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Electronic Theses and Dissertations

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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Evaluating The Impact Of Oocea's Dynamic Message Signs (Dms) On Travelers' Experience Using A Pre And Post-Deployment Survey, Jason Flick Jan 2008

Evaluating The Impact Of Oocea's Dynamic Message Signs (Dms) On Travelers' Experience Using A Pre And Post-Deployment Survey, Jason Flick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the impact of dynamic message signs (DMS) on the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA) toll road network using a Pre and Post-Deployment DMS Survey (henceforth referred to as "pre and post-deployment survey") analysis. DMS are electronic traffic signs used on roadways to give travelers information about travel times, traffic congestion, accidents, disabled vehicles, AMBER alerts, and special events. The particular DMS referred to in this study are large rectangular signs installed over the travel lanes and these are not the portable trailer mount signs. The OOCEA have been working over the past …


Lidar In Coastal Storm Surge Modeling: Modeling Linear Raised Features, David Coggin Jan 2008

Lidar In Coastal Storm Surge Modeling: Modeling Linear Raised Features, David Coggin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A method for extracting linear raised features from laser scanned altimetry (LiDAR) datasets is presented. The objective is to automate the method so that elements in a coastal storm surge simulation finite element mesh might have their edges aligned along vertical terrain features. Terrain features of interest are those that are high and long enough to form a hydrodynamic impediment while being narrow enough that the features might be straddled and not modeled if element edges are not purposely aligned. These features are commonly raised roadbeds but may occur due to other manmade alterations to the terrain or natural terrain. …


Dynamic Task Allocation In Mobile Robot Systems Using Utility Funtions, Scott Vander Weide Jan 2008

Dynamic Task Allocation In Mobile Robot Systems Using Utility Funtions, Scott Vander Weide

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We define a novel algorithm based on utility functions for dynamically allocating tasks to mobile robots in a multi-robot system. The algorithm attempts to maximize the performance of the mobile robot while minimizing inter-robot communications. The algorithm takes into consideration the proximity of the mobile robot to the task, the priority of the task, the capability required by the task, the capabilities of the mobile robot, and the rarity of the capability within the population of mobile robots. We evaluate the proposed algorithm in a simulation study and compare it to alternative approaches, including the contract net protocol, an approach …


Delay Sensitive Routing For Real Time Traffic Over Ad-Hoc Networks, Dipika Darshana Jan 2008

Delay Sensitive Routing For Real Time Traffic Over Ad-Hoc Networks, Dipika Darshana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wireless ad hoc network consists of inexpensive nodes that form a mobile communication network. Due to limitations of the transmission range, the nodes rely on each other to forward packets such that messages can be delivered across the network. The selection of the path along which a packet is forwarded from the source node to the destination node is done by the routing algorithm. Most commonly used routing algorithms, though effective for non-real time applications, cannot handle real-time applications that require strict delay bounds on packet delivery. In this thesis, we propose a routing protocol that ensures timely delivery of …


A Competitive Reconfiguration Approach To Autonomous Fault Handling Using Genetic Algorithms, Kening Zhang Jan 2008

A Competitive Reconfiguration Approach To Autonomous Fault Handling Using Genetic Algorithms, Kening Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, a novel self-repair approach based on Consensus Based Evaluation (CBE) for autonomous repair of SRAM-based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) is developed, evaluated, and refined. An initial population of functionally identical (same input-output behavior), yet physically distinct (alternative design or place-and-route realization) FPGA configurations is produced at design time. During run-time, the CBE approach ranks these alternative configurations after evaluating their discrepancy relative to the consensus formed by the population. Through runtime competition, faults in the logical resources become occluded from the visibility of subsequent FPGA operations. Meanwhile, offspring formed through crossover and mutation of faulty and …


Reducing Eddy Currents In High Magnetic Field Environments, Russell Case Jan 2008

Reducing Eddy Currents In High Magnetic Field Environments, Russell Case

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

When an electrical conducting volume is placed into the bore of an MRI undergoing an image scan, time varying magnetic gradients induce eddy currents in this conducting material. These eddy currents in turn produce a mechanical torque on this volume. It is the goal of this thesis to produce a computer simulation of eddy currents produced by placing conducting materials inside an MRI bore. The first part of the thesis establishes the physics and principles behind an MRI system along with several applications. Next, this thesis presents an analysis of eddy current effects produced on a conductor placed into an …


Bi-Directional Dcm Dc-To-Dc Converter For Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Michael Pepper Jan 2008

Bi-Directional Dcm Dc-To-Dc Converter For Hybrid Electric Vehicles, Michael Pepper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the recent revival of the hybrid vehicle much advancement in power management has been made. The most popular hybrid vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle, has many topologies developed to realize this hybrid vehicle. From these topologies, as sub set was created to define a particular group of vehicles where the converter discussed in this thesis has the most advantage. This sub set is defined by two electric sources of power coupled together at a common bus. This set up presents many unique operating conditions which can be handled seamlessly by the DC-to-DC converter when designed properly. The DC-to-DC converter …


A Reinforcement Learning Technique For Enhancing Human Behavior Models In A Context-Based Architecture, David Aihe Jan 2008

A Reinforcement Learning Technique For Enhancing Human Behavior Models In A Context-Based Architecture, David Aihe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A reinforcement-learning technique for enhancing human behavior models in a context-based learning architecture is presented. Prior to the introduction of this technique, human models built and developed in a Context-Based reasoning framework lacked learning capabilities. As such, their performance and quality of behavior was always limited by what the subject matter expert whose knowledge is modeled was able to articulate or demonstrate. Results from experiments performed show that subject matter experts are prone to making errors and at times they lack information on situations that are inherently necessary for the human models to behave appropriately and optimally in those situations. …


Effects Of Source Water Blending Following Treatment With Sodium Silicate As A Corrosion Inhibitor On Metal Release Within A Wat, Phillip Lintereur Jan 2008

Effects Of Source Water Blending Following Treatment With Sodium Silicate As A Corrosion Inhibitor On Metal Release Within A Wat, Phillip Lintereur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A study was conducted to investigate and quantify the effects of corrosion inhibitors on metal release within a pilot distribution system while varying the source water. The pilot distribution system consisted of pre-existing facilities from Taylor et al (2005). Iron, copper, and lead release data were collected during four separate phases of operation. Each phase was characterized by the particular blend ratios used during the study. A blended source water represented a water that had been derived from a consistent proportion of three different source waters. These source waters included (1) surface water treated through enhanced coagulation/sedimentation/filtration, (2) conventionally treated …


Impact Of Corrosion Inhibitor Blended Orthophosphate On Water Quality In Water Distribution Systems, Abdulrahman Alshehri Jan 2008

Impact Of Corrosion Inhibitor Blended Orthophosphate On Water Quality In Water Distribution Systems, Abdulrahman Alshehri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of blended orthophosphate (BOP) inhibitor addition on the corrosion of iron, copper, and lead in drinking water distribution systems was studied under changing water quality environment. Release of iron, copper, and lead were monitored at varying inhibitor doses and changing blends of source waters (groundwater, surface water, and desalinated water). Solid corrosion products on pipe surfaces under BOP treatment were evaluated with surface characterization techniques. Performance of the BOP inhibitor was compared to other corrosion control strategies. Iron scales for iron and galvanized steel coupons incubated in different blended waters in the presence of BOP inhibitor were analyzed …


The Effects Of Phosphate And Silicate Inhibitors On Surface Roughness And Copper Release In Water Distribution Systems, David Macnevin Jan 2008

The Effects Of Phosphate And Silicate Inhibitors On Surface Roughness And Copper Release In Water Distribution Systems, David Macnevin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effects of corrosion inhibitors on water quality and the distribution system were studied. This dissertation investigates the effect of inhibitors on iron surface roughness, copper surface roughness, and copper release. Corrosion inhibitors included blended poly/ortho phosphate, sodium orthophosphate, zinc orthophosphate, and sodium silicate. These inhibitors were added to a blend of surface water, groundwater, and desalinated brackish water. Surface roughness of galvanized iron, unlined cast iron, lined cast iron, and polyvinyl chloride was measured using pipe coupons exposed for three months. Roughness of each pipe coupon was measured with an optical surface profiler before and after exposure to inhibitors. …


Nutrient Removal From Stormwater By Using Green Sorption Media, Fahim Hossain Jan 2008

Nutrient Removal From Stormwater By Using Green Sorption Media, Fahim Hossain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High nitrogen and phosphorus content in storm water runoff has affected groundwater, springs and surface water by impacting ecosystem integrity and human health. Nitrate may be toxic and can cause human health problem such as methemoglobinemia, liver damage and even cancers. Phosphorus may trigger the eutrophication issues in fresh water bodies, which could result in toxic algae and eventually endanger the source of drinking waters. Sorption media with mixes of some recycled materials, such as sawdust and tire crumb, combined with sand/silt and limestone, becomes appealing for nutrient removal in environmental management. This paper presented is a specific type of …


Removal Of 2, 4-Dinitrophenol By Ferrate, Gianna Cooley Jan 2008

Removal Of 2, 4-Dinitrophenol By Ferrate, Gianna Cooley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ferrate (molecular formula, FeVIO42-) has been studied increasingly since the 1970s as a disinfectant and coagulant for domestic wastewater and also as an oxidant for industrial wastewaters (Murmann and Roginson, 1974, Gilbert et al., 1978, Kazama, 1994, Jiang et al., 2002, and Sharmaet al., 2005). This research was performed to explore whether ferrate could possibly be used as chemical treatment for industrial wastewaters from plastic, chemical, dye, soap, and wood stain producing plants that contain 2, 4-Dinitrophenol (DNP). DNP is listed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL). This list includes compounds which …


The Effectiveness Of Specifically Designed Filter Media To Reduce Nitrate And Orthophosphate In Stormwater Runoff, Mikhal Moberg Jan 2008

The Effectiveness Of Specifically Designed Filter Media To Reduce Nitrate And Orthophosphate In Stormwater Runoff, Mikhal Moberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Throughout Central Florida surface water and ground water are decreasing in quantity and quality in part because of excess Nitrate and Phosphorus nutrients. Stormwater runoff serves as a medium for transport of Nitrate and Phosphorus to surface water and ground water. The goal of this experiment is assess the Nitrate and Phosphorus removal in stormwater using select media. The results of a literature search, batch test experimentation and column test experimentation are used to determine an optimal media blend that may be implemented in detention ponds to reduce Nitrate and Phosphorus. The extensive literature search revealed 32 different media that …


Performance Based Decision System In Determining Post Closure Care (Pcc) Duration In Florida Landfills, Asawari Kulkarni Jan 2008

Performance Based Decision System In Determining Post Closure Care (Pcc) Duration In Florida Landfills, Asawari Kulkarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is an evaluation of Post Closure Care (PCC) duration of landfills using performance based methodology. The post closure care phase begins once the landfill is closed. As required by the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle D, PCC duration for municipal solid waste landfills is 30 years. During the PCC period, the landfill operator/owner is required to conduct monitoring for leachate, landfill gas, and ground-water and maintain the integrity of the cap so that the landfill does not impose a threat to surrounding human health and environment (HH&E). The duration of PCC can be reduced by the director …


A Hybrid System Dynamics-Discrete Event Simulationapproach To Simulating The Manufacturing Enterprise, Magdy Helal Jan 2008

A Hybrid System Dynamics-Discrete Event Simulationapproach To Simulating The Manufacturing Enterprise, Magdy Helal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the advances in the information and computing technologies, the ways the manufacturing enterprise systems are being managed are changing. More integration and adoption of the system perspective push further towards a more flattened enterprise. This, in addition to the varying levels of aggregation and details and the presence of the continuous and discrete types of behavior, created serious challenges for the use of the existing simulation tools for simulating the modern manufacturing enterprise system. The commonly used discrete event simulation (DES) techniques face difficulties in modeling such integrated systems due to increased model complexity, the lack of data at …


Project Review Maturity And Project Performance: An Empirical Case Study, Catherine Vergopia Jan 2008

Project Review Maturity And Project Performance: An Empirical Case Study, Catherine Vergopia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many organizations use project management maturity models to improve their project performance. These systematic and sequential frameworks are designed to help organizations quantify their project management maturity and improve their project management processes. However, these models rarely put enough emphasis on project reviews as tools to improve project performance, because, too often, project reviews are considered as non-productive administrative processes. The lack of emphasis on project reviews in project management maturity models is also illustrated by the limited amount of research published on the relationship between project reviews and project performance. Based on the concept of project management maturity models, …


A Kinetics Study Of Selected Filtration Media For Nutrient Removal At Various Temperatures, Elizabeth Henderson Jan 2008

A Kinetics Study Of Selected Filtration Media For Nutrient Removal At Various Temperatures, Elizabeth Henderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years the nutrient levels of the Upper Floridan aquifer have been increasing (USGS, 2008). An example of this is found in Ocala, Florida where Silver Springs nitrate concentrations have risen from 0.5 mg/L in the 1960 s to approximately 1.0 mg/L in 2003 (Phelps, 2004). Because stormwater is a contributor to surficial and groundwater aquifer recharge, there is an increasing need for methods that decrease nitrogen and phosphorus levels. A laboratory column study was conducted to simulate a retention pond with saturated soil conditions. The objectives of the column studies reported in this thesis were to investigate the …


Dmarc: A Framework For The Integration Of Dmaic And Dmadv, Abhishek Vootukuru Jan 2008

Dmarc: A Framework For The Integration Of Dmaic And Dmadv, Abhishek Vootukuru

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Lean Six Sigma methodology is being applied extensively to tackle many quality related issues in many processes of today s industries. Various companies have benefited greatly from the adoption of Six Sigma and Lean engineering concepts since their introduction, and continue to do so. The DMAIC method that is traditionally adopted in the implementation of the Lean Six Sigma methodology has proven to yield cost saving results in most cases. Yet, industries have found that just improvement of existent process and products to reduce defects, does not quench the customer s growing thirst for greater quality. In order to …


Methane And Dimethyl Ether Oxidation At Elevated Temperatures And Pressure, Christopher Zinner Jan 2008

Methane And Dimethyl Ether Oxidation At Elevated Temperatures And Pressure, Christopher Zinner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autoignition and oxidation of two Methane (CH4) and Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3 or DME) mixtures in air were studied in shock tubes over a wide range of equivalence ratios at elevated temperatures and pressures. These experiments were conducted in the reflected shock region with pressures ranging from 0.8 to 35.7 atmospheres, temperatures ranging from 913 to 1650 K, and equivalence ratios of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.3. Ignition delay times were obtained from shock-tube endwall pressure traces for fuel mixtures of CH4/CH3OCH3 in ratios of 80/20 percent volume and 60/40 percent volume, respectively. Close examination of the data revealed that energy …


Probing And Tuning The Size, Morphology, Chemistry And Structure Of Nanoscale Cerium Oxide, Satyanarayana Kuchibhatla Jan 2008

Probing And Tuning The Size, Morphology, Chemistry And Structure Of Nanoscale Cerium Oxide, Satyanarayana Kuchibhatla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cerium oxide (ceria)-based materials in the nanoscale regime are of significant fundamental and technological interest. Nanoceria in pure and doped forms has current and potential use in solid oxide fuel cells, catalysis, UV- screening, chemical mechanical planarization, oxygen sensors, and bio-medical applications. The characteristic feature of Ce to switch between the +3 and + 4 oxidation states renders oxygen buffering capability to ceria. The ease of this transformation was expected to be enhanced in the nanoceria. In most the practical scenarios, it is necessary to have a stable suspension of ceria nanoparticles (CNPs) over longer periods of time. However, the …


N Multilayer Thin Film Reactions To Form L10 Fept And Exchange Spring Magnets, Bo Yao Jan 2008

N Multilayer Thin Film Reactions To Form L10 Fept And Exchange Spring Magnets, Bo Yao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

FePt films with the L10 phase have potential applications for magnetic recording and permanent magnets due to its high magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy density. Heat treatment of n multilayer films is one approach to form the L10 FePt phase through a solid state reaction. This thesis has studied the diffusion and reaction of n multilayer films to form the L10 FePt phase and has used this understanding to construct exchange spring magnets. The process-structure-property relations of n multilayer films were systematically examined. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study of the annealed multilayers indicates that the Pt layer grows at the expense …


Development And Application Study Of Nanoscale Thin Film Materials And Polymer Nanocomposites, Hui Chen Jan 2008

Development And Application Study Of Nanoscale Thin Film Materials And Polymer Nanocomposites, Hui Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation demonstrated that the manipulation of substances at the molecular or nanometer level can lead to the discovery and development of new materials with interesting properties and important applications. Chapter 1 describes the development of a nanoscale molecular thin film material for corrosion protection. By using a self-assembled monolayer film with a thickness of only about 1 nanometer as a linkage, a covalent bonding was achieved between a polyurethane top coating and an aluminum alloy substrate. This covalent bonding between polymer top coating and the aluminum alloy substrate significantly improved the corrosion resistance of the substrate. Chapter 2 and …


Effect Of Composition, Morphology And Semiconducting Properties On The Efficiency Of Cuin1-Xgaxse2-Ysy Thin-Film Solar Cells Pre, Sachin Kulkarni Jan 2008

Effect Of Composition, Morphology And Semiconducting Properties On The Efficiency Of Cuin1-Xgaxse2-Ysy Thin-Film Solar Cells Pre, Sachin Kulkarni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A rapid thermal processing (RTP) reactor for the preparation of graded CuIn1-xGaxSe2-ySy (CIGSeS) thin-film solar cells has been designed, assembled and is being used at the Photovoltaic Materials Laboratory of the Florida Solar Energy Center. CIGSeS films having the optimum composition, morphology, and semiconducting properties were prepared using RTP. Initially films having various Cu/(In+Ga) ratios were prepared. In the next step selenium incorporation in these films was optimized, followed by sulfur incorporation in the surface to increase the bandgap at the surface. The compositional gradient of sulfur was fine-tuned so as to increase the conversion efficiency. Materials properties of these …


Application Of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers For Photolithographic Patterning Of Diverse Mammalian Cell Types In Serum Free Medium, Vipra Dhir Jan 2008

Application Of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers For Photolithographic Patterning Of Diverse Mammalian Cell Types In Serum Free Medium, Vipra Dhir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Integration of living cells with novel microdevices requires the development of innovative technologies for manipulating cells. Chemical surface patterning has been proven as an effective method to control the attachment and growth of diverse cell populations. Patterning polyelectrolyte multilayers through the combination of layer-by-layer self-assembly technique and photolithography offers a simple, versatile and silicon compatible approach that overcomes chemical surface patterning limitations, such as short-term stability and low protein adsorption resistance. In this study, direct photolithographic patterning of PAA/PAAm and PAA/PAH polyelectrolyte multilayers was developed to pattern mammalian neuronal, skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. For all studied cell types, PAA/PAAm …


Water Footprint Of Aviation Fuel Synthesis By The Fischer Tropsch Process Using Sugar Cane Waste & Landfill Gas As Feedstocks, Slim Menzli Jan 2008

Water Footprint Of Aviation Fuel Synthesis By The Fischer Tropsch Process Using Sugar Cane Waste & Landfill Gas As Feedstocks, Slim Menzli

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The recent spikes in oil prices have spurred an already bullish demand on biofuels as a source of alternative energy. However, the unprecedented price records set simultaneously by staple food have raised high concerns about potential impacts of biofuels on the global agricultural landscape as fuel and food markets are being inextricably coupled. The revival of interest in the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process comes into full force since it offers a promising way to produce carbon-neutral liquid fuels which are readily usable with today's existing infrastructure. The FT synthesis offers the possibility of using crop waste as feedstock instead of the …


Fundamental Study Of Fc-72 Pool Boiling Surface Temperature Fluctuations And Bubble Behavior, Alison Griffin Jan 2008

Fundamental Study Of Fc-72 Pool Boiling Surface Temperature Fluctuations And Bubble Behavior, Alison Griffin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A heater designed to monitor surface temperature fluctuations during pool boiling experiments while the bubbles were simultaneously being observed has been fabricated and tested. The heat source was a transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) layer commercially deposited on a fused quartz substrate. Four copper-nickel thin film thermocouples (TFTCs) on the heater surface measured the surface temperature, while a thin layer of sapphire or fused silica provided electrical insulation between the TFTCs and the ITO. The TFTCs were micro-fabricated using the liftoff process to deposit the nickel and copper metal films. The TFTC elements were 50 microns wide and overlapped to …


A Framework For Efficient Data Distribution In Peer-To-Peer Networks., Darshan Purandare Jan 2008

A Framework For Efficient Data Distribution In Peer-To-Peer Networks., Darshan Purandare

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Peer to Peer (P2P) models are based on user altruism, wherein a user shares its content with other users in the pool and it also has an interest in the content of the other nodes. Most P2P systems in their current form are not fair in terms of the content served by a peer and the service obtained from swarm. Most systems suffer from free rider's problem where many high uplink capacity peers contribute much more than they should while many others get a free ride for downloading the content. This leaves high capacity nodes with very little or no …


Real-Time Realistic Rendering Of Nature Scenes With Dynamic Lighting, Kevin Boulanger Jan 2008

Real-Time Realistic Rendering Of Nature Scenes With Dynamic Lighting, Kevin Boulanger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rendering of natural scenes has interested the scientific community for a long time due to its numerous applications. The targeted goal is to create images that are similar to what a viewer can see in real life with his/her eyes. The main obstacle is complexity: nature scenes from real life contain a huge number of small details that are hard to model, take a lot of time to render and require a huge amount of memory unavailable in current computers. This complexity mainly comes from geometry and lighting. The goal of our research is to overcome this complexity and to …


Modeling And Analysis Of Power Mosfets For High Frequency Dc-Dc Converters, Yali Xiong Jan 2008

Modeling And Analysis Of Power Mosfets For High Frequency Dc-Dc Converters, Yali Xiong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Evolutions in integrated circuit technology require the use of a high-frequency synchronous buck converter in order to achieve low cost, low profile, fast transient response and high power density. However, high frequency operation leads to increased power MOSFET switching losses. Optimization of the MOSFETs plays an important role in improving converter performance. This dissertation focuses on revealing the power loss mechanism of power MOSFETs and the relationship between power MOSFET structure and its power loss. The analytical device model, combined with circuit modeling, cannot reveal the relationship between device structure and its power loss due to the highly non-linear characteristics …