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The present paper deals with concept, prototyping and application of a tensioning system for FRP ties into masonry structures. The proposed system, based on the use of FRP strands instead of traditional steel ties, has the aim to produce a compression stress state on masonry walls where it is applied. Given the objective difficulty in tensioning a FRP strand, it was necessary to both characterize and prototype a suitable connection system between the strand and the pulling system. The experimental phase concerned both the manufacturing of the pulling system and the study of used materials, as well as the characterization of the impregnation technology of FRP ties. The above described system has been produced and used in the framework of the structural retrofitting of the “Real Albergo dei Poveri” building in Naples.

AbstractThe need to achieve increasingly better performance in present and future tokamak devices has made plasma control increasingly important in tokamak engineering. When high performance and robustness are required, it is essential to adopt a model-based approach to design a control system. We introduce the basics of plasma current, position, and shape control in tokamaks. As an example, the plasma magnetic control systems of the JET tokamak is presented, together with an approach proposed for plasma axisymmetric magnetic control at the ITER tokamak.

AbstractA high-order, multivariable, modern plasma controller has been designed using H∞optimal control techniques and tested on the Tokamak Configuration Variable (TCV) tokamak. An initial design for the control of the plasma current, position, and shape parameters is described. The design process was based on the CREATE-L linearized model of TCV, and the controller was implemented on a digital processor. The results demonstrated that the required performance was delivered and the controller response was in good agreement with predictions using the model.