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Mems Based Microneedle Actuator With Piezoresistive Force Feedback System For Biomedical Applications, Innovative Research Publications Irp India, Ashen Wijesiri, Y.W.R. Amarasinghe

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

This paper presents a novel design of MEMS based microneedle actuator with force feedback system which can be used for biomedical applications such as cell manipulation, drug delivery and DNA injection. The actuation mechanism of microneedle is driven by two electrostatic comb actuators. Since the manipulated objects are very sensitive, and can be easily damaged, it’s essential to have a force feedback system in the micro actuator to avoid unnecessary deformations. Piezoresistive sensing elements are used for the force feedback of the system. The proposed system was simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software considering the anisotropic material properties and the nonlinear …

Influence Of Inner Surface Notch On Fatigue Crack Growth Characteristics Of Aluminum Alloy, Innovative Research Publications Irp India, Mahantesh. Matur, V. Krishnan, P. Dinesh

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

Effect of initial notch on the Fatigue crack growth of Aluminum 6061 specimen specified by ASTM is investigated. Growth rate obtained by experiment and numerical methods were compared. The values are in close agreement. The study shows the dependency of crack propagation on the stress intensity range of the Aluminum.

An Integrated Fuzzy Weighted Servqual - Qfd Approach For Service Quality Improvement, Innovative Research Publications Irp India, Aneesh M. R, Dileeplal Dileeplal J J., M. A. Abraham

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

Service quality is an essential aspect of any service provider. The role of service quality becomes critical in the success of any organization. Nowadays, with the increased competition, service quality has become a popular area of academic research. In order to measure and improve service quality, it is important to use a reliable instrument. In this paper, an integrated approach (Fuzzy Weighted SERVQUAL - QFD) is proposed to help the organization to measure service quality and guide to development of innovative service through identification of weak attribute which are critical to customers. The proposed methodology is documented with practical case …

Solar Energy Resource Assessment Of The Geba Catchment, Northern Ethiopia, Anwar Mahmud, Mulu Kahsay, Asfafaw Tesfay, Ftwi Hagos

Ftwi Yohaness Hagos

The global shift towards renewable energy is manifested in developing countries such as Ethiopia primarily because of continuous economic growth in the last two decades and secondly due to the vast untapped potential resources. In addition to other factors, the lack of accurate data of the resources has, however, hampered the development of solar energy technologies. The aim of this paper is to investigate the resource estimation by undertaking direct measurements at selected sites in the Northern part of Ethiopia. This paper presents an assessment of the solar energy resource based on the primary data collected between January 2011 and …

Determination Of Some Physical Properties Of Castor (Ricirus Communis) Oil, Innovative Research Publications Irp India, Odesanya Kazeem, Olasheu Taiwo, Adebiyi Kazeem, Durowoju Mondiu

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

The energy crisis and shortage of fuel emanating from total dependence on mineral oil with resultant socioeconomic problems demand the need to explore the use of renewable energy as alternative. This study evaluates the physical properties of the castor (Ricirus communis) oil. A quantity of 35 kg dried base decorticated seeds of castor was locally obtained, volume of 5 litres of castor oil was extracted from the seeds using existing hydraulic press machine, while its physical properties was determined through laboratory analytical procedure of American Society for Testing and Materials analytical standard 960-52 (ASTM,D960-52). The properties determined were: viscosity, density, …

Free-Standing Inflatable Solar Chimney: Experiment And Theory, Peter Vorobieff, Andrea Mammoli, Nima Fathi, Vakhtang Putkaradze

Nima Fathi

Big Data And The Precision Business Plan, David J. Muth

David J. Muth

Precision data is available, but current use isn't maximizing value for actionable decisions. AgSolver is delivering products that: make unlike information work together; extend the value of information with specific, high impact decisions; and find the intersection between compliance/certification and profitability.

Field Monitoring Of Rail Squats Using 3d Ultrasonic Mapping Technique, Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Makoto Ishida

Sakdirat Kaewunruen

Rail squats and studs are typically classified as the propagation of any cracks that have grown longitudinally through the subsurface. Some of the cracks could propagate to the bottom of rails transversely, which have branched from the initial longitudinal cracks with a depression of rail surface. The rail defects are commonly referred to as ‘squats’ when they were initiated from damage layer caused by rolling contact fatigue, and as ‘studs’ when they were associated with white etching layer caused by the transform from pearlitic steel due to friction heat generated by wheel sliding or excessive traction. Such above-mentioned rail defects …

Dielectric Properties Of Composite Materials During Damage Accumulation And Fracture, Md. Rassel Raihan

Md. R Raihan

Fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite materials have many unique properties and their high performance makes them available to use in many advanced technologies i.e. aerospace, microelectronics, and energy storage. There is a correlation that exists between the long term behavior of those materials under combined mechanical, thermal, and electrical fields, and the functional properties and characteristics of the composite materials that requires a fundamental understanding of the material state changes caused by deformation and damage accumulation. This will ultimately lead, for example, to the design and synthesis of optimal multifunctional material systems. Composite materials are heterogeneous and the complex morphology …

The Effects Of Polymer Molecular Weight On Filament Thinning And Drop Breakup In Microchannels, Paulo E. Arratia, L-A Cramer, Jerry P. Gollub, Douglas J. Durian

Douglas J. Durian

We investigate the effects of fluid elasticity on the dynamics of filament thinning and drop breakup processes in a cross-slot microchannel. Elasticity effects are examined using dilute aqueous polymeric solutions of molecular weight (MW) ranging from 1.5×103 to 1.8×107. Results for polymeric fluids are compared to those for a viscous Newtonian fluid. The shearing or continuous phase that induces breakup is mineral oil. All fluids possess similar shear-viscosity (~0.2 Pa s) so that the viscosity ratio between the oil and aqueous phases is close to unity. Measurements of filament thickness as a function of time show different thinning behavior for …

Extracting Depth Information From Stereo Vision System, Using A Correlation And A Feature Based Methods, Mahmoud Abdelhamid

Mahmoud M Abdelhamid

This thesis presents a new method to extract depth information from stereo-vision acquisitions using a feature and a correlation based approaches. The main implementation of the proposed method is in the area of Autonomous Pick & Place, using a robotic manipulator. Current vision-guided robotics are still based on a priori training and teaching steps, and still suffer from long response time. The study uses a stereo triangulation setup where two Charged Coupled Devices CCDs are arranged to acquire the scene from two different perspectives. The study discusses the details of two methods to calculate the depth; firstly a correlation matching …

Nonlinear Oscillations Analysis Of The Elevator Cable In A Drum Drive Elevator System, Hassan Askari

No abstract provided.

Model Of A Mechanical Clock Escapement, John Wagner, David Moline, Eugene Vold

John Wagner

The mechanical tower clock originated in Europe during the 14th century to sound hourly bells and later display hands on a dial. An important innovation was the escapement mechanism, which converts stored energy into oscillatory motion for fixed time intervals through the pendulum swing. Previous work has modeled the escapement mechanism in terms of inelastic and elastic collisions. We derive and experimentally verify a theoretical model in terms of impulsive differential equations for the Graham escapement mechanism in a Seth Thomas tower clock. The model offers insight into the clock’s mechanical behavior and the functionality of the deadbeat escapement mechanism.

Assessment Of An Automotive Driving Simulator To Educate Novice Drivers, John Wagner, Qimin Yao, Kim Alexander, Philip Pidgeon

John Wagner

Novice drivers are more likely to be involved in vehicle crashes than more experienced drivers. Transportation system simulators, such as aerospace, automotive, and rail, have been used effectively over several decades in support of operator training and research studies. The immersive high-end automotive simulators tend to be large-scale, difficult to move, and relatively cost ineffective for widespread deployment. In contrast, a mobile vehicle training system often features simplistic environments which are not readily accepted by teenagers who evaluate the driving experience as compared to commercial video games. Consequently, a need exists for a low-cost portable automotive training system that provides …

Focused Novice Driver Program - Assessment Results And Discussion, John Wagner, Lance Clark, Kim Alexander, Philip Pidgeon, Ken Rogich

John Wagner

Skills and experiences of novice drivers do not favorably compare to motorists with significantly greater driving time and life experiences. Recent developments in driver education and training have focused on multistage instruction to take advantage of the time delay for driving privileges in Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) systems as a means to provide additional instruction. A supplemental safe driving program tailored to address the risky behaviors of novice drivers has been developed by Clemson University Automotive Safety Research Institute (CU-ASRI) and the Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE). The program offers training in anticipatory safe driving strategies based on the leading …

Energy Harvesting From Atmospheric Variations - Theory And Test, John Wagner, Gibran Ali, David Moline, Todd Schweisinger

John Wagner

The last two decades have offered a dramatic rise in the use of digital technologies such as wireless sensor networks that require small isolated power supplies. Energy harvesting, a method to gather energy from ambient sources including sunlight, vibrations, heat, etc., has provided some success in powering these systems. One of the unexplored areas of energy harvesting is the use of atmospheric temperature variations to obtain usable energy. This paper investigates an innovative device to extract energy from atmospheric variations using ethyl chloride filled mechanical bellows. The apparatus consists of a bellows filled with ethyl chloride working against a spring …

Nonlinear Control Strategy For Advanced Vehicle Thermal Management Systmes, John Wagner, M H. Salah, T H. Mitchell, D M. Dawson

John Wagner

Advanced thermal management systems for internal combustion engines can improve coolant temperature regulation and servomotor power consumption by better regulating the combustion process with multiple computer controlled electromechanical components. The traditional thermostat valve, coolant pump, and clutch-driven radiator fan are upgraded with servomotor actuators. When the system components function harmoniously, desired thermal conditions can be accomplished in a power efficient manner. In this paper, a comprehensive nonlinear control architecture is proposed for transient temperature tracking. An experimental system has been fabricated and assembled which features a variable position smart valve, variable speed electric water pump, variable speed electric radiator fan, …

Development Of A Second-Stage Novice Driver Education And Training Program, John Wagner, M Jensen, F Switzer, K Alexander, P Pidgeon

John Wagner

Novice drivers are overrepresented in traffic crashes and fatalities. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for 16 to 20 year olds and account for one in three deaths in this age group (NHTSA, 2008; CDC, 2010). Significant research has been conducted developing and analyzing driver education and training and education programs. Effective programs identify their target audiences and tailor the program paradigm and methods to their developmental needs. This paper develops a second-stage safe driver program for novice drivers focusing on classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction for four common driving skills and situations: braking, avoiding obstacles, losing control, and …

Hydraulic Actuated Automotive Cooling Systems - Nonlinear Control And Test, John Wagner, M H. Salah, P M. Frick, D M. Dawson

John Wagner

The replacement of traditional automotive mechanical cooling system components with computer controlled servo-motor driven actuators can improve temperature tracking and reduce parasitic losses. The integration of hydraulic actuators in the engine cooling circuit offers greater power density in a smaller package space when compared with electric actuators. In this paper, a comprehensive nonlinear backstepping robust control technique is developed to regulate the engine coolant temperature by controlling a hydraulic coolant pump and radiator fan. An experimental test bench has been assembled to investigate the hydraulic automotive thermal system performance. Representative numerical and experimental results are presented and discussed. Overall, the …

Evaluation Of On-Board Photovoltaic Modules Options For Electric Vehicles, Mahmoud M. Abdelhamid

Mahmoud M Abdelhamid

This paper presents an overview of different commercial photovoltaic (PV) module options to power on-board electric vehicles (EVs). We propose the evaluation factors, constraints, and the decision-making criteria necessary to assess the suitability of this PV module for this application. The incorporation of quality function deployment (QFD) and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is the decision-making methodology used in this study. Our approach is innovative and robust in that the evaluation depends upon data collected from PV manufactures datasheets. Unlike traditional research, a hybrid AHP and QFD innovative decision-making methodology has been created, and current commercial PV market data for …

Nonlinear Vibration Analysis Of Nonlocal Nanowires, Hassan Askari

No abstract provided.

Full-Field Vibrometry By High-Speed Digital Holography For Middle-Ear Mechanics, Ivo Dobrev

Ivo Dobrev

Hearing loss affects approximately 1 in 10 people in the world and this percentage is increasing every year. Some of the most common courses for hearing loss are disorders of the human tympanic membrane (TM or eardrum) and middle-ear. Early detection and diagnosis of hearing loss as well as research and understanding of the hearing process depend on medical and research tools for quantification of the hearing capabilities, including the function of the human TM in the complex acoustic-mechanical transformation of environmental sounds into vibrations of the middle- and the inner-ear. Current ear exams are assessing the state of the …

Crop Decision-Making To Protect Soil And Water, David J. Muth

David J. Muth

David Muth, a founding partner and senior vice president for analytics at AgSolver Inc., discusses crop decision making in the context of soil and water protection.

Thermodynamic Analysis Of Separation Systems, Y. Demirel

YASAR DEMIREL

Separation systems mainly involve interfacial mass and heat transfer as well as mixing. Distillation is a major separation system by means of heat supplied from a higher temperature level at the reboiler and rejected in the condenser at a lower temperature level. Therefore, it resembles a heat engine producing a separation work with a rather low efficiency. Lost work (energy) in separation systems is due to irreversible processes of heat, mass transfer, and mixing, and is directly related to entropy production according to the Gouy-Stodola principle. In many separation systems of absorption, desorption, extraction, and membrane separation, the major irreversibility …

Surface Hardness Of Friction Stir Welded Aa6063 Pipe, Azman Ismail, Mokhtar Awang

AZMAN ISMAIL

The external surface hardness of friction stir welded aluminum alloy 6063 pipe joint was investigated in this paper. The 89mm of outside diameter pipe with 5mm of wall thickness was used as test pipe piece for this experiment on closed butt joint configuration by utilising Bridgeport 2216 CNC milling machine and orbital clamping unit specially designed to cater for this task and function. Several welded samples were produced on varying process parameters which were successfully joined by using a non-consumable tool with a flat shoulder and a cylindrical pin.

Surface Hardness Of Friction Stir Welded Aa6063 Pipe, Azman Ismail, Mokhtar Awang

Azman Ismail

The external surface hardness of friction stir welded aluminum alloy 6063 pipe joint was investigated in this paper. The 89mm of outside diameter pipe with 5mm of wall thickness was used as test pipe piece for this experiment on closed butt joint configuration by utilising Bridgeport 2216 CNC milling machine and orbital clamping unit specially designed to cater for this task and function. Several welded samples were produced on varying process parameters which were successfully joined by using a non-consumable tool with a flat shoulder and a cylindrical pin.

Application Of Limited Mixing In The Hele-Shaw Geometry In Fabrication Of Janus Hydrogels, Md Mahmudur Rahman

Md Mahmudur Rahman

It is widely accepted that cells behave differently responding to the stiffness of their extracellular matrix (ECM). Such observations were made by culturing cells on hydrogel substrates of tunable stiffness. However, it was recently proposed that cells may sense how strongly they are tethered to ECM, not the local stiffness of ECM. To investigate both hypotheses, we developed a method to fabricate Janus polyacrylamide (PAAM) gels. We squeeze two drops of different concentrations in the Hele-Shaw geometry to generate radial Stokes flow. When the drops coalesce, limited mixing occurs at the interface due to the narrow confinement, and diffusion normal …

Real-Time Simulation Of Three-Dimensional Shoulder Girdle And Arm Dynamics, Edward K. Chadwick, Dimitra Blana, Robert F. Kirsch, Antonie J. Van Den Bogert

Antonie J. van den Bogert

Electrical stimulation is a promising technology for the restoration of arm function in paralyzed individuals. Control of the paralyzed arm under electrical stimulation, however, is a challenging problem that requires advanced controllers and command interfaces for the user. A real-time model describing the complex dynamics of the arm would allow user-in-the-loop type experiments where the command interface and controller could be assessed. Real-time models of the arm previously described have not included the ability to model the independently controlled scapula and clavicle, limiting their utility for clinical applications of this nature. The goal of this study therefore was to evaluate …

Matching Building Energy Simulation Result Against Measured Data With Weather File Compensation Factors, L Carl Fiocchi Jr, Simi T. Hoque, Benjamin S. Weil

L. Carl Fiocchi

Validation Of A Fault-Modeling Equipped Vapor Compression System Model Using A Fault Detection And Diagnostics Evaluation Tool, David P. Yuill, Howard Cheung, James E. Braun

David Yuill

A methodology for evaluating the performance of fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) tools for unitary air- conditioners has been developed (Yuill and Braun 2013). The methodology uses laboratory measurements of systems with and without faults to test FDD tools’ effectiveness. A gray box modeling method capable of modeling systems with faults was developed by Cheung and Braun (2013a and 2013b) to provide input data, as an alternative to using laboratory data that had been collected. The simulation method was validated by direct comparison with experimental data, but a comparison of FDD evaluation results provides a more direct and useful validation …