Engineering Commons^™

An Evaluation Of The Safety Of The Cycling In Dublin City For Dit Students, Niamh O' Reilly

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Cycling as a mode of transport offers many benefits including a cheap, cost effective, healthy, fast, mainly congestion free and environmentally friendly means of getting to and from places of employment and education. Given the central location of Technological University Dublin campus buildings this would seem an ideal option for its third level students, but on the contrary, a DIT online travel survey conducted in March 2014 found that only 7% of students chose cycling as their primary mode of transport. Concerns about cyclist safety were a major factor cited by students who chose alternative modes of transport. Based on …

Bim Innovation Capability Programme: An Irish Bim Study, Barry Mcauley, Alan Hore, Roger West

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In 2011 the Royal Institute of Architects Ireland (RIAI) conducted a survey which found that BIM adoption within Ireland was quite low at 16%. Over the last five years these figures have risen significantly, with the 2016 Irish Digital Transition Survey reporting that 76% of respondents possess confidence in their organisation’s BIM skills and knowledge. This represents a significant shift of BIM adoption in Ireland over the last five years.

The BIM Innovation Capability Programme (BICP) Irish BIM study, builds on the findings from the BICP Global BIM Study by providing an in depth review of BIM in Ireland with …

Microbial Enzyme Production Using Lignocellulosic Food Industry Wastes As Feedstock: A Review, Amit Jaiswal, Rajeev Ravindran

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Enzymes are of great importance in the industry due to their substrate and product specificity, moderate reaction conditions, minimal by-product formation and high yield. They are important ingredients in several products and production processes. Up to 30% of the total production cost of enzymes is attributed to the raw materials costs. The food industry expels copious amounts of processing waste annually, which is mostlylignocellulosicin nature. Upon proper treatment,lignocellulosecan replace conventional carbon sources in media preparations for industrial microbial processes, such as enzyme production. However, wild strains of microorganisms that produce industrially important enzymes show low yield and cannot thrive on …

Power-Weighted Divergences For Relative Attenuation And Delay Estimation, Ruairí De Fréin, Scott T. Rickard Prof

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Power-weighted estimators have recently been proposed for relative attenuation and delay estimation in blind source separation. Their provenance lies in the observation that speech is approximately windowed-disjoint orthogonal (WDO) in the time-frequency (TF) domain; it has been reported that using WDO, derived from TF representations of speech, improves mixing parameter estimation. We show that power-weighted relative attenuation and delay estimators can be derived from a particular case of a weighted Bregman divergence. We then propose a wider class of estimators, which we tune to give better parameter estimates for speech.

Evaluation Of Ultrasound Assisted Potassium Permanganate Pre-Treatment Of Spent Coffee Waste, Rajeev Ravindran, Swarna Jaiswal, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam, Amit Jaiswal

Articles

In the present study, novel pre-treatment for spent coffee waste (SCW) has been proposed which utilises the superior oxidising capacity of alkaline KMnO₄ assisted by ultra-sonication. The pre-treatment was conducted for different exposure times (10, 20, 30 and 40 min) using different concentrations of KMnO₄ (1,2, 3, 4, 5% w/v) at room temperature with solid/liquid ratio of 1:10. Pretreating SCW with 4% KMnO₄ and exposing it to ultrasound for 20 min resulted in 98% cellulose recovery and a maximum lignin removal of 46%. 1.7fold increase in reducing sugar yield was obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis of KMnO_{4 …}

Recording Of High Efficiency Volume Bragg Gratings In A Photopolymer Using Diffraction From Very Weak Pre-Recorded Gratings, Denis Bade

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No abstract provided.

Behaviour Of A Spd Switchable Glazing In An Outdoor Test Cell With Heat Removal Under Varying Weather Conditions, Aritra Ghosh, Brian Norton, Aidan Duffy

Articles

Suspended particle device (SPD) switchable glazing has potential to control transmission of solar radiation in the visible range by changing its transparency from 55% to 5%. Outdoor test cell characterisation of a SPD switchable glazing offered the dynamic solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) which varied between 0.05 (when opaque) and 0.38 (when transparent). Reduction of maximum temperature rise of 11% and 15% was possible using SPD “transparent” and “opaque” state compared to same area double-glazing. Insulated test cell with water flow heat exchanger was employed to measure the cooling load reduction potential of SPD glazing while its transmission changed from …

Pattern Reconfigurable Back-To-Back Microstrip Patch Antenna, Kansheng Yang, Xiulong Bao, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann

Articles

A back-to- back microstrip patch antenna with a switchable pattern is proposed for WLAN applications. The patch elements, printed on FR-4 substrates with a common ground plane, are switched with a single-pole double-throw PIN diode circuit. Switching the feed selects either of two identical radiation patterns in the opposing hemispheres for spatial diversity that would benefit a distributed network.

Short Term Forecasting Of Nitrogen Dioxide (No2) Levels Using A Hybrid Statistical And Air Mass History Modelling Approach, Aoife Donnelly, Owen Naughton, Brian Broderick, Bruce Misstear

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A novel hybrid model has been developed to support the provision of real-time air quality forecasts. Statistical techniques have been applied in parallel with airmass history modelling to provide an efficient and accurate forecasting system with the ability to identify high NO2 events, which tend to be the episodes ofmost significance in Ireland. Airmass history modelling and k-means clustering are used to identify air mass types that lead to high NO2 levels in Ireland. Trajectory matching techniques allow data associated with these air masses to be partitioned during model development. Non-parametric regression (NPR) has been applied to describe nonlinear variations …

The Economic Boom, Bust And Transport Inequity In Suburban Dublin, Ireland, Sarah Rock, Aoife Ahern, Brian Caulfield

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This paper examines the existence and extent of transport inequity and disadvantage in new suburbs in Dublin, built during the Celtic Tiger period and as experienced during the recession. Findings are presented from a household postal survey from three case study areas built between 2001 and 2008. The case study areas are typical 'middle class' suburbs, and were constructed at a time when Ireland was experiencing unprecedented economic growth. The subsequent recession left many of these areas in significant negative equity, and householders with very limited housing mobility. Results from the survey point to considerable problems that are impacting on …

Bicp Global Bim Study, Barry Mcauley, Alan Hore, Roger West

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The BICP is a direct response to the 2014 Construction 2020 report calling on Enterprise Ireland to work with industry organisations to promote the use of BIM and develop the appropriate technical skills amongst Irish construction firms so that they can successfully compete in markets where BIM is widely adopted or a requirement. There are four distinct work packages to achieve the strategic objectives of the BICP which include amongst other things a systematic review of BIM adoption in international regions, with particular focus on the enablers to support national implementation programmes. This study focused on exploring the value proposition …

Technological Assessment Of Different Solar-Biomass Systems For Hybrid Power Generation In Europe, C. M. Iftekhar Hussain, Brian Norton, Aidan Duffy

Articles

Solar Tower thermal (ST), Parabolic Trough thermal (PT), Linear Fresnel thermal (LF) and Solar PV are discussed in the context of suitability for hybridization with biomass in Europe. Technical, economical and climate data have been compared to identify the key drivers of technology selection in setting up large scale solar-biomass hybrid power plants. The sole solar-biomass hybrid power plant is currently in operation in Spain uses PT technology due to its performance characteristics, comparatively easy installation process compared to ST and relatively higher heat and optical gain than LF. The climate condition in the EU shows that the region within …

Research Note: On The Magnitude Of Error In The Calculation Of Mean Room Surface Exitance, James Duff

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Two formulae currently exist for calculating mean room surface exitance. This research note explains and demonstrates that one of these formulae is erroneous under certain conditions and stresses that the alternative expression should generally be used for computing mean room surface exitance.

3 E’S Enterprise Architecture Framework (That Encompasses Business Process, Information Systems, And Information Technology), Nicholas C. Bucciarelli Mr.

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No abstract provided.

Planer Ultra Wide Band Antennas And Band Rejection Characteristics, Waqas Jamshed, Faiz Khalid, Zeeshan Ahmed, Farooq Bhatti

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No abstract provided.

Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys For Orthopaedic Applications: A Review On Corrosion, Biocompatibility And Surface Modifications., Sankalp Agarwal, James Curtin, Brendan Duffy, Swarna Jaiswal

Articles

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have been extensively explored as potential biodegradable implant materials for orthopaedic applications (e.g. Fracture fixation). However, the rapid corrosion of Mg based alloys in physiological conditions has delayed their introduction for therapeutic applications to date. The present review focuses on corrosion, biocompatibility and surface modifications of biodegradable Mg alloys for orthopaedic applications. Initially, the corrosion behaviour of Mg alloys and the effect of alloying elements on corrosion and biocompatibility is discussed. Furthermore, the influence of polymeric deposit coatings, namely sol-gel, synthetic aliphatic polyesters and natural polymers on corrosion and biological performance of Mg and its …

Developing Appropriate Educational Modules Aimed At Industry - An Example From Surveying At Masters Level, Audrey Martin

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This paper describes the process from inception to completion of developing academic modules appropriate for upgrading survey professionals engaged in the public sector. It focuses on one such module continuing professional development module in ‘Gravity and Height’ for National Mapping, developed by the Technological University Dublin Spatial Information Sciences Group for the National Mapping Agency, Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) and staff from similar organisations.

Source Separation Approach To Video Quality Prediction In Computer Networks, Ruairí De Fréin

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Time-varying loads introduce errors in the estimated model parameters of service-level predictors in Computer Networks. A load-adjusted modification of a traditional unadjusted service-level predictor is contributed, based on Source Separation (SS). It mitigates these errors and improves service-quality predictions for Video-on-Demand (VoD) by :6 to 2dB.

The Welfare Effects Of Nationalization In A Mixed Duopoly Public Transport Market, Feifei Qin, Xiaoning Zhang, Eoin Plant

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Recently, many cities have launched new rail transit lines. Once these new rail transit lines start commercial operation, they will play important roles as competitors to conventional bus services. In this paper, the effects of nationalization on equilibria have been studied in a mixed duopoly public transport market, in which one publicly-owned rail transit operator competes with one private bus operator. Two numerical case studies show the nationalization of a rail transit company is always socially desirable both in Bertrand pricing game in the short run and in Nash non-cooperative game in the long run.

Amorphous Silicon Solar Vivaldi Antenna, Oisin O'Conchubhair, Kansheng Yang, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann

Articles

An ultra-wideband solar Vivaldi antenna is proposed. Cut from amorphous silicon cells, it maintains a peak power at 4.25 V which overcomes a need for lossy power management components. The wireless communications device can yield solar energy or function as a rectenna for dual-source energy harvesting. The solar Vivaldi performs with 0.5 - 2.8 dBi gain from 0.95 - 2.45 GHz and in rectenna mode, it covers three bands for wireless energy scavenging.

Pesticide Degradation In Water Using Atmospheric Air Coldplasma, Chaitanya Sarangapani, Paula Bourke, N. Misra, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Finbarr O'Regan, Patrick Cullen

Articles

A high voltage dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor using atmospheric air as the inducer gas was studied for the degradation of pesticides (dichlorvos, malathion, endosulfan) in water. The degradation kinetics of the pesticides were studied using GC–MS as a function of plasma control parameters. Electrical characterisation of the plasma revealed that the plasma discharge consisted of filamentary streamers. Excited nitrogen, reactive oxygen species and OH radicals generated in the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor were identified using optical emission spectroscopy. Ozone, used as an indicator for metastable oxygen species, was quantified within the reactor at concentrations of 1600, 2200, …

Evaluating A Microbial Water Quality Prediction Model For Beach Management Under The Revised Eu Bathing Water Directive, Zeinab Bedri, Aisling Corkery, John O'Sullivan, Louise Deering, Katalin Demeter, Wim Meijer, Gregory O'Hare, Bartholomew Masterson

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The revised Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC) requires EU member states to minimise the risk to public health from faecal pollution at bathing waters through improved monitoring and management approaches. While increasingly sophisticated measurement methods (such as microbial source tracking) assist in the management of bathing water resources, the use of deterministic predictive models for this purpose, while having the potential to provide decision making support, remains less common.

This study explores an integrated, deterministic catchment-coastal hydro-environmental model as a decision-making tool for beach management which, based on advance predictions of bathing water quality, can inform beach managers on appropriate management …

Estimating The Electricity Prices, Generation Costs And Co2 Emissions Of Large Scale Wind Energy Exports From Ireland To Great Britain, Brendan Cleary, Aidan Duffy, Bjarne Bach, Aisma Vitina, Alan O'Connor, Michael Conlon

Articles

The share of wind generation in the Irish and British electricity markets is set to increase by 2020 due to renewable energy (RE) targets. The United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland have set ambitious targets which require 30% and 40% of electricity demand to come from RE, mainly wind, by 2020, respectively. Ireland has sufficient indigenous onshore wind energy resources to exceed the RE target, while the UK faces uncertainty in achieving its target. A possible solution for the UK is to import RE directly from large scale onshore and offshore wind energy projects in Ireland; this possibility has recently been …

Eliminating Electromechanical Instability In Dielectric Elastomers By Employing Pre-Stretch, Liang Jiang, Tony Betts, David Kennedy, Stephen Jerrams

Articles

Electromechanical instability (EMI) is one of most common failure modes for dielectric elastomers (DEs). It has been reported that pre-stretching a DE sample can suppress EMI due to strain stiffening taking place for larger strains and a higher elastic modulus are achieved at high stretch ratios when a voltage is applied to the material. In this work, the influence of equi-biaxial stretch on DE secant modulus was studied using VHB 4910 and silicone rubber (SR) composites containing barium titanate (BaTiO3, BT) particles and also dopamine coated BT (DP-BT) particles. The investigation of equi-biaxial deformation and EMI failure for VHB 4910 …

New Approach Of Modifying The Anatase To Rutile Transition Temperature In Tio2 Photocatalysts, Ciara Byrne, Rachel Fagan, Steven Hinder, Declan Mccormack, Suresh Pillai

Articles

In pure synthetic titanium dioxide, the anatase to rutile phase transition usually occurs between the temperatures of 600 °C and 700 °C. The phase transition temperature can be altered by various methods, including modifying the precursor or by adding dopant or modifier to the TiO2 sample. In an attempt to investigate the phase transition using aromatic carboxylic acids, the current study examines the impact of increasing concentrations of benzoic acid (1 : 0, 1 : 1, 1 : 4 and 1 : 8 molar ratio TiO2 : benzoic acid) on anatase to rutile transition. The samples were characterised using Raman …

Gravity As An Ultra-Low Frequency Scattering Efect, Jonathan Blackledge

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Under the weak gravitational field appromination and for the 00-component of the stress-energy tensor, Einstein's field equations for the gravitational potential. By considering Newton' field equation to be the result of an ultra-low frequency scattering effect (in the limiting) case, this work introduces a model where gravitational field is taken to be the result of an ultra-low frequency gravitational wave (propagating in a near-Cartesian Minkowski space) scattering from an object (a mass)

Time Series Analysis For A 1/Tb Memory Function And Comparison With The Lyapunov Exponent Using Volatility Scaling, Paddy Walsh, Jonathan Blackledge

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Being able to provide accurate forecasts on the trending behaviour of time series is important in a range of applications involving the real time evolution of signals, most notable in financial time series analysis but control engineering in general. A critical solution for providing high accuracy forecasts is the filtering operation used to identify the position in time at which a trend occurs subject to a time delay factor that is inherent in the filtering strategy used. The paper explores this strategy and presents some example results that provide a quantitative measure of the accuracy used.

Optimized Sliding Mode Control To Maximize Existence Region For Single-Phase Dynamic Voltage Restorers, Samet Biricik, Hasan Komurcugil

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This paper presents an optimized sliding mode control (SMC) strategy to maximize existence region for single-phase dynamic voltage restorers. It is shown analytically that there exists an optimum sliding coefficient which enlarges the existence region of the sliding mode to its maximum. Also, it is pointed out that the optimum sliding coefficient improves the dynamic response. In addition, a double-band hysteresis control which ensures the switching of a transistor in the voltage source inverter during a half-cycle while it remains either on or off in the other half cycle is used to mitigate the switching frequency. The theoretical considerations and …

Equi-Biaxial Fatigue Behaviour Of Magnetorheological Elastomers In Magnetic Fields, Yanfen Zhou, Mark Johnson, Shipeng Wen, Tony Betts, Stephen Jerrams

Articles

The equi-biaxial fatigue behaviour of silicone based magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) in external magnetic fields was studied. Wöhler curves relating fatigue life to stress amplitude and dynamic stored energy for MREs with a range of magnetic particle contents were derived. It was found that the fatigue life of MREs in magnetic fields was higher than that without magnetic fields. Under constant stress amplitude conditions, the presence of magnetic fields resulted in longer times for the samples to undergo large deformations and thus complex modulus (E*) decreased at a slower rate during the fatigue process, especially for low stress amplitudes. MRE samples …

Synthesis And Doping Feasibility Of Composite-Hydroxide-Mediated Approach For The Cu1-Xznxo Nanomaterials, Tauseef Shahid, Muhammad Arfan, Waqas Ahmad, Tayyaba Bibi, Taj Muhammad Khan

Articles

In this article, we report feasibility of composite hydroxide-mediated (CHM) approach for the synthesis and doping of Cu1-xZnxO (x=0%, 3%, 6% and 9%) nanomaterial. The proposed method offers a low cost, low temperature and environmentally friendly approach to preparing doped nanomaterials in a feasible and cost- effective route. Further, we investigate the effect of incorporated Zn +2 on the properties of produced Cu (II) O nanostructures. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirms formation of the single-phase monoclinic Cu (II) O and incorporation of Zn at the Cu-lattice sites. The crystalline structure is improved and the average grain size has increased from …