Engineering Commons^™

Computer-Aided Planning For Automatic Assembly Of Printed Circuit Boards, Qin Xiang

Theses

A study of printed circuit board assembly in the context of process planning and optimization of assembly motion is presented. A knowledge-based system is developed utilizing software packages VP-Expert, dBase 3 for the Universal automatic assembly machines. The planning of time-optimal assembly motion falls into the travelling salesman problem whose solution is obtained using a composite algorithm. Branch-and-bound algorithm is also discussed for solving the travelling salesman problem.

Optical Isolation Of Single Board Computer For Use In High Electrical Noise Environments, Meng Xiao

Theses

This thesis describes various electrical noises, noise environments and noise effects for electronic logic circuitry. The optical isolator is introduced and its concept, classification and characteristics are discussed.

Various design considerations are reviewed: input forward current, reverse breakdown protection, threshold, current transfer ratio, isolation voltage, data rate, common mode rejection, CMOS compatibility, isolation resistance, isolation capacitance, temperature effect and cost.

A multi-channel optical isolated input/output interface board for 8052AH BASIC SBC is designed. It includes 16 input channels, 16 output channels, decoder circuit, latching circuit, PC895 interface and input protection circuit. The sample board has been built, tested in the …

Effects Of Fly Ash And Kiln Dust On The Compressive Strength Of Cement Mortar, Yitao Yu

Theses

Fly ash generated from coal-burning power plants has been an increasing problem to the utility company in terms of storage and disposal in compliance with the environmental regulations. Presently, fly ash has been widely used in the concrete mix. Research shows that fly ash can improve many properties of fresh and harden concrete. Landfill is another significant usage of fly ash. Usually, fly ash is stored in dry and weathered conditions. The properties of fly ashes from different sources and in different storage conditions are different.

In this research, the compressive strength of mortar containing cement replacement of Deep Hollow, …

Automatic Infrared Inspection Of Solder Joints On Mounted Circuit Boards, Ken Kekuan Zhou

Theses

This thesis reports the research work on automatic infrared and visual light inspections of solder joints on printed circuit boards (PCBs) utilizing an image processing system and statistical pattern recognition techniques.

A small scale image processing system, consisting of a SUN workstation and several DATACUBE modules, is set up for the research. Software packages for imaging, displaying and solder joint inspection are developed and ready for public usage.

The capability of infrared inspection for solder joints on PCBs is demonstrated. The fusing of infrared and visual light imagery for the inspection is shown to offer better results than that obtainable …

Design And Processing Of Micromechanical Sensor Devices, Zhixiong Joe Zhou

Theses

A multi-purpose cantilever beam and microbridge accelerometer structure has been designed and fabricated in this work. This same structure with modification can be employed as a capacitive accelerometer, mechanical resonance accelerometer, and a piezoresist accelerometer. Surface microengineering processing techniques have been developed in this work. The cavity structure significantly reduced the parasitic capacitance. This work reports the first instance of spin-on glass for rnicromechanical device applications as both a sacrifical layer and a planarization material for the cavity. Other results of this thesis including:

1. LPCVD low temperature oxide as the base material from which the cavity is etched;

2. …

Biodegradation Of Phenol By Two Competing Microbial Species In A Sequencing Batch Reactor, Yoo-Suk Ko

Theses

Biodegradation of a single pollutant by two competing microbial species has been mathematically described for the case where a sequencing batch reactor is used. The model has been solved numerically to predict the behavior of the reactor under different operating conditions and for different kinetic expressions for biodegradation.

Experiments were performed to verify the predictions of the model. Serratia marcescens (ATCC 17991) and Pseudomonas putida (ATCC 31800) were the species used. Experiments were first performed in order to reveal the kinetics of biodegradation for each individual species. The biodegradable substance used was phenol, which was the sole carbon source in …

A Comparison Of Integrated And Differential Estimates Of Flourescent Intensity Profiles Using Digital Video Image Analysis, Langfang Wu

Theses

The dynamics of macromolecular transport across microvascular walls in the hamster cheek pouch have previously been studied by other investigators using fluorescence intravital microscopy. Fluorescein Isothiocyanate labeled Dextrans (FITC-Dx) of 20,000, and 70,000 molecular weight (FITC-Dx-20 and FITC- Dx-70) were used as macromolecular probes. Values of fluorescent intensity were previously recorded on videotape as a function of distance perpendicular to leaking vessels over a period of about 2.5 hr to allow for tracer equilibration in the interstitial space. In this study, these videotapes were played back frame-by-frame and 215x130-pixel windows around each leaking vessel were selected for further analysis of …

Mathematical Modeling And Computer Simulations Of Biodenitrification In Batch And Sequencing Batch Reactors, Sugata Sanyal

Theses

Mathematical models have been derived for describing biodegradation of ni¬trate and nitrite in an anaerobic environment. Monod model for nitrate and Andrews model for nitrite were used as kinetic models. Experimental data from literature suggest that nitrate is not an inhibitory substance, while nitrite is not only inhibitory but it may also have a toxic effect on the biomass. The models were brought in dimensionless form in order to reduce the number of parame¬ters. Biodegradation was mathematically described for a batch, and a sequencing batch mode of operation. Computer programs were developed for numerically simulating the process. Some of the …

A Stereo Vision Technique Based On The Multi-Positioned Camera Criterion, Jie Bao

Theses

A modified feature based stereo vision [sic] technique is described in this thesis. The technique uses the curve-segments as the feature primitives in the matching process. The local characteristics of the curve-segments are extracted by the, Generalized Hough Transform.

A set of images of a scene, which are taken by a multi-positioned camera satisfying the parallelism criterion, are first filtered by the Laplacian of a Gaussian operator in different widths, i.e. coarse to fine channels. At each channel, the Generalized Hough Transform is applied to the curve-segments in each image. The curve position, the curve-length, the curve centroid, the average …

Token Bus Lan Performance : Modeling And Simulation, Ramesh Kurnool

Theses

A simulation model based on CSIM, a process oriented simulated language, to analyze the performance of the Token Bus protocol is developed. Performance measures such as throughput, average delay and maximum delay per packet are presented. System performance is analyzed for different loads, number of stations, network lengths, different physical and logical distribution of the stations with packet length as a parameter. Previous studies were based on the delay-throughput analysis with no discussion on the effect of variation of the logical and physical distribution of the stations on the performance of the model which is done in the present thesis. …

Performance Evaluation And Comparison Of Ordinary, Adaptive And Exhaustive Service In The Token Ring Network, Darshakkumar J. Patel

Theses

In the token ring network different types of services gives different delay characteristics. Results to date have shown that in asymmetric traffic, exhaustive service gives more delay to lightly loaded stations where ordinary service wastes time in circulating the token after each transmission. In general, there is a need for more efficient service, which is compromised between ordinary and exhaustive service.

Ordinary and exhaustive service are analyzed in this thesis, and a new service, adaptive service, is proposed. By using timer and counter, adaptive service dynamically changes token holding time at the station. Different types of delay characteristics are derived …

Eeg Mapping Using The Personal Computer, Zhuan-Zhang Pei

Theses

An approach for brain electrical activity mapping using a personal computer has been investigated to enhance the visibility of the EECs. An automatic procedure from data acquisition to the final mapping has been developed for on-line or off-line data processing, in which a table-look-up technique has been introduced to eliminate redundant processing. The power spectra in different EEC frequency bands for four electrodes are coded into 15 colors and mapped on a color monitor. The data correspondings to the areas between electrodes are interpolated by the surface spline method. The mapping speed and smoothness has been optimized. An experiment has …

Mathematical Modeling And Simulation Of The Progression Of Aids, Anju H. Nagpal

Theses

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a pernicious disease acknowledged as a world health problem. One of the major issues in the study of AIDS is understanding the manifestation and the progression of the disease following the transmission of HIV. Unfortunately, the present state of biological knowledge does not yet give us a reliable means of evaluating these phenomena. A simulation approach is, therefore, extremely useful in predicting the various phases of the deteriorating physiological status of the patient. In the present study we have focused on the development of a mathematical model of the …

Multiphase Solid-Liquid-Liquid Mixing In Stirred Tanks, George R. Deritter

Theses

A large number of investigations can be found in the literature which examine the effect of mixing parameters in both solid-liquid and liquid-liquid systems. However, very little is currently available for solid-liquid-liquid systems. It is the intent of this study to look at the various parameters affecting the point of complete dispersion for a liquid and the point of complete suspension for a solid phase, in a three phase liquid-liquid-solid system.

Interconnection Of X.25 Networks, Syed Ayaz Qutubuddin Ahmed

Theses

The purpose of this work was to investigate the performance of two interconnected X.25 networks via CCITT internet protocol X.75. Since internet protocol X.75 follow the same flow approach as X.25, we are allowed to model the acknowledgement queue in such a way that this queue provides a feed back path from destination to the source queue. Thus we are able to model our interconnected network as a closed queueing network with limited number of packets in transit within the network. Mean Value Analysis with Blocking (MVA) algorithm was applied to obtain the performance characteristics as the resources available were …

An Implementation Of Mht Algorithm For Adaptive Transform Coding Of Speech, Peter Battenschlag

Theses

The Modified Hermite Transform (MHT), a suboptimum block transform scheme, is implemented on a TMS320C25 signal processing system with the objective of reducing the redundancy in speech signals and transmit a quantized vector representation at bitrates as less as 0.5 bits per sample.

The generation of the Hermite polynomials with a binomial and several first order IIR filter structures is presented focusing on the fact that no muliplications are required which simplifies the MHT algorithm considerably.

An assembler program performs forward and inverse transformation together with a vector quantization using adaptive bitallocation based on short-time statistics for the transform coefficients. …

Cryogenic Characterization Of Potential High Temperature Superconducter Substrates At Microwave Frequencies, Sukhmani Kaur

Theses

The lack of characterization data for dielectric substrate materials at microwave frequencies and cryogenic temperatures hinders the development of high T_c superconducting circuits. Low loss (tanδ < 10^-4) substrates with dielectric constants in the range of 5-100 at cryogenic temperatures are needed to realize the advantages of superconductor circuits. Measurement techniques previously reported are either time consuming or inaccurate. We report an adaptation of Courtney's method for accurate, simple evaluation of complex dielectric constants (10 < ε_r < 100) at low temperatures. The fixture was calibrated using known properties of polycrystalline ZrSnTiO4. We measured er and tans on three potential substrate materials, Al₂O₃, MgO, and LaAlO₃ at 5-10 GHz in the temperature range 77-300K. No temperature hysteresis in either ε_{r …}

Automatic Contour Extraction From Hvem Image Of Microvessel, Yong-Gang Liu

Theses

The research work reported in the thesis is motivated by the problem raised in the biomedical research utilizing high voltage electron microscope (HVEM) to study microvessels. There the contour data of cross-sections of microvessels are fed into some special electronic device to reconstruct three-dimensional pictures of microvessels. However, the contour data acquisition as routinely conducted by manual operation. This tedious procedure costs large amount of human power.

In this thesis, computer image processing techniques are applied to replace the time-consuming manual operation. A synthetic method is recommended. A software with various digital image processing functions has been developed and tested …

Finite Element Stress Analysis Of Engine Piston, Anil Nanalal Mistry

Theses

In this analysis, Ford Motor Company's, modular engine seriespiston was selected for the analysis purposes. The engine has a capacity of 4.6 liter, V-8 cylinder and with 2 valves.The piston is made of aluminum alloy material Z-16-T6. A three-dimensional finite element model was created to analyze the piston. The model, which contains only the quarter section of the piston due to loading symmetry and geometry, was used to calculate operating temperatures and the corresponding thermal expansion. Operating stresses due to thermal and mechanical loads were also calculated. The accuracy of the model was verified by material data published in the …

A Study Of The Effect Of Flexibility On Manufacturing Performance, Prashanth B. Nagendra

Theses

Manufacturing flexibility has been a major topic of research in recent years. Researchers and managers are concerned about the role of flexibility in manufacturing performance. The strategic and economic impact of flexibility is of vital importance for managers in today's competitive industry.

This thesis initially provides an in-depth.perception of the prior research conducted in the area of manufacturing flexibility. Manufacturing flexibility, in this study, has been classified into four major types. Simple definitions and operational measures are provided for each of these primary types. The different factors effecting these flexibilities are identified. A new concept called the Cause-Effect-Flexibility-Technology diagrams based …

Modeling Packed Bed Catalytic Reactors, Jing Yang

Theses

Catalytic reactors provide a potentially important tool in the control of process emissions to the environment. This work provides a detailed chemical/physical model for analysing the operational characteristics of packed bed catalytic reactors. Mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations are written for the gas and solid phases. Heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions are used to convey the required stoichiometry, reaction rate, and heat release rate. Reaction in each phase is modeled as a one-step, global reaction. Heat and mass transfer, fluid friction, and axial heat conduction in the solid phase are modeled using suitable literature correlations. The resulting non-linear, first-order differential …

Multichannel Input Moniter, Geng Lin Chen

Theses

In order to communicate ,with each other, people must use the same kind of language. MIDI, the Musical Instrument Digital Interface, was established as a hardware and software specification which makes the communication between musical instruments become possible.

What this thesis does is interfacing a musical instrument with other devices using MIDI protocol. The hardware is a multichannel priority interrupt system which has already been done and was included in the discussion of this thesis. The focus of this thesis is concentrated on the software development of multichannel input monitor.

A Theoretical Model For Radio Attenuation Inside Buildings, Kyu-Sung Kim

Theses

Research to expand the capability of indoor, portable, radio frequency links for voice and data transmission is being pursued worldwide. Sophisticated communication systems using digital portable radio telephones have been proposed. To accomplish this goal, it is necessary to ascertain the attenuation of electromagnetic signal propagation inside buildings. Because modeling of the indoor environment at radio frequencies is very complicated, most publications document experimental results. In this study,. a theoretical model is proposed for predicting path loss inside buildings. The theory involves a waveguide model of the indoor environment which permits a rigorous modal solution similar to that developed by …

Development Of Air-Break Circuit Breaker, Ravi Kanth Korrapati

Theses

This thesis describes the development of an Air-Break circuit breaker, for Heinemann Electric Co., New Jersey, using I-DEAS CAD software. The physical properties obtained from the software, for the components of the armature assembly and the contact arm and the carriage, are used in determining the initial forces on a helical delay spring and in calculating accelerations of links in the trip mechanism. The trip mechanism is a four-bar mechanism with a spring as a coupler. Two second order differential equations define the motion of its links, the contact arm and the carriage. A time history of the links is …

A Study Of Methane Gas Production On Anaerobic Digestion System, Seng-Fung Su

Theses

The anaerobic sludge digestion process is not a recent development. At least 100 years ago in France,Louis H. Mouras designed and constructed fermenters to liquefy the sludge obtained from domestic wastes.

Since the turn of the century, the anaerobic fermentation process has been used extensively in the treatment of waste-water solids.

The necessity of preventing pollution of water resource, as a consequence of the rapid increase in human waste, demands adequate treatment of liquid wastes from domestic and industrial sources. For this purpose, the anaerobic digestion process can play an important role as a method for stabilizing and eliminating wastes …

Memory Card Memory Read-Out Module For 8052ah Basic Single Board Computer, Yongyi Sun

Theses

A Memory Card Memory Read-out Module is described that is used to collect the data stored in the RAMs of 8052AH BASIC SBCs and transfer it to the storage of another system called stationary recall unit.

The motivation for this system is as follows:

Automatic Rail Diagnostic System (ARDS) of New Jersey Transit Rail Operation (NJTRO) will revolutionize the maintenance of rail cars by monitoring selected on-board subsystems and components. The on-board unit of ARDS is a data gatherer. It can collect data describing the status and performance of selected on-board operating subsystems and components. A 8052AH BASIC SBC is …

Calcium Bentonite In Containment Structures, Ramnarayan K. Tirumala

Theses

Experiments were conducted on calcium bentonite from different sources to determine its suitability as a material for slurry wall. The emphasis was placed on cement-bentonite types of materials. A few tests were conducted on specimens consisting of soil-bentonite materials. Permeability, swelling potential, and immersion tests were conducted. Specimens were initially permeated with water to determine which variety of bentonite was most suitable and later with chemicals. In cement bentonite specimens, the effect of addition of blast furnace slag, fly ash, and sand were also studied. Addition of slag cement lowered the permeability value by an order of magnitude, and with …

Behavior Of Slender High Strength Reinforced Columns Under Biaxially Eccentric Loading, Pei-Shiun Wu

Theses

The advantage of using high strength concrete is to reduce column sizes and to increase stiffness. At present there are not any available design aids and the code provisions that provide adequate guidelines for the design of slender columns in high strength concrete.

A total of four 3 in. by 3 in. dimension, 4 ft. length high strength concrete specimens were casted, cured and tested till failures in a vertical pinned-ended configuration.The experimental results were compared with the analysis using Hsu failure surface equation.

Moment, curvature and load deflection cures were obtained successfully from the present experimental tests. These curves …

Temperature Dependent Current-Voltage Characteristics In Thin Sio2 Films, Jin Zhao

Theses

An analysis of the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FNT) theory and its application to temperature dependent current-voltage characteristics, of very thin films of SiO₂ on silicon, is presented. The final results are believed to provide the most complete examination of FN emission theory and predict the breakdown electric field in thin SiO₂ films. The role of the roughness, at the Si-SiO₂ interface, in determining the FNT current and breakdown mechanisms in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) structures are also discussed.

Investigation Of Mixed-Made Fracture In Concrete, Stylianos C. Aniftos

Theses

This study is aimed at evaluating the failure characteristics of concrete in the notched beam configuration. In general, for Mode I failure tension is commonly encountered. However, in the area of high shear stress, it remains to be a question whether shear or Mode II failure exists. Researches carried out in the past decade confirmed the existance of both Mode I and Mode II failure. It is the objective of this investigation to clarify this failure characteristics using FRANC an interactive fracture mechanics software.

The investigation carried out in this study used the experimental results of Bazant and Pfeiffer (3) …