Digital Commons Network^™

Computer Simulation Of Automotive Disc Brake Noise, Vadims Milovs

Theses

Disc brake noise continues to be a major concern throughout the automotive industry despite efforts to reduce its occurrence. Many articles are written on this subject, but there still is no agreement on what exactly causes disc brake noise and what part of the braking system is responsible for it.

The goal of current research was to build a simplified but inclusive mathematical model of a disc brake system and investigate it using Matlab software. The twodimensional model including damping, Stribeck effect and stick-slip friction was built.

The model is unique in a way that all the similar models have …

Numerical Study Of Pneumatic Conveying Of Powders, Muhammad Mushahid Rafique Quereshi

Theses

The dense phase mode may be advantageous over the dilute phase mode, for some pneumatic conveying problems, because it causes less erosion of the pipeline, less attrition of the material, requires less dust collection and is effective even for smaller pipe diameters. The objective of this study is to numerically determine the parameters that govern the formation slugs in dense phase conveying. The distributed Lagrange multiplier/fictitious domain method (Glowinski et al. 1998 and Singh et al. 2000) is used to perform direct simulations of the motion of solid and gas phases in pipes with rectangular cross-sections. In this approach the …

Integrating Tolerances In G And M Codes Using Neural Networks, Vijay Kumar Sundareshan

Theses

Continuous integrated solutions from CAD down to the preparation of NC programs were developed in the recent years. However, if tolerances should be considered, the interaction of human experts is still necessary. A way to fill this gap in the production process is shown in this thesis. The study builds a relationship between the given design tolerances and including these tolerances in machining by generating respective G and M codes. The study focuses on physical phenomena and their inter-relationship while manufacturing. For example how the speed of machining, torque, power, depth of cut, etc. influences machining under specified tolerances. Artificial …

Hydrological And Geotechnical Investigation Of A Sparta, New Jersey Landslide, James Talerico

Theses

On August 13, 2000, a massive landslide occurred in Northern New Jersey following an extreme rainfall event during which 14.1 inches of precipitation fell locally during a 24-hour period. The slide, with an estimated volume of 22,000ft³, traveled up to 1,500ft in a short period. While landslides do occasionally occur along the coastal bluffs of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, slides of this magnitude are uncommon in the glacial soils of the New Jersey Highland section.

The investigation of this landslide was compiled through rainfall data and geotechnical data, which was used to determine the triggering mechanism of the …

An Interface Chip For Saw Based Sensor In An Ad-Hoc Network, Yagneshwara Ramakrishna Vadapalli

Theses

The design of a smart integrated chemical sensor system that will enhance sensor performance and compatibility to ad hoc network architecture remains a challenge. This work involves the design of an interface chip for a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) based chemical sensor where the sensor reflects the RF input and introduces a time delay proportional to the concentration of the vapors absorbed by it. The interface chip detects the frequency shift as a function of the chemical species absorbed by the sensor and alerts the ad hoc network controller when a monitored parameter exceeded some threshold, based on local processing …

Dynamically Biased Radio Frequency Power Amplifier, Tom Twomey

Theses

With the current trend in mobile communications towards more complex modulation schemes to enhance spectral efficiency, the design of RF power amplifiers is the subject of considerable interest and research. The newer more spectrally efficient modulation schemes require a much higher level of linearity due to the non-constant level of their signal envelope. A variable envelope signal would in non-linear amplifiers lead to unacceptable levels of distortion. Linear amplifiers solve this problem at the cost of significant loss of efficiency. With the evolution towards more spectrally efficient modulation schemes, the trade off between linearity and power efficiency has become more …

Automated Distribution And Management Of Software And Hardware Configurations For Heterogeneous Wireless Devices, Grainne Foley

Theses

The continuing evolution of wireless networks and services has increased the complexity and diversity of wireless networks and devices, placing significant emphasis on the need for flexible device configuration management. Widely varying wireless technologies currently operate independently worldwide, making global wireless network access for the mobile user confusing and unwieldy. New technologies, network access methodologies and improved services further obscure the evolving environment. The focus of effort for this thesis is the development of a system to automate the distribution and management of software and hardware configurations that enable different levels of wireless device reconfiguration. The scope of investigation will …

Performance Evaluation Of Sip Based Services In Umts, Maria Isabel Pous Fenollar

Theses

With ever increasing penetration of IP technologies and the tremendous growth in wireless data traffic, the wireless industry is evolving the mobile core networks towards IP technology. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is specifying an IP Multimedia Core Network Sub-System (IMS) in UMTS Release 5 and Release 6, which is adjunct to the UMTS GPRS core network. This IP-based network will allow mobile operators to provide commonly used Internet applications to wireless user. The UMTS IMS uses the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) defined text based Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), to control a wide range of anticipated IP-based services …

Multiple Model Control With Intelligent Switching To Ensure Robustness To Process Variations., Peter Cunningham

Theses

One of the most popular approaches for dealing with process that undergo large variations with time, of late, is the multiple model approach. This method has considerable intuitive appeal and has received widespread dissemination in academia. Numerous successful simulations have been reported although few real-time results have been published. The principal contribution of this thesis is the application of the multiple model control scheme in real-time.

A number of practical concepts that enable the use of multiple model control in real-time are discussed. Many of these issues arose when the multiple model control scheme was applied to a laboratory scale …

Hot Carrier Reliability Of Lateral Dmos Transistors In Power Process Applications, Vicky O'Donovan

Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate and validate the mechanism of hot carrier degradation of the LDMOS device. The LDMOS device is a new technology to Analog Devices, and a relatively new topic to the semiconductor industry, evident from the limited published research in the field. A prerequisite for device release on a product in the market place, is comprehensive hot carrier reliability testing, as hot carrier degradation has evolved as one of the foremost concerns in submicron devices. Both the high voltage and the structural difference of the LDMOS device, from standard MOSFET device, pose a hot …

Adaptive Baseband Predistortion For Rf Power Amplifier Linearization., Laura Faus-Ferrer

Theses

In order to make use of spectrally efficient linear modulation methods for mobile communications, it is necessary to linearise the underlying RF power amplifier (PA). A number of techniques for linearizing a PA have been studied, focusing on the Adaptive Baseband Predistortion. The work is centred on the research concentrates on the analysis of different algorithms, their simulation using MatLab, and implementation of a predistorter as a subsystem of a prototype Cartesian based transmitter.

The thesis describes the typical architecture of a transceiver with an emphasis on the nonlinear analysis. Cavers’ algorithm has been examined in terms of its computational …

Extraction Of A Valuable Compound From A Waste Stream For Adm Ringaskiddy, Colin G. Burkley

Theses

This thesis was originally conceived as a potential Masters Degree research programme by the management of ADM Ringaskiddy as a means of maximizing throughput through the plant’s wastewater treatment facility. This facility is a major producer of citric acid using beet molasses and a fermentation process. It was proposed that removal of a compound, known as betaine, from the citric acid process waste stream would reduce the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) content of the waste requiring treatment before disposal. This would be achieved by using the citric acid process waste as the feedstock for a betaine extraction process. The wastewater …

Modern Control Techniques For Induction Machines In High-Performance Adjustable-Speed Drives, Pat Cronin

Theses

Induction Motors (IM’s) are increasingly being considered for and used in high-performance motor drive (HPMD) systems. Their application has only gained acceptance since the 1970’s with the advent of vector control, microprocessors and improvements in power converter technology. D.C. motors were traditionally the preferred choice in HPMD systems. The main reasons for IM acceptance in HPMD systems are ruggedness, durability, low maintenance, cost, and small size by comparison with D.C. motors.

Alternating current asynchronous motors of the IM type are considered to be the universal workhorses of the manufacturing industry. It has been estimated that they are used in seventy …

Environmental Management Of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (Weee) In Ireland, Simon Wilkinson

Theses

This thesis follows two previous studies by the Author on the calculation of theoretical WEEE arisings, and an assessment of ecodesign practices in Ireland. It has established collection trials in five different locations throughout Ireland in order to characterise and quantify WEEE arisings, and to examine outlets for collected WEEE. Overall, during the twelve months of collection at the project locations, more than 450 tonnes of WEEE was collected from the public and recycled. Within the catchments of each facility, collection rates of between 2.1 and 3.5 kg/person/year were achieved during the twelve-month trial period. With further public awareness raising …

Analytical And Fea Analysis Of Silicon Micro-Machined Capacitive Pressure Sensor, Eoghan O'Donoghue

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the electro-mechanical characterisation of MEMS capacitive pressure sensors and the determination of models to describe their behaviour.

The finite element software package ANSYS is validated as a tool for the examination of the electro-mechanical behaviour of capacitive pressure sensors. It is then used to incorporate the effects of applied load, voltage and residual stress into a model of the sensor structure. The capacitive pressure sensor is modelled both in 3D and also in 2D axis-symmetric modes. The error between the 2D and 3D models is quantified.

The behaviour of structures under electrostatic actuation is investigated. …

Finite Element Analysis And Testing Of An Inkjet Cartridge Die, Dylan Ryan

Theses

This project investigates the application of finite element and experimental analysis in the design and testing of silicon based semiconductor components. In a thermal inkjet printer the ink cartridge contains a print head (or die), the head fires numerous droplets simultaneously to form pixels and letters. The inkjet cartridge die consists of a thin film layer, containing the integrated circuits that make up the thennal inkjets, mounted on a polysilicon substrate structure.

A number of incremental changes to the design and manufacturing processes related to the manufacture of these inkjet cartridge dies is made. In past instances when changes were …

The Behaviour Of Long-Span Reinforced Concrete Beams Under Various Loading Conditions., Ciaran O'Leary

Theses

The relative ease of design and construction of simple reinforced concrete beams provides an attractive option for structural engineering designers. However, where longer spans are involved it is more likely that prestressed concrete or possibly some form of steel beams will be preferred.

The primary cause of failure of longer span reinforced concrete beams is likely to be bending. However, the excessive deflection that might be associated with such beams must also be considered. When designing these beams, structural engineers make considerable use of span/effective depth ratios to select trial sections and check deflection limits. Such ratios are provided in …

Thermal Assessment Of Silicon-Based Composite Materials Used In Photovoltaics, Pavlos K. Bataglannis

Theses

Photovoltaics are devices that convert sunlight directly to electricity. It is well established that the conversion efficiency of mono and poly-crystalline silicon-based photovoltaic modules is inversely related to their temperature. Substantial improvements in operational performance can thus be achieved if the thermal energy accumulating in the material can be effectively dissipated.

Accurate modelling of modules would allow possible methods of thermal dissipation to be evaluated, and as a crucial component of the model, the thermal properties of the constituent materials of PV modules needed to be known. Special consideration needed to be given to the interfaces between dissimilar materials and …

Design For Signal Integrity In High Frequency, High Density Circuit Boards, Juan Manuel Talavera Martinez

Theses

The electronics market is continually seeking fast and small high performance products. The clock frequency in computer systems is often above 2GHz and new generations of laptops have considerably reduced in size. These features make printed circuit board (PCB) design more difficult than in the past.

This thesis is an investigation of the current design of high speed PCB. The complexity of this type of circuit makes the designer needs an extensive knowledge of the techniques used to generate a reliable signalling, in other words, signal integrity. To achieve this objective, the design community has to overcome several problem related …

Interaction Of Disparity And Accommodative Vergence, Michele Liu Kung

Theses

To fixate on a target that moves from far to near, changes in blur and disparity activate accommodation and disparity vergence. The goal of this study was to experimentally obtain eye movement data from four subjects, and analyze this data using through a new signal processing algorithm known as independent component analysis (ICA). Preliminary data suggest that three underlying neural subcomponents are present where the two components of disparity vergence initiate the movement and the accommodative portion is activated to facilitate the steady state portion of the response.

ICA was used as a blind source separation technique to analyze experimental …