Engineering Commons^™

Simulation And Fabrication Of Three Novel Micromechanical Sensors, Yanqing Lu

Doctoral Dissertations

This work focuses on the simulation, fabrication and characterization of novel microdevices for chemical and biological sensors for improved sensitivity, enhanced performance and applicability. Specifically, microbridge and microcoil sensors have been fabricated via advanced microfabrication technologies. Due to the potential application in chemical and biological sensing, the growth of gold and platinum nanowires during an electrolysis process have also been investigated.

A microbridge can be considered as the head-to-head fusion of two cantilevers and the middle of the bridge would deform in a way similar to a microcantilever. The microbridge sensing device is more stable than the microcantilever, especially in …

Computer-Based Instruction For Engineering Education In The Developing World, Bradford G. Singley

Theses and Dissertations

Although civil engineers continually develop new ways to solve problems involving water, energy, infrastructure and environmental sustainability, these innovations can take years – or even decades – to reach developing countries. Computer-based instruction has the potential to dramatically decrease this lag time by improving engineering education in the developing world. This paper discusses the development of instructional simulations, based on the theory of model-centered instruction. These simulations can serve as self-paced learning modules, which can be accessed for free over the Internet. A pilot learning module was developed for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the …

Steer It And Clear It: Effectiveness Of Quick Clearance Legislation, Amy Carol Hamlin

All Theses

Innovative incident management strategies have been sought by transportation professionals to minimize the impacts of incidents on traffic operation and safety. Some current quick clearance strategies such as 'Steer It and Clear It' legislation in South Carolina, which requires driver(s) of involved vehicle(s) in a minor incident to move vehicles promptly from the traveled roadway prior to the arrival of the first responders, can potentially reduce the duration of an incident. The research detailed in this paper endeavored to measure the benefit of the Steer It and Clear It law on a section of I-85 in South Carolina. A simulation …

A New Method For Treating Wells In Reservoir Simulation, Gregory M. Gessel

Theses and Dissertations

A new method for formulating finite difference equations for reservoir simulation has been developed. It can be applied throughout the entire simulated reservoir or to local segments. When applied to cells containing vertical, fully penetrating, straight-line wells in a homogeneous reservoir, the resulting equations are equivalent to Peaceman's classical well equations used in most reservoir simulators today. However, when the new finite difference equations are applied to both the well-containing cells, and their neighbors, the accuracy of the simulation improves substantially. The method produces still better accuracy results when applied throughout the reservoir. Unlike the Peaceman correction, the new method …

Gate Level Dynamic Energy Estimation In Asynchronous Circuits Using Petri Nets, Ryan Mabry

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a new methodology for energy estimation in asynchronous circuits. Unlike existing probabilistic methods, this is the first simulative work for energy estimation in all types of asynchronous circuits.

The new simulative methodology is based on Petri net modeling. A real delay model is incorporated to capture both gate delays and interconnect delays. The switching activity at each gate is captured to measure the average dynamic energy consumed per request/acknowledge handshaking pair. The new type of Petri net is called Hierarchical Colored Asynchronous Hardware Petri net (HCAHPN). The HCAHPN is able to capture the temporal and spatial correlations …

Network Performance Management Using Application-Centric Key Performance Indicators, Susan Mcgill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Internet and intranets are viewed as capable of supplying "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime" and e-commerce, e-government, e-community, and military C4I are now deploying many and varied applications to serve their needs. Network management is currently centralized in operations centers. To assure customer satisfaction with the network performance they typically plan, configure and monitor the network devices to insure an excess of bandwidth, that is overprovision. If this proves uneconomical or if complex and poorly understood interactions of equipment, protocols and application traffic degrade performance creating customer dissatisfaction, another more application-centric, way of managing the network will be needed. This research …

Assessment Of The Contribution Of Game-Based Simulation In The Advancement Of Individual Soldier Intelligence Gathering Skills, Carlos Wiley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Self-directed Learning Internet Modules based on gaming technology are making tremendous strides as tools to current training system for our military services. Currently, the US Army is testing the Every Soldier is a Sensor Simulation software (ES3) as part of the Every Soldiers a Sensor program that focuses on intelligence gathering and maintaining situational awareness. The primary training goal of this simulation is the training of individual soldiers on conducting "Active Surveillance" and "Threat Indicator Identification" where the soldier is an active participant in the process. Traditional training in intelligence gathering is based largely on cold war models. As a …

Signal Processing Of An Ecg Signal In The Presence Of A Strong Static Magnetic Field, Aditya Gupta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses the problem of elevation of the T wave of an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the MRI, due to the strong static magnetic field the interaction of the blood flow with this strong magnetic field induces a voltage in the body. This voltage appears as a superimposition at the locus of the T wave of the ECG signal. This looses important information required by the doctors to interpret the ST segment of the ECG and detect diseases such as myocardial infarction. This dissertation aims at finding a solution to the problem of …

Modeling And Simulation Of A Microturbine Generator To Be Coupled With A Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell For Distributed Generation, Karleine M. Justice

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Distributed generation is desired when the individual energy requirements ranging from 25-75 kW of office buildings, restaurants, hospitals and apartments can not be met by the current electric utility grid. Microturbine generators as stand alone power generation systems have been designed to meet these requirements. For power requirements up to 50 MW, hybrid fuel cell systems offer higher efficiency and lower levels of pollutant emissions with more advanced fuel energy savings than non-hybrid systems. The objective of this project is to develop a simulation of a microturbine generator as a stand alone power generation system to validate a microturbine generator …

Design Of A Controller To Control Light Level In A Commercial Office, Saeid Javidbakht

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Proper amount of light in a business office is important for health and productivity of the employees. On a sunny day, there may be more than enough light entering the office from outside to carry out the necessary tasks. Presently, the main source of light in most offices is the fluorescent lamp. Thus, It is possible to save energy by dimming the fluorescent lamp. Dimming of the fluorescent lamp is possible by changing the frequency of the sinusoidal voltage or current. Hence, there is a need of a control system to adjust the light from the fixtures based on the …