Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Dynamic Test Scheduling In Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation Of Commercial Vehicles, Tenil Cletus

Master's Theses

Modern day commercial vehicles are controlled by various Electronic Control Units (ECU). They are not only tested as single units, but also by networking them in Controlled Area Network bus (CAN) to form a complete electrical control system. This is achieved using Hardware In the Loop (HIL) Integration Lab. In HIL, the electrical system is connected to a real time mathematical model of the vehicle plus it’s environment so as to form a loop.

Testing functionality of the electrical system begins by defining functional tests. An example would be testing cruise control activation. Executing each test is made possible by …

Robust Multichannel Functional-Data-Analysis Methods For Data Recovery In Complex Systems, Jian Sun

Doctoral Dissertations

In recent years, Condition Monitoring (CM), which can be performed via several sensor channels, has been recognized as an effective paradigm for failure prevention of operational equipment or processes. However, the complexity caused by asynchronous data collection with different and/or time-varying sampling/transmission rates has long been a hindrance in the effective use of multichannel data in constructing empirical models. The problem becomes more challenging when sensor readings are incomplete. Traditional sensor data recovery techniques are often prohibited in asynchronous CM environments, not to mention sparse datasets. The proposed Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) methodologies, e.g., nonparametric FPC model and semi-parametric …

Wiihopp, Jeff Christian, Ben Hoselton, Derek Simon

Mechanical Engineering

Childhood obesity is becoming a growing problem in the United States. According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years [7]. It can lead to health problems previously reserved for adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. For the team WiiHopp project, we plan to turn a JumpSport mini-trampoline into a controller for the Nintendo Wii console. The hope is to help turn the problem of video games and the laziness surrounding them into an active solution to combat the problem of childhood obesity.

Our goal is to produce an add-on …

Development Of Spray Cooling For High Heat Flux Electronics, Jeremy Scott Junghans

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The thermal demands of modern day electronic systems require innovative thermal solutions. Spray cooling has proven to be able to cool heat fluxes orders of magnitude higher than traditional cooling methodologies. This work includes a comparison of spray cooling to standard thermal management methodologies. Key system parameters and considerations are discussed. The properties of available packaging materials and their effect on the reliability of a spray cooled system are presented. Parameters such as fluid temperature, droplet size, fluid velocity and flow rate all directly impact performance and are detailed in this work. Finally, results from of a wide range of …

Energy-Based Analysis Of Utility Scale Hybrid Power Systems, Kwame Agyenim-Boateng

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The promise of large-scale use of renewables such as wind and solar for supplying electrical power is tempered by the sources' transient behavior and the impact this would have on the operation of the grid. Among the methods cited for addressing some of those concerns are exploring the complementary nature of solar and wind power generation, and through the use of supplemental energy storage. While the technology for the latter has not been proven to be economical on a large scale at the present time, some assessments of what magnitude is required can be made. An energy-based analysis of utility …

A Study Of A Novel Modular Variable Geometry Frame Arranged As A Robotic Surface, Christopher James Salisbury

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The novel concept of a "variable geometry frame" is introduced and explored through a three-dimensional robotic surface which is devised and implemented using triangular modules. The link design is optimized using surplus motor dimensions as firm constraints, and round numbers for further arbitrary constraints. Each module is connected by a passive six-bar mechanism that mimics the constraints of a spherical joint at each triangle intersection. A three dimensional inkjet printer is used to create a six-module prototype designed around surplus stepper motors powered by an old computer power supply as a proof-of-concept example.

The finite element method is applied to …

Turbine, Vijaya Krushna Varma Mr

VIJAYA KRUSHNA VARMA Mr

Varma designed ultra modern and high efficiency turbines which can use gas, steam or fuels as feed to produce electricity or mechanical work for wide range of usages and applications in industries or at work sites. Varma turbine engines can be used in all types of vehicles. These turbines can also be used in aircraft, ships, battle tanks, dredgers, mining equipment, earth moving machines etc, Salient features of Varma Turbines. 1. Varma turbines are simple in design, easy to manufacture, easy to operate and maintain. 2. Varma turbines are less expensive. 3. Varma turbines have a great power to weight …

Optimation Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus In Azolla Growth As Biofertilizer, Hany Handajani

Makara Journal of Technology

Nitrogen is one of the most important minerals for living organisms. Azolla is known as a small water fern which can fix nitrogen through the symbiotic association with the blue green algae Anabaena. Experimental studies were carried out in the glass house, investigating the growth of Azolla using different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the media. The experiment used 12 treatments with 3 levels of nitrogen (0, 5, and 10 mg atom/L) and 4 levels of phosphorus (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg atom/l) in a factorial design with 3 replicates. The results show that the highest biomass for …

Establishment Code Hand Palm (Palm Code) 2d Gabor-Based Method, I Ketut Gede Darma Putra, Wira Bhuana, Erdiawan Erdiawan

Makara Journal of Technology

Establishment Code Hand Palm (Palm Code) 2D Gabor-Based Method. Palmprint is relatively new in physiological biometrics. Palmprint ROI segmentation and feature extraction are two important issues in palm print recognition. This paper introduces two steps in the center of mass moment method for ROI segmentation that will be applied in the Gabor 2D filter to obtain palm code as palmprint feature vector. Normalized Hamming distance was used to measure the similarity degrees of two feature vectors of palmprint. The system was tested using database 1000 palmprint images generated from 5 samples from each of the 200 persons randomly selected with …

The Effectiveness Of Anaerobic Baffled Reactor And Rotating Biological Contactor In Batik Wastewater Treatment, Augustinus Ignatius Kristijanto, Widhi Handayani, Purwanti Asih Anna Levi

Makara Journal of Technology

Batik is one of popular arts of Indonesia. The batik industries in Sragen, Central Java, are prepared to compete in global market. In order to realize that objective, batik products should fulfill some qualifications, one of which is “environmental friendliness”. As batik production is usually generating wastewater which pollutes the environment, the technology of wastewater treatment should be developed to solve the problem. This preliminary study has been done to assess the effectiveness of anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and rotating biological contactor (RBC) in batik wastewater treatment. In 40 days of treatment period, the ABR performance in reducing pollutants showed …

Antibacterial Activity Of Papaya Leaf Extracts Against Pathogenic Bacteria, Elisa Friska Romasi, Jessica Karina, Adolf Jan Nexson Parhusip

Makara Journal of Technology

It was reported that the extracts of papaya leaves could inhibit the growth of Rhizopus stolonifer. Antibacterial activity of Carica papaya leaf extracts on pathogenic bacteria was observed in this study. Papaya leaves were extracted by using maceration method and three kinds of solvents: ethanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane. Papaya leaf extracts were tested against Bacillus stearothermophilus, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas sp., and Escherichia coli by agar diffusion method. The objectives of this study were to determine extract ability against pathogenic bacteria, to observe the influence of pH, NaCl, and heat on extracts ability, and to observe extract ability against B. …

Analytical And Computational Simulation Approaches To Design Low Energy Glass Block, Floriberta Binarti, Agustinus Djoko Istiadji, Prasasto Satwiko, Priyo Tri Iswanto

Makara Journal of Technology

Analytical and Computational Simulation Approaches to Design Low Energy Glass Block. An environmentally friendly process was developed to produce a low embodied energy glass block from waste glasses. The energy efficiency of the glass block is represented by its thermal conductance (U) <3.177 W/m2.K and solar transmittance (SHGC) ≤0.25 as well as visible light transmission (VT) ≥0.27. A cavity was applied to reduce U value while insignificantly reducing VT. Analytical method was used to calculate the U value of glass blocks, ignoring the effect of convection. Ecotect program was used to analyze light level (VT) and heat load (SHGC) of each model. Effect of convection was simulated using a CFD program, which showed air velocity inside the cavity and temperature gradient in glass blocks. Comparing to an application with 3 mm float glass, energy efficiency obtained through applying the glass blocks could reach 96%. This simulation study ignored the presence of adhesive among glass layers that potentially reduces the VT and the SHGC of the glass blocks.

Flexible Connection Elastomeric Rubber As A Pounding Resisting Element Between Two Adjacent Buildings, Yuskar Lase, James Jatmiko Oetomo

Makara Journal of Technology

Flexible Connection Elastomeric Rubber as a Pounding Resisting Element between Two Adjacent Buildings To solve pounding problem of two adjacent buildings, structural designer usually employs a dilatation between the structures or make the two structures as a monolith structure. Other alternative is by using an elastomeric rubber as a pounding resisting element between the two structures. Effectiveness in applying elastomeric rubber component as flexible connection of two adjacent structures is the main focus of this paper. Various simulations such as structure models, earthquake excitations and openings in gap element are studied. Observation of maximum structural responses will be performed for …

Effect Of Copper Addition On Mechanical Properties And Electrical Conductivity Of Pp/C-Cu Bipolar Plate Composites, Anne Zulfia, Taufik Abimanyu, Verina Warga Dalam

Makara Journal of Technology

Effect of Copper Addition on Mechanical Properties and Electrical Conductivity of PP/C-Cu Bipolar Plate Composites. Bipolar plate is a major component in PEM fuel cell which possess main function of collecting and removing electrons from anode to cathode. Therefore, materials for bipolar plates produced must have high electrical conductivity. To obtain bipolar plate materials which is cheap, lightweight and high conductivity, so it is developed bipolar plates material based on PP/C-Cu composite. PP/C-Cu composites has been made by mixing all materials then compounding, rheomix, hot blending and hot press. Cu (Copper) has been used various from 0.1 wt%, 1 wt% …

Medium Density Fibreboard Made Of Acetylated Sludge From Paper Mill, Luthfi Hakim, Evalina Herawati, I Nyoman Jaya Wistara

Makara Journal of Technology

Medium Density Fibreboard Made of Acetylated Sludge from Paper Mill. Research of using sludge as raw material for making medium density fibreboard (MDF) was useful to create additional value of sludge. The objective of the research was to evaluate physical properties, mechanical properties, and durability of MDF from acetylated sludge in 4 levels of acetate anhydride (0%, 3%, 5%, and 7%) with 3 replicates. The MDF was made using dry process. After materials were mixed with adhesives, they were pressed using hotpress under 170 oC temperature and 45 Pa pressure for 25 minutes. The size of the MDF sample was …

Application Of Empirical Orthogonal Function Models To Analyze Shoreline Change At Bangkalan Madura, Darius Arkwright, Suntoyo Suntoyo

Makara Journal of Technology

Bangkalan’s shoreline, especially on the opposite side of Surabaya, has been evaluated to determine the morphological changes due to wave attack, near-shore current, long-shore sediment transport and coastal configuration. This research aims to determine the dominant patterns of variation of Bangkalan’s shoreline change, expressed by Eigen-function in empirical orthogonal function (EOF) models. That was started with data collection such as oceanographic data (wave and tidal), bathymetry and topographic map and sediment data. All data was used for forecasting two-monthly shoreline. Coordinate of two-monthly shoreline was used as input of EOF model. The first Eigen mode is a profile of shoreline …

Alos/Palsar Image Processing Using Dinsar And Log Ratio For Flood Early Detection In Jakarta Based On Land Subsidences, Dodi Sudiana, Mia Rizkinia

Makara Journal of Technology

Flood that occurred in Jakarta is not only influenced by rainfall, urban planning system and drainage alone, but also may be involved land subsidence (LS). LS is possible in because Jakarta stands on top of layers of sediments and the presence of ground water consumption in very large quantities. In this research, the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)/Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data was processed to determine the level of LS in Jakarta area and its relation to flood potential area. Differential interferometry method (DInSAR) was performed on two PALSAR data with different acquisition years, i.e. 2007 …

Flutter Analysis Of Rx-420 Balistic Rocket Fin Involving Rigid Body Modes Of Rocket Structures, Novi Andria

Makara Journal of Technology

Flutter Analysis of RX-420 Balistic Rocket Fin Involving Rigid Body Modes of Rocket Structures. Flutter is a phenomenon that has brought a catastrophic failure to the flight vehicle structure. In this experiment, flutter was analyzed for its symmetric and antisymmetric configuration to understand the effect of rocket rigid modes to the fin flutter characteristic. This research was also expected to find out the safety level of RX-420 structure design. The analysis was performed using half rocket model. Fin structure used in this research was a fin which has semispan 600 mm, thickness 12 mm, chord root 700 mm, chord tip …

Physical Characterization And Desulfurization Of Biobriquette Using Calcium-Based Adsorbent, Mahidin Mahidin, Asri Gani, Khairil Khairil

Makara Journal of Technology

Combustion of coal and co-combustion of their co-fuel contribute to gas emissions. Among the gas emissions are SOx, NOx, CO and CO2. Introduction of calcium based adsorbent is addressed to absorb SO2 that release to the atmosphere during the combustion process. Objective of the research is at first to observe the physical characteristics of biobriquettes as a function of briquette compositions (coal to palm kernel shell ratios) and Ca/S ratios (Ca in adsorbent and S in briquette) using a natural adsorbent (shellfish waste). The second objective is to investigate desulfurization characteristics as a function of Ca/S ratios and desulfurization temperatures …

Application Of Principal Component Proximity Transform And Geostatistics Methods For Volume Shale Distribution As Reservoir Characreristic Imaging In Seismic 3d, Nur Islami

Makara Journal of Technology

Application of Principal Component Proximity Transform and Geostatistics Methods for Volume Shale Distribution as Reservoir Characreristic Imaging in Seismic 3D. Principal component proximity transform (PCPT) technique was used to predict the content of volume shale into seismic data in reservoir modeling framework. The goal in this research is to get the volume shale imaging in three dimensions and allow for reservoir modelling. The reservoir modelling requires an integrated quantitative and qualitative data sources collected separately, such as well and seismic data. Integrating PCPT and Geostatistic methods can generate the detail information for characterization of reservoir’s properties. Finally, it shows that …

Improvement Of High Temperature Oxidation Of Low Carbon Steel Exposed To Ethanol Combustion Product At 700 °C By Hot-Dip Aluminizing Coating, Mohammad Badaruddin

Makara Journal of Technology

Low carbon steel (AISI 1005) was coated by hot-dipping into a molten Al-10% Si bath at 700 °C for 18s. After hotdipping treatment, the coating layers consisted of Al, Si, FeAl3, τ5-Fe2Al8Si, and Fe2Al5. The bare steel and the aluminized steel were isothermally oxidized at 700 °C in ethanol combustion product at atmospheric pressure for 49 h. The aluminized steel shows good performance in high temperature oxidation because the formation of Al2O3 layer on the coating surface. The growth of iron oxide nodules on the surface coating was accelerated by rapid outward diffusion of Fe-ions due to the presence of …

Cassava Pulp As A Biofuel Feedstock Of An Enzymatic Hydrolysis Proces, Djuma’Ali Djuma’Ali, Nonot Soewarno, Sumarno Sumarno, Dyah Primarini, Wahono Sumaryono

Makara Journal of Technology

Cassava pulp, a low cost solid byproduct of cassava starch industry, has been proposed as a high potential ethanolic fermentation substrate due to its high residual starch level, low ash content and small particle size of the lignocellulosic fibers. As the economic feasibility depends on complete degradation of the polysaccharides to fermentable glucose, the comparative hydrolytic potential of cassava pulp by six commercial enzymes were studied. Raw cassava pulp (12% w/v, particle size <320 >μm) hydrolyzed by both commercial pectinolytic (1) and amylolytic (2) enzymes cocktail, yielded 70.06% DE. Hydrothermal treatment of cassava pulp enhanced its susceptibility to enzymatic cleavageas compared …

Response Characterization Of Electroactive Polymers As Mechanical Sensors, G. Alici, Geoffrey M. Spinks, J. D. Madden, Y. Wu, G G. Wallace

Gordon Wallace

The characterization of the dynamic response (including transfer function identification) of trilayer polypyrrole (PPy) type conducting polymer sensors is presented. The sensor was built like a cantilever beam with the free end stimulated through a mechanical lever system, which provided displacement inputs. The voltage generated and current passing between the two outer PPy layers as a result of the input was measured to model the output/input behavior of the sensors based on their experimental current/displacement and voltage/displacement frequency responses. We specifically targeted the low-frequency behavior of the sensor as it is a relatively slowsystem. Experimental transfer function models were generated …

Pandaa: Physical Arrangement Detection Of Networked Devices Through Ambient-Sound Awareness, Zheng Sun, Aveek Purohit, Kaifei Chen, Shijia Pan, Trevor Pering, Pei Zhang

Zheng Sun

Future ubiquitous home environments can contain 10s or 100s of devices. Ubiquitous services running on these devices (i.e. localizing users, routing, security algorithms) will commonly require an accurate location of each device. In order to obtain these locations, existing techniques require either a manual survey, active sound sources, or estimation using wireless radios. These techniques, however, need additional hardware capabilities and are intrusive to the user. Non-intrusive, automatic localization of ubiquitous computing devices in the home has the potential to greatly facilitate device deployments.

This paper presents the PANDAA system, a zero-configuration spatial localization system for networked devices based on …

Pandaa: Physical Arrangement Detection Of Networked Devices Through Ambient-Sound Awareness, Zheng Sun, Aveek Purohit, Kaifei Chen, Shijia Pan, Trevor Pering, Pei Zhang

Aveek Purohit

Future ubiquitous home environments can contain 10s or 100s of devices. Ubiquitous services running on these devices (i.e. localizing users, routing, security algorithms) will commonly require an accurate location of each device. In order to obtain these locations, existing techniques require either a manual survey, active sound sources, or estimation using wireless radios. These techniques, however, need additional hardware capabilities and are intrusive to the user. Non-intrusive, automatic localization of ubiquitous computing devices in the home has the potential to greatly facilitate device deployments.

This paper presents the PANDAA system, a zero-configuration spatial localization system for networked devices based on …

Evaluation Of Cathode Materials For Low Temperature (500-700c) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Alexander M. Lassman

Master's Theses

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) have gained a great deal of interest, due to their potential for high efficiency power generation and ability to utilize hydrogen fuel, as well as various hydrocarbon-based fuels. A recent trend in SOFC development has been towards lower operating temperatures (500-700°C), which can substantially reduce the cost and complexity of the system. This thesis presents an investigation into state of the art Ba- and La- based cathode materials for use in low temperature (500-700°C) solid oxide fuel cells.

Synthesis of A-site deficient [A=0.97] Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O₃ (BSCF) was …

Vibration-Based Health Monitoring Of Multiple-Stage Gear Train And Differential Planetary Transmission Involving Teeth Damage And Backlash Nonlinearity, Andrew Patrick Sommer

Master's Theses

The objective of this thesis is to develop vibration-based fault detection strategies for on-line condition monitoring of gear transmission systems. The study divides the thesis into three sections. First of all, the local stresses created by a root fatigue crack on a pinion spur gear are analyzed using a quasi-static finite element model and non-linear contact mechanics simulation. Backlash between gear teeth which is essential to provide better lubrication on tooth surfaces and to eliminate interference is included as a defect and a necessary part of transmission design. The second section is dedicated to fixed axis power trains. Torsional vibration …

Experimental And Numerical Investigations Of Tubular-Shaped Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (Dmfcs), Travis R. Ward

Master's Theses

This study focuses on both the numerical and experimental investigations of the novel, passively operated, tubular-shaped, Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) as an alternative geometry to the traditional planar-shaped fuel cell. The benefit of the tubular geometry compared to the planar geometry is the higher instantaneous volumetric power density provided by the larger active area, which could be beneficial in applications that require a high instantaneous power while occupying a small volume. First, a two-dimensional, two-phase, non-isothermal model was developed to investigate the steady-state performance and design characteristics of a tubular-shaped, passive DMFC. It was found that a higher ambient …

Pandaa: A Physical Arrangement Detection Technique For Networked Devices Through Ambient-Sound Awareness, Zheng Sun, Aveek Purohit, Philippe De Wagter, Irina Brinster, Chorom Hamm, Pei Zhang

Zheng Sun

This demo presents PANDAA, a zero-configuration automatic spatial localization technique for networked devices based on ambient sound sensing. We will demonstrate that after initial placement of the devices, ambient sounds, such as human speech, music, footsteps, finger snaps, hand claps, or coughs and sneezes, can be used to autonomously resolve the spatial relative arrangement of devices, such as mobile phones, using trigonometric bounds and successive approximation.

In Situ Preconcentration By Ac Electrokinetics For Rapid And Sensitive Nanoparticle Detection, Kai Yang

Doctoral Dissertations

Reducing cost and time is a major concern in clinical diagnostics. Current molecular diagnostics are multi-step processes that usually take at least several hours or even days to complete multiple reagents delivery, incubations and several washing processes. This highly labor-intensive work and lack of automation could result in reduced reliability and low efficiency. The Laboratory-on-a-chip (LOC), taking advantage of the merger and development of microfluidics and biosensor technology, has shown promise towards a solution for performing analytical tests in a self-contained and compact unit, enabling earlier and decentralized testing. However, challenges are to integrate the fluid regulatory elements on a …