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Generalized Predictive Control Of Ship Coupling Motions Using Active Flume Tanks, Abdulkarim Mohammed Alotaiwi

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation uses the Generalized Predictive Control (GPC) approach to design a control system for a ship rolling motion coupled with the sway and yaw using an activated flume tank. GPC is a strategy based on system output prediction over finite horizon known as the prediction horizon. GPC controller is designed from the coefficients of the Autoregressive model with exogenous input (ARX) that are computed directly from input and output data. It computes the future control input based on the cost function with weighted input and output. System identification approach is implemented on the system to find the ARX coefficients …

Boussinesq Model And The Relative Trough Froude Number (Rtfn) For Wave Breaking, Takashi Okamoto

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The relative trough Froude number (RTFN) theory is a new phase-resolving type, wave breaking trigger model introduced by Utku (1999) and Utku and Basco (2002). Based on the moving hydraulic jump concept, this model provides a better implementation of wave breaking in terms of hydrodynamics. Development of computer resources permits the use of the phase-resolving type, Boussinesq wave models in nearshore areas. The Boussinesq equation, however, does not include the physics of wave breaking, so that an additional mechanism is required to initiate wave breaking in the model. The main objective of this study is to develop a new wave …

Examining The Equivalence Of Rater Groups In 360-Degree Feedback For Use In Leadership Development, Amy Fitzgibbons

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study assessed the seldom-considered aspect of measurement equivalence across the three most common rater groups in 360-degree feedback systems. The graded response model for polytomous items was used to assess differential functioning of items and tests and applied to an archival data set of 664 ratees to determine the equivalence of peer, subordinate, and supervisor ratings of four leadership competencies. The results indicate that the leadership competencies were invariant across the three rater groups. The results and conclusions produced are discussed with practical implications in mind.

Proactive Personality And The Big Five As Predictors Of Motivation To Learn, Jonathan E. Turner

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

In an environment of changing psychological contracts, corporate downsizing, and increases in alternative self-paced training delivery channels, motivation to learn is believed to represent a key variable in employee self-development that distinguishes employees who will thrive from those who will not. Predicting this variable, then, becomes an important step in managing workforce development and helping employees help themselves. Therefore, the efficacy of relevant personality characteristics as predictors of motivation to learn was investigated. Proactive personality and the Big Five factors of personality were hypothesized to be predictive of motivation to learn. These personality variables are relevant because they have been …

The Contribution Of Enactments To Structural Family Therapy: A Process Study, Stephanie Fellenberg

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

In an era where the effectiveness of many forms of psychotherapy has been thoroughly examined, the focus of many researchers has shifted from investigating outcome to exploring therapeutic processes. Process studies serve to identify the active ingredients of therapy—that is, those interventions that bring about in-session changes. This process study examines the relationship between the use of enactments, a structural family therapy intervention, and in-session change as observed over the course of the session. Change was measured by the amount of change that occurred in the core problem dynamic, that is, the most prominent pattern of dysfunctional family …

Market Valuation Of Corporate Diversification In The Presence Of Internal Capital Markets In Emerging Countries, Supannee Buasook

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

This study examines the valuation of corporate diversification in three emerging countries: Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Over the period of study (1992–2001 for Thailand and 1994–2001 for Indonesia and the Philippines), it is found that there is evidence of diversification discount in all three countries. The largest amount of discount exists in the Philippines (60.1%), followed by Indonesia (25.5%) and Thailand (15.1%).

Then, the sample is divided into two sub-periods: before the crisis (1992–1996) and after the crisis (1997–2001). Before the crisis, the diversification discount existed only in the Philippines, with the average of 49%. There is not enough …

Overreaction, Heteroscedasticity, And Spillovers In Stock Returns: Evidence From The Kuwait Stock Exchange, Mohammad Yousef Al-Hashel

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

This research examines stocks' returns and volatility in the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE). The research is organized in five chapters. The first chapter provides an introduction of the research, its importance, and its main goals. The second chapter presents a historical background of the KSE and the stages it experienced to reach its current situation. The main goal of this chapter is to pave the road for the subsequent chapters. Then, the third chapter tests the overreaction hypothesis using monthly data for stocks listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange over the 1993–2002 period. Similar to the findings of De Bondt …

Announcement, Spring 2003 Meeting, Florida Ornithological Society

Florida Ornithological Society - Records - Full Collection

Announcement for the Spring 2003 Florida Ornithological Society meeting, including information on location, reservation information, field trips, and events.

An Experimental Study Of Flow Control Techniques On A Multi-Element Airfoil, Ira James Walker

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The results of a wind tunnel experiment are reported, which investigated two different flow control techniques that demonstrated the potential of increasing the lift coefficient on a multi-element airfoil. The data also indicated that boundary-layer separation on the trailing-edge flap could be reduced significantly. Results of the investigation revealed that for some test conditions an increased amount of suction occurred on the upper surface of the main element where the flow was attached. One of the techniques that was tested in this investigation involved the use of a pair of piezoelectric devices attached to the model to provide oscillatory motion …

Distributed Sensor Network For Civil Infrastructure Health Monitoring, Jose Humberto Mata Hernandez

Masters Theses

"This thesis focuses on the development of a robust, low power consumption and cost effective wireless data acquisition, system to be used for civil infrastructure health monitoring. The complete solution that has been developed for this application integrates micro-electromechanical sensing elements (e.g. PVDF sensor); a wireless data acquisition system based on a Bluetooth-enabled radio, a microcontroller with analog to digital conversion capabilities, a power source including a solar cell array for long term operation, and a weatherproof enclosure for on-site installation. The complementary part of the solution is a weatherproof On-site Remote Access Point (ORAP) which collects, stores, and transmits …

Novel Concepts For Monitoring The Stability Of Open Pit Mine Highwalls Using Radar Interferometry And Spectral Imaging, Jami Girard Dwyer

Masters Theses

"Ground control problems at surface mining operations can occur for a variety of reasons. The geologic setting, rock strengths, joint spacing, orientation, pore pressures, and many other factors contribute to slope instabilities that range from small rock falls to massive slides of material. While much of this ground movement can be predicted or controlled, each year many completely unexpected failures occur. This poses serious safety and economic issues for the mining industry, since any unanticipated movement of the ground increases the potential for significant property damage, injuries, and even death. In the United States alone, 70 people died in slope …

Dsp Processor Based Vision Processing And System Integration For Control Of Laser Aided Manufacturing Process (Lamp), Srinivas Musti

Masters Theses

"This thesis presents the research and development of a real-time vision system and integration of various subsystems to build the hybrid system for the Laser aided manufacturing process (LAMP), being developed at the University of Missouri--Rolla. A description of the real-time control architecture, showing the interaction of the real-time controller with various sensors and subsystems to monitor and regulate the process is presented.

Control of melt pool geometry is important for ensuring the final product quality since the bead size significantly influences the joint strength. However, during the deposition process, impurities and the plume present around the pool complicate the …

Harding University Catalog 2003-2004, Harding University

Harding Academic Catalogs

Academic catalog for the undergraduate programs at Harding University.

Harding University Graduate Catalog 2003-2004, Harding University

Harding Academic Catalogs

Academic catalog for the graduate programs at Harding University.