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Articles 1 - 14 of 14

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Energy Efficiency Of Hydrogen Sulfide Decomposition In A Pulsed Corona Discharge Reactor, Morris D. Argyle, Sanil John, Jerry C. Hamann, Suresh S. Muknahallipatna, Stanislaw Legowski, John F. Ackerman Dec 2009

Energy Efficiency Of Hydrogen Sulfide Decomposition In A Pulsed Corona Discharge Reactor, Morris D. Argyle, Sanil John, Jerry C. Hamann, Suresh S. Muknahallipatna, Stanislaw Legowski, John F. Ackerman

Faculty Publications

A novel pulsed corona wire-in-tube reactor with quartz view-ports allowed visual observation of the effect of charge voltage and gas composition on the corona distribution. The H2S conversion and energy efficiency of H2S decomposition in this pulsed corona discharge reactor varied at constant power due to the selected values of the electrical parameters of pulse forming capacitance, charge voltage, and pulse frequency. Low pulse forming capacitance, low charge voltage, and high pulse frequency operation produce the highest energy efficiency of H2S conversion at constant power. H2S conversion is more efficient in Ar-N2 gas mixtures than in Ar or N2. these …


Compact Trench-Based Silicon-On-Insulator Rib Waveguide Ring Resonator With Large Free Spectral Range, Seunghyun Kim, Gregory P. Nordin, Weisheng Hu, Yusheng Qian, Jiguo Song, Gregory L. Wojcik Dec 2009

Compact Trench-Based Silicon-On-Insulator Rib Waveguide Ring Resonator With Large Free Spectral Range, Seunghyun Kim, Gregory P. Nordin, Weisheng Hu, Yusheng Qian, Jiguo Song, Gregory L. Wojcik

Faculty Publications

We demonstrate a compact trench-based silicon-on-insulator (SOI) rib waveguide ring resonator comprised of trench-based bends and splitters. It has a perimeter of 50 μm and occupies an area of only 25×25 μm. The measured free spectral range (FSR) is 13.2 nm, which the largest reported for an SOI rib waveguide ring resonator. The measured FSR, full width at half maximum, and quality factor match reasonably well with analytical calculations. Further calculation shows that a FSR of 50.8 nm is achievable for an SOI rib waveguide ring resonator with a perimeter of 15 μm.


Improved Implementation Of Kirkwood-Buff Solution Theory In Periodic Molecular Simulations, Joseph W. Nichols, Stan G. Moore, Dean R. Wheeler Nov 2009

Improved Implementation Of Kirkwood-Buff Solution Theory In Periodic Molecular Simulations, Joseph W. Nichols, Stan G. Moore, Dean R. Wheeler

Faculty Publications

Kirkwood-Buff (KB) solution theory is a means to obtain certain thermodynamic derivatives from knowledge of molecular distributions. In actual practice the required integrals over radial distribution functions suffer inaccuracies due to finite-distance truncation effects and their use in closed systems. In this work we discuss how best to minimize these inaccuracies under traditional KB theory. In addition we implement a method for calculating KB quantities in molecular simulations with periodic boundary conditions and particularly within the canonical ensemble. The method is based on a finite-Fourier-series expansion of molecular concentration fluctuations and leads to more reliable results for a given computational …


In-Plane All-Photonic Transduction With Differential Splitter Using Double-Step Rib Waveguide For Photonic Microcantilever Arrays, Ryan Anderson, Seunghyun Kim, Gregory P. Nordin, Jong Wook Noh, Weisheng Hu Oct 2009

In-Plane All-Photonic Transduction With Differential Splitter Using Double-Step Rib Waveguide For Photonic Microcantilever Arrays, Ryan Anderson, Seunghyun Kim, Gregory P. Nordin, Jong Wook Noh, Weisheng Hu

Faculty Publications

We report a differential splitter consisting of an asymmetric double-step multimode rib waveguide and a Y-branch splitter for in-plane photonic transduction of photonic microcantilever deflection. Arrays of photonic microcantilevers are integrated with differential splitters and an optical waveguide network to demonstrate uniformity and sensitivity of transduction. Measurement results from multiple arrays indicate a sensitivity of 0.32 x 10-3 nm-1 and minimum detectable deflection of 141 pm for a 3.5 Hz measurement bandwidth.


New Low-Complexity Equalizers For Offset Qpsk, Qiang Lei, Michael D. Rice Sep 2009

New Low-Complexity Equalizers For Offset Qpsk, Qiang Lei, Michael D. Rice

Faculty Publications

Reduced-complexity linear and decision-feedback equalizers for use with offset QPSK are described and analyzed. The analysis and simulations show that reduced-complexity equalizers have 1/4 the complexity and achieve this at a loss that depends on the channel. As an example, the loss for the “Proakis B” channel is 2.7 dB for the linear equalizer and 0.8 dB for the decision feedback equalizer.


Performance Flight Testing Of Small Electric Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Jon N. Ostler, W. Jerry Bowman, Deryl O. Snyder, Timothy W. Mclain Sep 2009

Performance Flight Testing Of Small Electric Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Jon N. Ostler, W. Jerry Bowman, Deryl O. Snyder, Timothy W. Mclain

Faculty Publications

Flight testing methods are developed to find the drag polar for small unmanned aerial vehicles powered by electric motors with fixed-pitch propellers. Wind tunnel testing was used to characterize the propeller-motor efficiency. The drag polar was constructed using data from flight tests. This drag polar was then used to find the following performance parameters: maximum velocity, minimum velocity, velocity for maximum range, velocity for maximum endurance, maximum rate of climb, maximum climb angle, minimum turn radius, maximum turn rate, and maximum bank angle. The developed flight testing methods are used to characterize the performance of a small UAV.


Lamina Emergent Torsion (Let) Joint, Joseph O. Jacobsen, Guimin Chen, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby Jul 2009

Lamina Emergent Torsion (Let) Joint, Joseph O. Jacobsen, Guimin Chen, Larry L. Howell, Spencer P. Magleby

Faculty Publications

Part of the challenge in designing compliant mechanisms is finding suitable joints that provide the needed motion and force-deflection characteristics. The Lamina Emergent Torsional (LET) Joint is presented as a compliant joint suited for applications where large angular rotation is desired, but high off-axis stiffness is not as critical. The joint is introduced and the equations necessary for determining the force-deflection characteristics are presented. Since the LET Joint can be fabricated from a single planar layer, it is well suited for macro and micro applications. Illustrative examples are provided with devices fabricated from materials as diverse as steel, polypropylene, and …


Dynamics And Control Of Cable-Drogue System In Aerial Recovery Of Micro Air Vehicles Based On Gauss's Principle, Liang Sun, Randal W. Beard, Mark B. Colton, Timothy W. Mclain Jun 2009

Dynamics And Control Of Cable-Drogue System In Aerial Recovery Of Micro Air Vehicles Based On Gauss's Principle, Liang Sun, Randal W. Beard, Mark B. Colton, Timothy W. Mclain

Faculty Publications

This paper presents a new concept for aerial recovery of Micro Air Vehicles (ARMAVs) using a large mothership and a recovery drogue. The mothership drags a drogue attached to a cable and the drogue is controlled to match the flight patten of the MAV. This paper uses Gauss’s Principle to derive the dynamic model of the cable-drogue systems. A controllable drogue plays a key role in recovering MAVs in windy conditions. We develop a control approach for the drogue using its drag coefficient. Simulation results based on multilink cable-drogue systems present the feasibility of the aerial recovery concept and the …


Ultrasonic Drug Delivery To Tumors Via Stealth Liposomes, Peter Jones, Ghaleb A. Husseini, William G. Pitt, Beverly L. Roeder Apr 2009

Ultrasonic Drug Delivery To Tumors Via Stealth Liposomes, Peter Jones, Ghaleb A. Husseini, William G. Pitt, Beverly L. Roeder

Faculty Publications

Our research develops ultrasonically-controlled drug delivery systems. Previous micellar drug carriers released the drug upon ultrasonication. We have developed a liposomal drug carrier that is even more effective upon insonation in reducing tumors.


Payload Directed Flight Of Miniature Air Vehicles, Randal W. Beard, Clark Taylor, Jeff Saunders, Ryan Holt, Timothy W. Mclain Apr 2009

Payload Directed Flight Of Miniature Air Vehicles, Randal W. Beard, Clark Taylor, Jeff Saunders, Ryan Holt, Timothy W. Mclain

Faculty Publications

This paper describes three applications of payload directed flight using miniature air vehicles: vision-based road following, vision-based target tracking, and vision-based mapping. A general overview of each application is given, followed by simulation and flight-test results. Results demonstrate the viability of utilizing electo-optical video imagery to directly control the air vehicle flight path to enhance performance relative to the sensing objective.


Prediction Of Light Gas Composition In Coal Devolatilization, Ravichandra S. Jupudi, Vladimir Zamansky, Thomas H. Fletcher Jan 2009

Prediction Of Light Gas Composition In Coal Devolatilization, Ravichandra S. Jupudi, Vladimir Zamansky, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

The chemical percolation devolatilization (CPD) model describes the devolatilization behavior of rapidly heated coal based on the chemical structure of the coal. It predicts the overall char, tar, and light gas yields. This paper presents an improved CPD model with improved capability for predicting light gas composition. This is achieved by incorporating a kinetic model that simulates the release of various light gas species from their respective sources/functional groups in coal. The improved CPD model is validated using experiments with a wire mesh reactor and published experimental observations


Demonstration Of Microcantilever Array With Simultaneous Readout Using An In-Plane Photonic Transduction Method, Seunghyun Kim, Gregory P. Nordin, Ryan Anderson, Weisheng Hu, Yusheng Qian, Jiguo Song, Jong Wook Noh Jan 2009

Demonstration Of Microcantilever Array With Simultaneous Readout Using An In-Plane Photonic Transduction Method, Seunghyun Kim, Gregory P. Nordin, Ryan Anderson, Weisheng Hu, Yusheng Qian, Jiguo Song, Jong Wook Noh

Faculty Publications

We demonstrate a microcantilever array with an in-plane photonic transduction method for simultaneous readout of each microcantilever. The array is fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator substrate. Rib waveguides in conjunction with a compact waveguide splitter network comprised of trench-based splitters and trench-based bends route light from a single optical input to each microcantilever on the chip. Light propagates down a rib waveguide integrated into the microcantilever and, at the free end of the microcantilever, crosses a small gap. Light is captured in static asymmetric multimode waveguides that terminate in Y-branches, the outputs of which are imaged onto an InGaAs line scan …


Flame Interactions And Burning Characteristics Of Two Live Leaf Samples, Brent M. Pickett, Carl Isackson, Rebecca Wunder, Thomas H. Fletcher, Bret W. Butler, David R. Weise Jan 2009

Flame Interactions And Burning Characteristics Of Two Live Leaf Samples, Brent M. Pickett, Carl Isackson, Rebecca Wunder, Thomas H. Fletcher, Bret W. Butler, David R. Weise

Faculty Publications

Combustion experiments were performed over a flat-flame burner that provided the heat source for multiple leaf samples. Interactions of the combustion behavior between two leaf samples were studied. Two leaves were placed in the path of the flat-flame burner, with the top leaf 2.5 cm above the bottom leaf. Local gas and particle temperatures, as well as local oxygen concentrations, were measured along with burning characteristics of both leaves. Results showed that the time to ignition of the upper leaf was not significantly affected by the presence of the lower leaf. The major difference observed was that the time of …


Piezoresistive Feedback Control Of A Mems Thermal Actuator, Robert K. Messenger, Quentin Theodore Aten, Timothy W. Mclain, Larry L. Howell Jan 2009

Piezoresistive Feedback Control Of A Mems Thermal Actuator, Robert K. Messenger, Quentin Theodore Aten, Timothy W. Mclain, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

Feedback control of MEMS devices has the potential to significantly improve device performance and reliability. One of the main obstacles to its broader use is the small number of on-chip sensing options available to MEMS designers. A method of using integrated piezoresistive sensing is proposed and demonstrated as another option. Integrated piezoresistive sensing utilizes the inherent piezoresistive property of polycrystalline silicon from which many MEMS devices are fabricated. As compliant MEMS structure’s flex to perform their functions, their resistance changes. That resistance change can be used to transduce the structures’ deflection into an electrical signal. The piezoresistive microdisplacement transducer (PMT) …