Engineering Commons^™

Guarding Against Machine Hazards, R. A. Cavaletto

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Successful guarding strategies requires knowledge of machine functions, the physical and psychological characteristics of man, and the their interactions. Machine hazards are identified along with recognized guarding methods. Material is included that could be used to teach this subject (case study, prob!em set, glossary}.

A Transient Electromagnetic Flowmeter, Paul J. Lefebvre, William W. Durgin

Office of the Provost Scholarship

An electromagnetic flowmeter was developed to measure transient flows with a frequency response of 60 Hz. The approach taken was to develop suitable electronics to replace the electronics of a commercially available electromagnetic flowmeter normally used for steady-state operation. Use of the commercially available flowmeter body, which includes the magnetic coils, core, and signal electrodes, provided a relatively economical means of fabricating the transient flowmeter. A transient flow calibration facility consisting of a free-falling water column was also designed and built. Results of the calibrations are presented and show that the flowmeter can accurately measure transient flows up to the …

Shear Layer Coupling With Side-Branch Resonators, D. D. Erickson, William W. Durgin, C. F. Maguire Iii, M. J. Moeller

Office of the Provost Scholarship

High velocity flow past the junction of a side branch with a pipe can result in the excitation of depth-mode standing waves in the branch. The shear layer separating the main stream flow and the cavity provides coupling between the driving and the driven flow. Photographic evidence indicates that large scale vortex structures develop at the shear layer. The vortex formation process involves strongly non-linear instability of the shear layer and may be characterized as a non-linear fluid mechanical oscillator. The standing wave system formed in the cavity is essentially an acoustic wave system of nearly linear character. The principle …

Source Testing Software, Harold M. Cota

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Ifyou have been looking for a way to speed the calculation or reporting of source test data, this month's column will be of interest to you. Included in this review are one commercial program, several noncommercial programs, and a summary of programs that are available for programmable calculators. The author would appreciate knowing of similar programs that you may have developed or used.

Interpretation Of Venous Occlusion Plethysmography Using A Nonlinear Model, F. A. Anderson, Jr., William W. Durgin, H. Brownell Wheeler

Office of the Provost Scholarship

Venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) is a noninvasive technique widely employed for the detection of deep-vein thrombosis. Previous reports that VOP outflow curves are closely fit by a first-order exponential suggest that venous compliance and resistance are nearly constant. Typically, however, the venous compliance function has a sigmoid shape; in addition, the resistance in a collapsing tube must increase. This paradox was resolved by the surprising finding that for realistic nonlinear compliance and resistance these nonlinearities cancel, producing a quasilinear venous outflow that approximates a simple exponential.

Microcomputer Solid Waste Financial Model, Samuel A. Vigil, Jane A. Zevely

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Applications of a microcomputer based solid waste financial model will be described. The model is written as an overlay to the Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program. It makes use of the Lotus 1-2-3 macro programming capabilities and is menu driven, requiring minimal computer skills for use. The model allows engineers to estimate costs for recycling centers, waste-to-energy plants, and landfills. Outputs include summary tables of operational and capital costs, as well as a 20 year proforma income statement. The model was developed for the California Waste Management Board, an agency of the State of California, and will be distributed by them.

State-Feedback Control Of Non-Linear Systems, Stanislaw H. Żak, Carl A. Maccarley

Electrical Engineering

A design method for state-feedback controllers for single-input non-linear systems is proposed. The method makes use of the transformations of the non-linear system into ‘controllable-like’ canonical forms. The resulting non-linear state feedback is designed in such a way that the eigenvalues of the linearized closed-loop model are invariant with respect to any constant operating point. The method constitutes an alternative approach to the design methodology recently proposed by Baumann and Rugh. Also a review of different transformation methods for non-linear systems is presented. An example and simulation results of different control strategies are provided to illustrate the design technique.

Evaluation Of Two Models For Light Transmission In Biological Materials, R. A. Cavaletto, S. Upadhyaya, M. O'Brien, T. Cahill

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Two light transmission models for biological materials are developed and evaluated. The energy balance model showed promise. It's developed as a 3 coefficient model permitting varied sample absorption and scattering properties. The second model performed unsatisfactorily.

Ultrasonic Fluid Measurement, William Durgin

Office of the Provost Scholarship

Objective: Determination of liquid quantity and configuration under static and dynamic conditions.
Important for: consumption resupply manufacturing

Utilization Of Electronic Spreadsheets For Laboratory Data Analysis, C. F. Maguire Iii, William W. Durgin

Office of the Provost Scholarship

The utilization of business spreadsheets for laboratory data manipulation is discussed. The spreadsheet, LOTUS 1-2-3, is presently being utilized to store and analyze data obtained from a deep cavity resonator type apparatus. Methodology for the analysis, from non dimensionalization of parameters, to relevant plotting of data pairs, is presented. All discussions are based upon current theory, and laboratory observations of flow induced resonance in deep cavities.

New Specimen Design For Studying The Growth Of Small Fatigue Cracks With Surface Acoustic Waves, Blair London

Materials Engineering

The study of small surface fatigue cracks in AISI 4140 quenched and tempered steel by a nondestructive surface acoustic wave technique is summarized. A novel cantilevered bending, plate-type fatigue specimen is described that is compatible with the acoustic method. Small cracks are initiated from a 25-μm deep surface pit produced by an electrospark machine. The importance of studying these

Method And Apparatus For Generating Electrical Energy From A Heated Gas Containing Carbon Particles, Samuel A. Vigil, Rick B. Spielman

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Carbon particles entrained in the gas flow into a magnetohydrodynamic generator are electrostatically charged from a source of high voltage and then function as charge carriers in the MHD process. Lower flow temperatures may be used and seeding with alkali metal salts is unnecessary as the MHD process becomes independent of thermal ionization of constituents of the gas flow.

Noninvasive Detection Of Arterial Occlusive Disease: A Theoretical And Model Study, Lauren I. Stratouly, William W. Durgin, Frederick A. Anderson Jr., H. Brownell Wheeler

Office of the Provost Scholarship

To develop a noninvasive method of detecting arterial occlusive disease, pulse waveforms were recorded at two locations on the lower extremities of young normal volunteers and patients with arteriographically confirmed arterial occlusive disease. Pulses were monitored using impedance plethysmography at the knee· and the iliac regions. The frequency spectra of the abnormal iliac waveforms contained 4-5 harmonics as compared to the 2-3 harmonics present in normals'. It was hypothesized that the occurrence of high frequencies resulted from pulse wave interactions with diseased portions of the vessel. This paper will present the results of a theoretical and experimental model developed to …

Solid Waste Resource Recovery Alternatives, U.S. Facility, Subic Bay, Philippines, Samuel A. Vigil, R. M. Roberts, Donald E. Brunner

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The U.S. Navy Public Works Center, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines (PWC Subic Bay) is responsible for the collection and disposal of almost 300,000 yd³ of solid waste annually. A portion of this solid waste is manually sorted and recycled, resulting in gross revenues of over $200,000 in FY82. The present manual sorting and recycling system is considered by PWC Subic Bay to be inadequate in terms of sanitation, safety, and recyclable materials recovery. Therefore , PWC Subic Bay requested that the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory (NCEL) study the system and recommend improvements.

Applications Of Optical Emission Spectroscopy To Semiconductor Processing, Richard N. Savage, John G. Shabushnig, Paul R. Demko

Materials Engineering

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) has proven to be a valuable tool in the developmrent and production of state-of-the-art semiconductor devices. Application to the plasma etching of a variety of materials necessary for integrated circuit fabrication is discussed, with particular emphasis placed on etch endpoint analysis. The utility of OES techniques in monitoring photolithographic processes is also presented.

Evaluation Of Micro Irrigation Systems, Charles M. Burt, Robert E. Walker, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

No abstract provided.

A Light Transmission Model For Biological Materials, R. A. Cavaletto, Shrinivasa Upadhyaya, Michael O'Brien

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper describes a model to predict light transmission in biological materials. The model can be used for any shaped sample. Scattering and absorption coefficients are used in the model and may be varied throughout the sample, thus allowing both uniformly distributed and concentrated defects to be modelled.

Guarding Of Table Saws With Light Beams: The Light Guard Concept, R. A. Cavaletto, M. S. Kaminaka, C. M. Zahner

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This paper describes a unique type of psychological safety guard for hazardous tools such as table saws, presses. and other tools with areas and components which are dangerous to human fingers, hands, and limbs. It is not a piece of hardware but rather a shalt of light which defines a danger zone around the saw blade or cutting area.

Method For Stemming Tomatoes, Henry F. Studer, R. A. Cavaletto, Gene Giacomelli

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Method and apparatus for de-stemming picked tomatoes. Each tomato is introduced into the upper end of a generally vertically disposed, open-ended, resilient, open-mesh fabric tube, a substantial portion of which approximates but is larger than the diameter of the tomato. The stem penetrates into and through the open mesh at some point, the open areas being somewhat larger than the stem, while the tomato continues to fall, thereby exerting a bending moment on the stem that snaps the stem from the fruit. The tomato, free from its stem, is discharged from a lower end of the tube.

Low Technology Recycling And Rdf System At The U.S. Facility, Subic Bay, Philippines, Samuel A. Vigil, Donald E. Brunner

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The U.S. Facility Subic Bay is located about 50 miles east of Manila, on the East China Sea. The Facility consists of seven major Naval installations. The Facility is essentially a large commercial/industrial complex. The Public Works Center (PWC) Subic Bay is the public works agency responsible for the collection and disposal of the solid waste produced by the facility. A portion of the solid waste is manually sorted and recycled. Although the present manual sorting and recycling system is effective, PWC Subic Bay feels that it can be improved. Therefore , the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory (NCEL) was requested …

Performance And Economic Feasibility Of A Sludge/Wastepaper Gasifier System, N. W. Sorbo, George Tchobanoglous, John R. Goss, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Thermal gasification of densified sludge/wastepaper fuels has been shown to be technically feasible for the co-disposal of sludge and source-separated wastepaper. The performance and economic feasibility of a downdraft packed-bed gasifier system fueled with densified sludge/wastepaper and wastepaper fuels has been evaluated.

To assess the performance of the gasifier, a series of gasifier runs were conducted at various air input rates with the use of various densified fuels. In eight of the runs, a densified fuel consisting of 20 percent lagoon-dried sludge and 80 percent recycled wastepaper was used; in five runs, densified wastepaper cubes were used. Gaseous and particulate …

A Basic Computer Program For The Gaussian Equation For A Point Source, Harold M. Cota

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Many readers now are using microcomputers in their work. The advantages of these inexpensive and powerful tools are being recognized by both industry and universities. Microcomputers can be used in lengthy calculations, simulations, data collection and handling, and word processing. Programming these computers can be done in numerous languages such as Basic, Fortran and Pascal. It is often possible to find commercial programs or software available to handle a given application. There are a growing number of programs published which are now in the public domain. Only a limited number of programs dealing with air pollution problems are available ready …

Modeling Of Purge Valve Closure, William W. Durgin, Benito Zannini

Office of the Provost Scholarship

In some nuclear reactor containment isolation applications, butterfly valves with pneumatic actuators are used to close pipelines in the event of containment pressure transients resulting from postulated accidents. A model is developed which predicts the closure time history of such valve/actuator systems under prescribed transients. Examples are presented which show the importance of the valve and actuator characteristics. It was found that actuation delays of sufficient magnitude could allow the dynamic torque to exceed the available actuator torque, thus preventing valve closure.

Augmentation Of Free Surface Heat And Mass Transfer Due To Electrostatic Fields, Alan F. Smelewicz, Mark P. Majcher, James B. Nystrom, William W. Durgin

Office of the Provost Scholarship

Experiments were conducted to measure heat transfer rates and mass transfer rates from a water surface in the presence of electrostatic fields of various strengths generated between the water surface and a wire grid above the surface.

Heat transfer rates were determined by the temperature decay after heating the test and control basins. Mass transfer rates were determined by measuring the water loss while holding the basins at fixed temperatures.

It was found that very little increase in transfer coefficients took place for voltages below an onset voltage which depended on atmospheric conditions and test geometry. The heat transfer coefficient …

An Update On College And University Programs In Air Pollution Control, Harold M. Cota

Civil and Environmental Engineering

A survey of academic programs in air pollution control was made. Results from the 127 schools reporting are tabulated by state. Faculty involved in air pollution instruction are identified. Some conclusions and recommendations are presented.

Gasification Of Densified Sludge And Wastepaper In A Downdraft Packed-Bed Gasifier, George Tchobanoglous, Nelson W. Sorbo, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The co-disposal of densified sludge and wastepaper in a co-current flow packed bed gasifier represents new application of the thermal gasification process. Advantages of this technology include lower costs than other incineration or pyrolysis technologies, simple construction and operation, and the ability to use a variety of fuels including agricultural wastes and other biomass materials in addition to densified sludge and wastepaper.

Thermal Gasification Of Densified Sewage Sludge And Solid Waste, Samuel A. Vigil, George Tchobanoglous

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Disposing of sewage sludge in an economical and environmentally acceptable manner is a problem for all communities that have wastewater treatment plants , Similarly , many communities are having to dispose of increasing quantities of solid waste. These problems could be solved by co-disposal of sludge and solid waste in a common facility. This study, a condensation of the original report, presents results of an experimental program on the feasibility of gasifying densified sludge and source-separated solid waste.

Speciation Of Cr (Iii) And Cr (Vi) Via Reversed Phase Hplc With Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopic Detection (Hplc-Icp)24, Richard N. Savage, I. S. Krull, D. Bushee, R. G. Schleicher, S. B. Smith, Jr.

Materials Engineering

Chromium ions, viz., chromic (Cr⁺³ = III) and chromate (Cr⁺⁶ = VI), can be reliably, conveniently, reproducibly, and quickly separated and detected by the use of conventional paired-ion, reversed phase (RP) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) together with refractive index (RI) and/or inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopic (ICP) detection. A number of novel paired-ion approaches have now been developed, using PIC A (tetrabutylammonium hydroxide) or PIC B (sodium n-alkyl sulfonate) separately in the mobile phase. This allows for the retention of each Cr species depending on the particular ion pairing reagent being used, while the remaining Cr ion …

The Use Of Appropriate Technologies For Biomass Waste Conversion In Small Communities, Samuel A. Vigil, Douglas W. Williams, Robert E. Spitzka, Hilary M. Theisen

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper will describe several simple, appropriate technologies for biomass waste conversion which can be applied in rural or small community settings. Technologies to be discussed include ethanol production from cannery wastes with a mobile fermentor/still, production of low-energy fuel gas from agricultural and municipal wastes. Each of the technologies will be briefly discussed below.

Final Project Report: Development Of A Hydrogen Fueled Transit Vehicle, C. A. Maccarley

Electrical Engineering

No abstract provided.