A number of clinical, in vitro and computational studies have shown the potential for thromboembolic complications in bileaflet mechanical heart valves (BMHV), primarily due to the complex and unsteady flows in the valve hinges. These studies have focused on quantitative and qualitative parameters such as velocity magnitude, turbulent shear stresses, vortex formation and platelet activation to identify potential for blood damage. However, experimental characterization of the whole flow fields within the valve hinges has not yet been conducted. This information can be utilized to investigate instantaneous damage to blood elements and also to validate numerical studies focusing on the hinge’s complex fluid dynamics. The objective of this study was therefore to develop a high-resolution imaging system to characterize the flow fields and global velocity maps in a BMHV hinge. Subsequently, the present study investigated the effect of hinge gap width on flow fields in a St. Jude Medical BMHV. The results from this study suggest that the BMHV hinge design is a delicate balance between reduction of fluid shear stresses and areas of flow stasis during leakage flow, and needs to be optimized to ensure minimal thromboembolic complications. Overall, the current study demonstrates the ability of high-resolution Micro Particle Image Velocimetry to assess the fluid flow fields within the hinges of bileaflet mechanical heart valves, which can be extended to investigate micro-scale flow domains in critical regions of other cardiovascular devices to assess their blood damage potential.

This thesis examines polarization and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) dynamics in optical fibers as well as the evaluation of probability density functions and bit error rates in a realistic wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical communication systems. In the first part of the thesis, experimental studies of the dynamics of polarization in a dispersion compensation module (DCM) are performed in which mechanical shocks are imparted to several different DCMs by dropping a steel ball on the outer casing at different locations and from different heights and the resulting rapid polarization fluctuations are measured. We provide a theoretical model that accounts for the dynamic birefringence generated due to the impact. Next, an experimental technique is proposed to detect the location of temporal polarization activity in WDM systems. It is demonstrated theoretically and in simulations that measurement of both the PMD vector and the Stokes parameters at the WDM frequencies enables the detection of the location of such activity. Different linear prediction procedures are applied to the differential group delay of an optical fiber link assumed to obey the hinge model. The hinges are modeled as polarization rotators with fixed rotation axes and sinusoidally varying rotation angles. Three prediction methods are investigated and consequently compared: an autoregressive model (AR) with Kalman filter, a pattern imitation method and a Taylor expansion technique. The effect of measurement noise on the prediction horizon is also investigated for each prediction method. Using a physically reasonable stochastic model for the hinges, we derive analytical expressions for the temporal autocorrelation functions of the state of polarization (SOP) and the PMD vector. The obtained analytical results are compared to simulations. Finally, we apply the multicanonical method to the probability density function of received symbols and the symbol error ratio (SER) in a dual polarization quadrature phase shift keyed (DP-QPSK) WDM system. We simulate five co propagating channels at a symbol rate of 10.7 GBaud/s and account for PMD and nonlinear effects. We evaluate the performance of the system for two different cases: single mode fibers with full dispersion compensation at the end of the link, effective large area fibers (LEAF) with full dispersion compensation at the end of the link.

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This thesis presents a study on rotation in 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional discrete spaces. In computer science, using floating numbers is problematic due to computation errors. Thus we chose during this thesis to work only in discrete space. In the field of computer vision, the rotation is a transformation required for many applications. Using discretized Euclidean rotation gives bad results. Then, it is necessary to develop new rotation methods adapted to the discrete spaces. We mainly studied the hinge angles that represent the discontinuity of the rotation in the discrete space. Indeed, it is possible to perform two rotations of the same digital image with two angles that are slightly different and obtain the same result. This is captured by hinge angles. Using these angles allow us to describe a discrete rotation that gives the same results than the discretized Euclidean rotation without using floating numbers. They also allow describing an incremental rotation that performs all possible rotations of a given digital image. Using hinge angles can also be extended to the rotations in 3 dimensional discrete spaces. The extension requires the multi-grids that are rotation planes containing three sets of parallel lines. These parallel lines represent the discontinuities of the rotation in 3D discrete space. Thus they are useful to describe the hinge angles in rotation planes. Multi-grids allow obtaining the same results in 3D discrete rotations than the results obtained in 2D discrete rotations. This thesis presents a study on rotation in 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional discrete spaces. In computer science, using floating numbers is problematic due to computation errors. Thus we chose during this thesis to work only in discrete space. In the field of computer vision, the rotation is a transformation required for many applications. Using discretized Euclidean rotation gives bad results. Then, it is necessary to develop new rotation methods adapted to the discrete spaces. We mainly studied the hinge angles that represent the discontinuity of the rotation in the discrete space. Indeed, it is possible to perform two rotations of the same digital image with two angles that are slightly different and obtain the same result. This is captured by hinge angles. Using these angles allow us to describe a discrete rotation that gives the same results than the discretized Euclidean rotation without using floating numbers. They also allow describing an incremental rotation that performs all possible rotations of a given digital image. Using hinge angles can also be extended to the rotations in 3 dimensional discrete spaces. The extension requires the multi-grids that are rotation planes containing three sets of parallel lines. These parallel lines represent the discontinuities of the rotation in 3D discrete space. Thus they are useful to describe the hinge angles in rotation planes. Multi-grids allow obtaining the same results in 3D discrete rotations than the results obtained in 2D discrete rotations

Doctor of Philosophy / Civil Engineering / Asadollah Esmaeily / Accurate and realistic assessment of the performance of columns in general, and those in critical locations that may cause progressive failure of the entire structure, in particular, is significantly important. This performance is affected by the load history, pattern, and intensity. Current design code does not consider the effect of load pattern on the load and displacement capacity of columns. A primary research sponsored by Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) was conducted as the initial step of the present study (No. K-TRAN: KSU-11-5). The main goals of the KDOT project were: (1) investigation of new KDOT requirements in terms of the column design procedure and detailing and their consistency with AASHTO provisions; (2) verification of the KDOT assumptions for the plastic hinge regions for columns and bridge piers, (3) provide assessment of the load capacity of the existing columns and bridge piers in the light of the new specifications and using the new load demand as in the new provisions; and finally recommendations for columns and bridge piers that do not meet the new requirements. A conclusion was drawn that there is a need for conducting more studies on the realistic performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) sections and columns. The studies should have included performance of RC members under various loading scenarios, assessment of columns capacity considering confinement effect provided by lateral reinforcement, and investigation on performance of various monotonic and cyclic material models applied to simulate the realistic performance. In the study reported here, monotonic material models, cyclic rules, and plastic hinge models have been utilized in a fiber-based analytical procedure, and validated against experimental data to simulate behavior of RC section under various loading scenarios. Comparison of the analytical predictions and experimental data, through moment–curvature and force–deflection analyses, confirmed the accuracy and validity of the analytical algorithm and models. The performance of RC columns under various axial and lateral loading patterns was assessed in terms of flexural strength and energy dissipation. FRP application to enhance ductility, flexural strength, and shear capacity of existing deficient concrete structures has increased during the last two decades. Therefore, various aspects of FRP-confined concrete members, specifically monotonic and cyclic behavior of concrete members confined and reinforced by FRP, have been studied in many research programs, suggesting various monotonic models for concrete confined by only FRP. Exploration of existing model performances for predicting the behavior of several tested specimens shows a need for improvement of existing algorithms. The model proposed in the current study is a step in this direction. FRP wrapping is typically used to confine existing concrete members containing conventional lateral steel reinforcement (tie/spiral). The confining effect of lateral steel reinforcement in analytical studies has been uniquely considered in various models. Most models consider confinement due to FRP and ignore the effect of conventional lateral steel reinforcement. Exploration of existing model performances for predicting the behavior of several tested specimens confined by both FRP and lateral steel shows a need for improvement of existing algorithms. A model was proposed in this study which is a step in this direction. Performance of the proposed model and four other representative models from literature was compared to experimental data from four independent databases. In order to fulfill the need for a simple, yet accurate analytical tool for performance assessment of RC columns, a computer program was developed that uses relatively simple analytical methods and material models to accurately predict the performance of RC structures under various loading conditions, including cyclic lateral displacement under a non-proportionally variable axial load (Esmaeily and Xiao 2005, Esmaeily and Peterman 2007). However, it was limited to circular, rectangular, and hollow circular/rectangular sections and uniaxial lateral curvature or displacement. In this regards, a computer program was developed which is the next generation of the aforesaid program with additional functionality and options. Triangulation of the section allows opportunity for cross-sectional geometry. Biaxial lateral curvature/displacement/force combined with any sequence of axial load provides opportunity to analyze the performance of a reinforced concrete column under any load and displacement path. Use of unconventional reinforcement, such as FRP, in lateral as well as longitudinal direction is another feature of this application.

For autonomous mine vehicles that perform the ”load-haul-dump” (LHD) cycle to operate properly, calibration of the sensors they rely on is crucial. The LHD cycle refers to a vehicle that loads material, hauls the material along a route and dumps it in an extraction point. Many of these vehicles are waist-actuated, meaning that the front and rear part of the machines are fixated at an articulation point.   The focus of this thesis is about developing and implementing two differ- ent frameworks to distinguish patterns from routes where calibration of the hinge-angle sensor was needed before and try to predict when calibrating the sensor is needed. We present comparative results of one method using ma- chine learning, specifically supervised learning with support vector machine and one optimization-based method using scan matching by implementing a two-dimensional NDT (Normal Distributions Transform) algorithm.   Comparative results based on evaluation metrics used in this thesis show that detecting incorrect behaviour of the hinge-angle sensor is possible. Evaluation show that the machine learning classifier performs better on the data used for this thesis than the optimization-based classifier.

abstract: This thesis aims to design of wings for a laminate biped robot for providing locomotion stabilization during jump gliding. The wings are designed to collapse down during the jumping phase to maximize jump height and deployed back for gliding phase using anisotropic buckling in tape spring hinges. The project aims to develop a reliable dynamics model which can be utilized for design and evaluation of optimized systems for jump-gliding. The aerodynamic simulations are run on a vortex-lattice code which provides numeric simulations of the defined geometric bodies. The aerodynamic simulations assist in improving the design parameters such as planform, camber and twist to achieve the best possible Coefficient of Lift for maximizing glide distance. The aerodynamic simulation output is then plugged into a dynamics model built in Python, which is validated and correlated with experimental testing of a key wing designs. The experimental results are then utilized to improve the dynamics model and obtain better designs for improved performance. The simulation model informs the aerodynamic design of wings for sustaining glide for the biped platform and maximizing glide length to increase range. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Aerospace Engineering 2020

This thesis deals with the technological project of rear bonnet hinges assembly shop, specifically with desing the layout the of assembly shop in the Edscha Automotive Kamenice s.r.o. company. The thesis shows the basic theory to understanding the problems of assembly workshops. The thesis analyses the present state of the assembly workshop and with reference to the requirements of the company and fundamentals technological projection features three possible solutions. The selected solution becomes the shape of rationalization project. In the end is the variant technical-economic reviewed.

<p>Autumn 2021</p>

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