Active magneto-optical control of spontaneous emission in graphene

We investigate the spontaneous emission rate of a two-level quantum emitter near a graphene-coated substrate under the influence of an external magnetic field or strain induced pseudo-magnetic field. We demonstrate that the application of the magnetic field can substantially increase or decrease the decay rate. We show that a suppression as large as 99$\%$ in the Purcell factor is achieved even for moderate magnetic fields. The emitter's lifetime is a discontinuous function of $|{\bf B}|$, which is a direct consequence of the occurrence of discrete Landau levels in graphene. We demonstrate that, in the near-field regime, the magnetic field enables an unprecedented control of the decay pathways into which the photon/polariton can be emitted. Our findings strongly suggest that a magnetic field could act as an efficient agent for on-demand, active control of light-matter interactions in graphene at the quantum level.

QFT control for vibration reduction in structures equipped with MR dampers

This short paper addresses the problem of designing a QFT (quantitative feedback theory) based controllers for the vibration reduction in a 6-story building structure equipped with shear-mode magnetorheological dampers. A new methodology is proposed for characterizing the nonlinear hysteretic behavior of the MR damper through the uncertainty template in the Nichols chart. The design procedure for QFT control design is briefly presented

QFT control for vibration reduction in structures equipped with MR dampers

This short paper addresses the problem of designing a QFT (quantitative feedback theory) based controllers for the vibration reduction in a 6-story building structure equipped with shear-mode magnetorheological dampers. A new methodology is proposed for characterizing the nonlinear hysteretic behavior of the MR damper through the uncertainty template in the Nichols chart. The design procedure for QFT control design is briefly presented

Active flutter suppression in a 2-D airfoil using linear matrix inequalities techniques

Flutter is an in-flight vibration of flexible structures caused by energy in the airstream absorbed by the lifting surface. This aeroelastic phenomenon is a problem of considerable interest in the aeronautic industry, because flutter is a potentially destructive instability resulting from an interaction between aerodynamic, inertial, and elastic forces. To overcome this effect, it is possible to use passive or active methodologies, but passive control adds mass to the structure and it is, therefore, undesirable. Thus, in this paper, the goal is to use linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) techniques to design an active state-feedback control to suppress flutter. Due to unmeasurable aerodynamic-lag states, one needs to use a dynamic observer. So, LMIs also were applied to design a state-estimator. The simulated model, consists of a classical flat plate in a two-dimensional flow. Two regulators were designed, the first one is a non-robust design for parametric variation and the second one is a robust control design, both designed by using LMIs. The parametric uncertainties are modeled through polytopic uncertainties. The paper concludes with numerical simulations for each controller. The open-loop and closed-loop responses are also compared and the results show the flutter suppression. The perfomance for both controllers are compared and discussed. Copyright © 2006 by ABCM.

On elimination of chaotic behavior in a non-ideal portal frame structural system, using both passive and active controls

In this paper, an application is considered of both active and passive controls, to suppression of chaotic behavior of a simple portal frame, under the excitation of an unbalanced DC motor, with limited power supply (non-ideal problem). The adopted active control strategy consists of two controls: the nonlinear (feedforward) in order to keep the controlled system in a desirable orbit, and the feedback control, which may be obtained by considering state-dependent Riccati equation control to bringing the system into the desired orbit using a magneto rheological (MR) damper. To control the electric current applied in control of the MR damper the Bouc-Wen mathematical model was used to the MR damper. The passive control was obtained by means of a nonlinear sub-structure with properties of nonlinear energy sink. Simulations showed the efficiency of both the passive control (energy pumping) and active control strategies in the suppression of the chaotic behavior. © The Author(s) 2012.

On nonlinear dynamics behavior and control of a new model of a magnetically levitated vibrating system, excited by an unbalanced DC motor of limited power supply

We analyze new results on a magnetically levitated body (a block including a magnet whose bottom pole is set in such a way as to repel the upper pole of a magnetic base) excited by a non-ideal energy source (an unbalanced electric motor of limited power supply). These new results are related to the jump phenomena and increase of power required of such sources near resonance are manifestations of a non-ideal system and they are referred as the Sommerfeld effect, which emulates an energy sink. In this work, we also discuss control strategies to be applied to this system, in resonance conditions, in order to decrease its vibration amplitude and avoiding this apparent energy sink.

Vibration reduction for vision systems on board unmanned aerial vehicles using a neuro-fuzzy controller

In this paper, an intelligent control approach based on neuro-fuzzy systems performance is presented, with the objective of counteracting the vibrations that affect the low-cost vision platform onboard an unmanned aerial system of rotating nature. A scaled dynamical model of a helicopter is used to simulate vibrations on its fuselage. The impact of these vibrations on the low-cost vision system will be assessed and an intelligent control approach will be derived in order to reduce its detrimental influence. Different trials that consider a neuro-fuzzy approach as a fundamental part of an intelligent semi-active control strategy have been carried out. Satisfactory results have been achieved compared to those obtained by means of vibration reduction passive techniques.

NEX-LMS: A novel adaptive control scheme for harmonic sound quality control

This paper presents a novel adaptive control scheme. with improved convergence rate, for the equalization of harmonic disturbances such as engine noise. First, modifications for improving convergence speed of the standard filtered-X LMS control are described. Equalization capabilities are then implemented, allowing the independent tuning of harmonics. Eventually, by providing the desired order vs. engine speed profiles, the pursued sound quality attributes can be achieved. The proposed control scheme is first demonstrated with a simple secondary path model and, then, experimentally validated with the aid of a vehicle mockup which is excited with engine noise. The engine excitation is provided by a real-time sound quality equivalent engine simulator. Stationary and transient engine excitations are used to assess the control performance. The results reveal that the proposed controller is capable of large order-level reductions (up to 30 dB) for stationary excitation, which allows a comfortable margin for equalization. The same holds for slow run-ups ( > 15s) thanks to the improved convergence rate. This margin, however, gets narrower with shorter run-ups (<= 10s). (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Galerkin Method and Weighting Functions Applied to Nonlinear H(infinity) Control with Output Feedback

This paper considers two aspects of the nonlinear H(infinity) control problem: the use of weighting functions for performance and robustness improvement, as in the linear case, and the development of a successive Galerkin approximation method for the solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Isaacs equation that arises in the output-feedback case. Design of nonlinear H(infinity) controllers obtained by the well-established Taylor approximation and by the proposed Galerkin approximation method applied to a magnetic levitation system are presented for comparison purposes.

Analysis of Piezoelectric sensor to detect flexural waves

The electromechanical transfer characteristics of adhesively bonded piezoelectric sensors are investigated. By the use of dynamic piezoelectricity theory, Mindlin plate theory for flexural wave propagation, and a multiple integral transform method, the frequency-response functions of piezoelectric sensors with and without backing materials are developed and the pressure-voltage transduction functions of the sensors calculated. The corresponding simulation results show that the sensitivity of the sensors is not only dependent on the sensors' inherent features, such as piezoelectric properties and geometry, but also on local characteristics of the tested structures and the admittance and impedance of the attached electrical circuit. It is also demonstrated that the simplified rigid mass sensor model can be used to analyze successfully the sensitivity of the sensor at low frequencies, but that the dynamic piezoelectric continuum model has to be used for higher frequencies, especially around the resonance frequency of the coupled sensor-structure vibration system.

Postbuckling of piezoelectric FGM plates subject to thermo-electro-mechanical loading

In this paper, we examine the postbuckling behavior of functionally graded material FGM rectangular plates that are integrated with surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators and are subjected to the combined action of uniform temperature change, in-plane forces, and constant applied actuator voltage. A Galerkin-differential quadrature iteration algorithm is proposed for solution of the non-linear partial differential governing equations. To account for the transverse shear strains, the Reddy higher-order shear deformation plate theory is employed. The bifurcation-type thermo-mechanical buckling of fully clamped plates, and the postbuckling behavior of plates with more general boundary conditions subject to various thermo-electro-mechanical loads, are discussed in detail. Parametric studies are also undertaken, and show the effects of applied actuator voltage, in-plane forces, volume fraction exponents, temperature change, and the character of boundary conditions on the buckling and postbuckling characteristics of the plates. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Discretization of complex-order algorithms for control applications

In this article we describe several methods for the discretization of the differintegral operator sa, where α = u + jv is a complex value. The concept of the conjugated-order differintegral is also introduced, which enables the use of complex-order differintegrals while still producing real-valued time responses and transfer functions. The performance of the resulting approximations is analysed in both the time and frequency domains. Several results are presented that demonstrate its utility in control system design.

Control of a 6-DOF parallel manipulator through a mechatronic approach

This paper shows that a hierarchical architecture, distributing several control actions in growing levels of complexity and using resources of reconfigurable computing, enables one to take into account the ease of future modifications, updates and improvements in robotic applications. An experimental example of a Stewart—Gough platform control (a platform applied as the solution to countless practical problems) is presented using reconfigurable computing. The software and hardware developed are structured in independent blocks. This open architecture implementation allows easy expansion of the system and better adaptation of the platform to its related tasks.

Acompanhamento das Técnicas de Construção na Obra do Aproveitamento Hidroelétrico de Foz Tua

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na obra do Aproveitamento Hidroelétrico de Foz Tua onde a autora teve oportunidade de realizar o estágio curricular junto da equipa da Fiscalização no período de 2 de Fevereiro de 2015 a 31 de Julho de 2015. A elaboração do presente trabalho pretende transmitir conhecimentos adquiridos relacionados com a constituição de um Aproveitamento Hidroelétrico, os tipos de barragens existentes, monitorização e controlo da segurança da estrutura da Barragem, controlo de qualidade de betão e o processo construtivo de uma Barragem. A construção da Barragem do Aproveitamento Hidroelétrico de Foz Tua tem sido realizada através do método tradicional, que consiste na aplicação de betão convencional compactado por vibração interna. Ao longo deste processo, foram aplicadas diversas técnicas construtivas, nomeadamente: escavação, betonagem, refrigeração artificial, injeção de juntas e tratamento de fundações. Neste trabalho foram ainda analisados os cuidados de segurança necessários neste tipo de estruturas, tendo como base o Regulamento de Segurança de Barragens. Este regulamento define as regras a seguir durante a execução da barragem e a monotorização que deve ser efetuada à mesma, permitindo assim o controlo da segurança da estrutura na sua construção e vida útil. É necessário ainda existir um controlo da qualidade, produção e aplicação do betão na estrutura de modo a aumentar a segurança, qualidade e durabilidade da mesma.