Clemente Fuggini

Adaptive Solution for Intelligent Cable Vibration Mitigation

The mechanics of cables is caught either by numeric or analytic models which are able to predict the nonlinear dynamic response of this structural elements with the desired level of approximation. Although cable dynamics has been widely explored in the literature, efforts are still required in the field of cable vibration mitigation to conceive an economical, feasible and robust control strategy. An adaptive control strategy combining a distributed passive solution with a semiactive actuation is here proposed for the purpose of reducing the spatial cable vibrations. The effectiveness of the proposed control policy is investigated by means of experimental tests and a suitable numeric scheme.

Framing a Satellite Based Asset Tracking (SPARTACUS) within Smart City Technology

“Smart city” is a term currently used to denote cities moved by the opportunity to enhance the quality of life and the security of their citizens. Attention is here focused on the concept that the development of smart cities can also be achieved by improving the efficiency of civil infrastructures through a real-time monitoring. This is the specific target of the European Union FP7 project (SPARTACUS), moved from the parallel chance to develop industry pull applications for the European EGNOS and GALILEO satellite systems. In this paper, laboratory tests are carried out to provide specific devices the ability to run while satisfying the requirements of the incoming GALILEO system. Moreover, some of the targets are achieved within the current GPS system. An extensive experimental campaign is offered to validate the units in such a scenario.

Numerical and Experimental Investigations of Reinforced Masonry Structures Across Multiple Scales

This review chapter outlines the outcomes of a combined experimental-numerical investigation on the retrofitting of masonry structures by means of polymeric textile reinforcement. Masonry systems comprise a significant portion of cultural heritage structures, particularly within European borders. Several of these systems are faced with progressive ageing effects and are exposed to extreme events, as for instance intense seismicity levels for structures in the center of Italy. As a result, the attention of the engineering community and infrastructure operators has turned to the development, testing, and eventual implementation of effective strengthening and protection solutions. This work overviews such a candidate, identified as a full-coverage reinforcement in the form of a polymeric multi-axial textile. This investigation is motivated by the EU-funded projects Polytect and Polymast, in the context of which this protection solution was developed. This chapter is primarily concerned with the adequate simulation and verification of the retrofitted system, in ways that are computationally affordable yet robust in terms of simulation accuracy. To this end, finite element-based mesoscopic and multiscale representations are overviewed and discussed within the context of characterization, identification and performance assessment.

SPARTACUS: Enabling Space Technologies in Security Research

GALILEO together with EGNOS will provide more robust positioning capability enhancing the adoption of satellite technologies in services where signal continuity and integrity are required, such as those related to Public Regulated Service (PRS) and Safety of Life (SOL) applications. This will have an impact on various sectors and applications, including emergency and disaster management, Search and Rescue Service (SAR) tasks and location-based services (LBS) supporting responders in mission critical operations. In this scenario, in November 2013, the SPARTACUS project started to design, realize and test in simulated and real world scenarios GALILEO-ready tracking solutions that can be deployed in operative missions for enhancing Location Awareness in emergency management and crisis operations. SPARTACUS developed new EU-specific services to ensure precise positioning and timing capabilities to three application areas: 1) tracking, tracing and localization of critical transport assets in case of major failure of existing networks; 2) tracking the flow of relief support goods from the sending side to the receiving/end place; 3) supporting coordination of first responders in disaster management operations, ensuring their safety. By its Consortium, SPARTACUS innovations include hardware adaptations, algorithms for precision improvement, dead reckoning functionalities, location awareness, and ad-hoc independent communication networks.

Hybrid Control Procedures in Mitigating Cable Vibrations

Cable vibration control is an active research field in the technical literature. Yet, a robust and effective control strategy for cable dynamics is still missing. Indeed, cables exhibit a complex behavior, mainly due to internal resonances and nonlinear couplings. Moreover, most of the control solutions already known in the literature are affected by damper/actuator localization, which significantly impairs their overall control effectiveness. To overcome these drawbacks, the authors have recently proposed a hybrid solution combining wrapped shape memory alloy(SMA) wires and an open-loop actuation. These control solutions have shown promising vibration mitigation capabilities when the motion was essentially dominated by the first in-plane mode. Here, a particular attention is posed to controlling the second in-plane modal amplitude which is known to entail serious control difficulties and proved to be considerably relevant in technical situations. To this end, the effectiveness of the passive(SMA wires), open-loop active and hybrid control solutions are investigated by means of a campaign of laboratory tests. The results extend the previous theoretical/experimental study and confirm the potentialities of the proposed hybrid approach