The objective of this research is to determine the three-dimensional stiffness matrix of a rectangular cross-section helical coil compression spring. The stiffnesses of the spring are derived using strain energy methods and Castigliano's second theorem. A theoretical model is developed and presented in order to describe the various steps undertaken to calculate the spring's stiffnesses. The resulting stiffnesses take into account the bending moments, the twisting moments, and the transverse shear forces. In addition, the spring's geometric form which includes the effects of pitch, curvature of wire and distortion due to normal and transverse forces are taken into consideration. Similar methods utilizing Castigliano's second theorem and strain energy expressions were also used to derive equations for a circular cross-section spring. Their results are compared to the existing solutions and used to validate the equations derived for the rectangular cross-section helical coil compression spring. A finite element model was generated using IDEAS (Integrated Design Engineering Analysis Software) and the stiffness matrix evaluated by applying a unit load along the spring's axis, then calculating the corresponding changes in deformation. The linear stiffness matrix is then obtained by solving the linear system of equations in changes of load and deformation. This stiffness matrix is a six by six matrix relating the load (three forces and three moments) to the deformations (three translations and three rotations). The natural frequencies and mode shapes of a mechanical system consisting of an Additional mass and the spring are also determined. Finally, a comparison of the stiffnesses derived using the analytical methods and those obtained from the finite element analysis was made and the results presented. / Master of Science

This paper presents the behaviour and design of axially loaded elliptical steel hollow sections filled with normal and high strength concrete. The experimental investigation was conducted with three nominal wall thickness (4mm, 5mm and 6.3mm) and different infill concrete cube strengths varied from 30 to 100 MPa. The effect of steel tube thickness, concrete strength, and confinement were discussed together with column strengths and load-axial shortening curves were evaluated. The study is limited to cross-section capacity and has not been validated at member level. Comparisons of the tests results together with other available results from the literature have been made with current design method used for the design of composite circular steel sections in Eurocode 4 and AISC codes. It was found that existing design guidance for concrete filled circular hollow sections may generally be safely applied to concrete filled elliptical steel tubes.

Yes / Extensive experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted on the compressive strength of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns, but little attention has been paid to their compressive stiffness and deformation capacity. Despite this, strength prediction approaches in existing design codes still have various limitations. A finite element model, which was previously proposed by the authors and verified using a large amount of experimental data, is used in this paper to generate simulation data covering a wide range of parameters for circular and rectangular CFST stub columns under axial compression. Regression analysis is conducted to propose simplified models to predict the compressive strength, the compressive stiffness, and the compressive strain corresponding to the compressive strength (ductility) for the composite columns. Based on the new strength prediction model, the capacity reduction factors for the steel and concrete materials are recalibrated to achieve a target reliability index of 3.04 when considering resistance effect only.

The effects of repeated loading on a normally consolidated,saturated silty clay, are compared to the effects of sustained loading and standard strength tests on the same material. Attention is given to axial strains and pore water pressures generated under the different loading conditions. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) from patients with other causes of chronic back pain remains a challenge. The lack of reliable biomarkers contributes to the diagnostic delay in axial SpA. Recently, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been proposed as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. MIF is a proinflammatory cytokine that was shown to be upregulated in several autoimmune diseases, including axial SpA. The putative role of CD8+ T cells in the disease process suggests further that serum markers of cytotoxicity might have value as serological biomarkers in axial SpA, and that subpopulations of cytotoxic lymphocytes might deserve attention as candidate cellular biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare serum levels of MIF and other candidate serum proteins in patients with axial SpA and controls, and to develop a flow cytometry panel to analyze cytotoxic lymphocyte cell subpopulations in these cohorts, including KIR+CD8+ T cells, Granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells, MAIT cells, and InEx cells. METHODS: Study subjects were recruited from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Orthopedic and Arthritis Center. Four cohorts were compared: healthy controls (HC), patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP), axial SpA patients not on a biologic (axSpA/-), and axial SpA patients treated with a TNF inhibitor (axSpA/TNFi). Study subjects were matched for age, sex, and race, when possible. Serum was evaluated using the LEGENDplex Human CD8/NK panel (BioLegend) for thirteen markers including IL-17A, IL-6, TNF, granzyme B, and perforin. CRP and MIF were evaluated by DuoSet ELISA (R&D Systems). A high-dimensional flow cytometry panel was designed to evaluate 14 cell populations of interest. RESULTS: The severity of back pain in the cLBP controls and axSpA/- patients was comparable (BASDAI Q2 mean 5.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 5.0 +/- 3.0). axSpA/- patients had higher back pain, BASDAI and ASDAS scores than axSpA/TNFi patients consistent with higher disease activity in the biologic naïve group. Serum CRP values were significantly higher in axSpA/- patients compared with HC, cLBP controls, and axSpA/TNFi patients (P= 0.01, P=0.0029, P=0.004 respectively). Serum MIF levels were not statistically different between all four groups (P= 0.8069). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups for any of the markers included in the LEGENDplex Human CD8/NK panel. A 32-color staining panel was developed to evaluate cytotoxic cell populations. CONCLUSION: In contrast to a previous study, we did not find differences in serum MIF levels between axial SpA patients and controls. Of the evaluated serum biomarkers, only CRP values correlated with active axial SpA. We have developed a promising flow cytometry panel that will help analyze subpopulations of cytotoxic cells. This ultimately could shed light on a candidate cellular biomarker. Our results underscore the need for more research into diagnostic biomarkers in axial SpA.

The growing demand of electrified light duty trucks, including sports utility vehicles (SUV) require high performance motors to surpass form their internal combustion engine counterparts. The Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (AFPM) Motor is expected to be one of the leading technologies to meet the demands of these industries due to its efficenct and high torque and power density. Designing a robust thermal management system for this motor is key to utilizing these performance benefits. To meet these demanding conditions, additive manufacturing is expected to play a critical role in enhancing performance. Additively manufactured hollow coil is a cooling strategy to extract heat directly from the hottest part of the motor, the stator. The following research assesses the viability of the design in a prototype motor. ANSYS CFX is used to characterize the pressure drop and flowrate, and a test setup is used to validate the results. The challenges associated with integrating the solution into a motor is highlighted as well as design issues during design development. Finally, the integration of a parallel hybrid SUV using an AFPM motor is documented and the challenges with integration into a vehicle is explained. / Thesis / Master in Advanced Studies (MAS)

A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering / In the wake of the rising global demand for more electric transportation, aerospace electrification is becoming a highly active research area as commercial fully electric aircrafts are becoming a reality. The transportation electrification industry is challenged to develop powerful, safe, and compact-sized machines that can replace fossil fuel powered engines in aircrafts. Axial Flux Permanent Magnets (AFPM) machines are currently being intensively developed as a great candidate for this purpose due to their inherently higher power density compared to other machine electric machines topologies. The efforts of further increasing AFPM machines power density add more thermal challenges as intensive cooling is required at a relatively small machine package to avoid machine failure. One of the most concerning failure modes in these machines is power output reduction due to overheating of the rotor-mounted permanent magnets or even complete failure due to irreversible demagnetization. This research discusses the design process of an integrated rotor air cooling system for a 100 kW AFPM machine designed for an electric aircraft propulsion system. The embedded cooling system allows the rotor to be self-cooled at a sufficient cooling rate while minimizing the impact on machine efficiency due to windage power losses. The presented design process includes several stages of cooling enhancement including the addition and fine-tuning of rotor fan blades and rotor vents design. These enhancements are done by studying the air flow over the rotor surfaces in conjunction with heat transfer through Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses. In an initial study, different rotors with different combinations of rotor cooling features are studied and their thermal performance is compared. The results show that using rotor embedded fan blades in throughflow ventilated rotor geometry offers the best performance balance, achieving sufficient rotor cooling rate within a reasonable increase of windage power loss. A parametric study is performed to improve the rotor blade geometry for a higher ratio of heat transfer to windage losses. Another study is performed where the rotor and the enclosure geometries are fine-tuned simultaneously to reduce the negative effect on rotor heat transfer imposed by the enclosure. The final geometry of the rotor enclosure assembly is generated based on the research results and the design is integrated into the final machine prototype to be tested. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / Axial-flux permanent magnets (AFPM) machines are gaining the transportation electrification industy attention as a greener alternative to combustion engines in aircraft propulsion systems due to their high power and torque density. The intense endeavors of the current research to further improve AFPM machines power densities brings thermal design challenges to ensure the safe operation of the machine. Rotor permanent magnets failure due to demagnetization as a result of overheating can impose a great risk to the machine operation and safety. Accordingly, special attention should be paid to rotor thermal management. This research discusses the design process of an integrated rotor air cooling system for an AFPM machine designed for an electric aircraft. The machine mechanical and thermal design parameters are used to set an initial rotor design with different rotor cooling features based on literature findings. Rotor fan blades and air vents are selected as the main rotor cooling features for the design. Several design iterations are then made to fine-tune the rotor geometry targeting low operating temperature of the permanent magnets at a low cost of windage losses. The thermal performance of the different designs is assessed and compared to each other using conjugate heat transfer (CHT) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses. Safe operating temperature of the magnets is achieved at an acceptable windage losses value with the final design, and it is selected for prototyping.

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