Engineering Commons^™

Performance Analysis Of A Parabolic Trough Solar Collector, Feras Abdullah Mohammed Alghamdi

Theses and Dissertations

Solar energy technologies are growing vastly in both developed and developing countries. The parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) technology is the most widely used system among concentrated solar technologies. In this thesis, three models were developed to investigate the performance of the PTSC; these models are 2D & 3D numerical models and 1D analytical model. Each model considers three absorber tube configurations, vacuum annulus, air-filled annulus, and bare absorber tube. The specifications of the Luz LS-2 PTSC were used throughout the study. Since the study considers the 3D model, a realistic non-uniform heat flux distribution around the receiver tube was …

Redeployment And Demonstration Of The Video Guidance Sensor For Proximity Maneuvers, Xiangyi Li

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents the redeployment and demonstration of the Photogrammetric Video Guidance Sensor (PVGS) as a position and attitude sensor for proximity maneuvers and formation flight of small spacecraft. The original PVGS was developed to use a smartphone as its hardware and an Android application as its software; however, this paper provides a possibility for using a smaller and cheaper single-board computer, Raspberry Pi as new hardware, and for using a Java program run in Linux as its software. We finally achieved the approximate performance compared to the original PVGS. At the current stage, a PID controller was supposed to …

Inverted Cone Convolutional Neural Network For Deboning Mris, Oliver John Palumbo

Theses and Dissertations

Data plenitude is the power but also the bottleneck for data-driven approaches, including neural networks. In particular, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) require an abundant database of training images to achieve a desired high accuracy. Current techniques employed for boosting small datasets are data augmentation and synthetic data generation, which suffer from computational complexity and imprecision compared to original datasets. In this thesis, we intercalate prior knowledge based on the temporal relation between the images in the third dimension. Specifically, we compute the gradient of subsequent images in the dataset to remove extraneous information and highlight subtle variations between the images. …

The Trust-Based Interactive Partially Observable Markov Decision Process, Richard S. Seymour

Theses and Dissertations

Cooperative agent and robot systems are designed so that each is working toward the same common good. The problem is that the software systems are extremely complex and can be subverted by an adversary to either break the system or potentially worse, create sneaky agents who are willing to cooperate when the stakes are low and take selfish, greedy actions when the rewards rise. This research focuses on the ability of a group of agents to reason about the trustworthiness of each other and make decisions about whether to cooperate. A trust-based interactive partially observable Markov decision process (TI-POMDP) is …

Methods For Using Manpower To Assess Usaf Strategic Risk, Calvin J. Bradshaw Iii

Theses and Dissertations

With limited personnel resource funding availability, senior US Air Force (USAF) decision makers struggle to base enterprise resource allocation from rigorous analytical traceability. There are over 240 career fields in the USAF spanning 12 enterprises. Each enterprise develops annual risk assessments by distinctive core capabilities. A core capability (e.g. Research and Development) is an enabling function necessary for the USAF to perform its mission as part of the Department of Defense (DOD). Assessing risk at the core capability is a good start to assessing risk, but is still not comprehensiveness enough. One of the twelve enterprises has linked its task …

Quantifying Appearance For Opaque Surfaces Using Spectral Bidirectional Reflectivity, Christopher Richard Brooks

Theses and Dissertations

Quantifying the appearance of a surface is an important aspect in quality control. Becauseobjects at room temperature emit negligible amounts of radiation into the visible spectrum, aspectsof their appearance may be quantified using reflected light. Therefore, the appearance of opaquesurfaces may be quantified using measurements of the spectral, bidirectional reflectivity. However,measuring the spectral, bidirectional reflectivity of even one point at every set of incident andreflected directions is a time intensive process that is infeasible for quality control.The objective of this work was to determine whether a limited number of spectral, bidirectionalreflectance measurements may be used to characterize the appearance of …

Organizimi Në Ndërtimtari, Blerta Nuhijaj

Theses and Dissertations

Projektet inxhinierike duke qenë se janë unike dhe procese jo përsëritës, kanë një shkallë të lartë pasigurie në përmbushjen e objektivave të përcaktuara në projektin teknik dhe gjatë fazës së planifikimit të tyre. Duke qenë të pasigurta për nga përmbushja e objektivave lindë nevoja për një planifikim më ambicioz dhe me fokus të veçantë. Paraqitja grafike e aktiviteteve na mundëson të kemi një pasqyre mbi ecurinë e projektit.

Secili aktivitet në ndërtim ka kohen e fillimit dhe kohen e mbarimit. Aktivitete ndërtimore munde te jene ne funksion te aktiviteteve paraprake por munde te zhvillohen edhe si te pavarura.

Me zhvillimin …

The Conversion Of Manual Machining Equipment Into Smart, Connected Systems With Real-Time Monitoring And Issue Identification Capabilities, David Lee Williams

Theses and Dissertations

With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, information technology and manufacturing systems are merging to form what is now known as Smart Manufacturing. However, with this newer technology being integrated with newer pieces of machining equipment, companies with legacy equipment occasionally are in a bind since these machines were not designed or built with the fundamental components of smart manufacturing systems: unified connectivity, real-time monitoring, and issue identification. The purpose of this research is to provide a solution for converting manual machining equipment into smart systems with these fundamental components of smart manufacturing. The pieces of equipment that were …

Way-Finding: A New Approach To Studying Digital Communications, William Daniel Glade

Theses and Dissertations

This work further develops the way-finding model first proposed by Pearson and Kosicki (2017) which examines the flow of information in the digital age. Way-finding systems are online systems that help individuals find information—i.e. social media, search engines, email, etc. Using a grounded theory methodology, this new framework was explored in greater detail. Way-finding theory was created using the context of the elaboration likelihood model, gatekeeping theory, algorithmic gatekeepers, and the existence of the filter bubble phenomenon. This study establishes the three basic pillars of way-finding theory: the user’s mindset when accessing way-finding systems, the perception of how popular way-finding …

Management Of Global Reservoir Sedimentation: Evaluating Rescon 2 For Sediment Management Alternatives, Christopher Jacob Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir sedimentation occurs as dams impound streams and rivers, preventing the delivery of sediments downstream. Globally, reservoirs lose approximately 40 million acre-ft of storage to sediments each year. Several methods for managing reservoir sedimentation have been developed to help extend project life. In 2017, the World Bank sponsored REServoir CONservation (RESCON) 2, a pre-feasibility program aimed to help users select sediment management practices to consider for more detailed studies.There are two main objectives to this research: 1) perform a sensitivity analysis to understand which parameters require greater precision and which can be roughly approximated, and 2) evaluate RESCON 2 suggested …

Design, Fabrication And Testing Of A Pressurized Oxy-Coal Reactor Exhaust System, Aaron Bradley Skousen

Theses and Dissertations

One of the challenges facing engineers is to provide clean, sustainable, affordable and reliable electricity. One of the major pollutants associated with coal combustion is CO2. A proposed technology for efficiently capturing CO2 while producing electricity is pressurized oxy-combustion (POC). The first objective of this work is to design, build and demonstrate an exhaust system for a 20 atmosphere oxy-coal combustor. The second objective of this work is to design and build mounts for a two-color laser extinction method in the POC. The POC reactor enables the development of three key technologies: a coal dry-feed system, a high pressure burner, …

Frequency Response And Recovery Of Muscles And Effects Of Wrapping The Lower Leg On Surface Velocity Measurements, Cameron David Smallwood

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is comprised of two studies. The objective of the first study was to find the frequency response and stiffness of the biceps brachii muscle group during recovery from exercise induced damage and to determine whether these data could be used to track muscle recovery by correlating changes in the frequency response with changes in muscle stiffness. Stiffness moduli were collected using Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) which were then applied to a proportional first mode frequency analysis. Data were collected for the muscle stiffness and frequency response for fifteen subjects (25.6 +- 4.5). By comparing the proportion of the …

The Development Of A Multi-Objective Optimization And Preference Tool To Improve The Design Process Of Nuclear Power Plant Systems, Paul Richard Wilding

Theses and Dissertations

The complete design process for a new nuclear power plant concept is costly, long, complicated, and the work is generally split between several specialized groups. These design groups separately do their best to design the portion of the reactor that falls in their expertise according to the design criteria before passing the design to the subsequent design group. Ultimately, the work of each design group is combined, with significant iteration between groups striving to facilitate the integration of each of the heavily interdependent systems. Such complex interaction between experts leads to three significant problems: (1) the issues associated with knowledge …

Dynamic Radiation Heat Transfer Control Through Geometric Manipulation, Rydge Blue Mulford

Theses and Dissertations

The surface area and radiative properties of an object influence the rate of radiative emission from the object's surface and the rate of radiative absorption into the surface. Control of these variables would allow for the radiative heat transfer behavior of the surface to be manipulated in real time. Origami tessellations, being a repeated pattern of linked, dynamic surfaces, provide a framework by which dynamic control of apparent radiative properties and surface area is possible. The panels within a tessellation form cavities whose aspect ratio varies as the device actuates. The cavity effect suggests that the apparent radiative properties of …

Bioprinting Of 3d Perfusable Structures Using An Extrusion-Based System, Prabhuti Kharel

Theses and Dissertations

Bioprinting is a technique of creating 3D cell laden structures by accurately dispensing biomaterial to form complex synthetic tissue. Bioprinting is a process of additive manufacturing where the cell functionality and viability is preserved within the printed structure. Bioprinting is a promising alternative to produce physiologically relevant 3D structures that mimic the native tissue. However, fabrication of complex structures with vascularization has been a major challenge in bioprinting. To overcome this challenge sacrificial printing in combination with fugitive inks has been explored to create vascularize structures. The objective of this study is to fabricate hollow channels within the bioprinted structure …

Burner Design For A Pressurized Oxy-Coal Reactor, William Cody Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations

The need for electric power across the globe is ever increasing, as is the need to produce electricity in a sustainable method that does not emit CO2 into the atmosphere. A proposed technology for efficiently capturing CO2 while producing electricity is pressurized oxy-combustion (POC). The objective of this work is to design, build, and demonstrate a burner for a 20 atmosphere oxy-coal combustor. Additionally, working engineering drawings for the main pressure vessel and floor plan drawings for the main pressure vessel, exhaust, and fuel feed systems were produced. The POC reactor enables the development of three key POC technologies: a …

Implementing Ipd Principles On Custom Residential Projects: Tools And Best Practices, Giuseppi K. Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to see how Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) principles and practices can be used on high end custom residential construction projects to increase the collaboration and efficiency of the project team. A case study was conducted on a custom home project to observe how and what IPD principles were used. Observations, interviews and a survey were used as part of that case study to gain insights. This research found that IPD principles and practices could be used on residential projects. In addition, the research found that those involved found the experience positive and beneficial to …

Robust Visual-Inertial Navigation And Control Of Fixed-Wing And Multirotor Aircraft, Jerel Bendt Nielsen

Theses and Dissertations

With the increased performance and reduced cost of cameras, the robotics community has taken great interest in estimation and control algorithms that fuse camera data with other sensor data.In response to this interest, this dissertation investigates the algorithms needed for robust guidance, navigation, and control of fixed-wing and multirotor aircraft applied to target estimation and circumnavigation.This work begins with the development of a method to estimate target position relative to static landmarks, deriving and using a state-of-the-art EKF that estimates static landmarks in its state.Following this estimator, improvements are made to a nonlinear observer solving part of the SLAM problem.These …

Empirical And Theoretical Analysis Of Solar Devices In Public Spaces, Justin Morgan Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

With the debate on global warming and climate change, renewable energy resources, such as solar energy, are being considered. If solar energy is to make a major utility contribution, it will need to be more ubiquitous in today’s society. The research described hereafter analyzes the use of Solar in Public Spaces (SPS). SPS is defined as solar energy used in the public domain to power electronics away from the electric grid. This research specifically examines the viability of integrating solar panels into existing surfaces to charge portable electronics. Viability is evaluated using three criteria: (1) user interaction, (2) technical feasibility, …

Replacement Rates Of Initially Hydrocarbon-Filled Microscopic Cavities With Water, Hans Christian Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Wetting behaviors influence many aspects of life and industry from consumer product goods to oil recovery to cosmetics. While the traditional solid-liquid-vapor (SLV) system has been studied for many years now, wetting transitions in the solid-liquid-liquid (SLL) system has remained relatively unexplored. The purpose of this work is to bring light to the wetting transition of the solid-liquid-liquid system and to understand the replacement rates of initially hydrocarbon-filled microscopic cavities with water and the factors affecting these rates. Factors studied were viscosity, density, diffusion related properties, and surface related properties in both hydrocarbon-saturated and hydrocarbon-non-saturated conditions. Cylindrical microscopic cavities were …

Phased Array Digital Beamforming Algorithms And Applications, David Moyle Marsh

Theses and Dissertations

With the expansion of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technologies, there is a growing need for UAS Traffic Management (UTM) systems to promote safe operation and development. To be successful, these UTM systems must be able to detect and track multiple drones in the presence of clutter. This paper examines the implementation of different algorithms on a compact, X-band, frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar in an effort to enable more accurate detection and estimation of drones. Several algorithms were tested through post processing on actual radar data to determine their accuracy and usefulness for this system. A promising result was …

Toward Using Empirical Mode Decomposition To Identify Anomalies In Stream Flowdata And Correlations With Other Environmental Data, Saul Gallegos Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations

I applied empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and the Hilbert-Herbert transforms, as tools to analyze streamflow data. I used the EMD method to extract and analyze periodic processes and trends in several environmental datasets including daily stream flow, daily precipitation, and daily temperature on data from the watersheds of two rivers in the Upper Colorado River Basin, the Yampa and the Upper-Green rivers. I used these data to identify forcing functions governing streamflow. Forcing functions include environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation and anthropogenic factors such as dams or diversions. The Green and Yampa Rivers have similar headwaters, but the …

Electrochemical Fabrication Of Elastin-Containing Bi-Layered Scaffold For Vascular Tissue Engineering Applications, Thuy-Uyen Ky Nguyen

Theses and Dissertations

Lack of a viable vascular graft for the replacement of diseased small diameter blood vessels (< 4 mm) has encouraged the development of a self-repairing tissue engineered vascular graft (TEVG) as a promising alternative source. Although many different fabrication approaches have been devised to generate TEVGs using both natural and synthetic biomaterials, a functional TEVG that can serve as an effective replacement of diseased small-diameter blood vessels (< 4 mm) is still elusive mainly due to concerns associated with thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. One approach to improve the clinical outcome of vascular grafts is to develop a 3D biomimetic scaffold that provides the essential physicochemical cues (i.e., compositional, topographical) to modulate cellular response (i.e., cell phenotype, endothelialization, de novo elastic matrix production) and thereby aid in tissue repair and remodeling. This approach entails the development of a novel 3D scaffold that provides an aligned collagen platform to guide smooth muscle cell (SMC) orientation

and insoluble elastic matrix (i.e., native form of elastin) to promote SMC contractility and thereby prevent overproliferation and hence alleviate concerns with intimal hyperplasia. In addition, the scaffold must comprise of a smooth luminal side to support the formation of a continuous endothelium that is essential to prevent thrombosis. Most existing biofabrication methodologies to generate vascular scaffolds (e.g., extrusion, electrospinning) have limited scope because of the inability to incorporate insoluble elastic matrix within the aligned collagen framework due to the disparity in the size …

Persuasion, Political Warfare, And Deterrence: Behavioral And Behaviorally Robust Models, William N. Caballero

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines game theory models in the context of persuasion and competition wherein decision-makers are not completely rational by considering two complementary threads of research. The first thread of research pertains to offensive and preemptively defensive behavioral models. Research in this thread makes three notable contributions. First, an offensive modeling framework is created to identify how an entity optimally influences a populace to take a desired course of action. Second, a defensive modeling framework is defined wherein a regulating entity takes action to bound the behavior of multiple adversaries simultaneously attempting to persuade a group of decision-makers. Third, an …

Applying Internet Of Things Principles To Spacecraft, Brian K. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes the adaptation of the IEEE 1451 Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) for usage in spacecraft subsystems. In the 1990s, TEDS initially were developed as a standardized method to provide metadata required for the operation of a transducer by a microcontroller or data acquisition device. The metadata provides information that identifies and documents key characteristics of the transducer, thereby facilitating plug-and-play interoperability within a system and across networks. An overarching goal of this thesis is to make a case for adapting and extending the TEDS concept as a means for self-describing critical physical components of a CubeSat nanosatellite. …

Fabrication Of Enhanced Carbon Based Biocompatible And Biodegradable Microelectronic Materials Derived From Lignocellulosic Biomass, Harrison Thomas Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations

The development of materials capable of harmlessly being broken down and removed from the body is a crucial step towards the development of short-term application electronic biomedical implants. Once developed, these implants, known as bioresorbable electronics, will open a wide array of temporary applications in the field of biomedical implantable devices. Necessary to the operation of bioresorbable electronics within the body is a power source that is similarly biocompatible and biodegradable. To this end, enhanced carbon-based materials and a bio-ionic liquid were developed for the fabrication of a preliminary implantable and bioresorbable battery and tested for functional properties. Electrodes were …

Projekti Ideor I Rrugës Me Numër 7 Në Lagjen Panorama Residence, Erand Tahiri

Theses and Dissertations

Historia e rrugëve dhe zhvillimit të tyre është shumë e gjatë. Pohimi se rrugët e para ishin shtigje të bëra nga kafshët nuk është pranuar në mënyrë universale pasi studiuesit thonë se në shumë raste kafshët nuk ndjekin shtigje e njëjta në mënyre të vazhdueshme. Nëse kthehemi prapa në kohë do të shohim se rrugët e para ishin mjaft të thjeshta dhe mënyra e parë e transportimit të mallrave nga një vend në vendin tjetër ishte në këmbë. Këto rrugë njeriu i kishte zhvilluar për qëllime specifike, si bartja e ushqimit dhe mallrave të ndryshme. Në ndërkohë filluan të përdoreshin …

Projekti Ideor Për Rehabilitimin E Rrugës Nacionale N25.3, Segmenti Qendra E Gjilanit, Armend Sertolli

Theses and Dissertations

Ky punim kryesisht përbëhet nga mbledhja dhe shqyrtimi i literaturave të ndryshme që ndërlidhen me punimet tokësore për ndërtimin e infrastrukturës rrugore. Në shtjellimin e kësaj teme të punimit të diplomës jam shërbyer me metodën e analizës kërkimore dhe me metodën e hulumtimit, softverve të ndryshëm si dhe dalja në terren dhe inspektimin nga afër ku do të realizohet projekti ideor për rehabilitimin e rrugës nacionale N25.3, segmenti qendra e Gjilanit. Në bazë të të dhënave që kemi grumbulluar në terren kemi formuar një ide rreth këtij projekti dhe kemi ardhur në përfundim se gjatë këtij projekti duhet ti kemi …

Projekti Ideor Për Rrugën ‘’2 Korriku’’ (Lagjja Ramuk - Kashan) – Hani I Elezit, Arianit Murseli

Theses and Dissertations

Nga paraqitja e idesë për nevojën e ndërtimit të rrugës"2 KORRIKU" (Lagjja Ramuk- Kashan) e deri tek ndërtimi i saj janë bërë studime të shumta të qarkullimit, rëndësisë ekonomike dhe shoqërore, me qëllim që ndërtimi i rrugës t’i përgjigjet llojit të destinimit. Studimet që janë bërëjanë bazuar në disa variante dhe nga këto është caktuar rëndësia dhe niveli i rrugës së re në kuadër të rrjetit ekzistues rrugor.Ndërtimi i kësaj rruge ka për qëllim lehtësimin e qarkullimit të qytetareve për nevojat e tyre.

Kjo rrugë ka edhe një rendësi të veçantë sepse në rast të bllokimit të rrugës magjistrale "IMER …

Rapidscat Backscatter Measurements Calibration, Ruaa Alsabah

Theses and Dissertations

Scatterometers are microwave radars deployed to estimate global wind speeds and directions over sea surface by measuring Normalized Radar Cross Section (σᵒ) of the sea. Measured is determined by the sea surface roughness that is modulated mostly by wind, thus establishing a relationship between and wind conditions. Wind vectors are retrieved by inverting an empirical Geophysical Model Function that relates measured to a wind vector (speed and direction) and radar measurement configuration (polarization, incidence, and azimuth angle). Careful scatterometer calibration is required for accurate wind retrieval. RapidScat is a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ku-Band scatterometer that was operated …