Engineering Commons^™

Free-Troposphere Ozone And Carbon Monoxide Over The North Atlantic For 2001-2011, Aditya Kumar, S. Wu, M. F. Weise, R. Honrath, R. C. Owen, D. Helmig, L. Kramer, M. Val Martin, Q. Li

Michigan Tech Publications

In situ measurements of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) at the Pico Mountain Observatory (PMO) located in the Azores, Portugal, are analyzed together with results from an atmospheric chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) and satellite remote sensing data (AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) for CO, and TES (Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer) for O3) to examine the evolution of free-troposphere CO and O3 over the North Atlantic for 2001-2011. GEOS-Chem captured the seasonal cycles for CO and O3 well but significantly underestimated the mixing ratios of CO, particularly in spring. Statistically significant (using a significance level of 0.05) decreasing trends were found for …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, December 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

La Yeguada Volcanic Vomplex In The Republic Of Panama: An Assessment Of The Geologic Hazards Using 40ar/39ar Geochronology, Karinne L. Knutsen, William I. Rose, Brian Jicha

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Publications

La Yeguada volcanic complex is one of three Quaternary volcanic centers in Panama. To assess potential geologic hazards, new samples were analyzed using argon analysis (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar), and obtained the following: the most recent eruption occurred approximately 32,000 years ago at the Media Luna cinder cone; the youngest dated eruption from the main dome complex occurred 357 ± 19 ka, producing the Castillo dome unit; Cerro Picacho, a separate dacite dome 1.5 km east of the main complex is 4.47 ± 0.23 Ma; and the El Satro Pyroclastic Flow unit surrounds the northern portion of the volcanic …

Performances Evaluation Of Cecabase® Rt In Warm Mix Asphalt Technology, Shu Wei Goh, Mohd Rosli Mohd Hasan, Zhanping You

Michigan Tech Publications

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of warm mix asphalt (WMA) mixtures containing different percentages of Cecabase® RT using dynamic modulus (|E*|), tensile strength ratio (TSR), four point beam fatigue, flow number and asphalt pavement analyzer (APA) rutting tests. In this study, 0.2%, 0.35% and 0.5% Cecabase® RT were incorporated in the 5E3 Superpave mixtures prepared at three different temperatures, 100 °C, 115 °C and 130 °C. A Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) mixture was used as the control mixture. All the mixture samples were prepared using PG 58-34 binder and compacted at 86 gyrations under different …

Rheological Evaluation Of Foamed Wma Modified With Nano Hydrated Lime, Aboelkasim Diab, Zhanping You, Hainian Wang

Michigan Tech Publications

Although the Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) is gaining popularity very rapidly and becoming a mainstream technique for producing asphalt mixtures, there are many concerns regarding its long-term performance. Over the years, the Regular Hydrated Lime (RHL) has gained considerable recognition as a common additive to bituminous pavements. However, the Nano Hydrated Lime (NHL) (particle sizes 100 nanometer (nm) or less) has not been used as an additive to the asphalt mixtures before. The rheology properties of foamed WMA were studied since the pavement performance is primarily controlled by the rheological properties of asphalt cement. NHL materials with particle sizes of …

Method For Coating Mineral Granules To Improve Bonding To Hydrocarbon-Based Substrate And Coloring Of Same, Bowen Li, Ralph Hodek, Domenic Popko, Jiann-Yang Hwang

Michigan Tech Patents

Provided are compositions comprising stamp sand granules embedded in asphalt, where the stamp sand granules comprise a silane coating. Additionally provided are methods of making a silane-coated stamp sand, the methods comprising combining stamp sand granules and a silane solution to form a mixture and drying the mixture. Additionally provided are methods of covering a surface, the methods comprising combining silane-coated particles and asphalt to provide a mixture and distributing the mixture on the surface.

Bacteriorhodopsin-Based Sensors, Craig Friedrich, Donald Lueking, Mark Griep

Michigan Tech Patents

A sensor comprising a membrane containing bacteriorhodopsin. In one embodiment, the sensor comprises a layer of purple membrane between a first and a second electrode, wherein the electrodes are connected to a circuit such that a signal is produced when a charge is transferred across the membrane. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises a field effect transistor with a layer of purple membrane deposited on the gate. The layer of purple membrane may be further functionalized by adding fluorophores to the layer of purple membrane. The fluorophores may be deposited adjacent to the layer of purple membrane, or the fluorophores …

Optimal Via Placement In Under Filled Embedded Multimode Waveguides, Nicholas J. Riegel, Matthew Howard, Christopher Middlebrook

Michigan Tech Publications

The self-imaging property of multimode waveguides creates a challenging problem when finding the optimal placement position of an out-of-plane coupler for embedded waveguides. This problem is compounded when the waveguides are coupled using a small input such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a single mode fiber where only some of the modes are generated. When the waveguide system is under filled, the coupling efficiency for the optical vertical interconnect assembly (VIA) can vary by as much as 6.2 dB depending on the length of the proceeding waveguide due to different output fields from the self-imaging property. …

Water Removal From Gas Flow Channels Of Fuel Cells, Jeffrey S. Allen

Michigan Tech Patents

An apparatus for water management in a fuel cell. The apparatus includes a fuel cell having a first porous electrode layer, a second porous electrode layer, a proton-conducting membrane positioned between the first electrode and second electrode layers, and a first and second bi-polar distribution plate, wherein the first bi-polar distribution plate is positioned on a top of the first electrode layer and defining a first gas flow channel, and wherein the second bi-polar distribution plate is positioned on a bottom of the second electrode layer and defining a second gas flow channel. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for …

Projected Effect Of 2000-2050 Changes In Climate And Emissions On Aerosol Levels In China And Associated Transboundary Transport, H. Jiang, H. Liao, H. O.T. Pye, S. Wu, L. J. Mickley, J. H. Seinfeld, X. Y. Zhang

Michigan Tech Publications

We investigate projected 2000-2050 changes in concentrations of aerosols in China and the associated transboundary aerosol transport by using the chemical transport model GEOS-Chem driven by the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) general circulation model (GCM) 3 at 4° × 5° resolution. Future changes in climate and emissions projected by the IPCC A1B scenario are imposed separately and together through sensitivity simulations. Accounting for sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, black carbon (BC), and organic carbon (OC) aerosols, concentrations of individual aerosol species change by -1.5 to +0.8 μg m-3, and PM2.5 levels are projected to change by about 10-20% in eastern …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, September 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Reconstruction Of Long Horizontal-Path Images Under Anisoplanatic Conditions Using Multiframe Blind Deconvolution, Glen E. Archer, Jeremy P. Bos, Michael Roggemann

Michigan Tech Publications

All optical systems that operate in or through the atmosphere suffer from turbulence induced image blur. Both military and civilian surveillance, gun sighting, and target identification systems are interested in terrestrial imaging over very long horizontal paths, but atmospheric turbulence can blur the resulting images beyond usefulness. This work explores the mean square error (MSE) performance of a multiframe blind deconvolution (MFBD) technique applied under anisoplanatic conditions for both Gaussian and Poisson noise model assumptions. The technique is evaluated for use in reconstructing images of scenes corrupted by turbulence in long horizontal-path imaging scenarios. Performance is evaluated via the reconstruction …

The Size Range Of Bubbles That Produce Ash During Explosive Volcanic Eruptions, Kimberly Genareau, Gopal K. Mulukutla, Alexander A. Proussevitch, Adam J. Durant, William I. Rose, Dork L. Sahagian

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Publications

Volcanic eruptions can produce ash particles with a range of sizes and morphologies. Here we morphologically distinguish two textural types: Simple (generally smaller) ash particles, where the observable surface displays a single measureable bubble because there is at most one vesicle imprint preserved on each facet of the particle; and complex ash particles, which display multiple vesicle imprints on their surfaces for measurement and may contain complete, unfragmented vesicles in their interiors. Digital elevation models from stereo-scanning electron microscopic images of complex ash particles from the 14 October 1974 sub-Plinian eruption of Volcán Fuego, Guatemala and the 18 May 1980 …

Radar Measurements Of Nhtsa’S Surrogate Vehicle ‘Ss-V’, William Buller, Brian Wilson, James Ebling, Line Van Nieuwstadt, Benjamin E. Hart

Michigan Tech Research Institute Publications

NHTSA seeks to objectively quantify the performance of forward-looking advanced technologies such as Crash Imminent Braking (CIB) and Dynamic Brake Support (DBS) on the test track. Since these evaluations are expected to result in collisions between the subject vehicle (SV) and a principal other vehicle (POV) positioned directly in front of it, safety necessitates that the POV be a surrogate. However, to insure the tests will provide an accurate assessment of the SV’s CIB and/or DBS capabilities, the surrogate must present as realistic. One way “realism” must be quantified involves a surrogate’s radar return characteristics. The tests described in this …

Impact Of Aging Mechanism On Model Simulated Carbonaceous Aerosols, Y. Huang, S. Wu, M. K. Dubey, N. H.F. French

Michigan Tech Publications

Carbonaceous aerosols including organic carbon and black carbon have significant implications for both climate and air quality. In the current global climate or chemical transport models, a fixed hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic conversion lifetime for carbonaceous aerosol (τ) is generally assumed, which is usually around one day. We have implemented a new detailed aging scheme for carbonaceous aerosols in a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) to account for both the chemical oxidation and the physical condensation-coagulation effects, where τ is affected by local atmospheric environment including atmospheric concentrations of water vapor, ozone, hydroxyl radical and sulfuric acid. The updated τ exhibits large spatial and …

Quantifying The Impact Of Boreal Forest Fires On Tropospheric Oxidants Over The Atlantic Using Aircraft And Satellites (Bortas) Experiment: Design, Execution And Science Overview, P. I. Palmer, M. Parrington, J. D. Lee, A. C. Lewis, A. R. Rickard, P. F. Bernath, T. J. Duck, D. L. Waugh, D. W. Tarasick, R. C. Owen, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

We describe the design and execution of the BORTAS (Quantifying the impact of BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites) experiment, which has the overarching objective of understanding the chemical aging of air masses that contain the emission products from seasonal boreal wildfires and how these air masses subsequently impact downwind atmospheric composition. The central focus of the experiment was a two-week deployment of the UK BAe-146-301 Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA) over eastern Canada, based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Atmospheric ground-based and sonde measurements over Canada and the Azores associated with the planned …

Me-Em Enewsbrief, June 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Micro-Jet Cooling Of Cutting Tools, Douglas J. Woodruff, Gary W. Pannala, William J. Endres, Nicole Barna, Quincy Schultz, David Thomasini, Matthew Zblewski

Michigan Tech Patents

A cutting tool includes an insert defining a flank face, a rake face, and a cutting edge between the flank face and rake face. The cutting tool includes micro-nozzles formed in at least one of the tool body and the insert, and aimed at the cutting edge. Each micro-nozzle generates a micro jet of cutting fluid in close proximity to the cutting edge and adjacent to at least one of the flank face and the rake face.

Me-Em Enewsbrief, March 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Superior Analyzer For Raman Spectra With High Acceptance Cone, Resolution, Transmission, And Quantum Efficiency, And Strong Background Reduction, Manfred Fink, Philip Varghese, Jacek Borysow

Michigan Tech Patents

A Raman analyzer for analyzing light emitted from a Raman cell is provided that has a beam splitter configured to split the light emitted from the Raman cell into a first beam and a second beam. An atomic vapor filter can be used to filter a Raman scattered line from the first beam and a chopper system can periodically interrupt the first and second beams that are directed towards a photo detector, which can convert light from the first and second beams into an electrical signal. The signal output from the photo detector can optionally be amplified, digitized, Fourier filtered, …

Modeling Of 2008 Kasatochi Volcanic Sulfate Direct Radiative Forcing: Assimilation Of Omi So < Inf> 2 Plume Height Data And Comparison With Modis And Caliop Observations, J. Wang, S. Park, J. Zeng, C. Ge, K. Yang, S. Carn, N. Krotkov, A. H. Omar

Michigan Tech Publications

Volcanic SO2 column amount and injection height retrieved from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) with the Extended Iterative Spectral Fitting (EISF) technique are used to initialize a global chemistry transport model (GEOS-Chem) to simulate the atmospheric transport and lifecycle of volcanic SO2 and sulfate aerosol from the 2008 Kasatochi eruption, and to subsequently estimate the direct shortwave, top-of-the-atmosphere radiative forcing of the volcanic sulfate aerosol. Analysis shows that the integrated use of OMI SO2 plume height in GEOS-Chem yields: (a) good agreement of the temporal evolution of 3-D volcanic sulfate distributions between model simulations and satellite observations from the Moderate …

Validation Of The Fall3d Model For The 2008 Chaitén Eruption Using Field And Satellite Data, María Soledad Osores, Arnau Folch, Estela Collini, Gustavo Villarosa, Adam J. Durant, Gloria Pujol, José G. Viramonte

Michigan Tech Publications

The 2008 Chaitén Volcano eruption began on 2 May 2008 with an explosive phase that injected large amounts of tephra into the atmosphere. During the first week of the eruption, volcanic ash clouds were transported for hundreds of kilometres over Argentina by the prevailing westerly winds. Tephra deposition extended to the Atlantic Ocean and severely affected the Argentinean Patagonia. Impacts included air and water quality degradation, disruption of ground transportation systems and cancellation of flights at airports more than 1,500 km apart. We use the FALL3D tephra transport model coupled with the Weather Research and Forecasting-Advanced Research Weather (WRF-ARW) meteorological …

2013 Civil And Environmental Engineering Department News, Department Of Civil And Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Newsletters

Table of Contents

• New Faculty
• Student Awards
• Research Awards
• Department News
• Academy of Civil and Environmental Engineers
• CEE Donor Recognition

Me-Em 2012-13 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• Research Centers
• Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni
• Contracts & Grants
• Publications

Mse Annual Report 2013, Department Of Materials Science And Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• Paul Sanders, Project-Oriented Learning
• A New Way to Prevent Deadly Infections
• 3D Printers for Peace and Progress
• Faculty and Staff News
• Graduate Student Update
• Outreach
• Undergraduate Student News
• Alumni at a Glance

Assessment Of Seismic Damage Of Buildings And Related Environmental Impacts, Carley A. Feese

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Sustainable development has only recently started examining the existing infrastructure, and a key aspect of this is hazard mitigation. To examine buildings under a sustainable perspective requires an understanding of a building's life-cycle environmental costs, including the consideration of associated environmental impacts induced by earthquake damage. Damage repair costs lead to additional material and energy consumption, leading to harmful environmental impacts. Merging results obtained from a seismic evaluation and life-cycle analysis for buildings will give a novel outlook on sustainable design decisions. To evaluate the environmental impacts caused by buildings, long-term impacts accrued throughout a building's lifetime and impacts associated …

Induction Of Microalgal Lipids For Biodiesel Production In Tandem With Sequestration Of High Carbon Dioxide Concentration, Wilbel J. Brewer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

There is no doubt that sufficient energy supply is indispensable for the fulfillment of our fossil fuel crises in a stainable fashion. There have been many attempts in deriving biodiesel fuel from different bioenergy crops including corn, canola, soybean, palm, sugar cane and vegetable oil. However, there are some significant challenges, including depleting feedstock supplies, land use change impacts and food use competition, which lead to high prices and inability to completely displace fossil fuel ^[1-2]. In recent years, use of microalgae as an alternative biodiesel feedstock has gained renewed interest as these fuels are becoming increasingly economically viable, …

A Hydro-Climatic Modeling Framework For Adaptive Water Resources Management In The Great Lakes Basin, Rabi Gyawali

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This dissertation addresses water resources decision making in the Great Lakes Basin by developing a multi-model framework for climate change impact assessment, including integrated climate and hydrologic modeling. Physically based watershed models, using soil moisture accounting and temperature index (degree-day) snowmelt algorithms, are developed, calibrated and validated to simulate baseflow, snowmelt, and surface runoff under historic conditions. Comparison with an existing model of the Great Lakes basin, the NOAA Large Basin Runoff Model (LBRM), showed improvements resulting from the increased spatial resolution and use of a more process-based snow algorithm in the Hydrologic Engineering Center's Hydrologic Modeling System (HECHMS). As …

Novel Automotive Waste Heat Recovery Techniques, John Randall Armstead

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The United States transportation industry is predicted to consume approximately 13 million barrels of liquid fuel per day by 2025. If one percent of the fuel energy were salvaged through waste heat recovery, there would be a reduction of 130 thousand barrels of liquid fuel per day. This dissertation focuses on automotive waste heat recovery techniques with an emphasis on two novel techniques.

The first technique investigated was a combination coolant and exhaust-based Rankine cycle system, which utilized a patented piston-in-piston engine technology. The research scope included a simulation of the maximum mass flow rate of steam (700 K and …

Strategic Optimization Techniques For Frtu Deployment And Chip Physical Design, Chen Liao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Combinatorial optimization is a complex engineering subject. Although formulation often depends on the nature of problems that differs from their setup, design, constraints, and implications, establishing a unifying framework is essential. This dissertation investigates the unique features of three important optimization problems that can span from small-scale design automation to large-scale power system planning: (1) Feeder remote terminal unit (FRTU) planning strategy by considering the cybersecurity of secondary distribution network in electrical distribution grid, (2) physical-level synthesis for microfluidic lab-on-a-chip, and (3) discrete gate sizing in very-large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit.

First, an optimization technique by cross entropy is proposed to …