La fatigue à nombre de cycles élevé (HCF) est un mode de défaillance courant et dangereux pour les aubages de turbomachines. Elle est induite par les efforts dynamiques élevés générés lors de résonances présentes dans la plage de fonctionnement de ces machines. Les dispositifs amortisseurs basés sur l’utilisation du frottement sec, tels que les nageoires ou les frotteurs sous-plateformes, permettent de réduire les amplitudes vibratoires, voire de repousser les fréquences de résonance hors des zones de fonctionnement. Cependant la conception de ces dispositifs reste encore largement basée sur l’empirisme et ils peuvent être la source d’un effet de désaccordage potentiellement nuisible. L’objectif ici est de développer des modélisations adaptées au traitement du problème de vibration des aubages en présence de frottement sec, ceci afin de mieux maîtriser les comportements physiques mis en jeu et donc, de mieux maîtriser leur processus de conception. Plusieurs modélisations numériques sont testées et confrontées à des résultats de référence. Une comparaison entre procédures de résolution temporelle et fréquentielle est menée et montre l’efficacité des méthodes fréquentielles. La méthode fréquentielle de la balance harmonique à plusieurs harmoniques est adaptée au problème et exploitée dans le cadre d’une étude énergétique. Cette étude conduit à une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes mis en jeu lors de l’aplatissement des pics en fonctionnement ; elle permet de démontrer que l’alternance des états de contact glissant et bloqué est à l’origine de cet aplatissement et non la dissipation d’énergie comme souvent avancé dans la littérature. Enfin, la méthode est exploitée pour décrire le comportement des disques aubés désaccordés. La méthode de Monte Carlo est utilisée pour obtenir les caractéristiques statistiques de la réponse forcée d’un système discret, en tenant compte des variations stochastiques des paramètres du contact notamment, la charge normale, la raideur du contact et le coefficient de frottement. Les résultats obtenus permettent de mieux comprendre les effets de la nature variable de ces paramètres fondamentaux sur la dynamique d’ensemble du système non linéaire. / Fatigue with high number of cycles (HCF) is a current and dangerous mode of failure for the blades of turbo shaft engines. It is induced by the high dynamic stresses generated at resonance in the operating range of these machines. The rubbing devices based on use of dry friction, such as shrouds or under-platform dampers, make it possible to reduce the vibratory amplitudes, to even push back the resonance frequencies out of the operation zones. However the design of these devices remains still largely based on empiricism and they can be the source of a potentially harmful effect of mistuning. The goal is to develop adapted modelling for the treatment of blades vibration problem in the presence of dry friction, this in order to better control the concerned physical behaviours and thus, to better control their process of design. Several numerical modelling are tested and confronted with reference results. A comparison between procedures of time and frequency domains resolution is carried out and shows the effectiveness of frequential methods. The frequential method of the Harmonic Balance including several harmonics is adapted to the problem and is used within an energy study. This study leads to a better comprehension of the phenomena of peaks flattening and it shows that the alternation of the states of slipping and sticking contact is the real cause of this flattening and not energy dissipation like often advanced in the literature. Lastly, the method is exploited to describe the behaviour of mistuned bladed disks. The Monte Carlo method is used to obtain the statistical characteristics of the forced response for a lumped system, by taking account of the stochastic variations of parameters in the contact, specifically the normal load, the stiffness of the contact and the coefficient of friction. Results obtained make it possible to better include/understand the effects of the variable nature of these fundamental parameters on dynamics of nonlinear system.

Le comportement local au contact et son interaction avec la dynamique globale du système sont à l'origine d’innombrables problèmes de contact concernant plusieurs disciplines telles que la tribologie, la géophysique, la mécanique de vibration ou la mécanique de la rupture. Lorsque deux corps élastiques sont en mouvement relatif avec une interface de frottement, des vibrations induites se produisent dans le système. Dans un point de vue macroscopique, le scénario macroscopique de stick-slip survenant pendant le mouvement relatif est caractérisé par la chute soudaine de la force de frottement (état de glissement), séparées par des périodes d'accumulation d'énergie élastique (état d’adhérence). Autrement, une instabilité dynamique se produit quand un mode de vibration du système mécanique devient instable en raison des forces de frottement. Ces types d'instabilités, générées par des forces de frottement, ont été principalement objet de publies traitant de problèmes spécifiques dans différents domaines. Dans ce contexte, des analyses expérimentales et numériques ont été ici mis en place pour comprendre comme le comportement de l'interface locale affecte la réponse macroscopique du système et vice-versa, au cours de scénarios d'instabilité. Les scénarios macroscopiques (instabilité de « stick-slip macroscopique », instabilité modale, glissement continu stable), survenant entre deux milieux élastiques simples en mouvement relatif, ont été étudiés numériquement et expérimentalement. Un dispositif expérimental dédié (TRIBOWAVE) a été développé et a permis de reproduire et examiner les différents scénarios de frottement dans des conditions aux limites bien contrôlées. Les mêmes scénarios de frottement ont été reproduits par des simulations numériques transitoires. Une loi de frottement en fonction du temps d’adhérence (stick) a été définie à partir des essais expérimentaux. La loi de frottement obtenue a été mise en œuvre dans le modèle numérique, conduisant à une validation quantitative des scénarios de frottement par les expériences. Les simulations transitoires non linéaires, l’analyse aux valeurs propres complexes et les tests expérimentaux ont permis de dessiner des cartes de scénarios d'instabilité en fonction des paramètres clés du système. Validé par la comparaison avec les mesures des signaux expérimentaux globaux (forces, accélérations / vitesse), le modèle numérique a permis d'étudier le couplage entre le comportement du contact local (distribution de l'état du contact, propagation des ondes et des ruptures, précurseurs) et la réponse dynamique du système au cours du « stick-slip macroscopique », de l’instabilité due au couplage modale et du glissement continu stable. La compréhension du couplage entre le contact et la dynamique des systèmes apportera de nouvelles améliorations sur le contrôle des instabilités de contact et les problèmes d'usure connexes. / Local contact behavior and its interaction with the global dynamics of the system are at the origin of innumerable contact issues concerning several different disciplines like tribology, geophysics, vibration mechanics or fracture mechanics. When two elastic media are in relative motion with a frictional interface, friction induced vibrations arise into the system. By a macroscopic point of view, the “macroscopic stick-slip” scenario occurring during relative motion is characterized by sudden friction force drops (sliding state) along the time, separated by periods of elastic energy accumulation (stick state). Instead, the mode dynamic instability occurs when a vibration mode of the mechanical system becomes unstable, due to frictional contact forces. This kind of instabilities, generated by frictional forces, have been mainly object of papers dealing with specific issues in different domains. In this context, experimental and numerical analyses have been focused here on understanding how the local interface behavior affects the macroscopic frictional response of the system, and, conversely, during instability scenarios. The macroscopic frictional scenarios (macroscopic stick-slip instability, mode coupling instability, stable continuous sliding) arising between two simple elastic media in relative motion have been investigated numerically and experimentally. A newer experimental setup (TRIBOWAVE) has been developed and it allowed to reproduce and to investigate the different scenarios under well-controlled boundary conditions. The same frictional scenarios have been reproduced by transient numerical simulations. A dedicated friction law as a function of adherence (sticking) time has been recovered by means of experimental tests. The obtained friction law has been implemented in the numerical model, leading to a quantitative validation of the simulated scenarios by the experiments. Nonlinear transient simulations, complex eigenvalue analyses and experimental tests allowed for drawing instability maps as a function of system key parameters. The numerical model, validated by the comparison with the experimental global measurements (forces, accelerations/velocity), allowed for investigating the coupling between the local contact behavior (contact status distribution, wave and rupture propagation, precursors) and the system dynamic response during macroscopic stick-slip instability, mode coupling instability and stable continuous sliding. The understanding of the coupling between contact and system dynamics will bring to further improvements on the control of contact instabilities and related wear issues.

Magister Curationis - MCur / Background: Health care workers who sustain needle stick injuries are at risk of contracting blood-borne pathogens, e.g. Human Immunodeficiency Virus,Hepatitis B virus or Hepatitis C virus. Needle stick injuries are viewed as occupational hazards that can lead to health care workers developing acute or chronic diseases, which may lead to disability or death. Due to these healthrelated risks, health care workers are encouraged to adhere to universal precautions and standard operating procedures. In South Africa, the Occupational Health and Safety Act promulgated in 1993 required institutions draw up protocols in line with the regulations of the Act. However, if the health care workers do not comply with the protocols they may not be compensated for contracting a disease, e.g. Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, following needle stick injuries. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the health care workers’ perceptions of the needle stick injury protocol at a level 2 hospital in Cape Town. Research design: A qualitative approach was used to make sense of health care workers’ compliance to the protocols when sustaining a needle stick injury. An exploratory descriptive, contextual design was used to carry out an in-depth investigation of the phenomenon. Sample: The study was done at Mowbray Maternity Hospital, a level 2 obstetric hospital in Cape Town. The researcher made use of convenience, purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the research data. Data collection: During the data collection phase, ethical considerations towards participants were ensured to include, among others, anonymity, autonomy and confidentiality of information. Data analysis: It included the following steps: reading and rereading,coding, displaying, reducing and interpreting the data. Findings: Some health care workers do not view sustaining a needle stick injury as risky enough to report the injury or even go for follow-up testing. This risky behaviour can have detrimental effects on their health. There is also a lack of knowledge about the institutional needle stick injury protocol. Recommendations: It is recommended to have educational and training sessions for all health care workers and new employees to familiarise them with the needle stick injury protocol and policies of the institution; to provide adequate management support 7 following work related injuries and to make health care workers aware of the consequences of non-compliance to institutional protocol.

La dynamique granulaire amenant à l'état critique présente un intérêt dans la compréhension de la déstabilisation menant à l'avalanche. Son étude permet d'avoir des pistes de compréhension sur des mécanismes plus complexes telles les catastrophes géophysiques (séismes, glissements de terrain, éboulements). Ainsi, lorsqu'un milieu granulaire tridimensionnel sous gravité est quasi-statiquement incliné, des précurseurs sont observés à partir d'une dizaine de degrés avant l'avalanche. Ces précurseurs correspondent à des réarrangements collectifs de grains observés à la surface qui apparaissent pseudo-périodiquement avec l'angle d'inclinaison. Cette thèse fournit une caractérisation expérimentale des précurseurs détectés à la surface par méthode optique et dans le volume par méthodes acoustiques (linéaire et non linéaire). Tout d'abord, de bonnes corrélations sont trouvées entre les réarrangements à la surface et dans le volume. Dans un second temps, l'étude est poursuivie avec une liste non exhaustive de paramètres influant sur les propriétés des précurseurs. L'état de surface des grains est crucial pour la dynamique des précurseurs. Puis, une tentative de description de la déstabilisation est réalisée avec notamment la mesure de la variation des paramètres élastiques. Les précurseurs d'avalanches correspondent à des pertes successives de rigidité du système, suivies du renforcement de ce dernier. / The granular dynamics leading to the avalanche is of interest in understanding the destabilization conducting to one. Its study implies a good train of throught in the understanding of more complex mechanisms such as geophysical disasters (earthquakes, landslides, rockslides). Thus, when a three-dimensional granular medium under gravity is quasi-statically tilted, precursors are observed from the tilt of ten degrees before the avalanche. These precursors correspond to collective rearrangements of grains observed on the free surface which appear pseudo-periodically with the angle of inclination. In order to understand this phenomenon, the thesis presents an experimental characterisation of the precursors detected on the surface by optical method and in the bulk by acoustic methods (linear and nonlinear). Firstly, good correlations were found between the surface and bulk rearrangements which led to extending the study with a non-exhaustive list of parameters affecting the precursors properties. The surface features of the grains have appeared to be particularly crucial in the precursors dynamics. Finally, an attempt at a description of the destabilization is approached with the measurement of the variation of the elastic parameters revealing that precursors of avalanches correspond to successive loss of rigidity of the system, followed by hardening of the latter.

[pt] Durante a perfuração de poços de petróleo, a coluna de perfuração apresenta um comportamento dinâmico complexo, esta tese foca no estudo experimental e na modelagem matemática deste comportamento. Neste trabalho, destaca-se as vibrações autoexcitadas axiais, laterais e torcionais, que podem levar a efeitos como o bit bouncing, o whirling e stick-slip torcional. A primeira contribuição desta tese é a análise experimental de um bancada de testes, que fornece informações sobre a dinâmica de sistemas torcionais. A influência dos parâmetros de controle não lineares na resposta do sistema é investigada, identificando as condições sob as quais o fenômeno stick-slip ocorre. Em segundo lugar, a tese propõe estratégias de identificação de sistemas para sistemas não lineares, utilizando a mesma bancada de testes supracitada. Uma abordagem híbrida para a identificação é proposta, onde técnicas de modelagem de caixa cinza e caixa preta são combinadas para calibrar os parâmetros do sistema, particularmente aqueles associados ao atrito. Essa abordagem aumenta a precisão das estimativas em comparação com os métodos tradicionais de caixa cinza, mantendo a interpretabilidade. Além disso, a pesquisa emprega physics-informed deep learning para estimar os parâmetros mecânicos e de atrito do modelo de dois graus de liberdade. A calibração usando dados experimentais obtidos de uma bancada de testes fornece informações sobre o comportamento de sistemas de perfuração. Finalmente, a tese apresenta investigações experimentais sobre o acoplamento entre oscilações torcionais e axiais utilizando uma bancada experimental de perfuração em escala de laboratório modificada e adaptada equipada com brocas e amostras de rocha reais. Em resumo, esta tese aumenta a compreensão da dinâmica de colunas de perfuração e apresenta aplicações úteis para técnicas de identificação de sistemas na análise de oscilações torcionais e axiais. / [en] During drilling for oil extraction purposes, the drill string experiences complex dynamic behavior, and this work delves into the experimental study and the mathematical modeling of such behavior. Self-excited vibrations, such as axial, lateral, and torsional vibrations, which can lead to detrimental effects such as bit bouncing, whirling, and torsional stick-slip are highlighted in this thesis. Distinct aspects of drilling dynamics are considered in this investigation to enhance the understanding of various phenomena. Initially, an experimental analysis of a lab-scale rig is conducted, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of such systems. And the influence of control parameters on the system’s response is examined, particularly in identifying the conditions under which the stick-slip phenomenon is likely to occur. Secondly, the thesis proposes system identification strategies for nonlinear systems, specifically focusing on the same laboratory test rig. An innovative ensemble approach is proposed, which combines gray and black-box modeling techniques to effectively calibrate the parameters of a dynamical system, particularly those associated with friction. This approach improves prediction accuracy compared to traditional gray-box methods while maintaining interpretability in the dynamic responses. Furthermore, the research employs physics-informed deep learning to estimate the low-dimensional model mechanical and friction parameters. Calibration using experimental data obtained from a specialized setup provides insights into the drill-string system s behavior. Finally, the thesis involves experimental investigations on the coupling between torsional and axial oscillations using a modified and adapted lab-scale drilling rig equipped with real drill bits and rock samples. In summary, this thesis advances our understanding of drill-string dynamics and presents helpful applications for system identification techniques.

[pt] Problemas dinâmicos governados por problemas de valor inicial (PVI) não lineares, em geral, despertam grande interesse da comunidade científica. O conhecimento da solução desses PVI facilita o entendimento das características dinâmicas do problema. Porém, infelizmente, muitos dos PVI de interesse não têm solução conhecida. Nesse caso, uma alternativa é o cálculo de aproximações para a solução. Métodos numéricos e analíticos são eficientes nessa tarefa e podem fornecer aproximações com a precisão desejada. Os métodos numéricos foram muito desenvolvidos nos últimos anos e amplamente aplicados em problemas de diversas áreas da engenharia. Pacotes computacionais de fácil utilização foram criados e hoje fazem parte dos mais tradicionais programas de simulação numérica. Entretanto, as aproximações numéricas têm uma desvantagem em relação às aproximações analíticas. Elas não permitem o entendimento de como a solução depende dos parâmetros do problema. Visto isso, esta dissertação foca na análise e implementação de técnicas analíticas denominadas métodos de perturbação. Foram estudados os métodos de Lindstedt-Poincaré e de múltiplas escalas de tempo. As metodologias foram aplicadas em um PVI envolvendo a equação de Duffing não amortecida. Programas em álgebra simbólica foram desenvolvidos com objetivo de calcular aproximações analíticas hierárquicas para a solução desse problema. Foi feita uma análise paramétrica, ou seja, estudo de como as condições iniciais e os valores de parâmetros influem nas aproximações. Além disso, as aproximações analíticas obtidas foram comparadas com aproximações numéricas calculadas através do método do Runge- Kutta. O método de múltiplas escalas de tempo também foi aplicado em um PVI que representa a dinâmica de um sistema massa-mola-amortecedor com atrito seco. Devido ao atrito, a resposta do sistema pode ser caracterizada em duas fases alternadas, a fase de stick e a fase de slip, compondo um fenômeno chamado stick-slip. Verificou-se que as aproximações obtidas para resposta do sistema pelo método de múltiplas escalas de tempo têm boa acurácia na representação da dinâmica do stick-slip. / [en] Dynamical problems governed by non-linear initial value problems (IVP), in general, are of great interest of the scientific community. The knowledge of the solution of these IVPs facilitates the understanding of the dynamic characteristics of the problem. However, unfortunately, many of the IVPs of interest does not present a known solution. In this case, an alternative is to calculate approximations for the solution. Numerical and analytical methods are efficient in this assignment and can provide approximations with the desired precision. Numerical methods have been developed over the last years and have been widely applied to dynamical problems in various engineering areas. Computational packages, easy to use, were created and today are part of the most traditional numerical simulation programs. However, numerical approximations have a disadvantage in relation to analytical approaches. They do not allow the understanding of how the solution depends on the problem parameters. Given this, this dissertation focuses on the analysis and implementation of analytical techniques called perturbation methods. The Lindstedt-Poincaré method and multiple time scales method were studied. The methodologies were applied in an IVP involving the non-damped Duffing equation. Symbolic algebra programs were developed with the purpose of calculating hierarchical analytical approximations to the solution of this problem. A parametric analysis was performed, in other words, a study of how the approximations are influenced by initial conditions and parameter values. In addition, the analytical approximations obtained were compared with numerical approximations calculated using the Runge-Kutta method. The multiple scales method was also applied in a IVP that represents the dynamics of a mass-spring-damper oscillator with dry friction. Due to friction, the system response can be characterized in two alternating phases, the stick phase and the slip phase, composing a phenomenon called stick-slip. It was verified that the approximations obtained for system response by the multiple scales method represent the stick-slip dynamics with good accuracy.

[pt] Este trabalho apresenta um estudo do comportamento dinâmico de uma bancada de testes representativa do sistema real de perfuração, composta por um motor CC acoplado a um sistema físico torcional, sujeita a fontes de atrito que induzem um regime de stick-slip no sistema em duas regiões distintas. O estudo incluiu a identificação de parâmetros da bancada de testes por meio de uma série de ensaios experimentais; e a caracterização do atrito, por meio do levantamento experimental da curva do coeficiente de atrito, em função da velocidade angular dos rotores principais. O intuito inicial foi a obtenção de um modelo numérico que fosse o mais simples possível e que representasse bem a bancada de testes. Uma vez obtido o modelo numérico, prosseguiu-se com uma série de simulações que permitissem uma caracterização indireta do regime de atrito ao qual estivessem submetidos os rotores principais, partindo-se apenas de medições de parâmetros no motor. Esse estudo é de grande relevância para a compreensão qualitativa da dinâmica do sistema real de perfuração, uma vez que ainda hoje não há técnicas totalmente confiáveis para caracterização do comportamento da coluna no fundo do poço a partir de dados da superfície somente. / [en] This paper presents a study of the dynamic behavior of a representative test bench of a real rotary drilling system, comprising a DC motor coupled to a very exible torsional system subjected to sources of friction which can induce self-excitation into two distinct regions of the system. The study includes the identification of parameter settings from the test bench by means of a series of experimental tests and characterization of friction, by obtaining the experimental curve of the friction coefficient as a function of the angular speed of the main rotor. The initial aim was to obtain a numerical model as simple as possible, capable of representing the test bench. Once obtained the numerical model, a series of numerical simulations were done, which allow an indirect characterization of the friction condition to which main rotors were subjected, starting only with the parameters measured at the drive. This study is of great importance for a qualitative understanding of the dynamics of the real drilling system, since today there is no fully reliable techniques to characterize the behavior of the column in the deep from surface data only.

The principal objective of this investigation is to develop a constitutive model to simulate the hysteresis behaviour of unbonded flexible risers. A new constitutive model for flexible risers is proposed and a procedure for the identification of the related input parameters is developed using a multi-scale approach. The constitutive model is formulated in the framework of an Euler-Bernoulli beam model, with the addition of suitable pressure terms to the generalised stresses to account for the internal and external pressures, and therefore can be efficiently used for large-scale analyses. The developed non-linear relationship between generalised stresses and strains in the beam is based on the analogy between frictional slipping between different layers of a flexible riser and frictional slipping between micro-planes of a continuum medium in nonassociative elasto-plasticity. Hence, a linear elastic relationship is used for the initial response in which no-slip occurs; an onset-slip function is introduced to define the ‘noslip’ domain, i.e. the set of generalised stresses for which no slip occurs; a nonassociative rule with linear kinematic hardening is used to model the full-slip phase. The results of several numerical simulations for a riser of small-length, obtained with a very detailed (small-scale) non-linear finite-element model, are used to identify the parameters of the constitutive law, bridging in this way the small scale of the detailed finite-element simulations with the large scale of the beam model. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by the satisfactory agreement between the results of various detailed finite-element simulations for a short riser, subject to internal and external uniform pressures and cyclic bending and tensile loadings, with those given by the proposed constitutive law. The merit of the present constitutive law lies in the capturing of many important aspects of risers structural response, including the energy dissipation due to frictional slip between layers and the hysteretic response. This privilege allows one to accurately study the cyclic behavior of unbonded flexible risers subject to axial tension, bending moment, internal and external pressures.

Contact fatigue damages resulting either from static or dynamic contact are of interest for understanding the failure modes and mechanisms leading to improvement of the components’ performances in tribological applications. The objective of this research was to ascertain how and to what extent the counterface materials, loading conditions, contact configuration, lubrication, and the environment affect the failure behaviours of material under static and dynamic contact fatigue loading. An experimental ball-on-flat test configuration was employed for both static and dynamic contact fatigue testing. In house designed test rig was used to study static cyclic loading contact fatigue behaviours of brittle polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in contact with balls made of different materials, i.e. Si3N4, steel, aluminium, bronze and PMMA in dry and oil-lubricated conditions. A modified four ball test machine was used to study dynamic rolling contact fatigue behaviours of thermally sprayed molybdenum and titanium coatings in contact with steel balls in dry and seawater conditions. The static contact fatigue and the dynamic contact fatigue test results revealed that counterface material, loading magnitude, lubricant and the environment play a vital role in controlling failure modes and the extent of damage. In static contact fatigue, adhesive strength of the interface was the key factor controlling damage of the PMMA plate in both dry and oil-lubricated conditions. In dry conditions, three failure modes, i.e. adhesive wear, ring cracks, and radial cracks controlled the damage of PMMA to a different degree for each combination of materials. Whereas, the damage of each combination in oil-lubricated conditions was affected by the extent of three failure modes, i.e. adhesive wear, radial cracks and abrasive wear. In dynamic contact fatigue tests, adhesive wear and inter-lamellar cracking were the major failure modes controlling damage of molybdenum coating and titanium coating in dry contact conditions while abrasive wear, corrosion and lubrication controlled damage processes in seawater conditions.

The creative process offers me an escape and tranquility worthy of sharing. When creating art, I reflect on the people, places, and things that move me. I convey my frame of mind through the brush to the canvas. The result is intense strokes of color that deliver clarity of emotion for others to experience. The intention of my work is to share a world that satisfies the eyes, mind, and soul. There is something about each piece that I hope will keep the viewer returning to absorb, contemplate, and enjoy.