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Articles 1 - 17 of 17
Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering
A Novel Drive Cycle Simulation Model For Gasoline Engines To Investigate Bandwidth Coverage Of Emission Performance And Fuel Consumption With Engine Control Parameters, Martin Giencke
Doctoral
The presented work is offering an investigation how the bandwidth of vehicle specific attributes is impacting engine control parameter requirements for warmup control of the catalytic converter, aiming to ease the development process by providing mathematical means for an automatic generation of control settings. For the specific purpose, a novel drive cycle simulation approach is developed, focusing on emission performance and fuel consumption of a gasoline engine. Steady state and quasi steady state measurements are collected to quantify the impact of modifications to control parameters on emission concentration, exhaust gas temperature and engine torque, especially directly after a cold start. …
Biomechanics Of Head Impacts In An Unhelmeted Sport, Stephen Tiernan
Biomechanics Of Head Impacts In An Unhelmeted Sport, Stephen Tiernan
Doctoral
Concussion in sport is very common and often the injury is undetectable using CT and MRI scans. In addition, approximately 50% of concussions areunreported.The project initially investigated the suitability of a skin patch sensor and a head-band sensorfor the measurement of head impacts in unhelmeted sports. It was found that both were unsuitable due to large angular accelerationerrors. Thestudy then collaborated withCAMLab at Stanford University and 25 Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes were fitted CAMLab’s validated instrumented mouthguard. 451 video confirmed impacts were recorded at 19 sparring and 11 competitive MMA events. Five concussions were diagnosed during the competitive events. …
Social Enterprise And Sustainability: Key Factors That Lead To The Successful Establishment Of Sustainable Development Initiatives In Ireland, Gerard Doyle
Doctoral
International research points to the positive impact that social enterprises with an environmental focus (also referred to as sustainable development initiatives) perform in the transition to low carbon societies. This thesis examines the capacities required for the establishment and maintenance of sustainable development initiatives in Ireland. The thesis is based on five pieces of research which are either published in international peer-reviewed publications or of a publishable standard. One of the published pieces provides an explanatory framework addressing the reasons why the social enterprise sector in Ireland is less developed than in a number of European countries, details a number …
Development And Validation Of A Numerical Model Of The Co2 Dry-Ice Blasting Process For Aircraft Engine Cleaning Applications, Arthur Rudek
Development And Validation Of A Numerical Model Of The Co2 Dry-Ice Blasting Process For Aircraft Engine Cleaning Applications, Arthur Rudek
Doctoral
On-wing cleaning of engine compressors for commercial aircraft is a required maintenance task which results in greater operating efficiency and lower emission rates. It is typically carried out by injection of water and detergents into the intake of an engine while the engine is being cranked by the starter. Two drawbacks of this process are the risk of icing in cold weather and the collection and treatment of the water effluent. The dry-ice blasting process, a cleaning system which uses pressurized air and CO2 dry-ice particles as cleaning agent, has been proposed as an alternative method which does not suffer …
The Evaluation And Implementation Of Magnetic Fields Suitable For Biaxial Cyclic Testing Of Magnetorheological Elastomers, Dave Gorman
Doctoral
This thesis addresses the current lack of specification of magnetic fields currently used in the physical testing of Magnetorheological Elastomers MREs as well as providing the first comparative test results for MREs subject to both biaxial and uniaxial cyclic loading in the same magnetic field. In order to design an electromagnetic array capable of generating a suitable magnetic field for the cyclic biaxial testing of MREs, a review of currently used magnetic fields for uniaxial testing of MREs was carried out and a suitable array was modelled and evaluated with both 2D and 3D FEA software. Once the FEA analysis …
A Techno-Economic Analysis Of Wind Generation In Conjunction With Compressed Air Energy In The Integrated Single Electricity Market., Brendan Cleary
A Techno-Economic Analysis Of Wind Generation In Conjunction With Compressed Air Energy In The Integrated Single Electricity Market., Brendan Cleary
Doctoral
The Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) is the proposed wholesale electricity market for Ireland and it is intended to replace the current Single Electricity Market (SEM) by 2018. Subsequently, substantial modifications will be required to the SEM and this has led to significant uncertainty for stakeholders. The SEM currently features no forecast risk for renewables such as wind and there is no concept of balance responsibility. Under the I-SEM, wind generation will be exposed to forecast risk and the requirement to be balance responsible. The use of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) could represent a better system configuration which would …
Fatigue Properties Of Magnetorheological Elastomers And The Design Of Interfacial Layers To Improve Fatigue Life., Yanfen Zhou
Fatigue Properties Of Magnetorheological Elastomers And The Design Of Interfacial Layers To Improve Fatigue Life., Yanfen Zhou
Doctoral
The primary aim of this PhD programme was to understand the fatigue behaviour of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) and provide a reliable fatigue life predictor for this class of materials. To realise this aim required the study of the dynamic behaviour of MREs using the equi-biaxial bubble inflation test method. Isotropic and anisotropic MREs were fabricated from silicone rubber (SR) filled with soft carbonyl iron (CI) particles. The equi-biaxial fatigue behaviour of these samples was determined using a bubble inflation method. Wohler (S-N) curves for both isotropic and anisotropic MREs were produced by subjecting the compounds to cycling over a range …
A Participatory Design Framework For Customisable Assistive Technology, Pearl O'Rourke
A Participatory Design Framework For Customisable Assistive Technology, Pearl O'Rourke
Doctoral
High product costs and device abandonment negatively affect people with disabilities who require Assistive Technology (AT), and poor product design is a root cause. The purpose of this research is to develop and demonstrate a participatory design framework for customisable AT, which addresses the need for low-cost assistive products that satisfy a broad range of consumers’ needs. This framework addresses two main gaps in the literature. First, user involvement in the design process of medical and rehabilitative products helps create products that are more effective but, although methods to involve users exist, there are currently scant techniques to translate the …
Optimised Integration Of Grid-Connected Renewable Energy Technologies For Domestic Application In Ireland, Zhe Li
Doctoral
The utilisation of renewable energy resources for electricity and thermal generation is extremely important in Ireland due to the lack of indigenous fossil fuel resources and the high dependence on imported fossil fuels. The release of environmentally-damaging greenhouse gases in the combustion of fossil fuels in electricity and thermal generation is also a major issue. In Ireland, the domestic dwelling is recognised as one of the biggest energy consumers. The use of renewable energy technologies to provide electricity, heating and hotwater can effectively offset the usage of fossil fuels. The aim of this research study was to develop a novel …
Modelling Of Biomass Gasification Integrated With A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System, Wayne Doherty
Modelling Of Biomass Gasification Integrated With A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System, Wayne Doherty
Doctoral
Biomass is of major interest as a renewable energy source in the context of climate change and energy security. Traditional biomass conversion technologies achieve low electrical efficiencies. Biomass gasification (BG) coupled with fuel cells offer higher efficiencies. Gasification is a process in which a carbonaceous fuel is converted to a combustible gas. It occurs when a controlled amount of oxidant is reacted at high temperatures with available carbon in a fuel within a gasifier. Two technologies (circulating fluidised bed air gasification and dual fluidised bed steam gasification) were modelled. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are well suited to integration with …
Sequential Structural And Fluid Dynamics Analysis Of Balloon-Expandable Coronary Stents., David Martin
Sequential Structural And Fluid Dynamics Analysis Of Balloon-Expandable Coronary Stents., David Martin
Doctoral
As in-stent restenosis following coronary stent deployment has been strongly linked with stent-induced arterial injury and altered vessel hemodynamics, the sequential numerical analysis of the mechanical and hemodynamic impact of stent deployment within a coronary artery is likely to provide an excellent indication of coronary stent performance. Despite this observation, very few numerical studies have considered both the mechanical and hemodynamic impact of stent deployment. In light of this observation, the aim of this research is to develop a robust numerical methodology for investigating the performance of balloon-expandable coronary stents in terms of their mechanical and hemodynamic impact within a …
Heating Effects Through Harmonic Distortion On Electric Cables In The Built Environment, Kevin O'Connell
Heating Effects Through Harmonic Distortion On Electric Cables In The Built Environment, Kevin O'Connell
Doctoral
Under ideal circumstances, electric power supply voltage and current waveforms should be sinusoidal. However, this is very seldom the case in the built environment, due to the proliferation of non-linear loads. Examples of non-linear loads are those containing switched mode power supplies, reactors and electronic rectifiers/inverters. Common devices such as personal computers, fluorescent lighting, electric motors, variable speed drives, transformers and reactors and virtually all other electronic equipment are examples of non-linear loads. Non-linear loads are the norm in the built environment rather than the exception. Such loads produce complex current and voltage waves and simple spectral analysis of these …
Novel Approaches To The Analysis Of Localised Stress Concentrations In Deformed Elastomers, John Mcnamara
Novel Approaches To The Analysis Of Localised Stress Concentrations In Deformed Elastomers, John Mcnamara
Doctoral
The research described here is concerned with improving finite element analysis (FEA) of rubber components subjected to dynamic loading, particularly in respect of accurate modelling of stress softening using standard software codes and phenomenological material models. The research required the design and implementation of a user subroutine capable of inclusion in standard highly nonlinear codes. Experimental methods were employed to corroborate the FEA simulations and so validate the subroutine. This was also achieved using 3D image correlation photogrammetry (ICP) and other novel experimental procedures. From this experimentation and modelling, the results for different rubber specimens and load cases were presented. …
A Methodology Towards Comprehensive Evaluation Of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators For Prosthetic Finger Design, Kevin O'Toole
A Methodology Towards Comprehensive Evaluation Of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators For Prosthetic Finger Design, Kevin O'Toole
Doctoral
Presently, DC motors are the actuator of choice within intelligent upper limb prostheses. However, the weight and dimensions associated with suitable DC motors are not always compatible with the geometric restrictions of a prosthetic hand; reducing available degrees of freedom and ultimately rendering the prosthesis uncomfortable for the end-user. As a result, the search is on-going to find a more appropriate actuation solution that is lightweight, noiseless, strong and cheap. Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators offer the potential to meet these requirements. To date, no viable upper limb prosthesis using SMA actuators has been developed. The primary reasons lie in …
Monte-Carlo Ray-Trace Modelling Of Quantum Dot Solar Concentrators, Manus Kennedy
Monte-Carlo Ray-Trace Modelling Of Quantum Dot Solar Concentrators, Manus Kennedy
Doctoral
Due to the finite resources of fossil fuel and nuclear reserves, renewable energy technologies much provide an increasing proportion of future energy needs, if the world’s population are to expect a secure and sustainable developed society. Quantum dot solar concentrators (QDSCs) can potentially reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) electrical power generation and thereby further the growth in installed PV capacity. QDSCs can concentrate both the direct and diffuse components of solar radiation which makes them particularly suitable for climates where the diffuse component is predominant. A QDSC model has been developed based on Monte-Carlo ray-trace techniques. The model allows …
Investigation Into The Possible Use Of An Oxygen Ion Transport Membrane Combustion Unit In An Oxyfired Power Plant, Kirsten Foy
Investigation Into The Possible Use Of An Oxygen Ion Transport Membrane Combustion Unit In An Oxyfired Power Plant, Kirsten Foy
Doctoral
It is generally recognised that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions damage the environment. Carbon capture and storage offers the possibility of using fossil fuels for power production without releasing C02. In the proposed ZEITMOP power plant cycle hydrocarbon fuel is burned in a mixture of oxygen and C02, allowing easy separation of combustion products to capture the C02 for sequestration. Oxygen ion transport membranes (OTMs) provide oxygen. The original configuration of the cycle requires an OTM air separation unit, in which oxygen is separated from air and mixed with CO2, and a separate combustion chamber, in which fuel is burned in …
Audio Time-Scale Modification, David Dorran
Audio Time-Scale Modification, David Dorran
Doctoral
Audio time-scale modification is an audio effect that alters the duration of an audio signal without affecting its perceived local pitch and timbral characteristics. There are two broad categories of time-scale modifications algorithms, time-domain and frequency-domain. The computationally efficient time-domain techniques produce high quality results for single pitched signals such as speech, but do not cope well with more complex signals such as polyphonic music. The less efficient frequency-domain techniques have proven to be more robust and produce high quality results for a variety of signals; however they introduce a reverberant artefact into the output. This dissertation focuses on incorporating …