Engineering Commons^™

Characterization Of Tantalum Coatings On Steel Substrates, Prabha Shivaramkrishnan

Theses

Sputtered tantalum can be used as an effective corrosion resistant barrier if the coating is continuous, free from defects and is adherent to the substrate it is intended to protect. For corrosion-applications 100% bcc phase tantalum is preferred. X-ray diffraction results indicate that sputtered tantalum deposits typically contain a mixture of bcc and beta phases. Depending on the deposition conditions the morphology of tantalum coatings as studied using scanning electron microscopes can vary from irregular, dendritic structure to a defined step type structure. A "cauliflower type" structure has also been observed. Extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurement was used to …

Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (Lpcvd) Of Titanium Nitride : Synthesis And Characterization, Sameer Narsinha Dharmadhikari

Theses

Titanium tetrachioride and ammonia were used as precursors in a Jow pressure chemical vapor deposition process to deposit titanium nitride films on silicon wafers. The process was carried out at temperatures from 450 to 850 C and the activation energy for the reaction was determined. The order of the reaction, with respect to the partial pressures of the reactant gases, was determined by carrying out the reaction at varying partial pressures of the reactant gases. The following rate equation was established for the reaction:

rate = 4.35*10^-5exp(-5150/T)*(P_NH3)^1.37(P_Ticl4)^-0.42

The titanium nitride thin …

An Interactive System For The Estimation Of Emissivity Of A Wafer In A Rapid Thermal Processing Chamber, Maurizio Fulco

Theses

Rapid thermal processing (RTP) is a method of thermally processing wafers for the manufacture of integrated circuits. During the thermal processing of wafers, it is essential that the wafer temperature follow a pre-specified temperature trajectory and that the temperature across the wafer be uniform especially at high temperatures. To ensure that the above objectives of RTP temperature control be met at any time during the process, the estimation of some parameters of the process is of fundamental importance in the design of the control system.

This thesis demonstrates the implementation of an interactive software system in which the emissivity of …

Design, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Shared-Memory Parellel Processing System (Smpps), Eric H. Staub

Theses

As technology reaches its limits of improvements in microprocessor processing speeds, scientists and engineers have to find viable solutions to meet ever-increasing demands for faster processing speed. One such solution is parallel processing. No longer does one have to wait on sequential operations. A specific task can be split in sub-tasks that can run simultaneously, thus reducing the overall execution time of the task.

The design and implementation of these systems is crucial to the effectiveness of parallel systems. A dual-processor SMPPS was designed and implemented in order to demonstrate how multiple processors are a viable solution to increasing the …

Loss Detection In The Dairy Industry., Michael Quealy

Theses

In any waste management program, the primary objective must be minimizing product loss without having an affect on product quality. Good waste management is recognized as good manufacturing practice and optimizes the processes to gain the highest possible yield from the available raw materials. A good waste management program must involve the daily monitoring of effluent from the plant for volume and strength. This data needs to be analyzed sufficiently to obtain clear pictures of what problems are present and where they are originating. If this is achieved then the task of reducing the product loss is made much easier. …

Enterprise Business Objects : Design And Implementation Of A Business Object Framework, Kai-Uwe Schafer

Theses

Software components representing business entities like customer or purchase order introduce a new way of Online Transaction Processing to business applications. Collaborating business objects allow to complete whole business processes as a single distributed transaction, instead of dividing it into queued steps, which sometimes even require user intervention. This IS due to the fact that business objects contain both business data and logic and that they incorporate multiple databases from different vendors and different geographic locations in a single transaction.

Business objects cannot be used as stand-alone components, but require a framework of services that manage persistence, concurrent transactions, and …

Implementation And Performance Study Of Image Data Hiding/Watermarking Schemes, Arkadiusz Edward Komenda

Theses

Two data hiding / watermarking techniques for grayscale and color images are presented. One of them is DCT based, another uses DFT to embed data. Both methods were implemented in software utilizing C/C++. The complete listings of these programs are included. A comprehensive reliability analysis was performed on both schemes, subjecting watermarked images to JPEG, SPIRT and MPEG-2 compressions. In addition, the pictures were examined by exposing them to common signal processing operations such as image resizing, rotation, histogram equalization and stretching, random, uniform and Gaussian noise addition, brightness and contrast variations, gamma correction, image sharpening and softening, edge enhancement, …

Analysis Of Multi-Lead Qt Dispersion By Means Of An Algorithm Implemented On Labview, Zafer Sahinoglu

Theses

QT dispersion measurement is significant in diagnostic ECG, and several methods are proposed in the literature to implement QT measurement.

This study consists of two parts: The first part was the development of an algorithm to measure both QT interval and QT dispersion. To check the reliability of the algorithm, 25 single channel ECGs were recorded and their QT intervals were computed. On two subjects, three and four lead ECG data were recorded respectively and their QT dispersions were statistically analyzed. Another part of this study dealt with the effect of the electric dipole of the heart on QT dispersion. …

Telephone-Accessed Controller Using Cebus For Device Control Over Power Line, Gerald Aska

Theses

The CEBus standard has made it possible for devices developed by different manufacturers to communicate over the power line. Further, the standard allows analog adjustments of devices besides transmitting and receiving binary information. This Controller extends the distance from which these devices can be controlled.

To extend the distance of communication with a device, a telephone line interface was developed that allows the user to communicate with a CEBus device via the Controller. The Controller responses [sic] to Central Office signaling and opens its communication channel to allow the user to provide it with the commands by using the telephone …

Analysis And Applications Of Ftir Systems, Gunjan Navin Doshi

Theses

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is a dynamical instrumental technique used in industry for measuring high quality infrared spectra. Over the last 25 years, the increased demand for having an efficient real-time quantitative measurement technique has led to extensive research and development in the field of FTIR Spectroscopy. Through the use of FTIR, sensitivity has increased, size of the smallest sample that can be analyzed has been reduced, and the number of new applications has exploded. In this thesis, an attempt is made to study the principles, theory, instrumentation and applications of FTIR Spectrometry. We survey the working of spectrometer, …

Utilizing Gis Technology For Brownfields Redevelopment, Jeffrey J. Duteau

Theses

Typically, when developers, banks and other organizations have an interest in a piece of property they perform an extensive information search to determine if the site is worth purchasing. This search could consist of tax and title information, the location of utilities and major roadways in the area, information on population demographics and environmental contaminant data. An information search of this type could take days, weeks or even months to compile. With a geographic information system (GIS), this search could take a matter of minutes and is displayed in an easy to understand graphic or map form along with a …

Reuse Of Cold Top Ex-Situ Vitrified Chromium Contaminated Soils In Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete, Gerald Charleston

Theses

This research investigated the pilot scale feasibility of the remediation of chromium contaminated soil through cold top ex-situ vitrification and the reuse of the vitrified products as highway construction aggregates. There are more than two million tons of chromite ore residues from the chromate extraction manufacturing leftover in Hudson County, New Jersey. They contained both un-leached hexavalent and unoxidized trivalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is well known as a group A human carcinogen. It is also considered an environmental and health hazard. Of the many ex- situ and in-situ physical, chemical, and biological treatment technologies for chromate production waste, the ability …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Silicon Dioxide Films Using Diethyl Silane And Oxygen, Kiran Kumar

Theses

This study focuses on producing thin and thick silicon dioxide films towards the fabrication of integrated optical sensor capable of monitoring and determining in-situ, the concentration of numerous analyze species simultaneously. In this study, diethylsilane (DES) has been used as a precursor to produce silicon dioxide films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The films were synthesized with two different flow ratios of oxygen to DES in the temperature range of 550°C to 800°C at a constant pressure of 200mTorr. The films deposited with lower oxygen to DES flow ratio have very high growth rate but suffer from high tensile …

Object Oriented 3d Dynamic Simulation Of Flow Of Material Through Hopper, Krishnendu Roy

Theses

Development of object oriented 3D dynamic simulation of the particle is considered. This code is based on the soft sphere model dealing with both normal force , tangential force and the friction. The development of such a model and the code is motivated by the need to understand the flow patterns of granular material. The prime effort while developing this code was focused on the data encapsulation and secured access to all the attributes of all physical parameters of the bulk solid, which might be endangered by the random access of the interface of the software. A dynamically bound array …

The Determination Of 2-Methylisoborneol And Geosmin In Water Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Ramesh Chandra Sharma

Theses

Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol are responsible for imparting earthy, musty taste and odor qualities to water. The human threshold odor concentrations (TOCs) for 2-MIB and Geosmin vary over a wide range. TOCs of 10ng/1 for Geosmin and 30ng/1 for 2-MIB have been reported.

Currently available methods are time consuming and require use of sophisticated technique and expensive equipment.

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been successfully used in the identification of many organic compounds. Geosmin and 2-MIB have organic origin. This research explores the possibility of using the technique of fluorescence spectroscopy in the determination of Geosmin and 2-MIB. The excitation and emission wavelengths …

Composite Columns, Magnar Berge

Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to provide an introduction in the design of composite columns. The design methods according to AISC and Eurocode 4 are summarized and provide a procedure to design a composite column. In addition, equation are derived to determine the nominal flexural strength of typical composite cross-sections.

Tools For The Design Of Flexible Manufacturind Systems, Prashant A. Patel

Theses

Flexibility in manufacturing systems can broaden the horizons for a company. But the means for achieving it are far more critical. This trend is created by the increase in competitiveness, growth of technology along with demand variations, more customization, and short product life cycles. But "Flexible Manufacturing Systems" to most of the manufacturers sounds like a synonym for automation.

A real Flexible Manufacturing System is designed when every unit of the company is synchronized in such a way to respond in a harmony to any changes that come against it. Fine-tuning of each and every part of the company is …

Measurement Of The Baroreceptor Sensitivity Index (Brsi) In The Frequency Domains, Tanvir Raquib

Theses

Time domain analysis for calculating the Baroreceptor Sensitivity Index (BRSI) did not always provide an accurate result. It also had another limitation in that it could not show the influence of the autonomic nervous system for different subjects. The correlation coefficient is a mechanism that was used to either accept or reject the BRSI values in the time domain but the correlation coefficient values changed drastically depending on how many sample points were selected for the calculation.

On the other hand, frequency domain analysis for the BRSI calculation was relatively easier and provided more accurate information compared to the time …

Improving The Run Time Of The Decomposition Algorithm For Fault Tolerant Clos Interconnection Networks Through Swap Re-Ordering, Andrea Laura Mcmakin

Theses

Clos interconnection networks, used in data networks and computing systems, can contain extra switches to be used in faulty conditions. The speed of such fault tolerant Clos interconnection networks is improved through the use these switches in no-fault situations. The network can be represented by a matrix, which is then decomposed using an algorithm, and the switch settings are thus assigned.

The original decomposition algorithm consisted of four element swaps in the following order: wild swap, simple swap, next simple swap, and successive swap. However, by re-arranging these swaps with the simple swap first, followed by the next simple and …

Nanofiltration With Organic Solvents And Its Possible Applications To Organic Syntheses, Jose Antonio Whu

Theses

Experimental results on the nanofiltration (NF) separation behavior of three different solvent- compatible membranes are presented for three organic solutes of molecular weights 351, 826 and 1355 in methanol; the manufacturer-specified molecular weight cut-offs (MWCO) of the membranes are 250, 400 and 700. Membranes were primarily tested at 440 psig, at different concentrations of the solutes in methanol; the effect of varying the applied pressure was also briefly explored. The solvent permeation flux and the solute rejection were time dependent for an extended initial period; the membranes had to be compacted to achieve steady-state results. Furthermore, the manufacturer-specified MWCO was …

Stabilization Of Water Treatment Plant (Wtp) Residuals Using Sorbond, Rituraj Sinha

Theses

Disposal of water treatment plant (WTP) residuals has always been an important consideration for the water industry. Stringent water quality standards, environmental regulations, and unavailability of land for ultimate disposal affect disposal of large amounts of this residual. The search for alternate economical disposal options and beneficial use are probably the next most logical and economical step to take.

This study was performed to explore the possibility of stabilization of water treatment plant (WTP) residuals using additives. Three water treatment plant (WTP) residuals from treatment plants in New Jersey were used for the analysis. The objective of this research is …

Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition Of Diamondlike Carbon Films Using Acetylene, Sriram Vishwanathan

Theses

This study is focussed on the synthesis and characterization of diamondlike carbon (DLQ films deposited on silicon wafers and glass by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), using acetylene (C₂H₄) as a precursor. The process parameters, such as temperature, pressure, power and reactant gas flow rate have been systematically varied and their effects on the film growth rate and properties were investigated. The optimized deposition condition appeared to be at 150°C, 200mTorr, 200 Watts and flow rate = 25 sccm. For these conditions, the films were hard and found to have good adhesion to the substrate, …

Fluorescence Spectroscopy For The Characterization Of Total Organic Carbon And Disinfection By-Product Formation, Matthew Brendan Washington

Theses

One of the concerns facing the drinking water industry is the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the disinfection stage of treatment. Organic DBPs form during the oxidation of the natural organic matter (NOM) found in natural waters by the application of a disinfectant, such as chlorine.

NOM is composed of two aggregate materials, humic and non-humic substances. It is unknown which portions of NOM react with the oxidant to form DBPs. Methods used to predict the formation of DBPs include total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and Trihalomethane Formation Potential (THMFP), which are time consuming and do not give specific …

Development Of A Practical And Effective Technique To Determine The Complete Level Of Autonomic Neural Activity During Stress, Vikki Hazelwood

Theses

Clinical evidence exists to suggest that an individual's level of stress contributes to the state of many physiological and psychological disorders, The autonomic nervous system, by adjusting parasympathetic and sympathetic activity, is attributed with the control over an individual's level of neural stress. Therefore, it is desired to develop a better and quantitative understanding of the stress! autonomic system mechanism.

Previous work has been done to gain a partial understanding of such activity. The primary objective for this study is to complement and advance the previous work by determining whether there is other physiological data which could reveal more about …

Design Of An Effective And Timely Product Development Process For Medical Devices, Jean Benoit Almonor

Theses

Effective product development process is one of the most critical issues facing medical devices manufacturing today. There is a need to search for ways to improve or solve the cross organization and company boundaries to enhance the faster release of new medical products to the market. This thesis presents an integrated set of perspectives on the process of new product development of medical devices with dual goals of achieving marketing speed and meet customer satisfaction.

The Attribute Driven Specifications approach described in this thesis, is one of the most valuable tools in the approach to effective product development in medical …

Mathematical Model Of Human Sit-To-Stand And Stand-To-Sit Motion Analysis, Jayeshkumar Gandhi

Theses

In designing a device for an amputee, it is important to find those underlying principles which determine the normal human sit-to-stand task. For this purpose we have developed a mathematical model of human sit-to-stand movement, which it is possible to predict the minimum mechanical energy consumption to move from the sit-to-stand position.

To the best of author's knowledge, this thesis represents the first time that the periodic motion of stand-to-sit and sit-to-stand movements have been mathematically modeled by a simple mechanical system. A complex model, such as the one used by Seireg and Arvikar (1973) [1] that contained 31 muscles …

Rheological Characterization Of Unmodified And Chemically Modified Poly (Ethylene Terephthalate) Resins, Jorge Quintans

Theses

Intrinsic viscosity (IV) has often been misused for estimating both melt viscosity and elasticity of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). A rheological study was conducted to determine the variations between a virgin unmodified PET and a recycled and chemically modified PET, both having a reported nominal IV of 0.95.

The modified material had a larger melt viscosity (capillary and dynamic) than the virgin material (by an average of 61%). The extrudate swell, a better indicator of melt elasticity, of the modified was more than 110% greater than that of the unmodified material. Activation energies for melt viscosity and extrudate swell were found …

An Experimental Study On Removal Cadmium From Wastewater By Emulsion Liquid Membrane, Jing-Chi Shiu

Theses

Research was conducted on cadmium, a heavy metal pollutant, extraction out of wastewater by means of an emulsion liquid membrane system. The emulsion liquid membrane was made of a carrier (di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid), a surfactant (ECA 4360J), and a stripping agent (sulfuric acid). The effects of using the following parameters on the membrane to optimize the operating conditions were investigated: type of buffer solutions, initial external phase pH, initial cadmium concentration, internal sulfuric acid concentration, impeller stirring speed, carrier concentration, surfactant concentration, and selectivity between cadmium and sodium ion.

The best performance for the system presented in this thesis was: …

Investigation Of Pathophysiologic Trends In Caucasian And Afro-American Hypertensives By Means Of Heart Rate Variability Recording During Upright Tilt-Table Testing, Jose F. Torrealba

Theses

The incidence of hypertension is more prevalent among the Afro-American population than the Caucasians and there is not a satisfactory explanation for this discrepancy.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been demonstrated to reflect the relative activities of the sympathetic (SMP) and parasympathetic (PSMP) divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

This study consisted in comparing the HRV, as well as the blood pressure (BP) of four different groups during up-right tilt table testing. The subjects were grouped by age, gender, race and health condition. Analysis in time and frequency domain was applied to the data. In the frequency domain, the …

Petri Net Modeling And Performance Analysis Of Can Fieldbus, Ji-Qiong Zhou

Theses

The CAN FB (Controller Area Network FieldBus) has been in existence for ten years. It supports automated manufacturing and process control environments to interconnect intelligent devices such as valves, sensors, and actuators. CAN FieldBus has a high bit rate and the ability to detect errors. It is immune to noise and resistant to shock, vibration, and heat. Two recently introduced mechanisms, Distributed Priority Queue (DPQ) and Priority Promotion (PP) enable CAN FieldBus networks to share out the system bandwidth and grant ail upper bound on the transmission times so as to meet the requirements in real-time communications. Modeling and analysis …