Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Mechanical systems experience undesirable vibration in response to environmental and operational forces. Slight vibrations can limit the accuracy of sensitive instruments or cause error in micro- and nano-manufacturing processes. Larger vibrations, as experienced by load bearing structures, can cause fatigue and contribute to mechanical failure. The suppression of vibration is a necessity in many scientific and engineering applications. Piezoelectric and electromagnetic transducers have been employed in countless applications as sensors, actuators, or both. In cases where traditional passive mechanical vibration control is inadequate, piezoelectric and electromagnetic actuators have been used within feedback control systems to suppress vibration. A counter-active force is applied in response to a measured vibration. In this work, a new approach to the control of mechanical vibration is introduced. By presenting an appropriately designed electrical impedance to the terminals of a piezoelectric or electromagnetic transducer, vibration in the host structure can be suppressed. Standard LQG, H2, and H∞ synthesis techniques are employed to facilitate the design of optimal shunt impedances. No feedback sensor or auxiliary transducer is required. Vibration control problems are typically based on the minimization of displacement or velocity at a single point. For spatially distributed systems, such as aircraft wings, any single point may not suitably represent the overall structural vibration. Spatial system identification is introduced as a method for procuring global models of flexible structures. Spatial models can be used to properly specify the performance objective of an active vibration control system. Experimental results are presented throughout to clarify and validate the concepts presented.

This study presented the design and implementation of a spatial Hinf controller to suppress the free and forced vibrations of a cantilevered smart beam. The smart beam consists of a passive aluminum beam with surface bonded PZT (Lead-Zirconate-Titanate) patches. In this study, the PZT patches were used as the actuators and a laser displacement sensor was used as the sensor. In the first part of the study, the modeling of the smart beam by the assumed-modes method was conducted. The model correction technique was applied to include the effect of out-of-range modes on the dynamics of the system. Later, spatial system identification work was performed in order to clarify the spatial characteristics of the smart beam. In the second part of the study, a spatial Hinf controller was designed for suppressing the first two flexural vibrations of the smart beam. The efficiency of the controller was verified both by simulations and experimental implementation. As a final step, the comparison of the spatial and pointwise Hinf controllers was employed. A pointwise Hinf controller was designed and experimentally implemented. The efficiency of the both controllers was compared by simulations.

Notre thèse, intitulée La dynamique linguistique des relations spatiales en créole réunionnais et sa contribution à la question de l'illettrisme, s'inscrit en linguistique descriptive et choisit d'interroger la problématique de la spatialité avec les outils et les méthodes de la linguistique fonctionnelle en synchronie dynamique pour le créole réunionnais (Martinet : 1989, Staudacher-Valliamée : 1999). Les enquêtes réalisées sur le terrain créolophone réunionnais rassemblent un corpus de 24 idiolectes dans un échantillonnage représentatif de plusieurs classes d'âge, de lieux géographiques et de difficultés de pratique du français (langue officielle). L'analyse syntaxique et prosodique des relations spatiales repose sur un échantillonnage de 607 syntagmes prédicatifs. Cette thèse établit le lien entre les relations spatiales, le programme valenciel (Tesnière : 1965), l'ordre des mots en structures prédicatives. Le modèle fonctionnaliste est complété par les paramètres de la sémantique générale de Pottier (1992). Cette thèse apporte un éclairage nouveau avec l'identification du système spatial créole réunionnais, ce qui permet de le classer parmi les langues à cadre verbal et satellitaire (Talmy : 2008). Par les toponymes, le système spatial est ancré dans la mémoire collective créole et l'Histoire insulaire créolophone. La tradition orale créole implique des situations d'illettrisme spécifiques. Nos informateurs témoignent de leurs situations d'analphabétisme, d'illettrisme et de leurs difficultés d'apprentissage. Les retombées didactiques et pédagogiques de notre recherche contribuent à la remédiation ainsi qu'à l'outillage pour l'apprentissage du système spatial français. / Our thesis, entitled Linguistic dynamic of spatial relationships in Reunion Creole and its contribution to the illiteracy issue, fits in descriptive linguistic questioning the problematic of spatiality with tools and methods of functional linguistic in dynamic synchrony for Reunion Creole (Martinet : 1989, Staudacher-Valliamée : 1999). Surveys conducted in the field of Reunion Creole speakers gather a corpus of 24 idiolects in a representative sampling including several age groups, geographical locations and difficulty to practice French (official language of the department). Syntactic and prosodic analysis of spatial relationships relies on a sampling of 607 predicative phrases. This thesis establishes the link between spatial relationships, valence program (Tesnière : 1965), word order in predicative structures. The functionalist model is completed by Pottier's general semantic parameters (1992). This thesis brings a new perspective with the identification of the Reunion Creole spatial system, which allows its classification among the framework of verbal and satellite languages (Talmy : 2008). By the place of names, spatial system is rooted in Creole collective memory and Reunion Creole speaker insular History. Oral creole tradition involves specific situations of illiteracy. Our informants demonstrate their analphabetism, illiteracy and their learning difficulties. The didactic and educational fallout from our research contribute to the remediation and tooling for the learning of French spatial system descriptive linguistic.

This thesis focuses on park planning in Dubai, and how current differences in their socio-spatial access can be alleviated by using regional-vernacular design principles. The thesis uses a mixed method approach that begins with the analysis of parks across the entire city to understand their current access and distribution, and then narrows down to focusing on four micro-case studies,which will serve as sites where improvements could be made. These improvements are inspiredby vernacular design and planning and aim to improve current access. All work originates fromthe author unless otherwise cited.