Engineering Commons^™

Microporous Silicon Dioxide/Vycor Membranes For Gas Separation, Justin R. Barone

Theses

This study focused on producing membranes for molecular sieving of gases by reducing the pore size of an already existing membrane structure. To do this, SiO₂ was deposited inside the pores of a Vycor tube with initial pore diameter of 4 nm. The film deposition took place by a low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) process where diethylsilane (DES) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) were used as precursor gases. A counterflow reactant geometry was used where the precursor gases were flowed on both sides of the porous membrane. This deposition geometry gave higher selectivities and better mechanical stability. …

Vibration Control Of Robotic Modules Using Input Shaping Algorithm, Murat Eren

Theses

In this thesis, vibration control using input shaping algorithm is studied. Vibration Control of flexible structures is an important problem and has been an active research area. Different approaches have been developed for vibration control which can be divided roughly into feedback and feedforward methods. Feedback methods need measurements and on-line calculation of the controller outputs. Although feedback methods are generally more robust and have a number of well known performance advantages, proper use of feedforward control can also significantly improve the speed of response of the system.

Input shaping is one of these feedforward methods. It has been successfully …

Experimental Investigation Of Collisional Properties Of Spheres, Laurent Labous

Theses

We present experimental results on the collisional properties of spheres obtained through high-speed video analysis. An apparatus is built that produces collisions of spheres of various sizes with a wide range of impact, velocities and incidence angles.

Edge detection techniques are implemented to track the position of the spheres from frame to frame whereby the translational velocities may be computed. In order to determine the rotational velocities, small markers are imprinted on the surfaces of the spheres and also tracked and matched from one frame to the next.. From the pre and post collision kinematic data, three collisional properties are …

Three-Dimensional Stress Analysis Of The Femur With Prosthetic Hip Stem Utilizing Computed Tomography Scans Of The Femur For Geometry And Material Properties, Thomas J. Lavin

Theses

Three-dimensional finite element stress analyses of the femur with prosthesis hip stem were performed for two cases, one male and one female, using ideally bonded cemented titanium prostheses. Computed tomography data files were used to derive the three-dimensional femur geometry and material properties for each cortical bone element. The maximum shear stress (4.7 MPa) in the cement was greater then the maximum tensile stress and occurred at the cement-bone interface. The tensile stresses in the cement were less then the fatigue strength of the cement. The stress patterns were quite similar for the two cases.

A data analysis program was …

Optimization Of Ion-Exchange Chromotography With Multiple Gradient Inputs For Protein Separations, Tariq Mahmood

Theses

Gradient elution chromatography is an efficient technique for adjusting the retention of sample components during liquid chromatographic separations. However, the optimization of gradient elution is usually done by trial and error. Thus, for large scale processes this results in expensive and time consuming design and operations. Peak resolution that describes the degree of separation is a commonly used parameter for chromatographic processes. However, in processes where operating time and product dilution are of great importance, resolution alone is not adequate for describing the separation efficiency.

A new parameter "resolution optimization factor" is used for the optimization of gradient elution processes. …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Silicon Dioxide Thin Films By Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition, Sutham Niyomwas

Theses

Ditertiarybutylsilane ( DTBS ) and oxygen have been used as precursors to produce silicon dioxide films by low pressure chemical vapor deposition. These films were synthesized in the temperature range of 600°C to 800°C at constant pressure, and at different gas flow composition. The films were found to be uniform with a composition that varied with deposition temperature and gas flow ratio. The growth rate was found to follow an Arrhenius behavior with an apparent activation energy of 2.62 kcal/mol. The growth rate was seen to increase with higher distance between wafers and to vary as a function of square …

Modeling Of Objects Using Planar Facets In Noisy Range Images, Girish Phansalkar

Theses

Products designed and manufactured before the advent of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technology have not been documented electronically. To avoid the laborious procedure of redesigning the parts, a reverse engineering approach can be adopted. This approach involves, taking a picture of the object and constructing a solid model from the image data.

Range image is a three dimensional image of an object or a scene. This image can be obtained from special cameras, called range image cameras, or can be constructed from the Coordinate Measuring Machine's (CMM) output data. Adaptive Fuzzy c-Elliptotype (AFC) clustering algorithm …

Experimental Study Of The Rise Of A Large Sphere In A Vibrated Bed Of Monodisperse Spheres, Loic Vanel

Theses

As a simplified way to study size segregation mechanisms, the rise of a single large sphere in a vibrated bed of smaller monodisperse spheres is investigated. The time it takes for the ball to rise from the bottom of the bed to the surface is measured in a very wide range of vibration amplitude, frequency and acceleration. Rise regimes are identified and are classified according to the macroscopic behaviors displayed by the granular bed: heaping, convection without heaping and crystallization. The influence of the large sphere's size on the rise velocity is described. The scaling features of the vibration amplitude …

Relaxation And The Nature Of Electrical Stress Related Defects In Ultra-Thin Dioxide On Silicon, Lihui Xie

Theses

The instability of defects created in ultra-thin insulator, metal-oxide-silicon devices biased in the direct tunnel regime is investigated. For the case of electron injection from the silicon substrate, nearly complete defect relaxation is observed after the bias is removed, allowing the possibility of re-generating the defects. Modeling the defect generation process and examining differences between initial and subsequent degradation periods lead to an improved picture of both the relaxation process and the nature of the involved defects.

A Student Training Manual For Running The Hysim Computer Simulation Program, Roberta Rosty

Theses

Hyprotech's HYSIM computer simulation program is used in the chemical processing industry (CPI) to simulate unit operations, which aid in the design of various different kinds of processing plants. It is important then that chemical engineering students should gain early exposure to a simulation program such as HYSIM, in order to facilitate their comprehension of process engineering design work using this type of program, and to bridge the gap between the textbook knowledge they gain of unit operations in the classroom with some of the actual process engineering work-a-day methods available for solving problems.

The objective of this work was …

Design Of A Low-Cost, One-Way, Wireless Digital Communication System, Kristopher L. Young

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Spider: An Overview Of An Object-Oriented Distributed Computing System, Han-Sheng Yuh

Theses Digitization Project

The Spider Project is an object-oriented distributed system which provides a testbed for researchers in the Department of Computer Science, CSUSB, to conduct research on distributed systems.

Design And Implemetation Of Internet Mail Servers With Embedded Data Compression, Alka Nand

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Two-Phase Flow In Microchannels, Roger Scott Stanley

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate fluid mechanic and heat transfer characteristics of two-phase two-component flow in rectangular microchannels. Experiments were conducted using rectangular aluminum channels with hydraulic diameters ranging between 56 $\mu$m and 256 $\mu$m and aspect ratios which varied from 0.5 to 1.5. Both single- and two-phase tests were conducted using water and gaseous argon, helium, and nitrogen as the working fluids. The Reynolds number for both types of experiments ranged from approximately 50 to nearly 10,000. The Nusselt number ranged between 0.0002 and 70. The single- and two-phase experimental data were empirically correlated, using parameters …

An Investigation Of The Hydrodynamic Effects Of Enteromorpha Clathrata Fouling On Hydrofoils, Brian J. Collino

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of biological fouling on hydrofoils. NACA 4412 and 4415 hydrofoil models with 6 inch chord and 8 inch span were used in this study. A water tunnel facility was designed and constructed to perform the tests, and the results were verified using computational fluid dynamic modeling. The CFD software package Fluent was used to create a two dimensional model of the water tunnel test section and hydrofoil. The model was meshed using a Laplacian grid smoothing technique that forced the structured grid lines to follow the same approximate contour as …

Telecourse And Traditional Computer Applications : Exploring The Impact Of Review Sessions, Carol Odette Bourke

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of review sessions on student achievement and retention in a computer applications course taught by televised distance learning and traditional instruction. Identified within the study were method of instruction, review, and grades in televised and traditional computer applications courses. A quasi-experimental design was used to measure the effects of review sessions on student achievement and retention in computer applications classes. Intact classes were used to form the 4 groups used in this study. Randomization was limited to choices students made in registering for the classes. The control groups for this …

Studies Of Far-Infrared/Submillimeter P-Type Germanium Laser, Kijun Park

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A novel p-Ge laser at 165-205 μm wavelengths in Voigt configuration using a regular permanent magnet has been developed and is described here. The necessary magnetic field is provided by a permanent magnet for the first time. Experiments with the traditional, Faraday-configured, superconducting magnet are performed for comparison. Emission is observed over a wider range of electric-field magnitude in Voigt configuration at a· given magnetic field than in Faraday configuration. The spectral response of several different inductive metal meshes for use as output couplers is presented. The widest electric-and magnetic-field range for laser emission was found using a #750 copper …

The Effect Of Varying Temperature, Flux And Pretreatment On The Microfiltration Of Lake Michigan Water, Karen Linda Kopp

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated microfiltration of Lake Michigan Water for the production of drinking water. A 60 gpm Memcor microfiltration pilot plant was operated for nine months at Manitowoc, Wisconsin to determine and model the performance characteristics of a microfiltration pilot plant for varying surface water conditions. Statistical regression and modeling was used to determine and develop quantitative relationships between time of operation and several operational variables for water quality and productivity. Modifications of Darcy's Law and flux decline data were used to develop a model relating temperature and flux to cleaning frequency. Statistical hypothesis testing and associated modeling were used …

Simulating Migration Of Contaminated Sediments In The Lower Columbia Slough System, Min Chen

Dissertations and Theses

Recent screening-level risk assessment of Slough sediments initiated by the City of Portland identified five contaminated areas in the Slough as posing the greatest potentially significant risks to human health. These five areas were recommended for accelerated remedial action.

But one question remains, does the sediment contamination at these hot spots change over time in response to the changing Slough hydrodynamics? Specifically, will the contamination move or spread even before remedial action is taken? Will they still be there by the time when potential remedial action is taken? Will any new hot spots be created in response to nonuniform transient …

New Approaches To Column Compatibility Checking And Column-Based Input/Output Encoding For Curtis Decompositions Of Completely Or Incompletely Specified Switching Functions, Michael A. Burns

Dissertations and Theses

Cube calculus is an algebraic model used to process boolean functions. Cube calculus operations are widely used in logic optimization, logic synthesis, image processing and recognition, machine learning, and other applications which require massive logic operations.

The cube calculus operations can be carried out on general-purpose computers. Since these operations can involve several levels of nested loops, this approach has poor performance.

A cube calculus machine which has a special data path designed to speed up cube calculus operations is presented in this thesis. This c-qbe calculus machine can execute cube calculus operations 10 to 25 times faster than the …

The Treatment Of Vegetable Processing Waste Water Using A Pilot Scale Sequencing Batch Reactor Activated Sludge Process, Peter Hassett

Theses

The SBR process is a discontinuous, unsteady state process and has developed popularity in many countries assisted by reliable control technology for example programmable logic control. A typical SBR installation achieves equalisation, aeration and clarification of batches of wastewater on a timed sequence in one basin. This is in contrast to a volume sequenced process such as the conventional continuous stirred tank reactor where individual treatment objectives are met in separate basins. Advantages include, flexability, minimum energy input, consistent effluent quality and inhibition of filament organism growth by properly controlling substrate concentration and aeration sequences. Nitrification, denitrification and Bio-P removal …

A Design Of A Marine Radar Mast System For Minimum Vibration, Suey-Yueh Hu

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This experimental research focused on four areas: (a) the design of a new procedure for imitating the dynamic behavior of an electronic base plate on a radar mast system; (b) determination of a reasonable oscillation modal state; (c) avoidance of the destruction of the ability of the radar on the mast of a ship to receive and analyze incoming signals; and (d) design of a vibration absorber and vibration isolator based on an oscillation frequency. An adapted design for the vibration absorber and vibration isolator contributed to the prevention of excessive amplitude being produced by random forces acting upon a …

The Effects Of Machining On Structure And Tribological Properties Of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene For Artificial Joint Prostheses, Jinshan Song

Masters Theses

Understanding the effect of machining on the structure and property of subsurface layer of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) can significantly facilitate the increase in longevity of artificial joints. This study was performed to investigate the machining effects on the polymeric structure and tribological properties. Machining parameters include cutting speed, tool feed rate and depth of cut. Temperature rise was studied during machining to assess the extent of thermal degradation due to machining. Polymeric structure of the semicrystalline polymer was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in terms of melting enthalpy, crystallinity and melting temperature. Surface texture and hardness …

An Investigation Of Mechanical Properties Of Composites Containing Recycled Rubber Particles, Ryan C. Archey

Masters Theses

In order to promote applications of recycled automobile tires, composite materials of recycled rubber tire particles with ethylene co-vinyl acetate (EVA), polybutadiene (PB), and Primacor were studied in the thesis. The composites were processed using a single screw extruder and a pelletizer. Compression molding was used to form specimens for hardness and impact tests. Mechanical properties of the composites were investigated in terms of tensile strength, percent elongation, Durometer hardness, and impact energy.

In this study, the content of recycled rubber was between 0 and 40 percent. Various matrices were processed using a combination of EVA, PB, or Primacor to …

Avoiding User Discomfort By Considering Paging Activity On The Workstations To Be Used By A Distributed Progam, Khalid Dawood Al-Dajani

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of The Optical Properties Of Ordered Semiconductor Materials, Jack E. Mccrae Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Optical studies have been conducted upon CdGeAs₂ and ZnGeP₂, two of the most promising semiconductors being developed for mid-infrared non-linear optics applications. These experiments included photoluminescence (PL) studies of both compounds as well as photoreflectance (PR) measurements upon CdGeAs₂. In addition, Hall effect measurements were carried out upon CdGeAs₂, to aid in interpretation of the optical data. PL was measured as a function of laser power, sample temperature, and crystal orientation for CdGeAs₂. One broad weak peak near 0.38 eV, and another somewhat narrower and often far brighter peak near 0.57 …

Manual Tracking Flight Control With Amplitude And Rate Constrained Dynamic Actuators, Russel B. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

A new control methodology for manual flight control, viz., real-time tracking control, is developed. Amplitude and rate constrained dynamic actuators are considered. Optimal tracking control is made possible by the use of unique reference signal prediction strategies which extrapolate the reference signal over the optimization horizon. A receding horizon, linear-quadratic inner-loop controller is employed in conjunction with an outer-loop nonlinear element. The constraint effects mitigation strategy is to optimally track a modified reference signal which yields feasible actuator commands over the optimization horizon when the pilot demanded reference is too aggressive to be tracked by the inner-loop optimal control law. …

An Analysis Of Printed Circuit Boards During Reflow Soldering., Paul Barry

Theses

Electronic manufacturing is currently one of the fastest growing industrial areas. This is due to the rapid advances in the computer and telecommunications sectors. Due to these advances, new surface mount devices have been developed to achieve greater miniaturisation at lower costs. As a result, a new surface mount technology has been developed to mount these devices onto printed circuit boards. However, problems exist with aspects of this process, principally open solder joints which result from circuit board warpage. The aim of this thesis is to undertake a) both an experimental and theoretical investigation of the reflow solder process and …

Environmental Industrial Auditing In An Egyptian Textile Industry, Ahmed Reda El Sotouhy

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Diamond For Fiber-Optic Raman Spectroscopy, Jianli Zheng

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique for molecular structural studies and concentration measurement. Being a single beam technique, the Raman intensity depends on the optical power of the excitation source, optical alignment of the system, detector response as well as species concentration. To eliminate the unwanted variations in the system and get the concentration information of the species, intensity referencing is necessary. The existing referencing methods either use a constant Raman band of the sample, or add a chemically inert material with known concentration into the sample. Unfortunately, the former method is not always applicable and the latter is not …