Digital Commons Network^™

Review Of Construction Management Procedures Of New Jersey Department Of Transportation With The Objective Of Minimizing Claims, Suresh Kumar Ceyyur

Theses

Recent years have evidenced a growing spate of construction claims being filed against NJDOT. A mail survey was conducted and problem areas of NJDOT construction management procedures frequently contributing to claims have been identified. NJDOT's pre-construction scheduling system has been reviewed to suggest improvements and practical integration to obtain effective feedback. NJDOT's organizational structure has many administrative bottlenecks and is overly bureaucratic. An analysis reveals that by way of minimal revamping and by integrating design and construction divisions better coordination can be achieved, bureaucratic norms reduced and the structure made resilient to react quickly to claim situations. Sources and causes …

Microcomputer Controlled Continuous Activity Monitor For Small Caged Animals, Yogesh Parekh

Theses

The task of this instrumentation system is to measure the activity of rats in a controlled experiment. The system is designed to work in conjunction with the system for studies of metabolic rates in rats. The interface circuits take the picture from a video (vidicon) camera into the computer. Once the picture frame is taken into the high resolution graphics screen memory area, the computer uses this data to detect the activity. The movements of the rat are detected by comparing the number of pixels changed between two consecutive picture frames. The area covered by the rat determines the standing …

Computer Simulation Of Drop Weight Impact Tests On Plastic Parts Or Sheeting, Upendra V. Patel

Theses

The ASTM D3029 drop weight test on plasic parts or sheeting is simulated in this thesis. The simulation is accomplished by using the Bruceton staircase method or the Up-and-Down method and the normal distribution theory. The "Probit" method is also analyzed.

The simulation programs are done in FORTRAN computer language. First, the random number generator is used to find the probability value between 0 and 1.0. Then, the cumulative probability distribution formula is used to find the absolute standard normal value. This absolute standard normal value is converted in to X normal value using given input values of mean and …

Axisymmetric Air Jet Impinging On A Hemispherical Convex Plate, Salahuddin Qureshi

Theses

This experimental study was carried out on an axisymmetric air jet impinging normally on a smooth, hemispherical convex plate. Three different nozzles of diameters 0.5in.(12.7mm), 0.375in.(9.525mm) and 0.25in.(6.35mm) were used and the nozzle exit Reynolds number varied from 14,000 to 80000.

The impingement hemispherical plate was made of brass and had a nominal outer diameter of 7.48in (189.99mm).

Calibrated Pitot tubes, U-tube manometer and a micromanometer were used for pressure and velocity measurements. The Pitot tubes were mounted on Precision position mechanisms permitting the accurate traversing in any direction in space. The test air flow rate was measured with calibrated …

Magnitude And Frequency Of Floods : A Comparison Of Regional Methods In The United States, Frank A. Rogalla

Theses

To allow the safe and economical design of structures in flood plains of natural streams, techniques to estimate the magnitude and frequency of floods are established through multiple regression analysis for each state, relating flood peaks to topographic and climatic characteristics of the drainage basins. This study describes and compares the regional equations to assess peak flows for 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100-year recurrence intervals in different states of the U.S.A.

Publications from 40 continental states were reviewed and the regression equations analyzed on similarities and accuracy. Tables compare parameters, their frequency of occurence, and the constants and …

The Impact Of Microcomputers On Engineering And Technical Management Functions, Salvatore Savino

Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of managers as to the effect of computers on management functions.

Manager perceptions were determined by using a ratio scale of value ranging between 0 and 100. Findings are based on questionnaire responses of 121 top, middle, and lower managers in 120 firms in the United States.

Several hypotheses were examined in the study relative to (1) perceived computer impact on management levels, (2) perceived computer impact on the traditional functions of management, (3) perceived computer impact on levels and functions of management (interaction).

Support was provided for hypothesis of …

Development Of New Products Involving Various Uncertainties For Success, Manuel J. Senra

Theses

The development of new products is a very important task for any company, since the survival of most of the companies depends on their ability to introduce new products on the market. This is not, by all means, an easy task; it is seen from the large number of unsuccessful new products reported.

It is been proved that out of every ten products which emerge from Research and Development(R & D), only two become successes. For reasons like the one mentioned and because larger and larger funds are allocated to R & D, it is a very important task to …

Effect Of Federal Income Tax Regulations On Small Business Decision Making, Leon V. Stanisz

Theses

A comparison of small business organizations was performed in order to see how each is directly or indirectly effected by Federal income tax regulations. Each small business form was examined thoroughly in order to objectively assess organizational advantages and disadvantages and how they are effected by different tax requirements and regulations.

Business expenditures were analyzed to see how and where they could be utilized to the fullest. The thesis tried to examine as thoroughly as possible the cost and the value of these "fringe benefits" both to the company and to the individuals.

The results conclude that any type of …

16-Channel Signal Analyzer For Electroencephalograms, Junnyih Chiang

Theses

An instrument has been designed to analyze 16 channels of EEG of a squirrel monkey by using several interface boards controlled by an Apple II computer. This instrumentation system is capable of performing these experiments in an automated manner. It stores the data generated on to a floppy disk, with software control and results may be printed out together with related graphs. Because of the limitation of the floppy disk capacity, we had only developed two versions:

(1) To average the EEG signal up to 8 times for all 16 channels, because a lot of memory is needed to save …

Computerized Instrumentation System For Indirect Measurement Of Metabolic Changes In Rats, Holger Tebbje

Theses

This work describes the further development of a system for the measurement of the energy expenditure of rats. Based on the concept of indirect calorimetry the respiratory exchange is monitored in a controlled experiment. Rats are held in cages through which air is drawn and analyzed. Transducers and sensors, interfaced to the computer, are measuring the composition and the physical parameters of the gas entering and leaving the chambers. The data recieved is processed, displayed on a screen, printed and stored for later analysis.

The accuracy and repeatability of the system improved by measuring additional parameters like barometric pressure and …

Managing The Transition Of An Army Program From Engineering Development Into Production, Thomas Joseph Thomas

Theses

An overview of the entire Army Research, Development, and Acquisition process is presented. The research, development, test and evaluation phases are detailed. Special emphasis is placed on the Army Producibility Engineering and Planning Program. Examples of the different elements of our Army Production program are described. Finally, the focal point during the transition, the Milestone III and the events surrounding it, are discussed.

Free Convection Boundary Layer Heat Transfer Analysis Of Isothermal Horizontal Square Plates, Konstantinos E. Tsouras

Theses

The theoretical study presented here examines free convective boundary layer flow and heat transfer over isothermal horizontal square plates.

The boundary layer equations subjected to the appropriate boundary conditions were solved by using Von Karman's approximate integral technique. The analysis was performed by considering an axisymmetric boundary layer because the analyzed phenomenon is three-dimensional in nature. Three-dimensional boundary layer analysis, however, is complicated and the work involved is rather tedious. Consequently, the axisymmetric boundary layer offers a useful alternative. Unfortunately, it was found that this type of analysis is applicable to the case of an upward-facing heated plate only; for …

Application Of Manufacturing Resources Planning To Repetitive Manufacturing Environments, Irma L. Yuen

Theses

Most of the methodology for Manufacturing Systems has been devoted to Job Shops. Frequently the assumption has been made that, because Job Shops are the most complicated their methodology should fit Repetitive Manufacturing as well.

For years the Repetitive producers had been ignored as Production and Inventory Control Techniques were developed, implemented and refined to assist discrete Job Shops environments with Material Planning problems.

The application of modern Production and Inventory Control Techniques especially MRP II in the Repetitive Manufacturing Industries is receiving increasing attention from experts in the Production and Inventory Control field.

During the research for this Thesis …

Putting The Lid On Spares : A New Estimating Concept, George Zahodnick

Theses

Government standards and regulations, such as the CASB and FAR can be used as a guide by Contractors in preparation for negotiating orders for spare parts. More recently, in response to bad publicity involving spares, Contractors and Government officials have shown a trend toward greater micromanagement in the military acquisition process.

Spares proposal preparation, which was already often time consuming relative to dollars proposed for parts, has become an extremely serious subject often requiring additional levels of internal review and comprehensive supporting documentation. As a result, a considerable amount of new business expenditures can be associated with preparing proposals for …

Automated Arrhythmia Detection In The Exercise Electrocardiogram, Gregory Ciurpita

Theses

A self-adapting, non-real time method for detecting arrhythmias in single channel Exercise ECG is described. Linear and non-linear digital filtering techniques are used to remove additive noise. A time-varying threshold technique is used to detect R-waves based on amplitude. Feature extraction and matched filter methods are used to classify QRS-waves into existing types, or to create new types. The program works on digitized data from floppy disk and plots all data along with classification results on ReGis graphics terminal or printer. This work will continue so that the system will be capable of processing three-channel ECG in real-time.

An Analysis Of The Heating And Densification Process During Rotational Molding Of A Thermoplastic Powder In A Uniaxially Rotating Cylindrical Cavity, Floyd Steven Ribe

Dissertations

This dissertation presents the results of an experimental and theoretical investigation of the heating and densification portion of the rotational molding process in a uniaxial, cylindrical mold.

A thorough literature survey is included which reviewed past analysis of the rotational molding process and other areas that assisted in understanding of the process.

The results presented in this dissertation included an analysis of the densification process by use of Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM) photography producing intermediate correlations between the physical properties of the densifying material and neck radius of adjacent coalescing spheres. In addition, a hybrid experimental procedure coupled with a …

Keeping Up With Technological Change, Karlis V. Kopans

Theses

Advances in technology over the past fifty (50) years have changed virtually everything that touches our lives today to some degree. However, in the last five years or so, these innovations have been combined into products and systems which have visibly begun to change society as we have known it in the past.

Only in recent years, have the affects of technological change or innovation on society begun to be examined. While a fair amount of literature has been published to date on specific areas of technological change, few publications have been produced which provide a general overview of the …

Reactions Of Hydrogen With Chloroform And Trichloroethylene At High Temperatures, Burhan Mahmood

Theses

The reactions of chloroform and trichloroethylene with hydrogen in the temperature range 550 to 1000°C were studied using tubular flow reactors of varying diameters. The residence time range was from 0.05 to 3.0 seconds.Two different concentrations of the chlorinated species were used, each with hydrogen in large excess. Flat temperature profiles (+/- 5°C) were achieved over 80 to 85 per cent of the 45 cm long reaction zone, with inlet gases preheated to about 400°C.

No chlorinated hydrocarbons, products or reactants were observed at /above 850°C. The major products at these temperatures were C₂H₂, C_{2 …}

A Comparison Of The Biodegradation Of Phenol And O-Chlorophenol Using A Municipal Mixed Liquor And Three Commercial Microbial Preparations, Nigel P. Mcmullen

Theses

The biodegradation of phenol and O-chlorophenol was studied in six-liter batch reactors, using a municipal mixed liquor (from the Livingston, NJ treatment plant) that had not previously been exposed to either of the substrates. In addition, three commercial microbial preparations: BI-CHEM (Sybron), Hydrobac (Polybac), and LLMO (General Environmental Science), were tested alone and in combination with the municipal mixed liquor.

It was found that the municipal mixed liquor performed significantly better than any of the commercial preparations by themselves. When the commercial preparations were mixed with the municipal mixed liquor in a ratio of 1:10 it was found that the …

Design Criteria Of Three-Phase Three-Element Power Directional Relay Under Asymetrical Faults, Fidelis Wagoela Dakogol

Theses

An analytical investigation has been conducted on a three-phase three-machine network power system to determine the optimum Scheme of Connections of the three-phase three-element power directional relay in which the torques of the three independent dynamometer operate on a common axis providing mechanical summation of torques proportional to the power components at the terminals of different phases.

The operation of three-phase, three-element power directional relay is determined by the summation of current and voltage systems having the same phase sequences which is governed by the form of power expression that is proportional to the resulting torque for the various combinations …

Conversion And Kinetics In The Reaction Of Chloroform With Water Vapor At High Temperatures, Chii-Guang Hwang

Theses

This is an experimental study on thermolytic reactions of chloroform with excess water vapor where kinetic parameters are determined and complete product analysis made at atmospheric pressure over a temperature range from 550to 1050°C. In this study, water vapor was introduced as a reactant to convert chlorine in chlorocarbons to stable HCl which is an easily neutralized end-product and thereby completely destroy chloroform. Substantial amounts of thermodynamically stable species: HCl, CO, CO₂, C(s) etc. were observed as products.

The reaction was studied in a 46cm tubular flow reactor mounted in a furnace that had three independently temperature-controlled heating …

Failure Rates And Leakage Current Increase In Tantalum Capacitors Of Different Manufacturers, Joseph G. Grant

Theses

This study has determined the effect of high humidity and temperature on solid tantalum capacitors, from five different sources.

The reasons for using capacitors from five different prestigious sources is to first determine how the parameters change with the different manufacturing techniques used by the different sources. Secondly to rank the different sources according to reliability. The parameters that were measured before and after the "1000 hour" high temperature and humidity test were, capacitance, leakage current, and equivalent series resistance. All the capacitors showed significant increase in leakage current after the test, but there were wide variations in catastrophic failure …

On Circular Hvac Duct Design Through Stress Analysis, Chien-Chung Lee

Theses

In this thesis, comprehensive studies through stress analysis of the circular HVAC ducts are made. The ducts are made of thin gaged steel sheet, and reinforced by stiffeners that are made of hot-rolled steel sections of L or C shapes. The ducts are loaded with pressure, its own weight and the possible seismic accelerations. A comprehensive FORTRAN program is developed as an aid Lo achieving the optimum design of circular ducts, i.e. duct thickness, stiffener spacing, stiffener size and seismic span length, Several stress analysis tables and a design parameter plot arc, provided in this thesis Lo facilitate design optimization.

A Comparison Of Training Available To Entry Level Naval And Merchant Marine Engineroom Personnel, Paul J. Bugelski

Theses

Similarities between occupations or industrial environments are often overshadowed by differences between goals, services, or products. From the time that shipboard steam propulsion became a practicality the Naval and merchant marine services have experienced this phenomena. For various reasons, the two sectors have ignored similarities between their respective occupational sub-groups, e.g. engineroom crews, and the training which facilitates each group's performance.

Manning and training problems, related to the evolution of automated shipboard propulsion plants, have been shared by the U.S. Navy and commercial ship operators. Recent events such as the British Falkland Islands crisis and the implementation of the U.S. …

A Diagnostic Study Of Burning Black Powder Via Stroboscopic Laser Schlieren Photography, Donald Bruce Rowland

Theses

The combustion processes and products of a single grain of burning black powder were experimentally investigated via the stroboscopic laser schlieren photographic technique. A high power modulated argon laser system was used in conjunction with a streak camera to provide a dynamic sequence of time resolved, high resolution schlieren photographs of a burning black powder grain. When black powder burns, a multi-phase product is produced consisting of hot gases, solid particles, and a molten liquid spray. The expansion processes of this multi-phase product cloud were recorded and characterized. Molten drops, reactive and nonreactive particles within as well as outside of …

A Cogeneration Industrial Park In An Urban Environment In The Year 2000, Raymond T. Scott

Theses

An investigation into the feasibilty of placing an industrial park in an urban environment in the year 2000 was made. A selected cogeneration facility located within the park would supply electricity and process steam to the industries with minimal transmission costs and environmental effects. A projection was made on the industries that would exhibit growth to the end of this century, and yet be environmentally benign in nature. These industries would be placed within the industrial park. The selection of the cogeneration facility was based upon projections of fuel availability, environmental factors and available technologies. Socio-economic factors and the effects …

A Maintenance Program Guide For The Non-Technical Building Manager, Luis M. Tavares

Theses

For the most part, the title of Building Manager is conferred upon an individual who is given the responsibility of services support for a facility. However, this title many times is carried by men/women who are responsible not only for the upkeep of the general building, janitorial, and food services but also for the safekeeping of the building equipment, such as mechanical and electrical machinery. At times, these individuals may be involved with general service responsibilities and tend to lose sight of maintenance needs.

In order for the Building Manager to implement maintenance successfully, he/she must understand the close cooperative …

Comparative Study Of Computational Methods For Kinematics Of Mechanism Analysis, Ren-Jea Wang

Theses

This thesis introduces three numerical methods of solving nonlinear algebraic equations, i.e. Newton's method, Brown's method, and Brent's method, and applies these methods to kinematics of mechanism problems for comparative study.

Firstly, each method is reviewed in some detail. Then experimental computer programs, NABKAP(Nonlinear Algebraic equations Based Kinematic Analysis Programs), are developed based on the above methods and used to solve kinematic of mechanism problems. Example problems include various kinds of four-bar mechanisms and two degree of freedom mechanism. Lastly, each technique is compared with the others based on the above computational experiences.

The FORTRAN programs used for this study …

A Global Resource Allocation Model For An Electrical Utility, Pantelis G. Tinios

Theses

The management of the electric utility company, as the management of any other company, has to make important decisions which will have a direct impact on the company's future operations.

In this study, a global model was devised which enables the management to make more intelligent decisions related to the company's planning process.

The company's goals and subgoals are formulated, in a systematic way, into the mathematical model along with operational and financial constraints. Productivity growth, steady labor force, fuel availability, cash flow requirements, share rating, and coverage were some of the goals to be achieved. The goal programming technique …

Simulation Of The Manufacturing System : A General Discussion, Di-Cheing Chien

Theses

This thesis treats the problem of multi-variable sensitivity analysis in a production system which may be used in investigating a variety of characteristics of a flow production system which involve idle time, cost, production rate, ect. are the subjects of the analysis.

The analysis procedure follows the rule of INPUT/OUTPUT through a production process. A simple system model using elements such as : raw material, transfer tool, labor, machine and energy/ or electrical power, is used to lead into the construction of dependent-variable system. A utilization is made of industrial robots as well as humans in loading and unloading machines …