da tensão de alimentação; a segunda é realizar o monitoramento de sobrecorrentes na carga de alta tensão, alertando, com um sinal de baixa tensão, estas ocorrências. A interface foi projetada e fabricada no processo CMOS XC06 - 0,6µm da XFAB, com a inclusão de módulos que permitem o uso de transistores de alta tensão. Como parte da solução proposta, foi analisado, implementado e caracterizado um regulador de tensão flutuante que gera uma tensão de saída 5V abaixo da tensão de alimentação. A área de silício do regulador é de 599µm x 330µm, e as medidas da tensão de saída gerada apresentam variações menores que 10%. Também foi projetado e integrado no mesmo circuito integrado um sensor para medir o nível da tensão flutuante do regulador e comunicar seu estado com um sinal de 5V, este bloco ocupa uma área de 599µm x µm. Este sensor apresentou um desvio padrão de 7% nas medidas da sua tensão limiar. A interface foi integrada em um sensor de proximidade indutivo, permitindo o chaveamento de uma carga de 430pF a 1,2kHz em toda a faixa de alimentação. / This work presents the design of an interface that allow to control and monitoring high voltage loads in the range of 8,5V to 35V. The interface provides two main features, the first one is to allow low voltage circuits supplied with 5V to control the switching of power PMOS transistors with a gate voltage 5V bellow the supply voltage. The second one is monitoring overcurrents on the high voltage load alerting with a low voltage signal these occurences. The interface was designed and fabricated on the CMOS XC06 - 0,6µm process from XFAB with the inclusion of modules that allow the use of high voltage transistors. As part of the proposed solution it was analyzed, implemented and measured a floating voltage regulator wich provides an output voltage 5V bellow the supply voltage. The area of the regulator is 599µm x 330µm and the measures of the output voltage presents variations under the 10%. Also it was designed and integrates in the same integrated circuit a sensor to measure the output level of the floating regulator and communicate the state of this output with a 5V signal, this block occupies an area of 599µm x 579µm. This sensor presented a 7% standard desviation on the measured voltage threashold. The interface was integrated on an inductive proximity sensor allowing the switching of a 430pF load at 1,2kHz for the entire all supply range.

The amount of greenhouse gas emissions mitigation required to prevent the most dramatic climate change scenarios postulated in the 2014 IPCC Synthesis Report is substantial. Prior analyses have examined the potential for nuclear energy to play a role in decarbonizing the energy sector, one of the largest contributors to emissions worldwide. However, advanced, non-light water reactors, while often touted as a viable alternative for development, have languished. Large light water development projects have a repeated history of extended construction timelines, re-work delays, and significant capital risk. With few exceptions, large-scale nuclear projects have demonstrated neither affordability nor economic competitiveness, and are not well suited to nations with smaller energy grids, or to replace fossil generation in the industrial process heat sector. If nuclear power is to play a role in decarbonization, new policy and technical solutions will be needed. In this manuscript, we examine key aspects of past performance across the nuclear enterprise and explore the future potential of nuclear energy worldwide, focusing on policy and technical solutions that may be needed to move nuclear power forward as a part of a low-carbon energy future. We do so first at a high level, examining the history of nuclear power research and development in the United States, the nation that historically has led the way in the development of this generating technology. A significant portion of our analysis is focused on new developments in this technology – advanced non-light water reactors and small modular reactors. We find that while there are promising technical solutions available, improved funding and focus in research and new models of deployment may be needed if nuclear is to play a continuing or future role. We also find that in examining potential new markets for the technology, a continuing focus on institutional readiness is critical.

Polímeros naturais têm sido amplamente utilizados como excipientes farmacêuticos, principalmente por serem biocompatíveis e renováveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a aplicação da resina poliuretânica derivada do óleo de mamona (RPDOM) em formas farmacêuticas gastrorretentivas de liberação controlada. O trabalho aqui apresentado está dividido em quatro capítulos. O capítulo 1 trata-se de uma visão geral sobre a aplicação dos poliuretanos como sistemas de liberação de fármacos, enfatizando os estudos contendo poliuretanos do óleo de mamona. O capítulo 2 trata-se de uma revisão sistemática sobre sistemas gastrorretentivos de liberação de fármacos. O capítulo 3 trata do desenvolvimento e da caracterização da RPDOM contendo fármaco na sua matriz. Domperidona e cloridrato de verapamil foram escolhidos como fármacos modelos devido ao potencial uso desses em formulações gastrorretentivas. Os estudos físico-químicos mostraram que parte da domperidona interagiu quimicamente com a RPDOM. Visto que não é possível a quebra dessa ligação química durante o estudo de dissolução, parte do fármaco ficou indisponível para liberação. Por outro lado, o verapamil foi incorporado com sucesso na RPDOM pelo método de evaporação do solvente. O verapamil interagiu através de forças intermoleculares com o polímero e esse sistema mostrou um promissor perfil de dissolução. O capítulo 4 trata do desenvolvimento de matrizes monolíticas flutuantes, contendo verapamil como fármaco modelo, espuma de polipropileno como excipiente de baixa densidade e um blend da RPDOM e da celulose microcristalina como sistema matricial. A capacidade de flutuação in vitro das matrizes e o controle da liberação do fármaco foram demonstrados. Por fim, a RPDOM mostrou-se um polímero promissor para o uso em sistemas de liberação controlada de fármacos devido a sua hidrofobicidade e para o uso em sistemas gastrorretentivos flutuantes devido à sua baixa densidade. / Natural polymers have been extensively used as pharmaceutical excipients mainly due to their biocompatibility and renewability. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of polyurethane resin from castor oil (PU) in controlled release gastroretentive dosage forms. The work presented herein is divided in four chapters. Chapter 1 is an overview of the application of polyurethanes as drug delivery systems, emphasizing studies containing castor oil-based polyurethanes. Chapter 2 is a systematic review of gastroretentive drug delivery systems. Chapter 3 is about the development and characterization of the PU containing drug in its matrix. Domperidone and verapamil hydrochloride were chosen as model drugs due to their potential use in gastroretentive formulations. Physicochemical studies showed that part of domperidone interacted chemically with PU. Since it is not possible a cleavage of the chemical bond between domperidone and the polyurethane during the dissolution study, part of the drug was not available for release. On the other hand, verapamil was successfully incorporated into PU by solvent evaporation method. Verapamil interacted by intermolecular forces with the polymer and this system showed a promising drug dissolution profile. Chapter 4 shows the development of floating monolithic matrices, containing verapamil as model drug, polypropylene foam as low-density excipient and a blend of PU and microcrystalline cellulose as matrix-forming polymers. The in vitro buoyancy capability of the matrices and the ability to control drug release were demonstrated. Finally, PU proved to be a potential polymer to be used in controlled drug delivery systems due to its hydrophobicity and in gastroretentive floating systems due to its low density.

Submitted by Geyciane Santos (geyciane_thamires@hotmail.com) on 2015-05-20T14:42:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Eliana Rodrigues Tiago.pdf: 2112972 bytes, checksum: d836184b4807c4cb3cc29ba3767589d4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-20T14:42:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Eliana Rodrigues Tiago.pdf: 2112972 bytes, checksum: d836184b4807c4cb3cc29ba3767589d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-12 / FAPEAM - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas / Place Identity is based on our experiences throughout life in certain contexts or environments, which somehow had meaning in our existence and contributed to our composition as psychological beings. The house has not only physical meaning such as shelter and dwelling, but also emotional and affective meanings which are historically constructed by the residents in their social relations. This way, there's close relationship between cultural, social, economic and psychological aspects in the formation of identity of place. This study aimed to investigate the meanings and identity of place and their implications in shaping the social identity of the inhabitants of houseboats in the city of Coari-AM. The research of qualitative descriptive exploratory approach included a multi methods approach to better understand the environmental relations of the floating dwelling. The techniques adopted were: a) documental research along governmental bodies to obtain data on the housing and its occupants; b) participant observation along with , photographs and spontaneous interviews with old residents and c) semi-structured interviews with 30 residents (25W, 5 M) aged 18 years or over resident for at least six months at the place. The results showed that the people who live on a floating house embody in their own history the cultural experiences from the amazon environment, that is, its geophysical environment e the cultural practices in that relation, including the joy and the suffering as time passes by. The cultural waves signalised the city bay as the only possible housing in town. Living in a floating house in the city bay is far away from being a fancy environment. Living at the river surface is to foresee either the physical and social difficulties. Living over the waters is to float while they hope to be recognised as citizens. On this territory, the occupant is not recognised by the others, such as city administrators, as they live in a non-existing territory, they have no streets, no land, not even an address. The residents believe that due to living on this place, the city does not give them opportunities. Their invisibility is so evident that over them are thrown the city leftovers. Living in this place is to be socially invisible and to have always to fight to be recognised as citizen with all the needs regarding their social economic conditions, even with the consolation of being privileged to see the horizon on the river. / A identidade de lugar é formada por nossas experiências ao longo da vida em determinados contextos espaciais ou ambientais que, de alguma forma, marcaram ou marcam nossa existência e contribuem para a constituição como sujeitos psicológicos. Os significados físicos como abrigo e defesa são atribuídos à moradia, mas além desses, a moradia é concebida como categoria analítica e apresenta aspectos subjetivos devido aos significados emocionais e afetivos atribuídos pelos seus ocupantes. Desta forma, há estreita relação entre os aspectos espaciais, culturais, sociais, econômicos e os aspectos psicológicos na formação da identidade de lugar. Este estudo teve o objetivo de investigar os significados e identidade de lugar e suas implicações na formação da identidade social dos moradores de casas flutuantes na cidade de Coari-AM. A pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa exploratória descritiva incluiu a proposta de multimétodos para melhor compreender as relações socioambientais da moradia flutuante. Como técnicas foram adotadas: a) pesquisa documental junto aos órgãos públicos municipais para obtenção de dados oficiais sobre as moradias e seus ocupantes; b) observação participante com registros em diário de campo e fotográfico e entrevistas espontâneas com moradores antigos; e c) entrevistas semiestruturadas com 30 moradores (25F, 5M) com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos que residentes há mais de um seis meses no local. Os resultados obtidos apontaram que o sujeito morador de casa flutuante incorpora na sua própria história as vivências culturais do ambiente amazônico como também as mazelas sociais a que são submetidas ao longo do tempo. As ondas culturais sinalizavam a orla da cidade como única moradia possível na cidade. Morar em casa flutuante na orla da cidade está longe de ser um ambiente de glamour. Viver sobre as águas às margens da cidade é ter sempre à vista as dificuldades de posse, de mobilidade e de inclusão social. Viver sobre as águas é boiar na espera de um reconhecimento de cidadania. Neste território, o seu ocupante não é reconhecido pelos demais habitantes da cidade e pelos gestores públicos, pois lá não tem terreno, não tem rua, as casas não têm endereço. Os moradores acreditam que, por morarem nesse lugar, a cidade não lhes oferece possibilidades e sobre eles são jogados os restos da cidade. Morar neste lugar é viver o estigma da invisibilidade social e ter que lutar sempre para ser reconhecido como cidadão urbano com todas as carências próprias de sua condição socioeconômica, mesmo com o consolo de se sentir privilegiado em poder vislumbrar o mais lindo horizonte do rio.

As macrófitas desempenham um papel de extrema relevância em ambientes aquáticos, pois acumulam elementos metálicos e podem ser utilizadas para biomonitoramento desses ecossistemas, principalmente quando se trata de um importante reservatório para abastecimento público de água, assim como o Reservatório Guarapiranga. Neste estudo, foram avaliados os teores dos elementos potencialmente tóxicos As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb e Zn e outros elementos de interesse, em amostras de quatro espécies de macrófitas flutuantes (E. crassipes, P. stratiotes, S. herzogii e S. molesta), e nos compartimentos ambientais sedimentos e água. Foram coletadas amostras de macrófitas, sedimentos e água, em três pontos ao longo do Reservatório Guarapiranga em duas campanhas de coleta realizadas nas épocas chuvosa (março) e seca (setembro), em três semanas consecutivas para cada época de coleta, com o objetivo de avaliar a extensão da contaminação por elementos metálicos neste ecossistema. Para tal, foram aplicadas as seguintes técnicas analíticas: INAA, GF AAS, Análise Direta de Mercúrio, ICP OES e ICP MS para as análises das macrófitas e as técnicas ICP OES e CV AAS para as análises de água e sedimentos. Os resultados dos elementos tóxicos determinados nas macrófitas apresentaram valores acima dos valores de referência para plantas vasculares aquáticas para a maioria dos elementos, especialmente para o Cu, que apresentou teores extremamente elevados (10 a 802 mg kg-1), em especial no ponto P-03, onde foram encontradas as concentrações mais elevadas deste metal. A ANOVA mostrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as concentrações nos locais de coleta, para a maioria dos elementos, porém não indicou diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação ao acúmulo desses elementos entre as espécies de macrófitas flutuantes, em ambas as épocas (chuvosa e seca). Os teores dos elementos tóxicos determinados nas amostras de água mostraram-se abaixo dos limites de quantificação das técnicas analíticas aplicadas. No entanto, a avaliação das concentrações desses elementos nas amostras de sedimentos revelou valores que ultrapassaram os valores de TEL (Threshold Effect Level) para a maioria dos elementos analisados e os altos teores de Cu (32 a 4567 mg kg-1) ultrapassaram o valor de PEL (Probable Effect Level), especialmente no ponto P-03. O índice de geoacumulação demonstrou sedimentos de moderadamente a muito poluídos por Zn e de moderadamente a altamente poluídos por Cu. A contaminação de cobre no reservatório é explicada pela frequente aplicação deste metal na forma de sulfato de cobre, como algicida, em especial no ponto de coleta (P-03) que está localizado próximo ao local onde a Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo (SABESP) realiza a captação de água no reservatório. A comparação entre os teores dos elementos As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb e Zn analisados nas amostras de sedimentos e macrófitas apresentou uma correlação positiva, indicando a bioacumulação desses elementos pelas macrófitas. Os resultados podem indicar potencial risco da qualidade da água no reservatório. / Macrophytes play a relevant role in aquatic environments since they may accumulate metallic elements and can be an important tool for bioaccumulation studies, especially concerning an important and strategic water supply as Guarapiranga Reservoir. In this study, the contents of the potentially toxic elements As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, and other elements of interest, were determined in samples of four species of macrophytes (E. crassipes, P. stratiotes, S. herzogii e S. molesta), sediments and water samples, aiming to assess metallic elements contamination. Samples were collected at three sites of the Guarapiranga Reservoir, in two sampling campaigns on wet (March) and dry (September) seasons, in three consecutive weeks for each season. The analytical techniques employed were: INAA, GF AAS, Mercury Direct Analysis, ICP OES and ICP MS, for macrophyte analysis, and ICP OES and CV AAS for sediment and water analysis. Toxic element concentration results in macrophytes presented higher values than reference values for aquatic plants for most elements, mainly for Cu, which presented extremely high values (10 to 802 mg kg-1), especially at site P-03, where the highest contents were observed. ANOVA showed significant differences among sampling sites. However, there were no significant statistical differences in the accumulation of the analyzed elements among the macrophyte species for both season campaigns (wet and dry). The toxic elements content in water samples were below the quantification limits of the analytical techniques applied. Nevertheless, the level of the toxic elements analyzed in sediment samples exceeded TEL values (Threshold Effect Level) for most elements. Besides, Cu presented high concentrations (32 a 4567 mg kg-1) that surpassed PEL value (Probable Effect Level), especially at site P-03. The geoaccumulation index indicated sediments moderate to highly polluted by Zn and moderate to extremely polluted by Cu. The contamination by Cu in the reservoir is explained by the frequent use of this metal as algicide (copper sulphate), especially at the site (P-03) located near the State Company of Water Supply (SABESP) catchment point. The results obtained for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in the sediment samples were compared to the results obtained for the macrophyte samples, and a positive correlation was obtained, indicating bioaccumulation of these elements in aquatic macrophytes. These results may indicate potential risk of the reservoir water quality.

La simulation numérique des éoliennes flottantes est essentielle pour le développement des Energies Marines Renouvelables. Les outils de simulation classiquement utilisés supposent un écoulement stationnaire sur les rotors. Ces théories sont généralement assez précises pour calculer les forces aérodynamiques et dimensionner les éoliennes fixes (à terre ou en mer) mais les mouvements de la plateforme d’une éolienne flottante peuvent induire des effets instationnaires conséquents. Ceux-ci peuvent par exemple impacter la force de poussée sur le rotor. Cette thèse de doctorat cherche à comprendre et à quantifier les effets de l’aérodynamique instationnaire sur la tenue à la mer des éoliennes flottantes, dans différentes conditions de fonctionnement. L’étude montre que les forces aérodynamiques instationnaires impactent les mouvements de la plateforme lorsque le rotor est fortement chargé. Les modèles quasi-stationnaires arrivent néanmoins à capturer la dynamique des éoliennes flottantes avec une précision suffisante pour des phases de design amont. Les éoliennes flottantes à axe vertical sont elles aussi étudiées pour des projets offshore puisqu’elles pourraient nécessiter des coûts d’infrastructure réduits. Après avoir étudié l’influence de l’aérodynamique instationnaire sur la tenue à la mer de ces éoliennes, une comparaison est menée entre éoliennes flottantes à axe horizontal et à axe vertical. Cette dernière subit une importante poussée aérodynamique par vents forts, induisant de très grands déplacements et chargements. / Accurate numerical simulation of thesea keeping of Floating Wind turbines (FWTs) is essential for the development of Marine Renewable Energy. State-of-the-art simulation tools assume a steady flow on the rotor. The accuracy of such models has been proven for bottom-fixed turbines, but has not been demonstrated yet for FWTs with substantial platform motions. This PhD thesis focuses on the impact of unsteady aerodynamics on the seakeeping of FWTs. This study is done by comparing quasi-steady to fully unsteady models with a coupled hydro-aerodynamic simulation tool. It shows that unsteady load shave a substantial effect on the platform motion when the rotor is highly loaded. The choice of a numerical model for example induces differences in tower base bending moments. The study also shows that state of the art quasi-steady aerodynamic models can show rather good accuracy when studying the global motion of the FWTs. Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) could lower infrastructure costs and are hence studied today for offshore wind projects. Unsteady aerodynamics for floating VAWT sand its effects on the sea keeping modelling have been studied during the PhD thesis,leading to similar conclusions than for traditional floating Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs). Those turbines have been compared to HAWTs. The study concludes that, without blade pitch control strategy, VAWTs suffer from very high wind thrust at over-rated wind speeds, leading to excessive displacements and loads. More developments are hence needed to improve the performance of such floating systems.

Exact real arithmetic systems can specify any amount of precision on the output of the computations. They are used in a wide variety of applications when a high degree of precision is necessary. Some of these applications include: differential equation solvers, linear equation solvers, large scale mathematical models, and SMT solvers. This dissertation proposes a new exact real arithmetic system which uses lazy list of floating point numbers to represent the real numbers. It proposes algorithms for basic arithmetic computations on these structures and proves their correctness. This proposed system has the advantage of algorithms which can be supported by modern floating point hardware, while still being a lazy exact real arithmetic system.

Le temps de mise sur le marché et les coûts d’implantation sont les deux critères principaux à prendre en compte dans l'automatisation du processus de conception de systèmes numériques. Les applications de traitement du signal utilisent majoritairement l'arithmétique virgule fixe en raison de leur coût d'implantation plus faible. Ainsi, une conversion en virgule fixe est nécessaire. Cette conversion est composée de deux parties correspondant à la détermination du nombre de bits pour la partie entière et pour la partie fractionnaire. Le raffinement d'un système en virgule fixe nécessite d'optimiser la largeur des données en vue de minimiser le coût d'implantation tout en évitant les débordements et un bruit de quantification excessif. Les applications dans les domaines du traitement d'image et du signal sont tolérantes aux erreurs si leur probabilité ou leur amplitude est suffisamment faible. De nombreux travaux de recherche se concentrent sur l'optimisation de la largeur de la partie fractionnaire sous contrainte de précision. La réduction du nombre de bits pour la partie fractionnaire conduit à une erreur d'amplitude faible par rapport à celle du signal. La théorie de la perturbation peut être utilisée pour propager ces erreurs à l'intérieur des systèmes à l'exception du cas des opérations un- smooth, comme les opérations de décision, pour lesquelles une erreur faible en entrée peut conduire à une erreur importante en sortie. De même, l'optimisation de la largeur de la partie entière peut réduire significativement le coût lorsque l'application est tolérante à une faible probabilité de débordement. Les débordements conduisent à une erreur d'amplitude élevée et leur occurrence doit donc être limitée. Pour l'optimisation des largeurs des données, le défi est d'évaluer efficacement l'effet des erreurs de débordement et de décision sur la métrique de qualité associée à l'application. L'amplitude élevée de l'erreur nécessite l'utilisation d'approches basées sur la simulation pour évaluer leurs effets sur la qualité. Dans cette thèse, nous visons à accélérer le processus d'évaluation de la métrique de qualité. Nous proposons un nouveau environnement logiciel utilisant des simulations sélectives pour accélérer la simulation des effets des débordements et des erreurs de décision. Cette approche peut être appliquée à toutes les applications de traitement du signal développées en langage C. Par rapport aux approches classiques basées sur la simulation en virgule fixe, où tous les échantillons d'entrée sont traités, l'approche proposée simule l'application uniquement en cas d'erreur. En effet, les dépassements et les erreurs de décision doivent être des événements rares pour maintenir la fonctionnalité du système. Par conséquent, la simulation sélective permet de réduire considérablement le temps requis pour évaluer les métriques de qualité des applications. De plus, nous avons travaillé sur l'optimisation de la largeur de la partie entière, qui peut diminuer considérablement le coût d'implantation lorsqu'une légère dégradation de la qualité de l'application est acceptable. Nous exploitons l'environnement logiciel proposé auparavant à travers un nouvel algorithme d'optimisation de la largeur des données. La combinaison de cet algorithme et de la technique de simulation sélective permet de réduire considérablement le temps d'optimisation. / Time-to-market and implementation cost are high-priority considerations in the automation of digital hardware design. Nowadays, digital signal processing applications use fixed-point architectures due to their advantages in terms of implementation cost. Thus, floating-point to fixed-point conversion is mandatory. The conversion process consists of two parts corresponding to the determination of the integer part word-length and the fractional part world-length. The refinement of fixed-point systems requires optimizing data word -length to prevent overflows and excessive quantization noises while minimizing implementation cost. Applications in image and signal processing domains are tolerant to errors if their probability or their amplitude is small enough. Numerous research works focus on optimizing the fractional part word-length under accuracy constraint. Reducing the number of bits for the fractional part word- length leads to a small error compared to the signal amplitude. Perturbation theory can be used to propagate these errors inside the systems except for unsmooth operations, like decision operations, for which a small error at the input can leads to a high error at the output. Likewise, optimizing the integer part word-length can significantly reduce the cost when the application is tolerant to a low probability of overflow. Overflows lead to errors with high amplitude and thus their occurrence must be limited. For the word-length optimization, the challenge is to evaluate efficiently the effect of overflow and unsmooth errors on the application quality metric. The high amplitude of the error requires using simulation based-approach to evaluate their effects on the quality. In this thesis, we aim at accelerating the process of quality metric evaluation. We propose a new framework using selective simulations to accelerate the simulation of overflow and un- smooth error effects. This approach can be applied on any C based digital signal processing applications. Compared to complete fixed -point simulation based approaches, where all the input samples are processed, the proposed approach simulates the application only when an error occurs. Indeed, overflows and unsmooth errors must be rare events to maintain the system functionality. Consequently, selective simulation allows reducing significantly the time required to evaluate the application quality metric. 1 Moreover, we focus on optimizing the integer part, which can significantly decrease the implementation cost when a slight degradation of the application quality is acceptable. Indeed, many applications are tolerant to overflows if the probability of overflow occurrence is low enough. Thus, we exploit the proposed framework in a new integer word-length optimization algorithm. The combination of the optimization algorithm and the selective simulation technique allows decreasing significantly the optimization time.