Engineering Science and Materials Commons^™

Evaluation Of Phase Change Materials For Cooling In A Super-Insulated Passive House, Jeffrey Stephen Lauck

Dissertations and Theses

Due to factors such as rising energy costs, diminishing resources, and climate change, the demand for high performance buildings is on the rise. As a result, several new building standards have emerged including the Passive House Standard, a rigorous energy-use standard based on a super-insulated and very tightly sealed building envelope. The standard requires that that air infiltration is less than or equal to 0.6 air changes per hour at a 50 Pascal pressure difference, annual heating energy is less than or equal to 15kWh/m2, and total annual source energy is less than or equal to 120 kWh/m2. A common …

Reward-Driven Training Of Random Boolean Network Reservoirs For Model-Free Environments, Padmashri Gargesa

Dissertations and Theses

Reservoir Computing (RC) is an emerging machine learning paradigm where a fixed kernel, built from a randomly connected "reservoir" with sufficiently rich dynamics, is capable of expanding the problem space in a non-linear fashion to a higher dimensional feature space. These features can then be interpreted by a linear readout layer that is trained by a gradient descent method. In comparison to traditional neural networks, only the output layer needs to be trained, which leads to a significant computational advantage. In addition, the short term memory of the reservoir dynamics has the ability to transform a complex temporal input state …

Non-Linear Behavior Of Unbraced Two-Bay Reinforced Concrete Frames, Mehdi Shadyab

Dissertations and Theses

In this investigation, the primary objective was to study the nonlinear behavior of unbraced two-bay concrete frames and to determine the extent to which ultimate load theory or limit design can be applied to these structures. The frame behavior was investigated analytically by two methods. In the first method the frame stability equation was derived assuming that members of the frame possess an elasto-plastic moment-curvature relationship. This stability analysis was also carried out by another model consisting of a column attached to a linear spring and carrying the total frame load. The second method was through a computer program which …

Assessment Of Feasibility Of Proposed Bolted Connections For Tubular Structures, John Henry Tausch

Dissertations and Theses

The search for new and additional sources of energy -- from sun, wind, waves, and ocean currents -- is necessitating the development of structures in the open environment of the oceans as well as on land. The advantages of round or tubular members for use in such structures are shown; and to avoid the uncertainties of welded joints, two bolted connections are proposed and their feasibility explored.

An Experimental Investigation Of Unbraced Reinforced Concrete Frames, Nourollah Samiee Nejad

Dissertations and Theses

The main objective of this investigation is to study experimentally the behavior of rectangular reinforced concrete frames subject to a combination of low column loads, beam loads, and lateral load. The analytical tool used in this investigation is a computer program which is a generalized computational method for non linear force deformation relationship and secondary forces due to displacement of the joints during loading.

In the experimental portion of this investigation, two rectangular frames, one design by the Ultimate Strength Design method and the other by a Limit Design method were prepared and tested to failure with short time loading. …

Studies Of Bistable Fluid Devices For Particle Flow Control, Gerald H. Hogland

Dissertations and Theses

This study was directed toward the development of a bistable wall attachment Flip-Flop device which was capable of directionally controlling particle flow. The particles were transported by a fluid stream which under the influence of wall attachment. The dominant criteria in the development of the device was the achievement of the highest recovery of particles at the active output, without destroying the wall attachment of the fluid stream The experiment was conducted in several distinct stages; each of which was concerned with at least one aspect of wa1l attachment or particle flow. Results derived from one test were used to …

Comparative Study Of Lightweight And Normal Weight Concrete In Flexure, Mohammad Zareh

Dissertations and Theses

This investigation represents a comparative study of the flexural behavior of lightweight and normal weight concrete. Both theoretical and experimental moment-curvature characteristics of the tested specimens were used to study the flexural behavior.

A generalized computer program to determine the moment-curvature relationships of a singly reinforced rectangular concrete beam was developed.

For this limited study it was observed that lightweight concrete beams when compared to normal concrete beams achieve comparable moment capacity (about 92% of normal weight concrete) but exhibit higher deflections (about 40% more than normal weight concrete).