Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Modeling Of Buildings With Electrochromic Windows And Thermochromic Roofs, Hua-Ting Kao

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Air conditioning and heating have increased substantially during the past two decades. According to a survey, buildings consume about 73% of the total electricity in the United States, accounting for 41% of all other energy in the world. At the same time, building skin technologies are constantly improving. Electrochromic and thermochromic are two exciting new technologies that can help reduce the energy consumption of a building. The purpose of this work is to increase our understanding of how much the use of electrochromic (EC) and thermochromic (TC) technologies can reduce the energy consumption of residential and commercial buildings in two …

Device For Imaging Cross-Section Of Post-Tensioned Structural Tendons In The Field, David Dukeman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With increasing use of grouted post-tensioned tendons in structures, there is a critical need for equipment to determine deficient grouting. Inadequate grouting can cause dangerous corrosion of the high-strength post-tensioning steel in the tendons. Evaluation should be non-destructive, and early detection is needed to take timely remedial actions to repair or replace any tendons that are affected before catastrophic failure occurs. In particular, there is need for an imaging method that shows the cross-section of the tendon being tested and flag any deficiencies present relative to the location of the strands in the cross section. The method should be rapid, …

Distributed Spatiotemporal Control And Dynamic Information Fusion For Multiagent Systems, Dzung Minh Duc Tran

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The first objective of this dissertation is to develop novel distributed control architectures allowing spatiotemporal control of multiagent systems as applied to formation control. In addition, its second objective is to introduce distributed estimation frameworks for dynamic information fusion for addressing the heterogeneity in sensor networks.

Changing the spatial and temporal properties of agent teams in a distributed manner and in real-time is an open problem in the control system literature as multiagent systems are often required to complete tasks with ever-increasing complexity in adverse conditions and dynamic environments. Motivated by this standpoint, this dissertation aims to address challenges related …

Experimental Results Of A Model Reference Adaptive Control Approach On An Interconnected Uncertain Dynamical System, Kemberly Cespedes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to show the experimental validation of recently proposed adaptive control architecture for uncertain dynamical systems. The experimental validation is conducted on a benchmark mechanical system setup composed of two carts, one actuated and one unactuated, physically interconnected through a spring.

Specifically, an approach has been recently proposed to stabilize an overall interconnected system in the presence of unknown physical interconnections as well as system uncertainties in the context of model reference adaptive control. This uncertain dynamical system consists of actuated and unactuated portions physically interconnected to each other. In addition, the previous work enforces …

Design Of Variable Wall Thickness Geometry And Performance Mapping Of Scroll Expanders For Distributed Power Generation, Arun Kumar Narasimhan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Low-temperature heat sources such as industrial waste heat, solar, and geothermal are more suitable for small-scale power generation rather than utility scale. In order to maximize the electricity generated from low-temperature heat sources, an efficient expansion device for small-scale power output is necessary. This research work has focused on evaluating the use of a scroll expander and improving its geometrical design for the power output range of 1-25 kW_e.

The first part of the work focusses on modeling the performance of a scroll expander using two non-dimensionless parameters, namely, specific speed and specific diameter. Performance of a scroll …

On Distributed Control Of Multiagent Systems Under Adverse Conditions, Emre Yildirim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is (1) to show the experimental validation of recently proposed distributed adaptive control architecture for a class of heterogeneous uncertain multiagent systems as well as (2) to theoretically propose a proportional integral controller for multiagent systems having limited resources in the presence of a disturbance with stability analyses.

With regard to (1), the distributed adaptive control architecture used in the experiment utilizes a control input having a nominal part and an adaptive augmentation part for each agent to suppress the effect of uncertainties and disturbances effectively. This architecture is capable to provide uniform ultimate boundedness …

Design And Testing Of Experimental Langmuir Turbulence Facilities, Zongze Li

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Langmuir Circulation is a common phenomenon driven by wind in oceans and lakes and was first studied by Langmuir in 1927. According to various ocean observations, this kind of phenomenon plays an important role in many phenomena such as the aggregation of bubbles, the distribution of plankton as well as the mixing of spilled oil and sediment in the ocean. To study this, an experimental facility has been developed in the lab which creates a small scale version of Langmuir Circulation.

This thesis is about the design and testing of this tank and surrounding aluminum frame, as well as the …

Quantifying The Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale And The Functional Performance Measures, Chelsea Rene Davis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Friedreich Ataxia (FA) is a debilitating autosomal-recessive neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by ataxia of all four limbs, difficulty walking, areflexia, and dysarthria. Further complications of FA include diabetes, scoliosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Approximately three-quarters of people with FA have onset before the age of 25 and in most instances, affected individuals will require the use of a wheelchair within ten years after symptoms emerge.

The current advancements in clinical trials have escalated the developmental demand for a scale which validates adjustments in FA. The Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale (FARS) is a disease-specific semi-qualitative assessment which includes three subscales (functional …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Molybdenum Disulfide/Conducting Polymer Nanocomposite Materials For Supercapacitor Applications, Turki S. Alamro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The needs for energy storage devices have kindled researchers desire to explore and synthesize nanocomposite materials. Storing energy efficiently, effectively and sustainably are the science and engineering communities’ highest priorities to develop electrochemical energy storage devices. Supercapacitors have become power solution not only because supercapacitors can bridge the gap between the traditional capacitors and rechargeable batteries but also because of many other advantages which include extraordinary electrochemical properties, wide working-temperature range, cost effective, safe operation and long/stable cycle life. They have higher current pules than batteries due to the mechanism of charging and discharging. Batteries charging and discharging via chemical …

Design Of Shape-Morphing Structures Consisting Of Bistable Compliant Mechanisms, Rami Alfattani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a design concept for shape-morphing structures that have two stable configurations. The design concept defines the methodology of transforming a planar structural shape into spatial structural shape using bistable compliant mechanisms. Bistable complaint mechanisms are used to achieve structural stable configurations. The dissertation incorporating geometrical relationships for the mechanisms that form the primary structure described in step-by-step process. This dissertation implements the design layouts for designer to creating shape-morphing structures including origami. The novel contribution of the work is classified in three models. The first model presents a methodology to induce bistability behavior into an origami reverse …

Low Temperature Multi Effects Desalination-Mechanical Vapor Compression Powered By Supercritical Organic Rankine Cycle, Eydhah Almatrafi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Utilizing low grade heat sources such as geothermal, solar or waste heat has received a high attention in recent years. A lot of research has discussed using Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) as subcritical or supercritical in power generation. However, very few studies extend their research in utilizing ORC in other applications such as desalination. For reverse osmosis (RO) desalination, which is considered a membrane technology, the use of supercritical-ORC in low grade heat sources is more favorable than subcritical-ORC. Thus, studies of utilizing either subcritical-ORC or supercritical-ORC for thermal desalination that use power and heat from Rankine cycle are rare …