Digital Commons Network^™

A Study Of The Reaction Kinetics For The Thermal Oxidation Of Dilute N-Heptane Vapors In A Plug Flow Reactor, Steven Hunter Ramsey

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

During August through October, 1986, experiments were conducted with the aim of devel oping kinetic relationships for the thermal oxi dation of dilute n-Heptane vapors in air using a Lindberg tube furnace reactor. This project was designed to be the first step in the ultimate goal of research ing the effe cts upon the combustion of dilute organic vapors when certain chemicals are added to the combustion stream. These chemicals are postulated to form free radicals and thus enhance the oxidation of organ i cs . Comparison of the kinetics before and after the addition of t he free radical …

Mrp, Jit, And Opt: A Comparison On The Production Floor, Donna M. Denicole Christopher

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In order to compete in manufacturing, industry realizes it must work more efficiently with its resources. Three manufacturing techniques have been developed to assist industry in this challenge --MRP, JIT, and OPT. This paper compares these three techniques. It concentrates on the factors that affect production after vendor materials are in-house. A brief discussion of some of the implementation difficulties a company may face during the transition to a new philosophy is also addressed. Finally, a case study of a low volume, highly technical military project is evaluated and analyzed.

Management Considerations Of Productivity Issues For Local Government, Scott M. Gilbertson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report examines the issues needed to be addressed by a municipal manager and provides guidelines to follow when establishing a productivity measurement and improvement program. Examined in detail is the relationship of the municipality's quality of service delivery in relationship to productivity. The concerns of productivity in the public sector at the national and local levels are also identified.

Numerous difficulties are encountered when attempting to measure and improve productivity. Many of these difficulties are presented and several are discussed in detail. To overcome the identified difficulties, there are a number of techniques available, some of which are recently …

Some Reasons Why New Technologies Are Not Always Successful - Specifically Directed Toward Cim, Shuk Fong Lai

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

To keep the competitive edge, many companies constantly implement new technologies. However, the implementation of these new technologies are not always successful. Why?

Problems with implementation of new technologies can be either technical or managerial. This paper presents research limited to management problems and suggests the necessary changes. It also outlines the important factors in the decision-making process and the criteria for a successful implementation of a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system. Many experts believe that CIM is the ultimate solution to slow and reverse the decline of the U.S. global manufacturing market. However, some companies that have implemented CIM …

A System For Measuring The Phase Difference Between Two Points Of A Propagating Laser Beam, Jefferson E. Odhner

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An optical system has been designed, analyzed, implemented, and calibrated which measures the phase difference between two points of a propagating laser beam. The system is a quadrature interferometer whose detector outputs are processed by a computer. This quadrature interferometer measures both the phase and amplitude variations between two points of a laser beam after the beam passes through turbulence . These measurements are in turn processed by a computer to isolate the phase variations from the amplitude variations. Further statistical analysis which can be performed on these phase variations should provide an understanding of the phase fluctuations of propagating …

Method For Sizing Mos Transistors For Vlsi, Matthew J. Amatangelo

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Determining the device width to length ratios has typically been an iterative process for the custom IC digital design engineer. After the logic design phase is complete for a particular circuit, the designer would make an educated guess at the device sizes. Then by trial and error, using SPICE or another circuit simulator, suitable sizes would be determined. Unfortunately, this approach is time consuming and the resulting sizes are often a good bit larger than they need to be to maintain a certain speed because of the lack of a rigorous sizing methodology. This paper describes a method for reducing …

New Directions In Subband Coding, Y. Shoham, Steven L. Grant, N. Seshadri, R. V. Cox, S. R. Quackenbush, N. S. Jayant

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Two very different subband coders are described. The first is a modified dynamic bit-allocation-subband coder (D-SBC) designed for variable rate coding situations and easily adaptable to noisy channel environments. It can operate at rates as low as 12 kb/s and still give good quality speech. The second coder is a 16-kb/s waveform coder, based on a combination of subband coding and vector quantization (VQ-SBC). The key feature of this coder is its short coding delay, which makes it suitable for real-time communication networks. The speech quality of both coders has been enhanced by adaptive postfiltering. The coders have been implemented …

Administration And Management Of Local Streets And Roads 1988 Volume I, Herpicc

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

This is Volume I of a two volume handbook that provides local public officials with a guide to technical, environmental, legal and procedural constraints pertaining to local street and road programs in the state of Indiana and provides a comprehensive and usable documented discussion of these subjects. It is based upon an Oregon county road manual published in the early 1980's. Municipal concerns and considerations have been included in addition to those of counties. Volume I is a discussion of ten major topics: local authority; intergovernmental relations; transportation planning; obtaining right-of-way; location, relocation, vacation and railroad abandonment; jurisdictional and functional …

A Rapid, Widely Applicable Screen For Drugs That Suppress Free Radical Formation In Ischemia/Reperfusion, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Substantial injury can occur during reoxygenation of previously ischemic tissue in many experimental models, as the result of the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals. To test the antiradical activity of potentially protective compounds in this setting, we developed a simple screening system, applicable to fresh biopsy specimens, in which warm ischemia and reoxygenation of excised tissue are performed in vitro. Tissue production of malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents is used as a nonspecific-but-sensitive marker of oxygen radical damage. Test compounds with putative antiradical activity are added prior to the reoxygenation phase, and their ability to suppress MDA production is an index of …

A Rapid, Widely Applicable Screen For Drugs That Suppress Free Radical Formation In Ischemia/Reperfusion, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Substantial injury can occur during reoxygenation of previously ischemic tissue in many experimental models, as the result of the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals. To test the antiradical activity of potentially protective compounds in this setting, we developed a simple screening system, applicable to fresh biopsy specimens, in which warm ischemia and reoxygenation of excised tissue are performed in vitro. Tissue production of malondialdehyde (MDA) equivalents is used as a nonspecific-but-sensitive marker of oxygen radical damage. Test compounds with putative antiradical activity are added prior to the reoxygenation phase, and their ability to suppress MDA production is an index of …

Numerical Solutions Of Poisson's Equation In A Superlatice Device, Norman Todd Rollins

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the built-in potential and the energy bands in a heterojunction device is defined using the Anderson model. Based on this model, Poisson's equation for a nonhomogeneous semiconductor device in thermal equilibrium is derived and solved analytically for the special case of a doubly intrinsic abrupt heterojunction. Several numerical methods of solving Poisson's equation for general cases are explored to find the most efficient method. The validity of the chosen numerical method is tested against both the analytical solution for a Ge/GaAs doubly intrinsic diode and recently published results from similar numerical simulation studies. A p-i-n superlattice device …

Toward The Development Of A Knowledge-Based Construction Schedule Planning System, Nordin Bin Yunus

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research attempts to model and prototype a knowledge-based system for use in the construction industry to accomplish the automatic generation of initial construction schedules. The schedule can be transformed into a logical network that provides a physical representation of the construction operations plan. The prototype system, which requires symbolic processing and reasoning, is developed based on an intensive modeling that rationally examines industry practice.

The model identifies work breakdown and precedence relationship as the two major concepts in schedule planning. Work breakdown is concerned with the identification of construction activities that result in the completion of project elements. Precedence …

Irish H & V News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

An Experimental Cost Model For The Analysis Of Quality Cost In A Manufacturing Enterprise, Wallace Charles Carlson Jr.

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The intent of the study was to construct a quality cost model for manufacturing enterprises. A quality cost model provides a manufacturing enterprise with a cost structure which enables it to gauge and measure the efficiency and effectiveness of its management and processes. The quality cost model was specifically constructed to aid a manufacturing enterprise in establishing a quality cost system for its operations and activities and contains three distinct initial implementation or decision areas; the quality cost management decisions area, the quality cost system applications area, and the quality cost system utilization area.

The quality cost model was evaluated …

The Importance Of Computer-Based Subject Matter Topics For Graduates Of An Undergraduate Manufacturing Technology Program As Perceived By Practicing Manufacturing Engineers, Anthony Cecil Favre

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem of this study was to identify the perceptions of practicing manufacturing engineers regarding the importance of computer-based subject matter topics required for graduates of undergraduate manufacturing technology programs. This problem is reflective of the literature which indicates that there is a need for the further development of manufacturing science curricula in order to provide the types of knowledge needed in the emerging computer-based manufacturing field.

A questionnaire was used to collect data. It was mailed to 425 randomly selected practicing manufacturing engineers. Thirteen were returned as undeliverable, thus reducing the number to 412. The size of the sample …

Human Health Effects Assays, Ronald C. Sims, J. L. Sims, R. R. Dupont

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Environmental health risk assessments based upon animal study results, epidemiology, quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs), dose-response relationships, risk perception, and expert systems approaches, and the evaluation of mechanisms of carcinogenesis represent the focus for 1987. The term "biological risk assessment" was discussed by Clayson¹ to describe that part of risk assessment concerned with the relevance of specific animal results to the induction of human cancer. Guidelines for health assessment of suspect developmental toxicants addressed evaluation of data from animal testing studies.² Animal toxicity data on 200 chemicals and epidemiologic data on 30 chemicals was included within a data …

Microstructural Analysis In Processing Of The High‐Tc Superconductor Ba2ycu3o7‐X In Air, Jyoti P. Guha

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the synthesis of the superconducting compound Ba₂YCu₃O_7‐x from a stoichiometric mixture containing BaCO₃, Y₂O₃, and CuO In air, a low‐melting liquid phase is formed at about 890°C. The liquid phase was identified as a ternary eutectic located within the compatibility triangle Ba₂YCu₃O_7‐x–BaCuO₂–CuO. The implication of this finding for the processing of Ba₂YCu₃O_7‐x is discussed. Copyright © 1988, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved.

Effect Of Excess Pbo On The Sintering Characteristics And Dielectric Properties Of Pb(Mg1/3nb2/3)O3–Pbtio3‐Based Ceramics, Jyoti P. Guha, Dyllan J. Hong, Harlan U. Anderson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Additions of excess PbO to the perovskite Pb[(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.92Ti_0.08]O₃ solid solution enhanced the formation of a liquid phase at 840°C, which served as a densification aid for the ceramics. The liquid phase allowed elimination of pores and promoted grain growth during sintering. With additions of 1 to 2 wt% excess PbO, densities in excess of 97% of theoretical were obtained at a sintering temperature of 950°C. The peak dielectric constants of the resulting ceramics were over 18 000 at 30°C and dissipation factors less than 1%. Additions of PbO in excess of …

Packaging Engineering Education Qualitative Need Assessment, M. Douglas Sachs

Masters Theses

"Packaging engineering is an interdisciplinary field which has no formal degree program to support it. While there arc packaging engineers in industry, there are no packaging engineering degrees presently being offered by our nation's colleges and universities. In order to lay a foundation upon which a degree program could be based, this thesis has investigated the needs of packaging engineering education by seeking the input of the packaging industry. This qualitative comparison has been quantified, resulting in a list of prioritized classes and topics upon which a degree program could be based"--Abstract, page ii.

Processing And Characterization Of Ceramic Fiber Reinforced Porous Matrix Composites, Wen-Chiang Tu

Masters Theses

"The development of ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites has been shown to be a promising approach for high toughness ceramic materials. The purpose of this work was to develop a new ceramic matrix composite(CMC) system based on a porous mullitic matrix reinforced with ceramic fibers. Unidirectional alligned fiber reinforced mullitic matrix composites were fabricated by a filament winding process. Prepregs were laminated and thermal processed in air. SEM fractographs of the composites were characterized and related to the observed load-deflection behaviors under 3-point flexure. The fracture surface expositions changed from extensive fiber tear-out to limited fiber pull-out as the …

Reductive Stripping Of Iron(Iii) From Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phosphoric Acid, Byron G. Belew

Masters Theses

"Unwanted impurities, present in raw materials, are often coextracted along with desired constituents during leaching. If left unchecked, impurity levels may increase in hydrometallurgical process streams until their presence has deleterious effects upon subsequent unit processes. Due to its abundance and ease of extraction, the presence of ferric iron in solvent extraction circuits has always been a problem. The technique proposed herein constitutes a novel approach to remove iron from zinc hydrometallurgical circuits; but the principles employed may find a variety of applications.

This research investigated the reduction and stripping of ferric iron from di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid into a …

Fabrication And Mechanical Property Analysis Of A Transparent, Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite, James R. Olson

Masters Theses

"A "transparent” composite was produced by reinforcing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with unidirectional borosilicate glass fibers. Composites with 40 volume percent fiber had a modulus of rupture of 600 MPa which is six times greater than that of pure PMMA. Young's modulus for the same composite was 18 MPA which is nine times greater than the 2 MPa measured for pure PMMA. Work of fracture was 110 kJ/m² or more than double the 45 kJ/m² required to fracture pure PMMA. The optical transmission of the composite with 30 volume percent fiber was approximately 40 percent through a 10 mm …

Oxygen Tension Profiles In Tumors Predicted By A Diffusion With Absorption Model Involving A Moving Free Boundary, B. H. Arve, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The dynamic behavior of the oxygen tension distribution in tumors during radiotherapy is studied by the development and solution of a diffusion with absorption model involving a moving free boundary. The oxygen uptake rates within the tumor are considered to be functions of the oxygen concentration and results are presented for zeroth-, half-, first- and second-order rates of absorption, as well as when the rate of oxygen absorption is described by the Michaelis-Menten expression. The results presented in this work may be used together with the data from the oxygen radiosensitivity curve of a tumor, in order to determine the …

Distribution Automation For The Association Of Missouri Electric Cooperatives—A Statewide Evaluation Of Load Management, Jack F. Morris, Frank J. Kern

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Presented is an in-depth technical and economic feasibility study utilizing one- and two-way management systems for statewide load control and distribution automation. Included are 1) an evaluation of the generation and transmission load patterns of the state cooperatives and the determination of the amount of controllable load for use by a load management system, 2) an in-depth economic cost-benefit study as a result of implementing a load management system on a statewide basis, 3) communication alternatives for implementing the statewide load management and distribution automation system, 4) an investigation into using an existing statewide microwave communications system for direct load …

Simulation Of Communication Systems Using Personal Computers, William H. Tranter, Carl R. Ryan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Microcomputer simulation provides a powerful tool for computer-aided design and analysis of communication systems and requires a minimum of investment. Two different simulation examples are presented: a fixed topology simulation program for digital data links written in Pascal; and a simulation of an analog link using Fortran. These examples are followed by a consideration of the new 32-bit single-board computers and their potential impact on microcomputer simulation. © 1988 IEEE

Dynamic Allocation Of Responsibility Between Operators With Different Models Of System Information Using Computer-Mediated Communication, Michele Terranova

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This research focused on the effectiveness of two operator teams for dynamic control of a process simulation. The responsibility for system optimization and failure detection was shared by the operators through computer-mediated communication. System information was displayed to both operators by one of three mental models of the systems: an alphanumeric/separable representation, a graphic/integral system representation, or both representations. The following team-display configurations were used: primary operator with graphic display, support operator with alphanumeric (GRAL); primary operator with alphanumeric display, support operator with graphic (ALGR); both operators with alphanumeric displays (BOAL); both operators with graphic displays (BOGR); and both operators …

Fundamental Concepts Required By Electromechanical Technology Graduates For Entry-Level Employment In Related Industry, Julio R. Garcia

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The objective of this study was to determine the fundamental electromechanical concepts needed by electromechanical technology graduates to perform efficiently at the entry-level employment in related industry. An extensive review of the literature indicated that it was necessary to prepare electromechanical technologists with emphasis given to the area of electrical/electronics technology, mechanical technology, fluids, and fiber optics. Thusly prepared, these graduates would be able to service modern industrial equipment and would have greater opportunities in the job market than at present.

A Likert format questionnaire was developed to gather the necessary data. The survey instrument consisted of 91 concept statements …

The Development Of Optimal Strategies For Maintenance, Rehabilitation And Replacement Of Highway Bridges, Vol. 1: The Elements Of The Indiana Bridge Management System (Ibms), Kumares C. Sinha, Mitsuru Saito, Yi Jiang, Sudhir Murthy, Ah Beng Tee, Mark D. Bowman

JTRP Technical Reports

No abstract provided.

Interfacing Of The Digital Spyghnomanometer [Sic] Ds-165 To The Intel 8052ah Basic Based Single Board Computer, Rakesh P. Patel

Theses

The aim of this thesis is to collect the measured data from the blood pressure measurement unit to the single board computer and to store the data for the analysis purposes.

Microprocessor Controller For A Multi-Targets System, Shoeineng Lin

Theses

This thesis presents a microprocessor controller for a multi-targets system, which is designed by a direct digital control in the modern computer-aided manufacture system. It is made up of digital control theory, computer hardware configuration and software algorithm. An example is illustrated by IBM PC/XT computer. In this example, the control laws of three simple targets are developed and implemented by C-language. Simultaneously, the computer self-test routines, such as CPU, ROM etc, are developed by intel-8088 assembly language.