Engineering Commons^™

Product Evaluation For Soil Erosion Control And Plant Growth Enhancement, C. Earl Isrealsen, Gilberto Urroz

Reports

Introduction: Manufacturers in the developed countries of the world continue to formulate new and better products for controlling soil erosion. Only by careful comparative testing of such products is it possible to determine their relative merits. In the test facility at the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), the variables of wind, sunlight, soil, hillslope, and rainfall rate and duration can all be independently controlled, thus providing an ideal location for determining the actual effectiveness of various kinds of erosion control products. Many companies are availing themselves of the opportunity to accurately compare their products at the UWRL with other similar …

Pipelining Data Compression Algorithms, R. L. Bailey, R. Mukkamala

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Many different data compression techniques currently exist. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Combining (pipelining) multiple data compression techniques could achieve better compression rates than is possible with either technique individually. This paper proposes a pipelining technique and investigates the characteristics of two example pipelining algorithms. Their performance is compared with other well-known compression techniques.

Development Of Mountain Climate Generator And Snowpack Model For Erosion Predictions In The Western United States Using Wepp, Reserach Completion Report For Phase Ii, David S. Bowles, Gail E. Bingham, Upmanu Lall, David G. Tarboton, Mohammed Al Adhami, Donald T. Jensen, Greg D. Mccurdy

Reports

Executive Summary: This report summarizes work conducted during the funding period (July 1 through September 30, 1990) of a Cooperative Agreement between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), Utah State University. The purpose of the agreement is to develop a Western Mountain Climate Generator (MCLIGEN) similar in function to the existing Climate Generator (CLIGEN), which is part of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) procedure. Also, we are developing a Western U.S. snowpack simulation model for inclusion in WEPP. In the Western U.S., few meteorological observations exist in high elecation areas where Forest …

Development Of Mountain Climate Generator And Snowpack Model For Erosion Predictions In The Western United States Using Wepp, Progress Report No. 2, David S. Bowles, Gail E. Bingham, Upmanu Lall, David G. Tarboton, Mohammed Al Adhami, Donald T. Jensen, Greg D. Mccurdy

Reports

Executive Summary: This report summarizes work conducted during the funding period (July 1 through September 30, 1990) of a Cooperative Agreement between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), Utah State University. The purpose of the agreement is to develop a Western Mountain Climate Generator (MCLIGEN) similar in function to the existing Climate Generator (CLIGEN), which is part of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) procedure. Also, we are developing a Western U.S. snowpack simulation model for inclusion in WEPP. In the Western U.S., few meteorological observations exist in high elevation areas where Forest …

Development Of Mountain Climate Generator And Snowpack Model For Erosion Predictions In The Western United States Using Wepp, Progress Report No. 1, David S. Bowles, Gail E. Bingham, Upmanu Lall, David L. Martens, Greg D. Mccurdy, David G. Tarboton

Reports

Executive Summary: This report summarizes work conducted during the initial funding period (November 1, 1989 through June 30, 1990) of a Cooperative Agreement between the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Utah Water Research Laboratory (UWRL), Utah State University. The purpose of the agreement is to develop a procedure for incorporating western mountain climate into the existing Climate Generator (CLIGEN), which is part of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) procedure. In the Western U.S., few meteorological observations exist in high elevation areas where Forest Service properties are located. Therefore, a procedure for estimating climatological variables in mountainous areas …

Pep Property Estimation Program And Chemical Property Database, William J. Doucette, Mark S. Holt

Reports

PEP Overview

A property Estimation Program (PEP), utilizing MCI-property, TSA-property and property correlations and UNIFAC-derived activity coefficients, has been developed for the Apple Macintosh microcomputer to provide the user with several approaches to estimate S, Kow, Pv, H, Koc, and BCF depending on the information available.

Structural information required for the MCi and UNIFAC calculation routines can be entered using either Simplified Molecular Identification and Line Entry System (SMILES) notation or connection tables generated with commercially available two-dimensional drawing programs. The TSA module accepts 3-D atomic coordinates entered manually or directly reads coordinate files generated by molecular modeling software. The …

Exeis, Expert Screening And Optimal Extraction/Injection Pumping Systems For Short-Term Plume Immobilization, R. L. Ward, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This report presents the EXEIS family of micro-computer based programs for achieving short-term contaminant plume containment. EXEIS is applicable if contaminated water cannot be extracted and water cannot be imported to or exported from the site. There are two main purposes and types of users. For persons relatively unfamiliar with groundwater remedial actions, an expert screening system gives guidance concerning whether extraction/injection (Eli) pumping, slurry wall or sheet piling are most appropriate. For personal more experienced in remedial actions, management models compute optimal E/I strategies for short-term containment. Via deterministic and stochastic multiobjective optimization models, uncertainty in both planning horizon …

Optimal Conjunctive Use Of Ground And Surface Waters, Richard C. Peralta, A. Gharbi, L. S. Willardson, A. W. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Conjunctive water management involves coordinating the use of groundwater and surface water in time and in space. The water sources might or might not be in hydraulic connection with each other. In this chapter, conjunctive water use involves the combined use of surface and groundwater to supply crop water needs.

Two simplified examples of conjunctive use follow. Farmer Allen uses river water to irrigate his crops. In dry years, with below average stream flow, his surface water supply is severely limited by late summer. To augment this surface water supply, he pumps groundwater. In wet years, when the surface water …

Conjunctive Water Use/Sustained Groundwater Yield Planning: Case History, A. R. Yar, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A methodology for computing perennial ground-water yield and conjunctive water use strategies is presented, using the Arkansas Grand Prairie as a case study. This includes development and use of an optimization model for computing sustainable ground-water pumping strategies and a post-processor for allocating ground-water and surface water supplies in time and space. The optimization model utilizes embedded finite difference flow equations as constraints and bounds on pumping, recharge and potentiometric head. Computed conjunctive use strategies will maintain, as much as possible, the existing stressed potentiometric surface. They will also assure at least 6 meters of saturated thickness in all locations …

Measurement Of Magnetic Fluctuations By O-X Mode Conversion, L. L. Vahala, G. Vahala, N. Bretz

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The possibility of measuring magnetic fluctuations in a fusion plasma is considered by examining the O→X mode conversion. Under certain conditions and with good angular resolution, this mode conversion can be attributed to the presence of magnetic fluctuations even though the level of these fluctuations is much lower than that of density fluctuations. Some nonideal effects such as mode polarization mismatch at the plasma edge are also discussed.

Dealing With Heat & Humidity In Florida Homes, Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Energy conservation is the solution to the problem of high electric bills. Much is known about home heating conservation, but conservation measures for cooling are not as well-known or widely practiced. This energy note focuses on heat and humidity sources that cause Floridians to run their air conditioners. It also presents conservation techniques that will reduce those air-conditioning requirements.

Discussion Of The Representation Of Intercrystalline Misorientation In Cubic Materials, Brent L. Adams, Hans Grimmer, Junwu Zhao

Faculty Publications

BLA and JZ acknowledge the support of the Office of Basic Energy Science of the US Department of Energy under grant No. DE-FG02-88ER45355. Help from Stuart Wright with the figures is gratefully acknowledged. Salient features of various parameterizations of cubic-cubic misorientation are discussed. It is proposed that the quaternion representation of rotations, as a pair of antipodal points on the surface of a four-dimensional sphere, encompasses the most desirable properties of other proposed representations, viz rectilinearity, a closed form for the composition of successive rotations, and an equivalence between the Euclidean measure on its parameter space and the invariant measure …

A Review Of Recent Advances In Economic Dispatch, Badrul H. Chowdhury, S. Rahman

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A survey is presented of papers and reports that address various aspects of economic dispatch. The time period considered is 1977-88. Four related areas of economic dispatch are identified and papers published in the general areas of economic dispatch are classified into these. These areas are: optimal power flow, economic dispatch in relation to AGC, dynamic dispatch, and economic dispatch with nonconventional generation sources.

Increased Separation By Variable-Temperature Stepwise Desorption In Multicomponent Adsorption Processes, Suvit Kulvaranon, Marshall E. Findley, Athanasios I. Liapis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

When more components than desired are adsorbed, adsorption-desorption separation processes may not be satisfactory. However, in the cases of ethanol and water adsorption on activated carbon, propane and propylene adsorption on molecular sieves, and hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and propane adsorption on molecular sieves, it has been found that a variable-temperature stepwise desorption (VTSD) procedure following the adsorption stage can significantly increase the degree of separation achieved compared to a complete desorption of all adsorbed components. Studies indicate that these increased separations are in part due to nonequilibrium effects. An estimation of economic factors in separating low concentration propylene in …

Exergy Analysis - A Different Perspective On Energy Part 2: Rational Efficiency And Some Examples Of Energy, Jim Mcgovern

Articles

The concept of exergy having been introduced in the first part of this paper, a universal rational efficiency is now defined and a number of examples of exergy analyses is given.

Robust Nonlinear Control Of Brushless Dc Motors For Direct-Drive Robotic Applications, N. Hemati, J. S. Thorp, Ming-Chuan Leu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The control problem associated with brushless DC motors (BLDCMs) for direct-drive robotic applications is considered. In order to guarantee the high-performance operation of BLDCMs in such applications, the effects of reluctance variations and magnetic saturation are accounted for in the model. Such a BLDCM model constitutes a highly coupled and nonlinear dynamic system. Using the transformation theory of nonlinear systems, a feedback control law, which is shown to compensate for the system nonlinearities, is derived. Conditions under which such a control law is possible are presented. The need for the derivation of explicit commutation strategies is eliminated, resulting in reduction …

A Differential Equation Approach To Swept Volumes, Ming-Chuan Leu, Denis Blackmore

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An approach to the analysis of swept volumes is introduced. It is shown that every smooth Euclidean motion or sweep, can be identified with a first-order, linear, ordinary differential equation. This sweep differential equation provides useful insights into the topological and geometrical nature of the swept volume of an object. A certain class, autonomous sweeps, is identified by the form of the associated differential equation, and several properties of the swept volumes of the members of this class are analyzed. The results are applied to generate swept volumes for a number of objects. Implementation of the sweep differential equation approach …

Planning Optimal Robot Trajectories By Cell Mapping, W. H. Zhu, Ming-Chuan Leu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A cell-mapping method is introduced for planning global trajectories of robotic manipulators in cases where the cell space is composed of combination pairs of plane cells. With the proposed method, optimal trajectory problems in the free field and in the obstacle-constrained field are studied. Two numerical examples are given to show the obtained optimal trajectories and controls.

A Two-Dimensional Analog Vlsi Circuit For Detecting Discontinuities In Early Vision, John G. Harris, Christof Koch, Jin Luo

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A large number of computer vision algorithms for finding intensity edges, computing motion, depth, and color, and recovering the three-dimensional shape of objects have been developed within the framework of minimizing an associated "energy" or "cost" functional. Particularly successful has been the introduction of binary variables coding for discontinuities in intensity, optical flow field, depth, and other variables, allowing image segmentation to occur in these modalities. The associated nonconvex variational functionals can be mapped onto analog, resistive networks, such that the stationary voltage distribution in the network corresponds to a minimum of the functional. The performance of an experimental analog …

Thermoelastic Problem Of A Thick Orthotopic Beam On Twodirectiooal Elastic Foundation, Victor Birman

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The thermoelastic problem of an orthotropic beam supported by an elastic foundation which resists lateral deformations as well as displacements parallel to the beam axis is considered. The solution for a relatively thick beam is obtained based on the first-order shear deformation theory. The problem is reduced to- the solution of an ordinary seventh-order differential equation which can be obtained in the closed form. The case of a slender beam is treated as a particular case of a more general solution for a shear deformable beam. © 1990 ASME.

Boundary Element-Image Method Approach To Seismic Modeling, Richard E. Dubroff

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Boundary Element-Image Method is Proposed as a Method for Generating Synthetic Seismograms in a System of Piecewise Homogeneous Layers. the Present Approach Uses the Boundary Conditions Explicitly in Order to Develop a System of Integral Equations. Although This Method Can Be Formulated in a General Way, Specific Computational Advantages Occur When the Basis and Testing Functions Are Chosen as Harmonically Related Complex Sinusoids. -From Authors

A Study Of The Hydration Properties Of Selected Laser Dye Aerosols Including Continuous-Flow Parallel Plate And Alternating-Gradient Thermal Diffusion Cloud Chamber Measurements In The High Supersaturation Regime, Donald E. Hagen, Max B. Trueblood, Darryl J. Alofs

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Hydration Behavior of Aerosols made Up of Various Fluorescent Dyes when Exposed to Water Saturation or Supersaturated Conditions Has Been Studied. Critical Supersaturation Spectra Are Reported. the Dyes Are Found to Behave as High Molecular Weight Ionic Compounds that Obey Kohler Theory. their Relevant Kohler Parameters Are Measured. This Study Makes Use of and Compares Results from the Isothermal Hazecontinuous-Flowand Alternating-Gradient Thermal Diffusion Cloud Chambers. the Ability of the Continuous-Flow Thermal Diffusion Chamber to Operate Correctly at High Supersaturations is Shown. © 1990 Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.

Oxidation-Reduction Behavior Of Undoped And Sr-Doped Lamno3: Defect Structure, Electrical Conductivity, And Thermoelectric Power, J. H. Kuo, Harlan U. Anderson, Don M. Sparlin

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity measurements were performed for undoped and Sr-doped LaMnO₃ as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. The results of electrical conductivity showed typical p-type behavior. As reduction proceeded, the electrical conductivity of these LaMnO₃-based perovskites decreased with P 1 4O₂. The analysis of the electrical conductivity data was performed by extending the defect model from a previous thermogravimetric (TG) study. The measured Seebeck coefficients were found to be positive except for the most reducing conditions when the decomposition into multiple phases occurred. The Heikes formula was adopted to interpret …

A Balancing Method For Reduced Order Modelling Of Unstable Systems, Rajiva Prakash, Vittal S. Rao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Moore's balancing method of model reduction has many attractive properties and is used widely in practice. However, this method suffers from the drawback that it is not applicable for unstable systems. This paper introduces a balancing method of model reduction to overcome this problem. The proposed technique obtains the reduced order model by balancing and truncating frequency domain controllability and observability Gramians. Analytical treatment is given for associated properties of the Gramians, and the balancing and truncation steps of model reduction. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the new approach. © 1990.

Fixed Mode Elimination In Decentralized Control Systems Using Eigenvalue Sensitivities, Jorge R.B. Souza, Vittal S. Rao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The knowledge of fixed modes plays an important role in the design of decentralized controllers for large scale systems. An approach based on a parametric sensitivity of eigenvalues is proposed to select the information to be exchanged between control stations in order to eliminate decentralized fixed modes. The procedure is illustrated with an example. © 1990.

Growth Of Cdte And Cds/Cdte Heterojunctions On Metal Substrates By Spray Pyrolysis, Alok K. Berry, Jack L. Boone, Thomas P. Van Doren

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Preliminary results of the spray pyrolysis of thin films of CdTe on metal substrates are reported. The films are hard and adhere well to the substrate. A n-CdS/p-CdTe rectifying junction is also grown completely by spray pyrolysis on the metallic substrate. The ability to produce p-n junctions using the inexpensive and simple procedure of spray pyrolysis may lead to a viable process for mass production of solar cells. © 1990.

Bundled Cable Parameters And Their Impact On Emi Measurement Repeatability, Todd H. Hubing

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

EMI (electromagnetic interference) test procedures specify that long cables should be bundled at their center in some circumstances. The author investigates the effect of cable bundling using analytical models and measurements. He examines how cable bundle parameters such as length and "tightness'' can affect the repeatability of the measurement. Simple models of a bundled cable suggest that relatively small changes in the geometry of the bundle can significantly affect the common-mode cable current. Parameters such as length, tightness, location and the number of turns determine the impedance of the bundle. As the impedance of the cable bundle changes, the resonant …

Analysis Of Wind Power Integration With Power System Planning, Badrul H. Chowdhury

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Central Station Photovoltaic Plant On Power System Security, Badrul H. Chowdhury

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The value of photovoltaic (PV) plants to electric utilities is investigated under constraints of power system security. It is suggested that the generally adopted methods of analysis for determining the capacity credit, energy displacement, and production cost savings due to the PV plants have neglected the adverse conditions that may arise out of a random preselection of a substation where PV power is injected into the system. The author presents an extensive approach to determining the realistic value of a PV plant to the utility. The method consists of using a power flow algorithm to determine system conditions under specific …

Aisi Lrfd Method For Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, Ling En Hsiao, Wei-Wen Yu, Theodore V. Galambos

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In the design of steel buildings, the allowable stress design (ASD) method has long been used for cold-formed steel structural members in the United States Recently, the load and resistance factor design (LRFD) criteria have been developed for steel buildings using hot-rolled shapes and built-up members fabricated from steel plates In order to develop load and resistance factor design (LRFD) criteria for cold-formed steel structural members, a joint research project is conducted at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Washington University, and the University of Minnesota under the sponsorship of the American Iron and Steel Institute Based on the 1986 edition of …