Engineering Commons^™

A Modified Surface Energy Balance For Modeling Evapotranspiration And Canopy Resistance, Luis O. Lagos

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A modified surface energy balance (SEB) model based on the Shuttleworth-Wallace and Choudhury-Monteith methods was developed to estimate evaporation from soil covered by crop residue, and transpiration from crop canopies. The model describes the energy balance and flux resistances for partially-vegetated and residue-covered surfaces. Physical and biochemical energy storage terms and lateral fluxes are neglected in the model. Net radiation is one of the inputs in the SEB model and provides the energy needed for soil evaporation, crop transpiration and heat transfer through the canopy, soil/residue surfaces and the atmosphere.

A sensitivity analysis of the SEB model parameters showed that …

Development Of High Performance Precast/Prestressed Bridge Girders, Amin K. Akhnoukh

Department of Construction Engineering and Management: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Demand continues to increase for bridges with long spans and shallow depths. Due to safety concerns, four-span overpasses are being replaced with two span overpasses to avoid placement of piers near the highway shoulders. In the meantime, the bridge profile is restricted due to existing businesses nearby. Thus, nearly the same superstructure depth must be used for double the span length. This dissertation focuses on topics aiming at providing precast prestressed concrete girders with the shallowest possible depth for a given span. It forms parts of larger projects conducted by the University of Nebraska for the Nebraska Department of Roads …

Integrated Science Assessment For Oxides Of Nitrogen And Sulfur – Ecological Criteria, United States Environmental Protection Agency

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Staff Publications

This Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) is a synthesis and evaluation of the most policy-relevant science that forms the scientific foundation for the review of the secondary (welfare-based) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) and oxides of sulfur (SO_x). The Clean Air Act definition of welfare effects includes, but is not limited to, effects on soils, water, wildlife, vegetation, visibility, weather, and climate, as well as effects on man-made materials, economic values, and personal comfort and well-being. The current secondary NAAQS for SO_x, set in 1973, is a 3-hour average …

Department Of Biological Systems Engineering Newsletter, Vol. 4 No. 2, December 2008

BSE Department Magazine

Environmental Management Research
From the Department Head
Meet the Faculty
Alumni News
Comings and Goings
Alumna Profile
In Memoriam
Museum Hand-picked for HELP
Urban Water Quality
Summer Graduates
Distinguished Fellowship Awards
Partners in Pollution Prevention Interns
Quarter-scale Tractor Competition
Scholarships and Ice Cream
BSE faculty develop Odor Footprint Tool By Crystal Powers
Ethanol Co-product Storage and Utilization Conference By John Hay
Biological Systems Engineering Department Hall of Fame: Don Eret and Ned Meier
International Symposium
Faculty & Staff News
University Service Awards
ASABE Annual Meeting

Acuta Enews December 2008, Vol. 37, No. 12

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From the President.............. Corinne Hoch, Columbia, Univ., ACUTA President

Board Report............. Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA Secretary/Treasurer

DC Update............. Dave Ostrom, Washington State Univ. (retired)

Info Links........... Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern Iowa

ACUTA Guide to Products and Services: Keep It Handy, Use It Often

ACUTA Web Seminar: Wireless Andrew 2.0

"Earthbottle" Brought to you by Clemson

Check It Out: Press Releases... Job Postings.... RFIs/RFPs

Holiday Greetings from the ACUTA Staff

Welcome New Members

A Fundamental Study Of The Pcr Amplification Of Gc-Rich Dna Templates, T. G. Mamedov, Elsje Pienaar, Scott E. Whitney, Joel R. Termaat, G. Carvill, R. Goliath, Anuradha Subramanian, Hendrik J. Viljoen

Hendrik J. Viljoen Publications

A theoretical analysis is presented with experimental confirmation to conclusively demonstrate the critical role that annealing plays in efficient PCR amplification of GC-rich templates. The analysis is focused on the annealing of primers at alternative binding sites (competitive annealing) and the main result is a quantitative expression of the efficiency (η) of annealing as a function of temperature (T_A), annealing period (t_A), and template composition. The optimal efficiency lies in a narrow region of T_A and t_A for GC-rich templates and a much broader region for normal GC templates. To confirm the …

Experiments And Models For The Thermal Response Of Railroad Tapered-Roller Bearings, Constantine M. Tarawneh, Kevin D. Cole, Brent M. Wilson, Fadi Alnaimat

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The need to understand and quantify the heat transfer paths within tapered-roller bearings is of great importance in the railroad industry since bearing cup temperature measurement is the primary tool utilized in the removal of distressed bearings from service. Experiments were performed to acquire temperature histories at several locations on a stationary bearing subjected to heat sources imbedded in two rollers. The experimental results were compared to zero- and first-order thermal models to estimate overall heat transfer coefficients from the bearing. The results presented here can be used to explain some of the mechanisms that lead to overheating of tapered-roller …

Hypro: A Financial Tool For Simulating Hydrogen Infrastructure Development, Brian D. James, Peter O. Schmidt, Julie Perez

US Department of Energy Publications

This report summarizes an analysis of the options and trade-offs for the establishment of the hydrogen production infrastructure necessary for a complete transition to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by the year 2050. The primary tool used for the analysis is a custom created MatLab simulation tool entitled HyPro (short for Hydrogen Production). This report describes both the calculation methodology of HyPro and the assumptions and results of the baseline analysis and its many corollary cases. This study was made possible with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
The report and supporting primary analyses were overseen by Fred Joseck …

Geothermal (Ground-Source) Heat Pumps: Market Status, Barriers To Adoption, And Actions To Overcome Barriers, Patrick J. Hughes

US Department of Energy Publications

More effective stewardship of our resources contributes to the security, environmental sustainability, and economic well-being of the nation. Buildings present one of the best opportunities to economically reduce energy consumption and limit greenhouse gas emissions. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), sometimes called ground-source heat pumps, have been proven capable of producing large reductions in energy use and peak demand in buildings. However, GHPs have received little attention at the policy level as an important component of a national strategy. Have policymakers mistakenly overlooked GHPs, or are GHPs simply unable to make a major contribution to the national goals for various reasons? …

Quantitative Rrna-Targeted Solution-Based Hybridization Assay Using Peptide Nucleic Acid Molecular Beacons, Xu Li, Eberhard Morgenroth, Lutgarde Raskin

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

The potential of a solution-based hybridization assay using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) molecular beacon (MB) probes to quantify 16S rRNA of specific populations in RNA extracts of environmental samples was evaluated by designing PNA MB probes for the genera Dechloromonas and Dechlorosoma. In a kinetic study with 16S rRNA from pure cultures, the hybridization of PNA MB to target 16S rRNA exhibited a higher final hybridization signal and a lower apparent rate constant than the hybridizations to nontarget 16S rRNAs. A concentration of 10 mM NaCl in the hybridization buffer was found to be optimal for maximizing the difference between …

Approach Slope For Midwest Guardrail System, Erin A. Johnson, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Dean L. Sicking, Robert W. Bielenberg M.S.C.E., E.I.T., Ronald K. Faller, John R. Rohde, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Cable Median Barrier Guidelines, Dean L. Sicking, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Francisco Daniel Benicio De Albuquerque

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Nano-Raman Spectroscopy And Surface Nanostructuring Using Near-Field Optics, Kaijun Yi

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

To satisfy the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, techniques to characterize and fabricate nanostructures and nanodevices are in great demand. Laser, as a unique monochromatic and coherent light source, meets the needs because it exhibits the potential to reveal some vital information of the materials. However, the applications of laser technology to nanoscience and nanotechnology are facing a severe challenge: the spatial resolution cannot be further enhanced to achieve nanometer scales due to the optical diffraction limit associated with conventional optics. In response to this challenge, near-field optics has been emerging as a new scientific area to deal with optical …

Monitoring Tissue Engineering Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Huihui Xu, Shadi F. Othman, Richard L. Magin

Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications

Assessment of tissue regeneration is essential to optimize the stages of tissue engineering (cell proliferation, tissue development and implantation). Optical and X-ray imaging have been used in tissue engineering to provide useful information, but each has limitations: for example, poor depth penetration and radiation damage. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) largely overcomes these restrictions, exhibits high resolution (approximately 100 μm) and can be applied both in vitro and in vivo. Recently, MRI has been used in tissue engineering to generate spatial maps of tissue relaxation times (T₁, T₂), water diffusion coefficients, and the stiffness (shear moduli) of …

Structural Nanocomposites, Yuris A. Dzenis

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Materials scientists predict that composites made with nanoscale reinforcing materials such as nanotubes, platelets, and nanofibers will have exceptional mechanical properties. However, the results obtained so far are disappointing, particularly when compared to advanced composites reinforced with high-performance continuous fibers (1–4). The reasons include inadequate dispersion and alignment of the nanoreinforcement, low nanoreinforcement volume fraction, and poor bonding and load transfer at interfaces. Intensive work is under way, but the prospect of bulk structural supernanocomposites appears more remote now than it did just a few years ago. However, recent work shows that some applications in reinforcement of small structures may …

Summer Sessions Breakdown Of Course Dates And Time, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This report highlights an exhaustive analysis of the hundreds of Summer Session courses to develop an understanding of when they occur during the day and during which of the four academic terms. The analysis shows that the most popular time for scheduling courses is between 9:30 am and noon for each of the four summer session terms. Given the limited number of general purpose classrooms on campus, accommodating faculty preference for rooms, buildings, and computer equipment is sometimes not possible during the most in demand course times. The results also showcase the potential for having summer courses four-day per week …

Navigating From The Local To The Cosmopolitan: Expanding The Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning Commons, Paul Savory, Amy M. Goodburn

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

This collaborative poster highlights how "Expanding‐the‐SOTL‐Commons" is composed of nine collaborating institutions from the US and Canada. Situated within the Carnegie Academy for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning’s Intuitional Leadership Program, our initiative seeks innovative ways to sustain and advance the teaching commons both on our own campuses and across the broader ISSOTL community. Our diverse group of institutions of higher education acknowledges the multiple dimensions of work that communities and individuals contribute to the scholarship of teaching and learning and recognizes that common interest reside in how individuals and institutions enter into this area of scholarship, and how they …

Acuta Enews November 2008, Vol. 37, No. 11

ACUTA Newsletters

In This lssue

From ACUTA Headquarters: FCC lssues Rules to lmplement NET 91 1 ACT........ Jeri Semer, CAE, Exec. Dir

Tech Talk: For Most, the Big Change on Campus ls Wireless.............Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update.............. Dove Ostrom, Washlngton State University

Nominate Now for ACUTA Board of Directors

Be a State/Province Coordinator

Teflon:A Dangerous Part of a High-Risk World.................Frank Bisbee, Wireville USA

Thanks to Exhibitors for 2008

lnfo Links ............. Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern lowa

Board Report, October....................... Riny Ledgenuood, San Diego State Univ.

Welcome New Members

Check lt Out: RFls/RFPs, Job Postings, Press Releases

Regulating Self-Organizing Nanostructures Via External Mechanism, Jiangyu Li, Q. G. Du, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

Self-organizing nanostructures are ubiquitous in both natural and synthetic materials. They are not only appealing scientifically, by revealing the intrinsic atomic and molecular interactions that might be difficult to detect otherwise, but may also hold the key for the development of novel functional structures and devices. For their technological potential to be fully realized, the size, morphology, and distribution of the self-organizing nanostructures must be regulated. In this paper, we investigate the principles under which the self-organizing nanostructures can be regulated via external mechanisms. Using nanomesa and nanowell formation in polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene copolymer film as an example, we demonstrate …

Flush-Mounted Steady-Periodic Heated Film With Application To Shear-Stress Measurement, Kevin D. Cole

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Surface-mounted heated films have been used for fluid-flow measurement for many years. Recently unsteady heating of such surface films has been explored experimentally. In this paper steady-periodic heating of a surface-mounted film is studied analytically. Wall effects and axial heat conduction in the fluid are included. The temperature is found as an exact integral expression constructed from separate Green’s function formulations in the fluid flow and in the solid wall that are matched at the fluid-solid interface. Results for temperature, obtained by quadrature, are reported for several flow speeds and several steady-periodic frequencies. The results show that steady-periodic heating has …

Economic Development Benefits From Wind Power In Nebraska: A Report For The Nebraska Energy Office, E. Lantz

US Department of Energy Publications

Wind power constituted more than 35% of new U.S. electric generating capacity in 2007. Common drivers of wind power include Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), the federal production tax credit (PTC), and rural economic development benefits. Continued expansion of the wind industry into Nebraska would bring new employment and economic development to Nebraska and the country. This report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) focuses on the economic development impacts that would result in Nebraska from development and operation of wind power in the state as envisioned in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) report 20% Wind Energy by 2030 …

Extracellular Matrix Protein Orientation By Adsorption On Self-Assembled Monolayers Controls Nonviral Gene Delivery, Beth A. Duensing, Angela K. Pannier

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Conference Presentations and White Papers

To date, most efforts to understand and improve the efficiency of nonviral gene delivery have focused on altering the physicochemical properties of delivery systems and developing new delivery strategies. The importance of the cellular microenvironment in achieving successful nonviral gene transfer has not been thoroughly examined, though proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) mediate cell adhesion and serve to regulate cellular behavior that may, in turn, dictate the cellular responsiveness to nonviral gene delivery. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols on gold were used to control adsorption of ECM molecules and thus control the architecture of the extracellular environment presented to …

Real-Time Vertical Track Deflection Measurement System, Sheng Lu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Track quality is a major factor in railroad safety, and one accepted indicator of track quality is the vertical track deflection. Measuring track deflection from a moving railcar is difficult because there is no stable reference for the measurements. A system developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska to measure track deflection from a moving railcar in real-time is described in detail. The system consists of a loaded hopper with a camera/laser sensor system to detect the vertical deflection of the rail relative to the wheel/rail contact point. Modeling and simulation of the system is also presented along with …

An Analysis Of The Technical And Economic Potential For Mid-Scale Distributed Wind, K. Granfield, A. Kagel, A. Appleton

US Department of Energy Publications

This report examines the status, restrainers, drivers, and estimated development potential of mid-scale (10 kW to 5000 kW) distributed wind projects. This segment of the wind market has not enjoyed the same growth that central-station wind has experienced. The purpose of this report is to analyze why, and to assess the market potential for this technology under current market and policy conditions.

As discussed in section 2, one of the most significant barriers to the development of distributed wind is a general scarcity of turbine choices and turbine inventory available for purchase. Most turbine manufacturers have scaled back their involvement …

Contact-Resonance Atomic Force Microscopy For Viscoelasticity, P. A. Yuya, D. C. Hurley, Joseph A. Turner

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

We present a quantitative method for determining the viscoelastic properties of materials with nanometer spatial resolution. The approach is based on the atomic force acoustic microscopy technique that involves the resonant frequencies of the atomic force microscopy cantilever when its tip is in contact with a sample surface. We derive expressions for the viscoelastic properties of the sample in terms of the cantilever frequency response and damping loss. We demonstrate the approach by obtaining experimental values for the storage and loss moduli of a poly(methyl methacrylate) film using a polystyrene sample as a reference material. Experimental techniques and system calibration …

Newsletters For The Larsen Tractor Museum, Tractor Museum

Lester F. Larsen Tractor Museum: Planning and Development Documents

No abstract provided.

Engineering@Nebraska - Fall 2008

Engineering@Nebraska (Alumni Magazine)

Table of Contents:

Front & Center
A Welcome Home: Zero Net Energy Test House unites university and industry as students' learning is caught green-handed
Making their mark on mars: Huskers at Honeybee, a New York City robotics firm, work on Mars missions
Epigenetics: A dialogue between biologists and engineers: Joe Turner, professor and chair of the Department of Engineering Mechanics, collaborates with UNL plant scientist Sally McKenzie on nanoscale work with huge potential
Energy monitoring on the home front: Together with OPPD, Nebraska Engineering studies devices to promote efficiency
Wave of the future: Biological Systems Engineering professor Greg Bashford creates …

Impact Mechanics And High-Energy Absorbing Materials: Review, Pizhong Qiao, Mijia Yang, Florin Bobaru

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

In this paper a review of impact mechanics and high-energy absorbing materials is presented. We review different theoretical models (rigid-body dynamics, elastic, shock, and plastic wave propagation, and nonclassical or nonlocal models. and computational methods (finite-element, finite-difference, and mesh-free methods. used in impact mechanics. Some recent developments in numerical simulation of impact (e.g., peridynamics) and new design concepts proposed as high energy absorbing materials (lattice and truss structures, hybrid sandwich composites, metal foams, magnetorheological fluids, porous shape memory alloys. are discussed. Recent studies on experimental evaluation and constitutive modeling of strain rate-dependent polymer matrix composites are also presented. Impact damage …

Acuta Enews October 2008, Vol. 37, No. 10

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Nominate Now for 2009-2008 Board of Directors

From the President................. Corinne Hoch, Columbia Univ., ACUTA President

Tech Talk: Why Not Share That Extra Computing Power?................ Kevin Tanzillo, Dux PR

DC Update................. Dave Ostrom, Washington State University

Clemson Researchers' EarthBottle Made fro Plants Will Soon Be in Stores

Info Links...................... Randy Hayes, Univ. of Northern Iowa

The ICT Regulations toolkit: A Resource Worth Checking Out

Loans to Cover Disaster Losses

Board Report................ Riny Ledgerwood, San Diego State Univ., ACUTA Secretary/Treasurer

Check It Out: Press Releases... Job Postings... RFIs/RFPs

OCS Federation Submarien Cable Completed

Welcome New Members

Energy-Constrained Distortion Reduction Optimization For Wavelet-Based Coded Image Transmission In Wireless Sensor Networks, Wei Wang, Dongming Peng, Honggang Wang, Hamid Sharif, Hsiao-Hwa Chen

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications (to 2015)

Image transmissions in Wireless Multimedia Sensor Networks (WMSNs) are often energy constrained. They also have requirement on distortion minimization, which may be achieved through Unequal Error Protection (UEP) based communication approaches. In related literature with regard to wireless multimedia transmissions, significantly different importance levels between image-pixel-position information and image-pixel-value information have not been fully exploited by existing UEP schemes. In this paper, we propose an innovative image-pixel-position information based resource allocation scheme to optimize image transmission quality with strict energy budget constraint for image applications in WMSNs, and it works by exploring these uniquely different importance levels among image data …