Engineering Commons^™

Full Custom Vlsi Design Of On-Line Stability Checkers, Chris Y. Lee

Master's Theses

A stability checker is a clocked storage element, much like a flip-flop, which detects unstable and late signals in the pipeline of a digital system. The On-line stability checker operates concurrently with its associated circuit-under-test (CUT). This thesis describes the full custom very-large-scale integration (VLSI) design and testing process of On-Line Stability Checkers. The goals of this thesis are to construct and test Stability Checker designs, and to create a design template for future class projects in the EE 431 Computer-Aided Design (CAD) of VLSI Devices course at Cal Poly.

A method for concurrent fault testing called On-line Stability Checking …

Equivalent Circuit Implementation Of Demyelinated Human Neuron In Spice, Nathan A. Angel

Master's Theses

This work focuses on modeling a demyelinated Hodgkin and Huxley (HH) neuron with Simulated Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis (SPICE) platform. Demyelinating disorders affect over 350,000 people in the U.S and understanding the demyelination process at the cellular level is necessary to find safe ways to treat the diseases [9]. Utilizing a previous SPICE model of an electrically small cell neuron developed by Szlavik [32], an extended core conductor myelinated neuron was produced in this work. The myelinated neuron developed has seven active Nodes of Ranvier (nodes) separated by a myelin sheath. The myelin sheath can be successfully modeled with …

Possibility Of Consolidated Wetland Mitigation In A Multi-Layered Legislated State, Juan P. Correa

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Cdse-Zns Core-Shell Quantum Dots For Increased Quantum Yield, Joshua James Angell

Master's Theses

Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that have tunable emission through changes in their size. Producing bright, efficient quantum dots with stable fluorescence is important for using them in applications in lighting, photovoltaics, and biological imaging. This study aimed to optimize the process for coating CdSe quantum dots (which are colloidally suspended in octadecene) with a ZnS shell through the pyrolysis of organometallic precursors to increase their fluorescence and stability. This process was optimized by determining the ZnS shell thickness between 0.53 and 5.47 monolayers and the Zn:S ratio in the precursor solution between 0.23:1 and 1.6:1 that maximized the relative …

Flexural Behavior Of Interlocking Compressed Earth Block Shear Walls Subjected To In-Plane Loading, Bradley James Stirling

Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the flexural behavior of interlocking compressed earth block (ICEB) shear walls. In-plane cyclic tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of three flexure dominant large scale ICEB specimens: a slim wall with a 2:1 height to width aspect ratio, a flanged wall, and a wall with an opening at the center. Following the experimental investigation, two types of analyses were conducted for calculating the ultimate strength of flexure dominant ICEB walls: a nonlinear static analysis model assuming lumped plasticity and a plastic analysis model. In addition, incremental dynamic analysis was conducted to address the seismic performance of …

Reconfigurable Sampling For Enhanced Energy Efficiency In Power-Constrained Wireless Systems, Timothy Kurp

Master's Theses

Advancement in microelectronics and wireless communications has nurtured the development of low power and low cost wireless systems such as sensor networks. Each node is typically driven by a battery, which has a limited energy capacity that directly constrains node, and network lifetime. This presents a bottleneck for the widespread exploitation of wireless sensing technology. Therefore, improving the energy efficiency of wireless sensing devices is of critical importance and has attracted the attention of the research community.

In this work, a data-driven method has been proposed and systematically investigated. Specifically, this technique reconfigures, in real time, the rate of data …

Applied Control Strategies At A Cogeneration Plant, Joseph William Burns

Master's Theses

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of “classical strategies for dynamic control” on authentic cogeneration processes. These strategies are applied to several processes at the University of Connecticut’s cogeneration plant. Case studies of their applications are presented in this paper. Strategies that are applied include the following:

1) The classical SISO feedback structure

2) The First Order Plus Dead Time (FOPDT) process model

3) The Internal Model Control (IMC) correlations for PI controller tuning

4) Static feed forward with feedback trim

5) Cascade Control

In-Plane Cyclic Shear Performance Of Interlocking Compressed Earth Block Walls, David William Bland

Master's Theses

This thesis presents results from testing of interlocking compressed earth block (CEB) masonry shear walls.  CEBs are low strength earth masonry units sometimes stabilized with cement or lime.  The interlocking compressed earth blocks (ICEBs) used in this experiment are dry stacked interlocking hollow units, which can be reinforced and grouted after they are laid.  Although significant research has been undertaken to optimize the material properties of CEBs, little has been done to investigate the performance of structural systems currently being built using this technology.

Test results are reported for three 1800 mm x 1800 mm wall specimens constructed with cement …

Structure Climbing Monkey Robot, Paul Bessent

Master's Theses

This report describes the design, building, and testing of the Structure Climbing Monkey Robot (SCMR). It is composed of seven successive joints and linkages with two grippers at the two ends. Each gripper can act as the base or the end of the robot. The SCMR has the ability to climb any structure. The gripper plates can be changed to grab different kinds of structures, but this one is made to grab 2x4‘s. A program was written to assist the user to grab four non-coplanar, non-orthogonal points.

The SCMR is actuated by a total of nine motors: two to open …

A Novel Exercise Device For Users In Wheelchairs: A Study Of Abdominal Muscle Activation, Rebecca Jo Campbell

Master's Theses

This study evaluates the use of a wheelchair balance board. The balance board was created as a sensory stimulation tool for users with various disabilities. It was originally designed to create vestibular stimulation for the person after they were loaded on.  This study was used as a way to test if the balance board could be used for other things such as physical therapy and exercise.  Ten able-bodied individuals were used to show the functionality of the device.  They were asked to perform six different abdominal exercises while the muscle activity of their rectus abdominis and external obliques was measured …

Measuring The Nanoindentation Properties Of Alendronate-Time Treated Canine Cortical, Folorunso Ashaolu

Master's Theses

This study examines the nanoindentation (energy inclusive) properties of 0.2 mg/kg alendronate treated ribs at one and three years against a vehicle treated control in a fresh-frozen, non-cold-mounted, condition.  This was to verify if the tissue-level properties for 0.2 ALN treated beagles would increase because of an increased level of mineralization despite a microdamage increase.

A total of twelve (12) skeletally mature (1–2 years old) female beagle dogs were treated daily for three years and one year with oral doses of vehicle (VEH, 1 mL/kg saline) or alendronate (ALN, 0.2 Merck, Rahway, NJ). The 0.2 mg dose corresponds, on a …

Ischemia Impairs Vasodilation In Skeletal Muscle Resistance Artery, Kyle Remington Struthers

Master's Theses

Functional vasodilation in arterioles is impaired with chronic ischemia. We sought to examine the impact of chronic ischemia and age on skeletal muscle resistance artery function. To examine the impact of chronic ischemia, the femoral artery was resected from young (2-3mo) and adult (6-7mo) mice and the profunda femoris artery diameter was measured at rest and following gracilis muscle contraction 14 days later using intravital microscopy. Functional vasodilation was significantly impaired in ischemic mice (14.4±4.6% vs. 137.8±14.3%, p<0.0001 n=8) and non-ischemic adult mice (103.0±9.4% vs. 137.8±14.3%, p=0.05 n=10). In order to analyze the cellular mechanisms of the impairment, a protocol was developed to apply pharmacological agents to the experimental preparation while maintaining tissue homeostasis. Endothelial and smooth muscle dependent vasodilation were impaired with ischemia, 39.6 ± 13.6% vs. 80.5 ± 11.4% and 43.0 ± 11.7% vs. 85.1 ± 10.5%, respectively. From this data, it can be supported that smooth muscle dysfunction is the reason for the observed impairment in arterial vasodilation.

Fault Tolerant And Flexible Cubesat Software Architecture, Greg D. Manyak

Master's Theses

The CubeSat pico-satellite is gaining popularity in both the educational and aerospace industries.  Due to a lack of experience and constrained hardware capabilities, most of the university missions have been educational in nature.  Cal Poly's project, PolySat, has gained significant experience from the launch of five CubeSats and has designed an entirely new hardware platform based on the knowledge gained from these missions. This hardware is a significant upgrade from what the previous missions used and has greatly increased the capabilities of the software, including supporting the use of the open source operating system Linux.

Leveraging the previous PolySat experience, …

Thermodynamic Based Model Eliciting Activities For Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Education, Paul Nicholas Van Bloemen Waanders

Master's Theses

Undergraduate engineering education is designed to prepare students for their careers.  The rise of technology in modern engineering allows for a shift in the way undergraduates are prepared for the modern workplace.  Model Eliciting Activities (MEAs) allow students to think critically about their own work and allow instructors to analyze the students’ problem solving methods.  To ensure that new MEAs are as effective as possible they are subject to six basic principles: model construction, reality, generalizability, self-assessment, model documentation, and effective prototype.

This document focuses on evaluating new MEAs for their adherence to the six principles from an instructor's and …

The Effect Of Transit-Oriented Development On Vehicle Miles Traveled: A Comparison Of A Tod Versus A Non-Tod Neighborhood In Carlsbad, Ca, Natalie Louise Stiffler

Master's Theses

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a strategy being used to reduce congestion, provide mode choice, and improve quality of life. A large amount of research has been done on individual aspects of TOD, but research specific to transportation-related benefits of TOD is limited. There is a need for traffic and transit data that is supported by comprehensive resident, employee, and user surveys to demonstrate the interrelationship between land uses, transportation, and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Moreover, VMT data at the household level is essential to analyze household travel behavior and the potential for VMT related emissions reduction.

The purpose of this …

A Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave-Based Boundary Detection System For Determination Of Monitoring Region For An Indoor Ultra-Wideband Short Range Radar-Based Eldercare Monitoring System, Wilson Tang

Master's Theses

Falls are a cause of concern for the elderly since it can render a person immobile. A monitoring system can summon immediate aid by the automatic detection of fall events. The application of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals for a monitoring system was chosen due to its unique characteristics such as wide spectrum, immunity to interference, penetrability, and application for the detection of people. Part of this monitoring system is boundary detection with the purpose of isolating the location of fall events and to function as a mask to define an area of interest. A study of various localizing methods using measurements …

Performance Of The Crack, Seat, And Overlay Rehabilitation Technique For Concrete Pavements In California, Reed Calkins

Master's Theses

Research was performed to analyze the performance of the crack, seat, and overlay (CS&O) roadway rehabilitation technique in the Central Coast and Northern regions of California. This technique was evaluated through literature review to determine the state of practice and their conclusions. California highway sections rehabilitated using CS&O were selected for evaluation based on age and location. Pavement distresses and traffic data for these sections were collected and analyzed. Prior to beginning analysis this data was checked for errors, outliers, and omissions. The analysis consisted of checking the data for correlations among distresses and regions.

The focus of this research …

Development Of A Cubesat Instrument For Microgravity Particle Damper Performance Analysis, John Trevor Abel

Master's Theses

Spacecraft pointing accuracy and structural longevity requirements often necessitate auxiliary vibration dissipation mechanisms.  However, temperature sensitivity and material degradation limit the effectiveness of traditional damping techniques in space.  Robust particle damping technology offers a potential solution, driving the need for microgravity characterization.   A 1U cubesat satellite presents a low cost, low risk platform for the acquisition of data needed for this evaluation, but severely restricts available mass, volume, power and bandwidth resources.  This paper details the development of an instrument subject to these constraints that is capable of capturing high resolution frequency response measurements of highly nonlinear particle damper dynamics.

Bridgeless Active Power Factor Correction Using A Current Fed Push Pull Converter, Jeramie Seth Bianchi

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Bridgeless Active Power Factor Correction

Using a Current Fed Push Pull Converter

Jeramie Seth Bianchi

Switched Mode Power Supplies have become increasingly popular for efficient methods of delivering power to an assortment of electronic devices. This thesis proposes a method of using a current fed push pull converter to provide active power factor correction and rectification in a single stage. While most AC-DC converters utilize a bridge rectifier to convert AC-DC and then perform DC-DC conversion, the proposed circuit will utilize its output diodes to perform rectification, thus eliminating the need for a bridge rectifier. This circuit will also …

Optimization And Modeling Tools For Telescope Hexapod Structures, Michael Edward Feeney

Master's Theses

Hexapod trusses are an important element in many mechanical design systems. The natural frequency and stiffness behavior under geometric and mass variations of such structures is largely undocumented. Furthermore, the ability to quickly model hexapod designs and explore a large design-space in finite element software packages is, in general, time consuming and inefficient. The purpose of this project was to develop software tools that made design-space exploration (modeling and simulation processes) for hexapod structures drastically more efficient. Secondly, the project included an experimental analysis portion to demonstrate the various modal study techniques and to validate finite element analysis predictions. Lastly, …

Seawater/Wastewater Production Of Microalgae-Based Biofuels In Closed Loop Tubular Photobioreactors, Joshua Bradley Lowrey

Master's Theses

The push for alternatives to petroleum fuels has forced researchers to look for highly productive, renewable, non-food resources.  The advantages of using microalgae instead of traditional oil crops for biofuel production include high oil yields, rapid reproductive rates, and versatile growing requirements.  In order to reduce the cost of producing microalgae based biofuels, wastewater has been used as a nutrient source instead of specialized plant nutrients.  The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of different combinations of microalgae strain and dairy wastewater for increasing biomass.  The methods for monitoring growth included optical density, cell counting, biomass …

A Space Based Particle Damper Demonstrator, John Brown

Master's Theses

The structure and payload of a CubeSat flight experiment that investigates the performance of particle dampers in a micro-gravity environment was designed, built, and tested, and will provide on orbit data for model validation and improved performance predictions for space applications of particle damping.

A 3-D solid model of the integrated CubeSat structure and payload was created satisfying all constraints from CubeSat and the System Dynamics Department at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. The model was verified using commercially available Finite Element Analysis software (FEA), and a prototype structure part was fabricated. The prototype was tested and verified the FEA. A …

Transverse Isotachophoresis Using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrodes, Mark P. Stambaugh

Master's Theses

Separation and isolation of a desired analyte from an impure sample solution containing numerous unwanted interfering agents is the first step of nearly every laboratory test performed in medicine and biology. Nucleic acids are often of particular interest to doctors and researchers, and although methods currently exist for their isolation, these procedures are costly in time, man-power, and real-estate. In addition to easing the execution of presently performed tests, mitigation or elimination of these drawbacks would make a large range of currently unperformed tests both practical and feasible.

This thesis presents a microfluidics-based approach to the isolation of nucleic acids …

The Effects Of A Damage Arrestment Device On The Mechanical Behavior Of Sandwich Composite Beams Under Four-Point Bending, Richard Anthony Davis

Master's Theses

The demand for an insert on composite sandwich structures to aid in the arrestment of face-core delamination is of great need.  This research studies the use of a damage arrestment device (DAD) that connects the carbon fiber face sheets to the foam core to find whether an increase in the structural integrity of the sandwich beam results.  Experimental analysis was employed to test the samples and was verified by a theoretical and finite element approach.

The mechanical properties of LTM45/CF1803 pre-impregnated carbon fiber and Last-A-foam FR 6710 polyvinylchloride foam were experimentally analyzed using ASTM D3039 and ASTM D1621 standards respectively …

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Impacts On A Central California Residential Distribution Circuit, Darren Janigian

Master's Theses

The adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) as a means of transportation over conventionally fueled vehicles introduces new challenges to the existing infrastructure of the electrical transmission and distribution system.  PHEV battery charging can represent a significant power demand that has the potential to overload electrical distribution components.  This study examines the impacts of PHEV charging on household service transformers, distribution conductors and voltage levels of a Central California residential distribution system.  The system is simulated using ETAP power system analysis software.  Transformers are the most vulnerable to overloads, especially if PHEV charging occurs in clusters.  Main feeder conductors …

Off-Grid Public Lighting System – Design And Characterization Of An Led Luminaire, Quanghuy Le

Master's Theses

The technological advances made in the photovoltaic industry have led to a vast exploration of self-sustaining systems.  As the consumer demand for electricity rises from increasing population and development of existing technologies, new practices in system designs are required to relieve the impact on the electrical grid.

This thesis delves into a developing concept of using photovoltaic modules for roadway lighting, with emphasis on establishing the fundamental design for a “spot-lighting” luminaire.  By effectively extinguishing various sections of the luminaire in the absence of pedestrian trafficking, the proposed design and implementation will minimize the prolonged costs, as well as the …

Energy Harvesting From Exercise Machines: Forward Converters With A Central Inverter, Nicholas Keith Lovgren

Master's Theses

This thesis presents an active clamp forward converter for use in the Energy Harvesting From Exercise Machines project.  Ideally, this converter will find use as the centerpiece in a process that links elliptical trainers to the California grid.  This active clamp forward converter boasts a 14V-60V input voltage range and 150W power rating, which closely match the output voltage and power levels from the elliptical trainer.  The isolated topology outputs 51V, higher than previous, non-isolated attempts, which allows the elliptical trainers to interact with a central grid-tied inverter instead of many small ones.  The final converter operated at greater than …

Modeling And Analysis Of The Effects Of Pcb Parasitics On Integrated Dc-Dc Converters, Darwin Domingo Fernandez

Master's Theses

Load transients are prevalent in every electronic device including semiconductor memory, card readers, microprocessors, disc drives, piezoelectric devices, and digitally based systems. They are capable of producing voltage stress, introducing noise, and degrading device functionality. In order to avoid damage to the device, a feedback control loop is implemented with system compensation to regulate the output voltage deviations by the converter. Because designing compensation networks can be rather complicated, DC-DC converters with integrated feedback control topologies help minimize design time and complexity of converter compensation at the expense of design flexibility. This thesis widens the limitations of an integrated DC-DC …

A Neural Network Receiver For Em-Mwd Communication, Timothy P. Whitacre

Master's Theses

Baseband digital communication in electro-magnetic measurement while drilling (EM-MWD) systems is often corrupted by non-white surface noise. The inability to reliably decode the transmitted signals in a noisy environment limits the depth at which EM-MWD systems can operate. Correlation receivers, which are optimal in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise, can be sub-optimal in the presence of various types of field noise at different drilling sites.

This thesis investigates the application of artificial neural networks (ANN) as communication receivers in EM-MWD baseband digital communication systems. The performances of various ANN architectures and training algorithms are studied and compared with …

Active Pen Input And The Android Input Framework, Andrew S. Hughes

Master's Theses

User input has taken many forms since the conception of computers. In the past ten years, Tablet PCs have provided a natural writing experience for users with the advent of active pen input. Unfortunately, pen based input has yet to be adopted as an input method by any modern mobile operating system. This thesis investigates the addition of active pen based input to the Android mobile operating system.

The Android input framework was evaluated and modified to allow for active pen input events. Since active pens allow for their position to be detected without making contact with the screen, an …