Engineering Commons^™

Evaluating The Role Of Geogrids In The Rehabilitation Of Cracked Dams Via Numerical Techniques, Kelly Dean Uhacz

Dissertations and Theses

Collapse and cracking of debris earth embankment dams is a serious problem in areas of the arid Western United States. The use of geogrids is evaluated in this thesis as a possible solution to prevent or reduce the amount of damage to the structures from collapse and cracking.

An apparatus was designed, constructed, and instrumented to electronically acquire data to evaluate the behavior of geogrids during pullout tests under various normal stresses. The pullout tests were also modelled using numerical techniques to correlate physical test data with numerical test data. Understanding the behavior of the geogrid, in both the physical …

Low To Medium Level Image Processing For A Mobile Robot, Cecilia H. Espinosa

Dissertations and Theses

The use of visual perception in autonomous mobile systems was approached with caution by mobile robot developers because of the high computational cost and huge memory requirements of most image processing operations. When used, the image processing is implemented on multiprocessors or complex and expensive systems, thereby requiring the robot to be wired or radio controlled from the computer system base.

Hereby developed is a simple, inexpensive and automatic image processing subsystem that is completely implementable on a PC-386SX with 640K base memory. The subsystem will serve as the front end of the vision system for the PSUBOT, an autonomous …

Exploiting And/Or Parallelism In Prolog, Bankim Shah

Dissertations and Theses

Logic programming languages have generated increasing interest over the last few years. Logic programming languages like Prolog are being explored for different applications. Prolog is inherently parallel. Attempts are being made to utilize this inherent parallelism. There are two kinds of parallelism present in Prolog, OR parallelism and AND parallelism. OR parallelism is relatively easy to exploit while AND parallelism poses interesting issues. One of the main issues is dependencies between literals.

It is very important to use the AND parallelism available in the language structure as not exploiting it would result in a substantial loss of parallelism. Any system …

Field-Equation Approximations And The Dynamics Of High-Gain Lasers, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Semiclassical models for laser-dynamics studies typically incorporate a derivative approximation that reduces the second-order wave equation for the electric field to a first-order equation. It is shown here that this approximation and further frequency approximations are not necessary and may lead to significant errors for some high-gain laser systems. A more exact analysis also reveals a partial decoupling of the electric and magnetic fields that occurs with fast transient phenomena. These ideas are illustrated in terms of well-known dynamical effects.

Analysis Of A Coordination Framework For Mapping Coarse-Grain Applications To Distributed Systems, Linda Ruth Schaefer

Dissertations and Theses

A paradigm is presented for the parallelization of coarse-grain engineering and scientific applications. The coordination framework provides structure and an organizational strategy for a parallel solution in a distributed environment. Three categories of primitives which define the coordination framework are presented: structural, transformational. and operational. The prototype of the paradigm presented in this thesis is the first step towards a programming development tool. This tool will allow non-specialist programmers to parallelize existing sequential solutions through the distribution, synchronization and collection of tasks. The distributed control, multidimensional pipeline characteristics of the paradigm provide advantages which include load balancing through the use …

A Mathematical Model For Outgassing And Contamination, W. Fang, M. Shillor, E. Stahel, E. Epstein, C. Ly, J. Mcniel, Edward D. Zaron

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A model for the mathematical description of the processes of outgassing and contamination in a vacuum system is proposed. The underlying assumptions are diffusion in the source, convection and diffusion in the cavity, mass transfer across the source-cavity interface, and a generalization of the Langmuir isotherm for the sorption kinetics on the target. Three approximations are considered where the asymptotic behavior of the model for large time is shown as well as the dependence and sensitivity of the model on some of the parameters. Some numerical examples of the full model are then presented together with a proof of the …

Parplum : A System For Evaluating Parallel Program Optimization Methods, Jingsong Fu

Dissertations and Theses

The diversity of application programs and parallel architectures makes the mapping problem complicated and hard to evaluate. The quality of mapping is machine and application dependent and varies due to inaccurate values of application and architecture characteristics.

A system for developing, applying and evaluating mappings must have four characteristics: (1) Simplicity: A mapping procedure can be evaluated by separately evaluating its submapping, so the complicated problem can be simplified. (2) Generality: A wide range of application programs and architectures can be easily represented and all mapping algorithms can be easily implemented. (3) Multifunctionality: all the mapping steps, application programs, target …

Neural Network Character Recognition With A 2-D Fourier Transform Preprocessor, Daqiao Du

Dissertations and Theses

In pattern recognition applications, it is usually important that the same identification be given for a pattern, independent of a variety of positions, rotations and /or distortions of the pattern within the recognition device's field of view. This research relates to development of a preprocessor for a neural network character recognition system, where the role of the preprocessor is to assist in minimizing the difficulties related to variations of position and rotations of a character within the field of view. The preprocessor explored here was suggested in 1970' (Lendaris & Stanly, 1970), and is implemented here with more recent advances …

A Practical Parallel Algorithm For The Minimization Of KröNecker Reed-Muller Expansions, Paul John Gilliam

Dissertations and Theses

A number of recent developments has increased the desirability of using exclusive OR (XOR) gates in the synthesis of switching functions. This has, in turn, led naturally to an increased interest in algorithms for the minimization of Exclusive-Or Sum of Products (ESOP) forms. Although this is an active area of research, it is not nearly as developed as the traditional Sum of Products forms. Computer programs to find minimum ESOPs are not readily available and those that do exist are impractical to use as investigative tools because they are too slow and/or require too much memory. A practical tool would …

Freeway Control Via Ramp Metering: Development Of A Basic Building Block For An On-Ramp, Discrete, Stochastic, Mesoscopic, Simulation Model Within A Contextual Systems Approach, Mohamed Yaser Alkadri

Dissertations and Theses

One of the most effective measures of congestion control on freeways has been ramp metering, where vehicle entry to the freeway is regulated by traffic signals (meters). Meters are run with calibrated influx rates to prevent highway saturation. However, recent observations of some metering sites in San Diego, CA indicate that metering, during peak hour demand, is helping freeway flow while sometimes creating considerable traffic back-ups on local streets, transferring congestion problems from the freeway to intersections. Metering problems stem largely from the difficulty of designing an integrated, dynamic metering scheme that responds not only to changing freeway conditions but …

A New Design Approach For Numeric-To-Symbolic Conversion Using Neural Networks, Zibin Tang

Dissertations and Theses

A new approach is proposed which uses a combination of a Backprop paradigm neural network along with some perceptron processing elements performing logic operations to construct a numeric-to-symbolic converter. The design approach proposed herein is capable of implementing a decision region defined by a multi-dimensional, non-linear boundary surface. By defining a "two-valued" subspace of the boundary surface, a Backprop paradigm neural network is used to model the boundary surf ace. An input vector is tested by the neural network boundary model (along with perceptron logic gates) to determine whether the incoming vector point is within the decision region or not. …

Oscillation Frequency In High-Gain Lasers, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The calculation of the oscillation frequency of a single-mode laser oscillator is examined systematically. Mode-pulling formulas are developed for a variety of laser systems, and the limitations of a standard approximation are explored.

Decomposition Of Measured Contours Into Geometric Features For Dimensional Inspection, Devaraj Rajkumar

Dissertations and Theses

Image processing systems used in Vision Assisted Dimensional Inspection usually output a set of boundary pixels representing the part edges. This boundary information must be divided into several subsets representing the various edges of the actual object, so that comparisons with the nominal part can be made.

The purpose of this project is to devise a method to divide the set of pixels obtained from the image processing system into subsets of pixels. Each of these subsets represent an edge in the contour of the actual object. This method must also detect transition points between the adjacent features. This project …

Finite Element Analysis Of Thermal Stresses In Semiconductor Devices, Joachim Karl Wilhelm Duerr

Dissertations and Theses

The failure of integrated circuit due to Silicon fracture is one of the problems associated with the production of a semiconductor device. The thermal stresses, which result in die cracking, are for the most part induced during the cooling process after attaching the die with Gold-Silicon solder. Major factors for stress generation in material systems are commonly large temperature gradients and substantial difference in coefficients of thermal expansion.

This research covers the thermal stresses introduced upon cooling a composite Silicon device. A transient thermal analysis has been performed to determine the temperature gradients. The stress distribution has been investigated. For …

Density Currents In Circular Wastewater Treatment Tanks, David M. Laliberte

Dissertations and Theses

Deviations from ideal flow and settling occur in circular wastewater treatment tanks because of tank geometry, flow conditions, and density currents caused by variations in suspended solids concentration and temperature distributions. Thermally induced density currents were investigated in this study. Under winter, low flow conditions, measurements were made of vertical and radial temperature distributions in the circular chlorination tank at Lake Oswego, Or., and in the circular primary and secondary clarifiers at Bend, Or. Thermistor arrays were used to collect the data which exhibited both vertically well-mixed and a two-layer flow regime. Inlet geometry and suspended solids in the secondary …

Gis Address-Matching And Transportation Analysis, James D. Orrell

Dissertations and Theses

Geographic Information System (GIS) address-matching combined with other GIS processing offers new analytical opportunities in the area of transportation planning and analysis. Address-matching, an automated method for generating geographically-referenced (geocoded) point locations on a map from common tabular databases, can facilitate transportation analysis by providing a planning tool based on individual rather than aggregated spatial distributions more common to transportation issues.

This thesis presents a case study in which GIS address-matching was I applied to a transportation problem at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon. The transportation problem at OHSU is common to major employment centers in urban …

An Effective Cube Comparison Method For Discrete Spectral Transformations Of Logic Functions, Ingo SchäFer

Dissertations and Theses

Spectral methods have been used for many applications in digital logic design, digital signal processing and telecommunications. In digital logic design they are implemented for testing of logical networks, multiplexer-based logic synthesis, signal processing, image processing and pattern analysis. New developments of more efficient algorithms for spectral transformations (Rademacher-Walsh, Generalized Reed-Muller, Adding, Arithmetic, multiple-valued Walsh and multiple-valued Generalized Reed- Muller) their implementation and applications will be described.

Spontaneous Coherent Pulsations In Standing-Wave Laser Oscillators: Simplified Models, Lee W. Casperson, Manuela Fe Tarroja

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A series of simplifications and approximations is introduced into a recently described model for spontaneous pulsations in standing-wave laser oscillators. To the extent that these simplifications are valid they can lead to significant reductions in computation time and sometimes also to a better understanding of the relative importance of various physical effects. Of special interest is the number of spatial harmonics required to represent adequately the effects of longitudinal spatial hole burning. Other approximations investigated include neglect of spectral cross relaxation, neglect of multiple-energy-level equations, neglect of electric-field derivatives, and neglect of polarization derivatives. In addition, a detailed discussion is …

Pulse-Train Instabilities Of A Synchronously Pumped Mode-Locked Dye Laser: Experimental Phase Plots, Duncan Leo Macfarlane, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present experimental phase plots of the pulse-train instability that occurs in synchronously pumped mode-locked dye lasers. From these plots we infer that the instability is of a quasi-periodic, nonlinear dynamical nature. Further, we note that the information lost in this two-dimensional representation is precisely the periodic-versus-erratic character and therefore is of considerable importance.

Effects Of Bandwidth‐Limiting Tuning Elements In Synchronously Pumped Mode‐Locked Lasers, Bahram Zandi, Lee W. Casperson, Duncan Leo Macfarlane

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A description of bandwidth‐limiting tuning filters is introduced into a semiclassical model for synchronously pumped mode‐locked dye lasers. The finite phase memory of the molecular wave functions is included as are the isotropic molecular distribution and the finite vibrational relaxation times. The new set of equations has been solved numerically using the best available values for the various parameters. The results have been compared with experimental data obtained using a rhodamine 6G dye laser, which is synchronously pumped using an acousto‐optically mode‐locked argon laser. Tuning element effects have been studied using two‐ and three‐plate birefringent filters and a tuning wedge, …

Hypercard-Based Learning Environment For Diades, Ali A. Shamsapour

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is an attempt to create a HyperCard-based learning environment to teach DIADES and other related material. It is a departure from the classical Computer Aided Instruction methods towards a more flexible and user-controlled design. The goal was to set the foundation of a new CAI design which would closely resemble a Hyper-Text system. These systems are characterized as having interconnections between related concepts in the CAI environment.

Investigation Of Techniques For High Speed Cmos Arbitrary Waveform Generation, Albert Henry Nehl

Dissertations and Theses

Today a growing number of applications in design engineering, production and environmental testing, and system service require specific analog waveforms and digital patterns. Such requirements are neither satisfactorily nor easily met by the use of standard function or single purpose, custom generators.

Traditional methods of waveform generation suffer from undesirable complexity or mediocre performance and are otherwise limited. For the majority of arbitrary waveform generation applications, including medical engineering, modal analysis and electronic engineering, direct digital synthesis techniques are satisfactory. Direct digital synthesis, based generally on periodic retrieval of predetermined amplitude values, may be used to generate such waveforms. Within …

Metamodeling Aspects Of Model Conceptualization, Wayne W. Wakeland

Complex Systems Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper suggests a technique for improving the conceptualization of models. The key aspect of this technique is to set aside the main model for a period of time during the model conceptualization process and focus on building a "watchdog" submodel. The primary purpose of the watchdog submodel is to assure that the main model remains internally consistent during its operation. In the experience of this author, such a submodel can help to identify model conceptualization errors and to determine if a model is sufficiently "robust" to adequately replicate the behavior of the system being modeled.

This is not a …

Residual Circulation In Shallow Estuaries 1. Highly Stratified, Narrow Estuaries, David A. Jay, J. Dungan Smith

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Long-wave theory and simple turbulence closures have been used to show that three distinct types of circulation (highly stratified, weakly stratified, and partially mixed) arise in narrow, shallow estuaries from the finite amplitude of the tide and the interaction of stratification with vertical mixing. Each type has a different dominant process causing the vertical exchange of salt and fresh water on the flood, and each gives rise to a characteristic residual circulation. The tidal circulation in highly stratified shallow estuaries, described herein, is the result of a finite amplitude internal motion driven by the barotropic tide; shear instabilities at the …

Residual Circulation In Shallow Estuaries 2. Weakly Stratified And Partially Mixed, Narrow Estuaries, David A. Jay, J. Dungan Smith

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Long-wave theory is used herein to analyze circulation in weakly stratified and partially mixed estuaries. Unlike the highly stratified systems considered in part 1, the flows considered here have only a minimal tidal-frequency internal wave component. These estuaries may therefore be modeled as the sum of weakly interacting barotropic and baroclinic modes. The dominant factors driving the residual flow are finite amplitude barotropic effects in weakly stratified estuaries and a combination of barotropic effects and steady horizontal density gradient forcing in partially mixed estuaries. The dominant vertical exchange mechanism in the weakly stratified case is bottom boundary-induced turbulence, and that …

Threaded Octree Structures For Fast Neighbor Voxel Processing In A Parallel Ray Tracer, B.R. Naveen Chandra

Dissertations and Theses

In the field of Computer Graphics, Ray Tracing has so far been the the best algorithm for rendering of realistic three dimensional images created by mathematical models. Ray Tracing is also known for its very large computation times, where the computation depends on the picture resolution, the number of objects and the complexity of the scene.

The Object-Oriented Design Of A Hardware Description Language Analyser For The Diades Silicon Compiler System, Lian Yang

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis is one of the first to introduce a systematic and general Source Language Analysis System (called SLA) for a high -level synthesis system.

Dynamic Behavior Of Co₂ Lasers, Li Zhang

Dissertations and Theses

Spontaneous pulsations have been observed in the output of a CO₂ laser. The temporal waveforms, transverse mode patterns, and laser lines are simultaneously measured under various operation conditions. The experimental data show that these pulsations have a direct connection with the transverse modes. We interpret the oscillations as being caused by mode beating, and the frequency shift of the oscillation as resulting from mode pulling. The theoretical explanations for these effects are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Endless State-Of-Polarization Control For Coherent Optical Communication Systems Using Nematic Liquid Crystal, Scott H. Rumbaugh

Dissertations and Theses

One of the obstacles to coherent fiber-optic communications is the unpredictable polarization drift which necessitates the use of an active polarization controlling system to match the polarizations of the signal and local oscillator. The polarization match must be maintained during the reset of any of the finite range components to prevent loss of data. We present a novel and practical system which uses three liquid crystal devices for the polarization matching process. Also, the required reset control algorithm and its derivation are described in detail.

An Approach To Pattern Recognition Of Multifont Printed Alphabet Using Conceptual Graph Theory And Neural Networks, Ihab A. Harb

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis describes an approach for accomplishing a pattern recognition task using conceptual graph theory and neural networks (NNs). The set of patterns to be recognized are the capital letters of six different fonts of the English alphabet, plus two shifted and six rotated versions of each. The letters are represented to the neural network on a 16x16 input grid (256 "sensor lines"). A standard classification encoding for such patterns is to use a 26-bit vector (26 lines at the NN's output), one bit corresponding to each letter. Experiments with such an encoding yielded results with poor generalization capability. A …