Engineering Commons^™

An Analysis Of The Barriers To And Drivers Of Green Public Procurement In Achieving A More Sustainable Construction Industry, Myles Keaveney, Paul Butler

Conference papers

The public sector in Ireland possesses enormous purchasing power which has the strength to affect production and consumption trends in all market sectors. Environmental purchasing tools such as Green Public Procurement (GPP) are seen by many as the solution to greener purchasing decisions in order to obtain and maintain not only a more sustainable construction sector but also a more sustainable economy. The purpose of this research is to determine and examine the key barriers to and drivers of implementing GPP in public procurement departments in order to reduce the effect construction works have on the environment. There was limited ...

Design Of Microwave Lowpass Filters Based On Metamaterial Components, Mushtaq Ahmed

Mushtaq A. Alqaisy

No abstract provided.

Cmmi High Maturity, Jack Calis

Jack Calis

Software Education Service in Asia, Europe and Africa, CMMI High Maturity based process of software process consultants and training in by CMMI-High Maturity.

In Operando Mechanism Analysis On Nanocrystalline Silicon Anode Material For Reversible And Ultrafast Sodium Storage, Lei Zhang, Xianluo Hu, Chaoji Chen, Haipeng Guo, Xiaoxiao Liu, Gengzhao Xu, Haijian Zhong, Shuang Cheng, Peng Wu, Jiashen Meng, Yunhui Huang, Shi Xue Dou, Hua-Kun Liu

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Presently, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the most promising commercialized electrochemical energy storage systems. Unfortunately, the limited resource of Li results in increasing cost for its scalable application and a general consciousness of the need to find new type of energy storage technologies. Very recently, substantial effort has been invested to sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their effectively unlimited nature of sodium resources. Furthermore, the potential of Li/Li+ is 0.3 V lower than that of Na/Na+, which makes it more effective to limit the electrolyte degradation on the outer surface of the electrode.[1] Nevertheless, one major obstacle ...

Studies On Stable Crack Growth, Mohammed Juma Humaid Al-Ghafri

Theses

The goal of this work is to experimentally investigate the stable crack growth (SCG) fracture behavior of AISI 4340 alloy steel. A series of mode I and mixed mode SCG fracture tests were carried out on 8 mm thick compact tension (CT) specimens subjected to quasistatic loading. The wire cutting technique was used to introduce a pre-notch/ pre-crack of 0.05 mm root radius to the specimen. Five different loading angles Ψ between the loading axis and the crack surface were employed; 90° (mode I), 75°, 65°, 60° and 50°. Five different ratios of original crack length to specimen width ...

Recursive Non-Local Means Filter For Video Denoising, Redha A. Ali, Russell C. Hardie

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient algorithm for video denoising that exploits temporal and spatial redundancy. The proposed method is based on non-local means (NLM). NLM methods have been applied successfully in various image denoising applications. In the single-frame NLM method, each output pixel is formed as a weighted sum of the center pixels of neighboring patches, within a given search window.

The weights are based on the patch intensity vector distances. The process requires computing vector distances for all of the patches in the search window. Direct extension of this method from 2D to 3D, for video ...

Fast On-Line Kernel Density Estimation For Active Object Localization, Anthony D. Rhodes, Max H. Quinn, Melanie Mitchell

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

A major goal of computer vision is to enable computers to interpret visual situations—abstract concepts (e.g., “a person walking a dog,” “a crowd waiting for a bus,” “a picnic”) whose image instantiations are linked more by their common spatial and semantic structure than by low-level visual similarity. In this paper, we propose a novel method for prior learning and active object localization for this kind of knowledge-driven search in static images. In our system, prior situation knowledge is captured by a set of flexible, kernel-based density estimations— a situation model—that represent the expected spatial structure of the ...

Combined Model Predictive Control And Scheduling With Dominant Time Constant Compensation, Logan Beal, Junho Park, Damon Petersen, Sean C. Warnick, John Hedengren

All Faculty Publications

Linear model predictive control is extended to both control and optimize a product grade schedule. The proposed methods are time-scaling of the linear dynamics based on throughput rates and grade-based objectives for product scheduling based on a mathematical program with complementarity constraints. The linear model is adjusted with a residence time approximation to time-scale the dynamics based on throughput. Although nonlinear models directly account for changing dynamics, the model form is restricted to linear differential equations to enable fast online cycle times for large-scale and real-time systems. This method of extending a linear time-invariant model for scheduling is designed for ...

Innovation Of Driving Gear Train System For Developer Unit Of Lexmark Home Printers, Jay A. Crist, Sarah Gore, Kun Xie, Michael Mixoon

University of Tennessee Honors Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

Smooth Operator: Control Using The Smooth Robustness Of Temporal Logic, Yash Vardhan Pant, Houssam Abbas, Rahul Mangharam

Real-Time and Embedded Systems Lab (mLAB)

Modern control systems, like controllers for swarms of quadrotors, must satisfy complex control objectives while withstanding a wide range of disturbances, from bugs in their software to attacks on their sensors and changes in their environments. These requirements go beyond stability and tracking, and involve temporal and sequencing constraints on system response to various events. This work formalizes the requirements as formulas in Metric Temporal Logic (MTL), and designs a controller that maximizes the robustness of the MTL formula. Formally, if the system satisfies the formula with robustness r, then any disturbance of size less than r cannot cause it ...

Projected Nesterov’S Proximal-Gradient Algorithm For Sparse Signal Recovery, Renliang Gu, Aleksandar Dogandžić

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Abstract: We develop a projected Nesterov's proximal-gradient (PNPG) approach for sparse signal reconstruction that combines adaptive step size with Nesterov's momentum acceleration. The objective function that we wish to minimize is the sum of a convex differentiable data-fidelity (negative log-likelihood (NLL)) term and a convex regularization term. We apply sparse signal regularization where the signal belongs to a closed convex set within the closure of the domain of the NLL; the convex-set constraint facilitates flexible NLL domains and accurate signal recovery. Signal sparsity is imposed using the ℓ₁ -norm penalty on the signal's linear transform coefficients ...

Development And Application Of Hydraulic And Hydrogeologic Models To Better Inform Management Decisions, Trinity L. Stout

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water is one of the most important and limited resources in regions with little rainfall. As populations continue to grow, so does the need for water. Individuals in water management positions need to be well informed in order to avoid potential negative effects concerning the overall quality and amount of water available for both people and the environment. In order to provide better information for these individuals, computer models and mathematical relationships are commonly developed to estimate the outcome of different situations regarding surface water and groundwater. Along these lines, this study focused on two modeling studies that provide information ...

Heat Transfer Analysis Of Localized Heat-Treatment For Grade 91 Steel, Jacob D. Walker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many of the projects utilizing Grade 91 steel are large in scale, therefore it is necessary to assemble on site. The assembly of the major pieces often requires welding in the assembly; welding drastically changes the superior mechanical properties of Grade 91 steel that it was specifically developed for. Therefore, because of the adverse effects of welding on the mechanical properties of Grade 91, it is necessary to do a localized post weld heat treatment.

In this study a localized post weld heat treatment is used to gather experimental data. The data is then used to derive unknown heat transfer ...

Cruise Missile Integrated Air Defense System Penetration: Modeling The S-400 System, Michael Pelosi, Amie K. Honeycutt

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This research determines improved flight-path routes that make maximum utilization of terrain-masking opportunities, and defending radar and missile system equipment performance and launch timing constraints, in order to avoid radar detection and tracking, and to mitigate subsequent missile shoot-down risks. The problem is formulated as one of constrained optimization in three dimensions. Advantageous solutions are identified using the A* Algorithm in conjunction with detailed equipment performance and constraint calculations and high-resolution digital terrain elevation maps. Topographical features in digital terrain are exploited by the algorithm to avoid radar detection and tracking. The model includes provisions for all-aspect/all-frequency radar cross ...

Recursive Non-Local Means Filter For Video Denoising, Redha A. Ali, Russell C. Hardie

Russell C. Hardie

In this paper, we propose a computationally efficient algorithm for video denoising that exploits temporal and spatial redundancy. The proposed method is based on non-local means (NLM). NLM methods have been applied successfully in various image denoising applications. In the single-frame NLM method, each output pixel is formed as a weighted sum of the center pixels of neighboring patches, within a given search window. The weights are based on the patch intensity vector distances. The process requires computing vector distances for all of the patches in the search window. Direct extension of this method from 2D to 3D, for video ...

Simulation Of Anisoplanatic Imaging Through Optical Turbulence Using Numerical Wave Propagation With New Validation Analysis, Russell C. Hardie, Jonathan D. Power, Daniel A. Lemaster, Douglas R. Droege, Szymon Gladysz, Santasri Bose-Pillai

Russell C. Hardie

We present a numerical wave propagation method for simulating imaging of an extended scene under anisoplanatic conditions. While isoplanatic simulation is relatively common, few tools are specifically designed for simulating the imaging of extended scenes under anisoplanatic conditions. We provide a complete description of the proposed simulation tool, including the wave propagation method used. Our approach computes an array of point spread functions (PSFs) for a two-dimensional grid on the object plane. The PSFs are then used in a spatially varying weighted sum operation, with an ideal image, to produce a simulated image with realistic optical turbulence degradation. The degradation ...

Block Matching And Wiener Filtering Approach To Optical Turbulence Mitigation And Its Application To Simulated And Real Imagery With Quantitative Error Analysis, Russell C. Hardie, Michael Armand Rucci, Barry K. Karch, Alexander J. Dapore

Russell C. Hardie

We present a block-matching and Wiener filtering approach to atmospheric turbulence mitigation for long-range imaging of extended scenes. We evaluate the proposed method, along with some benchmark methods, using simulated and real-image sequences. The simulated data are generated with a simulation tool developed by one of the authors. These data provide objective truth and allow for quantitative error analysis. The proposed turbulence mitigation method takes a sequence of short-exposure frames of a static scene and outputs a single restored image. A block-matching registration algorithm is used to provide geometric correction for each of the individual input frames. The registered frames ...

Cross-Imaging System Comparison Of Backscatter Coefficient Estimates From A Tissue-Mimicking Material, Kibo Nam, Ivan M. Rosado-Mendez, Lauren A. Wirtzfeld, Viksit Kumar, Ernest L. Madsen, Goutam Ghoshal, Alexander D. Pawlicki, Michael L. Oelze, Roberto J. Lavarello, Timothy A. Bigelow, James A. Zagzebski, William D. O'Brien Jr., Timothy J. Hall

Timothy A. Bigelow

A key step toward implementing quantitative ultrasound techniques in a clinical setting is demonstrating that parameters such as the ultrasonic backscatter coefficient (BSC) can be accurately estimated independent of the clinical imaging system used. In previous studies, agreement in BSC estimates for well characterized phantoms was demonstrated across different laboratory systems. The goal of this study was to compare the BSC estimates of a tissue mimicking sample measured using four clinical scanners, each providing RF echo data in the 1-15 MHz frequency range. The sample was previously described and characterized with single-element transducer systems. Using a reference phantom for analysis ...

Multi-Regression Prediction Of Metal Partition Coefficients Under Various Physical/Chemical Conditions Design Of Experiments As, Cr, Cu, Ni And Zn, Eid A. Alkhatib, Danielle Grunzke, Trey Chabot

Eid A. Alkhatib

The behavior of metals in surface water is complex and their partition coefficients can be impacted by many factors. Organic matter (OM) content in sediments, pH and salinity, are factors that may influence speciation and partitioning of metals. The difficulty in describing the impacts and relationships are that these processes are interconnected with no dominant associations among all. In this study, the partitioning of five metals (As, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn) under different levels of salinity, pH, and OM content were investigated. A series of factorial design experiments are evaluated in which three levels of OM are tested each ...

Prediction Of Metal Remobilization From Sediments Under Various Physical/ Chemical Conditions “Design Of Experiments Cd, Co And Pb”, Eid A. Alkhatib, Trey Chabot, Danielle Grunzke

Eid A. Alkhatib

The metal partition coefficient Kd (L/kg) is the ratio of sorbed metal concentration on the solid phase m (mg/kg) to the dissolved metal concentration at equilibrium. The behavior of metals in surface water is complex and their partition coefficients can be impacted by many factors. Organic matter (OM) content in sediments, pH and salinity, are factors that may influence speciation and partitioning of metals. In this study, the partitioning coefficient of three metals (Cd, Co and Pb) under different levels of salinity, pH, and OM content were examined. A series of factorial experiments were evaluated in which three ...

Student Professional Development: Competency-Based Learning And Assessment, Jacqulyn A. Baughman, Thomas J. Brumm, Steven K. Mickelson

Thomas J. Brumm

This case study examines the implementation of competency-based learning (CBL) and assessment as a measure of student professional development. Students enrolled in an industrial technology undergraduate course at a Midwestern university participated in this study. Based on the degree program outcomes, the “top five” course competencies were identified, and their key action items were assessed using an industry-based, 360-degree assessment process. Significant differences in the average initial and final assessed values were used to determine professional development gains. Findings showed that self-assessed professional gains were achieved, self-assessed results were higher than peer results, and overall peer assessments indicated aggregate gains ...

Examining The Use Of Engineering Internship Workplace Competency Assessments For Continuous Improvement, Mark A. Laingen, Steven A. Freeman, Thomas J. Brumm, Mack Shelley

Thomas J. Brumm

This study explored how workplace competency assessment data from internship studentsand their supervisors, collected by College of Engineering programs between fall 2001 throughfall 2011 are applied toward continuous improvement practices. The continuous improvementprocess is integral to the accreditation and evaluation of the engineering curriculum. This mixedmethods study examined three separate practices using internship workplace competencyassessment ratings in the continuous improvement process. The study examined how assessmentrankings of the internship students’ workplace competency strengths and weakness have changedfrom the 2001-05 assessment terms in the past accreditation cycle, to the 2006-11 assessmentterms of the most recent accreditation cycle. In addition, this study ...

Assessing Student Work To Support Curriculum Development: An Engineering Case Study, Kevin P. Saunders, Thomas J. Brumm, Corly Brooke

Thomas J. Brumm

Today's engineering graduates need specialized knowledge and abilities associated with interdisciplinary education. This article discusses how a departmental curriculum committee in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering used a collaborative assessment protocol to both examine the development of engineering students' integrative thinking and to guide a continuous curricular improvement process.

Cross-Institutional Exploratory Of Faculty Compensation Models To Incentivize Distance Learning Participation, Mitchell L. Springer, Mark T. Schuver, Thomas J. Brumm

Thomas J. Brumm

In higher education, courses and curriculum are purportedly the intellectual property of the academic departments. Academic departments, then, provide instructors or faculty to teach. The assignment of faculty to teach in distance-based programs directly implies there needs to exist some level of financial incentive for the home department of those faculty, as well as direct incentive to the faculty who are involved in teaching. After all expenses are accounted for, then,what model for faculty compensation provides the greatest level of incentive to participate in professional studies? Building on previous scholarship and over a year of additional research,this paper ...

Use Of Recycled Containers For Hermetic Maize Storage In East Africa, A. Yakubu, L. A. Wilson, C. J. Bern, T. J. Brumm

Thomas J. Brumm

Affordable, pesticide-free, and reliable maize storage containers for seed and food purposes are not available in many subsistence farming cultures. As a result, subsistence farmers lose their crop to pests and are forced to dispose of their maize for a low price right after harvest thus, robbing them of profit and food for the rest of the year. The objective of this research was to develop information to enable utilization of recycled sanitary hermetic maize storage containers. Use of these containers will allow farmers to preserve their maize for as long as they wish, using locally available resources. A market ...

Grain Test Weight Deception, Carl J. Bern, Thomas J. Brumm

Thomas J. Brumm

Test weight is used as an indicator of general grain quality and is a measure of grain bulk density. Test weight, but not overall grain weight, normally increases during drying. Erroneous calculations using test weights can incorrectly infer that drying systems that increase test weight also increase the number of bushels that can be sold. This bulletin explains the use of test weight in the grain industry, how it can be used to determine grain value, and why some calculations involving test weight can be deceptive.

Student Perspectives On A New Online Biomass Production Module For Fundamentals Of Biorenewable Resources And Technology, Darren H. Jarboe, D. Raj Raman, Thomas J. Brumm, Robert A. Martin, Scott Mcleod

Thomas J. Brumm

In 2007, a Virtual Education Center for Biorenewable Resources was initiated that offered three online courses, one being Biorenewable Resources and Tech¬nology (BRT) 501 – Fundamentals of BRT. The objective was to assess student perceptions on two delivery methods, course assessments, module material, and student learning. Twenty students completed the survey of qualitative aspects of student experiences in BRT 501. The biomass production module brought non-farm students closer to the knowledge level of farm students as demonstrated by students’ self-assessed knowl¬edge and their BRT 501 assessment scores. Students desired a stronger connection with the course instructor and peers, whether ...

Differential Impacts Of Online Delivery Methods On Student Learning: A Case Study In Biorenewables, Darren H. Jarboe, D. Raj Raman, Thomas J. Brumm, Robert Martin, Scott Mcleod

Thomas J. Brumm

In 2007, a Virtual Education Center for Biorenewable Resources was initiated that offered three distance education courses, one being Biorenewable Resources and Technology (BRT) 501 – Fundamentals of Biorenewable Resources and Technology, the subject of this study. The primary objective was to determine if course delivery method (video lecture format and the other in menu-driven auto-tutorial presentations (MDAP) deliv¬ered via Flash format), student major (agricultural and non-agricultural), and gender influence online student learning in BRT 501. We found that BRT 501 student performance was not significantly impacted by module delivery method. Students with agricultural majors were outperformed by students with ...

Effects Of Zn Additions To Highly Magnetoelastic Fega Alloys, Thomas A. Lograsso, Nicholas J. Jones, Deborah L. Schlagel, Gabriela Petculescu, Marilyn Wun-Fogle, James B. Restorff, Arthur E. Clark, Kristi B. Hathaway

Thomas A. Lograsso

Fe1−xMx (M = Ga, Ge, Si, Al, Mo and x ∼ 0.18) alloys offer an extraordinary combination ofmagnetoelasticity and mechanical properties. They are rare-earth-free, can be processed using conventional deformation techniques, have high magnetic permeability, low hysteresis, and low magnetic saturation fields, making them attractive for device applications such as actuators and energy harvesters. Starting with Fe-Ga as a reference and using a rigid-band-filling argument, Zhang et al. predicted that lowering the Fermi level by reducing the total number of electrons could enhance magnetoelasticity. To provide a direct experimental validation for Zhang's hypothesis, elemental additions with lower-than-Ga valence are ...

Elastic Properties Of Mnsi, Fesi And Cosi, Alla E. Petrova, Vladimir N. Krasnorussky, William M. Yuhasz, Thomas A. Lograsso, Sergei M. Stishov

Thomas A. Lograsso

Measurements of sound velocities in single crystals of MnSi, FeSi, and CoSi were performed in the temperature range 2.5-300 K and elastic constants were calculated. The temperature dependence of the elastic constants reveal nontrivial features, reflecting specifics of the magnetic and electronic subsystems in these materials.