Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Modeling And Analyzing Biomolecular Networks, Rajeev Alur, Calin Belta, Vijay Kumar, Max Mintz, George J. Pappas, Harvey Rubin, Jonathan Schug

George J. Pappas

The authors argue for the need to model and analyze biological networks at molecular and cellular levels. They propose a computational toolbox for biologists. Central to their approach is the paradigm of hybrid models in which discrete events are combined with continuous differential equations to capture switching behavior.

Controlling Biological Systems: The Lactose Regulation System Of Escherichia Coli, Anak Agung Julius, Ádam Halasz, Vijay Kumar, George Pappas

George J. Pappas

In this paper we present a comprehensive framework for abstraction and controller design for a biological system. The first half of the paper concerns modeling and model abstraction of the system. Most models in systems biology are deterministic models with ordinary differential equations in the concentration variables. We present a stochastic hybrid model of the lactose regulation system of E. coli bacteria that capture important phenomena which cannot be described by continuous deterministic models. We then show that the resulting stochastic hybrid model can be abstracted into a much simpler model, a two-state continuous time Markov chain. The second half …

Cooperative Air And Ground Survaillance, Ben Grocholsky, James Keller, Vijay Kumar, George J. Pappas

George J. Pappas

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be used to cover large areas searching for targets. However, sensors on UAVs are typically limited in their accuracy of localization of targets on the ground. On the other hand, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) can be deployed to accurately locate ground targets, but they have the disadvantage of not being able to move rapidly or see through such obstacles as buildings or fences. In this article, we describe how we can exploit this synergy by creating a seamless network of UAVs and UGVs. The keys to this are our framework and algorithms for search and …

Modeling And Analyzing Biomolecular Networks, Rajeev Alur, Calin Belta, Vijay Kumar, Max Mintz, George J. Pappas, Harvey Rubin, Jonathan Schug

George J. Pappas

The authors argue for the need to model and analyze biological networks at molecular and cellular levels. They propose a computational toolbox for biologists. Central to their approach is the paradigm of hybrid models in which discrete events are combined with continuous differential equations to capture switching behavior.

Controlling Biological Systems: The Lactose Regulation System Of Escherichia Coli, Anak Agung Julius, Ádam Halasz, Vijay Kumar, George Pappas

George J. Pappas

In this paper we present a comprehensive framework for abstraction and controller design for a biological system. The first half of the paper concerns modeling and model abstraction of the system. Most models in systems biology are deterministic models with ordinary differential equations in the concentration variables. We present a stochastic hybrid model of the lactose regulation system of E. coli bacteria that capture important phenomena which cannot be described by continuous deterministic models. We then show that the resulting stochastic hybrid model can be abstracted into a much simpler model, a two-state continuous time Markov chain. The second half …

Gpu-Accelerated Large-Eddy Simulation Of Turbulent Channel Flows, Rey Deleon, Inanc Senocak

Inanc Senocak

High performance computing clusters that are augmented with cost and power efficient graphics processing unit (GPU) provide new opportunities to broaden the use of large-eddy simulation technique to study high Reynolds number turbulent flows in fluids engineering applications. In this paper, we extend our earlier work on multi-GPU acceleration of an incompressible Navier-Stokes solver to include a large-eddy simulation (LES) capability. In particular, we implement the Lagrangian dynamic subgrid scale model and compare our results against existing direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of a turbulent channel flow at Reτ = 180. Overall, our LES results match fairly well with the …

Design And Construction Of A Solar Operated Gate, Jacob Gardener

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design and construction of a solar operated gate. A solar panel is used to charge a battery, and then an inverter is used to run a garage door opener off the battery. The garage door opener operates a short lever arm which is connected to a longer lever arm which is connected to the gate. Each component and mounting mechanisms were designed and built to effectively provide the gate opening function. The finished product operates well, the gate opens in about 8 seconds after the button is pressed on the remote controller or wall mount …

Lunalight Project: Solar-Rechargeable Led Lantern And Cell Phone Charger, Sean C. Dawson, Michael E. Deagen, Francisco N. Dye, Brian S. Mircheff, Ryan O. Ramelb

Materials Engineering

Today, 1.6 billion people in the world do not have access to grid electricity. Villagers living off the grid in developing nations resort to kerosene lanterns to light their homes. The fumes from burning kerosene are toxic and lead to respiratory illnesses over time. Our sponsor, OneMillionLights, plans to help people to escape poverty by providing them with a clean source of light at night. Children that must work in the fields during the day can use a solar-rechargeable lantern at night to read or study, and street vendors can use the lanterns at night to improve their businesses.

The …

Feasibility Analysis For Electrically-Powered Hoverboard, Cameron Chan, Jason Cortez, Jay Lopez

Aerospace Engineering

Composite materials are engineered by combining two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties in such a way that the constituents are still distinguishable, and not fully blended. Due to today’s high rising prices of gasoline and aviation fuel costs, many manufacturers have turned to the use of lightweight composites in their designs due to the advantages of the composite material, which include outstanding strength, excellent durability, high heat resistance, and significant weight reduction that the composite material properties hold. The purpose of this project is to design and construct a composite structure for an electrically-powered …

Effect Of Gold Content On The Microstructural Evolution Of Sac305 Solder Joints Under Isothermal Aging, Mike Powers, Jianbiao Pan, Julie Silk, Patrick Hyland

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Au over Ni on Cu is a widely used printed circuit board (PCB) surface finish, under bump metallization (UBM), and component lead metallization. It is generally accepted that less than 3 wt.% Au in Sn-Pb solder joints inhibits formation of detrimental intermetallic compounds (IMC). However, the critical limit for Au content in Pb-free solder joints is not well established. Three surface-mount package platforms, one with a matte Sn surface finish and the others with Ni/Au finish, were soldered to Ni/Au-finished PCB using Sn-3.0Ag- 0.5Cu (SAC305) solder, in a realistic manufacturing setting. The assembled boards were divided into three groups: one …

Analytical Approximate Solutions For The Generalized Nonlinear Oscillator, Hassan Askari

No abstract provided.

Climate Change In Cyprus: Impacts And Adaptation Measures, Theodoros Zachariadis

Theodoros Zachariadis

No abstract provided.

Climate Change In Cyprus – Impacts And Adaptation Policies, Elpida Shoukri, Theodoros Zachariadis

Theodoros Zachariadis

This report provides a literature review of climate change facts and projections globally, for Europe, Mediterranean and Cyprus until the end of the 21st century. It focuses on climate change effects in Cyprus by sector and presents specific recommendations on the implementation of a proper adaptation strategy. The report is based on a review of the most important recent studies on climate change, including reports from international organizations as well as European and Mediterranean authorities and research institutions. The report has also benefited from information gathered through personal communication of the authors with public authorities, non-governmental organizations and researchers.

Acoustic Testing And Modeling: An Advanced Undergraduate Laboratory, Daniel A. Russell, Daniel O. Ludwigsen

Physics Publications

This paper describes an advanced laboratory course in acoustics, specifically targeted for students with an interest in engineering applications at a school with a strongly integrated industrial co-op program. The laboratory course is developed around a three-pronged approach to problem solving that combines and integrates theoretical models, computational models, and experimental data. The course is structured around modules that begin with fundamental concepts and build laboratory skills and expand the knowledge base toward a final project. Students keep a detailed laboratory notebook, write research papers in teams, and must pass laboratory certification exams. This paper describes the course layout and …

Flexible Residential Test Facility Instrumentation Plan, Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report provides the status of the instrumentation and a test plan for the facility. As this is the first Building America (BA) report on the facility, a description of the design and construction is included as well.

Advantages Of Gan Based Light-Emitting Diodes With A P-Ingan Hole Reservoir Layer, Taiping Lu, Shuti Li, Chao Liu, Kang Zhang, Yiqin Xu, Jinhui Tong, Lejuan Wu, Hailong Wang, Xiaodong Yang, Yian Yin, Guowei Xiao, Yugang Zhou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A p-type InGaN hole reservoir layer (HRL) was designed and incorporated in GaN based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to enhance hole injection efficiency and alleviate efficiency droop. The fabricated LEDs with p-type HRL exhibited higher light output power, smaller emission energy shift and broadening as compared to its counterpart. Based on electrical and optical characteristics analysis and numerical simulation, these improvements are mainly attributed to the alleviated band bending in the last couple of quantum well and electron blocking layer, and thus better hole injection efficiency. Meanwhile, the efficiency droop can be effectively mitigated when the p-InGaN HRL was used.

2012 (Spring) Ensi Informer Magazine, Morehead State University. Engineering Sciences Department

ENSI Informer Magazine Archive

The ENSI Informer Magazine published in the spring of 2012.

A Three-Dimensional Inverse Finite Element Analysis Of The Heel Pad, Snehal Chokhandre, Jason P. Halloran, Antonie J. Van Den Bogert, Ahmet Erdemir

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Quantification of plantar tissue behavior of the heel pad is essential in developing computational models for predictive analysis of preventive treatment options such as footwear for patients with diabetes. Simulation based studies in the past have generally adopted heel pad properties from the literature, in return using heel-specific geometry with material properties of a different heel. In exceptional cases, patient-specific material characterization was performed with simplified two-dimensional models, without further evaluation of a heel-specific response under different loading conditions. The aim of this study was to conduct an inverse finite element analysis of the heel in order to calculate heel-specific …

Study On Fracture Behavior Of Aa5083–H111 Friction Stir Welded Join, Mohammed El Sayed Allam

Theses

The fracture behavior of friction stir welded joints of aluminum alloy 5083-H111 was studied in this investigation. Different samples of stir welded joints at variable tool rotational speeds (1660 rpm, 850 rpm, and 675 rpm), different traveling speeds (24, 42, 55, 74, and 98 mm/min), and different tool pin shapes (cylindrical, tapered and threaded) were studied to investigate the effect of process parameters on the joint strength/load-bearing capacity. A series of tensile tests using an MTS machine, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, and optical microscope analysis was conducted to study the effect of varying the rotational speed, traveling speed, and …

Peridynamic Models For Dynamic Brittle Fracture, Wenke Hu

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Damage and failure in composite materials under dynamic loading has been extensively studied in experiments for several decades. Composite materials exhibit various damage and failure patterns under different loading rates, such as splitting and branching. Classical models cannot directly be applied to problems with discontinuous fields. A new nonlocal continuum model, peridynamics, has been proposed with the goal of solving dynamic fracture problems.

The J-integral has the physical significance of energy flow into the crack tip region. We present a rigorous derivation for the formulation of the J-integral in peridynamics using the crack infinitesimal virtual extension approach. We …