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Large Scale Cryogenic Storage With Active Refrigeration, Adam Swanger Aug 2018

Large Scale Cryogenic Storage With Active Refrigeration, Adam Swanger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Storage and transfer of cryogenic liquefied gases on volume scales from under 10 liters for lab use, up to hundreds of millions of liters for industrial applications is of paramount importance across a vast range of industries. Traditionally, these commodities have been stored at or near the normal boiling point due to relative ease of operation and safety-related considerations; however, this also means that some percentage will always be lost due to environmental heat leaking into the vessel and causing boiloff. These losses become more concerning as scales increase, and are of particular importance for high-cost commodities such helium and …


Thermodynamic Modeling And Transient Simulation Of A Low-Pressure Heat Recovery Steam Generator Using Siemens T3000, Andres Caesar Aug 2018

Thermodynamic Modeling And Transient Simulation Of A Low-Pressure Heat Recovery Steam Generator Using Siemens T3000, Andres Caesar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With world energy consumption rising, and nonrenewable energy resources quickly depleting, it is essential to design more efficient power plants and thereby economically utilize fossil fuels. To that end, this work focuses on the thermodynamic modeling of steam power systems to enhance our understanding of their dynamic and transient behavior. This thesis discusses the physical phenomena behind a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and develops a mathematical description of its system dynamics. The model is developed from fundamentals of fluid dynamics, phase change, heat transfer, conservation laws and unsteady flow energy equations. The resulting model captures coupled physical phenomena with …


Nondestructive Testing Methods Aided Via Numerical Computation Models For Various Critical Aerospace Power Generation Systems, Peter Warren Jan 2018

Nondestructive Testing Methods Aided Via Numerical Computation Models For Various Critical Aerospace Power Generation Systems, Peter Warren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A current critical necessity for all industries which utilize various equipment that operates in high temperature and extreme environments, is the ability to collect and analyze data via non destructive testing (NDT) methods. Operational conditions and material health must be constantly monitored if components are to be implemented precisely to increase the overall performance and efficiency of the process. Currently in both aerospace and power generation systems there are many methods that are being employed to gather several necessary properties and parameters of a given system. This work will focus primarly on two of these NDT methods, with the ultimate …


A Localized Blended Rbf Collocation Method For Effective Shock Capturing, Michael Harris Jan 2018

A Localized Blended Rbf Collocation Method For Effective Shock Capturing, Michael Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Solving partial differential equations (PDEs) can require numerical methods, especially for non-linear problems and complex geometry. Common numerical methods used today are the finite difference method (FDM), finite element method (FEM) and the finite volume method (FVM). These methods require a mesh or grid before a solution is attempted. Developing the mesh can require expensive preprocessing time and the quality of the mesh can have major effects on the solution. In recent years, meshless methods have become a research interest due to the simplicity of using scattered data points. Many types of meshless methods exist stemming from the spectral or …


Flutter Stability Of Shrouded Turbomachinery Cascades With Nonlinear Frictional Damping, Alex Torkaman Jan 2018

Flutter Stability Of Shrouded Turbomachinery Cascades With Nonlinear Frictional Damping, Alex Torkaman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prediction of flutter in shrouded turbomachinery cascades is difficult due to i) coupling of aerodynamic drivers and structural dynamics of the cascade through shrouds, and ii) presence of nonlinear dry friction damping as a result of relative motion between adjacent shrouds. An analytical framework is developed in this dissertation to determine flutter stability of shrouded cascades with consideration of friction damping. This framework is an extension to the well-established energy method, and it includes all contributing factors affecting stability of the cascade such as aerodynamic excitation and the stabilizing effects of dry friction damping caused by nonlinear contact forces between …


Adiabatic Film Cooling Effectiveness Of A Transpiration-Cooled Leading Edge Fabricated By Laser Additive Manufacturing, Luisana Calderon Jan 2018

Adiabatic Film Cooling Effectiveness Of A Transpiration-Cooled Leading Edge Fabricated By Laser Additive Manufacturing, Luisana Calderon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Laser additive manufacturing (LAM) is an emerging technology capable of fabricating complex geometries not possibly made by investment casting methods for gas turbine applications. LAM techniques consist of building parts in a layer-by-layer process by selectively melting metal powders. In the present study, a mock leading edge segment of a turbine blade fabricated by LAM of Inconel 718 powders is investigated. For this particular design, the traditional showerhead film cooling holes have been replaced by two strips containing engineered-porous regions with the purpose of simulating the effect of transpiration cooling. Transpiration cooling has been considered a promising external convective cooling …


Experimental Investigation Of Advanced Ignition Systems For High Efficiency Combustion, Bader Almansour Jan 2018

Experimental Investigation Of Advanced Ignition Systems For High Efficiency Combustion, Bader Almansour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Consumption of fossil and bio-derived fuels is growing due to energy demands associated with increase in population and standard of living across the globe. Power generation and transportation sectors are the primary two sources of fuel consumption, which have raised the demand for crude oil and led to serious environmental pollution issues. This demand for energy forced various government agencies to strengthen the allowable exhaust pollutant concentration limits. Recently, CO, CO2, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission restrictions have become more stringent to the extent that engines must operate at higher energy densities and efficiencies. Towards this goal, this …


Energy-Optimal Guidance Of An Auv Under Flow Uncertainty And Fluid-Particle Interaction, Demuni Singith De Zoysa Abeysiriwardena Jan 2018

Energy-Optimal Guidance Of An Auv Under Flow Uncertainty And Fluid-Particle Interaction, Demuni Singith De Zoysa Abeysiriwardena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The work presented gives an energy-optimal solution to the guidance problem of an AUV. The presented guidance methods are for lower level control of AUV paths, facilitating existing global planning methods to be carried out comparatively more efficiently. The underlying concept is to use the energy of fluid flow fields the AUVs are navigating to extend the duration of missions. This allows gathering of comparatively more data with higher spatio-temporal resolution. The problem is formulated for a generalized two dimensional uniform flow field given a fixed final time and free end states. This allows the AUVs to navigate to certain …


Turbulent Flame-Vortex Dynamics Of Bluff-Body Premixed Flames, Marissa Geikie Jan 2018

Turbulent Flame-Vortex Dynamics Of Bluff-Body Premixed Flames, Marissa Geikie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the effects of turbulence and pressure-gradient tailoring on the turbulent flame and vorticity transport mechanisms of premixed flames. A turbulent premixed flame stabilized by a bluff-body in a high-speed combustor is used for the investigation. The combustor pressure gradient is altered using a variable-geometry test section. The turbulence within the combustor is controlled using a custom-designed, supersonic variable-turbulence generator. The turbulent flame-flow field is measured and characterized using simultaneous high-speed particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) and CH* chemiluminescence. The flame-vortex dynamics of the turbulent flame are analyzed using a Lagrangian tracking methodology. Lagrangian fluid elements (LFEs) are tagged …


Bio-Inspired Visual Servo Control Of A Picking Mechanism In An Agricultural Ground Robot, Sinem Gozde Defterli Jan 2018

Bio-Inspired Visual Servo Control Of A Picking Mechanism In An Agricultural Ground Robot, Sinem Gozde Defterli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For a recently constructed disease detection agricultural ground robot, the segregation of unhealthy leaves from strawberry plants is a major task of the robot's manipulation subsystem in field operations. In this dissertation, the motion planning of a custom-designed picking mechanism in the ground robot's subsystem is studied in two sections. First, a set of analytical, suboptimal semi-analytical and numerical algorithms are studied to solve the inverse kinematics problem of the handling mechanism in firm circumstances. These premeditated approaches are built on the computation of the joint variables by an identified 3D position data of the target leaf only. The outcomes …


Navigation Of An Autonomous Differential Drive Robot For Field Scouting In Semi-Structured Environments, Douglas Freese Jan 2018

Navigation Of An Autonomous Differential Drive Robot For Field Scouting In Semi-Structured Environments, Douglas Freese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the interests of introducing autonomous robots by growers into agriculture fields are rejuvenated due to the ever-increasing labor cost and the recent declining numbers of seasonal workers. The utilization of customized, autonomous agricultural robots has a profound impact on future orchard operations by providing low cost, meticulous inspection. Different sensors have been proven proficient in agrarian navigation including the likes of GPS, inertial, magnetic, rotary encoding, time of flight as well as vision. To compensate for anticipated disturbances, variances and constraints contingent to the outdoor semi-structured environment, a differential style drive vehicle will be implemented as an …


Investigation Into The Feasibility Of Adding Turbulators To Rocket Combustion Chamber Cooling Channels Using A Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis, Tyler Buchanan Jan 2018

Investigation Into The Feasibility Of Adding Turbulators To Rocket Combustion Chamber Cooling Channels Using A Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis, Tyler Buchanan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A conjugate heat transfer analysis will be carried out to simulate an 89 kN thrust chamber hydrogen cooling channel, to determine the feasibility of adding turbulators to the combustion chamber cooling channels at various parameters such as angle, pitch, and height of the turbulator. An existing regeneratively cooled chamber environment is simulated and used as a baseline case to be compared against. The new design includes using ribbed turbulators or delta wedges in the cooling channels to increase the heat transfer on the channel hot wall (wall adjacent to the hot gas wall) and on the two channel sidewalls. With …


Mechanisms Of Flame Extinction For Bluff Body Stabilized Flames With Influences Of Pressure Gradient Tailoring, Anthony Morales Jan 2018

Mechanisms Of Flame Extinction For Bluff Body Stabilized Flames With Influences Of Pressure Gradient Tailoring, Anthony Morales

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flame extinction continues to hinder the performance of combustion technologies used in propulsion systems and power generating turbomachinery. Within these applications, there is a crucial need to improve energy output while minimizing harmful environmental impacts. Lean combustion helps attain these goals by minimizing fuel costs and reducing NOx emissions. However, operating at lean conditions increases the likelihood of flame extinction; the flame becomes more susceptible to hydrodynamic instabilities which can induce global blowout and termination of the combustion process. The work in this thesis is focused on identifying the mechanisms of flame extinction and controlling these mechanisms via pressure gradient …


Brain Stethoscope: A Non-Invasive Method For Monitoring Intracranial Pressure, Md Khurshidul Azad Jan 2018

Brain Stethoscope: A Non-Invasive Method For Monitoring Intracranial Pressure, Md Khurshidul Azad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) is important for patients with increased intracranial pressure. Invasive methods of ICP monitoring include lumbar puncture manometry, which requires high precision, is costly, and can lead to complications. Non-invasive monitoring of ICP using tympanic membrane pulse (TMp) measurement can provide an alternative monitoring method that avoids such complications. In the current study, a piezo based sensor was designed, constructed and used to acquire TMp signals. The results showed that tympanic membrane waveform changed in morphology and amplitude with increased ICP, which was induced by changing subject position using a tilt table. In addition, the results suggest …


Mechanism Design Of A Compact 4-Dof Robotic Needle Guide For Mri-Guided Prostate Intervention, Shihao Zhang Jan 2018

Mechanism Design Of A Compact 4-Dof Robotic Needle Guide For Mri-Guided Prostate Intervention, Shihao Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past several MRI compatible robotic needle guide devices for targeted prostate biopsy have been developed. The large and complex structure have been identified as the major limitations of those devices. Such limitations, in addition to complex steps for device to image registration have prevented widespread implementation of MRI-guided prostate biopsy despite the advantages of MRI compared to TRUS. We have designed a compact MRI-guided robotic intervention with the capability to have angulated insertion to avoid damage to any anatomical feature along the needle path. The system consists of a novel mechanism driven Robotic Needle Guide (RNG). The RNG …


Fluid Dynamics Modeling And Sound Analysis Of A Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve, Fardin Khalili Jan 2018

Fluid Dynamics Modeling And Sound Analysis Of A Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve, Fardin Khalili

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of death in the world. Some CVD involve severe heart valve disease that require valve replacement. There are more than 300,000 heart valves implanted worldwide, and about 85,000 heart valve replacements in the US. Approximately half of these valves are mechanical. Artificial valves may dysfunction leading to adverse hemodynamic conditions. Understanding the normal and abnormal valve function is important as it help improve valve designs. Modeling of heart valve hemodynamics using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides a comprehensive analysis of flow, which can potentially help explain clinical observations and support therapeutic …


Biomechanical Models Of Human Upper And Tracheal Airway Functionality, Don Nadun Kuruppumullage Jan 2018

Biomechanical Models Of Human Upper And Tracheal Airway Functionality, Don Nadun Kuruppumullage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The respiratory tract, in other words, the airway, is the primary airflow path for several physiological activities such as coughing, breathing, and sneezing. Diseases can impact airway functionality through various means including cancer of the head and neck, Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, and sleep disorders and all of which are considered in this study. In this dissertation, numerical modeling techniques were used to simulate three distinct airway diseases: a weak cough leading to aspiration, upper airway patency in obstructive sleep apnea, and tongue cancer in swallow disorders. The work described in this dissertation, therefore, divided into three biomechanical …


A Modeling Framework Of Brittle And Ductile Fractures Coexistence In Composites, Yangyang Qiao Jan 2018

A Modeling Framework Of Brittle And Ductile Fractures Coexistence In Composites, Yangyang Qiao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to reduce the weight of automobiles and aircrafts, lightweight materials, such as aluminum alloy, advanced high strength steel, composite materials, are widely used to replace the traditional materials like mild steel. Composite materials are complicated in material mechanical properties and less investigated compared to metallic materials. Engineering composites can be categorized into polymer matrix composites (PMCs), metal matrix composites (MMCs) and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) according to their matrix materials. A set of mechanical experiments ranging from micro scale (single fiber composite and thin film composite) to macro scale (PMCs and MMCs) were conducted to fully understand the …


A Framework For Miniaturized Mechanical Characterization Of Tensile, Creep, And Fatigue Properties Of Slm Alloys, Jonathan Torres-Caceres Jan 2018

A Framework For Miniaturized Mechanical Characterization Of Tensile, Creep, And Fatigue Properties Of Slm Alloys, Jonathan Torres-Caceres

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the heightened design complexity that may be achieved through additive manufacturing (AM) comes an equally complex set of distinct material characteristics. To properly characterize new materials for use in selective laser melting (SLM), extensive analysis is necessary. Traditional testing techniques, however, can be prohibitive in time and cost incurred. The small punch test (SPT) has been developed for such purposes, where material is scarce or costly. Although lacking standardization, SPT has been successfully employed with various materials to assess material properties such as the yield and ultimate strength and verified by traditional testing results. With the accompaniment of numerical …


Characterization, Classification, And Genesis Of Seismocardiographic Signals, Amirtaha Taebi Jan 2018

Characterization, Classification, And Genesis Of Seismocardiographic Signals, Amirtaha Taebi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Seismocardiographic (SCG) signals are the acoustic and vibration induced by cardiac activity measured non-invasively at the chest surface. These signals may offer a method for diagnosing and monitoring heart function. Successful classification of SCG signals in health and disease depends on accurate signal characterization and feature extraction. In this study, SCG signal features were extracted in the time, frequency, and time-frequency domains. Different methods for estimating time-frequency features of SCG were investigated. Results suggested that the polynomial chirplet transform outperformed wavelet and short time Fourier transforms. Many factors may contribute to increasing intrasubject SCG variability including subject posture and respiratory …


Pressure Image Based Attitude Controller For Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Kenneth Thompson Jan 2018

Pressure Image Based Attitude Controller For Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Kenneth Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As technology improves, small unmanned aerial vehicles (SUAV) have been identified for their utility in a variety of applications in which larger unmanned craft may be incapable of accomplishing mission objectives. These aircraft with their small size and long flight durations are ideal for hazardous inspection and long duration surveillance missions. One challenge preventing the widespread adoption of these systems is their instability to abrupt changes in the flow field around them due to wind gusts or flow separation. Currently, traditional rigid body based sensors are implemented in their flight control systems, which are sufficient in higher inertia aircraft for …


Electrospray And Superlens Effect Of Microdroplets For Laser-Assisted Nanomanufacturing, Eduardo Castillo Orozco Jan 2018

Electrospray And Superlens Effect Of Microdroplets For Laser-Assisted Nanomanufacturing, Eduardo Castillo Orozco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanoparticles of various materials are known to exhibit excellent mechanical, chemical, electrical, and optical properties. However, it is difficult to deposit and transform nanoparticles into large two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures, such as thin films and discrete arrays. Electrospray technology and laser heating enable the deposition of these nanoparticles through the dual role of microdroplets as nanoparticle carriers and superlenses. The main goals of this dissertation are to delineate the electrospray modes, to achieve subwavelength focusing, and to enable a process for the deposition of nanoparticles into microlayers and discrete nanodots (a nanodot is a cluster of nanoparticles) on rigid and …


Characterization Of Fast Flames For Turbulence-Induced Deflagration To Detonation Transition, Jessica Chambers Jan 2018

Characterization Of Fast Flames For Turbulence-Induced Deflagration To Detonation Transition, Jessica Chambers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One of the fundamental mechanisms for detonation initiation is turbulence driven deflagration to detonation transition (TDDT). The research experimentally explores the propagation dynamics demonstrated by fast deflagrated flames interacting with highly turbulent reactants. Fast flames produce extremely high turbulent flame speeds values, increased levels of compressibility and develop a runaway mechanism that leads to TDDT. The flame structural dynamics and reacting flow field are characterized using simultaneous high-speed particle image velocimetry, chemiluminescence, and Schlieren measurements. The investigation classifies the fast flame propagation modes at various regimes. The study further examines the conditions for a turbulent fast flame at the boundary …


The Study Of An Impinging Unsteady Jet - Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer Analysis, Andrea Osorio Jan 2018

The Study Of An Impinging Unsteady Jet - Fluid Mechanics And Heat Transfer Analysis, Andrea Osorio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The high heat transfer capabilities of impinging jets have led to their widespread use in industrial applications, such as gas turbine cooling. These impinging jets are usually manufactured on the walls of super-alloy metals and are influenced by being positioned with a confined setting. Studies have been shown to enhance the heat transfer of impinging jets by fluctuating the flow which will be analyzed in this project with two designs. The first design is a self-sustaining stationary fluidic oscillator that causes a sweeping motion jet to impinge on the surface. This is investigated using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to study …


Multi-Scale Fluid-Structure Interaction Model Analysis Of Patient-Specific Geometry For Optimization Of Lvad Outflow Graft Implantation: An Investigation Aimed At Reducing Stroke Risk, Ray Prather Jan 2018

Multi-Scale Fluid-Structure Interaction Model Analysis Of Patient-Specific Geometry For Optimization Of Lvad Outflow Graft Implantation: An Investigation Aimed At Reducing Stroke Risk, Ray Prather

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), is a mechanical pump capable of providing circulatory myocardium relief when used as bridge-to-transplantation by reducing the workload of a failing heart, with the additional bonus of allowing for cardiac recovery when used as destination therapy. The newer generations of continuous flow VADs are essentially axial or radial flow pumps, and while these devices are capable their efficiency depends upon fluid composition and flow field patterns. The most devastating complication of VAD therapy is caused by embolization of thrombi formed within the LVAD or inside the heart into the brain leading to stroke. Anticoagulation …


Numerical Study Of Interfacial Flow Using Algebraic Coupled Level Set-Volume Of Fluid (A-Clsvof) Method, Majid Haghshenas Jan 2018

Numerical Study Of Interfacial Flow Using Algebraic Coupled Level Set-Volume Of Fluid (A-Clsvof) Method, Majid Haghshenas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Solving interfacial flows numerically has been a challenge due to the lack of sharpness and the presence of spurious currents at the interface. Two methods, Algebraic Coupled Level Set-Volume of Fluid (A-CLSVOF) method and Ghost Fluid Method (GFM) have been developed in the finite volume framework and employed in several interfacial flows such as Rayleigh-Taylor instability, rising bubble, impinging droplet and cross-flow oil plume. In the static droplet simulation, A-CLSVOF substantially reduces the spurious currents. The capillary wave relaxation shows that this method delivers results comparable to those of more rigorous methods such as Front Tracking methods for fine grids. …


Investigation Of Oxy-Fuel Combustion Behind Reflected Shockwaves, Owen Pryor Jan 2018

Investigation Of Oxy-Fuel Combustion Behind Reflected Shockwaves, Owen Pryor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Supercritical carbon dioxide has brought about new questions on the chemical kinetics of several small hydrocarbon fuels and the effects of carbon dioxide as the primary diluent on the different fuels. This report presents work on the ignition delay times and several species time-histories of methane, ethylene and syngas over a range of conditions. All experiments were conducted behind reflected shock waves using two different shock tubes. The ignition delay times were measured using a GaP photodetector to measure the emission of light. The species time-histories were measured using single laser spectroscopy. The effect of CO2 as a diluent on …


Application Of Trained Pod-Rbf To Interpolation In Heat Transfer And Fluid Mechanics, Rebecca A. Ashley Jan 2018

Application Of Trained Pod-Rbf To Interpolation In Heat Transfer And Fluid Mechanics, Rebecca A. Ashley

Honors Undergraduate Theses

To accurately model or predict future operating conditions of a system in engineering or applied mechanics, it is necessary to understand its fundamental principles. These may be the material parameters, defining dimensional characteristics, or the boundary conditions. However, there are instances when there is little to no prior knowledge of the system properties or conditions, and consequently, the problem cannot be modeled accurately. It is therefore critical to define a method that can identify the desired characteristics of the current system without accumulating extensive computation time. This thesis formulates an inverse approach using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) with an accompanying …


Equibiaxial Flexural Strength Testing Of Advance Ceramics, Ryan T. Jordan Jan 2018

Equibiaxial Flexural Strength Testing Of Advance Ceramics, Ryan T. Jordan

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Ceramics are very important materials with many unique properties used in numerous industrial applications. Ceramics could be very hard and very strong in comparison to metals; however, they are very brittle, thus they are prone to instantaneous and catastrophic failure. Therefore, their reliability is compromised and it is very important to have advanced techniques that allow evaluating their mechanical behavior in many unusual stress states. One of such testing methods is biaxial strength method, that allows to measure properties not only unidirectional, but also in a biaxial way. The research work for this thesis will be built on design and …


Mechanical Properties Of The Skeleton Of Acropora Cervicornis, Bridget Masa Jan 2018

Mechanical Properties Of The Skeleton Of Acropora Cervicornis, Bridget Masa

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This research explores the instantaneous mechanical behavior of the skeleton of the critically endangered staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis. Both bleached and sanded skeletons were used in this experiment. The Raman spectroscopy test showed that there was no significant change in the Raman shift between the three branches tested. The shifts were nearly identical to Raman shifts of calcium carbonate. Vickers hardness test found that 1 Bleached had the average hardness of 3.44 GPa with a standard deviation of 0.12 GPa. The sanded sample also had a similar value of 3.54 GPa with a standard deviation of 0.13 GPa. Samples from …