Browsing by Author "K. Ito, Committee Member"

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    Macroscopic Models for Shape Memory Alloy Characterization and Design
    (2003-09-09) Massad, Jordan Elias; S. Seelecke, Committee Member; J.M. Redmond, Committee Member; K. Ito, Committee Member; R.C. Smith, Committee Chair; H.T. Tran, Committee Member
    Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are being considered for a number of high performance applications, such as deformable aircraft wings, earthquake-resistant structures, and microdevices, due to their capability to achieve very high work densities, produce large deformations, and generate high stresses. In general, the material behavior of SMAs is nonlinear and hysteretic. To achieve the full potential of SMA actuators, it is necessary to develop models that characterize the nonlinearities and hysteresis inherent in the constituent materials. Additionally, the design of SMA actuators necessitates the development of control algorithms based on those models. We develop two models that quantify the nonlinearities and hysteresis inherent to SMAs, each in formulations suitable for subsequent control design. In the first model, we employ domain theory to quantify SMA behavior under isothermal conditions. The model involves a single first-order, nonlinear ordinary differential equation and requires as few as seven parameters that are identifiable from measurements. We develop the second model using the Muller-Achenbach-Seelecke framework where a transition state theory of nonequilibrium processes is used to derive rate laws for the evolution of material phase fractions. The fully thermomechanical model predicts rate-dependent, polycrystalline SMA behavior, and it accommodates heat transfer issues pertinent to thin-film SMAs. Furthermore, the model admits a low-order formulation and has a small number of parameters which can be readily identified using attributes of measured data. We illustrate aspects of both models through comparison with experimental bulk and thin-film SMA data.
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    Time Reversal of Electromagnetic Waves in Randomly Layered Media.
    (2007-03-14) Glotov, Petr; G. Lazzi, Committee Member; K. Ito, Committee Member; J.-P. Fouque, Committee Chair; M. Haider, Committee Member
    Time reversal is a general technique in wave propagation in inhomogeneous media when a signal is recorded at points of a device called time reversal mirror, gets time reversed and radiated back in the medium. The resulting field has a property of refocusing. Time reversal in acoustics has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically. In this thesis we consider the problem of time reversal of electromagnetic waves in inhomogeneous layered media. We use Markov process model for the medium parameters which allows us to exploit diffusion approximation theorem. We show that the field generated by the time reversal mirror focuses at a point of initial source inside of the medium. The size of the focusing spot is of the kind that it is smaller than the one that would be obtained if the medium were homogeneous meaning that the super resolution phenomenon is observed.