Development of modal analysis methodologies for the identification of aerospace structures in operating conditions

Operational modal analysis differs from traditional experimental modal analysis in that it only requires information of the output responses and the modal parameters (in terms of natural frequencies damping ratios and mode shapes) are estimated under the assumption of white noise excitation. It presents several advantages including the availability of modal properties of structure in operation thus representing a closer picture of the structure and its boundary conditions (which are not that easy to realize in laboratory conditions). However, lack of input excitation force information presents several challenges as well as the proper estimation of the frequency response functions and the accurate evaluation of modal parameters in presence of harmonic components in the excitation. Several methodologies have been developed in the last years as described in this thesis and the main purpose of the research is to assess their application in aerospace such as the rotorcraft technology and the environmental testing. Solutions to the main operational modal analysis limitations are suggested and the implementation of the related algorithms allows the application on several test cases after their validation. Taking advantages of this improving in the experimental analysis capabilities, a demanding application within the rotorcraft technology is carried out. Starting from the already developed Active Pitch Link prototype (based on the Smart Spring concept), its use for vibration reduction on rotating blade is numerically and experimentally investigated, thanks to the intensive use of the operational modal analysis for the identification of the real system properties that give the necessary information for the tuning of the numerical model, that in turn suggests the operative test conditions

Passive Linearization of Nonlinear System Resonances

In this work we demonstrate that the addition of properly-tuned nonlinearities to a nonlinear system can increase the range over which a specific resonance responds linearly. Specifically, we seek to enforce two important properties of linear systems, namely the force-displacement proportionality and the invariance of resonance frequencies. Theoretical findings are validated through numerical simulations and experiments

Nonlinear normal modes, modal interactions and isolated resonance curves

The objective of the present study is to explore the connection between the nonlinear normal modes of an undamped and unforced nonlinear system and the isolated resonance curves that may appear in the damped response of the forced system. To this end, an energy balancing technique is used to predict the amplitude of the harmonic forcing that is necessary to excite a specific nonlinear normal mode. A cantilever beam with a nonlinear spring at its tip serves to illustrate the developments. The practical implications of isolated resonance curves are also discussed by computing the beam response to sine sweep excitations of increasing amplitudes.Comment: Journal pape

C-peptide: a predictor of cardiovascular mortality in subjects with established atherosclerotic disease

Aim: Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Levels of C-peptide are increased in these patients and its role in the atherosclerosis progression was studied in vitro and in vivo over the past years. To evaluate the possible use of C-peptide as cardiovascular biomarkers, we designed an observational study in which we enrolled patients with mono- or poly-vascular atherosclerotic disease. Methods: We recruited 431 patients with stable atherosclerosis and performed a yearly follow-up to estimate the cardiovascular and total mortality and cardiovascular events. Results: We performed a mean follow-up of 56months on 268 patients. A multivariate Cox analysis showed that C-peptide significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular mortality [Hazard Ratio: 1.29 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.65, p<0.03513)] after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes treatment, estimated glomerular filtration rate and known diabetes status. Furthermore, levels of C-peptide were significantly correlated with metabolic parameters and atherogenic factors. Conclusion: C-peptide was associated with cardiovascular mortality independently of known diabetes status in a cohort of patients with chronic atherosclerotic disease. Future studies using C-peptide into a reclassification approach might be undertaken to consider its potential as a cardiovascular disease biomarker

Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Determinants and Obstacles among Italian University Students

The awareness of citizens concerning the health risks caused by environmental pollution is growing, but studies on determinants of pro-environmental behaviors have rarely examined health-related aspects. In this study, we investigated these determinants using data from a large survey among Italian university students (15 Universities: 4778 filled questionnaires). Besides the health-related aspects, represented by environmental health risk perception and functional health literacy, we considered social and demographic characteristics (gender, area of residence, sources of information, trust in institutional and non-institutional subjects, and students' capacity of positive actions, indicated as internal locus of control). The attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors were positive for more than 70% of students and positively related with health risk perception, internal locus of control, and health literacy. The correspondence between the positive attitudes towards pro-environmental behaviors and the real adoption of such behaviors was approximately 20% for most behaviors, except for the separate collection of waste (60%). Such a discrepancy can be attributable to external obstacles (i.e., lack of time, costs, lack of support). The health-related aspects were linked to the pro-environmental attitudes, but to a lesser extent to pro-environmental behaviors, owing to the complexity of their determinants. However, they should be taken in account in planning education interventions

Passive linearization of nonlinear resonances

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the addition of properly-tuned nonlinearities to a nonlinear system can increase the range over which a speci c resonance responds linearly. Speci cally, we seek to enforce two important properties of linear systems, namely the force-displacement proportionality and the invariance of resonance frequencies. Numerical simulations and experiments are used to validate the theoretical ndings

Experimental demonstration of a 3D-printed nonlinear tuned vibration absorber

Engineering structures are designed to be lighter and more flexible, hence reducing the extent of application of linear dynamic models. Concurrently, vibration mitigation is required for enhancing the performance, comfort or safety in real-life applications. Passive linear vibration absorbers are purpose-built, often designed using Den Hartog's equal-peak strategy. However, nonlinear systems are known to exhibit frequency-energy-dependent oscillations which linear absorbers cannot effectively damp out. In this context, the paper introduces a new nonlinear tuned vibration absorber (NLTVA) whose nonlinear functional form is tailored according to the frequency-energy dependence of the nonlinear primary structure. The NLTVA design aims at ensuring equal peaks in the nonlinear receptance function for an as large as possible range of forcing amplitudes, hence generalizing Den Hartog's method to nonlinear systems. Our focus in this study is on experimental demonstration of the NLTVA performance using a primary structure consisting of a cantilever beam with a geometrically nonlinear component at its free end. The absorber is implemented using a doubly-clamped beam fabricated thanks to 3D printing. The NLTVA performance is also compared with that of the classical linear tuned vibration absorber.ERC Starting Grant NoVib 30726

A rigorous phase separation method for testing nonlinear structures

The objective of the present paper is to develop a rigorous identification methodology of nonlinear normal modes (NNMs) of engineering structures. This is achieved by processing experimental measurements collected under broadband forcing. The use of such a type of forcing signal allows to excite multiple NNMs simultaneously and, in turn, to save testing time. A two-step methodology integrating nonlinear system identification and numerical continuation of periodic solutions is proposed for the extraction of the individual NNMs from broadband input and output data. It is demonstrated using a numerical cantilever beam possessing a cubic nonlinearity at its free end. The proposed methodology can be viewed as a nonlinear generalization of the phase separation techniques routinely utilized for experimental modal analysis of linear structures

Theoretical and experimental investigation of a structurally and aerodynamically nonlinear pitch and flap wing

This paper presents and experimental and theoretical investigation of a novel nonlinear aeroelastic system. It consists of a wing with pitch and flap degrees of freedom, suspended from a leaf spring secured in a nonlinear clamp. Both the structural and the aerodynamic forces acting on the wing can be nonlinear, depending on the amplitude of oscillations. Wind tunnel experiments show that the system undergoes a supercritical Hopf bifurcation that leads to small amplitude limit cycle oscillations. At a particular airspeed, the pitch amplitude jumps to a much higher value and dynamic stall starts to occur. Three mathematical models of the system are formulated, one based on linear aerodynamics and two based on the Leishman-Beddoes dynamic stall model. The objective of the modelling is to determine whether the jump in pitch oscillation amplitude is due to dynamic stall. The predictions for amplitude, frequency and mean angle of the limit cycle oscillations are compared to the experimental observations. All three models predict the small amplitude oscillations with satisfactory accuracy. The complete Leishman-Beddoes model predicts the occurrence of a jump in pitch amplitude but the magnitude of this jump is signi cantly overestimated. The other two models completely fail to model the jump. The failure of the Leishman-Beddoes model to predict the correct post-jump oscillation amplitude may be due to the values selected for the model parameters.The Nonlinear Tuned Vibration Absorber (NoVib

Obtaining nonlinear frequency responses from broadband testing

The objective of the paper is to obtain the frequency response curves of nonlinear mechanical systems from broadband testing. The proposed approach consists in coupling an identification method with a continuation method. Specifically, the frequency-domain nonlinear subspace identification (FNSI) method is first used to derive an experimental model of the structure in state space from broadband measurements. The harmonic balance method coupled with arclength continuation then utilizes this experimental model to compute the frequency response curves of the system. The method is demonstrated using a numerical example