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2003

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Picture Composition For A Robot Photographer, Michael Dixon, Cindy M. Grimm, William D. Smart Dec 2003

Picture Composition For A Robot Photographer, Michael Dixon, Cindy M. Grimm, William D. Smart

All Computer Science and Engineering Research

We explain how to use simple composition rules to drive an automated, mobile photography system. The composition rules are used to determine both the location for a good photograph, and how to frame that photograph. We describe the composition component in the context of a larger application, a robotic photographer. The robot moves around an area with people in it, opportunistically looking for faces and taking photographs. We describe both how to find faces in the world and how to create “good” photographs of those faces.

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Is The Structure Of African Economies Nepad Compliant?, Mike I. Obadan Dec 2003

Is The Structure Of African Economies Nepad Compliant?, Mike I. Obadan

Economic and Financial Review

This paper is organized in five sections. Following the introduction is Section 2 which outlines the goals, principles and programmes of NEPAD. Section 3 examines the structure of African economies, while Section 4 discusses the degree of compliance of the economic structure with the tenets of NEPAD. The fifth section contains concluding remarks.

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The Knight Volume 14: Issue 6, Nova Southeastern University Dec 2003

The Knight Volume 14: Issue 6, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

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Studies Of The Effects Of Pancreatic Beta Cell Antioxidant Transgenes On Experimental Models Of Diabetes., Hainan Chen Dec 2003

Studies Of The Effects Of Pancreatic Beta Cell Antioxidant Transgenes On Experimental Models Of Diabetes., Hainan Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic beta cells are extremely vulnerable to the destruction of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes ROS are involved in the loss of U+000DF-cells. We hypothesized that the deficiency in ROS detoxifying system of U+000DF-cells resulted in U+000DF-cell vulnerability and enhanced ROS protection would protect from diabetes. To test this hypothesis, transgenic mice with overexpression of U+000DF-cell antioxidant protein metallothionein (MT), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase were produced on an FVB background. Initial studies demonstrated that these transgenes did not affect U+000DF-cell normal function and morphology. But those transgenes significantly protected pancreatic islets …

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Panel Iii: The Current State Of Sports And The Media, Mark Conrad, Laurie Basch, David S. Denenberg, Jim Durham, Jerome S. Ebenstein, Brett Goodman, Nicole Coward Dec 2003

Panel Iii: The Current State Of Sports And The Media, Mark Conrad, Laurie Basch, David S. Denenberg, Jim Durham, Jerome S. Ebenstein, Brett Goodman, Nicole Coward

Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

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Maximizing The Capability Of Wireless Sensor Networks, Cory Cress Dec 2003

Maximizing The Capability Of Wireless Sensor Networks, Cory Cress

Theses

Wireless micro-sensors introduce a new frontier in sensing devices and data acquisition capabilities. These sensors, capable of sensing, processing data, and short-range communication, can be spread over regions to form ad hoc wireless sensor networks (WSN) so as to deliver aggregate information from geographically diverse areas. This aggregate data gathering and processing induces a synergistic effect and enables a sensor network to complete sensing tasks that may never be feasible using a single, perhaps powerful, sensor. This new paradigm in sensing devices is not without many fundamental challenges, one being a constrained energy resource, which first need to be solved …

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Second Thoughts: Toward A Critique Of The Digital Divide, David J. Gunkel Dec 2003

Second Thoughts: Toward A Critique Of The Digital Divide, David J. Gunkel

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

This article introduces critical perspective into the discussion of the digital divide, which is commonly defined as the gap separating those individuals who have access to new forms of information technology from those who do not. The analysis is distinguished from other undertakings addressing this matter, insofar as it does not document the empirical problems of unequal access but considers the terminology, logical structure, and form that define and direct work on this important social and ethical issue. The investigation employs the tools of critical theory and targets extant texts, reports, and studies. In this way, the analysis does not …

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Mediating The Model: Women's Microenterprise And Microcredit In Tobago, West Indies, Cheryl A. Levine Dec 2003

Mediating The Model: Women's Microenterprise And Microcredit In Tobago, West Indies, Cheryl A. Levine

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

From the perspectives of economic anthropology, feminist anthropology, and feminist theory, this applied anthropological study is an evaluation of a popular international development model targeting poor women. Based on the celebrated Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, the so-called "microcredit" model is designed as a poverty alleviation strategy to provide small loans to poor women in rural settings and is designed to facilitate microenterprise development. Due to the popularity of the microcredit model with the international development community, it is being replicated in different settings. Through an analysis of microenterprise development among Afro-Caribbean women, this study presents the argument that successful application …

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Determination Of The Optimal Form Of A Dna Vaccine To Induce An Effective Immune Response Against A Murine B-Cell Lymphoma, Deepti Aurora Dec 2003

Determination Of The Optimal Form Of A Dna Vaccine To Induce An Effective Immune Response Against A Murine B-Cell Lymphoma, Deepti Aurora

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tumor vaccines are a promising alternative to chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. To be effective and safe, a cancer vaccine should specifically target antigens expressed only on tumor cells. The B-cell tumor-derived Ig receptor may be considered a model tumor antigen for cancer vaccine development. Specifically the immunoglobulin idiotype (ld) encoded by the variable region genes (VH and VL) provides a target antigen. Promising results have been obtained in clinical studies of ld vaccination using ld proteins. However, ld protein is laborious and time-consuming to produce. Gene-based vaccines, on the other hand, are inexpensive and offer ease of manipulation …

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Study Of Trisodium Borate Formation And Its Reaction With Green Liquor In Partial Autocausticizing, Pasupathy Rajan Subbaiyan Dec 2003

Study Of Trisodium Borate Formation And Its Reaction With Green Liquor In Partial Autocausticizing, Pasupathy Rajan Subbaiyan

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates a new development of autocausticizing the green liquor with trisodium borate. Sodium metaborate (NaBO2) reacts with the sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) in the char bed at 850°C in the recovery furnace to form trisodium borate (Na3BO3) which in tum, when dissolved in water produces sodium hydroxide (NaOH) regenerating sodium metaborate (NaBO2). The main objective of this research is to study the formation of trisodium borate from the reaction of sodium metaborate with sodium carbonate at different molar ratios of carbonate to borate and to determine the …

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Yesterday's Lei Feng And Today's Young People's Liberation Army Soldiers, Che Po Chan Dec 2003

Yesterday's Lei Feng And Today's Young People's Liberation Army Soldiers, Che Po Chan

CAPS Working Paper Series

Lei Feng has been propagandized as a model of emulation for the People's Liberation Army soldiers since the 1960s. This paper uses Lei Feng as a yardstick to measure contemporary young soldiers' general behaviors and orientations. We are interested to find out to what extent contemporary young soldiers have accepted the Chinese Communist Party's political education and have followed the norm set by the Party. It is found that the widely publicized Chinese role model has exerted little influence on contemporary young soldiers. Young soldiers today are utilitarian and materialistic, sharing the same youth culture with most Chinese youths of …

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Water Level Sensor Testing, Stuart Styles, Sarah Herman, Marcus Yasutake, Chuck Keezer Dec 2003

Water Level Sensor Testing, Stuart Styles, Sarah Herman, Marcus Yasutake, Chuck Keezer

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The findings presented here are the continuation of a series of studies begun in 1998 by the Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, California, on behalf of the Mid-Pacific Region of the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to test water level sensors under a variety of hydraulic conditions. This report is intended as a supplement to the original 1999 report, entitled “Water Level Sensor and Datalogger Testing and Demonstration” (ITRC Report No. R-01010), which describes the testing processes in detail and presents detailed results for the first 17 sensors …

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Evaluating Runoff Water Quality And Ammonia Volatilization In Three Turkey Litter Application Methods, Michael Dale Shamblin Dec 2003

Evaluating Runoff Water Quality And Ammonia Volatilization In Three Turkey Litter Application Methods, Michael Dale Shamblin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Poultry litter is an important nutrient source in crop production. However, the traditional practice of broadcasting poultry litter on the soil surface could result in nutrient losses in runoff as well as substantial ammonia volatilization losses, which could adversely affect both the environment and agricultural productivity. This research compared nutrient runoff (natural and simulated) losses on 1 m x 2 m plots and ammonia volatilization from different turkey litter application methods (broadcast, surface-banded, incorporated band, and control) applied in triplicate. No significant differences were observed between any of the treatments in any of the runoff constituents measured. Over three runoff …

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Winter Habitat Use Of Fishes In The Ohio River, Benjamin Ernst Lenz Dec 2003

Winter Habitat Use Of Fishes In The Ohio River, Benjamin Ernst Lenz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Winter is a critical period during which fishes may suffer increased mortality. To identify the habitats that fishes use in large rivers during winter conditions, we electrofished six habitat types in the Belleville Pool, Ohio River. We collected the greatest diversity and numbers of fishes in low-velocity tributary confluences when water temperatures were >4°C. When water temperatures were <4°C, certain species were collected in greater abundance in faster-velocity main channel and back channel habitats while other species continued to associate with lower flows in tributary mouths. Differing habitat use between species obscures broad generalizations about when and how fishes use overwintering refuges. In an additional habitat sampled, an embayment, 85% of all fishes collected were juveniles. Centrarchids, rarely collected in the mainstem portion of the river, were one of the dominant fishes collected in the embayment. Protecting large river embayments may prove important for managing recreational sunfish fisheries.

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Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Movement And Habitat Use In A Headwater Stream Of The Central Appalachian Mountains Of West Virginia, Marisa Nel Logan Dec 2003

Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Movement And Habitat Use In A Headwater Stream Of The Central Appalachian Mountains Of West Virginia, Marisa Nel Logan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are the only salmonid native to the Appalachians. They are a resilient species, populating small, low productive streams. Although such streams have historically been abundant in the Appalachians, brook trout populations have been threatened due to habitat degradation such as logging and acidification of waters. The objective of this study was to evaluate brook trout habitat use, home range, and movement patterns in an Appalachian headwater stream during spring and more specifically high flow events. I implanted brook trout with radio tags and tracked their movement for approximately 30 days during late spring 2002 and early …

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Aquaculture-Related Stress On Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) And Arctic Char (Salvelinus Alpinus), Christopher D. Nelson Dec 2003

Aquaculture-Related Stress On Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) And Arctic Char (Salvelinus Alpinus), Christopher D. Nelson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent expansions in aquaculture characterize it as one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. agricultural sector. Expansion has been facilitated by increased production of many important aquatic species including catfish, salmon, trout, tilapia, shrimp, oysters, and crawfish. West Virginia aquaculture, also an expanding industry, is currently characterized by small-scale, widely dispersed farms. To facilitate future expansion of aquaculture in West Virginia, focuses on product quality as well as production efficiency, identification of limiting factors and investigation into new or alternative management techniques are needed. Objectives of this project were to determine the effects of nitrite and carbon dioxide …

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Designing A Scalable Dynamic Load -Balancing Algorithm For Pipelined Single Program Multiple Data Applications On A Non-Dedicated Heterogeneous Network Of Workstations, Ashraf Osman Dec 2003

Designing A Scalable Dynamic Load -Balancing Algorithm For Pipelined Single Program Multiple Data Applications On A Non-Dedicated Heterogeneous Network Of Workstations, Ashraf Osman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dynamic load balancing strategies have been shown to be the most critical part of an efficient implementation of various applications on large distributed computing systems. The need for dynamic load balancing strategies increases when the underlying hardware is a non-dedicated heterogeneous network of workstations (HNOW). This research focuses on the single program multiple data (SPMD) programming model as it has been extensively used in parallel programming for its simplicity and scalability in terms of computational power and memory size.;This dissertation formally defines and addresses the problem of designing a scalable dynamic load-balancing algorithm for pipelined SPMD applications on non-dedicated HNOW. …

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Investigation Of Initiation Of Reverse Transcription In Retroviruses Using Vectors With Two Primer -Binding Sites, Yegor A. Voronin Dec 2003

Investigation Of Initiation Of Reverse Transcription In Retroviruses Using Vectors With Two Primer -Binding Sites, Yegor A. Voronin

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Initiation of reverse transcription in retroviruses occurs on a specific place in viral genome, called primer-binding site (PBS). Cellular tRNA is annealed to the complementary PBS and is used as a primer. We constructed murine leukemia virus (MLV)-based vectors containing two PBSs, one in normal position and another in the middle of the vector. Green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene was inserted between the two PBSs. The internal PBS was derived from a spleen necrosis virus (SNV), which uses the same tRNA-Pro as a primer. We have shown that the internal PBS was functional for initiation of reverse transcription. Replication of …

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Reducing Of Iron Corrosion In Water Pipelines By Hydrogen Addition, Feraih Sh. Alenazey Dec 2003

Reducing Of Iron Corrosion In Water Pipelines By Hydrogen Addition, Feraih Sh. Alenazey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Water is provided to the citizenry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the desalination of seawater. The purified water is then transported through extensive pipelines to the cities where it is used. During the process of transport the water becomes polluted with soluble iron.;The corrosion of iron in the pipelines is the result of an oxidation reduction reaction. In that reaction hydrogen ion is reduced and the iron is oxidized. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the electrochemical potential of the hydrogen half-cell reaction can be reduce by dissolution of hydrogen gas in the water. If that value …

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Real-Time Measurement Of Oxides Of Nitrogen From Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, Aparna Aravelli Dec 2003

Real-Time Measurement Of Oxides Of Nitrogen From Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines, Aparna Aravelli

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

New emissions regulations and performance requirements imposed on modern diesel engines encourage the development of improved tools for emissions measurements. This study investigated one of the improved tools for NOx emissions measurement. Objectives of this thesis included measurement, comparison and prediction of NOx emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines using two different NOx analyzers. Steady state and transient tests were conducted on six heavy-duty diesel engines in the WVU Engine and Emissions Research Center (EERC). NOx emissions were measured using a conventional Rosemount NOx analyzer and a Cambustion fast response NOx analyzer. The Rosemount analyzer sampled dilute emissions whereas the fast …

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Generalized Nowhere Zero Flow, Jingjing Chen Dec 2003

Generalized Nowhere Zero Flow, Jingjing Chen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Let G be an undirected graph, A be an (additive) abelian group and A* = A - {lcub}0{rcub}. A graph G is A-connected if G has an orientation D(G) such that for every function b : V(G ) A satisfying Sv∈VG b(v) = 0, there is a function f : E(G) A* such that at each vertex v ∈ V(G), ∂f(v), the net flow out from v, equals b( v). An A-nowhere-zero-flow (abbreviated as A-NZF) in G is a function f : E(G) A* such that at each vertex v ∈ V(G), ∂f(v) = 0.;In this paper, we investigate the …

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Crack Detection Technique For Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks, Indumathi Chera Dec 2003

Crack Detection Technique For Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks, Indumathi Chera

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study describes the instrumentation and test results of a reinforced concrete bridge deck constructed on 3-span continuous steel girders. The instrumented bridge is located in Evansville, West Virginia at the intersection of US Route 50 East and WV 92 South. An instrumentation system is developed and implemented specifically to measure and monitor the growth of cracks along the wheel path. The system consists of 30 crack-meters embedded in concrete over the bottom layer of the reinforcement. The crack-meter readings are automatically collected every 20 minutes together with the readings from other sensors that were placed in concrete and on …

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Adding Liveness Detection To The Hand Geometry Scanner, Musat C. Crihalmeanu Dec 2003

Adding Liveness Detection To The Hand Geometry Scanner, Musat C. Crihalmeanu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In today's dynamic society, the efficiency of the Biometric Systems has an increasing tendency to replace the classic but obsolete keys and passwords. Hand Geometry Readers are popular biometrics used for Access and Control applications. One of their weaknesses is vulnerability to spoofing using fake hands (latex, play-doh or dead-hands).;The objective of this thesis is to design a feature to be added to the Hand Geometry Scanner in order to detect vitality in the hand, reducing spoofing possibilities.;This thesis demonstrates how the Hand Reader was successfully spoofed and shows the implementation of the live detection feature through an inexpensive but …

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Evaluation Of 4.75 Mm Superpave Mix Criteria For West Virginia, David Diazgranados Diaz Dec 2003

Evaluation Of 4.75 Mm Superpave Mix Criteria For West Virginia, David Diazgranados Diaz

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this research was to evaluate design parameters for 4.75 mm nominal maximum aggregate size mixes, NMAS, in West Virginia. This research was divided in two phases. During Phase I, evaluation of Superpave criteria for 4.75 mm LAMAS mixes, a variety of 4.75 mm NMAS limestone mixes were developed following Superpave methodology for low traffic volume. In Phase II, natural sand evaluation for 4.75 mm mixes; three approved Marshall designs were obtained from the WVDOT. Two of the mixes contained natural sand and the other was a 100 percent limestone mix. The Marshall mix designs were verified and …

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Parametric Modeling Of Bolted Joints Between Components Made Of Particulate Composite Materials, Vasudha Goteti Dec 2003

Parametric Modeling Of Bolted Joints Between Components Made Of Particulate Composite Materials, Vasudha Goteti

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Particulate metal matrix composites (MMC) exhibit higher stiffness, strength and wear resistance compared to metal alloys. They exhibit superior compressive and buckling strength because of their higher plastic modulus. MMC's can operate at very higher temperatures than fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Their isotropic behavior and forming ability by conventional methods makes them a better choice for low-cost applications. They have good thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity and low thermal expansion.;The main objective of this study is to predict numerically the stress distributions around the hole in a bolted joint made of particulate metal matrix composite and to investigate the associated load …

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Relational Project Modeling And Risk Projection Framework, Brian D. Gould Dec 2003

Relational Project Modeling And Risk Projection Framework, Brian D. Gould

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The relational project modeling and risk projection framework enables a projection of the consequences of initial project schedules and schedule changes with respect to risk realization in resource constrained project environments, and the identification of unrecognized schedule risks implied by those schedules.

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Simplified Live-Load Moment Distribution Factors For Simple Span Slab On I-Girder Bridges, Wesley D. Hevener Dec 2003

Simplified Live-Load Moment Distribution Factors For Simple Span Slab On I-Girder Bridges, Wesley D. Hevener

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary goal of this effort is to identify and assess various methods of computing live load distribution factors and to use the results of laboratory and field tests to compare these methods. It is further a goal of this work to use these methods to perform a parametric study over a wide range of typical slab on steel I-girder bridges to assess the accuracy of both the AASHTO Standard and AASHTO LRFD specifications and to propose an empirical model that correlates better with the analytical results within the range of parameters that are to be studied.;These studies include: (1) …

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Characterization And Recommendations For The Remediation Of Acid Mine Drainage Impacted Streams, Patrick F. Hudnall Dec 2003

Characterization And Recommendations For The Remediation Of Acid Mine Drainage Impacted Streams, Patrick F. Hudnall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Beaver Creek watershed (located in West Virginia) has been severely impacted by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from surface mining operations. Water quality was monitored via water quality grab samples, in-situ water quality monitoring devices (YSI Sondes), and fish and macroinvertebrate community sampling. High concentrations of metal ions (Fe, Mn, Al, and SO 4) and acidity along with low pH and alkalinity values were observed from water quality sampling sites. The water quality data collected from the in-situ monitoring devices and fish and macroinvertebrate sampling supported the findings from the water quality grab sampling. Recommendations were made for the remediation, …

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Laboratory Experiments In Thermal Sciences, Christopher K. Jackson Dec 2003

Laboratory Experiments In Thermal Sciences, Christopher K. Jackson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Study of the basic sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, etc.) requires experimental verification to support the theory developed in the classroom. Engineering solutions are the same in their need for verification. In an academic environment this verification comes in the form of laboratory courses. The link to applications is equally important as the demonstration of theory. This is especially true for engineering disciplines due to the nature of tasks engineers are expected to successfully complete in industry. It is vital for the engineer's career that he/she can successfully apply the background theory learned in university study to real world applications.;The Department …

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Dynamic Response Evaluation Of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Bridge Decks And Bridges, Chandra Sekhar Jinka Dec 2003

Dynamic Response Evaluation Of Fiber-Reinforced Composite Bridge Decks And Bridges, Chandra Sekhar Jinka

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite bridge decks are gaining attention of bridge owners because of their light self weight, corrosion resistance and ease of installation. The lighter weight and lower stiffness of the FRP decks combined with the lower level of damping (than concrete) can lead to excessive deck vibrations and may substantially increase the dynamic amplification of induced stress and deflections. Also, a global NDE technique using dynamic characterization is necessary to ensure the long term performance of FRP bridges. Therefore, an extensive study on FRP decks and FRP bridges is carried out both at laboratory and in the …

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