Editorial dynamics and control of aerospace and vertical transportation systems

This Special Issue presents a selection of papers initially presented at the 11th International Conference on Vibration Problems (ICOVP-2013), held from 9 to 12 September 2013 in Lisbon, Portugal. The main topics of this Special Issue are linear and, mainly, nonlinear dynamics, chaos and control of systems and structures and their applications in different field of science and engineering. According to the goal of the Special Issue, the selected contributions are divided into three major parts: “Vibration Problems in Vertical Transportation Systems”, “Nonlinear Dynamics, Chaos and Control of Elastic Structures” and “New Strategies and Challenges for Aerospace and Ocean Structures Dynamics and Control”.

Influence of nonlinear stiffness on the dynamics of a slender elastic beam under torsional oscillations

This study focuses on analysing the effects of nonlinear torsional stiffness on the dynam-ics of a slender elastic beam under torsional oscillations, which can be subject to helical buckling.The helical buckling of an elastic beam confined in a cylinder is relevant to many applications. Someexamples include oil drilling, medical cateters and even the conformation and functioning of DNAmolecules. A recent study showed that the formation of the helical configuration is a result of onlythe torsional load, confirming that there is a different path to helical buckling which is not related tothe sinusoidal buckling, stressing the importance of the geometrical behaviour of the beam. A lowdimensional model of an elastic beam under torsional oscillations is used to analyse its dynamical be-haviour with different stiffness characteristics, which are present before and after the helical buckling.Hardening and softening characteristics are present, as the effects of torsion and bending are coupled.With the use of numerical algorithms applied to nonlinear dynamics, such as bifurcation diagramsand basins of attraction, it is shown that the nonlinear stiffness can shift the bifurcations and inducechanges in the stability of the desirable and undesirable solutions. Therefore, the proper modellingof these stiffness nonlinearities seems to be important for a better understanding of the dynamicalbehaviour of such beams.

Análise dinâmica não-linear de um sistema não-ideal, utilizando amortecedor magneto-reológico

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Facial symmetry evaluation after experimentally displaced condylar process fracture in methotrexate treated rats

PURPOSE: To investigate the facial symmetry of high and low dose methotrexate (MTX) treated rats submitted to experimentally displaced mandibular condyle fracture through the recording of cephalometric measurements. METHODS: One hundred male Wistar rats underwent surgery using an experimental model of right condylar fracture. Animals were divided into four groups: A - saline solution (1mL/week); B - dexamethasone (DEX) (0,15mg/Kg); C - MTX low dose (3 mg/Kg/week); D - MTX high dose (30 mg/Kg). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 7, 15, 30 and 90 days postoperatively (n=5). Body weight was recorded. Specimens were submitted to axial radiographic incidence, and cephalometric mensurations were made using a computer system. Linear measurements of skull and mandible, as well as angular measurements of mandibular deviation were taken. Data were subjected to statistical analyses among the groups, periods of sacrifice and between the sides in each group (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: Animals regained body weight over time, except in group D. There was reduction in the mandibular length and also changes in the maxilla as well as progressive deviation in the mandible in relation to the skull basis in group D. CONCLUSION: Treatment with high dose methotrexate had deleterious effect on facial symmetry of rats submitted to experimentally displaced condylar process fracture.

Relationship between elastic and mechanical properties of dental ceramics and their index of brittleness

The purpose of the study was to verify the effects of a number of materials' parameters (crystalline content; Young's modulus, E; biaxial flexure strength, sigma(i); Vickers hardness, VH; fracture toughness, K-Ic; fracture surface energy, gamma(f); and index of brittleness, B) on the brittleness of dental ceramics. Five commercial dental ceramics with different contents of glass phase and crystalline particles were studied: a vitreous porcelain (VM7/V), a porcelain with 16 vol% leucite particles (d.Sign/D), a glass-ceramic with 29 vol% leucite particles (Empress/E1), a glass-ceramic with 58 vol% lithium-disilicate needle-like particles (Empress 2/E2), and a glass-infiltrated alumina composite with 65 vol% crystals (In-Ceram Alumina/IC). Discs were constructed according to manufacturers' instructions, ground and polished to final dimensions (12 mm x 1.1 mm). Elastic constants were determined by ultrasonic pulse-echo method. sigma(i) was determined by piston-on-3-balls method in inert condition. VH was determined using 19.6 N load and K-Ic was determined by indentation strength method. gamma(f) was calculated from the Griffith-Irwin relation and B by the ratio of HV to K-Ic. IC and E2 showed higher values of sigma(i), E, K-Ic and gamma(f), and lower values of B compared to leucite-based glass-ceramic and porcelains. Positive correlations were observed for sigma(i) versus K-Ic, and K-Ic versus E-1/2, however, E did not show relationship with HV and B. The increase of crystalline phase content is beneficial to decrease the brittleness of dental ceramics by means of both an increase in fracture surface energy and a lowering in index of brittleness. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group Sri. All rights reserved.

Effect of hydrogen bond formation on the elastic molecular scattering: a case study with methanol

Rayleigh optical activities of small hydrogen-bonded methanol clusters containing two to five molecules are reported. For the methanol trimer, tetramer, and pentamer both cyclic and linear structures are considered. After the geometry optimizations, the dipole moments and the dipole polarizabilities (mean, interaction, and anisotropic components) are calculated using HF, MP2 and DFT (B3LYP, B3P86 and BH&HLYP) with aug-cc-pVDZ extended basis set. The polarizabilities are used to analyse the depolarization ratios and the Rayleigh scattering activities. The variations in the activity and in the depolarization for Rayleigh scattered radiation with the increase in the cluster size for both cyclic and linear structures are analysed.

Linear parameter varying control design for rotating systems supported by journal bearings

Linear parameter varying (LPV) control is a model-based control technique that takes into account time-varying parameters of the plant. In the case of rotating systems supported by lubricated bearings, the dynamic characteristics of the bearings change in time as a function of the rotating speed. Hence, LPV control can tackle the problem of run-up and run-down operational conditions when dynamic characteristics of the rotating system change significantly in time due to the bearings and high vibration levels occur. In this work, the LPV control design for a flexible shaft supported by plain journal bearings is presented. The model used in the LPV control design is updated from unbalance response experimental results and dynamic coefficients for the entire range of rotating speeds are obtained by numerical optimization. Experimental implementation of the designed LPV control resulted in strong reduction of vibration amplitudes when crossing the critical speed, without affecting system behavior in sub- or supercritical speeds. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of elastic functionally graded materials under large displacements via high-order tetrahedral elements

The purpose of this study is to present a position based tetrahedral finite element method of any order to accurately predict the mechanical behavior of solids constituted by functionally graded elastic materials and subjected to large displacements. The application of high-order elements makes it possible to overcome the volumetric and shear locking that appears in usual homogeneous isotropic situations or even in non-homogeneous cases developing small or large displacements. The use of parallel processing to improve the computational efficiency, allows employing high-order elements instead of low-order ones with reduced integration techniques or strain enhancements. The Green-Lagrange strain is adopted and the constitutive relation is the functionally graded Saint Venant-Kirchhoff law. The equilibrium is achieved by the minimum total potential energy principle. Examples of large displacement problems are presented and results confirm the locking free behavior of high-order elements for non-homogeneous materials. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the flexural strength and elastic modulus of resins used for temporary restorations reinforced with particulate glass fibre

Objective: The flexural strength and the elastic modulus of acrylic resins, Dencor, Duralay and Trim Plus II, were evaluated with and without the addition of silanised glass fibre. Materials and methods: To evaluate the flexural strength and elastic modulus, 60 test specimens were fabricated with the addition of 10% ground silanised glass fibres for the experimental group, and 60 without the incorporation of fibres, for the control group, with 20 test specimens being made of each commercial brand of resin (Dencor, Duralay and Trim Plus II) for the control group and experimental group. After the test specimens had been completed, the flexural strength and elastic modulus tests were performed in a universal testing device, using the three-point bending test. For the specimens without fibres the One-Way Analysis of Variance and the complementary Tukey test were used, and for those with fibres it was not normal, so that the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was applied. Results: For the flexural strength test, there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between each commercial brand of resin without fibres [Duralay 84.32(+/- 8.54), Trim plus 85.39(+/- 6.74), Dencor 96.70(+/- 6.52)] and with fibres (Duralay 87.18, Trim plus 88.33, Dencor 98.10). However, for the elastic modulus, there was statistical difference (p > 0.01) between each commercial brand of resin without fibres [Duralay 2380.64 (+/- 168.60), Trim plus 2740.37(+/- 311.74), Dencor 2595.42(+/- 261.22)] and with fibres (Duralay 3750.42, Trim plus 3188.80, Dencor 3400.75). Conclusion: The result showed that the incorporation of fibre did not interfere in the flexural strength values, but it increased the values for the elastic modulus.

Linear viscoelasticity of immiscible blends: The application of creep

A new method to characterize the long-time linear relaxation mechanisms of immiscible blends based on creep experiment was developed. Small-amplitude oscillatory shear and incomplete creep/recovery experiments were combined to characterize immiscible blends of polypropylene with dispersed droplets of polystyrene. An experimental protocol was defined such that the full creep compliance function could be obtained while minimizing morphological changes. Dynamic experiments were performed to characterize the shorter time relaxation processes, and creep and recovery measurements were used to detect the longer time portions of the relaxation spectra. Extended retardation and relaxation spectra were constructed by combining these data. It was found that using this technique, very long-time relaxation peaks which were inaccessible with dynamic experiments alone could be detected. (C) 2012 The Society of Rheology. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1122/1.4720081]

BEM modeling of saturated porous media susceptible to damage

This paper deals with the numerical analysis of saturated porous media, taking into account the damage phenomena on the solid skeleton. The porous media is taken into poro-elastic framework, in full-saturated condition, based on Biot's Theory. A scalar damage model is assumed for this analysis. An implicit boundary element method (BEM) formulation, based on time-independent fundamental solutions, is developed and implemented to couple the fluid flow and two-dimensional elastostatic problems. The integration over boundary elements is evaluated using a numerical Gauss procedure. A semi-analytical scheme for the case of triangular domain cells is followed to carry out the relevant domain integrals. The non-linear problem is solved by a Newton-Raphson procedure. Numerical examples are presented, in order to validate the implemented formulation and to illustrate its efficacy. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of Repeated Stress on Distal Airway Inflammation, Remodeling and Mechanics in an Animal Model of Chronic Airway Inflammation

Background/Aims: Epidemiological studies suggest that stress has an impact on asthmatic exacerbations. We evaluated if repeated stress, induced by forced swimming, modulates lung mechanics, distal airway inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling in guinea pigs with chronic allergic inflammation. Methods: Guinea pigs were submitted to 7 ovalbumin or saline aerosols (1-5 mg/ml during 4 weeks; OVA and SAL groups). Twenty-four hours after the 4th inhalation, guinea pigs were submitted to the stress protocol 5 times a week during 2 weeks (SAL-S and OVA-S groups). Seventy-two hours after the 7th inhalation, guinea pigs were anesthetized and mechanically ventilated. Resistance and elastance of the respiratory system were obtained at baseline and after ovalbumin challenge. Lungs were removed, and inflammatory and extracellular matrix remodeling of distal airways was assessed by morphometry. Adrenals were removed and weighed. Results: The relative adrenal weight was greater in stressed guinea pigs compared to non-stressed animals (p < 0.001). Repeated stress increased the percent elastance of the respiratory system after antigen challenge and eosinophils and lymphocytes in the OVA-S compared to the OVA group (p < 0.001, p = 0.003 and p < 0.001). Neither collagen nor elastic fiber contents were modified by stress in sensitized animals. Conclusions: In this animal model, repeated stress amplified bronchoconstriction and inflammatory response in distal airways without interfering with extracellular matrix remodeling. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

Influence of chest wall on lung mechanics during inspiration

RATIONALE: The interaction between lungs and chest wall influences lung volume, that determines lung history during respiration cycle. In this study, the influence of chest wall mechanics on respiratory system is assessed by the evaluation of inspiration pressure-volume curve (PV curve) under three different situations: closed-chest, open-chest and isolated lung. The PV curve parameters in each situation allow us to further understand the role played by different chest wall elements in the respiratory function. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats (236 ± 29 g) were used. The animals were weighted and then anesthetized with xylazine 2% (O,SmL/kg) and ketamine 10% (0,9mL/kg), exsanguinated and later tracheostomies with a metallic cannula (14 gauge).The cannula was connected to an automatic small animal insufflator. This setup was connected to a pressure transducer (32 samples/s). The 24 animals were randomly separated in three groups:(i) closed chest,(ii) open chest and (iii) isolated lung. The rats were insufflated with 20mL quasi-statically (constant speed of 0,1mUs). lnsufflated volume and measured pressure data were kept and PV curves were obtained for all animals. The PV curves were fitted (non-linear least squares) against the sigmoid equation (1) to obtain the sigmoid equation parameters (a,b,c,d). Elastance measurements were obtained from linear regression of pressure/volume measurements in a 0,8s interval before and after the calculated point. Results: The parameters a,b and c showed no significant change, but the parameter d showed a significant variation among the three groups. The initial elastance also varied between open and closed chest, indicating the need of a higher pressure for the lung expansion, as can be seen in Table 1. Conclusion: A supporting effect of the chest wall was observed at the initial moments of inspiration, observed as a higher initial elastance in open chest situations than in closed chest situations (p=0,00001). The similar initial elastance for the isolated lung and closed chest may be explained by the specific method used for the isolated lung experiment. As the isolated lung is supported by the trachea vertically, the weight of the tissue may have a similar effect of the residual negative pressure in the thorax, responsible for maintaining the residual volume.

Influence of chest wall on lung mechanics during inspiration.

RATIONALE: The interaction between lungs and chest wall influences lung volume, that determines lung history during respiration cycle. In this study, the influence of chest wall mechanics on respiratory system is assessed by the evaluation of inspiration pressure-volume curve (PV curve) under three different situations: closed-chest, open-chest and isolated lung. The PV curve parameters in each situation allow us to further understand the role played by different chest wall elements in the respiratory function. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats (236 ± 29 g) were used. The animals were weighted and then anesthetized with xylazine 2% (0,5mL/kg) and ketamine 10% (0,9mL/kg), exsanguinated and later tracheostomized with a metallic cannula (14 gauge). The cannula was connected to an automatic small animal insufflator. This setup was connected to a pressure transducer (32 samples/s). The 24 animals were randomly separated in three groups: (i) closed chest, (ii) open chest and (iii) isolated lung. The rats were insufflated with 20mL quasi-statically (constant speed of 0,1mL/s). Insufflated volume and measured pressure data were kept and PV curves were obtained for all animals. The PV curves were fitted (non-linear least squares) against the sigmoid equation (1) to obtain the sigmoid equation parameters (a,b,c,d). Elastance measurements were obtained from linear regression of pressure/volume measurements in a 0,8s interval before and after the calculated point. Results: The parameters a, b and c showed no significant change, but the parameter d showed a significant variation among the three groups. The initial elastance also varied between open and closed chest, indicating the need of a higher pressure for the lung expansion, as can be seen in Table 1. Table 1: Mean and Standard Deviation of parameters obtained for each protocol. Protocol: Closed Chest – a (mL) -0.35±0.33; b (mL) 13.93±0.89; c (cm H2O) 21.28±2.37; d (cm H2O) 6.17±0.84; r²** (%) 99.4±0.14; Initial Elastance* (cm H2)/mL) 12.72±6.66; Weight (g) 232.33±5.72. Open Chest - a (mL) 0.01±0.28; b (mL) 14.79±0.54; c (cm H2O) 19.47±1.41; d (cm H2O) 3.50±0.28; r²** (%) 98.8±0.34; Initial Elastance* (cm H2)/mL) 28.68±2.36; Weight (g) 217.33±7.97. Isolated Lung - a (mL) -0.09±0.46; b (mL) 14.22±0.75; c (cm H2O) 21.76±1.43; d (cm H2O) 4.24±0.50; r²** (%) 98.9±0.19; Initial Elastance* (cm H2)/mL) 7.13±8.85; Weight (g) 224.33±16.66. * Elastance measures in the 0-0,1 mL range. ** Goodness of sigmoid fit versus measured data Conclusion: A supporting effect of the chest wall was observed at the initial moments of inspiration, observed as a higher initial elastance in open chest situations than in closed chest situations (p=0,00001). The similar initial elastance for the isolated lung and closed chest may be explained by the specific method used for the isolated lung experiment. As the isolated lung is supported by the trachea vertically, the weight of the tissue may have a similar effect of the residual negative pressure in the thorax, responsible for maintaining the residual volume.

Parameters and algorithms to evaluate cardiac mechanics by conductance catheter

This work is structured as follows: In Section 1 we discuss the clinical problem of heart failure. In particular, we present the phenomenon known as ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony: its impact on cardiac function, the therapy for its treatment and the methods for its quantification. Specifically, we describe the conductance catheter and its use for the measurement of dyssynchrony. At the end of the Section 1, we propose a new set of indexes to quantify the dyssynchrony that are studied and validated thereafter. In Section 2 we describe the studies carried out in this work: we report the experimental protocols, we present and discuss the results obtained. Finally, we report the overall conclusions drawn from this work and we try to envisage future works and possible clinical applications of our results. Ancillary studies that were carried out during this work mainly to investigate several aspects of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are mentioned in Appendix. -------- Ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony plays a regulating role already in normal physiology but is especially important in pathological conditions, such as hypertrophy, ischemia, infarction, or heart failure (Chapter 1,2.). Several prospective randomized controlled trials supported the clinical efficacy and safety of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with moderate or severe heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony. CRT resynchronizes ventricular contraction by simultaneous pacing of both left and right ventricle (biventricular pacing) (Chapter 1.). Currently, the conductance catheter method has been used extensively to assess global systolic and diastolic ventricular function and, more recently, the ability of this instrument to pick-up multiple segmental volume signals has been used to quantify mechanical ventricular dyssynchrony. Specifically, novel indexes based on volume signals acquired with the conductance catheter were introduced to quantify dyssynchrony (Chapter 3,4.). Present work was aimed to describe the characteristics of the conductancevolume signals, to investigate the performance of the indexes of ventricular dyssynchrony described in literature and to introduce and validate improved dyssynchrony indexes. Morevoer, using the conductance catheter method and the new indexes, the clinical problem of the ventricular pacing site optimization was addressed and the measurement protocol to adopt for hemodynamic tests on cardiac pacing was investigated. In accordance to the aims of the work, in addition to the classical time-domain parameters, a new set of indexes has been extracted, based on coherent averaging procedure and on spectral and cross-spectral analysis (Chapter 4.). Our analyses were carried out on patients with indications for electrophysiologic study or device implantation (Chapter 5.). For the first time, besides patients with heart failure, indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony based on conductance catheter were extracted and studied in a population of patients with preserved ventricular function, providing information on the normal range of such a kind of values. By performing a frequency domain analysis and by applying an optimized coherent averaging procedure (Chapter 6.a.), we were able to describe some characteristics of the conductance-volume signals (Chapter 6.b.). We unmasked the presence of considerable beat-to-beat variations in dyssynchrony that seemed more frequent in patients with ventricular dysfunction and to play a role in discriminating patients. These non-recurrent mechanical ventricular non-uniformities are probably the expression of the substantial beat-to-beat hemodynamic variations, often associated with heart failure and due to cardiopulmonary interaction and conduction disturbances. We investigated how the coherent averaging procedure may affect or refine the conductance based indexes; in addition, we proposed and tested a new set of indexes which quantify the non-periodic components of the volume signals. Using the new set of indexes we studied the acute effects of the CRT and the right ventricular pacing, in patients with heart failure and patients with preserved ventricular function. In the overall population we observed a correlation between the hemodynamic changes induced by the pacing and the indexes of dyssynchrony, and this may have practical implications for hemodynamic-guided device implantation. The optimal ventricular pacing site for patients with conventional indications for pacing remains controversial. The majority of them do not meet current clinical indications for CRT pacing. Thus, we carried out an analysis to compare the impact of several ventricular pacing sites on global and regional ventricular function and dyssynchrony (Chapter 6.c.). We observed that right ventricular pacing worsens cardiac function in patients with and without ventricular dysfunction unless the pacing site is optimized. CRT preserves left ventricular function in patients with normal ejection fraction and improves function in patients with poor ejection fraction despite no clinical indication for CRT. Moreover, the analysis of the results obtained using new indexes of regional dyssynchrony, suggests that pacing site may influence overall global ventricular function depending on its relative effects on regional function and synchrony. Another clinical problem that has been investigated in this work is the optimal right ventricular lead location for CRT (Chapter 6.d.). Similarly to the previous analysis, using novel parameters describing local synchrony and efficiency, we tested the hypothesis and we demonstrated that biventricular pacing with alternative right ventricular pacing sites produces acute improvement of ventricular systolic function and improves mechanical synchrony when compared to standard right ventricular pacing. Although no specific right ventricular location was shown to be superior during CRT, the right ventricular pacing site that produced the optimal acute hemodynamic response varied between patients. Acute hemodynamic effects of cardiac pacing are conventionally evaluated after stabilization episodes. The applied duration of stabilization periods in most cardiac pacing studies varied considerably. With an ad hoc protocol (Chapter 6.e.) and indexes of mechanical dyssynchrony derived by conductance catheter we demonstrated that the usage of stabilization periods during evaluation of cardiac pacing may mask early changes in systolic and diastolic intra-ventricular dyssynchrony. In fact, at the onset of ventricular pacing, the main dyssynchrony and ventricular performance changes occur within a 10s time span, initiated by the changes in ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony induced by aberrant conduction and followed by a partial or even complete recovery. It was already demonstrated in normal animals that ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony may act as a physiologic modulator of cardiac performance together with heart rate, contractile state, preload and afterload. The present observation, which shows the compensatory mechanism of mechanical dyssynchrony, suggests that ventricular dyssynchrony may be regarded as an intrinsic cardiac property, with baseline dyssynchrony at increased level in heart failure patients. To make available an independent system for cardiac output estimation, in order to confirm the results obtained with conductance volume method, we developed and validated a novel technique to apply the Modelflow method (a method that derives an aortic flow waveform from arterial pressure by simulation of a non-linear three-element aortic input impedance model, Wesseling et al. 1993) to the left ventricular pressure signal, instead of the arterial pressure used in the classical approach (Chapter 7.). The results confirmed that in patients without valve abnormalities, undergoing conductance catheter evaluations, the continuous monitoring of cardiac output using the intra-ventricular pressure signal is reliable. Thus, cardiac output can be monitored quantitatively and continuously with a simple and low-cost method. During this work, additional studies were carried out to investigate several areas of uncertainty of CRT. The results of these studies are briefly presented in Appendix: the long-term survival in patients treated with CRT in clinical practice, the effects of CRT in patients with mild symptoms of heart failure and in very old patients, the limited thoracotomy as a second choice alternative to transvenous implant for CRT delivery, the evolution and prognostic significance of diastolic filling pattern in CRT, the selection of candidates to CRT with echocardiographic criteria and the prediction of response to the therapy.