Engineering Commons^™

Design Considerations For 1-3 Composites Used In Transducers For Medical Ultrasonic Imaging, Wayne Huebner, Kuiming Liang, Clyde G. Oakley

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ceramic polymer piezoelectric composites with 1-3 connectivity have become an important tool in the design and manufacture of thickness-mode transducers for medical diagnostic ultrasonic imaging. The authors compare annular array transducers made from ceramics alone to those made with these composites to demonstrate the advantages of composites. They examine some of the trade-offs involved in optimizing composite designs for this application. The effects of varying Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the polymer phase on the coupling coefficient and high-frequency lateral resonances of the composite are presented

Failure Strengths Of Laminated Glass, Joseph E. Minor, Patrick L. Reznik

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Laminated glass used in architectural glazing comprises two layers of glass connected by a thin interlayer of polyvinyl butyral. Previously reported nondestructive experimental stress analyses offer evidence that laminated glass behaves like monolithic glass of the same nominal thickness except when temperatures are high. This evidence has been augmented to include failure behavior by destructive tests of a large number of laminated-glass specimens. Test results reveal that failure strengths of annealed laminated-glass specimens are equal to failure strengths of annealed monolithic glass specimens of the same nominal thickness at room temperature and decrease to about 75% of monolithic-glass strength at …

Lateral Load Behavior Of Pile Group In Sand, Shamsher Prakash

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Boundary Element-Image Method Approach To Seismic Modeling, Richard E. Dubroff

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Boundary Element-Image Method is Proposed as a Method for Generating Synthetic Seismograms in a System of Piecewise Homogeneous Layers. the Present Approach Uses the Boundary Conditions Explicitly in Order to Develop a System of Integral Equations. Although This Method Can Be Formulated in a General Way, Specific Computational Advantages Occur When the Basis and Testing Functions Are Chosen as Harmonically Related Complex Sinusoids. -From Authors

Fixed Mode Elimination In Decentralized Control Systems Using Eigenvalue Sensitivities, Jorge R.B. Souza, Vittal S. Rao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The knowledge of fixed modes plays an important role in the design of decentralized controllers for large scale systems. An approach based on a parametric sensitivity of eigenvalues is proposed to select the information to be exchanged between control stations in order to eliminate decentralized fixed modes. The procedure is illustrated with an example. © 1990.

Growth Of Cdte And Cds/Cdte Heterojunctions On Metal Substrates By Spray Pyrolysis, Alok K. Berry, Jack L. Boone, Thomas P. Van Doren

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Preliminary results of the spray pyrolysis of thin films of CdTe on metal substrates are reported. The films are hard and adhere well to the substrate. A n-CdS/p-CdTe rectifying junction is also grown completely by spray pyrolysis on the metallic substrate. The ability to produce p-n junctions using the inexpensive and simple procedure of spray pyrolysis may lead to a viable process for mass production of solar cells. © 1990.

Reduced Order Robust Controllers For An Experimental Flexible Grid, Vittal S. Rao, M. Westerheide, Alok Das

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A procedure for the design and implementation of reduced-order robust controllers for active vibration control on an experimental flexible grid structure is presented. The experimental structure consists of a 5-ft x 5-ft grid made of 2-in-wide, 1/8-in-thick aluminum strips. The grid hangs vertically, being cantilevered at the top to a large T-beam anchored to a cinder block wall. The grid structure is represented by a 75-degree-of-freedom finite-element model, and the controller uses three piezoelectric accelerometer sensors to command three Non collocated DC motor torquers. The modified balance-truncation model-reduction method is used to derive a control synthesis model. These reduced-order models …

Reduced Order Modeling Methods For Turret-Gun System, Vittal S. Rao, Norman P. Coleman

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Reduced-order modeling techniques are used to design lower order robust controllers for a turret-gun system. The balance-truncation, Routh approximation, and L. Litz's (1980) modal techniques are used to derive the models. A critical comparison of the time and frequency response characteristics of the original and reduced order models is made. The spillover problem associated with a reduced-order model is investigated.

Analysis Of Wind Power Integration With Power System Planning, Badrul H. Chowdhury

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Thermal Dynamic Problems Of Reinforced Composite Cylinders, Victor Birman

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Thermal dynamic problems of circular cylindrical composite shells reinforced in the axial and circumferential directions and subject to variations of temperature are considered. Nonlinear governing equations are formulated based on the extension of Donnell shell theory. These equations are used to determine the response of geometrically nonlinear and linear shells to a thermal loading represented by the Heaviside step function (thermal shock). The solution of the nonlinear problem obtained by the assumption that displacements are single-term functions of coordinates is discussed. The analysis of the linear problem illustrates different types of response to thermal shock. The condition of thermally induced …

Planning Optimal Robot Trajectories By Cell Mapping, W. H. Zhu, Ming-Chuan Leu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A cell-mapping method is introduced for planning global trajectories of robotic manipulators in cases where the cell space is composed of combination pairs of plane cells. With the proposed method, optimal trajectory problems in the free field and in the obstacle-constrained field are studied. Two numerical examples are given to show the obtained optimal trajectories and controls.

The Parallel Implementation Of The Waveform Relaxation Method For Transient Stability Simulations, Marija D. Ilić, Mariesa Crow

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, the authors extend the results of their earlier paper on waveform relamtion (WR), which is a parallel algorithm for transient stability analysis. The WR algorithm is extended to a structure-preserving power system model in which the loads are retained. This results in a system of differential/ algebraic equations (DAEs). Power systems exhibit several unique dynamic properties which may be exploited in an advantageous manner by the WR algorithm. This leads to a greater computational efficiency than most other direct methods of simulation. This paper presents several theoretical results as well as computational results on parallel implementation.

Design Of Robust Controllers For Gas Turbine Engines, David E. Moellenhoff, Vittal S. Rao, Charles A. Skarvan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper describes robust controller design methodologies for gas turbine engines. A linear state variable model for the engine is derived using partial derivatives. The Linear Quadratic Gaussian with Loop Transfer Recovery (LQG/LTR) and the Parameter Robust Linear Quadratic Gaussian (PRLQG) robust controller design methodologies have been used to design a controller for gas turbine engines. A new method is proposed by combining the features of LQG/LTR and PRLQG methods and yields good robustness properties with respect to both unstructured uncertainties in the frequency domain and structured parameter variations in the time domain. The new procedure is illustrated with the …

Bundled Cable Parameters And Their Impact On Emi Measurement Repeatability, Todd H. Hubing

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

EMI (electromagnetic interference) test procedures specify that long cables should be bundled at their center in some circumstances. The author investigates the effect of cable bundling using analytical models and measurements. He examines how cable bundle parameters such as length and "tightness'' can affect the repeatability of the measurement. Simple models of a bundled cable suggest that relatively small changes in the geometry of the bundle can significantly affect the common-mode cable current. Parameters such as length, tightness, location and the number of turns determine the impedance of the bundle. As the impedance of the cable bundle changes, the resonant …

A Balancing Method For Reduced Order Modelling Of Unstable Systems, Rajiva Prakash, Vittal S. Rao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Moore's balancing method of model reduction has many attractive properties and is used widely in practice. However, this method suffers from the drawback that it is not applicable for unstable systems. This paper introduces a balancing method of model reduction to overcome this problem. The proposed technique obtains the reduced order model by balancing and truncating frequency domain controllability and observability Gramians. Analytical treatment is given for associated properties of the Gramians, and the balancing and truncation steps of model reduction. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the new approach. © 1990.

Microstructural Characterization Of Rapidly Solidified And Extruded Ti-Al-Nb Alloys, Danny Joe Edwards

Masters Theses

"Two titanium alloys have been characterized using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and optical metallography techniques. Both of these alloys were rapidly solidified by melt spinning, the resulting ribbons pulverized, and the powders then extruded into cylindrical billets. The alloys are based on the compositions Ti-21.3Al- 9 Nb-0.6-Mo-2.6V and Ti-13.2Al-2.6Nb-0.5Mo-0.9V-0.5Zr-3.1B in atomic percent. The first alloy was examined in both the as-extruded condition and in the annealed condition (looo0c for 12 hours). The second alloy was examined in the as-extruded condition only.

For the first alloy, the as-extruded microstructure consisted of a B2 matrix with alpha-2 particles at …

Fluid Dynamics Of An Atomizer Nozzle, Bhaskar Sengupta

Masters Theses

"A pilot plant gas atomizer was designed and assembled at the Center of Pyrometallurgy, U.M.R., to produce metal powders. The pilot plant utilizes a confined, annular, supersonic nozzle to yield spherical metal powders (aluminum and zinc alloys have been atomized) of average size of 15μm in diameter.

A cold model of the atomizing nozzle was constructed to simulate the pilot plant. First, the high-speed gas flow was studied and later, modelling of the atomizing process was carried out by using water as the atomized liquid. This work has investigated the complex gas flow in the converging-diverging nozzle and around the …

The Fractal Dimension As A Measure Of The Roughness Of Rock Discontinuity Profiles, Y. H. Lee, J. R. Carr, David J. Barr, Charles J. Haas

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An important factor in the analysis of deformation and failure of rock masses along discontinuities is the roughness of the jointing surfaces. The fractal dimension is proposed as a method of objectively quantifying the roughness profile of such discontinuities. With this method much less engineering judgement and experience are required in determining the surface roughness,sb than is required for other methods such as the widely used joint roughness coefficient (JRC) suggested by the International Society for Rock Mechanics [1] (Int. J. Rock. Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr. 15, 319-368, 1978). The fractal dimension, suggested by Mandelbrot [2] (Fractals-Form, Chance …

Neural Networks In Manufacturing: Possible Impacts On Cutting Stock Problems, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The potential of neural networks is examined, and the effect of parallel processing on the solution of the stock-cutting problem is assessed. The conceptual model proposed integrates a feature-recognition network and a simulated annealing approach. The model uses a neocognitron neural network paradigm to generate data for assessing the degree of match between two irregular patterns. The information generated through the feature recognition network is passed to an energy function, and the optimal configuration of patterns is computed using a simulated annealing algorithm. Basics of the approach are demonstrated with an example.

Knowledge-Based Prototype For Improving Scheduling Productivity, Colin Othniel Benjamin, Daniel L. Babcock, N. B. Yunus, John B. Kincaid

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The development of efficient construction plans and schedules presents continuing challenges to construction schedulers. Knowledge-based systems offer considerable potential as computer-based planning tools to aid the development of realistic project plans and schedules. This paper outlines the development of a knowledge-based prototype system for construction planning and scheduling and evaluates its effectiveness as a tool for improving the productivity of inexperienced construction project schedulers. The prototype, developed using the M.1 knowledge engineering shell, incorporates data bases, algorithm, and heuristics that mimic the decision process of expert construction project schedulers and identifies a work breakdown structure and precedence relationships. Inexperienced schedulers …

A Parallel Architecture For Stock Cutting Problem, Cihan H. Dagli, Alireza Hajakbari

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The problem of allocating irregular patterns arises frequently in applications where it has to be determined how a set of two-dimensional shapes will fit onto a stock sheet of finite dimensions with minimum waste. The use of the simulated annealing approach for the solution of this problem is described

Cost Justification Of An Expert System, Alice E. Smith, Cihan H. Dagli

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It is pointed out that, like other projects which spend corporate dollars, an expert system must be analyzed for its economic and strategic worth to the organization. Both traditional engineering economy project analysis and multivariate holistic methods can be applicable. The fundamental strategy of the analyst is to decide upon the evaluation methodologies, gather cost and benefit data, study the project from various perspectives, and present the results and recommendations.

Simulated Annealing Approach For Solving Stock Cutting Problem, Cihan H. Dagli, Alireza Hajakbari

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The simulated annealing approach is applied to stock cutting. The conceptual approach proposed uses an energy function that measures the area of the rectangular enclosure of all the patterns to be nested, the level of similarity between pattern pairs, and the amount of overlap among patterns in evaluating various pattern configurations to be generated by the simulated annealing algorithm. Three methods for pattern configuration generation are considered. The first method uses heuristics to generate the initial configuration. The second and third methods use random selection and random placement of patterns

Comments On The Papers By Kê And Su, Hollis P. Leighly

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Production Of Thin Copper Foils On Microporous Titanium Oxide Substrates, J. L. Delplancke, M. Sun, Thomas J. O'Keefe, R. Winand

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study deals with the electrochemical production of thin (35 μm) copper films on anodized titanium substrates. The formation of a microporous oxide layer on the titanium electrodes greatly enhances the surface density of copper nuclei during a potentiostatic experiment so that a complete coverage of the cathode surfaces may be obtained after short term (20 s) polarization. Moreover, the oxide film may act as a parting agent and the copper films may be easily stripped from their substrates. The higher the pore density of the oxide film, the higher the surface density of nuclei and the easier the foil's …

Mass-Transfer Measurements Of Copper Deposition In A Fluosilicate Electrolyte, D. Uceda, Thomas J. O'Keefe, E. Cole

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The electrodeposition of copper from a fluosilicate electrolyte has been investigated by electrochemical techniques, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The diffusion coefficient of cupric ion in a fluosilicate solution has been determined with the aid of a rotating disk electrode using the mixed control Levich equation. Gold (Au⁺³) was used as a tracer to evaluate the mass transport properties of the system. The polarization behavior of the electrolyte was measured in the presence and absence of gas sparging on a vertical stationary electrode to study the effect of the mass transport contribution. Sound copper deposits were obtained …

Thermoelastic Problem Of A Thick Orthotopic Beam On Twodirectiooal Elastic Foundation, Victor Birman

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The thermoelastic problem of an orthotropic beam supported by an elastic foundation which resists lateral deformations as well as displacements parallel to the beam axis is considered. The solution for a relatively thick beam is obtained based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The problem is reduced to- the solution of an ordinary seventh-order differential equation which can be obtained in the closed form. The case of a slender beam is treated as a particular case of a more general solution for a shear deformable beam. © 1990 ASME.

Effect Of Viscoplastic Flow Rules On The Initiation And Growth Of Shear Bands At High Strain Rates, R. C. Batra, Chang-Soo Kim

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Marchand and Duffy have reported detailed measurements of the temperature and strain as a shear band develops in a HY-100 steel. Assuming their torsional tests in thin-wall tubes can be adequately modeled by a viscoplastic block undergoing overall adiabatic simple shearing deformations, we investigate the effect of modeling the viscoplastic response of the material by a.power law, and flow rules proposed by Litonski, Bodner and Partom, and Johnson and Cook. Each of these flow rules is first calibrated by using the test data at a nominal strain-rate of 3300 s-1. Then predictions from the use of these flow rules at …

A Two-Dimensional Analog Vlsi Circuit For Detecting Discontinuities In Early Vision, John G. Harris, Christof Koch, Jin Luo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A large number of computer vision algorithms for finding intensity edges, computing motion, depth, and color, and recovering the three-dimensional shape of objects have been developed within the framework of minimizing an associated "energy" or "cost" functional. Particularly successful has been the introduction of binary variables coding for discontinuities in intensity, optical flow field, depth, and other variables, allowing image segmentation to occur in these modalities. The associated nonconvex variational functionals can be mapped onto analog, resistive networks, such that the stationary voltage distribution in the network corresponds to a minimum of the functional. The performance of an experimental analog …

Combined Solar And Internal Load Effects On Selection Of Heat Reclaim-Economizer Hvac Systems, Harry J. Sauer, Ronald Hunter Howell, Zijie Wang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The concern for energy conservation has led to the development and use of heat recovery systems which reclaim the building internal heat before it is discarded in the exhaust air. On the other hand, economizer cycles have been widely used for many years in a variety of types of HVAC systems. Economizer cycles are widely accepted as a means to reduce operating time for chilling equipment when cool outside air is available. It has been suggested that heat reclaim systems should not be used in conjunction with an HVAC system which incorporates an economizer cycle because the economizer operation would …