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Articles 1 - 15 of 15
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Multiple Objective Function Optimization And Trade Space Analysis, Yifan Xu
Multiple Objective Function Optimization And Trade Space Analysis, Yifan Xu
All Theses
Optimization can assist in obtaining the best possible solution to a design problem by varying related variables under given constraints. It can be applied in many practical applications, including engineering, during the design process. The design time can be further reduced by the application of automated optimization methods. Since the required resource and desired benefit can be translated to a function of variables, optimization can be viewed as the process of finding the variable values to reach the function maxima or minima. A Multiple Objective Optimization (MOO) problem is when there is more than one desired function that needs to …
An Application Of Optimized Bistable Laminates As A Low Velocity, Low Impact Mechanical Deterrent, Graham Lancaster
An Application Of Optimized Bistable Laminates As A Low Velocity, Low Impact Mechanical Deterrent, Graham Lancaster
All Theses
This research considers the problem of using bistable laminates as a mechanical deterrent to the impending impact of a particle. The structure will be controlled through an algorithm that will utilize piezoelectric devices to activate them in unison with the bistable laminate to successfully deter. A novel experimental setup will be constructed to ensure that the bistable laminate stays fixed when acting as a mechanical deterrent. Piezoelectricity is the main driving force of the bistable laminate to morph and this study will use a Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator that contains piezoelectric ceramic rods in a patch to transfer electrical …
Investigations Of External Resources And The Impact Of Imaging On Patient Flow In The Emergency Department, Marisa Shehan
Investigations Of External Resources And The Impact Of Imaging On Patient Flow In The Emergency Department, Marisa Shehan
All Theses
The problems associated with Emergency Department (ED) crowding are numerous, varied, and complex. Though overcrowded Emergency Departments are frequently attributed to overcrowded hospitals, crowding is also impacted by bottlenecks in patient flow. While discrete-event simulation (DES) is commonly used to model ED flow, external resources are typically excluded from these models due to their complexity and the limited amount of known information for these processes. Instead, external resources such as consults, labs, and imaging are modeled using estimation and/or educated guesswork. In this study, the impact of imaging on patient flow was assessed through data analysis of specific imaging factors, …
Interdiction Models To Disrupt The Operations Of Sex Trafficking And Other Forced Illicit Labor Networks, Michael T. Clark
Interdiction Models To Disrupt The Operations Of Sex Trafficking And Other Forced Illicit Labor Networks, Michael T. Clark
All Theses
Sex traffickers often force their victims to work in both commercial sex markets and perform other illicit activities (e.g., drug dealing, theft, and fraud). Current literature has failed to address interdiction models that aim to disrupt all components of a sex traffickers’ operation, including these other illicit activities. In this thesis, we present a interdiction problem, and its single-level linear optimization reformulation, to reduce the profit of a human trafficking network concurrently operating in the commercial sex market and other illicit activity markets. Our novel formulation aims to investigate the practical implications of interdiction decisions made to disrupt a human …
Identifying Target Properties For The Design Of Meta-Material Tank Track Pads, Venkata Sampath Dangeti
Identifying Target Properties For The Design Of Meta-Material Tank Track Pads, Venkata Sampath Dangeti
All Theses
On track vehicle systems, track pads are designed to provide traction and support the weight of the vehicle, they have limited service life due to common failure by blowout. According to the literature, blowout is a failure mode caused by overheating due to hysteresis in elastomeric materials during high speed operations. Elastomers are used primarily for their high compliance, which is essential to protect the suspension components and maintain structural integrity of the track pad. The objective of the work is to explore the use of linear elastic meta-materials with optimized topology to replace elastomers and reduce or eliminate the …
Cost And Embodied Energy Optimization Of Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Beams, Alexander Kosloski
Cost And Embodied Energy Optimization Of Rectangular Reinforced Concrete Beams, Alexander Kosloski
All Theses
Concrete has a large environmental footprint so it is desirable to find ways to efficiently design structural members. Engineers can exercise their abilities early on in the design phase of construction projects to reduce the environmental footprint by minimizing the amount of materials required. One way to achieve these results is to optimize the design of structural concrete. In this study, simple-span rectangular reinforced concrete (RC) beams with a range of different bending moments were analyzed. The primary goal was to combine life cycle analysis (LCA), numerical optimization, and reinforced concrete mechanics to create a framework for designing efficient RC …
Connecting Architecture, Fitness, Optimizations And Performance Using An Anisotropic Diffusion Filter, Sumedh Naik
Connecting Architecture, Fitness, Optimizations And Performance Using An Anisotropic Diffusion Filter, Sumedh Naik
All Theses
Over the past decade, computing architectures have continued to exploit multiple levels of parallelism in applications. This increased interest in parallel computing has not only fueled the growth of multi-core processors but has also lead to an emergence of several non-traditional computing architectures like General Purpose Graphical Processing Units (GP-GPUs), Cell Processors, and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). Of these non-traditional computing architectures, GP-GPUs have gained widespread popularity due to their massively parallel computational abilities and relative ease of programmability.
Several software development ecosystems have emerged to harness the power of these parallel architectures. Although several threading libraries like POSIX …
A New Metaheuristic Algorithm Motivated By The Rooting Phenomena In Plants, Behzad Nemati
A New Metaheuristic Algorithm Motivated By The Rooting Phenomena In Plants, Behzad Nemati
All Theses
In this thesis, we present a new metaheuristic algorithm for analyzing challenging optimization problems. Initial testing reveals the potential for the algorithm, which is based on the rooting phenomena found in plants in nature, to quickly produce effective solutions to challenging combinatorial optimization problems in the class NP. We present computational results describing the proposed metaheuristic's efficacy for an important class of scheduling problems and discuss areas of future work and application.
Modeling, Finite Element Analysis, And Optimization Of Non-Pneumatic Tire (Npt) For The Minimization Of Rolling Resistance, Mallikarjun Veeramurthy
Modeling, Finite Element Analysis, And Optimization Of Non-Pneumatic Tire (Npt) For The Minimization Of Rolling Resistance, Mallikarjun Veeramurthy
All Theses
Recently, the development of non-pneumatic tires (NPT) such as the Michelin Tweel is receiving increased attention due to potential advantages over pneumatic tires such as low mass, no run flat, good contact pressure distribution, and low rolling resistance (RR). This study focuses on the design of a NPT based on properties of vertical stiffness, contact pressure, and rolling energy loss. Using a finite element (FE) model, a parametric study is conducted to study the effect on vertical stiffness, contact pressure, and rolling resistance (RR) response considering three design variables: (1) thickness of the spokes, (2) the shear band thickness, and …
Requirements Determination Of A Novel Non-Pneumatic Wheel Shear Beam For Low Rolling Resistance, Niranjan Thyagaraja
Requirements Determination Of A Novel Non-Pneumatic Wheel Shear Beam For Low Rolling Resistance, Niranjan Thyagaraja
All Theses
The hysteretic loss associated with cyclic shear in the elastomeric shear layer is one of the prevailing concerns for the development of a low rolling loss non-pneumatic wheel. We propose to eliminate the hysteretic losses associated with the elastomeric shear layer and thus, reduce the corresponding rolling resistance by using linear elastic materials which are inherently non-hysteretic. Since the shear modulus of a viscoelastic shear layer is less than that of an elastic material by several orders of magnitude, the challenge to achieve a low effective shear modulus shear layer with linear elastic materials directs towards the development of a …
Agent-Based Under Hood Packing, Karthik Ravindranath
Agent-Based Under Hood Packing, Karthik Ravindranath
All Theses
Improving vehicle performance and passenger comfort has been a prime engineering concern and focus of research for many years in automotive design. Turning to high-performance components in an effort to improve vehicle performance alone is often not enough and their placement and interactions with other components should also be an integral part of the improvement process. With the advancement in hybrid electric vehicle technology, the packing of components under the hood is ever more essential and challenging. Under hood packing is a multi-objective optimization problem with many, and mostly conflicting objectives. A non-deterministic multi-objective evolutionary algorithm needs to be integrated …
Determining The Global Maximum Biofuel Production Potential Without Conflicting With Food And Feed Consumption, Watcharapol Pumkaew
Determining The Global Maximum Biofuel Production Potential Without Conflicting With Food And Feed Consumption, Watcharapol Pumkaew
All Theses
This study tries to resolve the competition between food and biofuel by balancing the allocation between food and feed areas and biofuel areas for the entire world. The maximum energy production is calculated by determining the theoretical amount of energy that can be grown, once food and feed consumption is taken into account, based on the assumption that unprotected grass and woody lands and forest lands can be converted into cultivated lands. The total optimum land area for biofuel energy, 4,926.49 Mha, consists of corn, rapeseed, sugar beet, sugar cane, and grasses. When considering energy conversion efficiency, the maximum energy …
Synthesis Of Optimal Usage Of Available Aggregates In Highway Construction And Maintenance, Benjamin Skidmore
Synthesis Of Optimal Usage Of Available Aggregates In Highway Construction And Maintenance, Benjamin Skidmore
All Theses
The optimization of the available aggregates for highway construction and maintenance is vital both from an economic and environmental perspective. By not optimizing the aggregate supply project costs escalate as a simple response to supply and demand, and just as important the fact that aggregate is a natural resource and a limited one, it is crucial that is used as efficiently as possible. This paper examines specifically the use of aggregates by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, but can easily be adapted to any state. Through DOT and quarry surveys and an examination of aggregate gradation specifications it was …
Optimization And Characterization Of Biodiesel Production From Cottonseed And Canola Oil, Hem Joshi
Optimization And Characterization Of Biodiesel Production From Cottonseed And Canola Oil, Hem Joshi
All Theses
Transesterification of cottonseed oil and canola oil was carried out using low molecular weight alcohols and potassium hydroxide. For cottonseed oil, a central composite design with eight factorial, six center and six axial points was used to study the effect of catalyst concentration, molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil and reaction temperature on percentage yield and percentage initial absorbance (%A385nm) of the biodiesel. Catalyst concentration and molar ratio of ethanol to cottonseed oil were the most influential variables affecting percentage conversion and percentage initial absorbance. Maximum percentage yield of 98 % is predicted at a catalyst concentration of 1.07 …
Optimal Placement Of Metal Foils In Ultrasonic Consolidation Process, Raji Rexavier
Optimal Placement Of Metal Foils In Ultrasonic Consolidation Process, Raji Rexavier
All Theses
Ultrasonic Consolidation is a combination of additive and subtractive
manufacturing processes resulting in considerable material waste. This waste is a
function of the geometry of the part being manufactured and of the relative
placement of the layer with respect to the metal bands. Thus the waste may be
minimized by careful choice of the layer angle and offset from the original
position.
Previous work done in this field had developed an automated algorithm which
optimally places and orients the individual slices of the STL file of the artifact
being manufactured. However, the problem was solved on a 2-D scale and …