Physics Commons^™

Performance Analysis For The Ccn Collection Apparatus, Deborah K. Bircher

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

This paper concerns the performance testing of a system to collect and chemically analyze cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). These are the atmospheric particles which nucleate cloud drops.

The air is humidified by passage through the "haze chamber", consisting of parallel vertical plates that are covered with cotton cloth and are kept wet by water supplied at the top edge. The plates are adiabatic , and should equilibrate in temperature at the wet bulb temperature of the incoming air. Measurements of the plate temperature with eighty thermocouples indicate behavior consistent with theory.

Another part of the system is called the CFD …

Motorized Throttle Plate, John D. Crawford

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The objective of this project was to develop a throttle plate mechanism that can be used to simulate transient engine operation. This throttle plate was designed so as to regulate the quantity of air flow entering a Port Fuel Injected (PFI) spark ignition engine prior to the combustion of the fuel-air mixture. The throttle plate is linked to a data acquisition system in order to study the port fuel injection characteristics of the fuel-air mixture. This data acquisition system links the throttle plate angular position information to data obtained using a nonintrusive laser based diagnostic technique, therefore enabling the study …

Active Buckling Control Of Composite Plates, Bradley Wayne Gentelin

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The objective of the research project is to investigate the feasibility of using the rapidly growing technology of smart materials in actively controlling the buckling of laminated composite plates. Advanced composite structures are susceptible to structural instabilities under compression loadings, and the proper control of such instabilities is essential to the effective performance of the structures. The focus of the research activity is to perform an experimental study of using embedded piezoelectric materials for enhancing the critical buckling loads of laminated composite plates. The forces induced by the piezoelectric actuators under the applied voltage fields will be used to counterbalance …

Two Methods For Attenuation Of Vibration In Structures, Kevin Mark Mcclendon

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The purpose of this report is to discuss methods of suppressing vibration in space trusses. The discussion is centered on the approach, structural attributes, and effectiveness of each method. One approach uses structural active members which are actuated to produce “anti-vibration” to cancel vibrations in the truss. The other method is to implement passive and active damping devices at the base of the space truss, where it will absorb vibrations by fluctuating the stiffness of the structures foundation.

Application Of Sunlight Mapping In Solar Car Design, Jeffrey Shapiro, Rob Ziegler, Matt Spaethe, Rick Jenkins

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The design of a solar car is a combination of trade-offs between the mechanical, aerodynamic, and photovoltaic systems. The mechanical and aerodynamic systems can be computationally modeled very well using commercial software. Clouds prevent the photovoltaic system from being modeled as well. This research explores a new way to accurately simulate almost every array configuration imaginable. Using this method, quantitative simulations are produced.

Astronomical Ccd Imaging At Umr: An Interim Report, David A. Thilker, Jon R. Fox

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

Progress towards the modernization and update of the UMR observatory through the implementation of astronomical CCD technology is detailed. Preliminary image data is presented, specifically: globular cluster M13 and the lunar surface. An evaluation of the Santa Barbara Instrument Group’s (SBIG) ST-6 CCD camera is presented; bias frames, dark frames, and flat-fields are all examined. A custom optical assembly for instrument focusing and housing BVRI photometry and RGB colorimetry filters is described. The ST60PS data acquisition program, provided by SBIG, is reviewed. Additional work towards the development of a custom image processing utility program is mentioned. Finally, optical telescope collimation …

Catalysis Of Charcoal Emissions, James M. Horak

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

This paper is about the development of a system to reduce the emissions of charcoal kilns with the catalyst from automotive catalytic converters. This device, called the charcoal kiln emissions oxidizer (CKEO), was designed and fabricated to meet the goal of a cost effective means to reduce the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions from charcoal kilns. Testing of the CKEO was never carried out as a test site could not be secured by this writing. The need for the CKEO, the theory behind it, and a procedure to test it are presented.

Damage Assessment Of Composite Structures With Embedded Optical Fibers, Peter E. Hackett

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

One of the important features of smart composite structures is their capability to observe their own performance for proper functioning and self-diagnostic purposes. The low velocity impact damage of composite structures (matrix cracking, fiber breakage, delamination, etc.) is often difficult to detect visually and can significantly reduce the strength of the structure. The objective of this research is to develop a technique for fabricating composite laminates that will facilitate the embedment of optical fibers. Composite test specimens will be fabricated in the composite material laboratory. The fabrication of composite laminates with a health monitoring and damage assessment system capable of …