In this work, several beam finite element formulations are proposed for failure analysis of planar reinforced concrete beams and frames under monotonic static loading. The localized failure of material is modeled by the embedded strong discontinuity concept, which enhances standard interpolation of displacement (or rotation) with a discontinuous function, associated with an additional kinematic parameter representing jump in displacement (or rotation). The new parameters are local and are condensed on the element level. One stress resultant and two multi-layer beam finite elements are derived. The stress resultant Euler-Bernoulli beam element has embedded discontinuity in rotation. Bending response of the bulk of the element is described by elasto-plastic stress resultant material model. The cohesive relation between the moment and the rotational jump at the softening hinge is described by rigid-plastic model. Axial response is elastic. In the multi-layer beam finite elements, each layer is treated as a bar, made of either concrete or steel. Regular axial strain in a layer is computed according to Euler-Bernoulli or Timoshenko beam theory. Additional axial strain is produced by embedded discontinuity in axial displacement, introduced individually in each layer. Behavior of concrete bars is described by elastodamage model, while elasto-plasticity model is used for steel bars. The cohesive relation between the stress at the discontinuity and the axial displacement jump is described by rigid-damage softening model in concrete bars and by rigid-plastic softening model in steel bars. Shear response in the Timoshenko element is elastic. Finally, the multi-layer Timoshenko beam finite element is upgraded by including viscosity in the softening model. Computer code implementation is presented in detail for the derived elements. An operator split computational procedure is presented for each formulation. The expressions, required for the local computation of inelastic internal variables and for the global computation of the degrees of freedom, are provided. Performance of the derived elements is illustrated on a set of numerical examples, which show that the multi-layer Euler-Bernoulli beam finite element is not reliable, while the stress-resultant Euler-Bernoulli beam and the multi-layer Timoshenko beam finite elements deliver satisfying results.

A theory is developed for the analysis of composite systems consisting of steel wide flange sections reinforced with GFRP plates connected to one of the flanges through a layer of adhesive. The theory is based on an extension of the Gjelsvik theory and thus incorporates local and global warping effects but omits shear deformation effects. The theory captures the longitudinal transverse response through a system of three coupled differential equations of equilibrium and the lateral-torsional response through another system of three coupled differential equations. Closed form solutions are developed and a super-convergent finite element is formulated based under the new theory. A comparison to 3D FEA results based on established solid elements in Abaqus demonstrates the validity of the theory when predicting the longitudinal-transverse response, but showcases its shortcomings in predicting the torsional response of the composite system. The comparison sheds valuable insight on means of improving the theory. A more advanced theory is subsequently developed based on enriched kinematics which incorporates shear deformation effects. The shear deformable theory captures the longitudinal-transverse response through a system of four coupled differential equations of equilibrium and the lateral-torsional response through another system of six coupled differential equations. A finite difference approximation is developed for the new theory and a new finite element formulation is subsequently to solve the new system of equations. A comparison to 3D FEA illustrates the validity of the shear deformable theory in predicting the longitudinal-transverse response as well as the lateral-torsional response. Both theories are shown to be computationally efficient and reduce the modelling and running time from several hours per run to a few minutes or seconds while capturing the essential features of the response of the composite system.

This thesis addresses the metal nanocluster growth process on prepatterned substrates, the development of atomistic simulation method with respect to an acceleration of the atomistic transition states, and the continuum model of the ion-beam inducing semiconductor surface pattern formation mechanism. Experimentally, highly ordered Ag nanocluster structures have been grown on pre-patterned amorphous SiO2 surfaces by oblique angle physical vapor deposition at room temperature. Despite the small undulation of the rippled surface, the stripe-like Ag nanoclusters are very pronounced, reproducible and well-separated. The first topic is the investigation of this growth process with a continuum theoretical approach to the surface gas condensation as well as an atomistic cluster growth model. The atomistic simulation model is a lattice-based kinetic Monte-Carlo (KMC) method using a combination of a simplified inter-atomic potential and experimental transition barriers taken from the literature. An effective transition event classification method is introduced which allows a boost factor of several thousand compared to a traditional KMC approach, thus allowing experimental time scales to be modeled. The simulation predicts a low sticking probability for the arriving atoms, millisecond order lifetimes for single Ag monomers and about 1 nm square surface migration ranges of Ag monomers. The simulations give excellent reproduction of the experimentally observed nanocluster growth patterns. The second topic specifies the acceleration scheme utilized in the metallic cluster growth model. Concerning the atomistic movements, a classical harmonic transition state theory is considered and applied in discrete lattice cells with hierarchical transition levels. The model results in an effective reduction of KMC simulation steps by utilizing a classification scheme of transition levels for thermally activated atomistic diffusion processes. Thermally activated atomistic movements are considered as local transition events constrained in potential energy wells over certain local time periods. These processes are represented by Markov chains of multi-dimensional Boolean valued functions in three dimensional lattice space. The events inhibited by the barriers under a certain level are regarded as thermal fluctuations of the canonical ensemble and accepted freely. Consequently, the fluctuating system evolution process is implemented as a Markov chain of equivalence class objects. It is shown that the process can be characterized by the acceptance of metastable local transitions. The method is applied to a problem of Au and Ag cluster growth on a rippled surface. The simulation predicts the existence of a morphology dependent transition time limit from a local metastable to stable state for subsequent cluster growth by accretion. The third topic is the formation of ripple structures on ion bombarded semiconductor surfaces treated in the first topic as the prepatterned substrate of the metallic deposition. This intriguing phenomenon has been known since the 1960s and various theoretical approaches have been explored. These previous models are discussed and a new non-linear model is formulated, based on the local atomic flow and associated density change in the near surface region. Within this framework ripple structures are shown to form without the necessity to invoke surface diffusion or large sputtering as important mechanisms. The model can also be extended to the case where sputtering is important and it is shown that in this case, certain "magic" angles can occur at which the ripple patterns are most clearly defined. The results including some analytic solutions of the nonlinear equation of motions are in very good agreement with experimental observation.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also called 3D-printing, are technologies where parts are formed from the bottom up by adding material layer-by-layer on top of each other. Electron Beam Melting (EBM) is an AM technique capable of manufacturing fully solid metallic parts, using a high-intensity electron beam to melt powder particles in layers to form finished components. Compared to conventional machining, EBM offers enhanced efficiency for production of customized and patient specific parts such as e.g. dental prosthetics. However, dental prosthetics are challenging to produce by EBM, as their small sizes mean that mechanical and surface properties may be altered as part sizes decreases. The aim of this thesis is to gain new insights that could lead to optimization for production of small sized components in the EBM. The work is focused to understand the process-property relationships for small size components production. To improve the surface resolution and part detailing, a smaller sized powder was used for production and compared to parts made with standard sized powder. The surface-, chemical and mechanical properties were evaluated for parts produced with both types of powders. The results indicate that the surface roughness may be influenced by powder and build layer thickness size, whereas the mechanical properties showed no influence of the layer-wise production. However, the mechanical properties are dependent on part size. The outermost surface of the parts consists of a surface oxide dominated by TiO2, formed as a result of reaction between the surface and residual gases in the EBM build chamber. The surface oxide thickness is comparable to that of a conventionally machined surface, but is dependent on build height. This work concludes that the surface resolution and component detailing can be improved by various measures. Provided that proper process themes are used, the EBM manufactured material is homogenous with properties comparable to conventional produced titanium. It has also been shown that the material properties will be altered for small components. The results point towards different ways of optimizing manufacturing of dental prosthetics by EBM, which will make dental prosthetics available for an increased number of patients.

No description available.

No description available.

Design denotes the transformation of an identified need to its physical embodiment in a traditionally iterative approach of trial and error. Conceptual design plays a prominent role but an almost infinite number of possible solutions at the outset of design necessitates fast evaluations. The traditional practice of empirical databases loses adequacy for novel concepts and an ever increasing system complexity and resource scarsity mandate new approaches to adequately capture system characteristics. Contemporary concerns in atmospheric science and homeland security created an operational need for unconventional configurations. Unmanned long endurance flight at high altitudes offers a unique showcase for the exploration of new design spaces and the incidental deficit of conceptual modeling and simulation capabilities. The present research effort evolves around the development of an efficient and accurate optimization algorithm for high aspect ratio wings subject to natural frequency constraints. Foundational corner stones are beam dimensional reduction and modal perturbation redesign. Local and global analyses inherent to the former suggest corresponding levels of local and global optimization. The present approach departs from this suggestion. It introduces local level surrogate models to capacitate a methodology that consists of multi level analyses feeding into a single level optimization. The innovative heart of the new algorithm originates in small perturbation theory. A sequence of small perturbation solutions allows the optimizer to make incremental movements within the design space. It enables a directed search that is free of costly gradients. System matrices are decomposed based on a Timoshenko stiffness effect separation. The formulation of respective linear changes falls back on surrogate models that approximate cross sectional properties. Corresponding functional responses are readily available. Their direct use by the small perturbation based optimizer ensures constitutive laws and eliminates a previously necessary optimization at the local level. The great economy of the developed algorithm makes it suitable for the conceptual phase of aircraft design.

Στη παρούσα διπλωματική μοντελοποιείται το σύστημα σφαίρας ράβδου. Εξάγεται το μοντέλο στο χώρο κατάστασης και υλοποιείται γραμμικοποίηση εισόδου κατάστασης και εισόδου εξόδου. Βρίσκονται προσεγγιστικοί νόμοι ελέγχου για το μη γραμμικό σύστημακαθώς παρουσιάζει ιδιομορφία. / This diploma thesis includes the analysis of the nonlinear system of a ball-beam and the design of different control laws. Initially, we present the physical system and we derive the mathematical model from the lagrange equation.The nonlinear system fails to be stable with the classic linear control laws and we try to stabilize it by input-state and inputoutput linearization. The ball beam system fails to be controlled by full state linearization and we proposed some approximations for inputoutput linearization. We describe in detail how we can derive the approximate control laws and through simulation we are capable of choosing the best suitable control law. We propose a switch-controller for the nonlinear system which is vital for systems with undefined relative degree and are not input state linearizable.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis describes the second project relating to the development of a SONAR (SOund Navigation And Ranging) object detection and collision avoidance system for use on an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) at Stellenbosch University. The main goal is to develop and test techniques that make use of the existing SONAR laboratory platform and wide-beam SONAR transducers to detect and locate objects and their limits/bounds under water in the horizontal plane. The results of the work done show that it is possible to use wide-beam transducers to locate the centroid and edges of a flat target with an error that is significantly smaller than the beam-width. The techniques developed will enable the development of a cost-effective SONAR system that can be implemented on an AUV. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis beskryf the tweede projek rakende die ontwikkeling van ’n SONAR voorwerp opsporings en botsingvermydingstelsel vir gebruik op ’n OOV (Outonome Onderwater Voertuig) aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die hoofdoel is om tegnieke te ontwikkel en te toets wat gebruik maak van die bestaande SONAR laboratorium opstelling en wye-straal SONAR opnemers om die posisie van voorwerpe onder water te bepaal, sowel as die posisie van die voorwerp se rande in die horisontale vlak. Die resultate van die werk wat gedoen is wys dat dit moontlik is om wye-straal opnemers te gebruik om die posisie van die sentroïde en rande van ’n plat voorwerp te vind met ’n fout wat aansienlik kleiner is as die straal-wydte. Die tegnieke wat ontwikkel is sal ons in staat stel om ’n koste-effektiewe SONAR stelsel te ontwikkel wat op ’n OOV geïmplenteer kan word.

Le récent développement de la Fabrication Additive de pièces métalliques permet d'élaborer directement des structures à partir de modèles 3D. En particulier, la technologie "Electron Beam Melting" (EBM) permet la fusion sélective, couche par couche, de poudres métalliques. Elle autorise la réalisation de géométries très complexes mais apporte de nouvelles contraintes de fabrication.Ce travail se concentre sur la caractérisation géométrique et mécanique de structures treillis produites par cette méthode. Les pièces fabriquées sont comparées au design initial à travers des caractérisations par tomographie aux rayons X. Les propriétés mécaniques sont testées en compression uni-axiale. Pour les poutres de faibles épaisseur, la différence entre la structure numérique et celle fabriquée devient significative. Les écarts au design initial se traduisent pour chaque poutre par un concept de matière mécaniquement efficace. D'un point de vue modélisation, ce concept est pris en compte en remplaçant la poutre fabriquée par un cylindre avec un diamètre mécaniquement équivalent. Ce diamètre équivalent est utilisé dans des simulations et optimisations "réalistes" intégrant ainsi les contraintes de fabrication de la technologie EBM.Différentes stratégies sont aussi proposées pour réduire la proportion de volume "inefficace" et améliorer le contrôle de la taille des poutres, soit en jouant sur les paramètres procédé et les stratégies de fusion, soit en effectuant des post-traitements. / The recent development of Additive Manufacturing for the fabrication of metallic parts allows structures to be directly manufactured from 3D models. In particular, the "Electron Beam Melting" (EBM) technology is a suitable process which selectively melts a powder bed layer by layer. It can build very complex geometries but brings new limitations that have to be quantified.This work focuses on the structural and mechanical characterization of lattice structures produced by such technology. The structural characterization mainly rely on X-ray tomography whereas mechanical properties are assessed by uni-axial compression. The geometry and related properties of the fabricated structures are compared with the designed ones. For small strut size, the difference between the designed structure and the produced one is large enough to impact the desired mechanical properties. The concept of mechanical efficient volume is introduced. For the purpose of simulation, this concept is taken into account by replacing the struts by a cylinder with a textit{mechanical equivalent diameter}. After validation, it has been used into "realistic" simulation and optimization procedures, thus taking into account the process constraints.Post-treatments (Chemical Etching and Electro-Chemical Polishing) were applied on lattice structures to get rid of the inefficient matter by decreasing the surface roughness. The control of the size of the fabricated struts was improved by tuning the process strategies and parameters.