The implementation of flexible printed circuit technology in power magnetic winding design is investigated. At first this implementation is considered as a stand-alone winding technology for discrete magnetic components and thereafter it is applied as an integral winding technology, enabling enhanced manufacturing possibility for an integrated 3D converter concept, discussed herein. Optimisation of both the material- and layer usage in the winding stack realisation is found to be the key to minimising the manufacturing cost of such a PCB fabricated winding stack, as well as improving its interconnection reliability. The associated folding pattern of the winding panels, in conjunction with the winding patterns themselves, receive meticulous attention during the proposed winding design method. The manufacturing complexity and cost advantages of using double sided, flexible printed circuit technology to realise a planar winding stack by the proposed folding method, that would otherwise require a substantial number of costly, rigid printed circuit layers, is brought to the forefront. Also the possibility to exploit the parasitic elements of the magnetic component as functional resonant tank elements, using the folding pattern design is investigated. Practical validation of an integrated magnetic component suitable for a 3D PCB converter is presented along with critical evaluation of the results.@en

This dissertation presents the research into renovation techniques for orthotropic steel bridge decks. These techniques are needed to solve fatigue problems in the decks of these bridges, as several fatigue cracks have been detected in the deck structure of these bridges the last decade. A well-known example of fatigue cracks are those observed in the deck plate of the Van Brienenoord bascule bridge in 1997, at that time a 7 year old bridge. The renovation techniques are part of a proposed maintenance philosophy for steel bridge decks. Lifetime calculations, inspections and renovation techniques are the three essential parts of this philosophy. A reliable lifetime calculation model for fatigue damage in the deck plate is described, including the influence of the asphalt surfacing. Accurate calculation results are obtained, both for movable and fixed bridges. Inspection programs can be based on the lifetime calculation results. Several innovative inspection techniques are presented briefly. For fixed bridges the replacement of the asphalt surfacing with a reinforced high performance concrete surfacing is an effective renovation method. For movable bridge decks three solutions that extend the lifetime of the orthotropic deck structure were researched in this thesis.@en

Prominent integration efforts, implementing various technologies and focussing on electromagnetic integration in the first place, have already been attempted in the past, with promising results. From a manufacturing point of view combining different technologies is a costly and complex process which also decreases the system reliability. The use of a single technology for integration therefore holds obvious advantages. An approach to realise an integrated resonant circuit completely in PCB technology is investigated. It is shown that electromagnetic and technology platform integration does not always go together. In this case, for the sake of low cost and manufacturability, technology integration goes first.@en