Engineering Commons^™

A Digital Simulation Of A Single Articulated Rotor Helicopter, Joseph William Klahs Jr.

Masters Theses

"The investigation was concerned with the development of a complete digital computer simulation of a single articulated rotor helicopter. The simulation program was executed on an IBM model 360-50 digital computer.

The main rotor was analyzed by the consideration of a continuous rigid blade at six azimuth stations, while the airframe aerodynamics were treated in the conventional manner. The differential equations of motion of the airframe were solved in a step-wise fashion by approximating time dependent functions with cubic interpolation polynomials.

The study concluded that there was strong evidence that suggested the possibility of treating main rotor flapping as a …

A Comparison Of Three Urban Hydrology Models, Richard F. Astrack

Masters Theses

"Three models, the British Road Research Laboratory Hydrograph Method, the Hydrocomp Simulation Program, and the HEC-1 Flood Hydrograph Package, are applied to the Boneyard Creek basin. Comparing the ability of these models to reproduce the observed peak discharge, time of the peak, and the first runoff volume determines the accuracy of these models"--Abstract, page iii.

A New And Direct Process For The Reduction Of Lead Sulfide, Rolando Oscar Fernandez

Masters Theses

"The direct reduction of lead sulfide concentrates by iron was investigated. An oxygen-bearing flux was shown to be a necessary ingredient for complete reduction of the concentrate. The effects of time and temperature on lead recovery were studied. Only a trace amount of sulfur dioxide is evolved during reduction, which is in agreement with thermochemical calculations"--Abstract, page ii.

A Highway Rest Area Design Based On A Use Study In Outstate Missouri, Dimitris Peter Perandakos

Masters Theses

"The limited number of rest areas in the State of Missouri does create a major problem for the motorist travelling in this state.

The author became more aware of this problem from personal experience and decided to investigate it. For that he interviewed over one thousand motorists on the only rest area that is located on 1-44, near the city of Stanton. He also took traffic counts to determine the average daily traffic volumes of Highway 1-44 and of the rest area stated above.

The data collected from the above steps was used for the design of a new rest …

A Multivariable Sampled-Data Model Of An Automobile Driver, Jose A. Bermudez

Masters Theses

"In this thesis, a multivariable system model of driver performance in the basic driving tasks is presented. The driver model described acts as a serial-process, priority-accessed, time-sharing computer. This model processes the input or output task which currently possesses the highest priority. Input tasks are represented by continuous signals sampled intermittently according to priority laws. Output tasks are modeled as simple analog processes operating on the last few intermittently generated output controls. An individual priority rule is constructed for each input and output task.

The performance of the driver in the lateral control task involves a feedforward pattern which is …

A Formal Description Of The Nova-800 Computer In Computer Design Language, Ronald Lee Engelbrecht

Masters Theses

"This paper presents a formal description of the operation of the NOVA 800 in Computer Design Language (CDL). For simplicity, the description does not include specific input/output devices, the multiply/divide option, or data channel operations. The description is intended to be used as a supplement in a basic course in computer organization, and an example of its use is included"--Abstract, page ii.

Interior Noise In Military Helicopters, Charles E. Perez Jr.

Masters Theses

"The Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) or temporary hearing loss caused by excessive interior noise in military helicopters results in a critical degradation of the acoustically unprotected infantryman's ability to detect the existence or the approach of the enemy by hearing under combat conditions. The overall problem of noise reduction in helicopters consists of: (1) identifying the various noise sources, and (2) employing appropriate noise control techniques. Identification of the source is accomplished by the frequency correlation of 1/10-octave band analysis of the interior sound levels measured within the helicopter cabin with near-field sound generated by the sound sources. Reduction of …

A Study Of The Ability Of Water Treatment To Remove Trace Organics, Daniel Lee Oliver

Masters Theses

"The purpose of this investigation was to study the ability of water treatment processes, especially coagulation and chlorination, to remove trace organic materials from raw river water. Trace organic concentrations were determined using the Organics-Carbon Adsorbable (O-CA) technique, a miniaturized Carbon Adsorption Method (CAM).

Missouri River raw and treated water, obtained on 3 different dates at the Jefferson City, MO, water treatment plant, was used. The effect of various treatment steps, including settling, softening with lime, coagulating with copperas or alum over a range of doses, and chlorinating at the dose necessary to give a free residual of 2 mg/1 …

The Simulation Of A Production Control System, Steven Craig Weis

Masters Theses

"In an attempt to simulate a production system a typical company was assumed, and mathematical models of its functions were structured to form a total model. This model was programmed into an IBM 360/50 computer. A program which included seasonal trends and random requirements for various departments was designed that would evaluate all the available alternatives and output the two best production schedules such that operating costs would be minimized and the company labor force would remain nearly constant. These schedules detail the manpower requirements by week, department, line, job and shift.

To accommodate the seasonal trends, various forms of …

Design Of An Analog-Temperature Control System For An Expansion Cloud Chamber, Andrew C. Tebelak

Masters Theses

"This thesis describes the design, construction, and application of an analog control system for the temperature control of an expansion cloud chamber. During the expansion, the sample gas and the chamber walls are cooled at the same rate so as to maintain adiabaticity. The control system measures the wall temperature with transistor temperature sensors, calculates the gas temperature from the gas pressure using the adiabatic gas law, and generates a control signal proportional to their difference. The control precision is sufficient to allow the chamber to be used in the study of atmospheric phenomena.

The chamber is a ten-sided right …

Nutation Control During Precession Of A Spin-Stabilized Spacecraft, Richard James Donner

Masters Theses

"The effects of precession thrust pulses and energy dissipation upon nutation of a spin-stabilized spacecraft are studied. Methods for controlling nutation during a precession maneuver are proposed and examined. In particular, a precession modulation control law is developed which uses precession thrust pulses to control nutation. Digital simulations show that precession control with separate nutation control is the fastest precessing system; however, the precession modulation method is only fractionally slower while not requiring a separate nutation control system"--Abstract, page ii.

A Study Of Rf Induction Heating And Float Zone Refining Of Silicon, John Allen Reynolds

Masters Theses

"Float zone refining using simultaneous RF induction heating and electromagnetic levitation has proven to be the best technique for producing high purity silicon for the semiconductor industry.

A study of the power requirements for floating molten zones, of load to source impedance matching, and of considerations for RF heating coil design was conducted to determine possible methods of improving the technique. It is shown that the power requirements are within reason, that impedance matching can be improved by varying network parameters, and that certain vital items must be assured in the design of different RF heating coils.

It is believed …

Ideal Filter Approximation And Synthesis, Patrick Shu Yau Ho

Masters Theses

"Several methods are currently used for approximating the ideal low pass filter. Generally, those approximations relate only to the amplitude or phase characteristic of the ideal filter. A class of filters has been proposed as approximating both the amplitude and phase characteristics of the ideal filter. The characteristics of the first ten members of the proposed class are considered in this paper. The results indicate a much improved approximation to the ideal filter has been achieved"--Abstract, page ii.

Calculation Of Gamma-Ray Albedo Using The Monte Carlo Method, Ezatholah Aslani-Amoli

Masters Theses

"Gamma-ray number, energy and dose albedo are calculated with the Monte Carlo technique. A plane monoenergetic beam was considered at normal incidence upon single material shields at initial gamma energy up to 10 MeV. Aluminum, iron and lead are used as shield material. The contribution of secondary photons which are produced as a result of various photon interactions in the shield are taken into account. These secondary photons are annihilation gammas, X rays and bremsstrahlung gammas. In certain cases, they constitute a considerable fraction of the reflected radiation.

Annihilation gammas predominate in the reflected radiation for all energies above 1.02 …

Parametric Resonance Of A Beam Subjected To A Sawtooth, Axial Force, Alfred George Richardson

Masters Theses

"This study considers the response of a perfectly elastic straight beam subjected to a periodic, non-harmonic, axial load. A two-mode solution is sought and the effects of axial inertia are included in the analysis. General equations of motion for the beam are developed and their stability is studied with the aid of an analog computer. Results are presented in graphical form. Regions of instability are defined for both modes. A region of combination resonance is also found to occur for the case of a two-mode solution with axial inertia. Typical response curves are presented and the effects of axial inertia …

Driver-Vehicle-Roadway Interaction Model, Mark E. Jaeger

Masters Theses

"A non-trivial simulation model has been developed which combines driver and vehicle dynamics with the roadway into one system. The model was successfully simulated on a portion of an existing roadway with the dynamic response and performance of the simulator being subjectively realistic. By implementing the idea of the interaction of variables, a much more detailed and representative response is obtained as compared to previous models based solely upon a single-factor-effect approach. By analyzing a simulated vehicle's velocity and trajectory, it is felt that an increase in driver "look ahead" distance or a decrease in vehicle velocity tends to improve …

Statistical Analysis Of Critical Flashover Voltage And Standard Deviation Of Switching Surges And Lightning Impulses, Gurdip Singh

Masters Theses

"In order to analyze critical flashover voltage methods a set of experimentally determined data has been used. This data was supplied by the A. B. Chance Company. The data presents the flashover probability as regards to impulse voltage. The various correction factors have been applied to get the corrected impulse voltage, thus eliminating the effect of atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, and humidity. The experimental observations have been analyzed by the application and use of the method of moments, regression analysis, graphical analysis with iterative techniques and maximum likelihood method. From the results, it was found that the maximum …

A Travelling-Wave Transistor Amplifier, Manit Kovintha

Masters Theses

"This thesis discusses a steady-state analysis and design of a coupled uniform travelling-wave transistor amplifier. A solution to the problem is given in closed form and a numerical method for evaluating the solution is discussed.

Practical line parameters and different terminations are used in frequency response calculations. The amplifier power gain variations due to parameter variations are considered and shown in full"--Abstract, page ii.

Design And Construction Of An Electronic Pressure Altimeter For An Atmospheric Data Acquisition System, Larry Wayne Berkbigler

Masters Theses

"This thesis describes the design, construction, and application of an altimeter which was developed as part of the data acquisition system of a small aircraft used to study atmospheric conditions. The altimeter provides a digital readout and interfaces with analog and digital recorders. It can also provide an audio indication when a predetermined altitude is reached. The altimeter is powered by 12 volts dc, has resolution to 10 feet, and a maximum altitude of 15,000 feet. Its maximum theoretical error is ±78 feet ±0.77% of true altitude, which is an error of ±194 feet at 15,000 feet.

Since the unit …

Management Of Passive Countersurveillance In The R & D Environment, James Ronald Carney

Masters Theses

"Existing management procedures that are pertinent to research and development activities within the Government are presented. The main focus of this effort is on the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center’s Countersurveillance and Topographic Division, and highlights the relevant plans, documents, programs, and reporting systems utilized by the Army and the Department of Defense. An in-depth examination is made on the need for Countersurveillance in the Army. The Army’s existing Countersurveillance research and development missions and programs are reviewed.

A detailed investigation and analysis is performed on current management concepts and techniques that are utilized in research and development endeavors. …

A Suboptimal Control Law For Parametrically Disturbed Linear Systems And Its Application To Improve The Transient Stability Of Power Systems, Atluri Bhima Ranjit Kumar

Masters Theses

Paper 1: “A suboptimal linear control law is synthesized for parametrically disturbed linear systems, and the necessary approximation for applying the law to a class of nonlinear systems is given. The law is then extended to linear systems with stochastically disturbed parameters by using appropriate approximations”—Abstract, page 2.

Paper 2: “The application of optimal control theory to damp the electromechanical oscillations associated with the transient conditions in power systems has been given little attention. A suboptimal control law which minimizes the sum of the performance indices of the two linear systems given by a piecewise linear model of a power …

An Experimental Analysis Of Oil Spill Drift Caused By Water Waves, Jan Michael Pottinger

Masters Theses

"A study was conducted to determine the effect of waves on oil spill drift. The investigation was performed in a long narrow tank equipped with a mechanical wave generator at one end and a beach to suppress wave reflection at the other end. It was found that a special procedure for taking data was necessary in order to assure that the data was consistent and that the waves were indeed deep water waves, and therefore similar to open ocean conditions.

The data indicated that waves do influence oil spill movement, and the velocity of the oil was found to be …

Mass Transfer Coefficients Determined By Simplex Optimization Techniques, Charles Ferris Callihan

Masters Theses

"The objective of this thesis is to develop a method for obtaining individual mass transfer coefficients in absorption columns. There are two assumptions which apply throughout the thesis. The first assumption is "plug flow." The second assumption is that the axial concentrations can be measured accurately enough.

The problem is approached by simulating data generated from a mathematical model of an absorption column. A response surface is defined which is a function of the individual mass transfer coefficients. The lowest point on the surface locates the individual mass transfer coefficients for the system in question.

The mathematical model of the …

Characterization Of A Mexican Halloysitic Clay And Behavior In Dry Pressing, Jesus L. Derat

Masters Theses

"A Mexican clay, intended to be used as refractory raw material, was identified. Problems encountered in the characterization of halloysitic clays are discussed and emphasis is made on the use of the electron microscope (scanning or transmission type) as a definite evidence of the existence of halloysite due to its unique morphology within the kaolinite group of clay minerals.

Beneficiation of this particular clay was carried out on a small scale hydrocyclone equipment and the results are discussed.

In an attempt to increase the green density in dry pressing of this halloysitic clay, mixtures with grog were prepared using different …

Analysis Of Interferometric Holography In Temperature Measurement, Allan James Reifel

Masters Theses

"An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of a laser holographic interferometer. Interference fringe patterns of a free convection boundary layer on the surface of a vertical test plate were produced. The plate was heated and designed to produce a linear temperature distribution along its surface.

A thermocouple probe was used to map the temperatures in the boundary layer and these values were compared to temperatures obtained from fringe patterns. Data photographs of the holograms were used in the analysis. The number of fringes obtained were compared to predictions of the Gladstone-Dale Law.

High quality fringe …

Liquid-Liquid Extraction With First Order Reaction : A Mathematical Simulation, Alan Wayne Smith

Masters Theses

"Models for mass transfer to droplets based on film theory with first order chemical reaction are proposed and compared with experimental data. The experimental extraction data is available from the work by Andoe (1968). The physical system used was benzene as a continuous phase and water as a dispersed phase with 2-chloro-2- methyl propane the solute diffusing into and reacting in the droplet. This system had a high interfacial tension (31.0 dynes/cm) and droplet Reynolds numbers ranging from 600 to 1345.

The predicted results of this work are in the form of the dimensionless total mass transferred to the droplet …

Pollution Abatement Of Mining Effluents In The New Lead Belt Of Missouri, Walter Armando Escalera

Masters Theses

"The mining and milling effluents from the Buick Mine of the AMAX Lead Company of Missouri have produced undesirable algal growths in Strother Creek below their tailings pond. A field and laboratory study was performed to determine the characteristics of the mining and milling wastewaters, and to study the effects of heavy metals and nutrients on algal growths. Laboratory studies included: Physico-chemical analysis of the wastewater; determination of heavy metal concentrations; algal growth studies in an experimental model; and microscopic examinations of the algal growths. Field work comprised: A study of the mining and milling operations; in-plant investigations of the …

The Evaluation Of An Activated Sludge Process At Elevated Temperatures, Peter J. Dawson

Masters Theses

"The feasibility of utilizing the thermal energy from an electric power plant to operate an activated sludge process at elevated temperatures (above 40°C) was assessed.

The practicality of using this heat was determined from a heat transfer analysis and the operation of the activated sludge process was evaluated from laboratory studies of a batch process treating domestic and synthetic sewage.

The tank size for a thermophilic activated sludge chamber could be reduced by 40 to 50% as compared to ambient temperatures. For thermophilic processes a temperature of 55°C is recommended because the transition phase between mesophiles and thermophiles is around …

The Effect Of Gating On Soundness Of Al-Alloy Permanent Mold Castings, Dinesh Shantilal Patel

Masters Theses

"This thesis describes the step by step approach to the design of a gating system for the production of sound plate castings in permanent molds. Castings of different thicknesses were produced, utilizing various gating systems, and examined radiographically to evaluate the effectiveness of these gating systems in the production of sound castings. A gating system which allows metal to enter the mold cavity with no turbulence and which establishes proper temperature gradients in the casting will produce sound permanent mold castings"--Abstract, page ii.

Neutronics Calculations Of Two Fusion Reactor Blankets, James Edward Struve

Masters Theses

"At the present state of engineering development, the most probable fusion reactor fuel cycle will use deuterium and tritium in the reaction ²₁D + ³ ₁T → ¹₀n + ⁴₂He. This reaction is exothermic and provides 17.6 Mev of energy of which 14.1 Mev are given to the neutron. The reaction will take place in a plasma environment inside an evacuated chamber. This chamber will be surrounded by a "blanket" which will serve to transform the kinetic energy of the neutron into heat and produce tritium for subsequent use in the fuel cycle. …