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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Instructional Case Studies In The Field Of Windfarm Optimization, N. Francesco Baker
Instructional Case Studies In The Field Of Windfarm Optimization, N. Francesco Baker
Theses and Dissertations
Wind farm layout optimization is a multidisciplinary undertaking, requiring students and researchers to integrate many skillsets in order to optimize turbine placement. There is currently a lack of useful benchmarking exercises for participants in the field to compare the efficacy of their methods. This work details the construction and completion of a set of four case studies meant to satisfy this need, with the hope of providing some insight into useful layout optimization approaches. These case studies are intended to also serve as instructive introductory exercises with which newcomers researching wind energy may incrementally practice and increase their abilities.The first …
Characterization And Optimization Of An Image Charge Detector For The Measurement Of Martian Dust, Jace Rozsa
Characterization And Optimization Of An Image Charge Detector For The Measurement Of Martian Dust, Jace Rozsa
Theses and Dissertations
Image charge detector (ICD) technology has existed for decades. However, not until recently has an ICD been proposed for use in space exploration, specifically for studying the characteristics of the dust on Mars. Characterizing the dust on Mars is crucial for designing equipment to aid manned missions. It also improves our understanding of Mars' climate and weather systems. An ICD utilizing printed circuit board (PCB) electrodes, coupled with a custom differential amplifier, is best suited for this type of measurement because of its light weight, simplicity, and noise performance. The noise floor of our particular amplifier is measured to be …
Investigation Of Isotruss® Structures In Compression Using Numerical, Dimensional, And Optimization Methods, Hanna Belle Opdahl
Investigation Of Isotruss® Structures In Compression Using Numerical, Dimensional, And Optimization Methods, Hanna Belle Opdahl
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research is to investigate the structural efficiency of 8-node IsoTruss structures subject to uniaxial compression using numerical, dimensional, and optimization methods. The structures analyzed herein are based on graphite/epoxy specimens that were designed for light-weight space applications, and are approximately 10 ft. (3 m) long and 0.3 lb. (0.14 kg). The principal failure modes considered are material failure, global buckling, local buckling at the bay level, and longitudinal strut buckling. Studies were performed with the following objectives: to correlate finite element predictions with experimental and analytical methods; to derive analytical expressions to predict bay-level buckling; to …
Development Of A 3d Computational Vocal Fold Model Optimization Tool, Austin C. Vaterlaus
Development Of A 3d Computational Vocal Fold Model Optimization Tool, Austin C. Vaterlaus
Theses and Dissertations
One of the primary objectives of voice research is to better understand the biomechanics of voice production and how changes in properties of the vocal folds (VFs) affect voice ability and quality. Synthetic VF models provide a way to observe how changes in geometry and material property affect voice biomechanics. This thesis seeks to evaluate an approach of using a genetic algorithm to design synthetic VF models in three ways: first, through the development of a computationally cost-effective 3D vocal fold model; second, by creating and optimizing a variation of this model; and third, by validating the approach. To reduce …
Robust Real-Time Model Predictive Control For High Degree Of Freedom Soft Robots, Phillip Edmond Hyatt
Robust Real-Time Model Predictive Control For High Degree Of Freedom Soft Robots, Phillip Edmond Hyatt
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation is focused on the modeling and robust model-based control of high degree-of-freedom (DoF) systems. While most of the contributions are applicable to any difficult-to-model system, this dissertation focuses specifically on applications to large-scale soft robots because their many joints and pressures constitute a high-DoF system and their inherit softness makes them difficult to model accurately. First a joint-angle estimation and kinematic calibration method for soft robots is developed which is shown to decrease the pose prediction error at the end of a 1.5 m robot arm by about 85\%. A novel dynamic modelling approach which can be evaluated …