Engineering Commons^™

Modulation And Control Techniques For Performance Improvement Of Micro Grid Tie Inverters, Zeljko Jankovic

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of microgrids is a new building block of smart grid that acts as a single controllable entity which allows reliable interconnection of distributed energy resources and loads and provides alternative way of their integration into power system. Due to its specifics, microgrids require different control strategies and dynamics of regulation as compared to ones used in conventional utility grids. All types of power converters used in microgrid share commonalities which potentially affect high frequency modes of microgrid in same manner. There are numerous unique design requirements imposed on microgrid tie inverters, which are dictated by the nature of …

Reevaluating Order Fulfillment Decisions For E-Tailers Under True Simulated Operating Conditions, Amir H. Kalantari

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation makes both a methodological and an applied contribution. From a methodological standpoint, this is among the very first works in the literature to explore the concepts of true simulated operating conditions and fully embedded decision-making algorithms. We illustrate the effectiveness of these concepts by applying them to an online retailer (i.e. e-tailer) order fulfillment decision making process.

Online shopping has completely transformed retail markets in recent years. For customers, it provides convenience, visibility and choice, and for retailers it provides market expansion opportunities, operational cost reduction, and many other advantages. There are fundamental differences between the supply chain …

Experimental Study On Side Resistance Of Energy Pile In Winter-Mode Operation, Te-An Wang

Theses and Dissertations

In the present work, the side resistance of an energy pile subjected to a significant number of thermal cycles in saturated Kaolin clay was investigated through small-scale pile tests, direct shear tests, and triaxial tests. Before applying compressive load, relative shearing displacement, or deviator stress, up to 36 cooling/heating cycles were performed on the soil-foundation interface and soil. The thermal cycle was below the average ground temperature in temperate zones to simulate the winter-mode operation. In small-scale pile tests, the long-term behavior of the pile was observed in terms of temperature distribution and pore water pressure in soil, and a …

Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis In Traffic Safety, Amin Azimian, Dimitra Pyrialakou

International Journal of Geospatial and Environmental Research

This paper presents an exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) of road traffic crashes at different severity levels in West Virginia (WV). Although ESDA can support transportation safety decision-making by helping planners understand and summarize crash data, it is underutilized in practice. This paper describes the application of five representative easy-to-use method to identify crash patterns and high crash-risk counties in WV. Analysis of crash data from 2010 to 2015 indicated that traffic crashes in WV were not spatially correlated. However, crash severities were found to be positively correlated.

A Hardware-In-The-Loop Platform For Dc Protection, Mark Vygoder

Theses and Dissertations

With the proliferation of power electronics, dc-based power distribution systems can be realized; however, dc electrical protection remains a significant barrier to mass implementation dc power distribution. Controller Hardware-in-the-loop (CHiL) simulation enables moving up technology readiness levels (TRL) quickly. This work presents an end-to-end solution for dc protection CHiL for early design exploration and verification for dc protection, allowing for the rapid development of dc protection schemes for both Line-to-Line (LL) and Line-to-Ground (LG) faults. The approach combines using Latency Based Linear Multistep Compound (LB-LMC), a real-time simulation method for power electronic, and National Instruments (NI) FPGA hardware to enable …

A Parametric Approach To Performative-Based Design, Case Study: Earth Tube Ventilation, Hoda Barzegar Ganji

Theses and Dissertations

As integrated design becomes more prevalent, new workflows develop in the architectural industry. Rather than the traditional sequential pattern, the knowledge is now being applied in parallel. That is, unlike the old baton passing, the players including the architect, the engineer, the consultant, the contractor, etc. play their role simultaneously. To achieve this, an architectural ecosystem needs a compatible digital information exchange approach; an approach that involves the engineer in the strategic design of systems, increases the chances of more creative, more integrated and higher-performing systems.

There are some problems in the current parametric studies such as lack of inclusivity …

Calculation Of Exposed Length Of Anchor Bolts In Shear I: Monotonic Loading, Da Luo, Jian Zhao

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Articles

This report describes a study of stand-off anchors in shear with various exposed lengths. Anchor bolts embedded in concrete are commonly used in construction, and often leveling nuts are used to adjust the position of attached steel components. In this case, a portion of anchor bolts may be exposed as in a typical column footing connection without grouting. Such anchor bolts in shear are subjected to combined bending, shear and tension depending upon the stand-off heights, concrete compressive strength, and anchor diameter. The shear capacity of exposed anchors is critically related to the total exposed length, including the stand-off height …

A Reinforcement Learning Approach To Sequential Acceptance Sampling As A Critical Success Factor For Lean Six Sigma, Hani A. Khalil

Theses and Dissertations

In the 21st century, globalization coupled with technological advancement and free trade has created competition among various businesses enterprises. This competition has led many businesses to adopt various management techniques such as acceptance sampling aimed at transforming their processes in order to remain competitive in the global market and adapt to new market demands. The successful implementation of acceptance sampling is highly dependent on what the academic literature refers to as acceptance sampling optimization. A literature review on the optimization of acceptance sampling has not shown any work that studied whether acceptance sampling and machine learning (ML) plans can be …

Development Of A Hydrodynamic And Sediment Transport Model For Green Bay, Lake Michigan, Bahram Khazaei

Theses and Dissertations

Sediment dynamics are strongly linked with biogeochemical and physical changes in estuarine systems. Understanding the links between sediment processes and ecosystem responses is necessary for the restoration of degraded systems. Located in Northern US, and one of the largest freshwater estuaries on earth, Green Bay is a distinct example of these degraded systems. Rapid development and anthropogenic activities increased nutrient loading rates into the bay and led to a major disruption of the pre-existing biogeochemical regimes in the ecosystem. Contaminated and nutrient-rich sediments were discharged to the bay by the Fox River for almost half a century. Green Bay’s seasonal-, …

Selective Actuation And Sensing Of Antisymmetric Lamb Wave Mode Using D15 Piezoelectric Transducers, Parry Carrison

Theses and Dissertations

Undetected damage in aircraft can lead to catastrophic failures and loss of life. Automated embedded damage detection systems can reduce manhours and downtime due to inspection. Ultrasonic inspection has become one of the most capable methods for thin plate-like structures, such as aircraft spars, stiffeners, and skins. Piezoelectric transducers can inspect structures by generating ultrasonic Lamb waves and sensing how they propagate. Many Lamb wave modes exist at a given frequency, which makes signal interpretation challenging. Selective actuation of a single mode simplifies the signal analysis. The A0 mode has the shortest wavelength, which increases sensitivity to small defects, and …

Three-Level Converters For Low Voltage Active Front End Motor Drives, Marzieh Karami

Theses and Dissertations

Electric drives with Active Front End (AFE) converters can provide benefits such as lower harmonic current injections to the grid, smaller size filters, lower THD values and cost saving for injection of power to the grid in brake situations. SiC-MOSFET based two-level converters can be a promising topology for Active Front End (AFE) application in electric drives. The possibility of high switching frequency will make the grid filters smaller. Grid filters are used for EMC and power quality issues. However, there are practical limitations for increasing the switching frequency such as dead time in the gating signals, sampling requirements, and …

Public Transit And Micro-Mobility: Identifying The Impacts Of Bikeshare On Public Transit Ridership In The City Of Chicago, Shamsi Mosharraf Trisha

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

PUBLIC TRANSIT AND MICRO-MOBILITY: IDENTIFYING THE IMPACTS OF BIKESHARE ON PUBLIC TRANSIT RIDERSHIP IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO

The variation of transit and bike share access amongst the communities in Chicago, in terms of their social, ethnic and economic segregation was investigated. The findings identify the area suitable for implementation of micro mobility as a first and last mile option. Based on transit connectivity and population mix, the communities are ranked into five groups: 1) Central: excellent transit and bike share access serving the micro mobility purpose; 2) North Side : good transit access which can be improved further …

Essays On Shipment Consolidation Scheduling And Decision Making In The Context Of Flexible Demand, Sepideh Alavi

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation contains three essays related to shipment consolidation scheduling and decision making in the presence of flexible demand. The first essay is presented in Section 1. This essay introduces a new mathematical model for shipment consolidation scheduling for a two-echelon supply chain. The problem addresses shipment coordination and consolidation decisions that are made by a manufacturer who provides inventory replenishments to multiple downstream distribution centers. Unlike previous studies, the consolidation activities in this problem are not restricted to specific policies such as aggregation of shipments at regular times or consolidating when a predetermined quantity has accumulated. Rather, we consider …

Development And Control Of A 3-Dof Exoskeleton Robot For Forearm And Wrist Rehabilitation, Tanvir Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

The research conducted under this project directly contributes to the development of a forearm and wrist rehabilitation robot (UWM-FWRR). Upper extremity impairment following stroke, trauma, sports injuries, occupational injuries, spinal cord injuries, and orthopaedic injuries results in significant deficits in hand manipulation and the performance of everyday tasks. Strokes affect nearly 800,000 people in the United States each year. Rehabilitation programs are the main method of promoting functional recovery in individuals with finger impairment. The conventional therapeutic approach requiring a long commitment by both the clinician and the patient. Robotic devices (RDs) are novel and rapidly expanding technologies in hand …

Patients’ Needs And Preferences Regarding Radiology Test Results On Patient Portals, Mansour Abdulaziz Almanaa

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction and significance: Radiology exams are an important part of health care. To enhance the quality of health care, health care services need to be delivered in ways that meet patients’ needs and preferences. Patients were found to be interested in the timely receipt of radiology test results. One of the easiest and fastest ways to deliver radiology test results to patients is via online patient portals. It seems, however, that the method of providing radiology test results through patient portals has not reached its full maturity; it still needs a great deal of improvement. Therefore, participation of the end-readers …

Power Electronic Architecture For Multi-Vehicle Extreme Fast Charging Stations, Nicholas Hoeft

Theses and Dissertations

Electric vehicles (EV) are quickly gaining popularity but limited driving range and a lack of fast charging infrastructure are preventing widespread use when compared with gas powered vehicles. This gave rise to the concept of multi-vehicle extreme fast charging (XFC) stations. Extreme fast charging imposes challenges in the forms of power delivery, battery management, and energy dispatch. The extreme load demand must be handled in such a way that users may receive a timely charge with minimal impacts on the electric grid. Power electronics are implemented to address these challenges with highly power dense and efficient solutions. This work explores …

Quantitative Optical Imaging Of Metabolic And Structural Biomarkers In Rodent Injury Models, Shima Mehrvar

Theses and Dissertations

The assessment of organ metabolic function using optical imaging techniques is an overgrowing field of disease diagnosis. The broad research objective of my PhD thesis is to detect quantitative biomarkers by developing and applying optical imaging and image processing tools to animal models of human diseases. To achieve this goal, I have designed and implemented an optical imaging instrument called in vivo fluorescence imager to study wound healing progress. I have also developed a 3-dimensional (3D) vascular segmentation technique that uses intrinsic fluorescence images of whole organs.

Intrinsic fluorophores (autofluorescence signals) provide information about the status of cellular bioenergetics in …

Medical Image Segmentation With Deep Learning, Chuanbo Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Medical imaging is the technique and process of creating visual representations of the body of a patient for clinical analysis and medical intervention. Healthcare professionals rely heavily on medical images and image documentation for proper diagnosis and treatment. However, manual interpretation and analysis of medical images is time-consuming, and inaccurate when the interpreter is not well-trained. Fully automatic segmentation of the region of interest from medical images have been researched for years to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of understanding such images. With the advance of deep learning, various neural network models have gained great success in semantic segmentation and …

Numerical And Experimental Investigation Of Performance For Very-Low-Head Micro And Pico Kaplan Hydro-Turbines With Rim-Driven Generators, Ahmad Ibrahim Mohammad Abbas

Theses and Dissertations

Renewable energy plays a significant role in new power generation worldwide, and hydropower is contributing to 86% of renewable electricity production within all other renewable energy resources. Simultaneously, hydropower shares 83% of U.S. renewable energy capacity and accounts for 77% of actual renewable electricity generation. However, most of the installed hydropower consists of large plants. Much potential hydro generation remains untapped, particularly at lower power and head levels. There is a substantial opportunity worldwide and across the U.S. in specific to add new hydropower generating capabilities at low-head sites such as non-powered dams, canals, and conduits with a water height …

Investigation Of Heat Transfer In Stationary And Rotating U-Duct Passage Representing Internal Cooling Of Gas Turbine Blade Channel, Mandana Sheikhzad Saravani

Theses and Dissertations

Gas turbines are used in various systems, including in power plants, marine, and aircraft propulsion engines. The airflow in gas turbines can reach temperatures as high as 2000 K that exceeds the softening points for most high-performance blade materials, such as special steels, titanium alloys, and super-alloys. Preventing thermal failure in the turbine-blades has driven many technological advances in materials science and mechanical design. In this thesis, the main focus is on improving the performance of the internal cooling channel technology. In this study, the optimized thermal behavior of the coolant gas and surfaces in turbines by incorporating novel internal …