Digital Commons Network^™

Feasibility Study Of Using A Steam Power System In A Small Garden Tractor, Niranjan Kumar Doshi

Masters Theses

"This thesis is a feasibility study of using a steam power system in a small garden tractor. The relative advantages of steam power are discussed and compared with the characteristics of internal combustion engines. A monotube boiler is designed where steam is generated in stacked tube spirals. The boiler generates 225 lbs/hr of dry saturated steam at 500 psia, which corresponds to an engine output of 20 IHpage A rotary positive displacement engine is employed to expand the steam to 16 psia. A rotor instead of a piston eliminates the conventional connecting rod and crank shaft. The engine developes 15 …

Analysis Of A Substitute For The Impact Damper To Damp Near-Resonant Mechanical Vibrations, Nguyen Khanh Van

Masters Theses

"This report investigates a substitute for the impact damper which, although highly effective in reducing vibration amplitudes of near-resonant mechanical systems, in operation causes often unacceptable intensive noise. The present damper consists of a piston free to move in a cylinder, at either end of which is a ball valve set to open at a preset pressure, and in the middle along its length an intake port. An approximate analytical study is made to determine the conditions for the existence of "noiseless periodic operation" of the damper, periodic operation without the occurence of impacts. This approach is based on the …

Structural Test And Analysis Of A Vierendeel Steel And Concrete Composite Girder, Melvin Crews Oestreich

Masters Theses

"The results of the structural load testing of a unique type of steel and concrete composite girder are described. The structural system, referred to as a composite Vierendeel girder, is a hybrid type which incorporates features of a castellated beam and a Vierendeel truss. The performance of the composite girder agreed reasonably well with calculated values based on section properties for a prismatic beam. Observations indicated web stiffeners were required on the stub beams to prevent premature failure of the system. Failure of the girder was due to concrete crushing over a stub web beam. Design considerations for a structural …

The Electric Field Strength Dependence Of Neutron-Induced Defects In Silicon P-N Junctions, Paul Edward Johnson

Masters Theses

"The effect of high electric field strengths (10⁴ to 10⁵ V/cm) present during neutron radiation on the neutron-induced defects is determined by utilizing the high electric field strength inherent in the emitter-base transistion region of an n-p-n transistor. A method is presented for the separation of neutron and gamma effects. Previous theoretical work on the ratio of base current increase to collector current decrease is applied to experimental data. The variations of the space-charge region volume damage introduction rate with neutron fluence and the average electric field strength are determined experimentally in order to obtain a measure of this effect. …

The Electrochemical Reduction Of Fumaric Acid On Hg-Bi Cathodes, Chen Hwei Chi

Doctoral Dissertations

"The electrochemical reduction of fumaric acid was studied on Hg, Hg/1%Bi amalgam, and Bi at 60ºC in acidic solutions of various pH ranging from 0.3 to 3.7. The fumaric acid was reduced to succinic acid with high efficiency on each electrode. The steady state kinetic parameters included Tafel slopes of ca. 2.3 RT/F and first order concentration dependences for both undissociated fumaric acid and H⁺. Transient measurements indicated low coverages of adsorbed fumaric acid and no adsorbed hydrogen species in the potential region of the reaction. A reaction mechanism is proposed which involves a chemical rate determining step between an …

A Yield And Fracture Model For Ti-6al-4v Titanium And 7075-T6 Aluminum, Richard L. Pendleton

Doctoral Dissertations

"The objective of the research being reported in this thesis was to conduct a series of experiments on two commonly used structural metals in several different environmental pressures so that a graphical representation of the material response both to yielding and fracture could be ascertained. It was further intended to show that parameters herein defined and called effective stress, effective strain, and pressure are useful parameters for graphically representing the material response. The final goal of this research was to show that the graphical representation does, in fact, predict the yield and fracture for a simple forming process. The forming …

A Numerical, Time Domain Solution For The Response Of A Gimbal Supported Gyro, Floyd Stanley Hall

Doctoral Dissertations

"This paper develops an algorithm to generate a numerical solution for the response of a gimbal supported gyro to arbitrary forcing functions and base motion, and includes the normal parasitic effects of bearing friction, viscous pivot damping, and pivot spring constants. There are relatively few restrictions on gyro and gimbal structure geometry. Solution accuracy is limited only by the computing machine accuracy; the algorithm being an explicit function of the input data. The algorithm is fast and requires only a moderate amount of computer memory"--Abstract, page ii.

A Hardware And Software Interface Between A Magnetic Tape Unit And A Nova Mini-Computer, Thomas Dean Steury

Masters Theses

"This thesis is concerned with the general operation of the Kennedy Model 1400R incremental write/continuous read magnetic tape unit and the hardware design and software implementation needed to make it compatible for use with the Data General Nova 800 mini-computer.

The hardware design was developed around a General Purpose Interface Board which provides a standard set of logic needed for interfacing any external device to the Nova. The hardware consists of decode networks, mode selection networks, and I/0 timing networks. Special circuits needed to implement the hardware design and perform voltage conversions between the tape unit and the Nova computer …

Computer Method For Airport Noise Exposure Forecast, John Michael Bateman

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The major problem facing air transportation for the next decade is aircraft noise. The noise level due to the operation of large jet aircraft has created a very serious annoyance problem to the people living near of adjacent to jet airports. The noise problem has developed both for take-off and landing operations of these aircraft with take -off noise causing the greatest annoyance factor. A technique called Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) has been developed to identify the annoyance factor of these noises to people and activities on the ground. With these NEF ratings or numbers, planners can better determine the …

A Management Training Game For Police Command/Control Officer Training, Charles R. Custer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of Simultaneous Binary Multiplication, Joseph Larry Voyer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Fitting Discrete Probabilistic Frequency Distributions To Disturbed Traffic Flow At An Unsignalized Urban Intersection, Horst Walter Kaminsky

Masters Theses

"Traffic variables, such as volume, speed, gaps and lags, and headways can be described by probability distributions. In this study vehicle arrivals from three directions have been recorded at a four-leg, right-angled, at-grade intersection in Rolla, Missouri, and statistically analyzed. Two distinct probabilistic statistical concepts were used, the continuous (gap) and discrete (counting) distribution. The negative exponential distribution is discussed briefly, whereas the applicability of discrete statistical models for the traffic situation selected is elaborated in detail.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the impairment and distortion that various interferences such as upstream traffic lights, bottlenecks or other …

Data Compression Design Considerations For Airborne Test Vehicles, Kenneth Carlyle Pittman

Masters Theses

"The design goals for a data compression system are developed using previous studies as a cornerstone. Sampling theory is touched on with qualitative coverage of its effects. Consideration is given to various methods of data compression with the advantages and disadvantages of each noted. The requirement for buffering is discussed along with various methods that may be employed to achieve specific buffering goals. The impact of data reconstruction and how it may affect the choice of compression techniques is briefly covered. Selected compression algorithms and ways of increasing system effectiveness through alterations to their basic structures are described in detail. …

Analog/Hybrid Computer Simulation Applied To Sampled-Data Control Systems, Sam Joseph Monte

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Optimization Analysis Of A Simple Position Control System, Arthur G. Cannon

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

One of the problem areas of modern optimal control theory is the definition of suitable performance indices. This thesis demonstrates a rational method of establishing a quadratic performance index derived from a desired system model. Specifically, a first order model is used to provide a quadratic performance index for which a second order system is optimized. Extension of the method to higher order systems, while requiring more computations, involves no additional theoretical complexities.

Flood Control Modeling, Peter E. Delle Donne

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This is a research report that discusses some continuous and discrete modeling techniques. The report applies these techniques to the analysis of Canal 38 (Kissimmee River) part of Central and South Florida Flood Control District. The analysis is based on recorded data for defining the physical systems parameters. Established parameters are mathematically related to define a descriptive model for Canal 38. The modeling procedure of 'trial and error' is used to assemble the model with measures of merit, the integral square error, and root mean squared error. General simulation considerations are discussed for application of the mathematical model.

Analyses Of The Water And Wastewater Systems At Florida Technological University, Fred C. Jensen

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In searching for a subject to meet the M. S. Degree Research Report requirements, I had several objectives in mind. I wanted (1) a project with relevancy in the environmental field which would broaden my understanding of the environmental systems which I have studied, (2) a subject which would allow me to apply some of the Principles which I have learned in Operations Research , and (3) a project which had good practical application. With these objectives in mind, I reviewed the suggested topics presented by the Faculty and selected the FTU Water and Wastewater System Analyses topic which was …

Rapid Mixing In Water And Wastewater Treatment, Randall C. Rector

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Interactions Of Pesticides And Phytoplankton, Pamela H. Philyaw

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

An Investigation Of Methods For Reuse Of Rubber Tires, Charles Edward Armbruster

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Methods of reusing/recycling the more than 250 million automobile and truck tires which are worn out each year were investigated. The existing methods of reusing tires account for about 30 percent of the volume of scrap tires generated each year. These methods are, Retreading, Reclaiming (by reducing to ground up rubber and fiber), and Tire Splitting (stamp items out of sidewall and tread areas). Several possibilities for reusing/recycling the unused 70 percent were discovered. These methods are as follows: Destructive Distillation -- a method of recovering chemicals from tires by pyrolitic action. It is anticipated that eventually as much as …

Minimum Weight Design Of Stiffened Cylindrical Shells Using Structural Synthesis, Joseph Eugene Heckelbeck

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Several search methods for unconstrained minimization in the minimum weight design of a stiffened cylindrical shell are investigated. The cylindrical shell, under study, is stiffened with bar shaped stiffeners in the longitudinal and circumferential directions, and capable of being loaded both axially and radially with up to ten separate load conditions. For this investigation, it was necessary to alter an unconstrained minimization program for use on the IBM 360 computer by employing double precision techniques. The computer runs obtained on this system are compared with those provided by the prior work of William Morrow and Lucien Schmit. The results show, …

An Automated Student Advisement And Projected Course Enrollments, Brian Odell Montgomery

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

One of the major problems of the modern university is the process of student advisement and course scheduling. The purpose of this paper is to write a computer program which will aid in solving this problem of student advisement and course scheduling for the undergraduate students of the College of Engineering at Florida Technological University. the computer program which is developed in this paper, aids in the problem of student advisement by producing a one page output for each student. This output page, which is separated by department, lists all courses the student has taken and passed, all transfer hours, …

A Method For Generating Uts Assignments With An Iterative State Transition Algorithm, Dattatraya Govind Raj-Karne

Doctoral Dissertations

"There is a lack of systematic procedures that can be used to find uni-code totally sequential (UTS) assignments from a flow table description of an asynchronous sequential circuit. Presented here is an iterative internal state assignment method. This method consists of three algorithms. The first generates a minimum variable initial assignment from a flow table description. The second tests the validity of this assignment by constructing minimum length transition paths without crossover and the third augments this assignment by adding an internal state variable in the event that all transition paths cannot be constructed without crossover. The second and the …

An Analytical Study Of A Confined Viscous Vortex, David Edward Crow

Doctoral Dissertations

"A composite solution for the flow field of a three dimensional, incompressible laminar, viscous vortex confined inside a conical converging nozzle is presented. This model is used to study the strong mainstream boundary layer interaction that occurs in confined vortex flows. The confined vortex flow field is divided into mainstream and boundary layer regions. A particular class of solutions of the general equations of motion is used to represent the vortex flow in the mainstream region. That is, the tangential velocity in the mainstream region is assumed to be of the form W = T(e)/R. Velocity and pressure profiles from …

Kinetic Analysis Of The Radiation Polymerization Of Methyl Methacrylate–Kaolin Clay Composites, J. J. Beeson, Kenneth G. Mayhan

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the first of a two‐part series, a kinetic study has been made on the effects of gamma rays (60Co) in air and inert gas on the polymerization of a 50:50 weight‐mixture methyl methacrylate (MMA)–kaolin clay system. The effect of dose rate (7.35–24.9 rads/sec), temperature (25° to 75°C), and total dose on the percentage conversion of monomer to polymer was studied. The rate of formation of polymer at 25°C in the composite system was found to be faster when compared to a bulk MMA system at the same dose rate. This acceleration showed that the clay had a catalytic effect …

Entrance Effects On Capillary Degradation Of Dilute Polystyrene Solutions, J. D. Culter, Kenneth G. Mayhan, Gary Kent Patterson, A. A. Sarmasti, J. (Jacques) L. Zakin

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

An Engineering Analysis Of Fluid Amplifiers And Development Of An Air Velocity Sensor, Gian Sagar Aneja

Masters Theses

"Fluidics, the new control technique finds its use amongst the conventional electronics and pneumatics due to some of its impressive features. Selected literature about bistable and proportional amplifiers has been presented for better understanding of the element behavior. Sensors; typical applications of fluidics have been described separately. An air flow velocity sensor has been set-up. Basically it consists of a cylinder placed across the air flow that sheds vortices in the wake due to 'Von Karman Vortex Street' phenomenon. The frequency of vortices gives a measure of velocity. The velocities obtained from the sensor have been compared to the ones …

A Comparison Of Liapunov Functions Used To Determine Power System Stability For Multimachine Power Systems, Kiritkumar S. Shah

Masters Theses

"Four Liapunov functions used in stability studies are compared for accuracy on an eight machine power system. This comparison is made to determine which function is best in multimachine stability applications. Morgan's Estimating Technique is used to estimate when the Liapunov function would exceed its maximum value and thus to predict the critical switching time for the system"--Abstract, page ii.

A Study Of The System Lithia - Silica, Roy Richard Ramey

Masters Theses

"X-ray intensity and d-spacing measurements were performed upon samples in the system Li₂O-SiO₂. Samples ranged from 0.0 to 28.0 mole percent lithia and were fired for 72 hours at temperatures from 920ºC to 1400ºC. Atomic absorption analyses were made upon the fired samples. Non-equilibrium conditions were prevalent and results are inclusive. Quartz is the stable phase in the high silica field at temperatures below 1050ºC with cristobalite stable above that. The quartz - cristobalite transformation occurs at 950ºC with the cristobalite transforming into tridymite at 1010ºC. There was wide scattering of data at 1000ºC and below. There was no correlation …

Use Of Isotopes To Reduce Neutron-Induced Radioactivity And Augment Thermal Quality Of The Environment Of An Underground Nuclear Explosion, Nathaniel Fred Colby

Masters Theses

"The use of isotopes to include radioactive waste products to reduce the neutron-induced activity of an underground nuclear explosion and its application in the field of geothermal power stimulation is discussed. A shield composed of selected isotopes surrounding a fusion device will capture excess neutrons producing isotopes with short half-lives. Subsequent rapid decay will prolong the high temperature in the vicinity of the explosion and decrease the activity. Long-lived isotopes created by neutron capture in the host rock would be minimized. The investigation is conducted for strontium-90, cesium-137, cerium-144, technetium-99, rhodium-103 and -105. Of these, the first three appear to …