The doctoral thesis presents methods for low-level measurements, which are exemplified by the general measurement of air ion concentration. Within the first section, the author progressively identifies certain critical effects influencing the concentration of air ions, and these effects are to be considered in evaluating the uncertainty of the measured concentrations. Thus, the thesis aims to provide a systematic description of the procedures and requirements related to low-level measurements; the proposed description then involves a discussion of the process reliability requirements, namely the factors of repeatability, elimination of errors, and definition and describability of measurement uncertainties. Such methodology facilitates, among other activities, the long-term monitoring of air ion concentration in extreme environments, including caves or spaces characterized by high temperatures and humidity. The use of common methods for determining the air ion mobility spectrum is accompanied by a number of disturbing effects, such as spurious fluctuation in the concentration of air ions in time. The experimental section of the thesis describes the testing of different configurations of the measuring device (a collecting electrode and a polarization capacitor); at this stage, we seek the most advantageous distribution of the electrostatic field in the sensor – a Gerdien tube. The systematic suppression of the influence of spurious fluctuations in air ion concentration during the measurement of saturation characteristics is carried out with the least-squares numerical method (as a supporting element), a hybrid technique to describe and evaluate the experimental model. In the second part of the thesis, the methodology of low-level measurement is complemented with procedures for the measurement of freezing potential. This latter domain, as an overall experimental approach applicable during phase changes of the sample, has hitherto not been sufficiently characterized from the metrological perspective, in an up-to-date manner; several subregions of the said domain remain somewhat obscured and deserve significantly more attention. In the given context, this thesis systematically considers a problem where comparable measurement results produced by multiple authors are not available. The measuring methodology proposed herein was utilized in applied research to facilitate the fabrication of an apparatus for the experimental measurement of freezing potential in pre-defined samples; the obtained results then lead us to conclusions with respect to the evaluation of effects that cause differences in the measured data, and the results can be further compared with those obtained by other researchers investigating the given segment of the problem.

Actuellement, les fantassins de l'armée française sont équipés d'un système de radiocommunication quand ils sont en intervention sur le terrain. L'antenne utilisée pour émettre et recevoir les signaux radiofréquences (RF) est du type monopole appelée antenne fouet placée parallèlement au corps du fantassin au niveau de la clavicule gauche. Cependant, l'antenne fouet perturbe le champ de vision des fantassins surtout lorsqu'ils tournent leur tête vers la gauche. De plus, la position de l'antenne fouet gêne les fantassins gauchers lorsqu'ils sont en position de tir. Enfin, l'antenne fouet rajoute un poids supplémentaire. Il est évident alors que l'intégration de l'antenne dans les gilets militaires permet de mieux répondre aux besoins des fantassins notamment en termes d'ergonomie. Cependant une telle intégration doit aussi répondre aux besoins d'efficacité de rayonnement, de couverture spatiale et de protection du corps vis-à-vis du rayonnement de l'antenne. De plus les contraintes liées à la technologie de réalisation doivent être prises en compte. La thèse est focalisée sur la conception et la caractérisation d'antennes intégrées aux gilets militaires. Le travail de recherche s'est fait dans le cadre du projet collaboratif GIANTE, soutenu par le dispositif DGA-RAPID, associant les partenaires complémentaires : SAFRAN Sagem, le laboratoire LCIS et ARDEJE. Le travail inclue tous les développements relevant de la conception électromagnétique avec la prise en compte du corps humain et le suivi de la réalisation par impression numérique assurée par ARDEJE qui possède la technologique jet d'encre. Il concerne également la caractérisation RF (adaptation, bande passante, diagramme de rayonnement) des antennes avec un banc expérimental adapté et l'évaluation des performances globales des antennes en environnements fonctionnels (milieu dégagé, milieu urbain, forêt). / Nowadays, the infantrymen of French army are equipped with a radio communication system when they are in field action. The antenna used to transmit and receive Radiofrequency (RF) signals is a monopole antenna called as whip antenna. It is placed parallel to the infantryman's body at the left clavicle. However, the whip antenna disrupts the field of view of infantrymen particularly when they turn their head to the left. Moreover, the position of the whip antenna bothers the left-handed infantrymen when they are in fire position. Finally, the whip antenna adds an additional weight to the infantrymen. Thus, it is obvious that the integration of the antenna into the military jackets allows to better meet the needs of infantrymen particularly in terms of ergonomy. However such an integration must also meet the needs in terms of radiation efficiency, spatial coverage and protection of the body against the antenna radiation. Moreover, the constraints of realization technology must be taken into account. The thesis is focused on the design and characterization of integrated antennas into military jackets. The research work is performed within the collaborative project GIANTE, supported by the DGA-RAPID frameproject, associating complementary partners: SAFRAN Sagem, laboratory LCIS, and ARDEJE. The work includes all the electromagnetic studies required by the environmental constraints by taking account the human body. It also includes the follow-up of the realizations made by ARDEJE that masters inkjet printing technologies. The RF characterization (impedance matching, bandwidth, radiation pattern) of antennas with a suitable bench test and the evaluation of global performances of antennas in functional environments (environment free from obstructions, urban areas, forest) are also part of the thesis work.

Actuellement, les fantassins de l'armée française sont équipés d'un système de radiocommunication quand ils sont en intervention sur le terrain. L'antenne utilisée pour émettre et recevoir les signaux radiofréquences (RF) est du type monopole appelée antenne fouet placée parallèlement au corps du fantassin au niveau de la clavicule gauche. Cependant, l'antenne fouet perturbe le champ de vision des fantassins surtout lorsqu'ils tournent leur tête vers la gauche. De plus, la position de l'antenne fouet gêne les fantassins gauchers lorsqu'ils sont en position de tir. Enfin, l'antenne fouet rajoute un poids supplémentaire. Il est évident alors que l'intégration de l'antenne dans les gilets militaires permet de mieux répondre aux besoins des fantassins notamment en termes d'ergonomie. Cependant une telle intégration doit aussi répondre aux besoins d'efficacité de rayonnement, de couverture spatiale et de protection du corps vis-à-vis du rayonnement de l'antenne. De plus les contraintes liées à la technologie de réalisation doivent être prises en compte. La thèse est focalisée sur la conception et la caractérisation d'antennes intégrées aux gilets militaires. Le travail de recherche s'est fait dans le cadre du projet collaboratif GIANTE, soutenu par le dispositif DGA-RAPID, associant les partenaires complémentaires : SAFRAN Sagem, le laboratoire LCIS et ARDEJE. Le travail inclue tous les développements relevant de la conception électromagnétique avec la prise en compte du corps humain et le suivi de la réalisation par impression numérique assurée par ARDEJE qui possède la technologique jet d'encre. Il concerne également la caractérisation RF (adaptation, bande passante, diagramme de rayonnement) des antennes avec un banc expérimental adapté et l'évaluation des performances globales des antennes en environnements fonctionnels (milieu dégagé, milieu urbain, forêt). / Nowadays, the infantrymen of French army are equipped with a radio communication system when they are in field action. The antenna used to transmit and receive Radiofrequency (RF) signals is a monopole antenna called as whip antenna. It is placed parallel to the infantryman's body at the left clavicle. However, the whip antenna disrupts the field of view of infantrymen particularly when they turn their head to the left. Moreover, the position of the whip antenna bothers the left-handed infantrymen when they are in fire position. Finally, the whip antenna adds an additional weight to the infantrymen. Thus, it is obvious that the integration of the antenna into the military jackets allows to better meet the needs of infantrymen particularly in terms of ergonomy. However such an integration must also meet the needs in terms of radiation efficiency, spatial coverage and protection of the body against the antenna radiation. Moreover, the constraints of realization technology must be taken into account. The thesis is focused on the design and characterization of integrated antennas into military jackets. The research work is performed within the collaborative project GIANTE, supported by the DGA-RAPID frameproject, associating complementary partners: SAFRAN Sagem, laboratory LCIS, and ARDEJE. The work includes all the electromagnetic studies required by the environmental constraints by taking account the human body. It also includes the follow-up of the realizations made by ARDEJE that masters inkjet printing technologies. The RF characterization (impedance matching, bandwidth, radiation pattern) of antennas with a suitable bench test and the evaluation of global performances of antennas in functional environments (environment free from obstructions, urban areas, forest) are also part of the thesis work.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T14:53:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Julio Cesar Nascimento Sousa.pdf: 971697 bytes, checksum: b4ee5e79977202a1c5eba4528ed34766 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-09-22 / This work focuses on the modeling of single-phase and three-phase distribution with earth return, for high impedance faults analysis. The main motivation is the lack of definitive solutions for such faults. These faults often occur when an overhead conductor breaks and falls on high impedance surface such as asphalt road, cement, trees, among others. That fault is analyzed in a Single wire earth return system - SWER, and in a rural three-phase feeder. The SWER is deduced starting from a generic three-phase system, where simplifications based on practical assumptions are added. Simulations are accomplished in two distribution test systems, with the objective of identifying the behavior pattern of the high impedance faults. It is also included a discussion and analysis of results and suggestions related to future works. / Este trabalho focaliza a modelagem das redes de distribuição monofásicas e trifásicas com retorno por terra, para análise das faltas de alta impedância. A motivação principal está no fato de não existirem soluções definitivas para essas faltas. Este tipo de falta ocorre quando um cabo energizado rompe e cai sobre um tipo de superfície, tal como asfalto, areia, árvores, dentre outros. Essa falta é analisada em uma rede Monofásica com Retorno por Terra MRT em uma rede trifásica rural. A rede MRT é deduzida a partir de uma rede trifásica genérica, onde são adicionadas hipóteses simplificadoras práticas. São realizadas simulações em dois sistemas testes de distribuição, com o objetivo de identificar o padrão de comportamento das faltas de alta impedância. É realizada uma discussão e análise de resultados, sugerindo-se trabalhos futuros.