Digital Commons Network^™

A Case For Writing To Learn In The Engineering Curriculum., Sati Maharaj

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The focus of this study is the integration of writing to learn in a foundation engineering course, Statics (MAE 41), at West Virginia University. The major purpose was to attempt to determine whether the integration of writing in this course fostered students' learning of the content. Two secondary areas of examination were: (i) students' attitudes toward the writing to learn strategies, and (ii) students' expectations of these writing activities. The study consisted of students enrolled in an MAE 41 (mechanical and aerospace engineering) course at WVU, ranging from sophomores to seniors. Students were not necessarily only MAE majors; they represented …

Hypermedia And The Learning-Disabled Student., Mary Janet Henry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the effects of type of learner control in hypermedia software by learning disabled students. Developmental math students, not categorized as learning disabled, were also included in the study which investigated achievement, attitudes, and perceptions of those students regarding computer-based math word problem solving. Two HyperCard stacks of a tutorial nature were used as the treatment for this research. One stack contained high learner control; the other, low control. The sample included 18 learning disabled students enrolled in various math classes and 18 developmental math students enrolled in Basic Math classes in a small Western Pennsylvania college. Nine …

Enhanced Heat Transfer In A Cylindrical Cavity With Periodically Perturbed Annular Flames., Robert Allen Roach

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this investigation was to experimentally examine the enhanced heat transfer and emission reduction characteristics of periodically perturbed annular natural gas flames issuing into a cylindrical cavity. Perturbation modes for the fluidic nozzles included the use of steady, axially oscillating, and radially oscillating annular flames. The testing process involved two phases. Phase one quantified the instantaneous and time averaged heat fluxes and the amount of NOx production from the natural gas flames. For the three nozzle diameters (19 mm, 25.4 mm, and 38.1 mm) tested, the equivalence ratios ranged from 0.6 to 1.0, the pulsation frequencies from steady …

A Theoretical And Experimental Investigation Of Spouted Beds With Draft Tubes., Mao Xu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A spouted bed with a draft tube insert and separate gas supplies into the annular region and central core at the bottom of the bed was built. The influence of the central gas feed flow rates, annular gas feed flow rate, and the bottom gap height on the solids circulation rate, gas bypassing rate through the bottom gap beneath the draft tube, and pressure drop across the bed were investigated. The experimental results show that within the experimental range: (1) an increase in the central gas feed flow rate increases the solids circulation rate and gas bypassing flow rate from …

Development Of A Stable Tetrahedral Finite Element For Metal Forming Analysis., V B. Rachakonda

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A nonlinear 'velocity-pressure' mixed finite element formulation for three dimensional rigid-viscoplastic analysis of metal forming problems is presented. It adequately takes into account the nonlinear material behavior and the large deformations that occur during metal forming operations. A ten-noded tetrahedral finite element with a quadratic interpolation in velocity and linear interpolation in pressure is used to discretize the domain of the deforming body. The salient feature of the formulation is the enforcement of the incompressibility requirement necessitated by the use of the rigid-viscoplastic constitutive law by modifying the constitutive equation to include a pressure variable and adding an additional constraint …

Modeling, Simulation And Response Analysis Of Antilock Braking Systems., Sudhanshu Nigam

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two problems faced by the brake industries today are: (1) Longer development time because of the design approach that uses actual physical tests to evaluate and caliberat design for a specific brake and vehicle system. (2) Incapability of the ABS (Antilock Braking Systems) to optimally achieve the functional requirements of stopping distance, steerability, and stability under the wide variety of road and driving conditions that are encountered. The two problems stated above are addressed in this dissertation. A computer model is developed for brake and vehicle. Using the model analytical simulations instead of actual physical tests are performed. Simulation is …

Selected Aspects Of Automation And Implications For Post-Secondary Technology Education., Mark Edward Bronakowski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary purposes of this study were to (1) develop a rank-ordered listing of concepts, ideas, equipment, systems, and techniques pertaining to the broad aspects of automation recommended for post-secondary technology education programs, and (2) draw implications for post-secondary education curriculum based on the outcomes of the Delphi. The study consisted of a three-round Delphi with a panel of twenty manufacturing professionals at a supervisory or higher level and with automation experience. A different and smaller group was used to develop the initial list of 35 items that the panel responded to in Round One. Panelists accepted, rejected, modified, or …

Long-Term Underground Mining Sequence Planning Using Dynamic Programming., Mohammad S. Al-Juhani

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

One of the most important aspects in the long-term planning of an underground mine is the decision on production scheduling, (the long-term mining sequence planning); that is the order in which parts of the seam should be mined given a specified number of operating units. An optimal mining sequence of the combined operating units would lead to the best possible net present value (NPV) for a mining company. Moreover, a non-optimal mining sequence could cause undesirable cash flows in early years which could cause the economic failure of the mine. Therefore, a planning procedure coupled with dynamic programming model (DP …

Interpretation Of Data From A Horizontal Heat Transfer Tube In A Bubbling Fluidized Bed., Ali Ihsan Karamavruc

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Prior calculations of heat transfer coefficients for an experimental horizontal tube in a bubbling fluidized bed have assumed that the heat conduction through the tube wall is one dimensional. However, a comparison between one dimensional (1D) and two dimensional (2D) analyses and comparing them with experimental data shows that there exists a significant difference between 1D and 2D calculations. The analysis was accomplished by solving the unsteady 1D and 2D heat conduction equation across the tube wall numerically. The boundary conditions were taken from the temperature data measured at five different locations around the horizontal tube simultaneously. A correction factor …

The Effectiveness Of Semantic Mapping Instruction On The Definition-Making Abilities And Strategy Reporting Of Fourth And Fifth-Grade Students With And Without Language Learning Disabilities., Robert Dick Kefferstan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reading to learn is a major curricular goal in the fourth and fifth grades. Vocabulary development is an important aspect of this goal. Learning the meaning of unfamiliar words is not an easy task for all learners, especially for some students with a language learning disability. This multiple baseline single case/small group investigation was designed to study the effectiveness of semantic mapping instruction as a technique for learning new words. Fourth and fifth grade students met with their regular classroom teacher in small groups to construct semantic maps. At each grade level, the group consisted of a student with a …

Colouring, Covering, Reconstruction, And 3-To-1 Maps Of Graphs., Cheng Zhao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

There are five chapters in this thesis. In Chapter I, we present some frequently used definitions and notations, and describe the main results in this thesis. In Chapter II, edge-colouring and total colouring of graphs are discussed. The core {dollar}G\\sb{lcub}\\Delta{rcub}{dollar} is the subgraph of G induced by the vertices of maximum degree. If {dollar}G\\sb{lcub}\\Delta{rcub}{dollar} is a forest then Fournier (24) showed that G is Class 1. Therefore if G is Class 2, {dollar}G\\sb{lcub}\\Delta{rcub}{dollar} must contain cycles. A natural question is this: what is the chromatic index of G if {dollar}G\\Delta{dollar} is a union of vertex disjoint cycles? Further information about …

The Relationship Between Self-Perceived Psychological Types Of Male And Female Community College Deans Of Instruction And Their Self-Perceived Leadership Styles., Joan Carol Henry-Lucas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study was designed to examine the relationship between the self-perceived psychological types of male and female community college deans of instruction and their self-perceived leadership styles. The population consisted of 881 male (N = 667) and female (N = 204) community college deans of instruction identified by mailing labels from the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges who were serving in public institutions in the United States listed in the AACJC Membership Directory 1992. A proportional, stratified, random sample was conducted of 267 subjects--205 male deans and 62 female deans. A cover letter, demographic survey, the Leadership Behavior …

Mine Ventilation Network Optimization Using Nonlinear Programming Techniques., Changhong Huang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mine ventilation, though costly, has to be maintained for any underground coal mine for the sake of miners' safety and health. Higher productivity and more stringent environmental standards require greater quantities of air at the underground working faces. These conditions have brought a great increase in the costs of mining. To survive in the current state of market competition for the mining industry, more concerns have to be addressed on developing a ventilation system which is functionally effective and reliable, and yet economically efficient. Mine ventilation network optimization is one of the approaches to reach that objective. This dissertation is …

An Investigation Of Within-Evaluation Markers For Detecting Malingered Memory Impairment., Grant Loren Iverson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neuropsychologists frequently are called upon to evaluate patients in a medicolegal context. An important part of these evaluations is determining whether the patient is being honest and forthright in his presentation of symptoms and in his test performance, or whether the patient is deliberately exaggerating his deficits via malingering. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the efficacy of using the Recognition Memory Test (RMT), Digit Span Test (WAIS-R), and Knox Cube Test as markers for malingered memory deficits. These tests were all designed to measure some aspect of attention and memory, not to assess non-optimal test performance. However, …

Singular Systems: Structure, Algorithm, And Application., Jianming She

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

From engineering point of view, a complete accomplishment should be supported by rigorous mathematical analyses, feasible computational algorithms, and concrete practical applications. The research work of this dissertation is done with an attempt of trying to approach this principle and to understand some basic facts of singular systems in these three aspects. In Part I, a new complementary solution formulation is derived from both the time domain and the frequency domain for singular systems. The solution expressions of regular systems and singular systems are unified. Further, the dynamic characteristics of singular systems are studied. We discussed in detail on the …

A Follow Up Study Of High School Students With Mild Mental Retardation: Has The Transition Been Made?, Ronald Otho Wells

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine if the transition from school programs to sustained employment was made by former mildly mentally handicapped students. The study was designed to determine what variables contributed to successful transition. These independent variables were four types of school programs, availability of work coordinators or job coaches, gender, and opportunity. Briefly, the four types of programs were (A) special classes with supervised work experience, (B) special classes and work experience not related or supervised by school personnel, (C) special classes with no work experience, and (D) special classes in grades 9 and 10. A …

The Relationship Of Personality Type To Mathematics Achievement In High School Seniors., Bonnie V. Gillespie

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study's purpose was to determine relationships between mathematics achievement in high school seniors and personality types as measured by Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and dichotomies of MBTI type: extraversion or introversion (EI), sensing or intuition (SN), thinking or feeling (TF), judgment or perception (JP). The subjects were 269 twelfth grade volunteers from a school district in West Virginia's eastern panhandle. During the spring semester, 1993, the MBTI was administered during the subjects' English classes. Student permanent record cards provided mathematics grade point average and mathematics achievement test scores. T-tests and ANOVA examined relationships with MBTI type, dichotomies of MBTI …

A Comparison Of The Stad And Jigsaw Cooperative Learning Methods In A College-Level Microcomputer Applications Course., Nina Zetty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examined the effects of two cooperative learning methods on the achievement, computer anxiety, and classroom environmental preferences (whole class, small cooperative groups, or individualized) of college-level students in two microcomputer applications classes. One group received instruction using the Student Teams Achievement Division (STAD) method (n = 26), while the other group was taught using the Jigsaw method (n = 27); both groups were taught for one semester (15-weeks) by the same instructor. Although both cooperative groups reported statistically significant achievement gains for each application, the Jigsaw group scored significantly higher than the STAD group with the DOS {dollar}(F(1, …

Secondary Dust Generation In Rotary Coal Cutting., Danqing Xu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In a rotary coal cutting system, the mined coal has to be transported through the cutting path. This transportation of mined coal through the cutting zone of a rotary cutting head is comparable to a rotary grinder. In the "grinder", the mined coal particles are subjected to secondary comminution, known as regrinding. A significant amount of coal dust could be generated during regrinding. This study was undertaken to investigate the mechanisms of regrinding and dust generation, to quantify the amount of dust generated during regrinding and evaluate the effects of influencing parameters on dust generation. Three comminution mechanisms of particles …

Restructuring In State Departments Of Education: An Analysis Of Structural Evolution., Harriet Maxey Deel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to address the nature of structural changes evolving in state departments of education which are perceived by chief state school officers as useful in implementing educational reforms. As a context for the inquiry on structural evolution, the study examined restatement of mission and goals in response to the reform movement. Examination of structural elements related to five areas: (a) reduction in vertical layers in the organization hierarchy, (b) adoption of flexible, cooperative roles, (c) decentralization of decision making, (d) delivery models for training and technical assistance to local education agencies and schools, and (e) …

Formulation And Implementation Of A Large-Scale Work Scheduling Algorithm For Underground Coal Mines., Shiquan Yuan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The assignment of available workers to prioritized jobs on a shift basis is one of the most important and difficult decisions for the managers of underground coal mines. The objective of this study was to develop a work scheduling algorithm to handle the worker assignment problem in an efficient and practical way. The study basically consisted of three parts. The first part concerned the development of a mathematical programming model to handle the worker assignment problem. A goal programming model was developed first, and was converted a zero-one linear programming model which allows more flexibility in coping with various situations …

Mathematical Modeling On The Role Of Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans In The Formation Of Acid Mine Drainage., Kareem Issa Batarseh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Experimental results are reported on the biological atmospheric oxidation of FeS{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} embedded within mine rocks in the presence of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Three different potentially acid-producing rock samples from different coal seams are used. The rate of FeS{dollar}\\sb2{dollar} conversion or production of acid is studied with respect to sterility and variations in temperature, and particle size. Pore size distributions as well as changes in porosity with conversion have been determined for both inoculated and sterilized samples. It is found, under the same experimental conditions, that the inoculated samples produce five times more acid than the sterilized ones. This is attributed to …

Prediction And Amelioration Of Acid Mine Drainage., Walter Mark Hart

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Two aspects of acid mine drainage (AMD) production were studied on a laboratory scale: the role of leaching, and the effectiveness of phosphate amelioration. The leaching study was based on an assumption of an earlier oxidation/leaching field model: that oxidation is independent of leaching. A SAS program was written which can simultaneously fit all three parameters of this field model. The model was generalized to include the effect of initial sulfate sulfur. A deterministic oxidation/leaching model was developed and applied to two continuous, unsaturated flow trickle bed reactors. First-order leaching rate constants were calculated to be 0.0888 days{dollar}\\sp{lcub}-1{rcub}{dollar} for refuse …

Bending And Bond Behavior And Design Of Concrete Beams Reinforced With Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Rebars, Salem Samir Faza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The use of non-corrosive fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) rebars in lieu of mild steel rods is investigated. The present work covers experimental testing of twenty-seven concrete beams reinforced with FRP rebars subjected to bending, twenty-four cantilever specimens subjected to bond forces, and twelve straight pull-out specimens. The following response of concrete beams reinforced with FRP rebars were investigated: pre- and post-cracking behavior, load-deflection and stress variations, elastic and ultimate load carrying capacities, crack widths and patterns, bond stress and embedment length, and modes of failure. In order to take advantage of the high tensile strength of FRP rebars (80 to …

Behavior Of Bolt And Adhesive Connections In Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Members, James R. Doyle

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Structural fasteners must be engineered to resist a large variety of loading conditions. Isotropic materials with high shear strength can be designed to withstand multidirectional loading. However, since fiber reinforced plastic materials are direction dependent, a more in-depth understanding of the effects of loading direction and fiber orientation is needed. To achieve a better understanding of load transfer and failure mechanisms in FRP fasteners, an experimental program has been devised which includes static testing by varying overlap areas and connector strengths. From the results of these tests, more accurate joint designs should be possible.

Connectors such as arc welding and …

Quality Economics In Total Quality Control., Fu Qiang Yang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research is to develop a general approach to quality economics in Total Quality Control. Based on microeconomics theory and the development of prevailing quality control approaches, the research develops a set of economic quality concepts which provide a solid theoretical base for economic design and evaluation in quality control. A number of quality economics modeling procedures are established in the phases of both the consumer's and the producer's decision makings on product quality as well as their interactions. In the context of a total quality control approach, the research first analyzes consumer behavior under quality discrimination …

An Artificial Associative Neural Net For Underground Mine Landmark Recognition., Peijian Li

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

A new bi-directional associative memory (BAM), a type of artificial neural net, is proposed, defined, demonstrated and tested as the core classifier in a landmark recognition system for underground mine navigation. The simulation of this new BAM shows improved ability in recognizing images of objects as compared with the BAM proposed by Kosko. This dissertation documents: (1) A new bi-directional associative memory model which shows an obvious improvement over the Kosko BAM in applications of pattern recognition; (2) A new distinctive system structure using the proposed BAMs for multiple feature space pattern recognition applications; (3) The analysis of simulation results …

A Method For Predicting Rock Fragmentation And Blast Casting., Shih Wen Wang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fragmentation and burden velocity are the major concerns of any blasting operation. A good estimation of fragment size distribution before blasting is very useful and helpful for selecting the proper equipment for loading, hauling, and crushing rocks. The burden velocity can be used to predict the center of mass movement. There are three basic variables that determine the blasting effects. They are rock properties, explosive properties, and drilling patterns. These together include more than twenty factors that can affect the blasting results. The development of a blasting model which considers most of these factors is the main task of this …

Rural Female College Graduates: Barriers And Catalysts To A College Education., Sue Diane Day-Perroots

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many of the known cultural, familial, historical and geographical deterrents to education exist within the rural female population from six counties in southern West Virginia. Through feminist survey research, this qualitative study is an analysis of the common themes that arise in the lives of rural women who have earned a college degree, using women's narratives to provide insights into existing research. Based on a 42 percent return on a 14 page survey, 110 rural college educated women responded to 41 open-ended and forced-choice questions about parental demographics, childhood and public school experiences, hometown descriptors and college attendance. The women …

Seismic Evaluation Of The Mississippian Greenbrier Limestone And Devonian Ohio Shale In The Big Ugly Area, Southwestern West Virginia., Li Zheng

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Mississippian Greenbrier Limestone and Devonian Ohio Shale were studied in the Big Ugly area of southwestern West Virginia by reprocessing and interpreting existing seismic and geological data. Careful design of routine processing parameters and the use of a modified tau-p filter significantly enhanced the quality of seismic data from the area. The presence of detached structures above three decollement zones and cross-strike discontinuities (CSD's) associated with the Alleghanian deformation west of Mann Mountain anticline is suggested. A basement growth structure, the Griffithsville basement high, localized detached structures along its southeast flank. High producing trends in the Devonian Ohio Shale …