Engineering Commons^™

Power Bus Isolation Using Power Islands In Printed Circuit Boards, J. Chen, Todd H. Hubing, Richard E. Dubroff, Thomas Van Doren

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Power islands are often employed in printed circuit board (PCB) designs to alleviate the problem of power bus noise coupling between circuits. Good isolation can be obtained over a wide frequency band due to the large series impedance provided by the gap between the power islands. However, power bus resonances may degrade the isolation at high frequencies. The amount of isolation also depends on the type of connection between power islands and the components on the board. This paper experimentally investigates the effectiveness of several power island structures up to 3.0 GHz

Interactive Virtual Laboratory For Experience With A Smart Bridge Test, Elizabeth C. Eckhoff, Vicki M. Eller, Steve Eugene Watkins, Richard Hall

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Virtual laboratory experiments can be cost effective, convenient instructional resources that have appeal to a wide range of learning styles. Expensive, time-consuming laboratory tests can be experienced repeatedly and remotely using interactive simulations and original video footage or animations. A virtual experiment can incorporate meaningful exercises, procedural options, and background hyperlinks to create a comprehensive "hands on" environment. Also, it may be used as preliminary training for the actual experiment.

An interactive LabVIEW-based laboratory for a load test simulation of an existing demonstration bridge was created. This smart truss bridge is instrumented with fiber optic strain sensors situated on the …

A Cascaded Converter-Based Statcom With Energy Storage, Chang Qian, Mariesa Crow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Due to their advantages in high power applications, multi-level converters have been introduced to flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) to enhance power transmission system operation. Although several multi-level StatCom topologies have been proposed to verify the high performance of multi-level converters used in reactive power compensation, they are not capable of controlling active power flow. To make multi-level converters more flexible and effective for active power flow control, energy storage systems, such as flywheels and batteries are incorporated into StatComs. In this paper, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are incorporated into a cascaded converter-based StatCom to implement both active and …

Adaptive Critic-Based Neural Network Controller For Uncertain Nonlinear Systems With Unknown Deadzones, Pingan He, Jagannathan Sarangapani, S. N. Balakrishnan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A multilayer neural network (NN) controller in discrete-time is designed to deliver a desired tracking performance for a class of nonlinear systems with input deadzones. This multilayer NN controller has an adaptive critic NN architecture with two NNs for compensating the deadzone nonlinearity and a third NN for approximating the dynamics of the nonlinear system. A reinforcement learning scheme in discrete-time is proposed for the adaptive critic NN deadzone compensator, where the learning is performed based on a certain performance measure, which is supplied from a critic. The adaptive generating NN rejects the errors induced by the deadzone whereas a …

Comparison Of Heuristic Dynamic Programming And Dual Heuristic Programming Adaptive Critics For Neurocontrol Of A Turbogenerator, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Donald C. Wunsch, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents the design of an optimal neurocontroller that replaces the conventional automatic voltage regulator (AVR) and the turbine governor for a turbogenerator connected to the power grid. The neurocontroller design uses a novel technique based on the adaptive critic designs (ACDs), specifically on heuristic dynamic programming (HDP) and dual heuristic programming (DHP). Results show that both neurocontrollers are robust, but that DHP outperforms HDP or conventional controllers, especially when the system conditions and configuration change. This paper also shows how to design optimal neurocontrollers for nonlinear systems, such as turbogenerators, without having to do continually online training of …

Decoupling Strategies For Printed Circuit Boards Without Power Planes, Todd H. Hubing, Hwan-Woo Shim, Theodore M. Zeeff

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Traditional decoupling capacitors connected between V/CC/ and GND traces can be relatively ineffective at frequencies above their self-resonant frequency. This paper evaluates decoupling capacitor mounting strategies on boards without power planes. Techniques for minimizing mutual inductance and improving decoupling at frequencies above resonance are investigated.

Estimating The Power Bus Impedance Of Printed Circuit Boards With Embedded Capacitance, Minjia Xu, Todd H. Hubing

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Embedded capacitance is an alternative to discrete decoupling capacitors and is achieved by enhancing the natural capacitance between closely spaced power and return planes. This paper employs a simple cavity model to investigate the features affecting the power bus impedance of printed circuit boards with embedded capacitance.

Experimental Verification Of Derivatives Adaptive Critic Based Neurocontroller Performance On Single Turbogenerators On The Electric Power Grid, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Donald C. Wunsch, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The design and real-time implementation of derivatives adaptive critic based neurocontrollers that replace the conventional automatic voltage regulators (AVRs) and turbine governors are presented in this paper. The feedback variables to the neurocontroller are completely based on local measurements from the turbogenerator. Experimental verification results are presented to show the superior performance of the derivatives adaptive critic based neurocontroller, compared to the conventional AVR and turbine governor controllers equipped with a power system stabilizer.

Finite-Element Modeling Of Coaxial Cable Feeds And Vias In Power-Bus Structures, Hao Wang, Yun Ji, Todd H. Hubing

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents three different models that can be used to represent coaxial cable feeds or vias in printed circuit board power-bus structures. The probe model represents a coaxial feed or via as a current filament with unknown radius. The coaxial-cable model enforces an analytical field distribution at the cable opening or via clearance hole. The strip model employs the equivalent radius concept to represent cylindrical feeds and vias as rectangular strips. Although the strip model is functionally equivalent to two closely positioned probe models, it accurately represents the conductor radius and is more accurate in situations where the via …

Gunn Oscillators Based On Shielded Dielectric Resonators With Mechanical Frequency Tuning, Sergey Kharkovsky, V. I. Lutsenko, I. V. Lutsenko, V. K. Korneenkov, A. E. Kogut

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The features of Gunn oscillators based on shielded dielectric resonators with whispering gallery modes and ray oscillations are investigated. Their comparative analysis for oscillators with different dielectric resonant structures is carried out.

Measurement And Monitoring Of Microwave Reflection And Transmission Properties Of Cement-Based Specimens, Sergey Kharkovsky, M. F. Akay, U. C. Hasar, C. D. Atis

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The results of measurement and monitoring of reflection and transmission properties of cement-based specimens (blocks of mortar, concrete) obtained by using a simple and an inexpensive measurement system at microwave frequencies (X-band) are presented. Dependencies of the reflection and transmission coefficients on water-to-cement (w/c) ratio, preparing and curing conditions of the specimens are demonstrated. It is shown that the amplitudes of reflection and transmission coefficients, together with thickness of the specimens, determine the complex dielectric permittivity of the hardened cement-based specimens. The expected applications of the results for the determination of physical properties of cement-based materials are discussed. The causes …

Second-Order Statistical Properties Of The Wss Jakes' Fading Channel Simulator, Chengshan Xiao, Y. Rosa Zheng, N. C. Beaulieu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An improved Jakes' (1994) fading channel simulator was proposed by Pop and Beaulieu (see ibid., vol.49, p.699-708, Apr. 2001) to eliminate the stationarity problem occurring in Jakes' original design. In this paper, second-order statistical properties of the improved Jakes' simulator are analyzed. Consistent with Pop and Beaulieu's caution about high-order statistics of the simulator, it is proved that some second-order statistics of both the quadrature components and the envelope do not match the desired ones even if the number of sinusoids approaches infinity. Therefore, care must be taken when the simulator is employed to evaluate algorithms and systems.

Tissue Classification Through Analysis Of Gene Expression Data Using A New Family Of Art Architectures, Rui Xu, Georgios C. Anagnostopoulos, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Correct classification is crucial to cancer diagnosis and treatment. We demonstrate that a new family of neural network architectures-Ellipsoid ART and ARTMAP (EA/EAM)-can cluster and classify tissues successfully through analysis of gene expression data generated by DNA microarray experiments

A New Control Strategy For The Unified Power Flow Controller, Lin Zhang, Liangying Dong, Mariesa Crow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The unified power flow controller (UPFC) is the most versatile among a variety of flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) devices, which can be used for power flow control, enhancement of transient stability, damping system oscillations and voltage regulation. In this paper, we propose a new PI based approach for the dynamic control of UPFC. With the new control strategy, not only the active and reactive power flow control but also the system oscillations damping can be achieved. The digital simulation results developed in MATLAB and PSCAD/EMTDC environments are presented to verify the efficiency of the proposed control algorithm.

Reducing Power Bus Impedance At Resonance With Lossy Components, Todd H. Hubing, Theodore M. Zeeff

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Power bus structures in printed circuit boards with solid power and ground planes exhibit resonances. When the power bus is resonant, the power bus impedance can increase dramatically. This paper explores the effect of component equivalent series resistance (ESR) on power bus resonances. General guidelines for selecting an optimum ESR are provided and are supported by laboratory measurements and numerical simulations.

Restoration Of The Lorentzian And Debye Curves Of Dielectrics And Magnetics For Fdtd Modeling, Marina Koledintseva, Konstantin Rozanov, James L. Drewniak, Gabriele Di Fazio

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The algorithms of extracting the Lorentzianand Debye-curve parameters of dielectric and magnetic materials from the results of measurements at several frequency points are presented. These algorithms are based on an analytical solution of systems of non-linear equations with physical constraints that follow from the fundamental principle of causality. The extracted parameters are useful for FDTD modeling of electromagnetic structures containing such dispersive media. Some examples are presented.

Speedup Of Self-Timed Digital Systems Using Early Completion, Scott C. Smith

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An Early Completion technique is developed to significantly increase the throughput of NULL Convention self-timed digital systems without impacting latency or compromising their self-timed nature. Early Completion performs the completion detection for registration stage i at the input of the register, instead of at the output of the register as in standard NULL Convention Logic. This method requires that the single-rail completion signal from registration stage i+1 , Ko i+1 , be used as an additional input to the completion detection circuitry for registration stage i , to maintain self-timed operation. However, Early Completion does necessitate an assumption of equipotential …

Agglomerated Lubricant, Mary R. Reidmeyer

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A lubricant for use in lubricating the shot sleeve of a machine for die casting molten metals is in the form of agglomerated particles. The particles have an inorganic high pressure lubricant agglomerated, with a binder material and with an organic material. The solid lubricant is resistant to dusting, caking and breakage, can be fed through an automatic dispensing machine, and combines inorganic and organic materials to achieve excellent lubrication properties. The product has low flash and low smoke release into the environment.

Effect Of Oxygen Vacancies On The Magnetic Structure Of The La₀.₆Sr₀.₄Feo3-Δ Perovskite: A Neutron Diffraction Study, Zili Chu, William B. Yelon, Jinbo Yang, William Joseph James, Harlan U. Anderson, Yixiang Xie, Satish K. Malik

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Magnetic interactions in perovskite compounds of the type La_1-xSr_xMO_3-δ (M=3d transition such as Mn and Fe) are presumed to arise through a super exchange between 3d electrons of the magnetic ions via oxygen orbitals. The magnetic structure of La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO_3-δ has been studied with neutron diffraction. Oxygen vacancies were created by annealing samples under various gases including N₂, air and mixtures of CO/CO₂. All La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO_3-δ compounds maintain the rhombohedral structure (space group R3̄c). The air- or oxygen-annealed samples have almost no oxygen …

Neodymium And Erbium Coordination Environments In Phosphate Glasses, Mevlüt Karabulut, G. K. Marasinghe, Ezzeldin Metwalli, Andrew K. Wittenauer, Richard K. Brow, C. H. Booth, D. K. Shuh

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The local structures of Nd3+ and Er3+ ions in two series of rare-earth (RE) phosphate glasses with nominal compositions xR203-(1-x)P2O5, where R=Nd and Er and 0.05≤x≤0.28, have been characterized by LIII-edge extended x-ray-absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). The RE coordination number depends on the R2O3 content, decreasing from 9.0 (10) oxygen nearest neighbors in ultraphosphate compositions (x<0.15) to 6.4 (9) oxygen nearest neighbors for the metaphosphate (x∼0.25) compositions. The average Er-O bond distance decreases from 2.29 (1) to 2.23 (1) Å, and the average Nd-O bond distance decreases from 2.40 (1) to 2.37 (1) Å over the same compositional range. The changes in coordination environments are consistent with the conversion of isolated RE polyhedra to clustered RE polyhedra sharing common oxygens as the number of available terminal oxygens per RE ion decreases with increasing x.

Reactive Hot Pressing Of Alumina-Molybdenum Disilicide Composites, William Fahrenholtz, Ronald E. Loehman, Kevin G. Ewsuk

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Al₂O₃-MoSi₂ Composites Were Prepared by Reactive Hot Pressing using Molybdenum, Aluminum, and Mullite Powders as Precursors. the Gibbs Free Energy Was Highly Negative for the Composite-Forming Reaction, Which Indicated that the Products Were Stable Relative to the Reactants. after the Reaction, the Composites Had High Relative Density, ∼96%. based on the Composite-Forming Reaction, the Composites Should Have Contained 18 Vol% MoSi₂ in an Al₂O₃ Matrix. Scanning Electron Microscopy Revealed that the MoSi2 Inclusions Were Elongated, with an Average Thickness of ∼5 Μm and Inclusion Lengths that Ranged from 5 to 50 …

Radionuclide Leaching From Residual Soils: Screening Study, Mark W. Fitch, Ellen England

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Four soil samples, collected from a National Priorities Listed site contaminated with uranium, thorium, and radium, were leached for two, seven, and 30 days. The nonleached soils, leached soils, and leachates were analyzed using gamma spectroscopy, alpha spectroscopy, and delayed neutron activation. Unleached and leached soils had low radionuclide activities, and four different leaching solutions had no significant observable effect upon the resulting leachate activity. Three of the soils produced leachates with uranium activities below the expected primary drinking water standard of 30 µg/L for uranium, but the leachate from the fourth soil had an unacceptably high concentration of uranium …

Forensic Investigation Of Failed Mast Arms Of Traffic Signal Supported Structures, Genda Chen, Michael G. Barker, D. Scott Mackenzie, Christopher W. Ramsay, Joe Alderson, Lokeswarappa R. Dharani, Jiaqing Yu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In Missouri, 11 traffic signal mast arms fractured at the arm-post weld connection in 7 years. To reduce this fatigue failure, the Missouri Department of Transportation developed a fatigue-resistant weld profile that increases the weld leg and reduces the slope of the weld at the toe. This study investigated causes of the failed arms, compared performance of new and old weld profiles, and suggested retrofitting measures for further investigation. The scope included a metallurgical investigation of one failed field mast arm, laboratory fatigue testing of five prototype mast arms (two new and three old profiles), and laboratory failure analysis of …

Biological Fixed Film Systems, Mark W. Fitch, Ellen England

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.