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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Fixed Platform Crane For Equipment Access, Carlos Gonzalez, Steven Hollander, Yue Zhao, Jared Pellegrin, Travis Odom May 2014

Fixed Platform Crane For Equipment Access, Carlos Gonzalez, Steven Hollander, Yue Zhao, Jared Pellegrin, Travis Odom

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Characterization Of Mc252 Subtidal And Intertidal Oil Mats On A Coastal Headland Beach, Allyson C. Lutz May 2014

Characterization Of Mc252 Subtidal And Intertidal Oil Mats On A Coastal Headland Beach, Allyson C. Lutz

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Mobile Marksman Iv, Nicolas Moreau May 2014

Mobile Marksman Iv, Nicolas Moreau

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Experimental Investigation Of Injectivity In Unconsolidated Formations, Callie Pritchett May 2014

Experimental Investigation Of Injectivity In Unconsolidated Formations, Callie Pritchett

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


In Vivo Evaluation Of An Automated Pressure Sore Reducer, Linda J. Cross May 2014

In Vivo Evaluation Of An Automated Pressure Sore Reducer, Linda J. Cross

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Design Of Low Power Alternative Energy Systems With Applications To Experimental Education, Xingjian ‘Harry’ Gao May 2014

Design Of Low Power Alternative Energy Systems With Applications To Experimental Education, Xingjian ‘Harry’ Gao

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Cryoprotectant Loading In A Microchannel, Shelby Pursley May 2014

Cryoprotectant Loading In A Microchannel, Shelby Pursley

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Computational Modeling Of Drug Release From Bone Scaffolds, Corey Landry May 2014

Computational Modeling Of Drug Release From Bone Scaffolds, Corey Landry

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Iron Removal Using Electro- Coagulation Followed By Floating Bead Bed Filtration, Asmita Anil Phadke Jan 2014

Iron Removal Using Electro- Coagulation Followed By Floating Bead Bed Filtration, Asmita Anil Phadke

LSU Master's Theses

High iron concentrations in the water used for aquaculture results in stock losses. It is necessary to drop down the iron concentrations to levels which can be handled by the fish. Electrocoagulation followed by floating bead bed filtration was used to remove iron from water. Electrocoagulation was carried out using aluminum electrodes. The flocs formed in the coagulation tank were then filtered out using 2-3 mm polyethylene floating beads having specific gravity of 0.92 gm/cm3. Proper retention time of ≥ 10 min, pH of 6±0.2, Al3+ coagulant dosage of about 9 mg-Al3+/ L and flow rate ≤ 0.4 gpm resulted …


Modeling Of Foam Flow In Porous Media For Subsurface Environmental Remediation, Seungjun Lee Jan 2014

Modeling Of Foam Flow In Porous Media For Subsurface Environmental Remediation, Seungjun Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Among numerous foam applications in a wide range of disciplines, foam flow in porous media has been spotlighted for improved/enhanced oil recovery processes in petroleum-bearing geological formations and shallow subsurface in-situ NAPL (non-aqueous phase liquid) environmental remediation in contaminated soils and aquifers. In those applications, foams are known to reduce the mobility of gas phase by increasing effective gas viscosity and improve sweep efficiency by mitigating subsurface heterogeneity. This study investigates how surfactant/foam process works fundamentally for environmental remediation purpose by using MoC (Method of Characteristics) based foam modeling and simulation techniques. It consists of two main parts: Part 1, …


Meso-Scale Analysis Of Deformation Induced Heating In Granular Metalized Explosives By Piston Supported Waves, Sunada Srinath Nagamani Chakravarthy Jan 2014

Meso-Scale Analysis Of Deformation Induced Heating In Granular Metalized Explosives By Piston Supported Waves, Sunada Srinath Nagamani Chakravarthy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Shock sensitivity of heterogeneous explosive composites is dependent on the formation of hot-spots which are small regions of elevated temperatures within the material. Changes in the initial meso-structure (i.e. packing density, composition, particle size and shapes) of the explosives can significantly alter the hot-spot fields in the material and thereby affect its shock sensitivity. In this study, an explicit, 2D, Lagrangian finite and discrete element technique is used to numerically simulate the deformation induced heating of granular mixtures of explosive (HMX), and metal (Al) particles due to piston supported uniaxial deformation waves (400 ≤ Up ≤ 800 m/s). A number …


Applications Of Cfd Simulations On Studying The Multiphase Flow In Microfluidic Devices, Yuehao Li Jan 2014

Applications Of Cfd Simulations On Studying The Multiphase Flow In Microfluidic Devices, Yuehao Li

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Microfluidics has been extensively investigated as a unique platform to synthesize nanoparticles with desired properties, e.g., size and morphology. Compared to the conventional batch reactors, wet-chemical synthesis using continuous flow microfluidics provides better control over addition of reagents, heat and mass transfer, and reproducibility. Recently, millifluidics has emerged as an alternative since it offers similar control as microfluidics. With its dimensions scaled up to millimeter size, millifluidics saves fabrication efforts and potentially paves the way for industrial applications. Good designs and manipulations of microfluidic and millifluidic devices rely on solid understanding of fluid dynamics. Fluid flow plays an important role …


Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2 On Supported Cu2o Catalysts, Joel Niño Galvez Bugayong Jan 2014

Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2 On Supported Cu2o Catalysts, Joel Niño Galvez Bugayong

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

We have examined Cu-based catalyst materials that enable the conversion of CO2 to useful products such as fuels and chemical feedstocks by electrochemical reduction. In particular, we compared the electrocatalytic activity of supported Cu2O particles prepared using electrodeposition and wet chemical methods. The particles had cubic structure, ranging in size from 40 nm to 900 nm and consisting of low index planes. We observed significantly different product distribution on these catalysts compared to polycrystalline Cu, specifically for methane and ethylene formation. While Cu particles showed higher faradaic efficiency for methane formation compared to ethylene formation, we observed that Cu2O particles …


Evaluation Of Triploid Oysters As A Tool To Assess Short- And Long-Term Seafood Contamination Of Oil Spill-Impacted Areas, Martin Scott Miles Jan 2014

Evaluation Of Triploid Oysters As A Tool To Assess Short- And Long-Term Seafood Contamination Of Oil Spill-Impacted Areas, Martin Scott Miles

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Many of the organic components of oil have the capacity to persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in tissues, and are toxic to surrounding organisms. Since the early 1970s, environmental assessment programs have utilized bivalves as monitoring tools of chemical contaminants in the marine environment. Because of their sedentary and filter-feeding habit (bioaccumulation), mussels and oysters been employed as sentinel organisms in environmental quality monitoring studies in coastal ecosystems. The use of indigenous (diploid) bivalves for biomonitoring water quality is limited during the summer months due to high stress and changes in biochemical composition induced by reproductive development. In this work …


Damage Prediction Of Low-Rise Buildings Under Hurricane Winds, Fang Pan Jan 2014

Damage Prediction Of Low-Rise Buildings Under Hurricane Winds, Fang Pan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Low-rise buildings are defined as the buildings with a mean roof height less than the least horizontal dimension and less than 18.3 m in ASCE 7-10. They represent the majority of commercial, residential, and industrial buildings. Approximate 90% of the existing low-rise residential buildings are constructed as wood light-frame buildings that are not fully engineered and thus more vulnerable to extreme wind pressures, wind borne debris and rain water intrusion. The resulting hurricane-induced economic loss is primarily attributed to the insufficient performance of building envelope instead of the catastrophic failure of their main structural system for Category 1 to 4 …


Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Polyester Scaffolds From Sugarcane Industry By-Products For Use In Skin And Bone Tissue Engineering, Akanksha Kanitkar Jan 2014

Synthesis And Characterization Of Novel Polyester Scaffolds From Sugarcane Industry By-Products For Use In Skin And Bone Tissue Engineering, Akanksha Kanitkar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of this work was to synthesize non-toxic, biodegradable polyesters of aconitic acid, cinnamic acid and glycerol from by-products of the sugarcane industry as scaffolds for skin and bone tissue engineering. Utilizing the by-products, molasses and sugarcane bagasse, not only add value to the cane industry, but also paves path for synthesizing novel bio-based materials from the isolated specialty chemicals. Molasses contain an economically recoverable quantity of aconitic acid and its extraction was studied in detail as a part of this work. The yields of recovered aconitic acid varied from 25–69% depending on the extraction conditions. Under all the …


Biogeochemical Controls On Fate Of Subsurface Oiled Sands On A Coastal Headland Beach, Autumn Anastasia Westrick Jan 2014

Biogeochemical Controls On Fate Of Subsurface Oiled Sands On A Coastal Headland Beach, Autumn Anastasia Westrick

LSU Master's Theses

The fate of subsurface oiled sands collected from Fourchon Beach in Louisiana were determined while modifying biogeochemical controls on the degradation of PAHs. Groundwater on the beach has intrinsically low dissolved oxygen concentrations, which may limit natural biodegradation of the crude oil components. The intent of this research was to characterize the biogeochemical properties and degradability of oiled sands (with >10% of pore filled with MC252 oil) using a combination of laboratory flow-through reactor studies, field measurements and time-series microelectrode profiles of down-flow and cross flow geometries. Reactor experiments indicate that optimal conditions for substantial oil degradation are aerobic under …


Measurement Of Working, Reflected, And Detrimental Active Power In A Three Phase System, Tracy Toups Jan 2014

Measurement Of Working, Reflected, And Detrimental Active Power In A Three Phase System, Tracy Toups

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Study of the decomposition of the active power into composite components with respects to power industry economics namely, working active power, reflected active power, and detrimental active power. The working active energy is considered the permanent flow of useful energy to the load that results in deliberate heat, lighting, or torque on the motor shaft. The reflected active energy is the extra component of active energy originating from the load and dissipates on the supply impedance that does not contribute to useful energy. Lastly, detrimental active energy is the flow of harmonic energy from the supply to the load due …


Analysis Of Hydrodynamic Drag Forces Acting On Suspended Fine Particle In Porous Media, Seyed Amin Mirsaeidi Farahani Jan 2014

Analysis Of Hydrodynamic Drag Forces Acting On Suspended Fine Particle In Porous Media, Seyed Amin Mirsaeidi Farahani

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

An important class of flow and transport problems occurring in porous media involves the interactions between suspended fine particles and the moving fluid at Stokes limit. Historically, due to the complicated geometries of porous media, researchers have had to resort to simplifying assumptions to conceptualize the underlying physics. However, the advent of high performance computing, in recent decades, has made it possible to vigorously investigate this problem at the streamline scale level. In this work, the flow problem is solved by means of a finite-element model. The simulations results are used to compute the drag forces experienced by suspended fine …


Novel Syntheses And Surface Modifications Of Electrode Materials For Superior Lithium-Ion Batteries, Jianqing Zhao Jan 2014

Novel Syntheses And Surface Modifications Of Electrode Materials For Superior Lithium-Ion Batteries, Jianqing Zhao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery is one of the most promising energy conversion and storage systems that offers high energy and powder densities, long service life and assuring safety. Performance of lithium-ion batteries crucially relies on electrochemical characteristics of electrode materials, i.e., anode and cathode materials. This dissertation work aims at developing novel electrode materials with high capacity, excellent cycling stability and remarkable rate capability for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. The effects of surface modifications for LiMn2O4 cathode materials are studied by depositing ultrathin conformal amphoteric oxides via atomic layer deposition (ALD). In the case of ZnO coating, the thickness of ZnO ALD …


Image-Based Pore-Scale Modeling Of Inertial Flow In Porous Media And Propped Fractures, Yijie Shen Jan 2014

Image-Based Pore-Scale Modeling Of Inertial Flow In Porous Media And Propped Fractures, Yijie Shen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Non-Darcy flow is often observed near wellbores and in hydraulic fractures where relatively high velocities occur. Quantifying additional pressure drop caused by non-Darcy flow and fundamentally understanding the pore-scale inertial flow is important to oil and gas production in hydraulic fractures. Image-based pore-scale modeling is a powerful approach to obtain macroscopic transport properties of porous media, which are traditionally obtained from experiments and understand the relationship between fluid dynamics with complex pore geometries. In image-based modeling, flow simulations are conducted based on pore structures of real porous media from X-ray computed tomographic images. Rigorous pore-scale finite element modeling using unstructured …


Nonlinear Data Driven Techniques For Process Monitoring, Michael C. Thomas Jan 2014

Nonlinear Data Driven Techniques For Process Monitoring, Michael C. Thomas

LSU Master's Theses

The goal of this research is to develop process monitoring technology capable of taking advantage of the large stores of data accumulating in modern chemical plants. There is demand for new techniques for the monitoring of non-linear topology and behavior, and this research presents a topological preservation method for process monitoring using Self Organizing Maps (SOM). The novel architecture presented adapts SOM to a full spectrum of process monitoring tasks including fault detection, fault identification, fault diagnosis, and soft sensing. The key innovation of the new technique is its use of multiple SOM (MSOM) in the data modeling process as …


Applications Of The Variational Approach To Fracture Mechanics, Ataollah Mesgarnejad Jan 2014

Applications Of The Variational Approach To Fracture Mechanics, Ataollah Mesgarnejad

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this study we present the variational approach to fracture mechanics as a versatile tool for the modeling of the fracture phenomenon in solids. Variational fracture mechanics restates the problem of initiation and propagation of cracks in solids as an energy minimization problem. The edifice of this energy minimization problem is such that unlike other methods (e.g. extended finite element method XFEM, cohesive-zone methods) the variational approach to fracture mechanics, diminishes the need for an a priori knowledge of the crack path or ad hoc assumptions in the form of path selection laws. We will show applications of the variational …


Pah Degradation In Wetland Soils As Influenced By Redox Potential, Haoxuan Zhang Jan 2014

Pah Degradation In Wetland Soils As Influenced By Redox Potential, Haoxuan Zhang

LSU Master's Theses

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a common contaminant in wetland soils. They are a group of compounds widely distributed in the environment and tend to accumulate in soils. Major contribution to removal of PAHs is biological degradation. For investigating the biodegradation potential of PAHs influenced by tidal actions, equipment was built for simulating the tidal actions, and concentrations of phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo[e]pyrene were added to the soils samples which were collected from wetland. Experiments were then conducted over 120 days. Redox potentials and PAHs concentrations were measured and analyzed. Results are concluded: 1) influenced by tidal action, phenanthrene, pyrene, …


Modeling The Effect Of Gusty Hurricane Wind Force On Vehicles Using The Lsu Driving Simulator, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Jan 2014

Modeling The Effect Of Gusty Hurricane Wind Force On Vehicles Using The Lsu Driving Simulator, Jose Manuel Rodriguez

LSU Master's Theses

While traffic planning is important for developing a hurricane evacuation plan, vehicle performance on the roads during extreme weather conditions is critical to the success of the planning process. This study was designed to lay a foundation for modeling driving behavior and vehicle performance as an assessment tool in the decision making process for planning evacuation routes during hurricane and tropical storms. The study explores how the parameters of a driving simulator could be modified to reproduce wind loadings experienced by three vehicle types (a passenger car, an ambulance, and a bus) during gusty hurricane winds, through manipulation of appropriate …


Method For Synchrotron X-Ray Computed Tomographic Imaging Of Biofilms In Porous Media, Corey Matthew Klibert Jan 2014

Method For Synchrotron X-Ray Computed Tomographic Imaging Of Biofilms In Porous Media, Corey Matthew Klibert

LSU Master's Theses

Modeling of biofilms in porous media at pore scale resolution has been hindered by the lack of available experimental techniques to non-destructively image biofilm structure at these resolutions. Researchers have relied upon simulation rather than experimentation to produce pore-scale biofilm models, using simplifying assumptions governing microbial growth such as Monod kinetics and random biofilm seeding locations to generate biofilms in simulated environments. This study investigated the use of absorption-edge synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography (SXCMT) in combination with a contrast agent, Lugol’s iodine solution (10% KI/5% I2), to nondestructively obtain three-dimensional images of biofilms at pore-scale resolution. The study examined and …


Experimental Assessment Of Cement Integrity Under Thermal Cycle Loading Conditions In Geopressured Geothermal Reservoirs, Kolawole Saheed Bello Jan 2014

Experimental Assessment Of Cement Integrity Under Thermal Cycle Loading Conditions In Geopressured Geothermal Reservoirs, Kolawole Saheed Bello

LSU Master's Theses

The number of well integrity issues increase as wells are exposed to severe downhole conditions and have longer lifetimes. Techniques for heat extraction from geopressured geothermal reservoirs involve production of hot water and injection of cold water which expose downhole materials to harsh cyclic temperature variations. Heating and cooling make the cement expand and contract as a result of thermal expansion. This volumetric change can influence cement sheaths causing them to fail. Failure of annular cement sheaths can introduce well integrity issues and subsequently lead to sustained casing pressure. This study measures the effect of cyclic thermal loading of cement …


Travel Time Reliability And Level Of Service, Marlene Beverley Russell Jan 2014

Travel Time Reliability And Level Of Service, Marlene Beverley Russell

LSU Master's Theses

Travel time reliability (TTR) is familiar to travelers, and its indices are useful measures of the quality of a freeway’s service. Technical groups such as highway agencies are more familiar with a freeway’s level of service (LOS), but the LOS does not capture the variability in travel time. Similar to Pu (2011) this thesis introduces a modified buffer index (BI) incorporating a median rather than average travel time as a new travel time reliability measure. Current research by the SHRP 2 L08 Project Team defines freeway reliability LOS by determining equivalent travel time index for similar travel speed ranges shown …


Effect Of Process Mixing On The Size Distribution And Mean Diameter Of The Thiol-Triacrylate Microcapsules, Rubaiyet Abedin Jan 2014

Effect Of Process Mixing On The Size Distribution And Mean Diameter Of The Thiol-Triacrylate Microcapsules, Rubaiyet Abedin

LSU Master's Theses

An important limitation in the development of the microparticles is the difficulty to develop a precise size distribution. Microparticles have a wide spread applicability in different fields including medical, pharmaceutical, textile, cosmetics, pesticide, printing industry, etc. The large and growing impact of microencapsulation in different fields of technology has made this process important. Microparticle size is a primary determinant of control release mechanism and the reaction kinetics and also impacts the allowable routes of administration, The main objective of this research work is to evaluate the effect of the process mixing on the size and size distribution of the trithiol-triacrylate …


Numerical Investigation Of Cryopreserved Zebrafish Sperm Cell Activation In Microchannels, Thomas Foster Scherr Jan 2014

Numerical Investigation Of Cryopreserved Zebrafish Sperm Cell Activation In Microchannels, Thomas Foster Scherr

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This aim of this research project is to probe the activation process of zebrafish spermatozoa. Zebrafish are a model species for biological engineering applications, and the cryopreservation of their reproductive cells allows for inexpensive cataloging and maintenance of valuable biological material. Evaluation of cryopreservation protocols for aquatic sperm cells is typically accomplished by motility analysis after subjecting cells to a cryopreservation treatment. In zebrafish sperm cells, motility is initiated when cells come into contact with a hypo-osmotic environment. Subsequent activation analysis is currently done manually and brings with it an inherent difficulty and error. This process is slow and not …