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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Enhanced Practical Photosynthetic Co₂ Mitigation, David J. Bayless, Morgan Lefay Vis-Chiasson, Gregory G. Kremer Dec 2003

Enhanced Practical Photosynthetic Co₂ Mitigation, David J. Bayless, Morgan Lefay Vis-Chiasson, Gregory G. Kremer

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This process is unique in photosynthetic carbon sequestration. An on-site biological sequestration system directly decreases the concentration of carbon-containing compounds in the emissions of fossil generation units. In this process, photosynthetic microbes are attached to a growth surface arranged in a containment chamber that is lit by solar photons. A harvesting system ensures maximum organism growth and rate of CO2 uptake. Soluble carbon and nitrogen concentrations delivered to the cyanobacteria are enhanced, further increasing growth rate and carbon utilization.


Utilization Of A Piezoelectric Polymer To Sense Harmonics Of Electromagnetic Torque, Jason Neely, Steven Pekarek, Daniel S. Stutts, Philip Beccue Sep 2003

Utilization Of A Piezoelectric Polymer To Sense Harmonics Of Electromagnetic Torque, Jason Neely, Steven Pekarek, Daniel S. Stutts, Philip Beccue

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the use of a piezoelectric polymer material to measure the harmonics of electromagnetic torque produced by a permanent magnet synchronous machine is described. The advantages of the polymer include low cost, durability, and flexibility. In addition, wide-bandwidth sensors are relatively easy to design and couple to drive system hardware for harmonic evaluation or to use in feedback-based control. To illustrate the use of the polymer, the electrical and mechanical properties of three sensors are described. The results of time-domain simulation and hardware experiments are used to validate that the voltage obtained from the sensors is linearly related …


Modeling For The Control Of The Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (Lamp), Mallikharjuna R. Boddu, Vishnu P. Thayalan, Robert G. Landers Aug 2003

Modeling For The Control Of The Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (Lamp), Mallikharjuna R. Boddu, Vishnu P. Thayalan, Robert G. Landers

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Many state-of-the-art Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies adopt lasers to fabricate 3-D solid parts by material deposition in layers. The ability of these RP technologies to control the process requires a thorough understanding of the process mechanics. This paper presents the analysis of an analytical, dynamic model explaining the complex phenomenon of Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (LAMP). The equilibrium of the dynamic model is analyzed and dynamic simulations are performed to determine its stability characteristics. This model forms the basis for the real-time control of the LAMP.


Process Control Of Laser Metal Deposition Manufacturing -- A Simulation Study, Robert G. Landers Aug 2003

Process Control Of Laser Metal Deposition Manufacturing -- A Simulation Study, Robert G. Landers

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The laser metal deposition process is a rapid manufacturing operation capable of producing functional prototypes with complex geometries and thin sections. This process inherently contains significant uncertainties and, therefore, extensive experimentation must be performed to determine suitable process parameters. An alternative is to directly control the process on-line using feedback control methodologies. In this paper, a nonlinear control strategy based on feedback linearization is created to automatically regulate the bead morphology and melt pool temperature. Extensive simulation studies are conducted to validate the control strategy.


Application Of A Diagnostic Tool In Laser Aided Manufacturing Processes, Sashikanth Prakash, Mallikharjuna Rao Boddu, Frank W. Liou Aug 2003

Application Of A Diagnostic Tool In Laser Aided Manufacturing Processes, Sashikanth Prakash, Mallikharjuna Rao Boddu, Frank W. Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Lasers play a vital role in producing parts with high dimensional accuracy, strength and quality in today's rapid prototyping industry. In the process of Laser Metal Deposition, many problems are encountered where the part quality does not meet the required standards. This could be due to the nonconformity of control parameters or unnecessary interactions between the control factors. This paper discusses the implementation of Dr. Genichi Taguchiï's optimization techniques using Design of Experiments (DOE) where a series of fractional factorial experiments are performed on the laser deposition process. The results from these experiments are evaluated with respect to the rate …


Comparison Of 3-, 5-, And 6-Phase Machines For Automotive Charging Applications, B. Zhang, Hua Bai, Walter Eversman, Ronald J. Krefta, Duane J. Buening, Steven Pekarek, Gregory R. Holbrook Jan 2003

Comparison Of 3-, 5-, And 6-Phase Machines For Automotive Charging Applications, B. Zhang, Hua Bai, Walter Eversman, Ronald J. Krefta, Duane J. Buening, Steven Pekarek, Gregory R. Holbrook

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the performance of a 5-phase claw-pole machine/converter system is compared with those of 3-phase and 6-phase systems of the same volume. It is shown that the acoustic output of the 5-phase machine compares favorably with that of the 6-phase machine and is much lower than that of the 3-phase machine over a majority of the operating range. In addition, the output current produced by the 5-phase machine Is, in general, 6-8% higher than those of the 3-phase and 6-phase machines. These results suggest that for maximizing power density while minimizing cost and acoustic noise, 5-phase machines provide …


Mechanical Property Characterization Of Mouse Zona Pellucida, Yu Sun, Kai-Tak Wan, K. P. Roberts, J. C. Bischof, B. J. Nelson Jan 2003

Mechanical Property Characterization Of Mouse Zona Pellucida, Yu Sun, Kai-Tak Wan, K. P. Roberts, J. C. Bischof, B. J. Nelson

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Previous intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) studies have indicated significant variation in ICSI success rates among different species. In mouse ICSI, the zona pellucida (ZP) undergoes a "hardening" process at fertilization in order to prevent subsequent sperm from penetrating. There have been few studies investigating changes in the mechanical properties of mouse ZP post fertilization. To characterize mouse ZP mechanical properties and quantitate the mechanical property differences of the ZP before and after fertilization, a microelectromechanical systems-based multiaxis cellular force sensor has been developed. A microrobotic cell manipulation system employing the multiaxis cellular force sensor is used to conduct mouse ZP …


Missile Longitudinal Autopilot Design Using A New Suboptimal Nonlinear Control Method, Ming Xin, S. N. Balakrishnan Jan 2003

Missile Longitudinal Autopilot Design Using A New Suboptimal Nonlinear Control Method, Ming Xin, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A missile longitudinal autopilot is designed using a new nonlinear control synthesis technique called the θ-D approximation. The particular θ-D methodology used is referred to as the θ-D H2 design. The technique can achieve suboptimal closed-form solutions to a class of nonlinear optimal control problems in the sense that it solves the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation approximately by adding perturbations to the cost function. An interesting feature of this method is that the expansion terms in the expression for suboptimal control are nothing but solutions to the state-dependent Riccati equations associated with this class of problems. The θ-D H2 design has the …


Hierarchical Optimal Control Of A Turning Process - Linearization Approach, Anand Dasgupta, B. Pandurangan, Robert G. Landers, S. N. Balakrishnan Jan 2003

Hierarchical Optimal Control Of A Turning Process - Linearization Approach, Anand Dasgupta, B. Pandurangan, Robert G. Landers, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Machining process control technologies are currently not well integrated into machine tool controllers and, thus, servomechanism dynamics are often ignored when designing and implementing process controllers. In this paper, a hierarchical controller is developed that simultaneously regulates the servomechanism positions and cutting forces in a lathing operation. The force process and servomechanism system are separated into high and low levels, respectively, in the hierarchy. The high level goal is to maintain a constant cutting force to maximize productivity while not violating a spindle power constraint. This goal is systematically propagated to the lower level and combined with the low level …


Output Feedback Force Control For A Parallel Turning Operation, Raghusimha Sudhakara, Robert G. Landers Jan 2003

Output Feedback Force Control For A Parallel Turning Operation, Raghusimha Sudhakara, Robert G. Landers

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Parallel machine tools (i.e., machine tools capable of cutting a part with multiple tools simultaneously but independently) are being utilized more and more to increase operation productivity, decrease setups, and reduce floor space. Process control is the utilization of real-time process sensor information to automatically adjust process parameters (e.g., feed, spindle speed) to increase operation productivity and quality. To date, however, these two technologies have not been combined. This paper describes the design of an output feedback controller for a parallel turning operation that accounts for the inherent nonlinearities in the force process. An analysis of the process equilibriums explains …


Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Based Modeling And Experimental Implementation Of A Neurocontroller For A Heat Diffusion System, Prashant Prabhat, S. N. Balakrishnan, Dwight C. Look, Radhakant Padhi Jan 2003

Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Based Modeling And Experimental Implementation Of A Neurocontroller For A Heat Diffusion System, Prashant Prabhat, S. N. Balakrishnan, Dwight C. Look, Radhakant Padhi

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Experimental implementation of a dual neural network based optimal controller for a heat diffusion system is presented. Using the technique of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), a set of problem-oriented basis functions are designed taking the experimental data as snap shot solutions. Using these basis functions in Galerkin projection, a reduced-order analogous lumped parameter model of the distributed parameter system is developed. This model is then used in an analogous lumped parameter problem. A dual neural network structure called adaptive critics is used to obtain optimal neurocontrollers for this system. In this structure, one set of neural networks captures the relationship …


A Product Architecture-Based Conceptual Dfa Technique, Robert B. Stone, Daniel A. Mcadams, Varghese J. Kayyalethekkel Jan 2003

A Product Architecture-Based Conceptual Dfa Technique, Robert B. Stone, Daniel A. Mcadams, Varghese J. Kayyalethekkel

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A conceptual design for assembly (DFA) method is introduced in this paper. The method incorporates DFA analysis into the conceptual design phase. Current DFA methods, essentially all of which are post-design DFA analyses, are reviewed with emphasis on the popular Boothroyd and Dewhurst method. The product architecture-based conceptual DFA method developed and presented in this article uses two relatively new concepts: the functional basis and the method of module heuristics. The functional basis is used to derive a functional model of a product in a standard language and the module heuristics are applied to the functional model to identify a …


Approximate Dynamic Programming Based Optimal Neurocontrol Synthesis Of A Chemical Reactor Process Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition, Radhakant Padhi, S. N. Balakrishnan Jan 2003

Approximate Dynamic Programming Based Optimal Neurocontrol Synthesis Of A Chemical Reactor Process Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition, Radhakant Padhi, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The concept of approximate dynamic programming and adaptive critic neural network based optimal controller is extended in this study to include systems governed by partial differential equations. An optimal controller is synthesized for a dispersion type tubular chemical reactor, which is governed by two coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. It consists of three steps: First, empirical basis functions are designed using the "Proper Orthogonal Decomposition" technique and a low-order lumped parameter system to represent the infinite-dimensional system is obtained by carrying out a Galerkin projection. Second, approximate dynamic programming technique is applied in a discrete time framework, followed by the …


A Single-Element Tuning Fork Piezoelectric Linear Actuator, J. Satonobu, K. Nakamura, S. Ueha, Daniel S. Stutts, James R. Friend Jan 2003

A Single-Element Tuning Fork Piezoelectric Linear Actuator, J. Satonobu, K. Nakamura, S. Ueha, Daniel S. Stutts, James R. Friend

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper describes the design of a piezoelectric tuning-fork, dual-mode motor. The motor uses a single multilayer piezoelectric element in combination with tuning fork and shearing motion to form an actuator using a single drive signal. Finite-element analysis was used in the design of the motor, and the process is described along with the selection of the device's materials and its performance. Swaging was used to mount the multilayer piezoelectric element within the stator. Prototypes of the 25-mm long bidirectional actuator achieved a maximum linear no-load speed of 16.5 cm/s, a maximum linear force of 1.86 N, and maximum efficiency …


Nonlinear H Infinity Missile Longitudinal Autopilot Design With Θ-D Method, Ming Xin, S. N. Balakrishnan Jan 2003

Nonlinear H Infinity Missile Longitudinal Autopilot Design With Θ-D Method, Ming Xin, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, a new nonlinear control synthesis technique, the theta- D method, is employed to design a missile longitudinal autopilot. The θ-D technique yields suboptimal solutions to nonlinear optimal control problems in the sense that it provides approximate solution to the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation. Semi-global asymptotic stability can be achieved by manipulating the perturbation terms which are added to the cost function in developing a series solution. Furthermore, this method can be used to provide an approximate closed-form solution to the state dependent Riccati equation. The particular θ-D methodology adopted in this paper is referred to as θ-D H …