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Run-To-Run Control Via Constrained Optimization Of A Mechanical Serial-Sectioning System, Damian L. Gallegos-Patterson

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This thesis develops a methodology for run-to-run (R2R) control of a mechanical serial sectioning (mss) system for microstructural investigations. mss is a destructive material characterization process which repeatedly removes a thin layer of material and images the exposed surface. The images are then used to gain insight into the internal structure and arrangement of a material and are often used to generate a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the sample. Currently, an experienced human operator selects the parameters for mss to achieve the desired per slice removal rate. The proposed R2R control methodology automates this process while improving the precision and …