Engineering Commons^™

Modern Optimization Algorithms And Applications: Architectural Layout Generation And Parallel Linear Programming, Bradley J. De Vlugt

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis examines two topics from the field of computational optimization; architectural layout generation and parallel linear programming. The first topic, a modern problem in heuristic optimization, focuses on deriving a general form of the optimization problem and solving it with the proposed Evolutionary Treemap algorithm. Tests of the algorithm's implementation within a highly scalable web application developed with Scala and the web service framework Play reveal the algorithm is effective at generated layouts in multiple styles. The second topic, a classical problem in operations research, focuses on methodologies for implementing the Simplex Algorithm on a parallel computer for solving …

Assessment Of The Regionalization Of Precipitation In Two Canadian Climate Regions: A Fuzzy Clustering Approach, Sarah E. Irwin

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Regional frequency analysis (RFA) is used to obtain reliable estimates of local precipitation events for a variety of applications in water resources engineering. The focus of the presented research is on an initial step of the RFA process; that is the formation of precipitation regions (also referred to as regionalization). The aim of this study is to dissect the regionalization procedure into its individual components that require subjective user input, and to evaluate their respective influences on the results. All assessments are conducted in two of Canada's climate regions; namely the Prairie and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence lowlands. Additionally, a new …

Synthesis, Characterization And Applications Of Lignin-Based Epoxy Resins, Fatemeh Ferdosian

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Epoxy resin is one of the most versatile thermosetting polymers with diverse applications. Epoxy resins are mainly produced from the reaction of bisphenol-A (BPA) and epichlorohydrin. The consumption of bisphenol-A is facing growing concerns over its carcinogenic effects and its sustainability. Lignin can be a promising renewable substitute of bisphenol-A in the synthesis of epoxy resins.

In this thesis work, a novel method has been developed for the synthesis of bio-based epoxy resins with reduced side reactions, employing de-polymerized lignin from organosolv lignin (DOL), kraft lignin (DKL) and hydrolysis lignin (DHL) under alkaline condition in the presence of a phase …