This thesis describes development of a miniature reconfigurable antenna and optimization of a dual tuned birdcage coil. The design goals for the miniature reconfigurable antennas are resonance center frequency of 2.44 GHz, bandwidth of 2.4 GHz - 2.48 GHz, size of 0.8 cm x 1.2 cm, radiation efficiency of 70%, pattern correlation coefficient of 0.3 and input impedance of 50 Ω. The main goals to be achieved from the birdcage coil are the better homogeneity and higher signal to noise ratio than the existing coil. The design and optimization of both antenna and birdcage coil were done using simulation software and MATLAB. Wireless communications have progressed rapidly in last decade and communication devices are becoming smaller and smaller. With miniaturization of devices, dimensions of antennas need to be reduced accordingly. In recent years engineers have not only focused on miniaturization but also on the reconfigurability of the antenna. The functionality and performance of an antenna can be greatly improved by a reconfigurable antenna. However, designing such an antenna can be a tricky task. This thesis addresses issues that are faced during design of such miniature reconfigurable antenna. It also describes design and optimization of such an antenna. The modeled and measured results for the miniature reconfigurable antennas were very close except the built antenna requires frequency tuning and better switching technique. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging modality that provides high quality images. Radio frequency (RF) coils play an important role in MRI. RF coils act like an antenna that transmits RF energy and receives energy as well. The most commonly-used RF coil for volume imaging is the birdcage coil. This thesis describes an optimization of a birdcage coil that is dual tuned for sodium and hydrogen frequencies. The modeled coil has better performance compared to the existing coil.

Object recognition is a well studied but extremely challenging field. Human detection is an especially important part of object recognition as it has played a role in machine and human interaction, biometrics, unmanned vehicles, as well as tracking and surveillance. We first present a hardware implementation of the successful Histograms of Oriented Gradients (HOG) method for human detection. The implementation significantly speeds up the method achieving 38 frames a second on VGA video while testing 11,160 sliding windows per frame. The accuracy remains comparable to the CPU implementation. Analysis of the HOG method and other popular object recognition methods led to a novel approach for object detection using a feature construction method called Evolution-COnstructed (ECO) features. Most other approaches rely on human experts to construct features for object recognition. ECO features are automatically constructed by uniquely employing a standard genetic algorithm to discover series of transforms that are highly discriminative. Using ECO features provides several advantages over other object detection algorithms including: no need for a human expert to build feature sets or tune their parameters, ability to generate specialized feature sets for different objects, and no limitations to certain types of image sources. We show in our experiments that ECO features perform better or comparable with state-of-the-art object recognition algorithms making it the first feature construction method to compete with features created by human experts at general object recognition. An analysis is given of ECO features which includes a visualization of ECO features and improvements made to the algorithm.

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No description available.

Increasing energy demand and carbon emissions have driven the development of alternative energy solutions. One promising technology is wind energy. Wind energy technology developments has advanced substantially since the 1980s. Offshore wind turbines have become a major research focus, due to the promising offshore wind resource. However, challenges in offshore wind energy have arisen due to the additional wave loading and strong wind loads. Structural control systems have been implemented and researched in order to decrease dynamic response of these systems. The previous studies were successful at decreasing fatigue loads in the tower and support structure of offshore wind turbines. Giving these results, it is still unknown if the reduced loading enabled by structural control systems can allow for reduced material costs in the major structural components. This research examines on an offshore wind turbine's tower-monopile structure by adding several configurations of passive tuned mass dampers, while simultaneously reducing the thickness of the structure in order to reduce costs. A range of candidate tower-monopile systems are created, and simulated in FAST-SC with and without passive tuned mass dampers. Fatigue and ultimate loads are calculated and analyzed. A variety of design criteria are considered including fatigue and ultimate loads, as well as local and global buckling. The results demonstrate that the tower-monopile thickness may be reduced up to 6.2% and still satisfy all design criteria.

Auditory neurons selectively respond to frequency and amplitude of sound. In the auditory midbrain, duration-tuned neurons (DTNs) are subsets of neurons that selectively respond to the duration of sound. DTNs may help further understand the neural mechanism underlying temporal processing in the central nervous system. Temporal processing has been shown to play important roles in speech, discriminating species-specific signals, and echolocation. The goal of this thesis is to explore the role of DTNs through single-unit electrophysiological recordings in the auditory midbrain of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Monotic and dichotic paired-tone stimulation was used to evoke excitatory and inhibitory responses from DTNs. Two stimuli consisted of best duration (BD) excitatory and non-excitatory (NE) tones. In the monotic condition, both tones were presented to the contralateral ear, and when they were close in time, the NE tone always suppressed spikes evoked by the BD tone. In the dichotic condition, the BD tone was presented to the contralateral ear. The NE tone was presented to the ipsilateral ear and suppressed BD tone evoked spiking in ~50% of cells. Properties of the ipsilaterally-evoked inhibition were investigated by varying the frequency of the NE tone from the best excitatory frequency (BEF), throughout a cell’s excitatory bandwidth (eBW). We measured the inhibitory frequency response area, best inhibitory frequency (BIF), and inhibitory bandwidth (iBW) of each cell. We found inhibition became weaker as the frequency of the NE tone moved further from the middle of the eBW. We found that a DTN’s BEF and BIF closely matched, but the eBW was broader than the iBW and overlapped the iBW measured from the same cell. This suggests temporal selectivity of midbrain DTNs are created by monaural inputs, with binaural inputs playing a lesser role in shaping duration selectivity. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The transition from internal combustion engine to battery electric cars is accompanied by a shift on the NVH issues damaging the passenger comfort. The rolling noise generated by the wheels and tyres is in particular characterized by an increasing attention from OEMs and car manufacturers. Among the causes of the rolling noise are the vibrations generated at the wheel, which are transmitted to the vehicle interior through its structure. To limit these vibrations at their source, a new innovative concept has been proposed at Stellantis. This idea is based on the use of a specific type of vibration absorber known by the acronym MTMD (Multiple Tuned Mass Damper).First, the existing literature about vibrations absorbers and optimisation techniques has been reviewed. Then, initial simulations on a global model comprising the wheel and beam-like resonators have shown how this system can effectively reduce a resonant peak.Optimisation processes have then revealed an important attenuation of a wheel resonance, even when the peak frequency is shifted. This demonstrated how important the distribution of resonators resonance frequencies are and their damping ratios when designing a robust and efficient MTMD.Finally, local resonators have been designed and modelled by considering the constraints for an integration on a wheel. A satisfactory design for resonators able to vibrate at the wanted frequency has been found. The beam-like resonators used in the first global model have then been replaced by these real resonators, confirming the possible gain with this device in a vehicle. / Övergången från förbränningsmotorer till batterielektriska bilar åtföljs av en övergång till NVH-frågor som kan påverka passagerarnas komfort. Det rullningsljud som genereras av hjul och däck får i synnerhet ökad uppmärksamhet från OEM:er och biltillverkare.Bland orsakerna till rullningsljudet finns de vibrationer som genereras vid hjulet och som överförs till fordonets inre genom dess struktur. För att begränsa dessa vibrationer vid källan har ett nytt innovativt koncept föreslagits av Stellantis. Idén bygger på användningen av en särskild typ av vibrationsdämpare som kallas MTMD (Multiple Tuned Mass Damper).Först har den befintliga litteraturen om vibrationsdämpare och optimeringstekniker gåtts igenom. Därefter har inledande simuleringar på en global modell som omfattar hjulet och balkliknande resonatorer visat hur detta system effektivt kan minska en resonanstopp.Optimeringsprocesserna har sedan bekräftat att hjulresonansen är kraftigt dämpad, även när toppfrekvensen är förskjuten. Detta visade hur viktig fördelningen av resonansfrekvenser och dämpningsförhållanden för resonatorer är när man utformar en robust och effektiv MTMD.Slutligen har lokala resonatorer utformats och modellerats genom att beakta begränsningarna för en integrering i ett hjul. En tillfredsställande utformning av resonatorer som kan vibrera vid den önskade frekvensen har hittats. De balkliknande resonatorer som användes i den första globala modellen har sedan ersatts av dessa riktiga resonatorer, vilket bekräftar den potentiella förbättringen med denna anordning i ett fordon.

This thesis aims to examine the performance of Stockbridge dampers used to suppress aeolian vibrations on overhead transmission lines arising from the wind. In this respect, a computer program, based on the Energy Balance Method, is developed using MATLAB. The developed computer program has also a graphical user interface (GUI), which allows the program to interactively simulate Stockbridge damper performance for vibration control of overhead transmission lines. Field tests results obtained from literature are used in various case studies in order to validate and evaluate the developed software. Moreover, sample Stockbridge damper characterization tests, which then could be introduced to the software, are performed. A custom test fixture is designed due to its unavailability of commercial alternatives in the market. In the design of the test fixture, modal and transmissibility analyses are done by using ANSYS Workbench. To further validate the test setup, transmissibility test is done and consistent results with the transmissibility analyses are observed in the range of expected aeolian vibration frequencies. Finally, the stepped-sine and swept-sine tests are performed with and without damper for the characterization test, where the latter one is performed to eliminate the negative effects of the test setup. Both tests yield almost same damper power dissipation curves.

Com a crescente necessidade de projetos cada vez mais econômicos, bem como a valorização dos terrenos nos grandes centros urbanos, que leva a conseqüente necessidade de aumentar o aproveitamento destes, e com o desenvolvimento das técnicas construtivas e dos processos de análise estrutural, as edificações tornaram-se mais altas, leves, flexíveis, menos amortecidas, e, portanto, mais susceptíveis a problemas de vibrações, inclusive as induzidas pela ação do vento. Nessa situação, o amortecimento natural da edificação pode tornar-se insuficiente para reduzir os movimentos causados pela ação do vento, o que pode gerar desconforto aos usuários, quebra de vidros e até mesmo danos à estrutura. Para se atingir a redução destes deslocamentos, em alguns casos, requer-se um suplemento adicional de amortecimento, para evitar tais movimentações excessivas. Tal suplemento de amortecimento é alcançado pela instalação de um sistema de dissipação de energia na edificação. Os atenuadores dinâmicos sintonizados constituem-se em um destes sistemas de dissipação de energia, sendo utilizados para aumentar o amortecimento geral do sistema estrutural. Foram realizados testes com um modelo do edifício alto padrão “CAARC Standard Tall Building”, primeiramente sem nenhum atenuador e após com dois tipos de atenuadores com características diferentes instalados no modelo. No trabalho são apresentados e discutidos os resultados dos ensaios, realizados no Túnel de Vento Professor Joaquim Blessmann, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Os atenuadores dinâmicos sintonizados (amortecedores de massa) mostraram-se eficazes na redução das vibrações transversais por desprendimento de vórtices, validando o túnel de vento como ferramenta de projeto para a prevenção e controle de fenômenos associados às vibrações induzidas pelo vento. / With the increasing need of more economic buildings, as well as the great valorization of the terrains in the center of big cities, which leads to a consequent need to improve the utilization of this terrains, and with the development of the construction techniques and of the structural analysis process, the buildings have become higher, lighter, more flexible and less damped, and, therefore, more susceptible to problems of vibrations, such as those induced by wind action. On this new situation, the natural damping of the building could become insufficient to reduce the motion caused by wind action, which can lead to discomfort to the users, break of glasses and even damage to the structure. In order to obtain a reduction on this displacements, in some cases, an additional supply of damping is needed, to avoid this excessive movements. This supply of damping is obtained by the installation of an energy dissipation system on the building. The tuned mass dampers constitute on one of this systems of energy dissipation, being used to improve the overall damping of the structural system. Tests with a model of the “CAARC Standard Tall Building” were conduced, first with no damper attached to it, and then with two different types of tuned mass dampers installed on the model in each time. The results obtained with these tests, conduced on the Túnel de Vento Professor Joaquim Blessmann, at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul are presented and discussed. In the tests, the tuned mass dampers have shown good efficiency in the reduction of the transversal vibration caused by vortex shedding, which validates the wind tunnel as a design tool for the control and prevention of the phenomena of wind-induced vibrations.

Com a crescente necessidade de projetos cada vez mais econômicos, bem como a valorização dos terrenos nos grandes centros urbanos, que leva a conseqüente necessidade de aumentar o aproveitamento destes, e com o desenvolvimento das técnicas construtivas e dos processos de análise estrutural, as edificações tornaram-se mais altas, leves, flexíveis, menos amortecidas, e, portanto, mais susceptíveis a problemas de vibrações, inclusive as induzidas pela ação do vento. Nessa situação, o amortecimento natural da edificação pode tornar-se insuficiente para reduzir os movimentos causados pela ação do vento, o que pode gerar desconforto aos usuários, quebra de vidros e até mesmo danos à estrutura. Para se atingir a redução destes deslocamentos, em alguns casos, requer-se um suplemento adicional de amortecimento, para evitar tais movimentações excessivas. Tal suplemento de amortecimento é alcançado pela instalação de um sistema de dissipação de energia na edificação. Os atenuadores dinâmicos sintonizados constituem-se em um destes sistemas de dissipação de energia, sendo utilizados para aumentar o amortecimento geral do sistema estrutural. Foram realizados testes com um modelo do edifício alto padrão “CAARC Standard Tall Building”, primeiramente sem nenhum atenuador e após com dois tipos de atenuadores com características diferentes instalados no modelo. No trabalho são apresentados e discutidos os resultados dos ensaios, realizados no Túnel de Vento Professor Joaquim Blessmann, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Os atenuadores dinâmicos sintonizados (amortecedores de massa) mostraram-se eficazes na redução das vibrações transversais por desprendimento de vórtices, validando o túnel de vento como ferramenta de projeto para a prevenção e controle de fenômenos associados às vibrações induzidas pelo vento. / With the increasing need of more economic buildings, as well as the great valorization of the terrains in the center of big cities, which leads to a consequent need to improve the utilization of this terrains, and with the development of the construction techniques and of the structural analysis process, the buildings have become higher, lighter, more flexible and less damped, and, therefore, more susceptible to problems of vibrations, such as those induced by wind action. On this new situation, the natural damping of the building could become insufficient to reduce the motion caused by wind action, which can lead to discomfort to the users, break of glasses and even damage to the structure. In order to obtain a reduction on this displacements, in some cases, an additional supply of damping is needed, to avoid this excessive movements. This supply of damping is obtained by the installation of an energy dissipation system on the building. The tuned mass dampers constitute on one of this systems of energy dissipation, being used to improve the overall damping of the structural system. Tests with a model of the “CAARC Standard Tall Building” were conduced, first with no damper attached to it, and then with two different types of tuned mass dampers installed on the model in each time. The results obtained with these tests, conduced on the Túnel de Vento Professor Joaquim Blessmann, at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul are presented and discussed. In the tests, the tuned mass dampers have shown good efficiency in the reduction of the transversal vibration caused by vortex shedding, which validates the wind tunnel as a design tool for the control and prevention of the phenomena of wind-induced vibrations.