Engineering Commons^™

Irrigation District Turnouts, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This is meant to be a very quick, roughly written primer on irrigation district turnout selection. It by no means covers all of the details, but it might help out. ITRC offers flow measurement classes, with online registration at www.itrc.org. We have also done testing on quite a few designs over the years, but the work was almost all confidential in nature.

2d Motion Detection Bounded Hand 3d Trajectory Tracking And Gesture Recognition Under Complex Background, Shuangqing Wu, Yin Zhang, Sanyuan Zhang, Xiuzi Ye, Yiyu Cai, Jianmin Zheng, Soumita Ghosh, Wenyu Chen, Jane Zhang

Electrical Engineering

In this paper, a 2D motion detection bounded hand 3D trajectory tracking and gesture recognition system is proposed for virtual reality interactions. First, the Bayes decision rule for classification of background and foreground is utilized to automatically locate the hand that bounded within a rectangle, and then the trajectory of the hand in 3D space is tracked by mean shift particle filter and stereo imaging. The skin color feature is exploited for image matting that effectively segment the hand contour in video sequence automatically. Finally the hand gesture is recognized by the connected component analysis and line approximation.

Real-Time 3d Markerless Multiple Hand Detection And Tracking For Human Computer Interaction Applications, Soumita Ghosh, Jianmin Zheng, Wenyu Chen, Jane Zhang, Yiyu Cai

Electrical Engineering

In this paper we present a purely vision based implementation of markerless hand detection and tracking system which effectively detects and tracks the hand positions irrespective of hand orientation. A shape based detection algorithm using a new line approximation technique followed by an adaptive minimum distance classifier based tracking technique is implemented. The technique is very generic and can be practically used in all types of immersive and semi-immersive environments like simulations, three-dimensional (3D) games, visually assisted medical surgery and other humancomputer interactive applications.

A Dynamic Approach To Determine The Product Flow Nature In Apparel Supply Chain Network, Mohammed Marufuzzaman, Ahmed M. Deif

Industrial Technology and Packaging

This paper presents a novel metric, product flow number, to determine the product flow nature across the supply chain of apparel industries. The metric is based on mapping the dynamics of fluid flow across a pipe to product flow across a supply chain. Numerical analysis is conducted to examine the impact of the different metric parameters on the product flow. Results showed that smooth dynamics can be achieved through scaling production and extending delivery times, while undesirable dynamics are tied to complex product designs and increasing number of suppliers. Finally, the paper demonstrated how the new metric can be used …

On The Solution Of A Class Of Large Body Problems With Full Or Partial Circular Symmetry By Using The Finite-Difference Time-Domain (Fdtd) Method, Wenhua Yu, Dean Arakaki, Raj Mittra

Electrical Engineering

This paper presents an efficient method to accurately solve large body scattering problems with partial circular symmetry. The method effectively reduces the computational domain from three to two dimensions by using the reciprocity theorem. It does so by dividing the problem into two parts: a larger 3-D region with circular symmetry, and a smaller 2-D region without circular symmetry. An finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm is used to analyze the circularly symmetric 3-D case, while a method of moments (MoM) code is employed for the nonsymmetric part of the structure. The results of these simulations are combined via the reciprocity theorem …

Aerodynamics Of A Supersonic Projectile In Proximity To A Solid Surface, Graham Doig, Tracie Barber, Eddie Leonardi, Andrew J. Neely, Harald Kleine

Aerospace Engineering

Flow around a Mach 2.4 NATO 5.56 mm projectile in close proximity to a ground plane was investigated using computational fluid dynamics for a direct numerical reproduction of live-range experiments. The numerical approach was validated against both the live-range tests and subsequent wind-tunnel experiments. A nonspinning half-model and a full, spinning projectile were examined to clarify the influence of rotation. Multiple ground clearances were tested to obtain clear trends in changes to the aerodynamic coefficients, and the three-dimensional propagation and reflection of the shock waves were considered in detail. The behavior of the flow in the near wake was also …

A New Multiphase Multi-Interleaving Buck Converter With Bypass Lc, Taufik, Randyco Prasetyo, Dale Dolan, Dodi Garinto

Electrical Engineering

As the number of transistors in microprocessors increases, their power demand increases accordingly. This poses design challenges for their power supply module called VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) especially when operated at sub voltage range. This paper presents the design of a new multiphase multi-interleaving topology that addresses these challenges. A lab scaled hardware prototype of the new topology shows improved load regulation, output voltage ripple and dynamic response time compared to a commercially available power supply module.

A New Ac-Dc Converter Using Bridgeless Sepic, M. R. Sahid, A. H. M. Yatim, Taufik

Electrical Engineering

A new bridgeless power factor correction circuit (PFC) based on single ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC) is proposed. The number of component conducted at each subinterval mode is reduced compared to the existing topologies. Analysis of the converter operated in discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM) is discussed. Experimental circuit for the proposed converter is developed with universal input voltage capability for 50V DC output voltage connected to 100W load. The simulation and experimental results are presented to show the performances of the proposed circuit.

Improved Rf Power Extraction From 1.55Μm Ge/Si N-I-P Photodiodes With Load Impedance Optimization, Andrew L. Huard, Molly Piels, Anand Ramaswamy, John E. Bowers, Dennis J. Derickson

Electrical Engineering

The RF output power of Ge/Si n-i-p waveguide photodetectors is improved by increasing the load impedance. The maximum extracted RF power at 3GHz is 17.13dBm with a compression current of 42mA using a 100Ὠ load.

Evaluation Of The Stress-Energy Methodology To Predict Transmitted Shock Through Expanded Foam Cushions, J. Singh, L. Ignatova, E. Olsen, P. Singh

Industrial Technology and Packaging

Mechanical stresses experienced by packages in the distribution environment include shock and vibration amongst several others. The destructive effects of these hazards can typically be restricted by using cushioning materials to help protect fragile goods during distribution. ASTM D1596 is the conventional standard used to determine shock absorbing performance of a cushioning material for a given combination of static loading, thickness, and drop height. This industry-accepted standard, however, requires significant amounts of transmitted shock data and can be expensive with respect to costs associated with testing and materials amongst others. Alternate stress-energy-based methodologies, developed in the past decade, recommending a …

Application Of Differential Evolution To Determine The Hepwm Angles Of A Three Phase Voltage Source Inverter, N Bahari, Z. Salam, Taufik

Electrical Engineering

This paper presents an efficient Differential Evolution (DE) based solution for harmonic elimination pulse-width modulation (HEPWM). The aim is to solve for the set of transcendental equations that determine the switching angles of the HEPWM waveform. The objective function of the DE is designed to minimize (to near zero) the selected harmonics and at the same time allows for the fundamental component of the output voltage to be controlled independently. To verify the method, simulation is carried out using MATLAB simulink. The computed switching angles are applied to a three phase voltage source inverter. Typical results are shown and discussed.

Analysis And Simulations Of Z-Source Inverter Control Methods, B. Y. Husodo, M. Anwari, S. M. Ayob, Taufik

Electrical Engineering

In this paper, two different control methods for Z-source inverter are examined. The Simple Boost and the Maximum Boost control methods of the inverter are analyzed and compared each other using simulation with MATLAB/Simulink. The Simple Boost control with independence relation between modulation index and shoot-through duty ratio is also simulated and analyzed. The selection of high modulation index and shoot-through duty ratio can reduce the inverter’s dc link voltage overshoot and increasing power delivery capacity of the inverter.

Work In Progress - Role Of Faculty In Promoting Lifelong Learning: Initial Findings, John Chen, Susan M. Lord, Katharyn Nottis, Michael Prince, Candice Stefanou, Jonathon Stolk

Mechanical Engineering

Calls for educational reform emphasize the need for student-centered learning approaches that foster lifelong learning. To be a lifelong learner includes characteristics consistent with those of self-directed learners, such as being curious, motivated, reflective, analytical, persistent, flexible, and independent. Instructor support of students’ self-directed learning (SDL) development relies on understanding and balancing these factors in the classroom. Engineering educators play a critical role in influencing outcomes related to SDL through their design of courses that support students’ transitions from controlled to autonomous learning behaviors. This study will examine a variety of engineering courses and pedagogical approaches. Each will be characterized …

Modelling And Analysis Of Dynamic Capacity Complexity In Multi-Stage Production, Ahmed M. Deif, Hoda A. Elmaraghy

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The uncertainty associated with managing dynamic capacity problem is the main source of its complexity. This article presents a system dynamics approach to model and analyse operational complexity of dynamic capacity in multi-stage production. The unique feature of this approach is that it captures the stochastic nature of three main sources of complexity associated with dynamic capacity. These are the demand, internal manufacturing delay and capacity scalability delay. The developed model was demonstrated by an industrial case study of multi-stage printed circuit board assembly line. The analysis of simulation experiments showed that ignoring complexity sources can lead to wrong decisions …

Assessment Of State Recycling Regulations In The United States, Nazli Yesiller, James L. Hanson, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This investigation was conducted to identify the current status of state recycling regulations in U.S. using an extensive survey. Questions were included regarding: baseline waste generation and recycling trends; recycling regulatory trends; quantitative thresholds; integration of science, engineering, and economic principles; material properties; and legislative status of regulations. The majority of the surveyed states had regulations for recycling activities, which were less strict than solid waste regulations, and required permits for operation of recycling facilities. A low percentage of the states regulated generators, transporters, and handlers and a high percentage regulated recyclers. In general, transfer stations and recycling centers were …

Effect Of Freeze-Thaw Cycling On The Compression Strength Of Folding Cartons Made From Different Materials, Koushik Saha, Bruce Harte, Gary Burgess, Sujeet Adudodla

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The quality of frozen food is known to deteriorate in storage due to water migration, in-pack desiccation and frost formation. These same factors can affect folding cartons. The rate of frozen food and folding carton deterioration is further dependent on temperature fluctuations during storage, transportation, loading and unloading. This study was conducted to compare the compression strength of folding cartons made from CNK (Coated Natural Kraft), SBS (Solid Bleached Sulfate), CRP (Coated recycled paperboard) and PCSBS (Poly coated Solid Bleach Sulfate) after subjecting them to multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Compression tests were performed on empty cartons and cartons filled with frozen …

Life Cycle Inventory Comparison Of Paper And Plastic Based Packaging Systems For Strawberry Distribution, Jay A. Singh, Aric Krasowski

Industrial Technology and Packaging

The goal of this study was to conduct a life Cycle Inventory (Lei) analysis based comparison of eleven primary container and pillow wrap combinations for the distribution of fresh strawberries Three of the primary containers studied were paper based (molded pulp, paperboard and corrugated fiberboard) and three other containers investigated were clamshells or punnets made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (rPET) Pillow wraps made of rPET and polylactlde (PLA) were also Included for all punnet/tray style containers The scope of the study ranged from the extraction of raw materials, their processing and formation for all packaging components, product …

Study Of Top And Bottom Photonic Gratings On Gan Led With Error Grating Models, Simeon S. Trieu, Xiaomin Jin

Electrical Engineering

The gallium nitride (GaN) light-emitting-diode (LED) top-bottom (or transmission-reflection) grating simulation results with error grating model are presented. The microstructure GaN bottom hole and top pillar gratings are calculated and compared with the non-grating (flat) case. Grating shapes simulated are either conical or cylindrical. A direct comparison of 181 different combined transmission-reflection grating cases using the finite difference time domain method is presented. The simulation results show that simple or direct combinations of the optimized top grating with the optimized bottom grating only produce a 42% light extraction improvement compared to the non-grating case, which is much lower than that …

A Realistic Technology And Engineering Assessment Of Algae Biofuel Production, T. J. Lundquist, I. C. Woertz, N. W. T. Quinn, J. R. Benemann

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This report assesses the economics of microalgae biofuels production through an analysis of five production scenarios. These scenarios, or cases, are based on technologies that currently exist or are expected to become available in the near-term, including raceway ponds for microalgae cultivation, bioflocculation for algae harvesting, and hexane for extraction of algae oil. Process flow diagrams, facility site layouts, and estimates for the capital and operations costs of each case were developed de novo. This report also reviews current and developing microalgae biofuel technologies for both oil and biogas production, provides an initial assessment of the US and California …

A Classification Tree Based Modeling Approach For Segment Related Crashes On Multilane Highways, Anurag Pande, Mohamed Abdel-Aty, Abhishek Das

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Introduction: This study presents a classification tree based alternative to crash frequency analysis for analyzing crashes on mid-block segments of multilane arterials.

Method: The traditional approach of modeling counts of crashes that occur over a period of time works well for intersection crashes where each intersection itself provides a well-defined unit over which to aggregate the crash data. However, in the case of mid-block segments the crash frequency based approach requires segmentation of the arterial corridor into segments of arbitrary lengths. In this study we have used random samples of time, day of week, and location (i.e., milepost) …

Modernización De Proyectos De Riego, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Un diseño moderno es el resultado de un proceso de reflexión, el cual selecciona la configuración y componentes físicas considerando un programa de operación bien definido y realista basado en el concepto de servicio.

Medición De Gasto En Canales De Riego Y...Otras Cosas, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Nuestra opción preferida para Eiqupos de “flujo crítico ” (vertedor or aforador) son Aforadores Replogle (Garganta Larga)

R&D Of A Dual Mode Acoustic Modem Testbed For Shallow Water Channels, Feng Tong, Shengyong Zhou, Bridget Benson, Ryan Kastner

Electrical Engineering

Recent years witnessed an increasing requirement of marine missions like oceanographic investigation, environmental monitoring, underwater structure inspection and sea bottom resource exploitation, which urged the R&D of high performance underwater acoustic (UWA) modems. However, as underwater acoustic channels pose multiple difficulties such as multipath, time-space selectivity, frequency dependent noise, and Doppler shifts on transmission, currently there is not a single modulation strategy that can provide high data rate, energy efficiency and channel robustness simultaneously. Enlightened by the similar dual mode (DM) systems developed in wireless channels, this paper presents the R&D of a DM UWA modem testbed system, which enables …

Base Shear Estimated From Floor Accelerations And Column Shears, Rakesh K. Goel

Civil and Environmental Engineering

This paper compares base shear computed from floor accelerations (inertial base shear) and column shears (structural base shear) for several single-degree-of-freedom (SDF) systems and two mid-rise, multi-story buildings due to a suite of 30 earthquake ground motions. The presented results show that the inertial base shear is close to structural base shear in short-period (<1 >sec) SDF systems but may significantly exceed the structural base shear for individual ground motions in longer period (> 1 sec) SDF systems. Furthermore, the inertial base shear exceeds the structural base shear in the median by 10% to 20% and may exceed the structural …

Design And Wind Tunnel Testing Of Cal Poly's Amelia 10 Foot Span Hybrid Wing-Body Low Noise Cestol Aircraft, Kristina K. Jameson, David D. Marshall, Robert Ehrmann, Eric Paciano, Rory Golden, Dave Mason

Aerospace Engineering

California Polytechnic Corporation, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), and DHC Engineering collaborated on a NASA NRA to develop and validate predictive capabilities for the design and performance of Cruise Efficient, Short TakeOff and Landing (CESTOL) subsonic aircraft. In addition, a large scale wind tunnel effort to validate predictive capabilities for aerodynamic performance and noise during takeoff and landing has been undertaken.

The model, Advanced Model for Extreme Lift and Improved Aeroacoustics (AMELIA), was designed as a 100 passenger, N+2 generation, regional, CESTOL airliner with hybrid blended wingbody with circulation control. The model design was focused on fuelsavings and noise goals …

Mission Performance As Point Performance, Robert A. Mcdonald

Aerospace Engineering

The cruise or loiter performance of an aircraft is intimately tied to its wing loading (W/S) and its thrust to weight ratio (T/W). Paradoxically, mission performance is often not considered when these fundamental aircraft parameters are determined in conceptual design. In this research, the traditional constraint diagram is extended to include contours of range parameter. This point performance metric represents the mission performance capability of the aircraft without sizing the aircraft to a particular mission. This gives the designer an immediate and intuitive understanding of the tradeoff between the point and mission performance of the aircraft. This improved constraint diagram …

Differential Regulation Of Immature Articular Cartilage Compressive Moduli And Poisson's Ratios By In Vitro Stimulation With Igf-1 And Tgf-Β1, Gregory M. Williams, Kristin J. Dills, Christian R. Flores, Michael E. Stender, Kevin M. Stewart, Lauren M. Nelson, Albert C. Chen, Koichi Masuda, Scott J. Hazelwood, Stephen M. Klisch, Robert L. Sah

Biomedical Engineering

Mechanisms of articular cartilage growth and maturation have been elucidated by studying composition-function dynamics during in vivo development and in vitro culture with stimuli such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). This study tested the hypothesis that IGF-1 and TGF-β1 regulate immature cartilage compressive moduli and Poisson’s ratios in a manner consistent with known effects on tensile properties. Bovine calf articular cartilage from superficial-articular (S) and middle-growth (M) regions were analyzed fresh or following culture in medium with IGF-1 or TGF-β1. Mechanical properties in confined (CC) and unconfined (UCC) compression, cartilage matrix composition, and explant …

Design Of A Low-Cost Underwater Acoustic Modem, Bridget Benson, Ying Li, Brian Faunce, Kenneth Domond, Don Kimball, Curt Schurgers, Ryan Kastner

Electrical Engineering

There has been an increasing interest in creating short-range, low data rate, underwater wireless sensor networks for scientific marine exploration and monitoring. However, the lack of an inexpensive, underwater acoustic modem is preventing the proliferation of these sensor networks. Thus, we are building an underwater acoustic modem starting with the most critical component from a cost perspective-the transducer. The design substitutes a commercial transducer with a homemade transducer using cheap piezoceramic material and builds the rest of the modem's components around the properties of the transducer to extract as much performance as possible. This letter describes the high level design, …

Differential Regulation Of Immature Articular Cartilage Compressive Moduli And Poisson’S Ratios By In Vitro Stimulation With Igf-1 And Tgf-Β1, Gregory M. Williams, Kristin J. Dills, Christian R. Flores, Michael E. Stender, Kevin M. Stewart, Lauren M. Nelson, Albert C. Chen, Koichi Masuda, Scott J. Hazelwood, Stephen M. Klisch, Robert L. Sah

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanisms of articular cartilage growth and maturation have been elucidated by studying composition-function dynamics during in vivo development and in vitro culture with stimuli such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). This study tested the hypothesis that IGF-1 and TGF-β1 regulate immature cartilage compressive moduli and Poisson’s ratios in a manner consistent with known effects on tensile properties. Bovine calf articular cartilage from superficial-articular (S) and middle-growth (M) regions were analyzed fresh or following culture in medium with IGF-1 or TGF-β1. Mechanical properties in confined (CC) and unconfined (UCC) compression, cartilage matrix composition, and explant …

Subcritical Contraction For Improved Open-Channel Flow Measurement Accuracy With An Upward-Looking Advm, Daniel Howes, Charles M. Burt, Brett F. Sanders

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Acoustic Doppler velocity meters (ADVMs) provide an alternative to more traditional flow measurement devices and procedures such as flumes, weirs, and stage rating for irrigation and drainage canals. However, the requirements for correct calibration are extensive and complex. A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to design a subcritical rapidly varied flow contraction that provides a consistent linear relationship between the upward-looking ADVM sample velocity and the cross-sectional average velocity in order to improve ADVM accuracy without the need for in situ calibration. CFD simulations validated the subcritical contraction in a rectangular and trapezoidal cross section by showing …