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In this thesis, the interaction pattern for a class of soliton solutions of the Kadomtsev- Petviashvili (KP) equation (−4ut + uxxx + 6uux )x + 3uyy = 0 is analyzed. The complete asymptotic properties of the soliton solutions for y → ±∞ are determined. The resonance characteristic of two sub-classes of the soliton solutions, in which N- incoming line solitons for y → −∞ interact to form N+ outgoing line solitons for y → ∞, is described. These two specific sub-classes of (N-,N+)-soliton solutions are the following: 1) [(2, 3), (2, 4), (2, 5)], 2) [(3, 2), (3, 3), (3, 4)]. The intermediate solitons and the interaction regions of the above soliton solutions are determined, and their various interaction patterns are explored. Maple and Mathematica are used to get the 3 dimensional plots and contour plots of the soliton solutions to show their interaction patterns. Finally, the spider-web-structures of the discussed solitons of the KP equation are displayed.

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Development of state-of-the-art medical imaging modalities such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography, Galactography, MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and Tomosynthesis plays an important role for visualization and assessment of anatomical structures. Included among these structures are structures of branching topology such as the bronchial tree in chest computed tomography images, the blood vessels in retinal images and the breast ductal network in x-ray galactograms and the tubular bone patterns in dental radiography. Analysis of such images could help reveal abnormalities, assist in estimating a risk of diseases such as breast cancer and COPD, and aid in the development of realistic anatomy phantoms. This thesis aims at the development of a set of automated methods for the analysis of anatomical structures of tree and network topology. More specifically, the two main objectives include (i) the development of analysis framework to explore the association between topology and texture patterns of anatomical branching structures and (ii) the development of the image processing methods for enhanced visualization of regions of interest in anatomical branching structures such as branching nodes. / Computer and Information Science

The vibration of and wave propagation in periodic cellular structures are analyzed. Cellular structures exhibit a number of desirable multifunctional properties, which make them attractive in a variety of engineering applications. These include ultra-light structures, thermal and acoustic insulators, and impact amelioration systems, among others. Cellular structures with deterministic architecture can be considered as example of periodic structures. Periodic structures feature unique wave propagation characteristics, whereby elastic waves propagate only in specific frequency bands, known as "pass band", while they are attenuated in all other frequency bands, known as "stop bands". Such dynamic properties are here exploited to provide cellular structures with the capability of behaving as directional, pass-band mechanical filters, thus complementing their well documented multifunctional characteristics. This work presents a methodology for the analysis of the dynamic behavior of periodic cellular structures, which allows the evaluation of location and spectral width of propagation and attenuation regions. The filtering characteristics are tested and demonstrated for structures of various geometry and topology, including cylindrical grid-like structures, Kagom and eacute; and tetrhedral truss core lattices. Experimental investigations is done on a 2-D lattice manufactured out of aluminum. The complete wave field of the specimen at various frequencies is measured using a Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer (SLDV). Experimental results show good agreement with the methodology and computational tools developed in this work. The results demonstrate how wave propagation characteristics are defined by cell geometry and configuration. Numerical and experimental results show the potential of periodic cellular structures as mechanical filters and/or isolators of vibrations.

This study presents the investigation and the verification of the modal parameters of a plate-like structure by using different modal analysis methods. A fin-like structure which is generally used in aircraft is selected as a subcategory of a plate-like test structure. In the first part of the thesis, the natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes of the fin are extracted by Finite Element Analysis method. Classical Modal Analysis and Testing methods comprising both impact hammer and modal shaker applications are then applied in order to obtain the modal parameters such as / resonance frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. In the second part, a recent modal analysis technique, Operational Modal Analysis, is also applied in the laboratory environment. Since Operational Modal Analysis method does not require any information of input forcing, the fin structure is tested under both mechanical and acoustical types of excitations without measuring the given input forces. Finally, Operational Modal Analysis and Testing is also performed under various flow conditions generated in the wind tunnel which may simulate the real operating environment for the fin structure. The modal parameters extracted under these flow conditions are then compared with the previously obtained Finite Element, Classical and Operational Modal Analyses results.

In this study, a combined genetic algorithm and non-linear optimisation system is designed and used in the identification of structural damage of a cantilever isotropic beam regarding its location and severity. The vibration-based features, both natural frequencies (i.e. eigenvalues) and displacement mode shapes (i.e. eigenvectors) of the structure in the first two out of plane bending modes, are selected as damage features for various types of damage comprising saw-cut and impact. For this purpose, commercial finite element modelling (FEM) and analysis software Msc. Patran/Nastran&reg / is used to obtain the aforementioned features from intact and damaged structures. Various damage scenarios are obtained regarding saw-cut type damage which is modelled as change in the element thicknesses and impact type damage which is modelled as a reduction of the elastic modulus of the elements in the finite element models. These models are generated by using both 1-D bar elements and 2-D shell type elements in Msc. Patran&reg / and then normal mode analyses are performed in order to extract element stiffness and mass matrices by using Msc. Nastran&reg / . Sensitivity matrices are then created by changing the related properties (i.e. reduction in elastic modulus and thickness) of the individual elements via successive normal mode analyses. The obtained sensitivity matrices are used as coefficients of element stiffness and/or mass matrices to construct global stiffness and/or mass matrices respectively. Following this, the residual force vectors obtained for different damage scenarios are minimised via a combined genetic algorithm and non-linear optimisation system to identify damage location and severity. This minimisation procedure is performed in two steps. First, the algorithm tries to minimise residual force vector (RFV) by only changing element stiffness matrices by aiming to detect impact type damage, as elastic modulus change is directly related to stiffness matrix. Secondly, it performs a minimisation over RFV by changing both element stiffness and mass matrices which aims to detect saw-cut type damage where thickness change is a function of both stiffness and mass matrices. The prediction of the damage type is then made by comparing the objective function value of these two steps. The lowest value (i.e. the fittest) indicates the damage type. The results of the minimisation also provide value of intactness where one representing intact and any value lower than one representing damage severity. The element related to that particular intactness value indicates the location of the damage on the structure. In case of having intactness values which are lower than one in value at various locations shows the existence of multi damage cases and provides their corresponding severities. The performance of the proposed combined genetic algorithm and non-linear optimisation system is tested on various damage scenarios created at different locations with different severities for both single and multi damage cases. The results indicate that the method used in this study is an effective one in the determination of type, severity and location of the damage in beam-like structures.

Orientador: Fernando Alvarez / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Fisica Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T10:47:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ParedezAngeles_PabloJenner_D.pdf: 4194390 bytes, checksum: 8881d83ee8bcb5a5ad4bfb23b7ff1028 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Nesta tese são apresentados os efeitos nas propriedades estruturais, eletrônicas e de emissão eletrônica por efeito de campo elétrico induzidos pela incorporação de nitrogênio em nanoestruturas de carbono. As nanoestruturas de carbono contendo nitrogênio foram preparadas por pulverização catódica (sputtering) de um alvo de grafite assistido, ou não, por um feixe iônico. A técnica permite atuar sobre os parâmetros de deposição induzindo mudanças nas propriedades estruturais, eletrônicas e de emissão eletrônica por efeito de campo elétrico. O papel do hélio na formação de nanoes-truturas de carbono contendo nitrogênio foi também explorado, mostrando que o gás nobre promove maior incorporação de nitrogênio. Isto é provavelmente devido à relativa alta condutividade térmica que apresenta o hélio, propriedade que modifica a cinética do crescimento das nanoestruturas. O estudo realizado permitiu entender o mecanismo de formação das nanoestruturas, mostrando que primeiramente o carbono alcança as partículas de Ni por difusão até a saturação do metal, iniciando a formação das camadas grafíticas sobre a partícula de Ni, camadas que foram observadas por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão de alta resolução. O estudo mostra, também, que os parâmetros importantes que controlam a incorporação de nitrogênio no material são a pressão parcial de nitrogênio na câmara de deposição, assim como a energia do feixe de íons assistindo a deposição.Foram estudadas três séries de amostras preparadas em atmosferas controladas. Na primeira série foi utilizado um feixe de íons de nitrogênio como feixe de assistência, e na segunda, uma mistura composta por duas espécies iônicas, íons de nitrogênio e hidrogênio. Com o auxilio da espectroscopia de elétrons fotoemitidos por raios-X observou-se a incorporação de nitrogênio nos filmes. A microscopia de força atômica revelou a presença de estruturas do tipo domo, distribuídas de maneira uniforme na superfície das amostras, apresentando uma densidade média de ~3×10 9 domos/cm 2as da primeira série, e ~1.4×10 9 domos/cm 2as da segunda série. Tanto a distribuição como a forma seguem o padrão estabelecido pelos precursores utilizados na preparação das nanoestruturas, i.e., ilhas de níquel que agem ao mesmo tempo como catalisadores e como suporte para as nanoestruturas. Na terceira série, as nanoestruturas foram crescidas sobre um filme de nitreto de titânio, depositado sobre substratos de Si, pulverizando um alvo de grafite em atmosferas de nitrogênio e hélio-nitrogênio. A densidade dos domos encontrada para esta série foi de ~5.3×10 10 domos/cm 2 . Os espectros Raman das três séries apresentam as bandas G e D, o que indica a presença estruturas grafíticas com distorções representadas pela banda D. A incorporação de nitrogênio ocasiona o alargamento da banda G e aumento da razão das intensidades das bandas D e G, respectivamente, indicando uma redução da ordem estrutural com a incorporação de Nitrogênio. Finalmente, para as três séries de amostras, fez-se também um estudo das propriedades de emissão eletrônica por efeito de campo elétrico. A emissão é predominantemente por tunelamento quântico (as curvas de densidade de corrente vs campo elétrico seguem o modelo de Fowler-Nordheim) e dependem da concentração de nitrogênio assim como do processo usado na preparação das amostras / Abstract: The subject of this thesis is establishing a link among the synthesis, structures, and field emission properties for nanostructured carbon materials containing nitrogen. The materials were prepared by ion beam assisted deposition and ion beam sputtering. The carbon material was obtained sputtering an ultra pure graphite target by an argon ion beam. The method allows controlling the deposition parameters to induce changes in the structural, electronic, and field emission properties. Also, the role of helium on the carbon containing nitrogen nanostructures was investigated. The remarkable thermal conductance of He modifying the growing kinetics was also studied. An important goal of the work was to elucidate the mechanism of the nanostructures formation. It was found that, at first, the carbon atoms reach the Ni particles saturating the metal particle, and then, the formation of stacked graphene starts on the metal particles. The graphene layers were observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The results show that mainly two parameters control the nitrogen incorporation, namely, the deposition chamber nitrogen partial pressure and the energy of the nitrogen ion beam assisting the growth. Three sample series prepared in controlled atmospheres were studied. The first series was prepared assisting the growth with a nitrogen ion beam and, the second series by a nitrogen-hydrogen ion beam. The third sample series were prepared by ion beam sputtering on silicon substrate by sequentially depositing titanium nitride thin film, nanometric nickel particles and carbon. The carbon containing nitrogen nanostructures were grown in nitrogen and helium-nitrogen atmospheres. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates nitrogen incorporation and it depends predominantly on the ion beam energy or on the nitrogen partial pressure. Atomic force microscopy reveals dome-like structures uniformly distributed on the surface of the samples, with ~3×10 9 domes/cm 2 for the first series, ~1.4×10 9 domes/cm 2 for the second, and ~5.3×10 10 domes/cm 2 for the third. Both distribution and shape follow the Ni island pattern, i.e. the Ni islandsact both as a catalytic and uphold. The three samples series were also analyzed by Raman spectros-copy, showing a defined G bands around 1593 cm -1 indicating the presence of graphitic structures. Also, are observed D bands indicating structural disorder. The disorder increases with the augment of the nitrogen content, as is shown by the augment of the D and G intensities ratio. Finally, the field emission properties of the three series were studied and the electron emission depends on the growing conditions in general, and on the nitrogen content in particular. The results show that the emission is predominantly by quantum tunneling and the current density vs. electric field curves follow the Fowler-Nordheim model / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências

L’environnement réactif du plasma constitue un outil puissant dans la science des matériaux, permettant la création de matériaux innovatifs et l'amélioration de matériaux existants qui ne serait autrement pas possible.Le plasma fournit simultanément des fluxes de particules chargées, des molécules chimiquement actives, des radicaux, de la chaleur, des photons, qui peuvent fortement influencer les voies d'assemblage à différentes échelles temporelles et spatiales, y compris à l’échelle atomique.Dans cette thèse de doctorat, des méthodes tenant pour base des plasmas micro-ondes ont été utilisées pour la synthèse de nanomatériaux de carbone, y compris graphène, graphène dopé à l'azote (N-graphène) et structures de type diamant.À cette fin, ce travail est lié à optimisation de la synthèse de nanostructures 2D du carbone, comme graphène et N-graphène par la poursuite de l'élaboration et du raffinement de la méthode développée en Plasma Engineering Laboratory (PEL). La synthèse de graphène de haute qualité et en grandes quantités a été accomplie avec succès en utilisant des plasmas d'Ar-éthanol à ondes de surface dans des conditions de pression ambiante. De plus, le N-graphène a été synthétisé par un procédé en une seule étape, de l'azote a été ajouté au mélange d’Ar-éthanol, et par un procédé en deux étapes, en soumettant des feuilles de graphène préalablement synthétisées ont été exposées à un traitement plasma argon-azote à basse pression. Les atomes d'azote ont été incorporés avec succès dans le réseau de graphène hexagonal, formant principalement liaisons pyrroliques, pyridiniques et quaternaires. Un niveau de dopage de 25 at.% a été atteint.Différents types de nanostructures de carbone, y compris du graphène et des structures de type diamant, ont été synthétisées au moyen d'un plasma d’argon en utilisant du méthane et du dioxyde de carbone comme précurseurs du carbone.De plus, des plasmas à couplage capacitif ont également été utilisés pour la fonctionnalisation du graphène et pour la synthèse de nanocomposites, tels que les composites de Polyaniline (PANI)-graphène. Les utilisations potentielles de ces matériaux ont été étudiées et les deux structures ont démontré avoir des attributs remarquables pour leur application aux biocapteurs. / Plasma environments constitute powerful tools in materials science by allowing the creation of innovative materials and the enhancement of long existing materials that would not otherwise be achievable. The remarkable plasma potential derives from its ability to simultaneously provide dense fluxes of charged particles, chemically active molecules, radicals, heat and photons which may strongly influence the assembly pathways across different temporal and space scales, including the atomic one.In this thesis, microwave plasma-based methods have been applied to the synthesis of advanced carbon nanomaterials including graphene, nitrogen-doped graphene (N-graphene) and diamond-like structures. To this end, the focus was placed on the optimization of the production processes of two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanostructures, such as graphene and N-graphene, by further elaboration and refinement of the microwave plasma-based method developed at the Plasma Engineering Laboratory (PEL). The scaling up of the synthesis process for high-quality graphene using surface-wave plasmas operating at atmospheric pressure and argon-ethanol mixtures was successfully achieved. Moreover, N-graphene was synthetized via a single-step process, by adding nitrogen to the argon-ethanol mixture, and via two-step process, by submitting previously synthetized graphene to the remote region of a low-pressure argon-nitrogen plasma. Nitrogen atoms were usefully incorporated into the hexagonal graphene lattice, mainly as pyrrolic, pyridinic and quaternary bonds. A doping level of 25% was attained.Different types of carbon nanostructures, including graphene and diamond-like nanostructures, were also produced by using methane and carbon dioxide as carbon precursors in an argon plasma.Additionally, capacitively-coupled radio-frequency plasmas have been employed in the functionalization of graphene and in the synthesis of Polyaniline (PANI)-graphene composites. The potential uses of these materials were studied, with both showing favourable characteristics for their applicability in biosensing applications.