Engineering Commons^™

Behavior Of Gamma Tial Subjected To Impact Damage And Elevated Temperature Fatigue, Trevor S. Harding, J. Wayne Jones

Materials Engineering

Gamma titanium aluminide has received significant attention in recent years as a candidate material for use in aerospace and industrial gas turbine engine applications. In particular, these materials offer significant weight reductions (densities are less than half that of nickel-based superalloys), high specific strength retention at elevated temperature and high specific stiffness which is particularly important in vibrating components such as blades. This combination of weight savings and good mechanical properties has led to the possibility that γ-TiAl may be a suitable replacement for nickel-based alloys, such as Inconel 718, in low pressure turbine blades without significant redesign of the …

An Assessment Of Building Energy Efficiency Options At Horn Island Ranger Station, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida Solar Energy Center, Stephen Barkaszi

FSEC Energy Research Center®

As requested by Joe Martin of the National Park Service (NPS), Southeast Support Office, researchers from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) conducted a building energy efficiency assessment for the ranger station on Horn Island, Mississippi. The assessment included audits and inspections of the energy systems, building thermal performance, appliances, and energy use patterns. FSEC researchers Stephen Barkaszi and John Harrison conducted the audits and on-site inspections June 29 and June 30, 1999. The purpose of the assessment was to evaluate the facility and to present recommendations for improving the energy efficiency of the building. This report summarizes the information …

Method And System For Gas Metal Arc Welding, Yuming Zhang, Liguo E

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

An improved method of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is disclosed. The method includes utilizing a pulsed current having a variable waveform to ensure the detachment of one-droplet-per-pulse of current. During the welding process, the current is sufficient to produce a droplet at the end of a consumable electrode wire. After the droplet reaches a desired size, the current is lowered to induce an oscillation in the droplet. The current is then increased which, in combination with the momentum created by the oscillation, effects droplet detachment. The oscillation may be monitored by observing the arc voltage to determine a preferred …

Lead-Free Interconnection For Electronic Devices, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

An electronic device that is equipped with a plurality of bonding pads positioned on the device for making electrical interconnections and electrically conductive composite bumps adhered to the bonding pads wherein the bumps are formed of a composite material consisting of a thermoplastic polymer and at least about 30 volume percent of conductive metal particles based on the total volume of the metal particles and the thermoplastic polymer. The present invention is also directed to a method of making electrical interconnections to an electronic device by pressing a plurality of composite bumps of a polymeric based material against a substrate …

Results Using An Alternative Approach To Channel Equalization Using A Pattern Classification Strategy, Frank M. Caimi, Gamal A. Hassan

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

In underwater acoustic communication, (ACOMMs), ocean surface and bottom conditions create multi path propagation's for the transmitted signal that result in Inter symbol Interference (ISI) at the receiver. Generally, Equalization, Diversity IBeam forming, and Channel Coding are three independent techniques that are used to improve received signal quality. Equalization compensates for ISI created by a band-limited, time-dispersive channel through implementation of specialized filtering schemes within the receiver. The coefficients of the equalizer need to be continuously adjusted to compensate for the variability in the channel. Since the number of states required by the equalizer (or beam former) is finite, and …

Near-Band-Gap Cupt-Order-Induced Birefringence In Al0.48Ga0.52Inp2, Mathias Schubert, Tino Hofmann, Bernd Rheinlander, Ines Pietzonka, Torsten Sass, Volker Gottschalch, John A. Woollam

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

The order-induced birefringence in the near-band-gap spectral range (0.75 to 2.5 eV), and its dependence on the degree of ordering η is reported for Al_0.48Ga_0.52InP₂. Transmission and reflection generalized variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry, dark-field spectroscopy, and cross-polarized reflectance difference spectroscopy (CRDS) are used to determine precisely the room-temperature dielectric functions for polarization parallel and perpendicular to the ordering direction of a series of spontaneously CuPt-ordered samples grown by metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy. The CRDS technique is introduced as an approach to sense extremely weak anisotropy at oblique angles of incidence. The observed order birefringence is …

United States Patent: Method And System For Estimating The Tenderness Of A Meat Product, Maria Victoria Spadaro, Rosana Moreira, Jimmy Keeton, D. H. Allen

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

A method for estimating the tenderness of a meat product is provided. The method includes determining the stress relaxation coefficient of a meat sample. One or more physical parameters of the meat sample are then determined from the stress relaxation coefficient. Diagnostic sensory characterization data, such as a numerical estimation of the meat's overall tenderness, is then determined for the meat sample. The physical parameters are then correlated to the diagnostic sensory characterization data, to allow the diagnostic sensory characterization data to be estimated solely from the measured physical parameters.

Method For Testing Field Programmable Gate Arrays, Charles E. Stroud, Miron Abramovici

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

A method of testing field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) includes the step of configuring programmable logic blocks of the FPGAs for completing a built-in self-test. This is followed by the steps of initiating the built-in self-test, generating test patterns with the programmable logic blocks and analyzing a resulting response to produce a pass/fail indication with the programmable logic blocks. More specifically, the configuring step includes establishing a first group of programmable logic blocks as test pattern generators and output response analyzers and a second group of programmable logic blocks as blocks under test. The blocks under test are then repeatedly …

Method For Providing Discharge Protection Or Shielding, Ravi F. Saraf

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

Electrostatic discharge protection or electromagnetic interference shielding is provided by applying a composition comprising a thermoset or thermoplastic polymeric matrix, and a conductive filler component, where said filler component comprises electrically conductive particles and at least one conducting polymer to a dielectric substrate.

Development Of Rear-End Collision Avoidance In Automobiles, Uttamkumar Dravidam

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this work is to develop a Rear-End Collision Avoidance System for automobiles. In order to develop the Rear-end Collision Avoidance System, it is stated that the most important difference from the old practice is the fact that new design approach attempts to completely avoid collision instead of minimizing the damage by over-designing cars. Rear-end collisions are the third highest cause of multiple vehicle fatalities in the U.S. Their cause seems to be a result of poor driver awareness and communication. For example, car brake lights illuminate exactly the same whether the car is slowing, stopping or the …

Design And Implementation Of A Web Based Shop Floor Control System To Maintain Schedule Feasibility In A Dynamic Job Shop Environment, Anil Bommakanti

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effective control of production activities in dynamic job shop with predetermined resource allocation for all the jobs entering the system is a unique manufacturing environment, which exists in the manufacturing industry. In this thesis a framework for an Internet based real time shop floor control system for such a dynamic job shop environment is introduced. The system aims to maintain the schedule feasibility of all the jobs entering the manufacturing system under any circumstance. The system is capable of deciding how often the manufacturing activities should be monitored to check for control decisions that need to be taken on …

17th International Herman F. Mark Symposium: Polypropylene - A Material Of The Future, Otto Vogl, Helga Roder

Emeritus Faculty Author Gallery

No abstract provided.

12. Pierre Sigwalt, Otto Vogl

Emeritus Faculty Author Gallery

No abstract provided.

Internally Constrained Mixtures Of Elastic Continua, Stephen M. Klisch

Mechanical Engineering

A treatment of internally constrained mixtures of elastic continua at a common temperature is developed. Internal constraints involving the deformation gradient tensors and the common mixture temperature are represented by a constraint manifold, and an internally constrained mixture of elastic continua is associated with each unique equivalence class of unconstrained mixtures. The example of intrinsic incompressibility of each constituent first proposed by Mills is discussed.

Acuta Enews December 1999, Vol.28, No. 12

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

ACUTA to Recognize Member's Web Sites

ACUTA EVENTS

ACUTA Announces Online Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Newsletter

DC Update

Overheard on the Listserve............. Directory Assistance Direct Connect

Board Report

Welcome New Members

Positions Available

Prediction Of Lake-Level Changes For Various Climatic Scenarios Using A Water-Balance Model, Waubay Lakes Chain, Northeastern South Dakota (Task 2), Northern Great Plains Water Resources Research Center, Patrick J. Emmons

Civil and Environmental Engineering Reports and Manuals

From the Executive Summary:

The closed basins area, which includes parts of Day, Marshall, Roberts, Codington, and Clark Counties, in northeastern South Dakota, was declared a Federal Disaster Area in 1990. Under the sponsorship of Region 8 of the Federal Emergency management Agency, an interagency study team was formed to conduct an interdisciplinary scientific investigation of the flooding n the closed basins area. Agencies represented include Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, South Dakota State University, Natural Resources Conservation Service, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the South Dakota Geological Survey. …

Intervals (Pairs Of Fuzzy Values), Triples, Etc.: Can We Thus Get An Arbitrary Ordering?, Vladik Kreinovich, Masao Mukaidono

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Traditional fuzzy logic uses real numbers as truth values. This description is not always adequate, so in interval-valued fuzzy logic, we use pairs (t-,t+) of real numbers, t-<=t+, to describe a truth value. To make this description even more adequate, instead of using real numbers to described each value t- and t+, we can use intervals, and thus get fuzzy values which can be described by 4 real numbers each. We can iterate this procedure again and again. The question is: can we get an arbitrary partially ordered set in this manner? An arbitrary lattice? In this paper, we show that although we cannot thus generate arbitrary lattices, we can actually generate an arbitrary partially ordered set in this manner. In this sense, the "intervalization" operation is indeed universal.

Extracting Fuzzy Sparse Rule Base By Cartesian Representation And Clustering, Yeung Yam, Vladik Kreinovich, Hung T. Nguyen

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Sparse rule base and interpolation have been proposed as possible solution to alleviate the geometric complexity problem of large fuzzy set. However, no formal method to extract sparse rule base is yet available. This paper combines the recently introduced Cartesian representation of membership functions and a mountain method-based clustering technique for extraction. A case study is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

Public Perceptions Of The Midwest’S Pavements - Iowa - Phase Ii (State Wide Survey Report), Marquette University Research Team, Transportation Research Center

Transportation Research Center: Public Perception of Midwest Pavements

This report covers Phase II of a three-phase pooled-fund project in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, to determine the perception/satisfaction levels of the driving public and how they correlate with the states’ physical data bases used to determine priorities for pavement improvements on rural, two-lane highways. In addition, policy issues of trust and improvement trade-offs are addressed.

In Phase I, six focus groups were conducted in each state to determine the beliefs and issues about pavements that could be used to draft statewide questionnaires. Focus groups were held during the last half of 1996 in all three states. From the focus …

Development Of Cfd Algorithms For Transient And Steady Aerodynamics, Fergal Boyle [Thesis]

Other Resources

Research carried out in the United States and in Europe over the last 20 years has led to the development of the advanced propeller, a small-diameter, highly-loaded, multi-bladed, swept, variable-pitch propeller, that can achieve potential fuel savings of 30% over an equivalent technology turbofan engine at competitive speed and altitudes.

In this work an implicit finite-volume algorithm is developed for predicting the transient flow around an advanced propeller under asymmetric inflow conditions. The development of the unsteady propeller algorithm evolves from a family of methods for progressively more complex applications. In total six algorithms are developed: three steady and three …

Parametric Study Of Unsaturated Drainage Layers In A Capillary Barrier, C. E. Morris, J. C. Stormont

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Unsaturated drainage layers (UDLs) have been demonstrated to greatly increase the lateral diversion capacity of capillary barriers. The inclusion of a UDL allows native soils suitable for vegetation growth to be used as the finer soil as lateral drainage properties of the layer no longer need to be considered. A comprehensive numerical study was conducted to investigate the influence of the interface slope and the UDL material on the system’s ability to laterally divert downward moving moisture. A capillary barrier system with and without a UDL was simulated for 10 years using daily varying climatic data for three locations in …

A Summary Of Highway Revenues, Distributions, & Expenses For Indiana Counties, Cities & Towns 1999, John Habermann

Indiana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Publications

This report provides information on revenues, distributions, and expenses of state and local governments for highway, road, and street work. Since the Motor Vehicle Highway (MVH) and Local Road and Street (LRS) Accounts are the principal source of funds for local road or street construction and maintenance operations, this summary may be used to see the trends in income sources and in the expenses charged to the funds prior to their being distributed to the highway, road, and street agencies.

Comparison Of One-Dimensional And Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Modeling Approaches For Red River Basin, Sajjad Ahmad, Slobodan P. Simonovic

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A devastating flood in Red River valley in 1997 emphasized the need to study the flood control measures in the Red River basin using state of the art modeling tools. The Red River and its floodplains can be modeled using one-dimensional, quasi two-dimensional or fully two-dimensional hydrodynamic models. Each modeling approach has its own advantages and limitations. The main purpose of this report is a comparison between one-dimensional (or quasi two dimensional) and fully two-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling approaches for modeling floods in the Red River basin.

A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, MIKE 21, coupled with Geographic Information System (GIS) …

Dielectric Plug-Loaded Two-Port Transmission Line Measurement Technique For Dielectric Property Characterization Of Granular And Liquid Materials, K. Mubarak, R. Zoughi, Aaron D. Benally, Karl Joseph Bois, Larry F. Handjojo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

There are numerous dielectric property characterization techniques available in the microwave regime each with its own uniqueness, advantages and disadvantages. The two-port completely-filled waveguide (transmission line) technique is a robust measurement approach which is well suited for solid dielectric materials. In this case, the dielectric material can be relatively easily machined to fit inside the waveguide and the subsequent measurement of the scattering parameters of this two-port device renders the dielectric properties of the material filling the waveguide. However, this technique is not well suited for measuring the dielectric properties of granular and liquid materials. These materials are used in …

Investigation Of Inflection Points As Brace Points In Multi-Span Purlin Roof Systems, Michael R. Bryant, Thomas M. Murray

CCFSS Library (1939 - present)

No abstract provided.

Multimode Solution For The Reflection Properties Of An Open-Ended Rectangular Waveguide Radiating Into A Dielectric Half-Space: The Forward And Inverse Problems, R. Zoughi, Aaron D. Benally, Karl Joseph Bois

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Open-ended rectangular waveguides are extensively used in nondestructive dielectric material evaluation. The dielectric properties of an infinite-half space of a material are calculated from the measured reflection properties referenced to the waveguide aperture. This calculation relies on a theoretical and numerical derivation of the reflection coefficient likewise referenced to the waveguide aperture. Most of these derivations assume the dominant mode field distribution across the waveguide aperture. However, when dealing with low permittivity and low loss dielectric materials, there may exist significant errors when calculating the dielectric properties from the measured reflection coefficient. These errors have also shown to be more …

Aerospace Applications Of Soft Computing And Interval Computations (With An Emphasis On Multi-Spectral Satellite Imaging), Scott A. Starks, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

This paper presents a brief overview of our research in applications of soft computing and interval computations to aerospace problems, with a special emphasis on multi-spectralsatellite imaging.

Wide-Bandwidth Multi-Resolutional Analysis Of A Surface-Mounted Pm Synchronous Machine, S. D. Sudhoff, Jerry L. Tichenor, James L. Drewniak

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Advances in power semiconductor devices have led to inverters with unprecedented voltage edge rates. This has decreased inverter switching losses and enabled the use of increasingly higher switching frequencies. However, faster edge rates and higher switching frequencies increase electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problems, machine insulation stress, bearing currents, and other aspects of system design. Typical computer simulations used to design and evaluate proposed electric drive systems cannot be used to predict these high-frequency effects. A wide-bandwidth multi-resolutional analysis that allows designers to anticipate and quantify high-frequency effects is detailed in this paper. The approach is specifically applied to permanent magnet synchronous …

Work In Progress: Automating Proportion/Period Scheduling, David Steere, Jonathan Walpole, Calton Pu

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The recent effort to define middleware capable of supporting real-time applications creates the opportunity to raise the level of abstraction presented to the programmer. We propose that proportion/period is a better abstraction for specifying resource needs and allocation than priorities. We are currently investigating techniques to address some issues that are restricting use of proportion/period scheduling to research real-time prototypes. In particular, we are investigating techniques to automate the task of selecting proportion and period, and that allow proportion/period to incorporate job importance under overload conditions.

Artimis Telephone Travel Information Service: Overall Public Awareness, Lisa Aultman-Hall

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the results of a random telephone survey of households in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Area. The objective was to determine awareness of the traffic management center and its telephone travel information service. A secondary objective was to determine the public's preference for dialing and recalling phone numbers for travel information. The survey found that 39% were aware of a traffic management center while 55% were aware of a telephone traffic information service. Awareness varied by work location, household characteristics and personal attributes. Some households that could potentially benefit from the service were unaware of its …