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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Behavior Of Square And L-Shaped Slender Reinforced Concrete Columns Under Combined Biaxial Bending And Axial Compression, Wen Hu Tsao Dec 1991

Behavior Of Square And L-Shaped Slender Reinforced Concrete Columns Under Combined Biaxial Bending And Axial Compression, Wen Hu Tsao

Dissertations

A numerical analysis was developed to evaluate the complete load-deflection and moment-curvature relationships for square and L-shaped slender reinforced concrete columns subjected to biaxial bending and axial load. This computer model can be used for any cross section geometry and material properties of normal concrete. The analysis was based on a deformation control and both the ascending and descending branches of curves can be studied. The finite difference method was introduced to calculate the deflections which satisfy the compatibility equations. Six square slender columns and eight L-shaped slender columns were tested to compare their experimental load-deformation results with the analytical …


A Generalized, Parametric Pr-Qmf/Wavelet Transform Design Approach For Multiresolution Signal Decomposition, Hakan Caglar Dec 1991

A Generalized, Parametric Pr-Qmf/Wavelet Transform Design Approach For Multiresolution Signal Decomposition, Hakan Caglar

Dissertations

This dissertation aims to emphasize the interrelations and the linkages of the theories of discrete-time filter banks and wavelet transforms. It is shown that the Binomial-QMF banks are identical to the interscale coefficients or filters of the compactly supported orthonormal wavelet transform bases proposed by Daubechies.

A generalized, parametric, smooth 2-band PR-QMF design approach based on Bernstein polynomial approximation is developed. It is found that the most regular compact support orthonormal wavelet filters, coiflet filters are only the special cases of the proposed filter bank design technique.

A new objective performance measure called Non-aliasing Energy Ratio(NER) is developed. Its merits …


Analytical Methodology For Atm Control Panel Design, Donald C. Johnson Dec 1991

Analytical Methodology For Atm Control Panel Design, Donald C. Johnson

Theses

This thesis presents a methodology for control panel design and layout along with a case study of an automated teller machine (ATM). A predictive model of human endurance and fatigue is developed from anthropometric, biomechanical and kinematics research. The layout problem is formulated to assign controls to locations to minimize the fatigue imposed on an operator performing a known set of tasks. A family of optimal and near-optimal layouts are found using conventional algorithms. The final hardware design refinements are suggested by human factors concerns. Ergonomic guidelines are also proposed for software aspects of the design. The methods and guidelines …


Frictional Resistance Of Geotextiles, Md. Khairul Alam Dec 1991

Frictional Resistance Of Geotextiles, Md. Khairul Alam

Theses

The pullout resistance of geotextiles was examined using pullout tests. A suitable wooden box with large (2 ft x 2 ft x 4 ft) dimensions was used to avoid the effect of boundary and to simulate field conditions. Two types of failure patterns were observed. For shallow embedment (<3 ft), geotextile produced a movement of the surrounding mass of sand in the shape of an inverted cone due to interlocking friction between geotextile and sand particles. The cone angle decreases with increase in depth of embedment. For embedment equal to or greater than 3 ft., no sand cone developed and the failure occurred along the interface of geotextile and sand. For 1 ft. surcharge, the increase in the pullout resistance due to combined horizontal and vertical embedment was about 30 %.


Computer Control For 2-Axis Magnetic Suspension System, Jian Chen Dec 1991

Computer Control For 2-Axis Magnetic Suspension System, Jian Chen

Theses

A two-axis magnetic suspension system. using linear-potentiometer position sensing and DC solenoids, controlled digitally by a 80386 microcomputer has been built and operated in our laboratory. Control algorithms obtained by combining the full-state feedback control law with two methods of estimating velocities are studied. One method uses a nonlinear reduced-order observer; the other uses a finite difference algorithm. The nonlinear reduced-order observer performs better in simulation but the difference algorithm takes less calculation time and is used in the implementation. The system has been operated successfully to suspend weights up to 1.2 lb. and to get a slant angle more …


Error Detection And Correction In Compressed Data, Nadir Sezgin Dec 1991

Error Detection And Correction In Compressed Data, Nadir Sezgin

Theses

Encoded data is very sensitive to the channel errors. Especially if the data is compressed by Arithmetic Encoding procedure, then the error propagation is very high. The error propagation in Arithmetic Coding is studied. Exploiting the high error propagation property when compressing data by Arithmetic encoding procedure, two different algorithms have been proposed for error detection and correction. Under certain conditions these algorithms detect and with a very high probability correct the errors introduced to the compressed data.


Design Of An Advanced Control Algorithm For A Nuclear Power Plant Feedwater Control System, Randall C. Ezzo Dec 1991

Design Of An Advanced Control Algorithm For A Nuclear Power Plant Feedwater Control System, Randall C. Ezzo

Theses

Electric power companies with nuclear power plants have been aggressively looking for ways to increase plant safety and availability by increasing the reliability and performance of the plant's control systems. The performance of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Station's feedwater control system can be significantly improved by replacing the proportional-integral compensator with a compensator based on modern control concepts. In response to a -10 inch reactor water level setpoint change, settling time is improved from 107 seconds with 3% overshoot to 34 seconds with no overshoot.


Simulation And Modeling Of Kinetics Of Silicon Oxidation In The Thin Oxide Regime, Tirthankar Dutta Dec 1991

Simulation And Modeling Of Kinetics Of Silicon Oxidation In The Thin Oxide Regime, Tirthankar Dutta

Theses

Thermal oxidation of Silicon in dry O2, in the thin regime(< 500A) is of vital importance to VLSI device engineers, because thin layers of SiO2 are exclusively used as gate dielectric for high performance of MOS devices. There exist a number of models to explain the kinetics of oxidation in this thin regime. However there is considerable variance among them and the reported rate constants, which are supposed to describe the oxidation process. Rather than arriving at an alternative model, the present study aims at an extensive study and simulation of existing models of oxidation in dry oxygen, in the thin regime, with a recent set of experimental data and …


Redesign Of Parts And Simulation Of Flexible Assembly Cell For Safety Water Shower Assembly, Balraj Y. Gardilla Dec 1991

Redesign Of Parts And Simulation Of Flexible Assembly Cell For Safety Water Shower Assembly, Balraj Y. Gardilla

Theses

A Design for Assembly (DSA) method is used to analyze the safety water shower assembly and to redesign the components with emphasis on meeting the criteria of allowing for flexible Assembly Cell (FAS). An Expert System is developed to select the right Assembly using VP-Expert. This thesis contrasts the old and new safety water shower assembly designs and describes the design of a final Flexible Assembly Cell. A PUMA 550 robot was investigated for use in the cell design. The flexible Assembly cell is simulated on silicon graphics using the IGRIP software. The economics of each part presentation method is …


Computer-Aided Process Planning (Capp) Sorich, Sohail Pirzada Dec 1991

Computer-Aided Process Planning (Capp) Sorich, Sohail Pirzada

Theses

The last two decades have witnessed the increasing role of the computer in the process planning function. This has been further enhanced by the advent of the knowledge based expert system, and its impact on Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP). CAPP has emerged as a strategic link between design and manufacture. This thesis discusses the various methods used in the process planning function. Group Technology (GT) plays a pivotal role in establishing CAPP. The utilization of Artificial Intelligence techniques in CAPP is listed. This study also presents an Interactive Software adaptive to product/part configuration variables.


Software Development For Analysis Of Stochastic Petri Nets Using Transfer Functions, Aman U. Jamwal Dec 1991

Software Development For Analysis Of Stochastic Petri Nets Using Transfer Functions, Aman U. Jamwal

Theses

This thesis research is an implementation of a closed-form analytical technique for study, evaluation and analysis of Stochastic Petri Nets (SPN). The technique is based on a theorem that an isomorphism exists between an SPN and a Markov Chain. The procedure comprises five main steps: reachability graph generation of the underlying Petri net, transformation of the reachability graph to a state machine Petri net, calculation of transfer functions, computation of equivalent transfer functions via Mason's rule, and computation of performance parameters of the SPN model from the equivalent transfer functions and their derivatives. The software is developed in UNIX using …


Conditional Artificial Dielectrics ; Fabry-Perot Etalon, Ling-Yi Hu Dec 1991

Conditional Artificial Dielectrics ; Fabry-Perot Etalon, Ling-Yi Hu

Theses

Fabry-Perot etalons are optical resonators comprise of two mirrors and a spacer layer. By embedding a thin, photo-sensitive layer ( Conditional Artificial Dielectric - CAD layer ) in the middle of the spacer layer, we were able to photo-control the transmission properties of a Fabry-Perot etalon. Different structures have been analyzed and measured to find that a change of .01 was photo-activated in the refractive index of the Conditional Artificial Dielectric layer.


Minimum-Time Control For Submarine Interception, Zaiping Chen Dec 1991

Minimum-Time Control For Submarine Interception, Zaiping Chen

Theses

This thesis attempts to offer a possible improvement for conventional anti-submarine system which is mounted on warship. It consists of two parts: the control law and its realization concerning the particular problem. The control based on optimal theory is devised for three-dimentional minimum-time interception. A microprocessor system is also designed to achieve all necessary steps to track and attack the target. The thesis focuses on the question of how to launch a group of subcharges to destroy a submarine cruising under water: find the optimal trajectory by developing a numerical method to solve the nonlinear dynamic system and design a …


Influence Of Heavy Metal Concentration On Rotating Biological Contrator Performance, Huei-Sheng Cheng Dec 1991

Influence Of Heavy Metal Concentration On Rotating Biological Contrator Performance, Huei-Sheng Cheng

Theses

Seven heavy metals ( Fe+2, Mn+2, Zn+2, Ag+, Pb+2, Cu+2, Cd+2 ) at various concentrations were investigated in a Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) system. The experimental data indicated that the degree of heavy metal toxicity in the biological system mainly depended on the ratio of inflow heavy metal concentration to organic loading. The optimal ratio of heavy metal to organic loading was determined on the basis of the maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) under different operating conditions. In addition, the effect of heavy metal on …


Design And Development Of An Automated Assembly System In A Discrete Manufacturing Environment, Sandeep K. Desai Dec 1991

Design And Development Of An Automated Assembly System In A Discrete Manufacturing Environment, Sandeep K. Desai

Theses

This work is dedicated to extend the technology of automated assembly to include small and thin parts, light in weight. As the parts are thin a problem exists in the feeding process and orientation. The objective of project is to overcome this difficulty. The main theme of this thesis is to reduce labor cost and to improve productivity and quality of assembly operations by introducing low cost automation in the companies having discrete manufacturing environment.

An example of assembly involving a thin part has been selected. Two components from an electrical switch assembly are chosen, namely the spring and rivet. …


A Color Petri Net Simulation Tool, Sanjaykumar V. Desai Dec 1991

A Color Petri Net Simulation Tool, Sanjaykumar V. Desai

Theses

A user friendly, modular and highly interactive graphical tool for drawing, editing and simulating color Petri nets is developed. The tool is designed to model concurrent and interlocked systems, such as flexible manufacturing systems, communication protocols and computer systems. A Color Petri Net(CPN) has a more concise graphical system representation than a standard Petri net, because net entities in CPN carry information. The CPNS(Color Petri Net Simulation) tool simulates a net having conflicts, reveals deadlocks, and creates a log file with the state history of the system yielding performance measures.


An Implementation Of Bionomial-Qmf For Subband Coding Of Speech, Feng Chen Dec 1991

An Implementation Of Bionomial-Qmf For Subband Coding Of Speech, Feng Chen

Theses

A real-time subband speech codec is implemented by the author on TMS320C25 digital signal processor based hardware for speech compression down to 0.25 bit per sample.

The Binomial Quadrature Mirror Filters (B-QMFs) are employed as the basic block for the hierarchical, dynamic tree, analysis/synthesis filter bank. After the analysis, available bits are optimally allocated among subbands. Band statistics are updated to overcome the nonstationarities of speech signal.

The energy compaction performance of this codec is compared with different subband and DCT in simulations for speech signals and AR(1) source models.

It is shown that the speech codec implemented provides an …


Integrated Anaerobic-Aerobic System For The Biodegradation Of Highly Chlorinated Aromatic Compounds, Cheng-Ming Kung Oct 1991

Integrated Anaerobic-Aerobic System For The Biodegradation Of Highly Chlorinated Aromatic Compounds, Cheng-Ming Kung

Dissertations

A two-step process was developed for the complete mineralization of hazardous chlorinated aromatic compounds. The system consisted of an anaerobic reactor, in which reductive dehalogenation took place, coupled with an aerobic reactor in which the complete mineralization of the products of the anaerobic dehalogenation occurred.

A mixed anaerobic culture from a municipal sewage treatment plant was enriched and then immobilized on silica-based porous beads to treat 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), which is the model target compound in this work. In the anaerobic reactor, TCP was degraded to 2,4-dichlorophenol which was, in turn, reduced to 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). Stoichiometric amounts of 4-CP were recovered …


Biodegradation Of Phenol And 4-Chlorophenol Using A Single Species In A Sequencing Batch Reactor, Kung-Wei Wang Oct 1991

Biodegradation Of Phenol And 4-Chlorophenol Using A Single Species In A Sequencing Batch Reactor, Kung-Wei Wang

Theses

Biodegradation of phenol and 4-chlorophenol (4CP) using Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 17514) was studied in batch and sequencing batch reactors. Batch experiments were first performed in order to reveal the kinetics of biodegradation for each substrate. 4-Chlorophenol was degradable only in the presence of phenol, or immediately after exposure of the organism to phenol. It was postulated that an enzyme induced by the presence of phenol was necessary to initiate degradation of 4-chlorophenol.

A mathematical model was then developed to describe the dynamic behavior of both substrates in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The model utilized rate parameters obtained from batch …


Direct Recovering Of Surface Structure Characterized By An Nth Degree Polynomial Equation Using The Uoff Approach, Mazen A. Salhi Oct 1991

Direct Recovering Of Surface Structure Characterized By An Nth Degree Polynomial Equation Using The Uoff Approach, Mazen A. Salhi

Theses

There are two different approaches for estimation of structure and/or motion of objects in the computer vision community today. One is the feature correspondence method, and the other is the optical flow method [1]. There are many difficulties and limitations encountered with the feature correspondence method, while the optical flow method is more feasible, but requires a substantial amount of extra calculations if the optical flow is to be computed as an intermediate step.

Direct methods have been developed [2-4], that use the optical flow approach, but avoid computing the full optical flow field as an intermediate step for recovering …


Disc Size Scale-Up In Rotating Biological Contactor System, Chi-Sheng Chang Oct 1991

Disc Size Scale-Up In Rotating Biological Contactor System, Chi-Sheng Chang

Theses

Disc size scale-up of prototype and small-scale RBC plants are successfully developed by applying the 114 data sets obtained from 12 RBC plants to the evaluation of percent sBOD remaining. These data analyses are performed by the least square method, therefore, the scale-up factors of the prototype and the small-scale are determined at different hydraulic loading. Furthermore, the relationship between scale-up factor and the disc diameter are established under the given flow rate, the number of stages, and the number of discs. A group of Curves are obtained and can be utilized for the full-scale RBC plant preliminary design. The …


Deconvolution Applications In Arterial Dynamics, Shanthi Ganesan Sep 1991

Deconvolution Applications In Arterial Dynamics, Shanthi Ganesan

Theses

This thesis deals with the computation of the Arterial Impulse Response Function by deconvolving aortic pressure and flow signals in time domain. Several methods have been developed in the past to obtain a solution for the convolution integral. These are (1) Transform method, and (2) Numerical Approximation methods : a. Conventional method b. Relaxation methods.

These methods have been applied in the past to the RC network model and it was found to work well. In this thesis, the methods are applied to data from more realistic models and also on data obtained from dogs. The model considered is a …


Crystallization Kinetics And Polyblends Of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Recycled From Post-Consumer Beverage Bottles, Peming Peter Hsu Aug 1991

Crystallization Kinetics And Polyblends Of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Recycled From Post-Consumer Beverage Bottles, Peming Peter Hsu

Dissertations

In order to reduce waste generation, and comply with state and federal laws, plastic beverage bottles are usually undergoing recycling. Poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET], which is the main component the bottles are made of, cannot be used for manufacturing new food containers, and has to be used for manufacturing other end consumer products. The recycled PET is a cheap material, but its use is problematic due to the low crystallization rates of PET. The present study investigates ways of accelerating PET crystallization by using inorganic carbonate salts as nucleating agents. This study also explores the possibility of forming polymer blends based …


A Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Zero-Order, First-Order And Monod Kinetic Models In Representing Raw Aerobic Biodegradation Data, Andrew I. Bakun Jun 1991

A Comparative Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Zero-Order, First-Order And Monod Kinetic Models In Representing Raw Aerobic Biodegradation Data, Andrew I. Bakun

Theses

A total of 148 raw aerobic biodegradation data sets from batch and continuous stirred-tank reactors were extracted from the open literature and previous NJIT MS theses. Kinetic analysis of each of these data sets was performed with respect to the following commonly used empirical models: (1) zero-order, (2) first-order, and (3) Monod. Two constant-biomass versions of each model were evaluated; one in which So (i.e., the boundary condition for substrate concentration at time equal to zero) was assumed to be equal to the measured value of the initial substrate concentration and the other in which So was treated as a …


Mathematical Modeling Of Mass Transfer In Microvascular Wall And Interstitial Space, Daekyung Kim May 1991

Mathematical Modeling Of Mass Transfer In Microvascular Wall And Interstitial Space, Daekyung Kim

Dissertations

The dynamics of macromolecular transport across the microvascular wall and into the adjoining interstitial space was studied in the hamster cheek pouch using intravital fluorescence microscopy in combination with digital image processing. Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labe led dextrans (FITC-Dx) of 70,000 and 150,000 daltons were used as tracers. In each experiment, the time-dependent extravasation of FITC-Dx from a leakage site in a blood vessel was videotaped for about 2 hours. The macromolecular transport from individual microvessels was quantified by digital video-image processing. Histograms of the light intensity distributions for selected fields at various times were obtained and then converted to the interstitial …


The Theory Of Bootstrapped Algorithms And Their Applications To Cross Polarization Interference Cancelation, Abdulkadir Dinc May 1991

The Theory Of Bootstrapped Algorithms And Their Applications To Cross Polarization Interference Cancelation, Abdulkadir Dinc

Dissertations

Dual-polarized transmission has become an important method for frequency re-use, particularly in satellite and microwave radio communication. Nevertheless, cross-polarization interference, which is inherent to this method, may cause degradation in system performance.

Different canceler [sic] structures have been proposed to mitigate the effect of cross-polarization. Among these are the diagonalizer, the least mean square (LMS) canceler [sic] and the bootstrapped cancelers [sic]. Bootstrapped canceler [sic] schemes have been proposed and implemented in different applications, such as satellites, tactical communications, and quadrature amplitude madulation [sic] (QAM) dual polarized microwave radio. Nevertheless, no attempt was made in the past to quantify the …


Mathematical Modeling Of Chemical Vapor Deposition Processes And Its Application To Thin Film Technology, Norman W. Loney May 1991

Mathematical Modeling Of Chemical Vapor Deposition Processes And Its Application To Thin Film Technology, Norman W. Loney

Dissertations

A number of workers in the field of Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have presented mathematical models in the literature. Some workers were able to produce analytical expressions for the interwafer concentration profile. These analytical expressions were based entirely on zero or first order chemical reaction rates. Until now, it appears that a chemical reaction rate expression that is not zero or first order directly, must be handled by a numerical scheme.

Presented herein is a mathematical model with an analytical interwafer concentration profile. This concentration profile is neither zero nor first order but shifts from zero to first order as …


Kinetic Studies On Pyrolytic And Oxidative Decomposition Of Chlorocarbons In A Tubular Flow Reactor, Yang Soo Won May 1991

Kinetic Studies On Pyrolytic And Oxidative Decomposition Of Chlorocarbons In A Tubular Flow Reactor, Yang Soo Won

Dissertations

Chloroform decay and product distributions were distinctly different in the absence and presence of added O2 and/or CH4. Increases in O2 concentration were observed to speed reagent loss, with a slower decay of chloroform observed for the CHCl3/CH4/Ar pyrolysis system. In CHCl3/CH4/O2, the major products were C2Cl4, CH2CCl2, C2HCl3, CO and CO2 over a wide temperature range. Minor products included CH2Cl2, CH3Cl, and C2H3Cl. When CH4 reactant was not present, …


Investigation Of Stagnation Flow Heat Transfer For A Heated Horizontal Round Plate, Ching-Hua Wei May 1991

Investigation Of Stagnation Flow Heat Transfer For A Heated Horizontal Round Plate, Ching-Hua Wei

Dissertations

The heat transfer characteristics in stagnation flow are investigated through three cases in this study. The first is forced convection by an array of air jets; the second is free convection of a downward-facing heated round plate; the third is free convection of an upward-facing heated round plate.

The first case is investigated by systematic experiments which examine the heat transfer characteristics mainly by five air jets impinging normally to a flat plate, with varying nozzle diameters, and Reynolds numbers, at different distances between the nozzles and the plate. The empirical formulas of heat transfer around the stagnation point and …


Image Enhancement And Analysis Of Leukocyte Adhesion, Yee-Ruh Lin May 1991

Image Enhancement And Analysis Of Leukocyte Adhesion, Yee-Ruh Lin

Theses

The image of leukocyte adhesion to microvascular walls in the isolated rat perfused heart model has been observed and processed. Some of the fluorescent labeled leukocytes are barely visible due to microscope focal plane and the motion of objects. The purpose of this thesis is to extract leukocyte from the image of the experimental data using image enhancement and analysis (segmentation) techniques and develop a program to handle automatically counting of leukocytes in a predefined scene.