Engineering Commons^™

The Development Of A One-Shot Learning Machine Learning For Industrial Use With Predictive Maintenance, Conor O Brien

Theses

With the advent of Industry 4.0, Manufacturing operations have become more connected and automated. Modern industrial monitoring technology can monitor the performance of both the sensor utilised and the material under monitoring. This has led to a trend where legacy machines without this technology are being removed from production and/or not included in new reconfigurations of production lines, well before their productive lifespan had ended. A key driver for this is the difficulty in retrofitting Predictive Maintenance (PdM) systems to legacy machines, in part due to the machine-to-machine variation present in older machines. Accounting for this variation in PdM systems …

Investigation And Analysis Of Circular Economy Indicators In The Manufacturing Industry, Dina Al Jamal

Theses

In the pursuit of sustainable development, the concept of the Circular Economy (CE) has emerged as a compelling and transformative alternative to the traditional linear economic model (i.e., take, make, use, dispose). The limitations of the linear economy in addressing contemporary global challenges have highlighted the urgency of adopting a more regenerative approach. Simply put, the circular economy aims to maximize the value extracted from available resources over their lifecycle, thereby ensuring the fulfillment of both current and future generations' needs. This thesis sheds light on a pivotal solution for effectively integrating circular economy principles into enterprises, thereby reinforcing sustainability. …

Design And Application Of Circular Edge-Fed Linearly Polarized Patch Antenna With Enhanced Bandwidth And Gain For Respiratory Monitoring Systems, Mo’Ath Akram Al Hayek

Theses

This Master’s thesis explores the design and application of a circular edge-fed patch antenna for respiratory monitoring systems. The antenna, fabricated from a thin copper adhesive sheet, demonstrates compatibility with textile materials of low thickness and a relative permittivity of 1.3. Using CST Studio Suite 3D EM simulation software, the antenna’s design was optimized through extensive trials, achieving improved bandwidth and gain. Our findings indicate that the antenna successfully differentiates between various breathing patterns, including slow, normal, and fast breathing rates. The study’s managerial and research implications extend to healthcare, wearable technology sectors, and the broader scientific community. The research …

A Numerical Investigation Realizing The Flow Structure And Heat Transfer Performance Of The Potential Impinging Jets, Mohammed Sami Uddin Khan

Theses

The demand for improvement in the performance of gas turbines has led to the consideration of flows at increasingly high temperatures, but this introduces challenges in terms of maintaining their structural integrity and preventing overheating. To respond to these challenges, gas turbine manufacturers have turned to internal cooling, and jet impingement provides an effective solution for cooling the leading edge of the blades of gas turbines. In this study, the author numerically simulated the cooling performance of the leading edge of the blades of a gas turbine under constant heat flux by using five configurations of jet impingement: a steady …

Dual-Site Photoplethysmography Sensing For Noninvasive Continuous-Time Blood Pressure Monitoring Using Artificial Neural Network, Anas Mohmmad Rabab’Ah

Theses

Millions of people worldwide struggle from high blood pressure, often known as hypertension, and it is a major health concern that can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and many other consequences. Blood pressure monitoring that is reliable and accurate is crucial to the detection and management of hypertension. Although invasive techniques, such as arterial catheterization, are considered to be the most accurate means of evaluating blood pressure, they can be painful, time-consuming and carry a risk of complications.
/="/">This thesis presents the development of a real time non-invasive blood pressure monitoring system based on commercially available …

Upgrading Biomass To Bio-Oil: Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation And Pyrolysis Of Vanillin And Anisole Biomass Model Compounds, Ahmad J. Yaghi

Theses

The purpose of this project is to investigate capacity of selected formulations of catalysts toward the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of biomass model compounds in the gas phase with the underlying aim to produce hydrocarbon cuts that can be directly used as transportation fuels. The first part of this project is to devoted to illustrate procedures for the synthesis of potent (HDO) catalysts. Synthesized catalysts encompass nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and palladium (Pd) supported on zeolite, cerium oxide (CeO₂) or alumina (Al₂O₃). Various characterization techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) were deployed …

Investigating The Rheological Behavior Of A Simple Yield Stress Fluid Under Shear Flows, Francesco Accetta

Theses

Many soft materials display unique and complex rheological behavior characterized by a transition from a solid-like to a fluid-like state upon the application of a force that exceeds the threshold to flow, known as the yield stress. Yield stress fluids are found in a wide range of commonly encountered materials including microgels, emulsions, and foams, and have been widely studied by rheologists over the last several decades. Carbopol is a popular polymeric microgel system as it displays simple, non-thixotropic rheological behavior and is typically seen as an ideal yield stress fluid. Previous research has demonstrated the reproducible behavior of shear …

Investigation Of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer On Modified Copper And Aluminum Surfaces, Mariam Khaled Zaghloul

Theses

This thesis presents an investigation of pool-boiling heat transfer using the surfacemodification method. The studied boiling surfaces were smooth and rough pin-fins embedded on the copper and aluminum surfaces. This study visualizes bubble formation and departure diameter. Experimental testing aims to predict the heat transfer coefficients for different heat fluxes over smooth and rough pin-finned surfaces. The surface modification method allows changing the boiling surface characteristics, which can lead to enhanced heat transfer. Several factors were studied, including the heat-transfer coefficient, heat flux, bubble departure diameter, and formation time. Four surfaces were used for conducting the pool boiling experiment: a …

An Effective Heuristic To Reduce Total Flowtime For Randomly-Structured Flowshop Problems, Arun John Abraham

Theses

We propose a heuristic to reduce total flowtime in a six-job, four-machine permutation flowshop scheduling problem. This work contributes to the prolific research efforts reported in the permutation flowshop scheduling problem (PFSP).

The heuristic was applied to 102 randomly structured flowshop scheduling problems, with job processing times generated using an integer uniform distribution in the interval [1,100]. The results of computational experiments were deemed satisfactory after being evaluated by using the ordinal and percentile ranks of the resulting total flowtime for the six jobs.

Numerical Simulation Of Concrete Beams With Discontinuity Regions Reinforced With Nonmetallic Reinforcing Bars, Amena Mohammad Ousama

Theses

Nonmetallic Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bars are considered a viable alternative to the conventional steel reinforcement because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and noncorrosive nature. This research aimed to investigate the nonlinear structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced concrete beams with discontinuity regions (D-regions) through numerical analysis. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical models were developed to simulate the nonlinear structural behavior of GFRP-reinforced deep beams with and without web openings. The models adopted realistic constitutive laws that accounted for the nonlinear behavior of the materials used. Predictions of the numerical models were validated against published experimental data. A parametric study was conducted to …

Establishing A Scootability Index To Prioritise Road And Footway Infrastructure Improvements For Smooth And Safe E-Scooter Usage, Nadia Jalal Maksoud

Theses

The intensifying use of electric scooters as a form of transportation calls for new infrastructure assessment methods to improve the smoothness and safety of facilities in which these devices are ridden. Despite the extensive research on the infrastructure requirements of bicycles, there is a dearth of studies on electric scooters. This study aims to define the main infrastructure requirements for electric scooters in an urban context. A mixed-methods approach is employed combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and regression analysis. To provide a basis for a so-called multi-dimensional “scootability” index that covers all aspects pertaining to the safety and smoothness …

A Magneto-Thermally Controllable Microstrip-Patch Antenna For Low Rcs Applications, Sallam Mohammad Al Hendi

Theses

This research focuses on the development of a novel technique for reducing the Radar Cross Section (RCS) of a microstrip antenna operating in the terahertz spectral regime. This can be accomplished by loading the antenna with Indium Antimonide (InSb); a thermally-magnetically controllable semi-conductor. The low-RCS feature of the antenna implies that it becomes hardly detectable by detecting radars; a desired feature in stealthy applications. For an optimal operation beside low RCS, the other antenna parameters (e.g., radiated power, gain, standing-wave ratio, and reflection coefficient) must be within tolerable ranges. Thus, a study on the effects of the temperature and the …

Energy-Aware Resource Control For Dual Connectivity Devices Running Multipath Tcp, Ramiza Shams

Theses

The introduction of Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) allows uninterrupted data transmission through different wireless interfaces simultaneously. It surpasses the performance and reliability of conventional Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Alternatively, Software Defined Networking (SDN) has revolutionized traditional network management and control by introducing significant changes. It enables the networks to be programmed through a centralized controller that oversees the entire network. Despite that, energy consumption is a remarkable issue when using dual-connectivity wireless devices, most of which are battery-powered. This thesis work primarily investigates the energy value differences of devices under different congestion control algorithms by using different interface configurations …

Novel Investigation Of Catalytic Hydrogenation And Oxidation Of 1,3-Butadiene, Ali M. Alabedkhalil

Theses

The hydrogenation of 1,3 Butadiene (BD) is an important industrial process that is generally used to generate butene, which is a key feedstock to produce a variety of chemicals such as polymers, plastic, and synthetic rubber. This process involves reacting BD with hydrogen using different metallic Ni-based catalysts. In this study, Ni/Al₂O₃ and Ni/Nb₂O5 catalysts were used and investigated to perform the hydrogenation reaction because of their commercial availability, effective hydrogenation activity, and affordability compared to Platinum Group Metal (PGM) catalysts.

The catalytic reactions were conducted using a quartz tube reactor between a temperature range …

Thermohydraulic Performance Of 3d Printed Metal Heat Exchanger With Zig-Zag Minichannels, Aysha Rashed Alshamsi

Theses

This work proposes using zig-zag minichannels in heat exchangers for enhancing its performance while operating under balanced (heat capacity ratio of unity) and unbalanced flow (heat capacity ratio of 0.5) conditions for counter flow and parallel flow configurations. The performance of the heat exchangers is quantified in terms of effectiveness and pressure drops and studies are done for hot fluid Reynolds number ranging from 50 to 1500. This work employs a numerical study to investigate the performance of the heat exchanger with zig-zag minichannels.
/="/">Simulation is carried out using Fluent module of Ansys Workbench. The model used for simulation …

Characterization Of Low Power Hfo2 Based Switching Devices For In-Memory Computing, Aseel Zeinati

Theses

Oxide based Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) devices are investigated as one of the promising non-volatile memories to be used for in-memory computing that will replace the classical von Neumann architecture and reduce the power consumption. These applications required multilevel cell (MLC) characteristics that can be achieved in RRAM devices. One of the methods to achieve this analog switching behavior is by performing an optimized electrical pulse. The RRAM device structure is basically an insulator between two metals as metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structure. Where one of the primary challenges is to assign an RRAM stack with both low power consumption and …

Characterization Of Piezoelectric Coefficient Using Combined Optical And Electrical Methods, Limna Sainudeen Attoor

Theses

The characterization of piezoelectric coefficients, specifically, the extraction of D33 charge constant versus applied voltage profiles plays an important role in MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) design and actuation. MEMS structures widely use piezoelectric thin films due to their advantages of possessing high piezoelectric constants and lightweight properties. Hence there is a need for characterizing piezoelectric materials so that one can predict their response during different operating conditions. In this work, a combined electrical and light-based methodology to characterize the voltage dependency profile of d33 is developed. A set of equations are extracted based on the electrical capacitance and light …

Electrochemical Investigation Of Copperzirconium Based Metallic Glass Cu₅₁Zr₃₀Hf₁₄Ag₅, Tamim Mohammad Ahmad

Theses

This thesis is concerned with the electrochemical investigation of the copper-zirconium

based metallic glass Cu₅₁Zr₃₀Hf₁₄Ag₅. Studying the corrosion behavior of the novel melt-spun metallic glass ribbons contributes to further research on the possibility of building future bio-implants. The objectives of this thesis are to synthesize the metallic glass ribbons which are free from cytotoxic elements using melt spinning technique, verify their amorphous nature using X-ray diffraction method, study the corrosion behavior using Potentiodynamic polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy in different acidic, neutral and basic solutions, and finally examine the surface morphology of …

Using Metal-Organic Frameworks (Mofs) In Producing Self-Curing Concrete, Lama Fathi Allan

Theses

Curing of concrete is the presence of adequate moisture content in concrete throughout its early stages to produce the desired properties, as it is significant in improving the concrete microstructure and pore structure and hence in developing its performance and durability. However, good curing is not always practical in several cases, such as in hot weather regions and areas of water inadequacy. For that reason, the need to develop self-curing concrete attracted several researchers. The use of self-curing agents minimizes the water evaporation from concrete and consequently increases its water retention capacity compared to conventional concrete. This thesis is concerned …

Heat Transfer In Microchannel Compact Heat Exchanger, Mohammed Al-Khateri

Theses

This study aims to investigate heat transfer in a miniaturized channel heat exchanger and effectiveness for given real-life design. The main objective of the study is to develop and build a high-performance heat exchanger for thermal management in automotive application using typical radiator manufacturing techniques. This research uses experimental and model-based investigation. It conceptualizes the Miniaturized Channel Heat Exchangers (MCHX) model-based study for demonstrating the design of miniaturized channel heat exchangers, manufacture, and study the heat exchanger effectiveness by validating the developed mathematical model experimentally. The proposed design of the MCHX is to use extruded tubes containing miniaturized channels as …

Potential Of Flow Energy Reduction By Coral Reef: Hydrodynamic Analysis On Acropora Species, Faisal Karim

Theses

One of the most crucial components of the ocean ecology is coral reefs. Being environmentally sustainable, natural structures like coral reefs have recently drawn a lot of attention as a means of reducing the flow energy. The absence of scientific validations on the potential of coral reefs in reducing high-energy flow limits engineering applications of coral reefs to the benefit of civilization. In this research, extensive experimental studies were carried out to investigate the capabilities of coral reefs, to reduce high-energy flows. To determine the high-energy wave reduction by coral reefs, the coral roughness coefficient along with the coral structure …

Influencing Factors Of Ionic-Wind In A Spherical Structure Propulsion System For Silent Airplane, Tha’Er Khaled Ibrahem

Theses

Since the first airplane invented 100 years ago, most or all airplanes propulsion systems are based on moving parts powered by fossil-fuel which is impacting our environment by producing unwanted gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, greenhouse gases and more, furthermore, it is well known that there is a degradation in Oil & Gas resources on earth. Therefore, scientists are interested in finding an alternative way to fly an object. Recently, ionic wind-induced by Direct-Current (DC) Corona discharge have been introduced to enhance the future generation of airplanes without the need for moving objects. Corona discharge phenomena occurs when high …

Data-Driven Modeling Of Student Performance In The Time Of Distance Learning, Iman Saad Megdadi

Theses

One of the important aspects that all academic institutions work towards improving is Student Performance. It is obviously the primary indicator of success or failure of institutions. Student performance predictions are vital to instructors and educational decision makers to help, across all levels, tailor learning according to the students’ needs. Therefore, it is essential for Higher Education Institutions to predict student performance in distance learning which has been, and remains, the primary method of learning in some countries due to Corona Virus pandemic. For this reason, this research is going to predetermine a fitting definition of student performance in time …

Heat Transfer Analysis Of Microchannels Heat Sink With Sidewall Fins, Ahmad Ala Eddin Rahhal

Theses

This study aims to investigate Microchannel Heat Sinks with side wall fins through a model-based approach. The primary objective of the project is to design and analyze the thermal performance of straight Microchannel Heat Sinks with square and triangle-shaped fins on sidewalls. To examine their performance, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation study is conducted using the ANSYS Fluent software. The study starts by creating a CAD model of the heat sink and then analyzing its thermal properties with the ANSYS Fluent software. From the CFD simulation study, numerical results are obtained for different operational and geometrical conditions. The study …

A Parametric Numerical Analysis Investigation To Optimize The Performance Of The Ranque-Hilsch Vortex Tube, Muneer Ahmad Sungur

Theses

A vortex tube is a device that separates compressed air into two streams: one with a higher temperature (hot stream) and the other with a lower temperature (cold stream). It is a popular cooling option because it is small, safe, and affordable. The main objective of this thesis is to examine the energy separation performance of RHVT by varying the internal tapering angles of convergent angles (2°, 1.75°, 1.5°, 1.25°, 1°, 0.75°, and 0.5°), straight angles (0°), and divergent angles (0.5°, 1°, 2°, 4°, and 6°), While the cold mass fraction is constant (0.317). Length-to-diameter ratio (Lt/Dt), inlet pressure, and …

A Novel Approach For Detection Fault In The Aircraft Exterior Body Using Image Processing, Noura Nayef Almansoori

Theses

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop innovative techniques for the inspection and maintenance of aircraft structures. We aim to streamline the entire process by utilizing images to detect potential defects in the aircraft body and comparing them to properly functioning images of the aircraft. This enables us to determine whether a specific section of the aircraft is faulty or not. We achieve this by employing image processing to train a model capable of identifying faulty images. The image processing methodology we use involves the use of images of both defective and operational parts of the aircraft's exterior. …

Using Switchable Solvents For Enhanced Biodiesel Production, Eyad Abdel Rahman Sowan

Theses

This thesis presents a sustainable approach to biodiesel production using in-situ technology for direct conversion of microalgae-to-biodiesel. The proposed method operates on wet, untreated microalgae, thereby eliminating the cost/energy intensive drying and cell disruption steps. Owing to their favorable properties, the use of enzymes, specifically lipase, as a catalyst for the process was suggested over acid/base catalysts. However, the high cost of the enzyme necessitates its reuse at sustained activity for the process to be economically feasible. The use of non-toxic green solvents, such as switchable solvents, as an alternative to conventional organic solvents was a significant challenge for the …

Heat Transfer In Mini-Channel Heat Exchanger With Smooth And Pin-Fins Surfaces, Mohammed Molham Daadoua

Theses

This research aims to investigate heat transfer of single-phase and two-phase fluids in mini-channel heat exchanger with smooth and pin-fins surfaces. The main goal of the study is to develop a high-performance heat exchanger for thermal management in various processing applications. This research is carried out using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and experimentations. The proposed method is to use enhanced structured pin-fins surfaces in a mini-channel heat exchanger to improve heat transfer. The pin-fin microchannel heat exchanger is investigated using a CFD method with single-phase fluid (water, air). The experimental investigations are conducted using single-phase and two-phase fluid involving …

Closing The Modern Irish Municipal Wastewater Phosphorus Cycle, Ciaran O’Donnell

Theses

Phosphorus (P) is an essential life-supporting nutrient for which there is no substitute. P naturally cycles within nature. Modern farming practice and food production have altered the natural P cycle. Successive crop harvests remove P from the soil as crops and transport them to urban areas to feed the population. To replace P removed from the soil through these crop harvests, mineral P fertilisers are applied to the soil to sustain crop production. Mineral P fertilisers are derived from finite phosphate rock. The European Union does not have an indigenous supply of phosphorus rock, which poses a significant issue for …

Modeling Of Quad-Station Module Cluster Tools Using Petri Nets, Aung Nay

Theses

The semiconductor industry is highly competitive, and with the recent chip shortage, the throughput of wafers has become more important than ever. One of the tools that the industry has deployed is to use of quad-station modules instead of the traditional single-station modules that allow for higher throughput and better wafer consistency by processing multiple wafers at the same time and distributing work. The industry trend is to use multiple transfer chamber robots to stack the quad-station modules in a series, particularly for etch products. In this work, the quad-station cluster tool wafer movement is modeled by using Petri net …