Engineering Commons^™

Value Of Service-Oriented Multi-Service Provisioning And Resource Allocation In Integrated Localization, Sensing And Communication Systems, Biwei Li

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The unprecedented proliferation of wireless infrastructures and their ongoing convergence with diverse industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications introduce new demands for upcoming wireless networks. In response to such diversity of demands, envisioned future wireless networks must have multiple beyond communication capabilities, such as localization and sensing. To efficiently utilize, allocate, and manage these capabilities, the integration of localization, sensing, and communication (ILSAC) within a unified wireless system structure is of utmost importance. However, the seamless integration of ILSAC into intricate network infrastructures is encumbered by critical challenges, including high-accuracy localization/sensing algorithm, efficient resource management and allocation scheme, and robust …

The Development And Testing Of A Gyroscope-Based Neck Strengthening Rehabilitation Device, Nicole D. Devos

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Neck pain can be debilitating, and is experienced by the majority of people at some point over the course of their life. Resistance training has been shown to have significant improvement in pain or disability for patients. There are few options available for telerehabilitation, and the use of gyroscope stabilizers is proposed for this use. A biomechanics model of a head--neck--gyroscope system was created. In order to also model the dynamics of such a system, this work proposes a blended method using the Denavit--Hartenberg (DH) convention, popular in the field of robotics, with the Lagrangian mechanics approach to analyze an …

Attribution Robustness Of Neural Networks, Sunanda Gamage

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

While deep neural networks have demonstrated excellent learning capabilities, explainability of model predictions remains a challenge due to their black box nature. Attributions or feature significance methods are tools for explaining model predictions, facilitating model debugging, human-machine collaborative decision making, and establishing trust and compliance in critical applications. Recent work has shown that attributions of neural networks can be distorted by imperceptible adversarial input perturbations, which makes attributions unreliable as an explainability method. This thesis addresses the research problem of attribution robustness of neural networks and introduces novel techniques that enable robust training at scale.

Firstly, a novel generic framework …

Automated Large-Scale Tornado Treefall Detection And Directional Analysis Using Machine Learning, Daniel G. Butt, Aaron L. Jaffe, Connell S. Miller, Gregory A. Kopp, David Sills

Civil and Environmental Engineering Publications

Abstract

In many regions of the world, tornadoes travel through forested areas with low population densities, making downed trees the only observable damage indicator. Current methods in the EF scale for analyzing tree damage may not reflect the true intensity of some tornadoes. However, new methods have been developed that use the number of trees downed or treefall directions from high-resolution aerial imagery to provide an estimate of maximum wind speed. Treefall Identification and Direction Analysis (TrIDA) maps are used to identify areas of treefall damage and treefall directions along the damage path. Currently, TrIDA maps are generated manually, but …

Modeling Thermosyphon And Heat Pipe Performance For Mold Cooling Applications, Dwaipayan Sarkar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thermosyphons are enhanced heat transfer devices that can continuously transfer very large amounts of heat rapidly over long distances with small temperature differences. The high heat transfer rate is achieved through simultaneous boiling and condensation of the working fluid and the continuous heat transfer is achieved through recirculation of the working fluid in its liquid and vapor phase. A potentially important application of the thermosyphons has been towards reducing the cycle times of the mold cooling processes which would provide economic incentives to the automotive industry.

Different operational and geometrical parameters such as the input heating power, fill ratio (FR), …

Analyses For Assessing The Centreline Translation, Asymmetrical Wind-Field, And Velocity Fluctuations Of Tornado Vortices, Niall C. Bannigan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Tornadoes present an ever-increasing threat to communities worldwide, especially those with geographic conditions that place them in the path of several tornadoes annually. These conditions are likely to be exacerbated by ongoing trends in the climate. As such, it is necessary to move towards experimental and numerical tornado-like vortex studies that allow for more advanced simulation methods. Novel techniques for tracking and analysing tornado vortices simulated at high spatial and temporal resolution are presented herein. Significant wandering of the tornado's position and large peaks in the velocity field can be captured, demonstrating tangential gusting at more than 1.5 times the …

Design Of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Solid States In Crystallization Processes, Weizhong Gong

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Crystallization is an important technique to obtain solid-state drugs from solutions. Physicochemical properties of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are determined by crystallization. More than half of the active pharmaceutical ingredients exhibit polymorphism, the phenomenon of chemical species showing more than one unit-cell structure in the solid state. Controlling polymorphism is one of the most important goals during pharmaceutical manufacturing. Nevertheless, the control of polymorphism is sometimes not enough to realize the targeted physicochemical properties. Suitable additives (coformers/salt formers) are explored to generate new multi-component solid phases of poorly soluble/bioavailable active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The design of pharmaceutical cocrystals and …

The Effect Of Steam Explosion On Lipids Extraction From Microalgae And Derivation Of Pectin Films From Waste Culture, Shahil Chhiba

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The objective of this study was to investigate the properties of sustainable replacements for plastics and diesel fuel, derived from microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) subjected to steam explosion. During the process, oven temperatures of up to 500 °C were reached, with the experiments left for different times after reaching their maximum internal temperature. Lipids were extracted from algal cultures using a modified Folch method. The waste microalgae were combined with pectin and glycerol to form biodegradable films, and their solubilities and tensile strengths were measured. The highest yield was 124 mg lipids/g microalgae from 400 °C steam explosion for …

Towards Patient Specific Mitral Valve Modelling Via Dynamic 3d Transesophageal Echocardiography, Patrick Carnahan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Mitral valve disease is a common pathologic problem occurring increasingly in an aging population, and many patients suffering from mitral valve disease require surgical intervention. Planning an interventional approach from diagnostic imaging alone remains a significant clinical challenge. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the primary imaging modality used diagnostically, it has limitations in image quality and field-of-view. Recently, developments have been made towards modelling patient-specific deformable mitral valves from TEE imaging, however, a major barrier to producing accurate valve models is the need to derive the leaflet geometry through segmentation of diagnostic TEE imaging. This work explores the development of volume …

Investigation Of Thermofluid Processes In A Pcm Based Thermal Storage Module, Luca M. Crnjac

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Latent heat thermal energy storage systems can capture and store solar thermal energy, enhancing the reliability of solar energy by facilitating a continuous and consistent energy supply. However, phase change materials used in these systems suffer from low thermal conductivities making it difficult to achieve suitable charging and discharging rates. The present research investigated this issue using computational and experimental approaches to improve the design of a thermal storage module through heat transfer enhancement. Various heat transfer enhancements including a finned honeycomb structure, and metal wool were incorporated into a thermal storage module to analyze their effect on charging and …

Analysis And Characterization Of Embroidered Textile Strain Sensors For Use In Wearable Mechatronic Devices, Jose Guillermo Colli Alfaro

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Stroke and musculoskeletal disorders affect hundreds of millions of people around the world. To aid in the recovery process of people affected by these conditions, the use of wearable mechatronic devices has been proposed during traditional rehabilitation therapies. However, factor such as rigidity, increased weight, and overall bulkiness have hindered the adoption of these devices in a clinical setting. Therefore, alternative solutions in the form of soft wearable mechatronic devices have been proposed recently. This is due to these devices being lightweight and comfortable, and compliant, which makes them easier to conform to the human body. To achieve such compliance, …

Characterizing Tkr Biomechanics Using A Novel Muscle-Driven Joint Motion Simulator, Alexandre Galley

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Total knee replacement (TKR) is the end-stage treatment for severe cases of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Despite its success in alleviating pain and restoring mobility to the knee, patient satisfaction rates post-TKR are still lower than other common joint replacement surgeries. Knee kinematics and stability, key determinants of successful TKR, are assessed intraoperatively and tracked post-operatively in in vivo clinical studies. However, the persistently low satisfaction rates suggest that more sophisticated pre-clinical testing methods are needed to better understand the biomechanics of these implants early in their development. During pre-clinical testing of TKR implants, different joint motion simulators are used for …

Multi-Dimensional Qos And Collaborative Mac Layer Design For Dense, Diverse, And Dynamic Iot Network, Jiyang Bai

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

With the ubiquitous proliferation of Internet of Thing (IoT) devices, Access Points (APs) of future Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) networks are expected to support dense Stations (STAs) with diverse Quality-of-Service (QoS) requirements under dynamic channel conditions. On account of high access collision and optimization problem complexity, the performance degradation brings new challenges to the existing Media Access Control (MAC) layer design in Wi-Fi. This thesis proposes novel technologies to enable low-latency high-performance MAC layer designs, which support dense access of STAs with real-time solutions of resource allocation and link adaptation problems. Both grouping and collaborative architectures are utilized based on game …

Study Of Multi-Dimensional Transfer Effects In Applied Smouldering Systems, Seyed Ziaedin Miry Mr

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Smouldering is a flameless form of combustion that is driven by oxygen directly diffusing into the surface of condensed phase fuel (liquid or solid) and involves a complex interplay between heat and mass transfer through porous media, chemical reactions, and multiphase flow. Applied smouldering systems have been gaining popularity for a variety of applications including (i) energy and resource recovery, (ii) waste-to-energy, (iii) pyrolysis and gasification, and (iv) applied smouldering of organic liquids/solids for environmental benefits. In all contexts, smouldering is a complicated oxygen-limited phenomenon where multi-dimensional transfer effects (i.e., non-uniformities in …

Understanding Real-World And Laboratory Traumatic Brain Injury (Tbi) Using The Computational Model With Brain Functional Regions, Kewei Bian

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion, is a severe health concern. Many symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, and working memory deficits, are reported to be related to the dysfunction of brain functional regions, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Hence, further developing tools and analyses to understand brain dysfunction for better TBI prevention are important. Additionally, such analyses should be conducted for both real-world TBI cases and laboratory studies, as TBI data can only be collected from the real world, and prevention measures, such as helmets, are developed and evaluated in the lab. Accordingly, …

Performance Recovery Of Scale Reduced Cyclone Particle Separators Using A Rotating Classifier, Mark J. Parker

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cyclone particle separators are often used to collect particles that are of value or environmental concern. These devices achieve high Total Collection Efficiency (TCE) with steady pressure drop. Increasing the height of the cyclone improves both TCE and pressure drop. However, due to the height of the cyclone, these devices are often forced to be placed outside, which can lead to decreased performance over time. The research examines the outcome of scale reducing a cyclone. This is achieved by (i) how the scale reduction changes the flow field, (ii) identifying what flow aspects contribute to the reduction in TCE and …

Vertical Free-Swinging Photovoltaic Racking Energy Modeling: A Novel Approach To Agrivoltaics, Koami Soulemane Hayibo, Joshua M. Pearce

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

To enable lower-cost building materials, a free-swinging bifacial vertical solar photovoltaic (PV) rack has been proposed, which complies with Canadian building codes and is the lowest capital-cost agrivoltaics rack. The wind force applied to the free-swinging PV, however, causes it to have varying tilt angles depending on the wind speed and direction. No energy performance model accurately describes such a system. To provide a simulation model for the free-swinging PV, where wind speed and direction govern the array tilt angle, this study builds upon the open-source System Advisor Model (SAM) using Python. After the SAM python model is validated, a …

An Investigation Into Computational Modelling Of Melting And Solidification Of Phase Change Materials, Maryam Hemmat

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis evaluates the effectiveness of the enthalpy-porosity approach in simulating melting and solidification of phase change materials within latent heat thermal energy storage systems. It systematically investigates the sensitivity of the computational model to four adjustable parameters: mushy zone coefficient, thermal expansion coefficient, solidus/liquidus temperatures, and latent heat. The study includes individual and combined analyses of these factors in simulations of the melting process by comparing outcomes with extensive experimental data, resulting in a calibrated melting model. The calibrated model is validated across various heating conditions in the cylindrical cavity, and then in a rectangular cavity, confirming its reliability …

Patterned Heating Induced Propulsion, Saajid A. Aman

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study explores propulsion effects generated by patterned heating acting on smooth and corrugated surfaces. The model problem assumes that the upper plate moves freely, and the lower plate is stationary, equipped with grooves, and exposed to spatially distributed heating. Our findings identify two distinct propulsion effects: thermal streaming and thermal drift. Thermal streaming occurs when given sufficient heating intensity with net flow in the left or right direction characterized by a pitchfork bifurcation. The efficiency of this technique can be controlled using the wavelength of heating. Thermal drift represents a pattern interaction effect. Its strength depends on the relative …

Investigation Of Foam Based Photobioreactor For The Cultivation Of Chlorella Vulgaris Cpcc 90, Anuradha Krishnan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Today, microalgae are cultured in large-scale systems such as open ponds and photobioreactors. Open pond systems, while not expensive, have disadvantages, including contamination and high water consumption, resulting in increased cost of harvesting and quick evaporation. Photobioreactors overcome some of the challenges of an open pond system. However, the reactor setup, operation, and microalgae harvesting are relatively more expensive when compared to conventional techniques. In this study, a novel foam-based photobioreactor system was applied to investigate both the cultivation and harvest of microalgae using different surfactant agents, i.e., rhamnolipids, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), saponin, and the commercial surfactant Pluronic f127 …

Head Impact Effects In Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (Srpas) Collisions: Gender Specific Risks And Vulnerable Population Protection, Md Farhan Hoque Sagar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study focuses on supporting the development of safety regulations for vulnerable populations during drone to head impacts. First, the small female head and neck model was compared to cadaveric data. Then, combined with lab’s previous work, gender-based disparities in head impact responses were highlighted, with small females experiencing higher injury risk metrics, despite lower skull von Mises stress. Beyond small females, children of various ages and their head responses during impacts were also analyzed. In addition to the previously developed quadcopter drone model, a new Mavic Pro drone model was developed, and this model was integrated with human head …

Corrosion Of Oil Pipeline: A Case Study On The Niger Delta Region Of Nigeria., Victor U. Okoro

Corrosion Research

Corrosion of oil pipelines in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, has extensive and detrimental environmental and societal impacts. This issue results in substantial financial losses and reputational damage for oil companies operating in the area. Local communities suffer economically, affecting agriculture and food security. Furthermore, corrosion-related oil spills lead to air quality degradation by releasing volatile organic compounds and greenhouse gases, contributing to respiratory issues and worsening climate change.

These oil spill cleanups are costly and time-consuming, with estimated expenses reaching billions of dollars. Using the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) case study, it is evident that addressing …

Experimental And Simulation Study Of Reactive Silver Ink Droplet Evaporation, Weipeng Zhang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The evaporation of particle-free silver ink droplets on heated substrates directly impacts the morphology of the resultant silver particles and films. In this thesis, COMSOL Multiphysics simulations of the solvent (water-ethylene glycol mixture) droplet evaporation process are used to explain the microflows, mass transfers, and heat distribution responsible for the experimental observations. The reactive ink incorporates fluoro-surfactant FS-31 and poly (acrylamide) (PAM) to suppress the coffee-ring effect that negatively impacts the electrical conductivity. Experiments show that the droplet evaporation process results in varied silver particle morphology, depending on the locations within the droplet, leading to uneven surfaces. Large particles (3 …

Corrosion Related To The Nuclear Waste Containers, Ali Ebrahimzadeh Pilehrood

Corrosion Research

The disposal of nuclear waste is a demanding topic, and the existing methods, whether it is temporary storage in spent fuel pools or storage in geological repositories, both face the risk of corrosion-related problems. Any failure in these storage methods can potentially lead to the release of radioactive materials into the environment. To avert such catastrophic scenarios, people in the nuclear industry consistently monitor and maintain these storage facilities endlessly and attempt to improve the plans designed to store nuclear waste. Here, I will examine the nuclear waste management organization (NWMO) plan in Canada. Choosing an appropriate location for the …

Corrosion Of Implant Materials In The Human Body, Maedeh Barzmehri

Corrosion Research

This paper extensively examines the complex problem of implant corrosion occurring within the human body. The corrosion of implants gives rise to substantial challenges, encompassing compromised implant durability, patient safety concerns, and potential adverse impacts on the long-term functionality of the medical device. The study's primary objectives include offering a concise overview of the various corrosion mechanisms that impact a range of implant materials and outlining health complications linked to the byproducts of implant corrosion. Furthermore, it delves into a cost analysis specific to hip or knee revision arthroplasty, which has become a prevalent scenario in implant failure cases on …

Corrosion Case Study On Pipeline, Kangze Ren

Corrosion Research

The Kashagan pipeline leaks were likely caused by sulfur stress corrosion cracking, a combined corrosion mechanism developed by the presence of high pressure, the high level of hydrogen sulfide(the main "ingredient" of sour gas), and poor metallurgical choice. Improper welding and poor metallurgical examination were blamed for causing the leaking issue. The purpose of the current review is to raise the alarm about the inappropriate corrosion management of Kashagan oil production and its societal and environmental consequences.

Free-Hand Photoacoustic Imaging Of Breast Cancer Tissue, Elina Rascevska

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Approximately 19% of breast cancer patients undergoing breast conserving surgery (BCS) must return for a re-excision surgery due to positive margin reported by pathology. This problem is mainly associated with lack of intraoperative cancer margin assessment tools. Our previous work demonstrated that lipid-weighted photoacoustic imaging (PAI) can be used intraoperatively to successfully differentiate between cancerous and healthy tissue with high sensitivity. However, the technology was cumbersome and significantly prolonged the procedure time. The goal of this work was to develop a compact hand-held probe, working on lipid-weighted PAI principles, that can provide feedback during BSC without significantly altering the surgical …

Impinging Jet Flow And Hydraulic Jump Of Newtonian And Viscoplastic Liquids, Wenxi Wang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The steady laminar incompressible flow of an axisymmetric impinging jet of either a Newtonian fluid or a viscoplastic fluid of the Heschel-Bulkley type and the hydraulic jump of either a circular or polygonal shape on a solid disk is analyzed. The polygonal jump is induced by azimuthal dependence edge conditions: a non-circular disk or a circular disk with a variable edge film thickness. The thin-film and Kármán–Pohlhausen approaches are utilized as theoretical tools.

To cross the jump smoothly, a composite mean-field thin-film approach is proposed. The stress singularity for a film freely draining at the disk edge is found to …

Effect Of Land Use Type And Stormwater Control Measures On Non-Point Source Phosphorus Concentrations And Loads In A Cold Climate Urban Subwatershed, Dillon H. Vyn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Non-point source phosphorus (P) exports from urban areas including contributions from different urban land use types and seasonal variations are not well understood, especially for cold climates. Additionally, the effectiveness of different stormwater control measures (SCMs) in reducing P concentrations and loads are poorly quantified with assessments rarely considering total watershed P loads. To address these gaps, detailed field monitoring of total P (TP), soluble reactive P (SRP), total suspended solids (TSS), and water quantity was conducted over a 19-month period in a mixed urban watershed in London, ON. Monitoring sites were located at watershed outlets, at the outlets of …

Synergistic Effect Of Nanoclay And Barium Sulfate Fillers On The Corrosion Resistance Of Polyester Powder Coatings, Jinbao Huang, Marshall Shuai Yang, Chengqian Xian, James Joseph Noel, Yolanda S. Hedberg, Jian Chen, Ubong Eduok, Ivan Barker, Jeffrey Daniel Henderson, Haiping Zhang, Liqin Wang, Hui Zhang, Jesse Zhu

Chemistry Publications

No abstract provided.