Engineering Commons^™

Development Of Phase Change Thermal Storage Medium: Cooking With More Power And Versatility, Martin Osei

Masters Theses

With an Insulated Solar Electric Cooker (ISEC), a 100 W solar panel directly cooks food while providing 5W off-grid electricity access; but it cooks slowly. Storing the day’s energy with phase change thermal storage allows ISEC to cook more rapidly as well as cook after sunset. The ISEC is made by sticking a 3ohm resistive to an aluminum pot (inner phase change assembly PCA) where another cooking pot fits. The resistive heater is surrounded by a bigger pot (outer PCA) that contains the PCM and is tightly sealed. The solar panel is connected to the resistive heater with a thermal …

Identifying Scotomata In Hazard Identification Caused By Ignorance And Overconfidence, Allen Johanson

Masters Theses

The manufacturing and construction industries are two of the most dangerous professions, and employees are frequently exposed to hazards and hazardous conditions which can lead to serious injury or even death. An observed phenomenon, frequently called the Dunning-Kruger Effect states that unskilled people are often unaware of their shortcomings and those with the higher-level skills often underestimate their abilities. This study examines employees’ training, years of experience, and performance to gauge any correlations among these variables in the area of hazard awareness. The goal of this study is to help individuals to recognize blind spots in their knowledge to identify …

The Transcriptional Response Of Phanerochaete Chrysosporium And Trametes Versicolor To Growth On Stems Of Helianthus Argophyllus (Silverleaf Sunflower), Nadh Hamoud Alsubaie

Masters Theses

Traditional physicochemical and physicomechanical pretreatment technologies have improved the deconstruction of lignocellulose, but often require high energy inputs and added chemical reagents. Recent studies have demonstrated the use of white-rot fungi as alternative biological pretreatment agents that can mitigate these concerns. Although, white-rot fungi have been shown to grow on a variety of non-woody substrates, they have not been explored with respect to sunflower, which has the potential to provide raw materials for both biodiesel and bioethanol. In the present study, Silverleaf sunflower stems (Helianthus argophyllus) were used as substrates for the white-rot fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes …

Analysis Of Construction Fall Protection Guardrails In A Population With Changing Anthropometrics, Connor S. Klinzing

Masters Theses

The construction trade has commonly been cited as one of the most dangerous industries within the United States, with falls from elevation being the most predominate cause for injuries and deaths. The OSHA standards related guardrails has not changed since its implementation in 1970. These standards originally derive from the 1950s, which expect a 160-pound person with 40 pounds of equipment, tools, etc. However, the anthropometries of the common working age citizen has dramatically changed in respects to their weight. This study examines the relationship of the guardrail system to the changing anthropometries to determine if a reform is necessary …

Processing Different Mixtures Of Regionally Available Resources To Create Pellets That Meet A Minimum Standard, Jacob Hixson

Masters Theses

There are several ways to produce energy today, one of the oldest is the gasification of biomass. This process uses a fire to heat the material until it starts to produce gasses that are used as fuel. There are several types of biomass that can be used, many of which have large pieces with low bulk densities. By pelletizing the biomass bulk density increases and allows the opportunity to add in other biomass materials.

There are standards for condensing large pieces of biomass to smaller pelletized materials. Pellet Fuels Institute has set minimum standards for pellets used in the different …

A Study Of Acoustic Reflections To Determine The Location, Size, Shape, And Orientation Of Reflecting Objects, Brandon M. Heller

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to examine the properties of sound in relation to echolocation, specifically in relation to its use by humans. Through my thesis, objects of varying shape and size were subjected to a sound wave to determine details about the object from the reflected sound. The shapes' comparisons were conducted at varying distances, measuring the intensity of the returning sound wave at several frequencies. The results demonstrated a correlation between the intensity of the sound in regards to distances, area of the reflector, and the shape of the reflector.

Development Of Learning Objectives For An Undergraduate Computer-Aided Drafting And Design Animation Using The Delphi Technique, Gavin M. Wilk

Masters Theses

This study reflects on learning objectives created for an advanced computer aided drafting (CAD) learning module(s) or course with the emphasis on simulation and engineering animations. These objectives were derived by using the Delphi technique by access the support of a panel of subject matter experts (SME) from academia and industry that are interested in CAD. The results of this study are intended for the use of creating instructional modules for undergraduate studies.

A panel of experts were chosen through an electronic listserv of engineering and technology supporters. Two rounds of two different Delphi survey instruments were utilized to complete …

Systems Simulation Using Promodel: An Online Teaching Method, Gustavo Sioni Bosoli

Masters Theses

This study was designed with the purpose to create an online method to deploy the concepts and practical knowledge necessary for the course System Simulation {TEC 5523) offered by Eastern Illinois University. The course is currently offered on a hybrid format, with part of it being ministered in the classroom and the remaining on the online environment. This research focused on creating a set of multimedia and step-by-step lessons aimed to substitute the part of the course that demands the students to be present in the classroom. These lessons were developed based on exercises from the textbook currently used for …

Commercial Construction Supply Chain Management Issues Involving Traveling Contractors, Fred Akers

Masters Theses

Supply chain management (SCM) is an important aspect of running any business. To stay competitive in today's marketplace a supply chain management system must be in place to achieve success in this volatile global environment (Fewings, 2005).

This research differentiates the issues between executing a construction project close to home compared to away from home. Being away from home, there typically is no supplier relationship established. Furthermore, the research intends to document certain issues of the commercial construction industry that develop during the execution of a project. This will be based on the comparison of having or not having an …

A Comparison Of The Level Of Maturity Of Manufacturers In The Lake Land College School District In Lean Manufacturing Techniques As Compared To Goodson's Survey Data, Mark W. Henderson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if manufacturers in the Lake Land College School District have implemented Lean Manufacturing techniques and score as high as the manufacturers in Goodson's Michigan study. Lean Manufacturing techniques have revolutionized the auto industry, with the Toyota Production system the benchmark in Lean Manufacturing techniques. A survey using Goodson's Rapid Plant Assessment compares the level of maturity in the utilization of the Lean Manufacturing techniques with the manufacturers in the Lake Land College School District and Goodson's survey of manufacturers in Michigan. The mean score of 57.67 for the manufacturers in the Lake …

Effects Of Compression Processing Parameters And Antioxidants On Molecular Degradation Of Biodegradable Poly-L-Lactide (Plla), Thomas J. Hannan Jr.

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research was to find a combination of poly (L-lactic acid), also known as poly-L-lactide or (PLLA) and antioxidants that would, together, produce a product whose degradation rate would be advantageous for use in biodegradable medical implants. Intrinsic viscosity tests were conducted on compression molded samples of PLLA that were molded at various processing parameters in order to find optimal parameters. The optimal processing parameters were found to be time 10 minutes, temperature 220°C, and pressure 1000 psi.

The molecular weight of PLLA sample was taken while pressure, time, and temperature were varied. As pressure increased, no …

System Security In An Open Lab Environment, Erik Quist

Masters Theses

This thesis presents a system security process for computer workstations in a university open lab environment, which was developed and implemented for the Lumpkin Hall Computer Labs at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). The system security includes the use of policies and NTFS permissions, registry hacks and script files. These techniques were applied to a mixture of Windows NT 4.0 service pack 6a and Windows 2000 Professional workstations in the Lumpkin Hall Computer Labs. They were then tested for appropriate security setup using a Network Security Checksheet and a survey. The Network Security Checksheet ensured that all of the workstations were …

Effect Of Antioxidants On Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (Uhmwpe), Clifford Schrader

Masters Theses

This thesis presents a study on the effects of antioxidants on the oxidative induction time (OIT), thermal behavior, and hardness property of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The antioxidants were dissolved into methanol alcohol before the solution was mixed with UHMWPE powder. The mixture was degassed under vacuum, and then compression-molded into disks 1.25 in. in diameter.

Different antioxidants were evaluated at concentrations up to 0.6 percent. A 0.6 percent concentration was used to screen the effectiveness of various antioxidants. Effect of antioxidant concentration was investigated in the range between 0 and 0.6 percent. OIT was evaluated on UHMWPE …

Optimization Of Insertion Holes And Anchor Design For Cylinder Shaped Toggle Type Suture Anchors, Adam Fedenia

Masters Theses

This research was performed to optimize insertion holes and anchor design for cylinder shaped toggle type suture anchors. Four types of anchors were investigated in terms of pull strength and design in acrylic plate and pig bone. They included small type A and B anchors and large type A and B anchors.

Pull strength trends suggest that the small type anchors behave similarly since their external dimensions are identical, with the exception of type A anchor having a hole running from one end of the cylinder to the other like a pipe. It was found that the suture would fail …

A Monte Carlo Model Of Uncertainty In A Deterministic Hazardous Waste Transportation Risk Assessment, Michael A. Cowen

Masters Theses

This thesis is aimed at developing and applying advanced modeling tools in the prediction of risk to the general public from transportation of chemical waste on public highways. The modeling tools developed can then be used to compare alternative waste management scenarios. The application considered is related to the transport of hazardous waste generated by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to current treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. DOE is currently considering four different scenarios.

The application considered can be more specifically defined as an analysis of the risk to the general public from transporting the 63 shipments of …

The Effects Of Machining On Structure And Tribological Properties Of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene For Artificial Joint Prostheses, Jinshan Song

Masters Theses

Understanding the effect of machining on the structure and property of subsurface layer of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) can significantly facilitate the increase in longevity of artificial joints. This study was performed to investigate the machining effects on the polymeric structure and tribological properties. Machining parameters include cutting speed, tool feed rate and depth of cut. Temperature rise was studied during machining to assess the extent of thermal degradation due to machining. Polymeric structure of the semicrystalline polymer was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in terms of melting enthalpy, crystallinity and melting temperature. Surface texture and hardness …

Mechanical And Tribological Properties Of Composites Of Recycled High Density Polyethylene And Recycled Rubber, Jason G. Boulanger

Masters Theses

This thesis presents a study on the mechanical and tribological properties of composite materials of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) and recycled rubber tire particles. The materials were compounded by extrusion and formed into test specimens by injection molding.

The first experiment studied the effect of recycled rubber percentage on mechanical properties of composites of recycled HDPE and recycled rubber. The mechanical properties included tensile strength, percent elongation, hardness, and impact resistance. Recycled rubber concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 percent were tested. The second experiment investigated the tribological properties of recycled HDPE and recycled rubber …

An Investigation Of Mechanical Properties Of Composites Containing Recycled Rubber Particles, Ryan C. Archey

Masters Theses

In order to promote applications of recycled automobile tires, composite materials of recycled rubber tire particles with ethylene co-vinyl acetate (EVA), polybutadiene (PB), and Primacor were studied in the thesis. The composites were processed using a single screw extruder and a pelletizer. Compression molding was used to form specimens for hardness and impact tests. Mechanical properties of the composites were investigated in terms of tensile strength, percent elongation, Durometer hardness, and impact energy.

In this study, the content of recycled rubber was between 0 and 40 percent. Various matrices were processed using a combination of EVA, PB, or Primacor to …

Study On Rheological Behavior Of The Composites Of Recycled Hdpe With Recycled Tire Rubber Particles, Yanze Li

Masters Theses

This study was mainly concerned with rheological properties of composites of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) with recycled tire rubber particles at shear rates from 1.167 to 116.7 s^-1. The viscosity was investigated in terms of effects of shear rate, shear stress, temperature, concentration of recycled tire rubber particles and heating duration. The temperature was in the range from 160 to 250 °C and the rubber particle concentration was between 0 and 25%. The heat duration for the composites was up to 240 minutes before testing.

The viscosities of composites were decreased with increase in shear rate and …

Investigation Of Electrotribological And Arc Erosion Behavior Of Cu-15vol.%Cr In Situ Composite, Zhongyu Chen

Masters Theses

Electrotribological and arc erosion behavior of Cu-15vol.%Cr in situ composite was investigated in terms of coefficient of friction, interfacial resistance, bulk temperature, and wear rate as a function of normal pressure, sliding speed, and electrical current. Microstructural change due to electrical sliding was studied to understand wear mechanisms. Cu-15vol.%Cr in situ composite was selected in this research because it exhibits an excellent combination of mechanical strength and electrical/thermal conductivity.

It was found that the average coefficient of friction decreased with increasing electrical current under dry electrical sliding. The average coefficient of friction was lower under lubricated electrical sliding than that …

Nonlinear Finite Element Micromechanic Analysis Of Thermoplastic Composite Of Recycled High Density Polyethylene Reinforced With Short Glass Fibers, Qiming Lou

Masters Theses

This thesis studied the nonlinear micromechanic behavior of thermoplastic composite of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with short glass fibers using finite element method. The composite material was modeled using a micromechanic unit cell to simulate the stress distribution between the plastic matrix and the fiber in the composite. Nonlinear behavior of recycled HDPE and imperfect bonding between the fiber and matrix were investigated. Load-bearing capability of the fiber was evaluated using stress partition ratio (SPR) in the composite models. The effect of fiber aspect ratio on the stress distribution of the composite was studied to optimize the material …

Thermoplastic Composites Of Recycled High Density Polyethylene And Recycled Tire Particles, James N. Mckirahan Jr.

Masters Theses

This study identified the mechanical properties and processibility of composite materials of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE), recycled rubber tire particles, and/or ethyl co-vinyl acetate and poly (e-caprolactone). The composites were processed using a single screw extrusion system.

Three groups of experiments were conducted, on the composites in their extruded form to investigate the mechanical properties of ultimate tensile strength, percent elongation, and hardness. The first experiment investigated the effect of recycled rubber particle concentration in the composites up to 25 percent. The second experiment investigated the effect of recycled rubber particle size on the composites of recycled HDPE and …

An Analysis Of The Payback Potential Of New Lighting Technology, James L. Cox

Masters Theses

Recent, energy saving improvements in lighting technology have been made involving the use of more efficient lamps, silver coated light reflectors, and electronic light ballasts. Research indicates that it is economically feasible to retrofit existing light fixtures to utilize the advantages of these developments. This process consists of the removal of all standard lamps and ballasts in each light fixture, the installation of a highly refined light reflector and the replacement of the existing lamps with brighter, more efficient ones. Standard magnetic ballasts are exchanged for more efficient electronic ballasts. Resulting is a light fixture that produces a comparable amount …

An Investigation Of Recycled High Density Polyethylene Reinforced By Short Glass Fibers, Tony Lynn Alwardt

Masters Theses

The mechanical properties of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced by short glass fibers were investigated. The composites formed by an injection molding process were examined in terms of tensile strength, percent elongation, and hardness. Recycled HDPE was compared to virgin HDPE regarding the effects of fiber concentrations, types, sizes, and treatments. The addition of three coupling agents at different concentrations was investigated.

The virgin HDPE composites slightly outperformed their recycled HDPE counterparts; having higher tensile strength and hardness, but were less ductile. Increase in fiber concentration generally increased the tensile strength and hardness, but the concentration of fibers was …

A Comparative Analysis Of Buyer Patterns In The Asphalt Paver Market, Leonard Llewellyn Decker

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

Analysis Of Semi-Conductor Ignition Systems With Emphasis On Design, Construction, And Operation Of The "Ideal" System, Frank P. Rundle

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.

The Design, Development, And Manufacture Of A Tool Grinding Fixture, Lawrence Carrell Jr.

Masters Theses

No abstract provided by author.