Engineering Commons^™

Air Quality Regulation Policy In Portugal, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

Ten years after the publication of first air quality laws in Portugal, and seven years after the publication of the respective emission limits, it seems appropriate to analyse the degree of law enforcement by the Portuguese manufacturing industry. Therefore, based on the emission measurements made regularly by ISQ, as the only officially accredited laboratory, a set of about 400 sources is analysed in terms of the compliance with the emission limits regarding total suspended particulate, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and VOCs. The compliance is evaluated through a non-dimensional parameter and plotted versus the emission flow rate to derive conclusions: it …

Teaching Decision Making With Baseball Examples, J. Eric Bickel

Eric Bickel

Sports examples can be wonderful vehicles for teaching OR/MS concepts. Baseball is particularly well suited to teaching statistics/probability, Markov decision processes, and decision analysis. This paper details a baseball example I developed to teach fundamental decision making skills. This example has been used successfully to teach decision making to undergraduates and graduates in technical and non-technical disciplines. It has also been used effectively in industry for training new MBAs and seasoned executives.

Dynamics Of Two-Phase Reactors With Approximate Kinetics, Francisco J. Valdes-Parada

Francisco J. Valdes-Parada

Los sistemas de transporte y reacción en más de una fase han ido adquiriendo un interés creciente en la comunidad científica y tecnológica debido a que la gran mayoría de los procesos industriales se llevan a cabo en sistemas no homogéneos. De la misma forma, es notable el interés que se ha dado en las últimas décadas por los sistemas catalizados por enzimas.

Las enzimas como catalizadores son utilizadas actualmente en una gran variedad de procesos, como son la fabricación de etanol, insulina, ácido láctico, cerveza, vacunas, entre muchos otros; de hecho varias procesos clásicos han sido reemplazados por procesos …

Allometric Scaling And Instability In Electrospinning, Ji-Huan He, Yu-Qin Wan, Jian-Yong Yu

Ji-Huan He

The regulation of scale and bifurcation-like instability in electrospinning are intriguing and enduring problems after the technology was invented by Formhals in 1934. Regulatory mechanisms for controlling the radius of electrospun fibers are clearly illustrated in the different states. Generally, the relationship between radius r of jet and the axial distance z from nozzle can be expressed as an allometric equation of the form , the values of the scaling exponent (b) for the initial steady stage, instability stage, and terminal stage are respectively –1/2, –1/4, and 0. Allometry in economy, biology, turbulence, astronomy, neural resistance, conductive textile, and macromolecule …

Influence Of Boundary Slip On The Optimal Excitations In Thermocapillary Driven Spreading, Jm Davis, Sm Troian

Jeffrey M. Davis

Thin liquid films driven to spread on homogeneous surfaces by thermocapillarity can undergo frontal breakup and parallel rivulet formation with well-defined wavelength. Previous modal analyses have relieved the well-known divergence in stress that occurs at a moving contact line by matching the front region to a precursor film. Because the linearized disturbance operator is non-normal, a generalized, nonmodal analysis is required to probe film stability at all times. The effect of the contact line model on nonmodal stability has not been previously investigated. This work examines the influence of boundary slip on thermocapillary driven spreading using a transient stability analysis, …

Renewable Alkanes By Aqueous-Phase Reforming Of Biomass-Derived Oxygenates, George W. Huber, R. D. Cortright, J. A. Dumesic

George W. Huber

A clean stream of alkanes from renewable biomass resources is obtained through aqueous-phase reforming in a single reactor. Alkanes are produced from biomass-derived sorbitol through a bifunctional pathway (see scheme) that involves the dehydration of sorbitol on acid sites (SiO2/Al2O3) and hydrogenation of intermediates on a metal catalyst under a H2 atmosphere. Hydrogen is produced from sorbitol and water on the metal catalyst in the same reactor.

Effect Of Sn On The Reactivity Of Cu Surfaces, George W. Huber, A. Gokale, J. A. Dumesic, M. Mavrikakis

George W. Huber

Periodic, density functional theory (DFT-GGA) calculations, using PW91 (self-consistently) and RPBE functionals, have been employed to determine preferred binding sites, adsorbate structures, and binding energies for the adsorption of atomic (H, N, O, S, and C), molecular (NO and CO), and radical (OH) species on Cu(111) and CuSn(0001) alloy surfaces. Our results indicate the following order in the binding energies from the least to the most strongly bound:  NO < CO < H < OH < N < O < S < C for Cu-terminated CuSn(0001). On Cu(111), the corresponding relative order of adsorbates from the least strongly bound to the most strongly bound is CO < NO < H < OH < N < O < S < C. On the Sn-terminated CuSn(0001) surface, CO does not adsorb and the relative order of adsorbates from the least strongly bound to the most strongly bound is NO < H < OH < N < S < O < C. For all adsorbates, the binding on Cu-terminated CuSn(0001) is stronger than on Cu(111), resulting from a combination of electronic and strain effects caused by the addition of Sn to Cu. CO dissociation is endothermic on Cu-terminated CuSn(0001) and Cu(111) surfaces, while CO oxidation is exothermic on these surfaces. OH dissociation is endothermic on all three surfaces. On all surfaces studied, thermodynamics of NO decomposition are much more favorable than those of CO and OH dissociation on the corresponding surfaces. Our microcalorimetric studies of the interaction of NO with Cu/SiO2 and Cu6Sn5/SiO2 samples give initial heats of 270 (2.80 eV) and 130 (1.35 eV) kJ/mol, respectively. These values correspond to the decomposition of NO to give adsorbed oxygen plus gaseous N2 on Cu/SiO2 and adsorbed oxygen plus gaseous N2O on the Sn-terminated phase of Cu6Sn5/SiO2.

Rational Pathway Engineering Of Type I Fatty Acid Synthase Allows The Biosynthesis Of Triacetic Acid Lactone From D-Glucose In Vivo, Wenjuan Zha, Zengyi Shao, John W. Frost, Huimin Zhao

Zengyi Shao

Metabolic pathway engineering is a powerful tool to synthesize structurally diverse and complex chemicals via genetic manipulation of multistep catalytic systems involved in cell metabolism. Here, we report the rational design of a fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, Brevibacterium ammoniagenes fatty acid synthase B (FAS-B), that allows the microbial synthesis of triacetic acid lactone (TAL) from an inexpensive feedstock, D-glucose. TAL can be chemically converted to phloroglucinol, which is a core structure for the synthesis of various high value bioactive compounds and energetic compounds such as 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB). Synthesis of phloroglucinol from d-glucose using this combined biological and chemical synthesis may …

Coherent Vibrational Oscillation In Gold Prismatic Monolayer Periodic Nanoparticle Arrays, Wenyu Huang, Wei Qian, Mostafa A. El-Sayed

Wenyu Huang

We studied the ultrafast laser-induced coherent phonon oscillation in prismatic shaped gold nanoparticles assembled in monolayer periodic arrays by using the nanosphere lithographic technique. The amplitude and phase of the oscillation observed by ultrafast pump−probe transient spectroscopy is monitored as the wavelength of the dipolar surface plasmon absorption decreases. At a certain wavelength, the oscillation could not be observed. As the monitoring wavelength decreases further, the sign of the amplitude changes. From the wavelength at which the oscillation is not detected, the dependence of the absorption maxima on the size of the nanoparticles, the changes in the nanoparticle size are …

Spatial Analysis Of 3′ Phosphoinositide Signaling In Living Fibroblasts: Ii. Parameter Estimates For Individual Cells From Experiments, Ian C. Schneider, Jason M. Haugh

Ian C. Schneider

Fibroblast migration is directed by gradients of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) during wound healing. As in other chemotactic systems, it has been shown recently that localized stimulation of intracellular phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase activity and production of 3′ PI lipids in the plasma membrane are important events in the signaling of spatially biased motility processes. In turn, 3′ PI localization depends on the effective diffusion coefficient, D, and turnover rate constant, k, of these lipids. Here we present a systematic and direct comparison of mathematical model calculations and experimental measurements to estimate the values of the effective 3′ PI diffusion coefficient, …

A Superior Tool For Airline Operations, Michael C. Dorneich, Stephen D. Whitlow, Christopher A. Miller, John A. Allen

Michael C. Dorneich

The Diversion Off-Gate Management Assistant (DOGMA) is a decision support tool that mitigates problems in making diversion decisions in the airline industry. DOGMA helps inexperienced dispatchers to provide superior and consistent diversion decisions that translate into minimizing the impact of time-critical diversion decisions and increasing the airline's ability to recover from severe schedule disruptions. The tool integrates multiple information sources to improve dispatchers' situation awareness of the current state of flight, aircraft, maintenance, crew, and passenger schedules.

Closing The Loop Of An Adaptive System With Cognitive State, Michael C. Dorneich, Stephen Whitlow, Patricia May Ververs, Jim Carciofini, Janet Creaser

Michael C. Dorneich

This paper describes an adaptive system that “closes the loop” by utilizing a real-time, directly sensed measure of cognitive state of the human operator. The Honeywell Augmented Cognition team has developed a Closed Loop Integrated Prototype (CLIP) of a Communications Scheduler, for application to the U.S. Army’s Future Force Warrior (FFW) program. It is expected that in a highly networked environment the sheer magnitude of communication traffic could overwhelm the individual soldier. The CLIP exploits real-time neurophysiological and physiological measurements of the human operator in order to create a cognitive state profile, which is used to augment the work environment …

High-Pressure Mechanochemistry: Conceptual Multiscale Theory And Interpretation Of Experiments, Valery I. Levitas

Valery I. Levitas

Fifteen mechanochemical phenomena observed under compression and plastic shear of materials in a rotational diamond anvil cell (RDAC) are systematized. They are related to strain-induced structural changes (SCs) under high pressure, including phase transformations (PTs) and chemical reactions. A simple, three-scale continuum thermodynamic theory and closed-form solutions are developed which explain these phenomena. At the nanoscale, a model for strain-induced nucleation at the tip of a dislocation pile-up is suggested and studied. At the microscale, a simple strain-controlled kinetic equation for the strain-induced SCs is thermodynamically derived. A macroscale model for plastic flow and strain-induced SCs in RDAC is developed. …

8th Bratislava International Conference On Modified Polymers: Modpol2003, Otto Vogl, Maria Omastova

Otto Vogl

No abstract provided.

A. Cover Page, Title Page, Table Of Contents, And Forward, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

The History of the Pacific Polymer Federation (PPF) describes the background and pursuit that was needed to create the PPF and bring it to a functioning organization. It includes a general description, as well as edited Pacific Polymer Newsletters and articles that have been written in Polymer News describing additional PPF activities and the Pacific Polymer Conferences.

D. Founding Of The Pacific Polymer Federation, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

An account of the process which led to the founding of the Pacific Polymer Federation and a copy of the Constitution of the Pacific Polymer Federation.

E. President Of The Pacific Polymer Federation, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

A history of the first president of the Pacific Polymer Federation.

H. Pacific Polymer Federation Conference Reports, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

Reports of the first through the sixth Pacific Polymer Federation Conferences, held biennially 1989-1999. Also includes reporting on the Pacific Polymer Federation.

G. Excerpts Of Pacific Polymer Federation Newsletters, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

Excerpts of Pacific Polymer Federation Newsletters 1-13, 1989-2003. Covers the presidencies of Otto Vogl, Takeo Saegusa, Joseph Salamone, Chung Yup Kim, Fosong Wang, Takeshi Ogawa, and Supawan Tantayanon.

F. Growth Of The Pacific Polymer Federation, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

Describes the growth and development of the Pacific Polymer Federation,

B. The Signing Of The Constitution Of The Pacific Polymer Federation, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

The Constitution of the Pacific Polymer Federation was signed on October 19, 1987 in Tokyo, Japan at the Inter-national House in Roppongi, Tokyo by the Chairman of the ACS Division of Polymer Chemistry, S, R. Eby, and the Chair-man of the Foreign Affairs Committee, O. Vogl; by the President of the Society of Polymer Science Japan, M. Takayanagi; Chairman and Vice President for International Affairs, A. Abe. For the Polymer Division of the Royal Aus-tralian Institute of Chemistry, Chairman D.J.T. Hill and Chair-man of the International Committee, J.H. O'Donnell signed the Constitution.

C. Pacific Polymer Federation Presidents, Otto Vogl

Otto Vogl

Names and photographs of the presidents of the Pacific Polymer Federation.

A Kinematic Wave Model For Merge Queuing, Daiheng Ni, John D. Leonard

Daiheng Ni

A Kinematic Wave Model For Merge Queuing Daiheng N I School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332, USA and John D. L EONARD State Road and Toll way Authority. 101 Marietta Street, Suite 2500 Atlanta, GA 30 303 , USA A BSTRACT Queuing at a merge is of particular interest because it is often related to highway congestion. Kinematic waves models such as simplified theory of kinematic waves are welcomed by traffic engineers because these models are simple and efficient yet still provide sufficient measures of effectiveness (MOEs) without going into the low level …

Simplified Kinematic Waves At A Diverge, Daiheng Ni, John D. Leonard

Daiheng Ni

Queuing at a diverge is an interesting but soph isticated phenomenon wher e one stream of traffic is split into two or more. It is generally not a problem when downstream supplies are sufficient to accommodate upstream demand. If, however, the demand does exceed the supplies, congestion will back onto upstream link and constrain traffic there. This paper, based on analyzing diverging behavior, reviews the existing models and proposes a contribution-based weighted splitting (CBWS) diverge model that takes into consideration queuing from different diverging branches. Based on this, Newell’s simplified theory of kinematic waves is extended to incorporate diverges.

Assessment Of The Current Status Of Incident Detection Algorithms: Results Of A Nationwide Survey, Angshuman Guin, Billy M. Williams, Daiheng Ni

Daiheng Ni

Use of automatic incident detection algorithms (AIDA) in advanced freeway management systems has been sporadic and scarce. The current study investigates the causes of such limited implementation. A survey was carried out among the system managers, operators and end users, as well as the decision makers who set the operational policies and the priorities for future system enhancements. The survey responses point to a general consensus that the unacceptably high rates of false alarms generated by available incident detection algorithms is the major deterrent. This study not only provides an understanding of the causes of the limited implementation of incident …

I-85 Traffic Study: A State-Of-The-Practice Modeling Of Freeway Traffic Operation, Daiheng Ni, Keith Strickland, Chunxia Feng

Daiheng Ni

Two levels of efforts advance the world: theory and application. Their highest levels of development are called "the state of the art" and "the state of the practice", respectively, with the latter typically lags behind the former. This is particularly true with traffic simulation where applications are more concerned with reliability, operability, adaptability, and availability. The state-of-the-art traffic simulation theories and models have been documented comprehensively while literatures on the state-of-the- practice applications are relatively sparse. This paper illustrates the perspective that industry typically takes on how to conduct traffic simulation by means of an example application: I-85 traffic study. …

Periodic Draining Reduces Mosquito Emergence From Free-Water Surface Constructed Wetlands, Catherine R. Mayhew, D. Raj Raman, Reid R. Gerhardt, Robert T. Burns, Mary Sue Younger

D. Raj Raman

Both subsurface flow and free-water surface constructed wetland systems have been used for partial treatment of manure-laden wastewater from animal production systems. Subsurface flow systems are considerably more expensive but do not breed mosquitoes. The less expensive free-water surface systems have significant mosquito production potential, which is a serious drawback, especially because of increasing concerns about emerging mosquito-borne disease organisms. Periodically draining constructed wetlands has been suggested as a method of mosquito control. To test this approach, eight free-water surface constructed wetland mesocosms (0.7 m2 each) were operated on a one-week drain/fill cycle. Simultaneously, four subsurface flow mesocosms were operated …

Narrow-Band And Derivative-Based Vegetation Indices For Hyperspectral Data, Kelly Robert Thorp, Lei Tian, Haibo Yao, Lie Tang

Lie Tang

Hyperspectral remote sensing imagery was collected over a soybean field in central Illinois in mid-June 2001 before canopy closure. Estimates of percent vegetation cover were generated through the processing of RGB (red, green, blue) digital images collected on the ground with an automated crop mapping system. A comparative study was completed to test the ability of broad-band, narrow-band, and derivative-based vegetation indices to predict percent soybean cover at levels less than 70%. Though remote sensing imagery is commonly analyzed using reference data collected at random points over a scene of interest, the analysis of the hyperspectral imagery in this research …

Evaluation Of Parallel Decomposition Methods For Biomechanical Optimizations, J. F. Schutte, Jeffrey A. Reinbolt, B. J. Fregly, R. T. Haftka, A. D. George

Jeffrey A. Reinbolt

As the complexity of musculoskeletal models continues to increase, so will the computational demands of biomechanical optimizations. For this reason, parallel biomechanical optimizations are becoming more common. Most implementations parallelize the optimizer. In this study, an alternate approach is investigated that parallelizes the analysis function (i.e., a kinematic or dynamic simulation) called repeatedly by the optimizer to calculate the cost function and constraints. To evaluate this approach, a system identification problem involving a kinematic ankle joint model was solved using a gradientbased optimizer and three parallel decomposition methods: gradient calculation decomposition, analysis function decomposition, or both methods combined. For a …

Parallel Global Optimization With The Particle Swarm Algorithm, J. F. Schutte, Jeffrey A. Reinbolt, B. J. Fregly, R. T. Haftka, A. D. George

Jeffrey A. Reinbolt

Present day engineering optimization problems often impose large computational demands, resulting in long solution times even on a modern high-end processor. To obtain enhanced computational throughput and global search capability, we detail the coarse-grained parallelization of an increasingly popular global search method, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Parallel PSO performance was evaluated using two categories of optimization problems possessing multiple local minima—large-scale analytical test problems with computationally cheap function evaluations and medium-scale biomechanical system identification problems with computationally expensive function evaluations. For load-balanced analytical test problems formulated using 128 design variables, speedup was close to ideal and parallel efficiency …