Engineering Commons^™

Life-Cycle Cost Study Of Ground Source Heat Pumps In Hot Humid Climate Zone, Cetin Canbek

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are gaining recognition as a cost effective and green heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) alternative in the United States. Still, this technology is not highly utilized due to factors such as high initial investment, lack of confidence and uncertainties in cost items.

This study focuses on the reflection of the variations in cost items on the feasibility and life-cycle cost of a typical GSHP system. For this purpose, life-cycle costs were calculated for a typical GSHP system and cost data was gathered for several projects. Possible variations on cost variables are defined. Then, …

An Improved Framework For Dynamic Origin-Destination (O-D) Matrix Estimation, Hongbo Chi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to improve the performance of existing assignment-based dynamic origin-destination (O-D) matrix estimation models to successfully apply Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) strategies for the purposes of traffic congestion relief and dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) in transportation network modeling. The methodology framework has two advantages over the existing assignment-based dynamic O-D matrix estimation models. First, it combines an initial O-D estimation model into the estimation process to provide a high confidence level of initial input for the dynamic O-D estimation model, which has the potential to improve the final estimation results and reduce the associated computation time. Second, the …

Solution Of Nonlinear Transient Heat Transfer Problems, Donovan O. Buckley

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the presented thesis work, meshfree method with distance fields was extended to obtain solution of nonlinear transient heat transfer problems. The thesis work involved development and implementation of numerical algorithms, data structure, and software. Numerical and computational properties of the meshfree method with distance fields were investigated. Convergence and accuracy of the methodology was validated by analytical solutions, and solutions produced by commercial FEM software (ANSYS 12.1). The research was focused on nonlinearities caused by temperature-dependent thermal conductivity. The behavior of the developed numerical algorithms was observed for both weak and strong temperature-dependency of thermal conductivity. Oseen and Newton-Kantorovich …

A Highly Efficient Biometrics Approach For Unconstrained Iris Segmentation And Recognition, Yu Chen

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops an innovative approach towards less-constrained iris biometrics. Two major contributions are made in this research endeavor: (1) Designed an award-winning segmentation algorithm in the less-constrained environment where image acquisition is made of subjects on the move and taken under visible lighting conditions, and (2) Developed a pioneering iris biometrics method coupling segmentation and recognition of the iris based on video of moving persons under different acquisitions scenarios. The first part of the dissertation introduces a robust and fast segmentation approach using still images contained in the UBIRIS (version 2) noisy iris database. The results show accuracy estimated …

An Incremental Multilinear System For Human Face Learning And Recognition, Jin Wang

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation establishes a novel system for human face learning and recognition based on incremental multilinear Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Most of the existing face recognition systems need training data during the learning process. The system as proposed in this dissertation utilizes an unsupervised or weakly supervised learning approach, in which the learning phase requires a minimal amount of training data. It also overcomes the inability of traditional systems to adapt to the testing phase as the decision process for the newly acquired images continues to rely on that same old training data set. Consequently when a new training set …

Modeling Of Loose Contamination Scenarios To Predict The Amount Of Contamination Removed, Duriem Calderin Morales

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to evaluate the influence of the factors identified by the Johnson, Kendall and Robert’s theory that affect the strength of the detachment force necessary to remove a particle of contaminant from a surface, and the roughness of the surface in which the contaminant is present, on predicting the efficiency of removal of loose contamination. Two methods were used to reach this objective: the first method consisted of quantifying the contamination by weight and the second method of quantifying the contamination by counting alpha and gamma particles. As a result, it was determined that for …

Comprehensive Process Maps For Synthesizing High Density Aluminum Oxide-Carbon Nanotube Coatings By Plasma Spraying For Improved Mechanical And Wear Properties, Anup K. Keshri

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plasma sprayed aluminum oxide ceramic coating is widely used due to its outstanding wear, corrosion, and thermal shock resistance. But porosity is the integral feature in the plasma sprayed coating which exponentially degrades its properties. In this study, process maps were developed to obtain Al2O3-CNT composite coatings with the highest density (i.e. lowest porosity) and improved mechanical and wear properties. Process map is defined as a set of relationships that correlates large number of plasma processing parameters to the coating properties. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added as reinforcement to Al2O3 coating to improve the fracture toughness and wear resistance. Two …

Web Service For Knowledge Management Information Tool (Kmit) Hotline Module And Its Security, Harini Kondamudi

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development of a Web Service for the Hotline module of the Knowledge Management Information Tool (KMIT), a tool that is custom built for the decontamination & decommissionin (D&D) community of the Department Of Energy (DOE). The Hotline module allows interested users to post problems to specific areas of interest in the field of D&D. Various clients working with DOE and KMIT want to display the latest published problems of KMIT Hotline search in their own applications on a regular basis. Considering one of the major benefits of Web Services is the ease of integration of one …

Multi-Objective Optimization Of The Molecular Structure Of Refrigerants, Suvrat Bhargava

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this work was to develop a new methodology, which can be used to design new refrigerants that are better than the currently used refrigerants. The methodology draws some parallels with the general approach of computer aided molecular design. However, the mathematical way of representing the molecular structure of an organic compound and the use of meta models during the optimization process make it different. In essence, this approach aimed to generate molecules that conform to various property requirements that are known and specified a priori. A modified way of mathematically representing the molecular structure of an …

Improving Analytical Travel Time Estimation For Transportation Planning Models, Chenxi Lu

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aimed to improve travel time estimation for the purpose of transportation planning by developing a travel time estimation method that incorporates the effects of signal timing plans, which were difficult to consider in planning models. For this purpose, an analytical model has been developed. The model parameters were calibrated based on data from CORSIM microscopic simulation, with signal timing plans optimized using the TRANSYT-7F software. Independent variables in the model are link length, free-flow speed, and traffic volumes from the competing turning movements. The developed model has three advantages compared to traditional link-based or node-based models. First, the …

Development Of Distributed Generation Infrastructure For Microgrid Connectivity To Operational Power Systems, Nayeem Mohammad Abdullah

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Distributed Generation (DG) from alternate sources and smart grid technologies represent good solutions for the increase in energy demands. Employment of these DG assets requires solutions for the new technical challenges that are accompanied by the integration and interconnection into operational power systems.

A DG infrastructure comprised of alternate energy sources in addition to conventional sources, is developed as a test bed. The test bed is operated by synchronizing, wind, photovoltaic, fuel cell, micro generator and energy storage assets, in addition to standard AC generators. Connectivity of these DG assets is tested for viability and for their operational characteristics. The …

Design And Development Of An Enzyme-Linked Biosensor For Detection And Quantification Of Phosphate Species, Serkan Akar

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to design and development of an enzyme-linked biosensor for detection and quantification of phosphate species. Various concentrations of phosphate species were tested and completed for this study.

Phosphate is one of the vital nutrients for all living organisms. Phosphate compounds can be found in nature (e.g., water sediments), and they often exist in aninorganic form. The amount of phosphates in the environment strongly influences the operations of living organisms. Excess amount of phosphate in the environment causes eutrophication which in turn causes oxygen deficit for the other living organisms. Fish die and degradation of …

Analytical Approximations To Predict Performance Measures Of Manufacturing Systems With Job Failures And Parallel Processing, Maria Hulett

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parallel processing is prevalent in many manufacturing and service systems. Many manufactured products are built and assembled from several components fabricated in parallel lines. An example of this manufacturing system configuration is observed at a manufacturing facility equipped to assemble and test web servers. Characteristics of a typical web server assembly line are: multiple products, job circulation, and paralleling processing. The primary objective of this research was to develop analytical approximations to predict performance measures of manufacturing systems with job failures and parallel processing. The analytical formulations extend previous queueing models used in assembly manufacturing systems in that they can …

Development Of Innovative Load Transfer Mechanism To Reduce Hurricane-Induced Failures In New And Existing Residential Construction, Sheikh Saad Ahmed

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Implicit in current design practice of minimum uplift capacity, is the assumption that the connection's capacity is proportional to the number of fasteners per connection joint. This assumption may overestimate the capacity of joints by a factor of two or more and maybe the cause of connection failures in extreme wind events. The current research serves to modify the current practice by proposing a realistic relationship between the number of fasteners and the capacity of the joint. The research is also aimed at further development of non-intrusive continuous load path (CLP) connection system using Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) and …