Engineering Commons^™

Reactive Motions In A Fully Autonomous Crs Catalyst 5 Robotic Arm Based On Rgbd Data, Arad Haselirad

Theses and Dissertations

This study proposes a method to perform velocity estimation using motion blur in a single image frame along x and y axes in the camera coordinate system and intercept a moving object with a robotic arm. It will be shown that velocity estimation in a single image frame improves the system's performance. The majority of previous studies in this area require at least two image frames to measure the target's velocity. In addition, they mostly employ specialized equipments which are able to generate high torques and accelerations.

The setup consists of a 5 degree of freedom robotic arm and a …

Evaluating The Security Of Smart Home Hubs, Steven A. Christiaens

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to improve the security of smart home hubs by developing a standard against which hubs can be evaluated. This was done by first reviewing existing standards, guides, and collections of best practices. I determined that adapting or extending an existing standard was the best way to proceed. Potential candidates were selected, and after thorough comparison, I chose to extend the OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS). Extensions were composed of additional security requirements to address smart home hub functionality not covered by the existing requirements of the ASVS. These additional requirements were developed based …

Neutral Parametric Canonical Form For 2d And 3d Wireframe Cad Geometry, Robert Steven Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

The challenge of interoperability is to retain model integrity when different software applications exchange and interpret model data. Transferring CAD data between heterogeneous CAD systems is a challenge because of differences in feature representation. A study by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) performed in 1999 made a conservative estimate that inadequate interoperability in the automotive industry costs them $1 billion per year. One critical part of eliminating the high costs due to poor interoperability is a neutral format between heterogeneous CAD systems. An effective neutral CAD format should include a current-state data store, be associative, include the …

Improving The Suction Performance And Stability Of An Inducer With An Integrated Inlet Cover Bleed System Known As A Stability Control Device, Ryan K. Lundgreen

Theses and Dissertations

The performance of an inducer with the integration of an inlet cover bleed system known as a stability control device (SCD) is investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Inducers are the first stage of high suction performance pumps and are designed to operate under cavitating conditions. Improvements in design have allowed inducers to operate stably with low inlet head conditions, however, cavitation instabilities ultimately lead to pump failure. It has been shown that inducers that employ an SCD fully suppress cavitation instabilities.The performance of an inducer is explored at both on- and off-design flow coefficients, where the flow coefficient is a …

A Method For Using Pre-Computed Scenarios Of Physically-Based Spatially-Distributed Hydrologic Models In Flood Forecasting Systems, Herman Guillermo Dolder

Theses and Dissertations

Every year floods are responsible of a significant number of human losses, many of which could be avoided with a broader implementation of flood forecasting systems. Nevertheless, there are still some technological and economic limitations that impede the creation of these systems in many parts of the world. At the core of many flood forecasting systems is a hydrologic model that transforms the weather forecast into a flow forecast. Using real-time modeling for potential floods poses a series of problems: if the model is complex, the computational power required can be significant, and consequently expensive, and if the model is …

Jet And Droplet Impingement On Superhydrophobic Surfaces, Jonathan Glenn Stoddard

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of superhydrophobicity on liquid water impingement on a flat horizontal surface was explored. The surfaces combined a hydrophobic surface chemistry with a patterned microstucture in order to produce high contact angles with water. Three sets of experiments were performed, one for jet impingement and two for droplet impingement, which advance previous work in characterizing the interaction of water and superhydrophobic surfaces.Jet impingement experiments were performed to characterize a transitional regime between an unsubmerged and a completely submerged superhydrophobic surface by varying an imposed downstream depth. For low downstream depths, the surface remained unsubmerged and displayed only break up …

Level Set Segmentation Using Non-Negative Matrix Factorization With Application To Brain Mri, Dimah Dera

Theses and Dissertations

We address the problem of image segmentation using a new deformable model based on the level set method (LSM) and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). We describe the use of NMF to reduce the dimension of large images from thousands of pixels to a handful of "metapixels" or regions. In addition, the exact number of regions is discovered using the nuclear norm of the NMF factors. The proposed NMF-LSM characterizes the histogram of the image, calculated over the image blocks, as nonnegative combinations of basic histograms computed using NMF (V ~ W H). The matrix W represents the histograms of the …

A Mathematical Model Of A Control Systems Hypothesis Of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate-Receptor-Mediated Ethanol Dependence And Withdrawal Dynamics, Carlos Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

The biochemical effects of ethanol on the human brain are manifested through many neurological pathways. Chronic exposure to the depressant has been shown to result in physical dependence. Subsequent cessation results in withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and both short- and long-term changes in neurological activity. One of the primary conduits implicated in the pathways of ethanol dependence and withdrawal is the detection of glutamate via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs). Ethanol molecules inhibit these receptors, and consequent NMDA-induced glutamatergic changes can result in dependence on ethanol in order to sustain normal brain function. This study considers the relocation control of …

Pseudocreep In Shape Memory Alloys, Vigel Raj Russalian

Theses and Dissertations

Interruption of mechanical loading of Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) exhibits a creep-like phenomenon that is manifested as positive accumulation or negative accumulation in strain (i.e. strain recovery) when stress is held constant during loading or unloading, respectively. Conversely, this effect is also found as stress relaxation/stiffening during the loading/unloading when the strain is arrested. An apparently similar phenomenon, reported in literature by many researchers as caused by thermomechanical coupling, was found to exist in shape memory alloy materials during pseudoelastic deformation as well as shape memory effect. However, experiments conducted in our laboratory on the material indicated that the phenomenon …

Composition Based Modaling Of Silicone Nano-Composite Strain Gauges, Daniel Alexander Baradoy

Theses and Dissertations

In this work a review of the technology surrounding high deflection strain sensing with an emphasis on that of a recently developed nickel nano-composite strain sensor is presented. A new base silicone material was identified for the nickel nano-composite strain sensor that improves its mechanical stiffness and conductive properties. A previously identified cyclic creep concern was mitigated through preconditioning and the use of adhered backing materials. Through a block design experiment the strain/resistance curves for the strain sensors were characterized over a wide range of nano-filler material compositions. An analytical model was developed based on observation that the resistance of …

Evaluation Of The Accuracy Of Traffic Volume Counts Collected By Microwave Sensors, David Keali'i Chang

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past few years, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has developed a system called the Signal Performance Metrics System (SPMS) to evaluate the performance of signalized intersections. This system currently provides data summaries for several performance measures including: 1) Purdue Coordination Diagram, 2) Speed, 3) Approach Volume, 4) Purdue Phase Termination Charts, 5) Split Monitor, 6) Turning Movement Volume Counts, 7) Arrivals on Red, and 8) Approach Delay. There is a need to know the accuracy of the data that are being collected by the Wavetronix SmartSensor Matrix and displayed in the SPMS. The TAC members determined that …

An Evaluation Of Soft Processors As A Reliable Computing Platform, Michael Robert Gardiner

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluates the benefits and limitations of soft processors operating in a radiation-hardened FPGA, focusing primarily on the performance and reliability of these systems. FPGAs designs for four popular soft processors, the MicroBlaze, LEON3, Cortex-M0 DesignStart, and OpenRISC 1200 are developed for a Virtex-5 FPGA. The performance of these soft processor designs is then compared on ten widely-used benchmark programs. Benchmarking results indicate that the MicroBlaze has the best integer performance of the soft processors, with at least 2.23X better performance on average than the other three processors. However, the LEON3 has the best floating-point performance, with benchmark scores …

A Simple Method For Evaluating Wear In Different Grades Of Tooling Applied To Friction Stir Spot Welding, Kirtis Frankland Kennard

Theses and Dissertations

In this study tools consisting of a 5mm cylindrical pin and a 12mm shoulder held by a simple tool holder were used to compare the wear of 11 tooling materials. The objective was to determine if using these tools in a spot welding configuration to simulate friction stir welding could differentiate the potential performance of tooling materials. All tools were made of varying percentages of polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), tungsten (W) and rhenium (Re). The materials are referred to herein as GV1, GV2, G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, G6, G7, G8 and G9.

The tools were run to 205 …

Transport Enhancement Of Rate-Limited Chemical Reactions Via Pt-Decorated, Carbon Nanotube Microarray Membranes, Kevin M. Marr

Theses and Dissertations

Rate limited chemical reactions can be enhanced by improving the mass transport of the suspended analyte to the catalytic (or electrocatalytic) surface. While many attempts have been made to enhance this mass transport, these approaches are limited to utilizing only two enhancement methods – increasing available catalytic surface area, and increasing the flow of analyte in solution. Flow through high aspect ratio microstructures, however, would provide additional mass transport enhancement via boundary layer confinement. Platinum functionalized carbon nanotube microarray membranes (Pt-CNT-MMs) offer enhanced mass transport via all three methods, and were fabricated for demonstration in a H2O2 sample system, for …

Correlation Of Fluorescence Spectroscopy And Biochemical Oxygen Demand (Bod5) Using Regression Analysis, Alexander Tetteh Narteh

Theses and Dissertations

This research uses Regression analysis of fluorescence spectroscopy results to correlate with Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5). Fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to samples taken from seven sample sites in the Provo and Orem waste water treatment plants found in Utah County. A total of 161 samples were collected for this research. 23 samples each were taken from four sites in the Provo waste water treatment plant namely Provo head works, aeration basin, primary filter settlement basin and the Provo effluent basin. The Orem head works, the clarifier and the Orem effluent basin were the three sample sites in the Orem waste …

Geometry And Material Properties Of Vocal Fold Models, Kimberly Ann Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

Voiced communication plays a fundamental role in society. Voice research seeks to improve understanding of the fundamental physics governing voice production, with the eventual goal of improving methods to diagnose and treat voice disorders. For this thesis, three different aspects of voice production research were studied. First, porcine vocal fold medial surface geometry was determined, and the three-dimensional geometric distortion induced by freezing the larynx, especially in the region of the vocal folds, was quantified. It was found that porcine vocal folds are qualitatively geometrically similar to canine and human vocal folds, as well as commonly used models, and that …

Development Of A Simplified Performance-Based Procedure For Assessment Of Liquefaction Triggering Using Liquefaction Loading Maps, Kristin Jane Ulmer

Theses and Dissertations

Seismically-induced liquefaction has been the cause of significant damage to infrastructure and is a serious concern in current civil engineering practice. Several methods are available for assessing the risk of liquefaction at a given site, each with its own strengths and limitations. One probabilistic method has been shown to provide more consistent estimates of liquefaction risk and can be tailored to the specific needs of a given project through hazard-targeted (i.e. based on return periods or likelihoods) results. This type of liquefaction assessment is typically called “performance-based,” after the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center's performance-based earthquake engineering framework. Unfortunately, …

Large-Scale Testing Of Passive Force Behavior For Skewed Bridge Abutments With Gravel And Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (Grs) Backfills, Amy Fredrickson

Theses and Dissertations

Correct understanding of passive force behavior is particularly key to lateral evaluations of bridges because plastic deformation of soil backfill is vital to dissipation of earthquake energy and thermally-induced stresses in abutments. Only recently have studies investigated the effects of skew on passive force. Numerical modeling and a handful of skewed abutment tests performed in sand backfill have found reduced passive force with increasing skew, but previous to this study no skewed tests had been performed in gravel or Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) backfills. The goal of this study was to better understand passive force behavior in non-skewed and skewed …

Self-Organization Of Protein Fibers In Weightlessness, Dylan Bell

Theses and Dissertations

It is currently hypothesized and widely believed that the growth of self aggregating protein chains such as amyloid fibers has a direct effect on the function of the human brain. We hypothesized creating self-assembling protein in weightlessness would allow the aggregation to continue for a longer period of time in solution without sedimentation. When protein de-natures and self-organizes into amyloid fibers the effect can be detrimental. Some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, are believed to be caused by the collection of these fibers made from proteins such as tau and amyloid-β. For the purpose of this experiment, lysozyme …

Terminological Mediation In Information Technology And Related Fields, Jessica Smith Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Terminological dissonance is created by the inherent ambiguity of natural language and compounded by ontological specialization efforts within fields. Terminological dissonance creates high-risk miscommunications in two key areas: within Information Technology as a singular domain, and also between IT and other fields in interdisciplinary projects. A comprehensive literature review revealed a lack of previous effort to acknowledge or solve problems of terminological dissonance within Information Technology. This research provides a comprehensive overview and definition of the terminology mediation space as it relates to Information Technology and adjacent fields. An analysis and verification of the contents and implementation of the terminology …

Temperature Measurement Using Infrared Spectral Band Emissions From H2o, Daniel Jared Ellis

Theses and Dissertations

Currently there is no known method for accurately measuring the temperature of the gas phase of combustion products within a solid fuel flame. The industry standard is a suction pyrometer and thermocouple which is intrusive, both spatially and temporally averaging, and difficult to use. In this work a new method utilizing the spectral emission from water vapor is investigated through modeling and experimental measurements. This method was demonstrated along a 0.75m line of sight, averaged over 1 minute in the products of a natural gas flame but has the potential to produce a spatial resolution on the order of 5 …

A Cloud-Based Gssha Index Map Editor Utility For Watershed Decision Support, Jocelynn Marie Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Preventing damages from flooding is critically important for city managers and planners.Efforts in protecting infrastructure from flooding are often coupled with building hydrologicmodels to provide predictions of what is likely to happen during storm events. As land usechanges, these models must be updated, which is more challenging with sophisticated models. Ateam of researchers from universities in Utah and Wyoming have been developing tools forwater management in the Intermountain West as part of a collaborative NSF research grantcalled CI-WATER. In particular, a free and open source web platform called Tethys has beendeveloped to support the development and hosting of hydrologic web …

Evaluation Of Empirical Prediction Methods For Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spread From The 2010 Maule, Chile, MW 8.8 Earthquake In Port Coronel, Nicole D. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past several decades, empirical formulas have been developed and improved to predict liquefaction and lateral spread based on a database of case histories from observed earthquakes, such as Youd et al. (2002) and Rauch and Martin (2000). The 2010 Maule Chile earthquake is unique first of all because it is recent and was not used to develop recent liquefaction and lateral spread evaluation methods, and therefore can be reasonably used to evaluate the effectiveness of such equations. Additionally, the 8.8 magnitude megathrust event fills a significant gap in the databases used to develop these empirical formulas, which tends …

Use Of Roadway Attributes In Hot Spot Identification And Analysis, David R. Bassett

Theses and Dissertations

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic and Safety Division continues to advance the safety of roadway sections throughout the state. In an effort to aid UDOT in meeting their goal, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Brigham Young University (BYU) has worked with the Statistics Department in developing analysis tools for safety. The most recent of these tools has been the development of a hierarchical Bayesian Poisson Mixture Model (PMM) of traffic crashes known as the Utah Crash Prediction Model (UCPM), a hierarchical Bayesian Binomial statistical model known as the Utah Crash Severity Model (UCSM), and a …

Lateral Resistance Of Pipe Piles Near 20-Ft Tall Mse Abutment Wall With Strip Reinforcements, Jason James Besendorfer

Theses and Dissertations

Full scale lateral load testing was performed on four 12.75x0.375 pipe piles spaced at 3.9, 2.9, 2.8, and 1.7 pile diameters behind an MSE wall which was constructed for this research to determine appropriate reduction factors for lateral pile resistance based on pile spacing behind the back face of the wall. The load induced on eight soil reinforcements located at various transverse distances from the pile and at different depths was monitored to determine the relationship between lateral load on the pile and load induced in the reinforcement. Each pile was loaded towards the wall in 0.25 in. increments to …

Cfd Investigation Of Resistance Of High-Speed Trimaran Hull Forms, Chang Hwan Son

Theses and Dissertations

Although catamarans continue to increase in size and application with bigger and better designs than the present generation, trimaran and multi-hull forms for high-speed operation are a recent phenomenon due to speed of turnaround time and payload. To fulfill the stringent requirement for commercial and military transportation, various versions of optimum design are being undertaken recently. In particular, the high-speed ferry industry is presently looking at novel hull forms such as the form of trimarans and pentamarans which are considered in one of the most affordable hull forms for high-speed operation around the world. However, few published articles are in …

Supply Chain Interoperability Measurement, Christos E. Chalyvidis

Theses and Dissertations

Academia recognizes that although supply chains have an inherent need to be validated for their performance, supply chain performance measurement systems are still inadequate and one of the major barriers to successful supply chain collaboration. In this research, theory of Systems Architecture is used to make the first step towards an innovative supply chain performance measure defined as supply chain interoperability. Interoperability is considered a similarity metric with regard to a set of deterministic and stochastic characters (criteria) describing supply chain participants, a methodology that adapts and expands an interoperability measurement tool initially developed in and for a military context. …

Generation Of Strategies For Environmental Deception In Two-Player Normal-Form Games, Howard E. Poston

Theses and Dissertations

Methods of performing and defending against deceptive actions are a popular field of study in game theory; however, the focus is mostly on action deception in turn-based games. This work focuses on developing strategies for performing environmental deception in two-player, strategic-form games. Environmental deception is defined as deception where one player has the ability to change the other's perception of the state of the game through modification of their perception of the game's payoff matrix, similar to the use of camouflage. The main contributions of this research are an expansion of the definition of the stability of a Nash equilibrium …

A System Dynamics Approach To The Efficacy Of Oxime Therapy In Sub Lethal Exposure To Sarin Gas, Daniel J. Droste

Theses and Dissertations

The 2010 National Security Strategy states, The effective dissemination of a lethal agent would endanger the lives of thousands of people and have unprecedented economic, societal, and political consequences. We must continue to work at home with first responders and health officials to reduce the risk associated with high-consequence threats . Nerve agents, such as Sarin gas, are considered high consequence threats. The threat of use of agents such as Sarin is as much a threat today as any other time in our history. However, the suggested treatment protocol is not as precise as it could be. Debate exists over …

A Method To Predict Compressor Stall In The Tf34-100 Turbofan Engine Utilizing Real-Time Performance Data, Shuxiang A. Li, Trevor G. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force current operations continue to undergo significant changes compelled by decreasing fiscal appropriations, aging aircraft, and personnel drawdown. The Air Force must effectively improve current maintenance operations in part to deal with these challenges. This study will explore the area of the A-10 aircraft fleet's TF34-100 high-pass turbo-fan engine sensor data to seek its deterioration modelling and prognostics capability. In futurity this will allow for achievement of greater confidence in predicting the compressor stall which leads to engine performance deterioration and a costly repair in maintenance. By utilizing an innovative method to forecast the probability of compressor stall, …