PEC00144 - Experimental Methods in Civil Engineering

Prof. Marcelo Maia Rocha, PPGEC/UFRGS

Introduction to the discipline

• GitHub tutorial
• Markdown tutorial
• Markdown quick reference
• Jupyter Notebooks tutorial
• Brief introduction to LaTeX equations
• Reference for math symbols in LaTeX
• Online notebooks compiler (NBViewer)

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Part I: Dimensional and statistical analysis

2. Dimensional analysis and similarity

2.1. Quantities, units, dimensions
2.2. Dataframe for scales computation
2.3. The Theorem of Pi's by Vaschy-Buckinghan
2.4. Change of base units
2.5. Change of units is like change of scale
2.6. Famous Pi-Numbers

3. Design of reduced scale models

3.1. Controlled and derived scales
3.2. Example: elastic beam under self weight
3.3. Example: cable catenary
3.4. Example: aeroelastic model of a slender tower

4. Statistics and probabilities

4.1. Random variables and probability distributions
4.2. Statistical moments and estimators
4.3. The uniform distribution
4.4. The gaussian distribution
4.5. Statistical cross moments
4.6. The Gaussian multivariate distribution
4.7. Simulation of correlated normal RV's

5. Functions of RV's and error propagation

5.1. Types of error in mathematical models
5.2. Monotonic functions of a single RV
5.3. Linear models of correlated RV vectors
5.4. Example: Bernoulli process and random walk
5.5. Model linearization at mean value
5.6. Arbitrary models and Monte Carlo analysis

6. Distributions of extreme values

6.1. Statistics of extreme values
6.2. Assimptotic distributions
6.3. Application: the S₃ factor in NBR6123
6.4. Characteristic wind velocity V_k from data

7. Revision

Part II: Instrumentation

8. Analog signals processing

8.1. Autocovariance function and stationarity
8.2. Fourier series and Fourier transform
8.3. Power spectral density and periodograms
8.4. Signal derivation and integration
8.5. Level crossing rate and peak factor
8.6. Frequency domain signal filtering
8.7. White noise and pink noise
8.8. Cross correlation and coherence functions

9. Review on electrical circuits

9.1. Voltage dividers and impedance
9.2. Power sources and batteries
9.3. Passive circuit components
9.4. How to light up a LED
9.5. Low and high pass RC filters
9.6. Regulated voltage and current sources
9.7. Microprocessed power sources

10. Signal conditioning

10.1. Operational amplifiers
10.2. Instrumentation amplifiers
10.3. Active electronic filtering

11. Cost effective devices

11.1. Arduino microprocessor 11.2. Serial communication
11.3. I2C and SPI protocols
11.4. Other microprocessor options

12. Strain gages and load cells

12.1. Strain gage principles
12.2. Wheatstone bridge configuration
12.3. Strain gage installation
12.4. Load cell design
12.5. Bridge signal conditioning

13. Other transducers

13.1. Acelerometers and geophones
13.2. LVDT's and Hall sensors
13.3. Pressure sensors

14. Data acquisition

14.1. Voltmeters and oscilloscopes
14.2. Analog to digital conversion
14.3. Configuring a data acquisition

15. Revision

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Part III: Case studies and applications

16. High frequency pressure integration (HFPI)

17. Bridge deck flutter and vortex shedding

18. Designing a machine foundatios

19. The PPGEC-Petrobras project

20. Students presentations - part 1

21. Students presentations - part 2

22. Closure

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