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2009 Civil And Environmental Engineering Department News, Department Of Civil And Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering Newsletters

Table of Contents

• New Faculty
• Strategic Hiring Initiative
• Ahlhorn Named Co-chair
• Civil 3D Then and Now
• Alumni Profiles
• MiSTI: University Transportation Center
• D80 Conference
• Student Scholarships
• Academy of Civil and Environmental Engineers
• CEE Donor Recognition
• Department Information

Capacity Optimization Of A Prestressed Concrete Railroad Tie, Russell H. Lutch

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Today the use of concrete ties is on the rise in North America as they become an economically competitive alternative to the historical industry standard wood ties, while providing performance which exceeds its competition in terms of durability and capacity. Similarly, in response to rising energy costs, there is increased demand for efficient and sustainable transportation of people and goods. One source of such transportation is the railroad. To accommodate the increased demand, railroads are constructing new track and upgrading existing track. This update to the track system will increase its capacity while making it a more reliable means of …

Engineering Research 2009, College Of Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Michigan Tech Engineering Magazine

Table of Contents

• Health Science
• Energy
• Air & Water
• Sensing & Imaging
• Engineered Materials
• People
• Research Centers & Institutes

Afrc Translation Experiments For Space Propulsion, Carrie S. Niemela

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

No abstract provided.

Immobilizing Bacteriorhodopsin On A Single Electron Transistor, Karl A. Walczak

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

As awareness of potential human and environmental impacts from toxins has increased, so has the development of innovative sensors. Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is a light activated proton pump contained in the purple membrane (PM) of the bacteria Halobacterium salinarum. Bacteriorhodopsin is a robust protein which can function in both wet and dry states and can withstand extreme environmental conditions. A single electron transistor(SET) is a nano-scale device that exploits the quantum mechanical properties of electrons to switch on and off. SETs have tremendous potential in practical applications due to their size, ultra low power requirements, and electrometer-like sensitivity.

The main …

Electron Transport In E X B Devices, Emily C. Fossum

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

A Hall thruster, an E × B device used for in-space propulsion, utilizes an axial electric field to electrostatically accelerate plasma propellant from the spacecraft. The axial electric field is created by positively biasing the anode so that the positivelycharged ions may be accelerated (repelled) from the thruster, which produces thrust. However, plasma electrons are much smaller than ions and may be accelerated much more quickly toward the anode; if electrons were not impeded, a "short circuit" due to the electron flow would eliminate the thrust mechanism. Therefore, a magnetic field serves to "magnetize" plasma electrons internal to the thruster …

Nitrogen Removal And Sustainability Of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands For Small Scale Wastewater Treatment, Valerie J. Fuchs

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The challenge for wastewater professionals is to design and operate treatment processes that support human well being and are environmentally sensitive throughout the life-cycle. This research focuses on one technology for small-scale wastewater treatment: the vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW), which is herein investigated for the capacity to remove ammonium and nitrate nitrogen from wastewater. Hydraulic regime and presence/absence of vegetation are the basis for a three-phase bench scale experiment to determine oxygen transfer and nitrogen fate in VFCWs. Results show that 90% NH4+-N removal is achieved in aerobic downflow columns, 60% NO3--N removal occurs in anaerobic upflow columns, and …

Water And Sanitation Accessibility And The Health Of Rural Ugandans, Jonathan E. Mellor

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The lack of access to sufficient water and sanitation facilities is one of the largest hindrances towards the sustainable development of the poorest 2.2 billion people in the world. Rural Uganda is one of the areas where such inaccessibility is seriously hampering their efforts at development. Many rural Ugandans must travel several kilometers to fetch adequate water and many still do not have adequate sanitation facilities. Such poor access to clean water forces Ugandans to spend an inordinate amount of time and energy collecting water - time and energy that could be used for more useful endeavors. Furthermore, the difficulty …

Modeling Contaminant Behavior In Lake Superior : A Comparison Of Pcbs, Pbdes, And Mercury , Mark D. Rowe

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

A mass‐balance model for Lake Superior was applied to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and mercury to determine the major routes of entry and the major mechanisms of loss from this ecosystem as well as the time required for each contaminant class to approach steady state. A two‐box model (water column, surface sediments) incorporating seasonally adjusted environmental parameters was used. Both numerical (forward Euler) and analytical solutions were employed and compared. For validation, the model was compared with current and historical concentrations and fluxes in the lake and sediments. Results for PCBs were similar to prior work showing …

Community Managed Rural Water Supply Systems In The Dominican Republic : Assessment Of Sustainability Of Systems Built By The National Institute Of Potable Water And Peace Corps, Dominican Republic , Ryan W. Schweitzer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

In the Dominican Republic economic growth in the past twenty years has not yielded sufficient improvement in access to drinking water services, especially in rural areas where 1.5 million people do not have access to an improved water source (WHO, 2006). Worldwide, strategic development planning in the rural water sector has focused on participatory processes and the use of demand filters to ensure that service levels match community commitment to post-project operation and maintenance. However studies have concluded that an alarmingly high percentage of drinking water systems (20-50%) do not provide service at the design levels and/or fail altogether (up …

Decentralized Or Centralized Production : Impacts To The Environment, Industry, And The Economy, Abigail R. Clarke-Sather

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Since product take-back is mandated in Europe, and has effects for producers worldwide including the U.S., designing efficient forward and reverse supply chain networks is becoming essential for business viability. Centralizing production facilities may reduce costs but perhaps not environmental impacts. Decentralizing a supply chain may reduce transportation environmental impacts but increase capital costs. Facility location strategies of centralization or decentralization are tested for companies with supply chains that both take back and manufacture products.

Decentralized and centralized production systems have different effects on the environment, industry and the economy. Decentralized production systems cluster suppliers within the geographical market region …

2008-2009 Che Newsletter, Department Of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Chemical Engineering Newsletters

Table of Contents

• Department
• Faculty
• Research
• Alumni & Friends
• 2008 Industrial Advisory Board
• Convocation
• Student News

Charge Induced Enhancement Of Adsorption For Hydrogen Storage Materials, Xiang Sun

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The rising concerns about environmental pollution and global warming have facilitated research interest in hydrogen energy as an alternative energy source. To apply hydrogen for transportations, several issues have to be solved, within which hydrogen storage is the most critical problem. Lots of materials and devices have been developed; however, none is able to meet the DOE storage target. The primary issue for hydrogen physisorption is a weak interaction between hydrogen and the surface of solid materials, resulting negligible adsorption at room temperature. To solve this issue, there is a need to increase the interaction between the hydrogen molecules and …

Development Of Room Temperature Operating Single Electron Transistor Using Fib Etching And Deposition Technology, Manoranjan Acharya

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The single-electron transistor (SET) is one of the best candidates for future nano electronic circuits because of its ultralow power consumption, small size and unique functionality. SET devices operate on the principle of Coulomb blockade, which is more prominent at dimensions of a few nano meters. Typically, the SET device consists of two capacitively coupled ultra-small tunnel junctions with a nano island between them. In order to observe the Coulomb blockade effects in a SET device the charging energy of the device has to be greater that the thermal energy. This condition limits the operation of most of the existing …

Development Of Specifications For The Superpave Simple Performance Tests, Shu Wei Goh

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This study describes the development and establishment of a proposed Simple Performance Test (SPT) specification in order to contribute to the asphalt materials technology in the state of Michigan. The properties and characteristic of materials, performance testing of specimens, and field analyses are used in developing draft SPT specifications. These advanced and more effective specifications should significantly improve the qualities of designed and constructed hot mix asphalt (HMA) leading to improvement in pavement life in Michigan. The objectives of this study include the following: 1) using the SPT, conduct a laboratory study to measure the parameters including the dynamic modulus …

Micro-Fabrication Of Bio-Mems Based Force Sensor To Measure The Force Response Of Living Cells, Varun Gouthaman

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Understanding how a living cell behaves has become a very important topic in today’s research field. Hence, different sensors and testing devices have been designed to test the mechanical properties of these living cells. This thesis presents a method of micro-fabricating a bio-MEMS based force sensor which is used to measure the force response of living cells. Initially, the basic concepts of MEMS have been discussed and the different micro-fabrication techniques used to manufacture various MEMS devices have been described. There have been many MEMS based devices manufactured and employed for testing many nano-materials and bio-materials. Each of the MEMS …

Hall-Effect Thruster-Cathode Coupling : The Effect Of Cathode Position And Magnetic Field Topology, Jason D. Sommerville

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Hall-effect thruster (HET) cathodes are responsible for the generation of the free electrons necessary to initiate and sustain the main plasma discharge and to neutralize the ion beam. The position of the cathode relative to the thruster strongly affects the efficiency of thrust generation. However, the mechanisms by which the position affects the efficiency are not well understood. This dissertation explores the effect of cathode position on HET efficiency. Magnetic field topology is shown to play an important role in the coupling between the cathode plasma and the main discharge plasma. The position of the cathode within the magnetic field …

Development Of Measurement And Modeling Techniques To Quantify Atmospheric Deposition Of Persistent, Bioaccumulative And Toxic Chemicals In The Great Lakes, Mark D. Rowe

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Measurement and modeling techniques were developed to improve over-water gaseous air-water exchange measurements for persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (PBTs). Analytical methods were applied to atmospheric measurements of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Additionally, the sampling and analytical methods are well suited to study semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs) in air with applications related to secondary organic aerosol formation, urban, and indoor air quality.

A novel gas-phase cleanup method is described for use with thermal desorption methods for analysis of atmospheric SOCs using multicapillary denuders. The cleanup selectively removed hydrogen-bonding chemicals from samples, including much of …

Long-Range Pollution Transport: Trans-Atlantic Mechanisms And Lagrangian Modeling Methods, Robert Christopher Owen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Over the past several decades, it has become apparent that anthropogenic activities have resulted in the large-scale enhancement of the levels of many trace gases throughout the troposphere. More recently, attention has been given to the transport pathway taken by these emissions as they are dispersed throughout the atmosphere. The transport pathway determines the physical characteristics of emissions plumes and therefore plays an important role in the chemical transformations that can occur downwind of source regions. For example, the production of ozone (O₃) is strongly dependent upon the transport its precursors undergo. O₃ can initially be formed …

Estimation Of The Flammability Zone Boundaries With Thermodynamic And Empirical Equations, Travis Joseph Hansen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The flammability zone boundaries are very important properties to prevent explosions in the process industries. Within the boundaries, a flame or explosion can occur so it is important to understand these boundaries to prevent fires and explosions. Very little work has been reported in the literature to model the flammability zone boundaries. Two boundaries are defined and studied: the upper flammability zone boundary and the lower flammability zone boundary. Three methods are presented to predict the upper and lower flammability zone boundaries:

The linear model

The extended linear model, and

An empirical model

The linear model is a thermodynamic model …

Pulse Polarization Radar For Determining Spatial And Material Information About A Target In Orbit, Nicholas D. Peterson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

No abstract provided.

Estimation Of The Degree Of Polarization Through Computational Sensing, Wei Wang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The degree of polarization of a refected field from active laser illumination can be used for object identifcation and classifcation. The goal of this study is to investigate methods for estimating the degree of polarization for refected fields with active laser illumination, which involves the measurement and processing of two orthogonal field components (complex amplitudes), two orthogonal intensity components, and the total field intensity. We propose to replace interferometric optical apparatuses with a computational approach for estimating the degree of polarization from two orthogonal intensity data and total intensity data. Cramer-Rao bounds for each of the three sensing modalities with …

Identifying Indicators Of Sustainable Development Using The Global Sustainability Quadrant Approach , Andres B. Tarte

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Advances in information technology and global data availability have opened the door for assessments of sustainable development at a truly macro scale. It is now fairly easy to conduct a study of sustainability using the entire planet as the unit of analysis; this is precisely what this work set out to accomplish.

The study began by examining some of the best known composite indicator frameworks developed to measure sustainability at the country level today. Most of these were found to value human development factors and a clean local environment, but to gravely overlook consumption of (remote) resources in relation …

Me-Em 2009 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• Energy Systems
• Health Systems
• Faculty & Staff
• Students
• Alumni
• Resources
• Graduates
• Publications
• ME-EM Community

Mse News 2009, Department Of Materials Science And Engineering, Michigan Technological University

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• MSE Department Welcomes Engineering Fundamentals Chair
• MSE Department Welcomes New Professor
• Steel
• MSE Program Shines in US News Rankings
• MSE Alumnus Excelled in Mining Industry
• Student News
• Staff News
• Faculty News
• Alumni News

Improving Wetland Characterization With Multi-Sensor, Multi-Temporal Sar And Optical/Infrared Data Fusion, Laura Bourgeau-Chavez, K. Riordan, Richard Powell, Nicole Miller, Mitch Nowels

Michigan Tech Research Institute Publications

No abstract provided.

Wood Particle Filled Polyvinyl Chloride Composites And Their Foams, Laurent M. Matuana, Patricia A. Heiden, Bhavesh L. Shah

Michigan Tech Patents

Extruded composite compositions of PVC and wood particles containing chitosan or chitin as a coupling agent are described. The composite compositions have improved physical and mechanical properties.

Implantable Biosensors For Real-Time Strain And Pressure Monitoring, Ee Lim Tan, Brandon D. Pereles, Brock Horton, Ranyuan Shao, Mohammed Zourob, Keat Ghee Ong

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Implantable biosensors were developed for real-time monitoring of pressure and strain in the human body. The sensors, which are wireless and passive, consisted of a soft magnetic material and a permanent magnet. When exposed to a low frequency AC magnetic field, the soft magnetic material generated secondary magnetic fields that also included the higher-order harmonic modes. Parameters of interest were determined by measuring the changes in the pattern of these higher-order harmonic fields, which was achieved by changing the intensity of a DC magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet. The DC magnetic field, or the biasing field, was altered …

Combustion Knock Detection And Control Through Statistical Characterization Of Knock Levels, Jeffrey D. Naber, Satheesh Rajh Rajagopalan

Michigan Tech Patents

A method of statistically characterizing combustion knock events includes receiving signals from a sensing device such as an accelerometer, estimating at least one parameter of a probability distribution function based on the received signals, and calculating a value indicative of an r/h percentile based on the parameter to predict upcoming combustion knock events.

Apparatus And Method For Three-Dimensional Contouring, Carl B. Kieranen, Charles A. Hallstrom, Glen R. Simula, Nils P. Ruonavaara, James D. Waineo

Michigan Tech Patents

A device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly that is supported at two locations by height adjustment mechanisms that raise and lower the two locations of the contouring assembly independently of each other. The contouring assembly creates a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of at least one location of the contouring assembly is based on a comparison of the measured position of one portion of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. Control …