Engineering Commons^™

Work In Progress - Undergraduate Research In Power Electronics - The Super Barrier Rectifier Diode Project, Taufik

Electrical Engineering

This paper presents an undergraduate student research project which involved a new power diode called the super barrier rectifier (SBR) diode. Several projects incorporating SBR diodes in dc-dc converters performed by undergraduate students will be described. Challenges in conducting these projects along with results will also be discussed.

Optimization Of Gallium Nitride-Based Laser Diode Through Transverse Modes Analysis, Xiaomin Jin, Bei Zhang, Liang Chen, Tao Dai, Guoyi Zhang

Electrical Engineering

We investigate the transverse mode pattern in GaN quantum-well (QW) laser diode (LD) by numerical calculation. We optimize the current GaN LD structure by varying the n-GaN layer thickness. The n-type GaN layer is an important factor to determine the optical mode. Finally, we discuss the lasing performance of the GaN LD based on the transverse optical modes.

Work In Progress - Improving Learning Using Industry Supported Project In Power Electronics Course, Taufik

Electrical Engineering

This paper presents an approach that has recently been developed and initiated in teaching undergraduate power electronics course to enhance the learning by exposing students to the most recent state of power electronics technology and applications. The approach involves a hardware project that is supported by industry that is at the forefront of power electronics technology, applications, and devices. The hardware project will be detailed in this paper along with the grading and assessment methods. Difficulties encountered will also be presented.

Work-In-Progress - Self-Directed Learning And Motivation In A Project-Based Learning Environment, Trevor S. Harding, Linda Vanasupa, Richard N. Savage, Jonathan D. Stolk

Materials Engineering

Self-directed learning is a key competency in life-long learning, an outcome often cited for engineering education, and is dependent on students' motivation, meta-cognition, and self-regulation with regards to a learning task. Few studies have addressed the aspects of engineering learning environments that promote the development of self-directed learning abilities. The goal of this study was to identify relationships between students' perceptions of their self-directed learning ability and their learning motivation within a project-based learning environment. Junior engineering students in a test cohort with heavy emphasis on project-based learning completed surveys on self-directed learning aptitude and learning motivation. Responses were compared …

Low-Power-Dissipation Cmos Oscillator Circuits With Capacitively Coupled Frequency Control, Thaddeus Gabara, Vladimir I. Prodanov

Electrical Engineering

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the frequency tuning range of an oscillator circuit. The oscillator circuit is comprised of at least two MOS devices; a first reactance connecting a drain electrode of a first MOS device to a gate electrode of a second MOS device and a second reactance connecting a drain electrode of the second MOS device to a gate electrode of the first MOS device; and a tank circuit connected to the source and drain electrodes. The first and second reactance may comprises a capacitor or a diode or a combination thereof. In addition, one or …

The Benefits Of Automatic Data Collection In The Fresh Produce Supply Chain, Ryan Charles Panos, Tali Freed

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The potential for RFID based systems to improve the safety and efficiency of a supply chain with rapidly decaying products and strict health standards is creating pressure to adopt RFID in several agricultural industries. A handful of fresh produce industry leaders currently participate in mandated pilot projects, while the industry as a whole is still intimidated by the perceived cost of RFID. Therefore in this study we attempt to validate the correlation between performance and automated data collection, paving the way to economic justification of investment in data collection technologies, such as barcode and RFID.

The majority of product in …

Evaluation Of Current Nonlinear Static Procedures For Concrete Buildings Using Recorded Strong-Motion Data, Rakesh K. Goel, Charles Chadwell

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper evaluates current Nonlinear Static Procedures (NSPs) specified in the FEMA- 356, ASCE-41, ATC-40, and FEMA-440 documents using strong-motion data from reinforcedconcrete buildings. For this purpose, peak roof (or target node) displacements estimated from the NSPs are compared with the value derived from recorded motions. It is shown that: (1) the NSPs either overestimate or underestimate the peak roof displacement for several of the buildings considered in this investigation; (2) the ASCE-41 Coefficient Method (CM), which is based on recent improvements to the FEMA-356 CM suggested in FEMA-440 document, does not necessarily provide better estimate of roof displacement; and …

The Theory Of Planned Behavior As A Model Of Academic Dishonesty In Engineering And Humanities Undergraduates, Trevor S. Harding, Mathew J. Mayhew, Cynthia J. Finelli, Donald D. Carpenter

Materials Engineering

This study examines the use of a modified form of the Theory of Planned Behavior in understanding the decisions of undergraduate students in engineering and humanities to engage in cheating. We surveyed 527 randomly selected students from three academic institutions. Results supported the use of the model in predicting ethical decision-making regarding cheating. In particular, the model demonstrated how certain variables (gender, discipline, high school cheating, education level, international student status, participation in Greek organizations or other clubs) and moral constructs related to intention to cheat, attitudes toward cheating, perceptions of norms with respect to cheating, and ultimately, cheating behaviors. …

Measurement And Analysis Of The Shocks Generated During Egg Production, Jay A. Singh, Chris Ferrier, Paul Singh

Industrial Technology and Packaging

In their journey from the laying cage to shipments out of an egg production operation, table eggs encounter multiple shock events. While all agricultural commodities run the possibility of damage during the course of production, shell eggs are particularly susceptible to being cracked or broken during the production operation. A typical egg production facility experiences 2% to 7% checks (a partial mechanical failure to the egg shell) during handling, packaging and transportation of shell eggs. It has been estimated that the total losses to the U.S. egg industry due to checks and breakage of eggs during production amounts to over …

Development Of Wholesale Packaging To Prevent Post-Harvest Damage To Rose Apples, Bundit Jarimopas, Siam Toomsaengtong, Sher Paul Singh, Jay Singh, Rangsinee Sothornvit

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The purpose of this research was to determine post-harvest damage to rose apples due to transportation hazards and to comparatively evaluate the performance of the current and proposed wholesale packaging for the fruit. The methodology comprised of sampling and conducting damage analysis of rose apples of two varieties (Thongsamsri and Toonklao) distributed using commercial packaging to various retailers and wholesalers selected at random around the Bangkok metropolitan areas. Three kinds of current wholesale packaging were packed with newly harvested, damage-free, and uniform sized Thongsamsri rose apples and tested using a vibration simulator. The same testing was performed for the two …

Comparison Of Package Cushioning Materials To Protect Post-Harvest Impact Damage To Apples, Bundit Jarimopas, Sher Paul Singh, S. Sayasoonthorn, Jay A. Singh

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Damage to fruits and vegetables continues to be a big challenge as global markets become a reality. Worldwide distribution of sensitive produce is faced with various levels of impacts from shipping and handling. Despite a variety of packaging options available today, bruising damage is commonplace for post-harvest apples throughout the supply chain. The major sources of bruising are compression, impact or vibration forces. Understanding where these forces occur can help reduce this type of mechanical damage to apples. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact characteristics of foam net and corrugated board when applied as wrapping for …

Assessing Capacity Scalability Policies In Rms Using System Dynamics, Ahmed M. Deif, Hoda A. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

This paper presents a model for assessing different capacity scalability policies in Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS) for different changing demand scenarios. The novelty of this approach is two fold: (1) it is the first attempt to explore different capacity scalability policies in RMS based on multiple performance measures, mainly scaling rate, Work In Process level, inventory level and backlog level; and (2) the dynamic scalability process in RMS is modeled for the first time using System Dynamics. Different policies for capacity scalability for various demand scenarios were assessed. Numerical simulation results obtained using the developed capacity scalability model showed that …

A System Approach To Integrated Power Amplifier Analysis And Design, Vladimir I. Prodanov, Mihai Banu

Electrical Engineering

Numerous power amplifier circuits are described in the literature, which seem to follow many distinct design approaches. While circuit implementations may be quite different indeed, the underlining system-level signaling inside these circuits follows similar conditions dictated by the common design objective for high efficiency. This paper presents a general theory for analyzing and designing power amplifiers, providing an insight on the fundamental factors limiting the performance, irrespective of the implementation circuits or technology.

Strong Guiding Of Light In Hollow Nanowire Structures, Liang Chen, James De Leon, Xiaomin Jin

Electrical Engineering

We have theoretically investigated the guiding mode patterns of hollow nanowires. Two types of nanowires, round shape and hexagonal shape, are examined with different combination of outer and inner radii. Because of electric field discontinuity at hollow interfaces and evanescent modes overlap in low refractive index region, strong light guiding and confinement are achieved in both hollow wire structures.

A Self-Tuning Controller For Real-Time Voltage Regulation, Weiming Li, Xiao-Hua Yu

Electrical Engineering

In this research, a self-tuning controller based on multi-layer feed-forward neural network is developed for real-time output voltage regulation of a class of DC power supplies. The neural network based controller has the advantage of adaptive learning ability, and can work under the situations when the input voltage and load current fluctuate. Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation training algorithm is used in computer simulation. The neural network controller is implemented and tested on hardware using a DSP (digital signal processor). Experimental results show that this neural network based approach outperforms the conventional analog controller, in terms of both line regulation and load regulation.

A Pre-Crash Simulator To Evaluate Vehicle Collision Prediction Algorithms, Dana Desrosiers, Charles Birdsong, Peter Schuster

Mechanical Engineering

This paper describes a software simulator for pre-crash collision predictions. The simulator is a surrogate test bed for evaluating the performance of proposed pre-crash algorithms. It reads data from a file, transfers distance and angular position of a target to a test algorithm, and then records the algorithm’s predictions. To illustrate the simulator functionality, a simplified test algorithm is also described. This algorithm predicts collision risks based on assumptions about the size and acceleration of a target object, and the turning and braking limits of the host vehicle. The test algorithm is shown to be effective for cases where both …

Design Integrated In The Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Assessment Of The Engineering Clinics, Jennifer Kadlowec, Krishnan Bhatia, Tirupathi R. Chandrupatla, John C. Chen, Eric Constans, Harriet Hartman, Anthony J. Marchese, Paris Von Lockette, Hong Zhang

Mechanical Engineering

At Rowan University, design has been infused into the curriculum through an eight-semester course sequence called the Engineering Clinics. Through this experience, students learn the art and science of design in a multidisciplinary team environment and hone their design skills throughout their 4-year career. This paper describes the objectives of the clinics, types of projects, and how the clinics complement traditional core courses in the curriculum. Impacts and benefits of the clinics on students and faculty are discussed, including retention and graduate study rates comparing Rowan University mechanical engineering students to their peers nationally. An assessment of the clinics is …

Thermal Fatigue Test Apparatus For Large Superconducting Coils, J.T. Kephart, B.K. Fitzpatrick, John Chen, J. Lopez, M. Miller, L. Wong, M. Zimmerman, J. Kostic, C. Rakus

Mechanical Engineering

The United States Navy has a continued interest in the development of High Temperature Superconductivity (HTS) to provide power dense, efficient propulsion and electrical power generation. These machines have large HTS rotor coils that will undergo many thermal cycles during the life of the ship. Thermal fatigue tests for large coils are necessary to understand any degradation and life issues that could arise. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) has sponsored Rowan University to design and build a device that will assist in the thermal fatigue testing of a superconducting coil. It was designed to be autonomous with …

Articular Cartilage Mechanical And Biochemical Property Relations Before And After In Vitro Growth, Timothy Ficklin, Gregory Thomas, James C. Barthel, Anna Asanbaeva, Eugene J. Thonar, Koichi Masuda, Albert C. Chen, Robert L. Sah, Andrew Davol, Stephen M. Klisch

Mechanical Engineering

The aim of this study was to design in vitro growth protocols that can comprehensively quantify articular cartilage structure–function relations via measurement of mechanical and biochemical properties. Newborn bovine patellofemoral groove articular cartilage explants were tested sequentially in confined compression (CC), unconfined compression (UCC), and torsional shear before (D0, i.e. day zero) and after (D14, i.e. day 14) unstimulated in vitro growth. The contents of collagen (COL), collagen-specific pyridinoline (PYR) crosslinks, glycosaminoglycan, and DNA significantly decreased during in vitro growth; consequently, a wide range of biochemical properties existed for investigating structure–function relations when pooling the D0 and D14 groups. All …

Measurement, Analysis, And Comparison Of The Parcel Shipping Shock And Drop Environment Of The United States Postal Service With Commercial Carriers, J. A. Singh, S. P. Singh, G. Burgess, K. Saha

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The past decade has shown a great increase in the number of direct to consumer shipments of products and packages. As a result, parcel delivery companies like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and the USPS have strengthened their presence in air transport to deliver products faster and through larger distances. Using cargo planes, they route packages from various destinations to large airport hubs, where they sort millions of packages and ship them to their destinations. There is a continuous need to quantify what happens to these packages as they are handled both manually during collection and delivery and on large high-speed conveying …

Finding Lips In Unconstrained Imagery For Improved Automatic Speech Recognition, Jane Zhang, Higinio Ariel Montoya, Brandon Crow

Electrical Engineering

Lip movement of a speaker conveys important visual speech information and can be exploited for Automatic Speech Recognition. While previous research demonstrated that visual modality is a viable tool for identifying speech, the visual information has yet to become utilized in mainstream ASR systems. One obstacle is the difficulty in building a robust visual front end that tracks lips accurately in a real-world condition. In this paper we present our current progress in addressing the issue. We examine the use of color information in detecting the lip region and report our results on the statistical analysis and modeling of lip …

Web-Based Design And Analysis Projects For A Junior Level Integrated Circuits Course, David Braun

Electrical Engineering

Just as the electronics industry can increase productivity with web-based tools, web-based design offers opportunities to improve education in the area of electronics and integrated circuits. This work describes a variety of web based design and analysis projects for a junior level electronics course and assesses their impact on student learning. Since the course using the projects comprises the second quarter of electronics instruction subsequent to introductory circuit analysis courses, the projects focus on relatively well-defined electronics subsystems. The projects exercise students’ skills with a range of course learning objectives, ranging from lower level calculation, analysis and circuit simulation objectives …

Interdisciplinary Team Teaching: Lessons For Engineering Instructors From A Capstone Course In Environmental Studies, David Braun, Emmit B. Evans, Randall Knight, Thomas Ruehr

Electrical Engineering

The capstone course teaches students to analyze global environmental issues, resources, and human activities with a systems approach based on scientific, economic, political, social and ethical perspectives. Such an intrinsically multifaceted subject demands interdisciplinary treatment. To deliver the interdisciplinary treatment, the course uses diverse faculty teams comprised of faculty from fields in the natural and social sciences, engineering, and business. This work describes the interdisciplinary team teaching strategies adopted for the course and how they evolved with subsequent offerings of the course. We present assessment data measuring how well students achieve course objectives. Finally, experience gleaned from this course for …

Fabrication Of Net-Shape Functionally Graded Composites By Electrophoretic Deposition And Sintering: Modeling And Experimentation, E.A. Olevsky, X. Wang, A. Maximenko, M.A. Meyers

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

It is shown that electrophoretic deposition (EPD) sintering is a technological sequence that is capable of producing net-shape bulk functionally graded materials (FGM). By controlling the shape of the deposition electrode, components of complex shapes can be obtained. To enable sintering net-shape capabilities, a novel optimization algorithm and procedure for the fabrication of net-shape functionally graded composites by EPD and sintering has been developed. The initial shape of the green specimen produced by EPD is designed in such a way that the required final shape is achieved after sintering-imposed distortions. The optimization is based on a special innovative iteration procedure …

Collaborative Design Of Project-Based Learning Courses: How To Implement A Mode Of Learning That Effectively Builds Skills For The Global Engineer, Richard N. Savage, Jonathan Stolk, Linda Vanasupa

Materials Engineering

Success for tomorrow’s engineers necessitates the design of curricula that promote awareness of the broader impacts of engineering, enhances systems thinking, reflects sustainable engineering practices, and helps prepare students to make an impact in the global community. Project-based learning approaches that emphasize student learning rather than instructor teaching may be a key to successful development of “global engineers.” Evaluations of project-based courses show increases in student motivation, problem-solving ability, communication and teaming skills, knowledge retention, and capacity for self-directed learning. Despite these reported benefits, curriculum-wide implementations of project-based learning are rare, probably partly due to the traditional emphasis on technical …

Elastic Modulus Of Bone Using Ultrasonic Testing, Lanny Griffin, Victor Yu

Biomedical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Developing A Matlab/Simulink Rtwt Based Hydraulic Servo Control Design Experiment, Charles Birdsong

Mechanical Engineering

While one of the stated goals of the Mechanical Engineering Controls course is to develop the tools to design a controller, previous lab experiences did not include an experimental exercise in controller design. This was primarily due to the difficulty in implementing a controller that is robust and flexible enough to accommodate different student designs within the short time constraints of a three hour lab period. This paper describes an effort to use the Mathworks Real Time Windows Target to implement student controller designs on real hardware in a lab setting. Students use experimental data and a physically based model …

Biomedical Engineering Virtual Circuit Simulation Laboratories, Robert B. Szlavik

Biomedical Engineering

Circuit simulators, such as SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) are useful tools that can enhance the educational experience of students in many subject areas within a biomedical engineering curriculum. Courses on biomedical instrumentation are venues for which virtual laboratory experiments, using circuit simulators, can be readily developed. The instructor can use the circuit simulation platform to illustrate relatively complex concepts, such as differential amplification, which have wide applicability to biomedical instrumentation. More advanced courses that focus on the physiology of excitable cells or neural modeling and simulation are also venues for which circuit simulators may be applied to …

Biomedical Engineering Simulation Using Visual Basic Macros In Micrsoft Excel, Lanny Griffin, Robert Crockett

Biomedical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Biomaterials Screening Experiment Using Sessile Drop Contact Angles, Lanny Griffin

Biomedical Engineering

No abstract provided.