Engineering Commons^™

Living Docks: Structural Implications And Determination Of Force Coefficients Of Oyster Mats On Dock Pilings In The Indian River Lagoon, Ryan Christiansen

Theses and Dissertations

Brevard County, Florida, is facing rapid population growth and increased pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), impairing water quality and damaging the ecosystem. This is problematic not only for public health and environmental stability, but also for the economy. The Living Docks initiative was created to combat environmental degrade in the lagoon and restore natural functions back to the ecosystem. With increased urbanization along coastal systems, there is opportunity for new forms of ecological engineering such as Living Docks, which attaches oyster mats to dock pilings as a means to promote the growth of filter feeding organisms. It is …

Design Of An Environmentally Responsive Grooming Tool To Aid In Underwater Navigation, Bruce Huntress Walker Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Underwater hull grooming is a proactive approach to ship hull husbandry. It has been defined as the frequent and gentle wiping of a ship hull coating to maintain it free of fouling. One of the challenges to implementing a grooming schedule is the control and navigation of the devices over the surface of the hull. This thesis presents prior research that has developed self-attaching rotating brushes as an effective method to groom fouling control coatings and the results from several years of implementation in the marine environment. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the condition of the ship hull …

Infrared Detection And Waveguiding Using Metasurfaces, Navaneeth Premkumar

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this work is to be able to detect thermal radiation in the long-wave and mid-infrared spectrum to a reasonable efficiency. In order to aid this effort, antenna arrays with large collection apertures are coupled with infrared bolometers. This dissertation shows the performance of a series-fed patch type of leaky-wave antenna array coupled to a Nickel bolometer in terms of the angular-frequency scanning abilities of the antenna. The antenna is then made out of electrooptic Graphene in order to be able to dynamically tune the radiation properties of the antenna. A two-dimensional leaky-wave antenna array made from Gold …

In Vivo Silicon Lance Array Transfection Of Plant Cells, Taylor Andrew Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Arrays of silicon lances were made using photolithographic and STS DRIE Bosch techniques. Arrays consist of a 10 mm square grid pattern of lances measuring 100 m tall and having a 3 mm diameter, each lance being spaced 30 mm apart. The tips of lances are pointed, allowing easier penetration through plant cell walls. A nanoinjector device was also made to accept the silicon lance arrays and perform nanoinjections. A nanoinjection consisted of 2 silicon lance arrays, with lances oriented towards each other, being moved into and out of a plant cotyledon placed between them. Prior to the nanoinjection, polar …

Polyester Polymer Concrete For Bridge Deck Overlays, Robert James Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to 1) compile a synthesis of information about polyester polymer concrete (PPC) from the literature; 2) conduct a scanning tour to observe PPC construction, inspect in-service PPC overlays, and discuss topics related to PPC; 3) revise the existing Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) PPC specification; 4) document a PPC field demonstration project; and 5) perform laboratory characterization of the material properties of field-mixed PPC. The scope of the research included a scanning tour, field testing, and laboratory experimentation. The objectives of the scanning tour included observation of a PPC overlay placement, inspection of existing …

Distributed Memory Based Fpga Debug, Robert Benjamin Hale

Theses and Dissertations

Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are powerful integrated circuits for low-overhead custom computing needs and design prototyping. Due to the hardware nature of programming an FPGA, finding bugs in a design can be a very challenging process. Signals need to be physically probed and data recorded in real time. This is often done by dedicating some resources on the FPGA itself towards an embedded logic analyzer. This method is effective but can be time and resource consuming. Academic research projects have produced a variety of methods for reducing this difficulty. One option that has previously been unexplored is the use of …

High-Speed Apparatus And Signal Processing For Accoustic Delamination Detection On Concrete Bridge Decks, Lorin James Hendricks

Theses and Dissertations

Maintenance and repair of deteriorating civil infrastructure are global problems requiring significant attention and resources. Accurate measurements of civil infrastructure enable lower repair and rehabilitation costs if mitigation techniques are deployed at earlier stages of deterioration. This research describes an infrastructure inspection solution to scan concrete bridge decks for internal cracking at high speeds. Internal cracking within bridge decks, known as delamination, is a particularly difficult defect to identify because it is often not detectable through visual inspection. State-of-the practice testing approaches involve the use of slow and subjective manual sounding techniques and costly lane closures. The need for an …

Assessing Levels Of Corrosion On Extracted Mse Wall Reinforcement, Robert Ashton Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extract galvanized steel wire reinforcement coupons from mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls along I-15 and determine the rate of corrosion that has taken place since Phase I, which was conducted by Gerber and Billings (2010). The galvanized steel reinforcement analyzed in this study has been in place for 19 to 20 years at the time of extraction. A total of 85 coupons were extracted and laboratory analysis was performed to determine the thickness of remaining zinc galvanization on each coupon. Soil samples were obtained from each one-stage wall extraction location to determine moisture …

Narrow Angle Radiometer For Oxy-Coal Combustion, Nicole Ashley Burchfield

Theses and Dissertations

A new method of power production, called pressurized oxy-fuel combustion, burns coal with CO2 and oxygen, rather than air, bringing us closer to the end goal of developing zero emission coal-fired utility boilers. However, high-pressure, high-temperature systems such as these are under-studied, and their behavior is difficult to measure. An accurate model for previously untested conditions requires data for validation. The heat release profile of flames and their radiative intensity is one of the key data sets required for model validation of an oxy-coal combustion system. A radiometer can be used to obtain the necessary radiative heat flux data. However, …

Reliability Improvement On Feasibility Study For Selection Of Infrastructure Projects Using Data Mining And Machine Learning, Xi Hu

Theses and Dissertations

With the progressive development of infrastructure construction, conventional analytical methods such as correlation index, quantifying factors, and peer review are no longer satisfactory in support for decision-making of implementing an infrastructure project in the age of big data. This study proposes using a mathematical model named Fuzzy-Neural Comprehensive Evaluation Model (FNCEM) to improve the reliability of the feasibility study of infrastructure projects by using data mining and machine learning. Specifically, the data collection on time-series data, including traffic videos (278 Gigabytes) and historical weather data, uses transportation cameras and online searching, respectively. Meanwhile, the researcher sent out a questionnaire for …

Development Of A Parameterized Model Of Transverse Maize (Zea Maysl.) Stalk Morphology, Ryan A. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Stalk lodging, or failure of the stalk structure, presents a serious problem in the production of maize (Zea mays L.). Lodged stalks negatively impact crop yields by inhibiting further grain growth and often prevent the harvest of the grain. Addressing this problem requires the development of new maize hybrids that exhibit enhanced lodging resistance, which in turn requires an understanding of the parameters that influence lodging resistance. Current methods make use of specimen-specific geometry and material properties, but these methods have limited ability to examine geometric effects and can require excessive time. A parameterized model of the maize stalk has …

Space-Time Coding For The Advanced Range Telemetry Continuous Phase Modulation, Robert L. Leatham

Theses and Dissertations

Aeronautical telemetry systems that transmit the same signal through multiple antennas from the flight vehicle suffer from severe link dropouts when the signals destructively interfere one with another at receiver. The underlying issue is a transmit array with element spacing far greater than the wavelength producing a transmit antenna pattern with significant and deep nulls. Recently, space-time coding techniques have been proven to resolve the issue for systems using linear modulations and shaped-offset quadrature shift keying (SOQPSK) modulation, a non-linear continuous phase modulation (CPM). This thesis examines application of space-time coding techniques to resolve the self-interference issue for another CPM …

An Open-Source Web-Application For Regional Analysis Of Grace Groundwater Data And Engaging Stakeholders In Groundwater Management, Travis Clinton Mcstraw

Theses and Dissertations

Since 2002, NASA's GRACE Satellite mission has allowed scientists of various disciplines to analyze and map the changes in Earth's total water storage on a global scale. Although the raw data is available to the public, the process of viewing, manipulating, and analyzing the GRACE data can be difficult for those without strong technological backgrounds in programming or geospatial software. This is particularly true for water managers in developing countries, where GRACE data could be a valuable asset for sustainable water resource management. To address this problem, I have a developed a utility for subsetting GRACE data to particular regions …

Isogeometric Shell Analysis: Multi-Patch Coupling And Overcoming Locking, Zhihui Zou

Theses and Dissertations

The fundamental advantages of applying Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) to shell analysis have been extensively demonstrated across a wide range of problems and formulations. However, a phenomenon called numerical locking is still a major challenge in IGA shell analysis, which can lead to dramatically deteriorated analysis accuracy. Additionally, for complex thin-walled structures, a simple and robust coupling technique is desired to sew together models composed of multiple patches. This dissertation focuses on addressing these challenges of IGA shell analysis. First, an isogeometric dual mortar method is developed for multi-patch coupling. This method is based on Be ?zier extraction and projection and …

Ku-Band Ultra-High Resolution Radar Tomography Of An Alpine Snowpack, Ryan Natale Bartley

Theses and Dissertations

A commercial-off-the-shelf Ku-band Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system is coupled with a custom built two-dimensional scanning system. This system is installed in an alpine environment and pointed at a snow-unstable mountain slope for the duration of a Utah winter. The radar scanning system, designed to be capable of mapping a snowpack and its layers, is employed to create a series of three-dimensional images from a remote location. Individual images demonstrate the ability to directly detect snow layers, Furthermore, successive images are compared to track volume magnitude and phase values over the course of winter, including …

Development Of A Simplified Performance-Based Procedure For Assessment Of Liquefaction Triggering For The Cone Penetration Test, Jenny Lee Blonquist

Theses and Dissertations

Soil liquefaction can cause devastating damage and loss and is a serious concern in civil engineering practice. One method for evaluating liquefaction triggering potential is a risk-targeted probabilistic approach that has been shown to provide more consistent and accurate estimates of liquefaction risk than traditional methods. This approach is a “performance-based” procedure which is based off of the performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) framework developed by the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center. Unfortunately, due to its complexity, performance-based liquefaction assessment is not often used in engineering practice. However, previous researchers have developed a simplified performance-based procedure which incorporates the accuracy …

Characterization Of The Factors Influencing Retained Austenite Transformation In Q&P Steels, Derrik David Adams

Theses and Dissertations

Formable Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS) have a unique combination of strength and ductility, making them ideal in the effort to lightweight vehicles. The AHSS in this study, Quenched and Partitioned 1180, rely on the Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) effect, in which retained austenite (RA) grains transform to martensite during plastic deformation, providing extra ductility via the transformation event. Understanding the factors involved in RA transformation, such as local strain and grain attributes, is therefore key to optimizing the microstructure of these steels. This research seeks to increase understanding of those attributes and the correlations between microstructure and RA transformation in …

Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Focusing For Integrated Optofluidic Detection Enhancement, Erik Scott Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

The rise of superbugs, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and virus outbreaks, such as the recent coronavirus scare, illustrate the need for rapid detection of disease pathogens. Widespread availability of rapid disease identification would facilitate outbreak prevention and specific treatment. The ARROW biosensor microchip can directly detect single molecules through fluorescence-based optofluidic interrogation. The nature of the microfluidic channels found on optofluidic sensor platforms sets some of the ultimate sensitivity and accuracy limits and can result in false negative test results. Yet higher sensitivity and specificity is desired through hydrodynamic focusing. Novel 3D hydrodynamic focusing designs were developed and implemented on the …

Damage Evaluation Of Rolling Element Bearings For Shipboard Machinery, Brenna Lyn Feirer

Theses and Dissertations

Rolling element bearings perform an essential role in most all rotating machinery. To prevent degradation to machine performance, unforeseen costs and unexpected system failure, bearing fault diagnosis and prognosis are used. Acoustic Emission (AE) introduces high sensitivity, early and rapid detection of cracking, and real time monitoring that can alarm once cracking is noticed.

The purpose of this research is to nondestructively monitor the crack growth in rolling element bearings in a marine environment and to determine the acoustic emission parameters which embody crack initiation and propagation. The intellectual merit lies in:

1. the signal alarm developed from an AE …

Data-Driven Modeling Through Power Hardware In The Loop Experiments: A Pv Micro-Inverter Example, Hayder Dawood Abbood Almukhtar

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing penetration of wind turbines, photovoltaics (PV), fuel cells, microturbines, cogeneration, energy storage systems, and other Distributed Energy Resources (DER) presents both challenges and opportunities for distribution systems. A deep understanding of the characteristics of those devices, as well as accurate modeling, are essential to plan, design, and control modern distribution grids.

The objective of this research is to define data-driven modeling techniques that allow capitalizing on the results of Hardware In the Loop (HIL) and Power Hardware In the Loop (PHIL) testing by creating models of the devices under test (DUT) –also for closed-source, proprietary systems– using the …

Investigating The Effects Of Aggregate Size And Reinforcement On Asr Cracking In Concrete Structures Studied With Different Evaluation Methods, David Joseph Bianco

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis is to investigate different (non-destructive) evaluation methods to assess the effects of reactive aggregate size and reinforcement on ASR affected concrete. It has been shown in previous literature that reactive coarse aggregates lead to more expansion as opposed to reactive fine aggregates. However, there is a lack in the literature exhibiting this relationship using different evaluation methods, such as acoustic emission (AE) and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). Also, the literature does not emphasize the role this relationship plays when the concrete is imposed with stress boundary conditions. Non-destructive test methods, including acoustic emission, are becoming …

Helicobacter’S Effects On Colitis/Colon Cancer And The Response To Indole 3-Carbinol, Rasha Raheem Abdulhamza Alkarkoushi

Theses and Dissertations

Enterohepatic Helicobacter (EHH) species are gram-negative bacteria, which are poorly studied. Several studies suggest that EHH species contribute to inflammatory bowel disease IBD in humans. IBD and colorectal cancer (CRC) has emerged as a public health challenge worldwide. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is one of the natural dietary indoles abundant in Brassica (cruciferous) vegetables. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays an essential role as a regulator by controlling the balance between Tregs and Th17 cells. The activation of AhR by ligands derived from food or intestinal microbiota is an essential control mechanism in that balance. Moreover, many studies showed indoles achieving chemo-preventive …

The Use Of Natural Anthraquinone Emodin As A Primary And Complementary Therapeutic In The Treatment Of Colorectal Cancer, Alexander-Jacques Theodore Sougiannis

Theses and Dissertations

5 Fluorouracil (5FU) chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), and has been the first-choice chemotherapy drug for CRC for many years. However, nearly 10% of patients receiving chemotherapy die during the first 30 days of treatment. Further, it is estimated that 70% of surviving patients will develop non-specific toxicities as a result of chemotherapy treatment. We characterize these toxicities in an animal model of chemotherapy treatment and show that perturbations in the gut microbiome might be exacerbate the prolonged effects of chemotherapy. A compound that could attenuate the multiple non-selective toxicities associated with chemotherapy could …

The Evolution Of The Southeastern North American Margin From Integrated Analyses Of Potential Field Data: Continent-Continent Collision And Rifting, Patrick D. Duff

Theses and Dissertations

The southeastern North American margin (SENAM) is one of the world’s oldest intact passive margins, containing the ancient southern Appalachian Mountains, the South Georgia Rift (SGR), and the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP).

Potential field data is used in combination with seismic imaging, borehole data, and surface geology to better constrain the lithospheric configuration created by Appalachian orogenesis and Atlantic rifting. In combination with filtering techniques, maps and 2D potential field forward models, and Euler inverse modeling are used to illuminate the pre-Cretaceous basement including basement faults, shear zones, and granites in the hinterland of the southern Appalachians, and rift …

Influence Of Coordination Environment On Catalyst Structure And Function For Co2 Hydrogenation And Ethane Partial Oxidation, Juan D. Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations

In this work, we set out to establish strong structure/activity relationships for various catalytic compositions and reactions. Through in situ spectroscopic approaches, specifically DRIFTS, Raman XPS, and XAFS, we were able to discern the reactive species in CO₂ hydrogenation over highly active cobalt nanostructures, the relevant ensemble size and composition of single site catalysts for CO₂ hydrogenation, and active vibrational modes of mixed oxide catalysts for ethane partial oxidation (EPO).

First, we illustrate how tailoring surface orientations of Co₃O₄ catalysts on the nanoscale results in control over catalytic performance via the preferential formation of active …

Multi-Scale Modeling For Transport Study Inside Porous Layers Of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Using Direct Numerical Simulation, Pongsarun Satjaritanun

Theses and Dissertations

The direct modeling-based Lattice Boltzmann Agglomeration Method (LBAM) is used to explore the electrochemical kinetics and multi-scalar/multi-physics transport inside the detailed structure of the porous and catalyst layers inside polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The complete structure of the samples is obtained by both micro- and nano- X-ray computed tomography (CT). LBAM is able to predict the electrochemical kinetics in the nanoscale catalyst layer and investigate the electrochemical variables during cell operation. This work shows success in integrating the lattice elements into an agglomerate structure in the catalyst layer (CL). The predictions using LBAM were compared and validated with …

Using Human Granulosa Cells To Select The Most Competent Embryos For Uterine Transfer In In Vitro Fertilization Cycles, Richard John Kordus

Theses and Dissertations

Infertility is a worldwide epidemic often treated with in vitro fertilization. The success of in vitro fertilization is directly dependent upon the quality of oocytes produced during the controlled stimulation of the patient’s ovaries. There is a need for improved methods to allow embryologists to select the most viable embryos with the highest probability of leading to live births since in vitro fertilization success is far from optimal.

Oocyte and subsequent embryo quality are intimately influenced by the granulosa cells which surround the oocyte during follicular maturation. The oocytes require proper signaling and energy production form the surrounding granulosa cells …

Optimization Of Vehicle To Grid System In A Power System With Unit Commitment, Charles Uko

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of the benefits of using plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) in solving the unit commitment problem. PEVs are becoming more attractive and a rapid replacement of conventional fuel vehicles due to their environmental-friendly operation. Through collective control by an aggregator, PEVs batteries can also provide ancillary services such as load leveling and frequency regulation to improve the quality of power supplied in the power grid and reduce the cost of power generation. This study presents the modeling, simulation, and analysis of a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) system connected to a smart power grid. The model …

Design And Control Of An Arrayed Infrared (Mat-Ir) Heater For Accurate Heating Control During Automated Fiber Placement, Benjamin L. C. Greenberg

Theses and Dissertations

Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) is the primary method for manufacturing of large and complex primary composite structures in the aerospace industry. Predominantly, AFP use infrared heaters to ensure appropriate tackiness between the different composite layers. The task of accurately detecting and obtaining a set uniform temperature, across the nip point/line, has proven to be difficult. Traditional AFP heat processes are mostly open-loop controlled, which can lead to issues with ensuring accurate and uniform heat distributions. The latter need to be obtained to allow for proper material consolidation to occur. Uneven heating could cause degradation at the center or at the …

The Role Of Acute And Chronic Neuroinflammation In Depression: Uncovering The Relationship Between Histamine And Serotonin Transmission, Melinda Hersey

Theses and Dissertations

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Disorders of the brain, including depression, are notoriously difficult to treat because the basic pathology underlying behavioral outcomes remains undefined. Robust chemical biomarkers of these diseases have not been identified, nor are there reliable methods to measure brain chemicals. Depression is associated with chemical and inflammatory changes in the brain that are predicted to contribute to the pathology. By studying the serotonin and histamine systems we aim to better define the neurochemical basis of depression. Serotonin has long been hypothesized to play a role in depression since selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) …