Engineering Commons^™

Application Of Wavelet Analysis And Random Field In Integrity Management Of Pipelines Containing Dents And Corrosions, Junxiong Lin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Metal loss corrosions and dents are two major threats to the integrity of oil and natural gas pipelines. In the pipeline industry, the Fitness-For-Service (FFS) assessment is commonly employed for pipelines containing these defects. However, FFS assessment usually assumes that a defect has a simple shape, and such a simplification may significantly affect the accuracy of the assessment. Therefore, retaining the actual shapes of defects and incorporating them into the FFS assessment can improve assessment accuracy. The main objective of the present thesis is to extract key information about the sizes, directions, and shapes of corrosions and dents from the …

Parametric Analysis And Enhancement Of The Burst Capacity Model For Composite-Repaired Corroded Pipelines, Rodrigo Silva Silva-Santisteban

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

One of the main causes of pipeline failures is corrosion, which leads to a localized loss of the pipe wall thickness and hence compromises the capacity of the pipeline. Composite repair is a method to rehabilitate corroded pipelines. Design codes such as ASME PCC-2 are commonly used to design the repair thickness. As the predictive accuracy to determine the burst capacity of a composite repaired pipeline with existing models is generally poor, the main objective of the present thesis is to provide insights on the parameters that affect the burst capacity and propose improvements to the prediction of burst capacity …

Monitoring Remediation Of Organic Contaminants Using Electrical Resistivity And Induced Polarization Techniques, Angelos Almpanis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Effective characterization and monitoring of subsurface processes associated with the remediation of sites contaminated by dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) remains a substantial environmental challenge. Geophysical techniques such as direct current (DC) resistivity and induced polarization (IP) offer the potential to considerably enhance our understanding of such complex phenomena occurring in the subsurface. However, despite extensive research highlighting the benefits of employing IP – in the time domain (DCIP) and/or frequency domain (spectral IP, SIP) – for contaminant investigations, more research is needed to understand the role of IP for monitoring DNAPL remediation. The goal of this thesis was to …

Conversion Of Biomass Derived Tar In A Catalytic Post-Gasification Process, Floria Rojas Chaves

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The present MESc thesis reports the performance of a fluidizable CeO₂ promoted Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst to be used in a post-gasification process for tar removal. The catalysts developed were prepared using the incipient wetness technique and characterized chemically and physically, using the following techniques: N₂ Adsorption-Desorption, XRD, NH₃ and CO₂ TPD, Pyridine-FTIR, H₂-TPR, and H₂-Pulse Chemisorption. The catalysts were tested in a fluidized CREC Riser Simulator, in the 500°C-550°C temperature range, within 5 s-10 s reaction times, using both steam and steam-H₂/CO₂ atmospheres.A 2-methoxy-4-methlyphenol (2M4MP) compound was …

A Novel Method For Determining The Inherent Capabilities Of Computer And Robotic-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty Devices, Delaney R.G. Stevens

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis presents a method for evaluating and comparing assistive total knee arthroplasty (TKA) devices while controlling surgeon landmarking variability. To achieve consistent landmark selection by surgeons during TKA procedures, the method uses identical 3D-printed knees with indented landmarks. This method was used to compare a robotic and computer-assisted TKA device on three metrics: measurement accuracy, alignment accuracy, and cut-surface uniformity. Although both devices had considerable sagittal plane measurement errors, the robotic device had better measurement and alignment accuracy than the computer-assisted device. Furthermore, the robotic device's measuring error compensated for cutting errors, but the computer-assisted device's compounded them. However, …

Toward Building An Intelligent And Secure Network: An Internet Traffic Forecasting Perspective, Sajal Saha

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Internet traffic forecast is a crucial component for the proactive management of self-organizing networks (SON) to ensure better Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE). Given the volatile and random nature of traffic data, this forecasting influences strategic development and investment decisions in the Internet Service Provider (ISP) industry. Modern machine learning algorithms have shown potential in dealing with complex Internet traffic prediction tasks, yet challenges persist. This thesis systematically explores these issues over five empirical studies conducted in the past three years, focusing on four key research questions: How do outlier data samples impact prediction accuracy for …

Engineering Multifunctional Adhesive Hydrogel Patches For Biomedical Applications, Aishik Chakraborty, Shana Alexander, Wei Luo, Narisse Al-Salam, Mia Van Oirschot, Sudhir H. Ranganath, Subrata Chakrabarti, Arghya Paul

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Publications

Traditional patches, such as sticking plaster or acrylic adhesives used for over a hundred years, lack functionality. To address this issue of poor functionality, adhesive hydrogel patches have emerged as an efficient bioactive multifunctional alternative. Hydrogels are three-dimensional, water-swellable, and polymeric materials closely resembling the native tissue architecture. The physicochemical properties of hydrogels can be modified easily, allowing them to be suitable for various biomedical applications. Moreover, adhesive properties can be imparted to hydrogels through physicochemical manipulations, making them ideal candidates for supplementing or replacing traditional sticking plaster. As a result, sticky hydrogel patches are widely used for transdermal drug …

Evaluating Eeg–Emg Fusion-Based Classification As A Method For Improving Control Of Wearable Robotic Devices For Upper-Limb Rehabilitation, Jacob G. Tryon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Musculoskeletal disorders are the biggest cause of disability worldwide, and wearable mechatronic rehabilitation devices have been proposed for treatment. However, before widespread adoption, improvements in user control and system adaptability are required. User intention should be detected intuitively, and user-induced changes in system dynamics should be unobtrusively identified and corrected. Developments often focus on model-dependent nonlinear control theory, which is challenging to implement for wearable devices.

One alternative is to incorporate bioelectrical signal-based machine learning into the system, allowing for simpler controller designs to be augmented by supplemental brain (electroencephalography/EEG) and muscle (electromyography/EMG) information. To extract user intention better, sensor …

Classification Of Ddos Attack With Machine Learning Architectures And Exploratory Analysis, Amreen Anbar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The ever-increasing frequency of occurrence and sophistication of DDoS attacks pose a serious threat to network security. Accurate classification of DDoS attacks with efficiency is crucial in order to develop effective defense mechanisms. In this thesis, we propose a novel approach for DDoS classification using the CatBoost algorithm, on CICDDoS2019, a benchmark dataset containing 12 variations of DDoS attacks and legitimate traffic using real-world traffic traces. With a developed ensemble feature selection method and feature engineering, our model proves to be a good fit for DDoS attack type prediction. Our experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach achieves high classification …

Towards Clinical Microscopic Fractional Anisotropy Imaging, Nico Jj Arezza

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Microscopic fractional anisotropy (µFA) is a diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) metric that is sensitive to neuron microstructural features without being confounded by the orientation dispersion of axons and dendrites. µFA may potentially act as a surrogate biomarker for neurodegeneration, demyelination, and other pathological changes to neuron microstructure with greater specificity than other dMRI techniques that are sensitive to orientation dispersion, such as diffusion tensor imaging. As with many advanced imaging techniques, µFA is primarily used in research studies and has not seen use in clinical settings.

The primary goal of this Thesis was to assess the clinical viability of …

Waveform Similarity Of Micro-Seismicity At The Toc2me Hydraulic Fracturing Experiment Site, Jin Yang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis quantitatively investigates the waveform similarity of micro-earthquakes detected during the Tony Creek Dual Microseismic Experiment (ToC2ME) located in Fox Creek, Alberta. Subsurface anthropogenic activities, especially processes involving injection, can lead to accumulation of porepressure and elastic strain in the geologic formations and rocks, resulting in induced earthquakes. Four hydraulic-fracturing treatment wells were drilled and completed in the study area. The microseismic acquisition system monitored continuous seismic waveforms from 25 October to 15 December 2016 revealing 21619 hydraulic fracture-related events with magnitude ranging from Mw -1 to 3.2. The present study compares and discusses similarity of waveforms captured by …

A Study On The Field Of Xr Simulation Creation, Leveraging Game Engines To Develop A Vr Hospital Framework, Virat K. Tripathi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis introduces an adaptable and extensible VR framework designed for clinicians and patients using pre-existing game development software like Blender and Unreal Engine. The framework aids patients in familiarizing themselves with hospital scenarios and environments, reducing anxiety, and improving navigation. Clinicians can use the tool to educate patients and collaboratively design new aspects of the environment. A prototype implementation demonstrates the system's effectiveness, with usability studies indicating that teleport movement is preferred over sliding for locomotion and that navigation speed can improve with subsequent trials in the VR simulator. The framework's potential for enhancing patient experience and facilitating informed …

Application Of Crystal Engineering In Multicomponent Pharmaceutical Crystals: A Study Of Theory And Practice, Soroush Ahmadi Nasrabadi

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Multicomponent crystallization, a prominent strategy in crystal engineering, offers the ability to modify the physicochemical properties of crystals by introducing a secondary component to their lattice structure. Such multicomponent crystals have found widespread application in the pharmaceutical industry. This thesis explores the experimental screening, characterization, application, and theoretical prediction of multicomponent crystals of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).

The first case study investigates a new solvate of Dasatinib which exhibits high instability at room temperature and transforms into a different polymorph upon desolvation. The crystal structure of this compound is obtained, revealing insights into its transient nature and the potential application …

Transforming Large-Scale Virtualized Networks: Advancements In Latency Reduction, Availability Enhancement, And Security Fortification, Ibrahim Tamim

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In today’s digital age, the increasing demand for networks, driven by the proliferation of connected devices, data-intensive applications, and transformative technologies, necessitates robust and efficient network infrastructure. This thesis addresses the challenges posed by virtualization in 5G networking and focuses on enhancing next-generation Radio Access Networks (RANs), particularly Open-RAN (O-RAN). The objective is to transform virtualized networks into highly reliable, secure, and latency-aware systems. To achieve this, the thesis proposes novel strategies for virtual function placement, traffic steering, and virtual function security within O-RAN. These solutions utilize optimization techniques such as binary integer programming, mixed integer binary programming, column generation, …

Numerical Modeling And Simulation On Deformation And Failure Behaviors Of Polymeric Materials, Heng Feng

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Featured by biocompatibility, high compliance and capacity in sustaining large deformation, dielectric elastomers (DEs) and hydrogels have gained extensive research popularity for their potential applications in the fields of soft robots, biomimetics, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and energy harvesting. The design of such soft and smart material-based devices and structures requires deep understanding and accurate simulation of their constitutive behaviors, which is challenged by their nonlinear material properties due to unique microstructures and multi-physics coupling. Meanwhile, in different application contexts, those structures are also susceptible to different failure modes, imposing further challenges in simulating and predicting their performance. To fulfill …

Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Compatible Mechatronic Needle Guidance System For Prostate Focal Laser Ablation Therapy, Eric R. Knull

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Advances in prostate cancer (PCa) screening techniques have led to diagnosis of many cases of low-grade and highly localized disease. Conventional whole-gland therapies often result in overtreatment in such cases and debate still surrounds the optimal method of oncologic control. MRI-guided prostate focal laser ablation (FLA) is a minimally invasive treatment option, which has demonstrated potential to destroy localized lesions while sparing healthy prostatic tissue, thereby reducing treatment-related side effects. Many challenges still exist in the development of FLA, including patient selection; tumour localization, visualization, and characterization; needle guidance; and evaluation of treatment efficacy. The objective of this thesis work …

Wind Loading Analysis Of Standing Seam Metal Roofs On Low-Rise Buildings, Ellen J. Marejka

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Standing seam metal roofs (SSMR) are a roofing system made up of prefabricated panels secured to the underlying structural purlins using concealed clips. The present study sought to develop a simplified code-approach for evaluating SSMRs. A model of the wind field and wind loads was validated using wind tunnel data from Arif (2017), influence functions and clip layout from Xia (2022), and compared the results to ASCE 7-22. Worst case enveloped GCp were compared by area for three different models: (i) ASCE Method, which gives wind loads based on bare deck roof, (ii) Clip Tributary Area (CTA) Method, which assumed …

Nonlinear Adaptive Control Of Drilling Processes, Maksim Faronov

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This work deals with the modeling and control of automated drilling operations. Advances in drilling automation are of substantial importance because improvements in drilling control algorithms will result in more efficient drilling, which is beneficial from both economic and environmental points of view. While the primary application of the results is extraction of natural resources, potentially there exists a wide range of applications, including offshore exploration, archaeological research, and automated extraterrestrial mining, where implementation of new methods and control algorithms for drilling processes can bring substantial benefits.

The main contribution of the thesis is development of new methods and algorithms …

Effect Of Morphology And An Upstream Tall Building On A Street Canyon Flow, Haoran Du

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The effects of the morphological model and the existence of an upstream tall building on the turbulent street canyon flow and the overlying boundary layer are investigated in a wind tunnel, using Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (S-PIV) measurements. The velocity variances, Reynolds shear stress, and turbulent kinetic energy are found to be larger than in a similar idealized street canyon model. Increasing building height results in a decrease in vertical mass fluxes across the opening of the canyon, at least in the canyon portion directly downstream of the building. The interaction between the large-scale structures in the overlying boundary layer …

Enhancing The Performance Of Nmt Models Using The Data-Based Domain Adaptation Technique For Patent Translation, Maimoonah Ahmed

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

During today’s age of unparalleled connectivity, language and data have become powerful tools capable of enabling effective communication and cross-cultural collaborations. Neural machine translation (NMT) models are especially capable of leveraging linguistic knowledge and parallel corpora to increase global connectivity and act as a tool for the transmission of knowledge. In this thesis, we apply a data-based domain adaptation technique to fine-tune three pre-existing NMT transformer models with attention mechanisms for the task of patent translation from English to Japanese. Languages, especially in the context of patents, can be very nuanced. A clear understanding of the intended meaning requires comprehensive …

Using Machine Learning To Assist Auditory Processing Evaluation, Hasitha Wimalarathna, Sangamanatha Veeranna, Minh Vu Duong, Chris Allan Prof, Sumit K. Agrawal, Prudence Allen, Jagath Samarabandu, Hanif M. Ladak

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Introduction: Approximately 0.2–5% of school-age children complain of listening difficulties in the absence of hearing loss. These children are often referred to an audiologist for an auditory processing disorder (APD) assessment. Adequate experience and training is necessary to arrive at an accurate diagnosis due to the heterogeneity of the disorder.

Objectives: The main goal of the study was to determine if machine learning (ML) can be used to analyze data from the APD clinical test battery to accurately categorize children with suspected APD into clinical sub-groups, similar to expert labels.

Methods: The study retrospectively collected data from 134 children referred …

Forecasting The Future Capacities Of Superconducting Quantum Computers: Extending Moore's Law Through Machine Learning, Christopher Tam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Quantum computing has emerged as a promising technology that can perform certain tasks exponentially faster than classical computers. Despite the potential for quantum computers to revolutionize the field of computing, the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers remains a critical challenge. Moore's Law has accurately predicted the exponential growth in the capacity of classical computers, with transistor capacity doubling roughly every year. This prediction, established in the 1960s, held true until the early 2010s. However, the emergence of quantum computers raises questions about how to predict the rate of development these technologies. This work presents a novel approach using machine learning …

Experimental Investigation Of The Phase Change Process Within Circular Geometries, Kyle Teather

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Latent heat thermal energy storage systems have many advantages over sensible-heat-based thermal storage systems, such as an increased energy density with a narrower range of operating temperatures. The main barrier to implementing latent heat storage systems is the low thermal conductivity of typical storage materials, called phase change materials (PCMs). Furthermore, the heat transfer mode in the liquid phase is natural convection, which is influenced by the geometry and orientation of the heat source and sink, thus impacting the phase change pattern and heat transfer. It is critical to have a good understanding of the underlying fundamental physics over the …

Investigation Of Sensorimotor Integration And Control In Parkinson’S Disease Using Haptics-Enabled Robotics And Machine Learning, Yokhesh Krishnasamy Tamilselvam

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Non-motor symptoms such as perceptual deficits and cognitive impairments, i.e., deficits in executive functions, presented at an early stage of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) substantially affect a PD patient’s quality of life and may contribute to motor impairments. Studies have emphasized the need to better understand these impairments and the abnormalities contributing to them as it provides a means to efficiently manage the disease. Further, due to the early onset of these deficits, the contributing abnormalities may be considered a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of PD. However, the impairments and the contributing abnormalities are not yet fully understood, leading to …

Assessment Of Wind Speeds Along The Damage Path Of The Alonsa, Manitoba Ef4 Tornado On 3 August 2018, Sarah A. Stevenson, Connell S. Miller, David M.L. Sills, Gregory A. Kopp, Daniel M. Rhee, Franklin T. Lombardo

Civil and Environmental Engineering Publications

Given the impracticality of attempting to directly measure wind speeds in tornadoes, wind speed estimation typically relies on the assessment of damage to structures and vegetation using classifications described in the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale. The advent of technology enabling the collection of large amounts of data, including detailed ground, drone, and aerial imagery, has led to a growth in research on non-conventional approaches for estimating tornado wind speeds. Research methods focused on defining the tornadic wind field based on forensic analysis of damage observations have shown promise for improving tornado assessments in a quantitative manner. In this study, novel …

Automatic Classification And Segmentation Of Patterned Martian Ground Using Deep Learning Techniques, Ruthy Brito

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Science autonomy onboard spacecraft can optimize image return by prioritizing downlink of meaningful data. Martian polygonally cracked ground is actively studied by planetary geologists and may be indicative of subsurface water. Filtering images containing these polygonal features can be used as a case study for science autonomy and to reduce the overhead associated with parsing through Martian surface images. This thesis demonstrates the use of deep learning techniques in the classification of Martian polygonally patterned ground from HiRISE images. Three tasks are considered, a binary classification to identify images containing polygons, multiclass classification distinguishing different polygon types and semantic segmentation …

Framework For Assessing Information System Security Posture Risks, Syed Waqas Hamdani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In today’s data-driven world, Information Systems, particularly the ones operating in regulated industries, require comprehensive security frameworks to protect against loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data, whether due to malice, accident or otherwise. Once such a security framework is in place, an organization must constantly monitor and assess the overall compliance of its systems to detect and rectify any issues found. This thesis presents a technique and a supporting toolkit to first model dependencies between security policies (referred to as controls) and, second, devise models that associate risk with policy violations. Third, devise algorithms that propagate risk when …

Mechanical Response Of The Craniofacial Skeleton To Subfracture Impacts In The Time And Frequency Domains, Paige Merko

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Resonant frequencies have been suggested as a mechanism of brain injury since these vibrations can transfer energy into the brain. Study of the vibrational response of the craniofacial skeleton to impact is limited in literature. In this research, four cadaver specimens were impacted at five locations on the craniofacial skeleton. The mechanical response to each impact was compared in the time and frequency domains. Impacts to the maxilla and its associated soft tissues tended to be attenuated, while impacts to the cranial vault, specifically to the occipital, produced the most severe response. Results suggest that the facial skeleton and its …

Development And Validation Of Mechatronic Systems For Image-Guided Needle Interventions And Point-Of-Care Breast Cancer Screening With Ultrasound (2d And 3d) And Positron Emission Mammography, Claire Ks Park

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The successful intervention of breast cancer relies on effective early detection and definitive diagnosis. While conventional screening mammography has substantially reduced breast cancer-related mortalities, substantial challenges persist in women with dense breasts. Additionally, complex interrelated risk factors and healthcare disparities contribute to breast cancer-related inequities, which restrict accessibility, impose cost constraints, and reduce inclusivity to high-quality healthcare. These limitations predominantly stem from the inadequate sensitivity and clinical utility of currently available approaches in increased-risk populations, including those with dense breasts, underserved and vulnerable populations.

This PhD dissertation aims to describe the development and validation of alternative, cost-effective, robust, and high-resolution …

Hydrothermal Liquefaction (Htl) Of Lignocellulosic Biomass For Biocrude Production: Reaction Kinetics And Corrosion-Resistance Performance Of Candidate Alloys For Reactors, Haoyu Wang

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In recent years, the rapid increase in the demand for clean energy and green chemicals as well as concerns over the supply and environmental impacts associated with fossil. resources have stimulated intensive research on conversion of bioresources, such as lignocellulosic biomass and biowaste, into energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials.

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a unique thermochemical conversion process, particularly applicable for the conversion of wet biomass and biowaste feedstocks. Most of the biomass HTL studies are conducted in batch reactor and focus on the effects of catalysts, reaction temperature and time on production efficiency and chemical properties of the products. …