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Articles 2761 - 2790 of 4850

Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Educational Software For Toddler-Age Children Castle: Computer Aided Steps To Learning, Scott D. Frel, Benjamin W. Holladay Feb 2014

Educational Software For Toddler-Age Children Castle: Computer Aided Steps To Learning, Scott D. Frel, Benjamin W. Holladay

Journal of Undergraduate Research

CAStLe was developed during the Spring of 1995. The primary purose of the project was to complete the requirements for the mandatory senior project all Electrical and Computer Engineering majors must complete. With the support provided by the Office of Research and Creative Activities, this project was enhanced with sound, graphics and a friendly user interface using some of the best product development tools available to date.

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Evaluation Of The Tendency Of Biomaterials To Produce Microemboli, Jesse Hamilton Feb 2014

Evaluation Of The Tendency Of Biomaterials To Produce Microemboli, Jesse Hamilton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many people in today’s society depend on devices that contact their blood. Devices such as dialyzers and blood oxygenators are used every day in hemodialysis or coronary bypass. More permanent fixtures are also used such as artificial kidneys and hearts. These devices are wonderful and have contributed to longer and fuller lives for many people. However, man’s attempt to simulate the functions of the human body are simple at best, and there are serious problems that arise. These problems are tolerated by the medical profession at present because (1) they are not completely understood, and (2) the risks posed by …

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Computer Simulation Of Synthetic Aperture Radar, Adam Robertson, Dr. David V. Arnold Feb 2014

Computer Simulation Of Synthetic Aperture Radar, Adam Robertson, Dr. David V. Arnold

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Microwave Earth Remote Sensing group in the BYU Department of Electrical Engineering has developed several Synthetic Aperture Radars (SAR). SARs transmit many short bursts of energy from a satellite or airplane. The bursts of energy are reflected by whatever is in their path. Some of the reflected signals return to the same place that they were transmitted from and are sampled by the radar system. Materials reflect the pulses differently depending on their roughness and their electromagnetic properties, similar to how light bouncing off an object may be bright or dull, blue or red. The received pulses are processed …

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Complexation Reactions And Structure Of The Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor Of Nitrogenase, Dean Wheeler Feb 2014

Complexation Reactions And Structure Of The Iron-Molybdenum Cofactor Of Nitrogenase, Dean Wheeler

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As described in the proposal submitted last year for this project, there is a great need to further understand the dynamics and processes of the nitrogenase system. Using this chemical system a limited number of microorganisms are able to break down atmospheric nitrogen so it may be used by other organisms. The heart of the matter-where the reduction of nitrogen takes place-is a small cluster of atoms located inside the dinitrogenase protein. This cluster is known as the iron-molybdenum cofactor or FeMoco.

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Methane Recovery At Springville Wastewater, Rochelle Phillips, Dr. William Hecker, Dr. Vincent Wilding Feb 2014

Methane Recovery At Springville Wastewater, Rochelle Phillips, Dr. William Hecker, Dr. Vincent Wilding

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the treatment of municipal wastewater, several means are used to accomplish the breakdown of the wastewater and its solid components into innocuous substances. At one point, the filtered solids are combined in a digester with various bacteria. These bacteria convert the waste into carbon dioxide, methane gas, water, and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide.

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Development Of Tailsitter Hover Estimation And Control, Jason M. Beach Feb 2014

Development Of Tailsitter Hover Estimation And Control, Jason M. Beach

Theses and Dissertations

UAVs have become an essential tool in many market segments, particularly the military where critical intelligence can be gathered by them. A tailsitter aircraft is a platform whose purpose is to efficiently merge the range and endurance of fixed-wing aircraft with the VTOL capabilities of rotorcraft and is of significant value in applications where launch and recovery area is limited or the use of launch and recovery equipment is not desirable. Developing autopilot software for a tailsitter UAV is unique in that the aircraft must be autonomously controlled over a much wider range of attitudes than conventional UAVs. Assumptions made …

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The Effects Of Winglets At Low Speeds, Brian Johansen Feb 2014

The Effects Of Winglets At Low Speeds, Brian Johansen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of an airplane wing is to provide lift by creating a pressure gradient between the top and bottom of the wing. However, this pressure gradient causes some inherent problems at the wing tip. A vortex forms when the high pressure from the bottom side of the wing flows around the wig tip to the top side of the wing. This vortex is detrimental not only to the lift that the wing can produce but to the fuel efficiency of the airplane.

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Building Software Radios Using Fpgas, Preston A. Jackson, Dr. Brad L. Hutchings Feb 2014

Building Software Radios Using Fpgas, Preston A. Jackson, Dr. Brad L. Hutchings

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The ability to implement a commercial AM and FM radio receiver on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) has only recently become possible. FPGAs, the bottleneck technology, have made recent gains is speed and size that allow a signal demodulator to be designed completely in software. As shown below, two additional conversion systems are needed beyond the software demodulator, namely the analog to digital conversion system and the digital to analog conversion system.

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The Role Of Grain Boundary Misorientation In Intergranular Cracking Of Copper, John W. Bean Feb 2014

The Role Of Grain Boundary Misorientation In Intergranular Cracking Of Copper, John W. Bean

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This report will summarize the efforts and results of the research conducted by John Bean on the role of grain boundary misorientations in intergranular cracking of copper-based metals. This research was conducted during the period of Sept. 1993 toApril1994. I was not able to prove all that I had originally proposed to do because of certain difficulties I will explain below. My research was ended when the equipment I was using was moved at the end of the 1994 winter semester. This report will briefly describe the purpose of my research and the difficulties that I encountered.

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Thermophile Biochemistry, Charles Larsen Feb 2014

Thermophile Biochemistry, Charles Larsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the 1960s, Dr. Thomas Brock studied life in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. There he found new strains of bacteria capable of living at temperatures above 75°C, which at the time represented the highest temperature at which life was known to exist. Dr. Brock’s discovery has sparked a world wide research effort to understand thermophilic bacteria, both their biochemistry and industrial applicability.

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Project Summary For The Wireless Heartbeat Monitor, Brad Beinholt Feb 2014

Project Summary For The Wireless Heartbeat Monitor, Brad Beinholt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thank you for your support of the Wireless Heartbeat Monitor project. This has been an exciting project that has given me experience in wireless communications and in medical instrumentation. It has introduced me to microprocessor control and given me training in project planning and followthrough. The Wireless Heartbeat Monitor senses a person’s heartbeat by passing light through the individual’s finger or earlobe. Blood circulating though the body, moving in pulses as the heart and the muscles surrounding the veins and arteries contract, filters this light. Creating a varying electrical signal, a photo resistor senses the slight fluctuations in light leaving …

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Quadrotors And Accelerometers: State Estimation With An Improved Dynamic Model, Robert C. Leishman, John Macdonald, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain Feb 2014

Quadrotors And Accelerometers: State Estimation With An Improved Dynamic Model, Robert C. Leishman, John Macdonald, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain

Faculty Publications

The article examines consequences and practical aspects of using an improved dynamic model for quadrotor state estimation with only IMU measurements. The improved model correctly explains the measurements available from the accelerometers on a quadrotor. We give a brief tutorial to explain the difference between accelerometer measurements on a ground vehicle and a quadrotor. We demonstrate several observers based on the improved model to illustrate the estimation improvements available. It is shown that the parameters for this model can be estimated as elements of the state, which makes the model simple to implement and utilize. Finally, we provide hardware results …

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High-Efficiency Thermodynamic Power Cycles For Concentrated Solar Power Systems, Marc T. Dunham, Brian Iverson Feb 2014

High-Efficiency Thermodynamic Power Cycles For Concentrated Solar Power Systems, Marc T. Dunham, Brian Iverson

Faculty Publications

This paper provides a review of high-efficiency thermodynamic cycles and their applicability to concentrating solar power systems, primarily focusing on high-efficiency single and combined cycles. Novel approaches to power generation proposed in the literature are also highlighted. The review is followed by analyses of promising candidates, including regenerated He-Brayton, regenerated CO2-Brayton, CO2 recompression Brayton, steam Rankine, and CO2-ORC combined cycle. Steam Rankine is shown to offer higher thermal efficiencies at temperatures up to about 600 ˚C but requires a change in materials for components above this temperature. Above this temperature, CO2 recompression Brayton cycles are shown to have very high …

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A Dns Evaluation Of Mixing Models For Transported Pdf Modelling Of Turbulent Nonpremixed Flames, Alex Krisman, Joshua C.K. Tang, Evatt R. Hawkes, David O. Lignell, Jacqueline H. Chen Feb 2014

A Dns Evaluation Of Mixing Models For Transported Pdf Modelling Of Turbulent Nonpremixed Flames, Alex Krisman, Joshua C.K. Tang, Evatt R. Hawkes, David O. Lignell, Jacqueline H. Chen

Faculty Publications

Transported probability density function (TPDF) methods are well suited to modelling turbulent, reacting, variable density flows. One of the main challenges to the successful deployment of TPDF methods is accurately modelling the unclosed molecular mixing term. This study examines three of the most widely used mixing models: the Interaction by Exchange with the Mean (IEM), Modified Curl (MC) and Euclidean Minimum Spanning Tree (EMST) models. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) data-sets were used to provide both initial conditions and inputs needed over the course of the runs, including the mean flow velocities, mixing frequency, and the turbulent diffusion coefficient. The same …

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A Progress Report On The Ultrasound Enhancement Of Antibiotic Action On Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Michael Le Bras, Dr. William G. Pitt Jan 2014

A Progress Report On The Ultrasound Enhancement Of Antibiotic Action On Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Michael Le Bras, Dr. William G. Pitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Previous studies show that using antibiotic treatment together with ultrasound enhances the bactericidal effect of antibiotics on many bacterial species (6). The purpose of this research project is to apply these techniques to Streptococcus pneumoniae and the antibiotics ampicillin and gentamicin sulfate. The effectiveness of ampicillin and gentamicin sulfate coupled with the application of ultrasound on S. pneumoniae is the focus of this study.

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Monotonic And Cyclic Response Of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Panels Fastened To Wood Framing, John P. Judd, Dr. Fernando S. Fonseca Jan 2014

Monotonic And Cyclic Response Of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Panels Fastened To Wood Framing, John P. Judd, Dr. Fernando S. Fonseca

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper summarizes the results of a research project to determine the response of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) panels fastened to wood framing, under two different loading schemes: monotonic and repeated cyclic loading. The results of the monotonic testing phase of the project were published and presented at the International Conference on Composites Engineering [2].

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Simulation Of Groundwater Flow In The Vicinity Of Trojan Corporation Near Mapleton And Spanish Fork, Utah Using Gms And Femwater, Jonathan Bailey, Dr. Wayne Downs Jan 2014

Simulation Of Groundwater Flow In The Vicinity Of Trojan Corporation Near Mapleton And Spanish Fork, Utah Using Gms And Femwater, Jonathan Bailey, Dr. Wayne Downs

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Groundwater is a valuable resource. It accounts for over 99% of the earth’s available freshwater. Recognition of the value of groundwater has led to the passing of a number of laws to protect, preserve and when needed require remediation of groundwater that has been contaminated by industrial pollutants. An integral component of groundwater remediation and contaminated site management is the development of a numerical groundwater model that describes the direction and rate of flow of the groundwater. Numerical modeling of groundwater flow requires a synthesis of experience and intuition with fundamental scientific and mathematical principles.

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Unity Iv: Fuselage Body Design, Analysis, Testing, And Construction, Alexis J. Pabst, Dr. Paul Eastman Jan 2014

Unity Iv: Fuselage Body Design, Analysis, Testing, And Construction, Alexis J. Pabst, Dr. Paul Eastman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Unity IV rocket is a twenty-foot tall rocket with a 16.5-inch diameter. It is a super-sonic, hybrid rocket that uses a solid propellant and liquid oxidizer. The rocket has been designed and built by students from three Utah universities. It is intended to take an instrumentation package super-sonically to an altitude of 130,000 ft and return it safely to earth.

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Comparing Nox Emissions Of Diesel Fuel And Oxygenated Fuels, Timothy M. Allred, Dr. Dale R. Tree Jan 2014

Comparing Nox Emissions Of Diesel Fuel And Oxygenated Fuels, Timothy M. Allred, Dr. Dale R. Tree

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The emissions produced by both passenger and commercial vehicles are a significant contributor to pollution problems that face many cities and areas around the world. One of these pollutants is known as NOx, which refers to the chemical compounds NO2 and NO. These gases are formed when fuel is burned at high temperatures and are an undesirable by-product of the internal combustion engine. Nitrogen dioxide reacts in air to form acid rain as well as contributing to ground-level ozone and smog.

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Seismic Timber Connection, Mathew Fielding, Dr. Fernando Fonseca Jan 2014

Seismic Timber Connection, Mathew Fielding, Dr. Fernando Fonseca

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Three light gauge aluminum connections were designed, constructed and tested to determine the possibility of resisting an applied moment in timber beams and columns. A timber column 3 inches by 5.5 inches was axially compressed with 1000 lb. while the attached beam (3 inches by 3.5 inches) was loaded to determine the moment resisting capacity of the system. Fracture of the connection occurred at an average of 1550 ft-lb; this corresponded to a deflection of .4 inches. Actual failure of the joint occurred at an average of 1950 ft-lb. with an average deflection of .58 inches.

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Development Of Instruments For The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Hydrocephalus, Ryan T. Ochsner, Dr. Mark Manwaring Jan 2014

Development Of Instruments For The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Hydrocephalus, Ryan T. Ochsner, Dr. Mark Manwaring

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Brain Instrumentation Laboratory (1220 SWKT) associated with the Department of Neuroscience and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Brigham Young University specializes in the development of new technologies which may facilitate the management of diseases of the brain. Of specific interest to the laboratory is the improved treatment of hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition which results in progressive damage to the brain because of tremendous pressure when cerebral spinal fluid (CFS) is not absorbed as fast as it is produced. This condition results in increasing ventricle size within the brain and associated pressure and deformation.

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Real-Time Adaptive Cancellation Of Non-Stationary Interference In Radio Astronomy, Andrew Poulsen, Dr. Brian Jeffs Jan 2014

Real-Time Adaptive Cancellation Of Non-Stationary Interference In Radio Astronomy, Andrew Poulsen, Dr. Brian Jeffs

Journal of Undergraduate Research

When images of remote galaxies/stars are observed by radio telescope, much sensitivity can be blurred by interference. This interference can be caused by both the atmosphere and man-made sources. Specifically, the Russian GLONASS satellite system transmits data at a bandwidth wherein much information important to radio astronomers is radiated by astronomical objects. A real-time DSP-based system is needed to adaptively remove the interfering signals and restore clarity to the radio astronomy signal.

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A New Stereology, Ryan J. Larsen, Dr. Brent L. Adams Jan 2014

A New Stereology, Ryan J. Larsen, Dr. Brent L. Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Much research in recent years has focused on producing polycrystalline materials with high numbers of special grain boundaries. Special grain boundaries are defined as boundaries with desirable properties, such as resistance to corrosion, cracking, or precipitation. Most researchers describe grain boundary geometry only with the three parameters of misorientation between adjacent crystal lattices. Although misorientation data have been successfully linked to some properties, knowledge of misorientation alone is insufficient to predict grain boundary energy, and can thus provide only a first-order approximation of a boundary’s properties.

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Developing Mechanisms As Liga Microstructures, Jordan E. Brough, Dr. Larry Howell Jan 2014

Developing Mechanisms As Liga Microstructures, Jordan E. Brough, Dr. Larry Howell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) is a rapidly developing field which uses technology similar to that used to carve out the millions of tiny channels found in today’s computer processors. MEMS, however, uses this technology to make mechanical structures and mechanisms instead of electrical pathways. My effort over the past eight months has been to research the developing LIGA MEMS design (an electromolding process), fabricate a test structure via the LIGA technology, and in the process establish a working relationship between Sandia National Laboratories California (a leader in MEMS) and BYU’s microengineering team.

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Use Of Linear Analysis Of Microstructures In Defining Performance Closures For Highly Constrained Mechanical Design, Mark Lyon, Dr. Brent L. Adams Jan 2014

Use Of Linear Analysis Of Microstructures In Defining Performance Closures For Highly Constrained Mechanical Design, Mark Lyon, Dr. Brent L. Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Using methods described by Adams1, the design of a compliant beam was modeled in a multidimensional Fourier design space. A compliant beam is one that achieves motion through bending. The motivation for the problem was a bicycle derailleur. A compliant beam could replace the entire rear derailleur if a large amount of flexibility could be obtained and yet have a relatively strong force when displaced to return the beam to its original position. The compliant derailleur would be simpler and cheaper than current derailleur designs. In general, metals are too stiff and plastics are too weak for this application. The …

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Development Of Stable Silica Washcoats For Monolithic Substrates, Ethan A. Mastny, Dr. Calvin H. Bartholomew Jan 2014

Development Of Stable Silica Washcoats For Monolithic Substrates, Ethan A. Mastny, Dr. Calvin H. Bartholomew

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The objective was to develop an efficient procedure for depositing silica washcoats onto cellular, ceramic monoliths while ensuring that the silica maintains its desired properties of surface area and pore structure and is stable against erosion. Catalyst coated ceramic monoliths find application in automotive emissions control and other areas of pollution abatement.

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The Effect Of Material Choice On Thromboembolism, Peter M. Crapo, Dr. Kenneth Solen Jan 2014

The Effect Of Material Choice On Thromboembolism, Peter M. Crapo, Dr. Kenneth Solen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stroke, heart attack, or other severe medical problems may arise when platelet aggregates block a patient’s blood vessels. These aggregates form when blood is exposed to foreign surfaces in biomedical equipment. When blood is first exposed to a foreign surface, platelets adhere to the surface. A cluster of platelets on the surface is called a thrombus. Thrombi grow as more platelets adhere, and the momentum of passing fluid or other causes may dislodge them. Dislodged thrombi are called emboli, and the entire process is called thromboembolism. Thromboembolism cannot be entirely avoided in blood-contacting devices, such as artificial organs.

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Ultrasound-Activated Delivery Of Doxorubicin From Polymeric Micelles To Breast Cancer Cells, Philip D. Blood, Dr. William G. Pitt Jan 2014

Ultrasound-Activated Delivery Of Doxorubicin From Polymeric Micelles To Breast Cancer Cells, Philip D. Blood, Dr. William G. Pitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

A major limitation to the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy is the toxic side effects it has on normal tissues. Thus, it would be highly advantageous to develop a form of treatment that allows higher doses of drugs to be delivered to tumors without increasing the amount of drug absorbed by healthy tissues. To this end, various controlled drug delivery systems are being devised which aim to preferentially target cancerous tissue.

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Low-Frequency Ultrasound Increases Outer Membrane Permeability Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And Escherichia Coli, Christopher M. Runyan, Dr. William G. Pitt Jan 2014

Low-Frequency Ultrasound Increases Outer Membrane Permeability Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And Escherichia Coli, Christopher M. Runyan, Dr. William G. Pitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our lab has investigated the use of low-frequency ultrasound as an adjuvant to antibacterial therapy. We have found that ultrasound can increase killing of certain combinations of antibiotics with bacteria. Ultrasound at very low frequencies, alone, may kill bacteria; however, these frequencies are harmful to other living tissues and can not be used in a clinical setting. While ultrasound does not kill bacteria at slightly higher frequencies, it can enhance antibiotic killing, a phenomenon known as the “bioacoustic effect.”

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Stereogram Printer, Daniel E. Smalley, Dr. Richard H. Selfridge Jan 2014

Stereogram Printer, Daniel E. Smalley, Dr. Richard H. Selfridge

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The goal of this creative works project was to build an inexpensive Stereogram printer capable of producing three-dimensional images from a series of two-dimensional pictures. This type of printer is very useful for making hologram-like images of objects and scenes that would be impossible to ‘holograph’ by traditional, optical methods. Though several printers of this type have already been built, they generally cost several thousands of dollars to develop. The author built the following small-scale printer primarily from a $200 LCD television and a $10 scanner. (However, it should be noted that this piece of equipment had to be run …

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