Engineering Commons^™

Acuta Enews February 1995, Vol. 24, No. 2

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Board Report

President's message

ACUTA hires Computer Services Administrator

Peer presentations at Maui

DC at a glance

From ACUTA Headquarters

Acuta Enews January 1995, Vol. 24, No. 1

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Board Report

President's message

Telecom Resources Library Update

Developing a campus telecom plan

Precautions combat

phone fraud

DC at a glance

A Staggered-Diamond Design For Automated/Manual-Hov Highway-To-Highway Interchanges And Constraints On Ahs Design For Accommodating Automated Highway Change, Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

This paper consists of two components. The First component addresses a key AHS infrastructure support issue—providing eight extra connector ramps, in addition to the eight existing highway-to-highway connector ramps for the conventional manual traffic, at a highway-to-highway interchange for accommodating continuous automated driving from one highway to the crossing highway. The proposed staggered-diamond design requires only four, instead of eight, separate structures and hence greatly increases the feasibility of AHS infrastructure support. However, the reduced infrastructure complexity at such interchanges could still constrain considerably the design, operation and evolution of AHS. This is the focus of the second component. The …

Stage Definition For Ahs Deployment And An Ahs Evolutionary Scenario, Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

Pros and cons of various mature Automated Highway Systems (AHS) have been a subject of intense study. However, such discussions are nothing but intellectual exercises unless the issue of how to evolve, in a planned and managed fashion, the current highway systems towards these mature AHS is also addressed. Since full functionality of a mature AHS cannot be realized suddenly, discrete functional steps must be identified and optimized. This paper defines an evolutionary stage towards a mature AHS as any discernible functional increment whose realization may encounter considerable difficulties requiring a significant amount of conscious effort to overcome. A good …

Linearly-Constrained Entropy Maximization Problem With Quadratic Costs And Its Applications To Transportation Planning Problems, Shu-Cherng Fang, Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

Many transportation problems can be formulated as a linearly-constrained convex programming problem whose objective function consists of entropy functions and other cost-related terms. In this paper, we propose an unconstrained convex programming dual approach to solving these problems. In particular, we focus on a class of linearly-constrained entropy maximization problem with quadratic cost, study its Lagrangian dual, and provide a globally convergent algorithm with a quadratic rate of convergence. The theory and algorithm can be readily applied to the trip distribution problem with quadratic cost and many other entropy-based formulations, including the conventional trip distribution problem with linear cost, the …

Creep Fatigue, Part Iii: Diercks Equation: Modification And Applicability, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Creep-fatigue data of low allow steels were compiled from international sources, and trends in creep-fatigue behavior were identified in Paper I. Methods of life prediction and their trends were examined in Paper II with respect to compiled data. Diercks equation, a multivariate creep-fatigue life extrapolation equation, for SS, 304, in terms of strain range, temperature, hold time and strain rate parameters is modified and extended to the life prediction of low alloy steels in this paper.

Applicability Of Modified Diercks Equation With Nrim Data, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

The applicability of the modified Diercks equation (MDE) was assessed with elevated temperature low cycle fatigue (ETLCF) data generated by the National Research Institute for Metals (NRIM) for lCr-Mo-V, 1.25Cr-Mo, 2.25Cr-Mo and 9Cr-lMo steels respectively. The modified Diercks equation was assessed with data generated with symmetrical, slow-fast and hold-time waveforms for low alloy steels. The following characteristics were observed: Symmetrical waveforms: Five strain rates were used with these waveforms where predicted life was by a factor of ± x2 for 77%, 87%, 82% and 92% of data points for lCr-Mo-V, 1.25Cr-Mo, 2.25Cr-Mo and 9CrlMo steels respectively. Slow-fast waveforms: Diercks equation …

Creep Fatigue, Part Ii: Creep Fatigue Life Prediction: Methods And Trends, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Creep-fatigue data of low allow steels were compiled from international sources, and trends in creep-fatigue behavior were identified in Paper I. This paper reviews the methods of creep-fatigue life prediction that were assessed from the compiled data. The methods reviewed in this paper are phenomenological in nature. However, an empirical method has also been discussed which offers very high reliability of the prediction capability. Various test requirements, from which material parameters are determined for each method, have been tabulated. No single method has been generalized as a best method of life prediction for all types of creep-fatigue test conditions.

Creep Fatigue, Part I: Compilation Of Data And Trends In The Creep-Fatigue Behavior Of Low Alloy Steels, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper describes an attempt to compile the creep-fatigue data of low alloy steels. In part I, international data have been collected to compare the variability that exists in a particular low alloy steel when characterized in different laboratories. From this work of compilation, trends in the creep-fatigue behavior of low alloy steels have been identified in Part II of this paper and a review of life prediction methods and assessments will be discussed in subsequent papers. The creep-fatigue behavior, in general, improved with the increase in chromium content; however, when additional alloying elements were added to a standard alloy …

Using Matlab To Illustrate The 'Phenomenon Of Aliasing', Sol Neeman, Ph.D.

Engineering Studies Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The phenomenon of aliasing is important when sampling analog signals. In cases where the signal is bandlimited, one can avoid aliasing by ensuring that the sampling rate is higher than the Nyquist rate . But in cases where the signal is not bandlimited , aliasing is unavoidable if the signal is not filtered before it is sampled. It is then crucial to understand the phenomenon in order to estimate the distortion generated when the signal is reconstructed from its samples. Using the software package MATLAB by MathWorks, Inc ., two examples are presented. The first is a pure sinusoid which …

Creep-Fatigue Life Prediction - A Ductility Model, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Creep-fatigue life prediction methods are briefly reviewed. Phenomenological methods of life prediction are very popular, since they use several test and metallographic parameters in model formulation. They also require numerous test parameters determined from specialized tests. Requirements of phenomenological methods have been summarized. Ductility measurement and modeling aspects have been reviewed. A new model has been developed with the assumption that with increasing fatigue cycles the ductility gradually decreases and the specimen fails as a result of exhaustion of ductility. This has been achieved in terms of dynamic viscosity (product of stress and cycle time), equated with material toughness, which …

Variance And Uncertainty Measures Of Population Diversity Dynamics, Mark A. Bedau, Martin Zwick, Alan Bahm

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

We define variance and uncertainty measures of population diversity. Both measures have precise decompositions that we can exploit in analysis of evolutionary dynamics. We discuss how these measures are related and how they can be observed in artificial and natural evolving systems.

Retrieval Of Atmospheric Turbidity Coefficiant And Water Column Density Fro Solar Irradiance Data, Felix Tendeku

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Ground-based measurement of solar irradiance has been made using a spectroradiometer at wavelengths inapx-water absorption band. An algorithm is formulated to retrieve simultaneously the atmospheic water column density and Angstrom's turbidity coefficient. The transmission models used to account for the contribution from diverse atmospheic absorbing and scattering elements are presented.

Comparing Traditional Statistical Models With Neural Network Models: The Case Of The Relation Of Human Performance Factors To The Outcomes Of Military Combat, William Oliver Hedgepeth

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Statistics and neural networks are analytical methods used to learn about observed experience. Both the statistician and neural network researcher develop and analyze data sets, draw relevant conclusions, and validate the conclusions. They also share in the challenge of creating accurate predictions of future events with noisy data.

Both analytical methods are investigated. This is accomplished by examining the veridicality of both with real system data. The real system used in this project is a database of 400 years of historical military combat. The relationships among the variables represented in this database are recognized as being hypercomplex and nonlinear.

The …

Issues In Developing An Undergraduate Simulation Course, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Experience in developing an undergraduate simulation course is described. The course introduces the philosophies, principles, and methodologies for discrete-event simulation modeling. Strategy in choosing the course simulation software is discussed, plus important areas of teaching emphasis are highlighted.

Simulation Project Characteristics In Industrial Settings, Paul Savory

Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

In a survey of practitioners of discrete-event simulation from industry and research institutes who "build models for money," we asked about project goals, user backgrounds and training, organizational types and activities, software and hardware choices, modeling team composition, and effort allocation within a modeling project. We found that (1) only about half of the practitioners have three or more years experience, (2) many academics feel strongly affiliated with their industry clients rather than with their university employers, (3) shop-floor supervisors rarely lead simulation projects, even though their knowledge of the system may be unparalleled, (4)simulation models are generally described as …

Merits Of The Production Volume Based Similarity Coefficient In Machine Cell Formation, Hamid Seifoddini, Manocher Djassemi

Industrial Technology and Packaging

In this paper, two types of similarity coefficients are compared: (1) the Jaccard's coefficient and (2) the production volume based coefficient. Each is used to form a cellular manufacturing system whose performance will be used as a measure of effectiveness of the similarity coefficient. The sum of intercellular and intracellular material handling costs is used as a criterion for performance evaluation.

Transplanting Manufacturing Power: Observations From Five Years At Fujitsu, Steven M. Miller

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Within a factory, what are the underpinnings of manufacturing power? During my thirty-month residency at Fujitsu's factory in Oyama, Japan, I constantly reflected on this question. The standard view of a factory structure provided by an organization chart was inadequate for summarizing my observations.

Identification Of Success Factors In The Implementation Of Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, Dean Harold Jensen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The review of recent literature showed a clear trend within the manufacturing sector toward the integration of design and production activities through increased application of the computer. The competitive advantages of computer integration were reported, as well as increased risk due to the amount of time and capital expended in system implementation. The identification of computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) success factors may reduce this risk.

Prior efforts to identify success factors for other areas of endeavor showed that success factors tended to vary with the four project phases, but were stable over time within a particular phase. More recently, empirical …

A Nonlinear Dynamic Method For Supporting Large-Scale Decision-Making In Uncertain Environments, Wayne Woodhams

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This research developed a methodology for supporting decision making by reducing uncertainty in decision environments which are too large, dynamic and complex to be treated by traditional quantitative and simulation techniques. These environments are complex because of the free choice associated with human involvement, and the existence of a large number of interrelated factors which influence the outcomes of the decision process. They are dynamic because the ground rules affecting those interrelationships are constantly changing. Uncertainty cannot be treated probabilistically, since identification of a full set of outcomes and factors of influence is not possible.

The venue for the investigation …

Investigation Of The Relationship Between Fuel Injection Nozzle Roto Flow And Hydra Flow And The Engine Torque Of A Diesel Engine, Guang Jin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of reducing diesel engine torque variation by optimizing fuel injection nozzle tip configuration. In order to reduce engine torque variation, test runs were conducted to determine whether fuel injection nozzles affected diesel engine torque. There was a further effort to determine whether a correlation existed between the fuel injection nozzle roto flow and hydra flow, and the engine torque at specified engine speeds.

Engines installed in cotton pickers and tractors were used for this study. Engines, five from the cotton picker and five from the tractor group were chosen randomly …

Perceived Importance Of Iso 9000 Factors As Indicators Of Quality In Industrial Technology Related Programs At Four-Year State Regional Universities, Floyd L. Olson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Industry has often used a quality standard known as ISO 9000. No evidence has been located demonstrating the applicability of an industrial quality model to a singular academic department. The problem of this study was to determine if the guidelines for ISO 9004-2 could have been considered appropriate for Industrial Technology related programs and how they could have been used to indicate quality within such programs.

The purpose of this study was to seek knowledge relating the importance of ISO 9004-2 guidelines to audit and/or improve the quality management of Industrial Technology related departments at 4-year state regional universities. This …

Measurement Of Dust Resistivity And The Effect Of Filter Operating Parameters On Its Value, S Issangya

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Methods of measuring electrical sensitivity of a dust layer have been outlined and the porous electrodes cell was used to measure the electrical resistivity of a dust layer and to determine the influence of various parameters. Dust layer thickness and applied voltage had no influence. Resistivity depended on particle size, packing density, temperature, and air relative humidity. Glass beads and limestone powders of different mean particle sizes were used. Temperature was varied from 20–100 °C and air moisture ranged from dry to near saturation. The results may help in understanding the performance of electrically enhanced fabric filters, which are influenced …

Experimental Investigation On The Use Of Native Biomass As Biosorbents For Metal Pollutant Removal, R Litto

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Waste water treatment is a perrnunent task. Many novel techniques have emerge in recent years and one of them is using biomass in removing heavy- metals. In this research screening and preliminary optimization experi- ments have identified different types of abundant biomass which can accu- mulate heavy metals such as Fe3*, C03•, Cu2+ and ftvm effluent. Cystoseira Myrica has a high uptake ofCr3+ while Sargassum Polycystum has been found to have a high uptake 0fFe3+. Observed biosorption kinet- ics shows rapid initial stage, followed by slower second stage and the amount of material adsorbed increases linearly as its concentration in …

Evaluation Of The Influence Of The Magnetic System In Relays, D Chambega

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The paper evaluates the influence of different cores on the performance of relays. In particular two types ofc-cores, all made from IOW quality mag- netic steel, are considered. The two cores, one butt-constructed and the other interleaved, are mathematically modelled and the tesults are analyzed and obtained experimentally. Then the two sets of results are compared with those ofa c-shaped core of excellent magnetic material with the aim of qualifying the influence of the core material. It is observed that the method of constructing the core also influences the performance.

Design Approach For Small Scale Continuous, Steady State Plants, O Kaunde

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

One of the major steps in the design of a process plant is development of an appiopriate flowsheet. At this step, the technical solutions may be con- sidered in relation to the social and economic factors. In this paper, guide- lines for developing a flowsheet for continuous, steady State process in a developing country environment have been proposed. To illustrate the pro- posed guidelines, a case study involving design of an ethanol distillation plant has been used.

Power Shedding Experiences And Lessons In A Township, Alexander Kyaruzi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper presents how power shedding by taking out one of the trans- former high voltage fuses causes phase imbalance. And for the same elec- nicc,l energy output generator fuel consuntption with unbalanced phases is 12.5% of The fuel consunwtion with balanced phases. Furthermore it is shown thal energy efficient lighting by use of energy efficient bulbs can reduce load shedding.

Improved Heat Transfer By Means Of Steam Injection In A Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger, O Kaunde

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

When designing a heat exchanger; one aims at attaining high heat transfer rates SO as to minimise heat transfer area and therefore the overall cost. This paper presents a method of improving the overall heat travsfer coef- ficient of a conventional shell and tube heal exchanger. The method in- volves injecting steam into the process fluid as it enters the heat exchanger thus effecting mixing of fluid as it travels along the exchanger Tests car- • ried out using this technique showed a significant increase in the overall heat transfer coefficient values.

Polymer Supported Z-N Catalysts For C2h4-Polymerization,I: Development Catalyst Preparation Method, S Mteza

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Substantial improvement of low sensitivity pressure transducers aiming at obtaining a more realistic output signal is discussed. The output signal direct from these transducers has deficiencies of amplitude attenuation and phase lag, thus the measured values are not necessarily the true in- stantaneous values. In order to correct for such shortcomings the unit step response of these transducers is also studied experimentally. A math- ematical model is established based on the experimental results to build up a compensation circuit which is then included in the instrumentation setup to eliminate these deficiencies. The effectiveness of the compensated transducer is demonstrated by …

Multicriteria Mission Route Planning Using A Parallel A* Search, Michael S. Gudaitis

Theses and Dissertations

The Mission Route Planning (MRP) Problem falls into the general class of multicriteria path search problems. Multiple criteria are evaluated to select an optimal aircraft mission route through a hostile environment. Criteria for distance travelled and radar exposure are combined into a single cost function for route evaluation. Radar calculations are performed dynamically. The A* search algorithm is applied to the MRP problem, and a parallel implementation is developed and tested. A unique combination of distributed OPEN lists with a global CLOSED list strategy produced fast execution times on the Paragon. Test cases for scenarios with 15 radars took less …