Engineering Commons^™

Enhanced Handheld Engine Ethanol Study, Charindu Kariyawasan Jalath Thanthree

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined consumer and professional grade handheld engines. Twenty-four consumer grade 50 hour Emissions Determination Period (EDP) trimmers and 24 professional grade 300 hour EDP backpack leaf blowers were run on four different ethanol fuel concentrations; E0, E10, E15, and E20. Six engines of each type were run on each of the fuel blends through their full EDP.

All engines were broken-in and adjusted to manufacturer specifications on E0. Then engines were emissions tested on E0 to provide a baseline and to determine the rich to lean order of the engines. Next, the leanest operating engine received E20 and …

The Concept Of Substrate Integrated E-Plane Waveguide And Circuits, Danyang Huang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In this thesis, a new type of substrate integrated waveguide is proposed for implementing E-plane type of waveguide circuits on printed circuit boards. obviously, these E-plane type of circuits cannot be realized by the conventional substrate integrated waveguide. The so-called substrate integrated E-plane waveguide consists of two circuit boards attached to each other. Two copper strips are inserted in between two circuit boards, where plated through holes are penetrated through them along the transmission direction. The plated through holes and copper strips altogether played as side walls of a conventional waveguide to support longitudinal and vertical currents. Simulation is carried …

A Wavelet Transform Module For A Speech Recognition Virtual Machine, Euisung Kim

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This work explores the trade-offs between time and frequency information during the feature extraction process of an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system using wavelet transform (WT) features instead of Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) and the benefits of combining the WTs and the MFCCs as inputs to an ASR system. A virtual machine from the Speech Recognition Virtual Kitchen resource (www.speechkitchen.org) is used as the context for implementing a wavelet signal processing module in a speech recognition system. Contributions include a comparison of MFCCs and WT features on small and large vocabulary tasks, application of combined MFCC and WT features on …

Can You Hack It? Validating Predictors For It Boot Camps, Courtney Gear

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Given the large number of information technology jobs open and lack of qualified individuals to fill them, coding boot camps have sprung up in response to this skill gap by offering a specialized training program in an accelerated format. This fast growth has created a need to measure these training programs and understand their effectiveness. In the present study, a series of analyses examined whether specific or combinations of predictors were valid for training performance in this coding academy. Self-rated, daily efficacy scores were used as outcome variables of training success and correlation results showed a positive relationship with efficacy …

Use Of Bridging Strategy Between The Ensemble Kalman Filter And Particle Filter For The Measurements With Various Quasi-Gaussian Noise, Sumathi Prabhakaran Jeyakumari

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Filtering and estimation are two important tools of engineering. Whenever the state of the system needs to be estimated from the noisy sensor measurements, some kind of state estimator is used. If the dynamics of the system and observation model are linear under Gaussian conditions, the root mean squared error can be computed using the Kalman Filter. But practically, noise frequently enters the system as not strictly Gaussian. Therefore, the Kalman Filter does not necessarily provide the better estimate. Hence the estimation of the nonlinear system under non-Gaussian or quasi-Gaussian noise is of an acute interest. There are many versions …

Study Of Role Of Meniscus And Viscous Forces During Liquid-Mediated Contacts Separation, Prabin Dhital

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Menisci may form between two solid surfaces with the presence of an ultra-thin liquid film. When the separation operation is needed, meniscus and viscous forces contribute to an adhesion leading stiction, high friction, possibly high wear and potential failure of the contact systems, for instance microdevices, magnetic head disks and diesel fuel injectors. The situation may become more pronounced when the contacting surfaces are ultra-smooth and the normal load is small. Various design parameters, such as contact angle, initial separation height, surface tension and liquid viscosity, have been investigated during liquid-mediated contact separation. However, how the involved forces will change …

Effects Of Computer Program Visualization Tools On Student Populations, Meghan Jayne Peterson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined how program visualization tools affect Advanced Placement Computer Science students' understanding of abstract programming concepts. A literature review was conducted to determine if program visualization is effective and which students benefit from it the most. The findings were used to design a causal comparative study in which students would experience instruction with and without program visualization. The study took place in an AP Computer Science course during the first challenging unit about an abstract concept: loops. Participants (n = 24) were selected using convenience sampling and were assessed before, during, and after the study took place. While …

Efficient Modeling And Simulation Of Wavelength Division Multiplexing Dual Polarization Qpsk Optical Fiber Transmission, Siva Kumar Raju Nadimpalli

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Due to enormous growth in communications, wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems are popular because these systems allow us to expand the capacity of the networks without laying more optical fiber cables. In this thesis, we have systematically derived the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger (CNLS) equations, including a consistent definition of the complex envelope, Fourier transform, the state of polarization, and derivation under the engineering notation. After a discussion of coarse step based second order symmetrized split-step Fourier (SSSF) simulation method, which is applicable to the numerical solution of the CNLS equations, an analytical step-size selection based local error method is applied …

It Centralization And The Innovation Value Chain In Higher Education: A Study For Promoting Key Innovations Through Innovation Management And Organizational Design, Edmund Udaya Clark

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of organizational centralization in higher education technology support units on institutional innovativeness. The centralization tools used for the present study included measures developed by Hage & Aiken (1971), Kaluzny, et al. (1974), and Ferrell & Skinner (1988). The innovativeness measures were established by Hansen & Birkinshaw's (2007) tool for evaluating innovation value chain activities in organizations. Data were gathered from a nation-wide sample (n = 303) of IT workers at 38 research one institutions in the United States. The results indicated that innovation value chain activities (idea generation, conversion, …

A 2x2 Polarization Switchable Patch Antenna Array For Polarization Modulation, Pengfei Ji

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis introduced and investigated a new concept in the development of a 2X2 polarization switchable patch antenna array for polarization modulation. Polarization modulation is a technique to modulate digital information using different polarization of the electromagnetic wave. The existing waveform based modulation techniques are well developed and start approaching to their performance limits. Polarization modulation provides a new modulation dimension for wireless communications and can further increase data throughput. A four-port circular patch antenna is presented and investigated for the implementation of polarization modulation. It has four ports, each excites radiation of a different polarization. A single pole four …

Process Improvement By Lean Thinking In Trucking Industry, Abhiram Reddy Ramasahayam

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Manufacturing industries with complex production systems are struggling with designing optimal process to increase throughput. Companies will require high amount of labor and process improvement resources to sustain growth and delivery quality products to its customers. A chain of value added activities when designed and deployed with help of lean based methodologies can create high efficiency process. In this paper we have studies and implemented value added process based on the lean manufacturing methodologies which was adapted on the shop floor.

In many traditional truck body production industries have facing many problems like low production rate, big lead times, material …

Derivation And Validation Of The Friction, Gravitational, And Air Forces Encountered During Installation Of Fiber Optic Cable, Faheed Olayemi Owokoniran

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This paper presents an introduction to fiber optic cable and the fiber optic communication system. An important phase in the supply of this new technology is to transport the fiber optic cable to the vicinity of service. Cable pulling and cable blowing - laminar flow; piston type - are the two main methods of installing fiber optic cable. Both methods of installation have limiting factors that need to be evaluated in order to perform a successful installation. The limiting factors for laminar type cable blowing are further discussed in this paper. A method was proposed to determine the forces - …

Air Flow And Rain Water Penetration Analysis On Generator Enclosures Using Cfd Simulations, Sasanka Andawatta Kankanamge

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Rain water penetration testing on power generator units requires a number of complicated procedures, requiring many resources. As such, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool, "FloEFD for Creo" is used to study the water penetration behavior on a OM924 diesel power generator enclosure in a computational environment. First, the three governing equations in fluid dynamics are derived and explained using simple methods. Next, behavior of rain water droplets upon impact is briefly discussed. Air velocity, volumetric flow rate and static pressure drop were measured physically in the OM924 generator enclosure. Then, a CFD model for the OM924 enclosure was developed …

Model-Based Verification For Simulink Design, Victor Oke

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Testing a Model-Based design is the only way to determine the correctness of the designed model but not enough to conclude that the design is error free. Verification exposes all the design errors and describes the functionality of the system. Assertion based verification helps to determine whether the model obey the actual design requirements. This thesis work is mainly based on verification of a Water Tank control system modeling using SIMULINK model.

Machining Strategies Exploring Reduction In Energy Consumption, Abdullah Al Mamun

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The main aim of this thesis is to explore machining strategies, analyzing energy consumption using Design of Experiments (DOE) at the material removal rate (MRR), compare to cutting geometrical trajectories according to CNC parameters such as spindle RPM, feed rate, depth of cut per pass and total depth of cut. Spindle RPM, depth of cut per pass, and feed rate are selected as the main three factors and each factor has two levels: low-level (-) and high-level (+). These experiments have been performed at an end-milling machine by using a concept of a constant volume of material removal processes in …

Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing Of Stainless Steel-Hydroxyapatite Bio-Composite, Don Suranga Dhanushka Uduwage

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study was conducted to create a bio-composite with a porous structure using the binder-jet printing additive manufacturing process. The samples were printed by changing the parameters such as layer thickness, roller speed, sintering time and sintering temperature of the X1-Lab binder jet additive manufacturing printer. The samples were printed 80% stainless steel 316 mixed with 20% Calcium Phosphate Tribasic by volume. Eight experiments were attempted to print according to the fractional factorial design of experiment. The effects of changing parameters on the mechanical properties of the new bio-composite was tested using ASTM E-09 compressive strength standards. The compression testing …

The Effects Of Layer Thickness On Dry-Sliding Wear Of Binder Jet Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel And Bronze Composite, Cody Ingenthron

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Pin on disk wear testing was used to compare additively manufactured binder jet metal matrix composites. The process parameters were changed. The layer thickness and applied forces were varied for the experimental study. Three different layer thicknesses used were, 50μm, 100μm, and 200μm. The pin used was a 420 stainless pin. The wear characteristics of the disk were examined using pin-on-disc method. The material tested was a composite of 420 stainless steel, and 90-10 bronze. Samples were weighed before, during, and after the test to determine differences in mass. Wear tracks were examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope. The results …

Thermal Conductivity Of Alumina And Silica Nanofluids, Julian Bernal Castellanos

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis studies the effects of the base fluid, particle type/size, and volumetric concentration on the thermal conductivity of Alumina and Silica nanofluids. The effects of base fluid were observed by preparing samples using ethylene glycol (EG), water, and mixtures of EG/water as the base fluid and Al2O3 (10 nm) nanoparticles. The particles type/size and volumetric concentration effects were tested by preparing samples of nanofluids using Al2O3 (10nm), Al2O3 (150nm), SiO2 (15 nm), and SiO2 (80 nm) nanoparticles and ionized water as base fluid at different volumetric concentrations. All samples were mixed using a sonicator for 30 minutes and a …

The Effects Of Low-Level Ethanol Blends In 4-Stroke Small Non-Road Engines, Chris Reek

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Small Non-Road Engines (SNRE's) abound in numbers and are used daily by consumers and businesses alike. Considering the atmosphere of change looming in the air regarding alternative fuels, this particular engine classification will also be affected by any change in standardization of fuels. This body of research attempts to address possible ways SNRE's can change their operational characteristics after being fueled by specific yet differing fuels. These characteristics will be contrasted against blends of ethanol with gasoline, from 0% ethanol to 20% ethanol, run on test engines to determine patterns, if any, of these characteristics. Topics include: materials compatibility, engine …

System Modeling And Optimization In Phase-Modulated Optical Fiber Communication Systems, Craig Huang

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In this two-part study, the conclusions drawn from optimization of interferometer incoherent detection carried out by examining the effect of pre-emphasis within the electrical signal-driving path are examined first. This is an expansion upon a widespread industry standard as realized by the Oclaro group. System performance in tight optical filtering conditions can be improved with concurrent adjustments to the level of pre- emphasis and breadth of the delay-line interferometer free-spectral range. In the second study, we implement a dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keyed modulation format with a digital signal processing block based upon the constant modulus algorithm realized via a feed-forward …

Team Effectiveness And Project Management In A Student Team Environment, Rahul Girish Patel

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The objective of this research study was to assess if students enrolled in MSU - Mankato's Automotive Engineering Technology (AET) program required a project management course. At present, a project management course is not included in the AET program. A survey instrument based on "The Team Effectiveness Critique" by Susan Trimble was developed to answer the research question. AET students enrolled in Senior Design courses were the main focus of this study. Survey results indicated that AET Senior Design students who had taken a project management course prior to a Senior Design course had good ratings in survey categories of …

An Empirical Study On Quality Management Practices, Organization Performance And Suppliers' Selection In Southern Minnesota Manufacturing Firms, Rachel Yetunde-Abiodun Awoku

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Quality management systems (QMS) have been widely applied successfully by many manufacturing companies to improve their process, increase profits and organizational performance. The most applied of the quality programs are ISO 9001, Total Quality Management (TQM), Just-In-time (JIT), Lean Management and Six Sigma. Although past studies on quality management have identified and studied the implementation of quality management practices, there is little or no research on quality management practices and business performance in Southern Minnesota manufacturing companies. Many researchers have concluded that the implementation of quality management practices has led to significant improvements in companies' business performance while others have …

Investigation Into The Usability Of Micromechanical Models To Predict The Behavior Of A Nanocomposite Polymer, Jason Handlogten

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the acceptability of a set of existing nanocomposite test specimens for tensile testing and then to determine the Young's and shear modulus of these test specimens. If the test specimens were found to be acceptable, the accuracy of three micromechanical models was to be evaluated by comparing their predictions to the mechanical properties determined from testing the specimens. The set of existing nanocomposite test specimens had a distinct concave shape on two surfaces that were believed to be intended as flat. In order to determine if they adhered to the Type I …

Introducing Fly Ash Into Lsi's Recipe, Andrew Mathias Beckrich

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

There has been published data that states that concrete producers can use Fly Ash as an alternative to Portland cement and still generate similar or better strength properties. By applying these principles to our industry and products, what new processes will need to be put in place and followed? What is the correct combination/portion of Fly Ash that will produce similar and better results as well as the adjusted new recipes? What type of cost is associated with the introduction of this new ingredient? Lastly, how does this affect the quality and reputation of the product?

Application Of The Tdma Technique Toward The Size And Charge Distribution Measurement Of Graphite, Gold, Palladium, And Silver Aerosols, Matthew Paul Simones

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The knowledge of charge distributions among aerosol particles has been an important topic for many years because of the strong electrostatic interactions which can greatly influence aerosol transport and evolution. Theoretical models have been developed although experimental verification has been limited because of the difficulty in measuring charged aerosols. Recently a method utilizing a tandem differential mobility analyzer (TDMA) has been shown to be applicable toward measuring both the size and charge distributions of nanosized combustion aerosols. The goal of this work is on further exploration of this method toward the measurement of non-combustion aerosols and in particular those associated …

Investigation Into The Potential Use Of Windbreaks To Improve Solar Collector Performance, Michael Watts

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The global demand for energy is ever increasing; however, the world has a limited number of fossil fuels available. Therefore, alternative renewable energy sources must be utilized. For this reason, solar thermal collectors have become an increasingly popular method for providing hot water or space heating. However, solar thermal collectors are most commonly used in areas that experience warm climates throughout the year. In areas that experience seasonal climates, the cold temperatures and harsh climate conditions significantly reduce the performance of solar thermal collectors during the winter months. This thesis examined the potential that the implementation of a windbreak could …

Employing The Spectral Collocation Method In The Modeling Of Laminar Tube Flow Dynamics, Corey Michael Thibeault

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The spectral collocation method is a numerical approximation technique that seeks the solution of a differential equation using a finite series of infinitely differentiable basis functions. This inherently global technique enjoys an exponential rate of convergence and has proven to be extremely effective in computational fluid dynamics. This paper presents a basic review of the spectral collocation method. The derivation is driven with an example of the approximation to the solution of a 1D Helmholtz equation. A Matlab code modeling two fluid dynamics problems is then given. First, the classic two-dimensional Graetz problem is simulated and compared to an analytical …