Engineering Commons^™

Computer Modeling And Design Of State Space Feedback Control System For A Process Veneer Dryer, Allen D. Nease

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the design of a state space feedback control system for a process veneer dryer. The input variable is dryer atmospheric temperature and the output variable is veneer moisture content. As usual in the design of control systems for real-world processes, the biggest task was modeling the system to obtain the system differential equation and state space representation. The system equation derived from the model was checked against the behavior of the real-world system using the Advanced Continuous Simulation Language (ACSL) software package run on a VAX 11/750 computer. From the system equation a state space control system …

Fiber Optic Fluid Level Sensor, Navid Ghandeharioun

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A fiber optic fluid level sensor based on light transmission attenuation due to bending losses is designed, built and tested.

Fibers formed with reverse curvatures of decreasing radii will induce and increasing amount of lower order mode light loss to the cladding as the light propagates along the step index multimode fiber. The sensor is arranged in the fluid in a vertical position such that the light travels along the fiber from the bottom or low fluid point to the top or full point. As the fluid covers increasing lengths of the exposed fiber, it strips even more power from …

Interfacing A Quadriplegic To A Computer Using The Electro-Ocumeter, Paul J. Godfrey

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this is to design an electro-oculometer system that paper will enable quadriplegics and other persons with severe physical disablities to use a computer. An electro-oculometer is a device that measures the position of a person's eyes. The vertical and horizontal movements of the eyes can be used to control an object on a computer screen. This, in turn, allows the user to operate a computer by eye motion alone. The requirements of the electro-oculometer system are specified and then a block diagram of the system is developed. Each block is then designed and component values are given. …

Phase Statistics For A Lightwave Traveling Through Turbulent Media, Donald J. Link

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A probability density function is developed for the phase of light that is the result of adding a signal to noise with K-distributed amplitude and uniform phase. The probability density function of the phase associated with the I-K distribution is also developed. In the process of deriving the probability density function of the phase much I as learned about the relationships between different probability density functions. Three different methods of deriving homodyned K statistics are shown to be equivalent. Two different methods of deriving I-K statistics are shown to be equivalent. Theoretical moments of the homodyned K distribution are compared …

Proposals For Energy Conservation Measures For A Specific Small Business, Scott W. Snapp

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A case study into energy conservation measures for a specific building has been made. Primary emphasis is directed towards conserving energy necessary for heating the building. Once the building outlay and the scope of energy usage trends are established, different conservation actions are considered. Extensive measurements and observations on the building were made to gather data on areas, materials, thicknesses, and means of heating the building. The goal of such action was to compare the magnitude of heat loss from different sections of the building. With this information it can be understood where to insulate, and the significance of air …

Survey Of Texture And Shading Techniques For Visual Flight Simulation, Walter R. Steiner

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Shading and texturing are two techniques that flight simulators can take advantage of to increase scene realism. Shading imitates the effects of light reflecting from a surface. Texture refers to superimposing a pattern on a surface to give the illusion of extra detail and realism.

In this report, several techniques for shading and texturing are evaluated with respect to their applicability to visual flight simulators.

The image quality produced by shading and texturing is a function of computation cost. The Phong model is found to produce the most realistic shading, but is too computationally expensive. The Gouraud shading model improves …

Stability Of Steel Structures, Abbas K. Hosseini

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In the design of an elastic structure, a major consideration is the overall stability of the system under axial load or a combination of an axial load and bending moment. In first-order analysis the effects of axial forces on the stiffness formulation and their influence on deformations of the members are usually neglected. If the axial forces are sufficiently large, a better indication of the distribution of the forces and moments in the structure is obtained by using a second-order analysis. In this type of analysis the moment equilibrium equations are based on the deformed shape of the structure. The …

Experimental Software Package For Linear Programming, Deborah S. Fogal

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A software package for linear programming has been developed using the revised simplex and dual simplex algorithms. The design of the program incorporates an experimental change in the dual simplex algorithm. If the entered problem is not primal feasible, a modified dual simplex algorithm is used. The traditional dual simplex method requires an initial dual feasible basis and maintains feasibility throughout its application. The experimental change is to ignore this criteria of dual feasibility. The objective then becomes to obtain primal feasibility. Once this is attained, the revised simplex algorithm is applied to obtain optimality, if this has not been …

Evaluation Of A Binary Spatial Light Modulator Correlator Using Time-Domain Polarity Coincidence Correlation Theory, Thomas J. Posluszny

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Time-domain Polarity Coincidence Correlators (PCC) have been studied for the possible extension of these theories to the spatial-domain in the context of an optical PCC. The existing body of knowledge has been found to be inadequate for direct application to the spatial-domain. However, by remodeling the type of clipper or hardlimiter used in the development of the existing theory from a signum (bipolar) clipper to a binary (unipolar) clipper, a new expression for the output signal-to-noise ratio of an optical PCC is developed. This modification is necessary to account for the unipolar nature of light intensity. Both the existing time-domain …

Experimental Investigation Of Campbell Pacific Nuclear Corporation Mc-1 Density-Moisture Nuclear Gauge On Sand, Clay, Asphaltic Concrete And Concrete, Carl H. Francois

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The time-consuming traditional methods of determining soil density and moisture content have been widely replaced by more advanced techniques using radioactive isotopes such as cesium, americium, and beryllium. To ensure the validity and accuracy of the results from a nuclear gauge unit designed by Campbell Pacific Nuclear Corporation, a conventional standard test, the sand cone replacement method, was used in tandem with the nuclear instrument for the density and moisture content determination in sand and clay at different sites. The results of the two methods of measurement agree within close limits. An empirical equation was derived to correlate the data …

Analysis And Modification Of An Electro-Oculometer, Munir. Ahmed

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This paper describes an electro-oculometer and analyzes the electronic circuits required to process the signal. This electro-oculometer is a passive, two-channel device which detects the eye orientation using commercially available electrodes attached near the eyes. The electro-oculometer is composed of a special amplifier followed by a parabolic filter. The amplifier has high common mode rejection ratio, low drift, and low input bias current. Both DC and AC analyses of the electro-oculometer have been performed. The common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) of the input stage of the device is computed both at low and high frequencies. The experimental data were then …

Infiltration Through Roadside Swales, Eduardo. Avellaneda

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there have been efforts to develop a design procedure for swale systems which could be applied to permeable soils. This design should consider space limitations or any other site restriction. Five existing swale sites in the Central Florida area were instrumented to determine flow rates and permeability’s. Twenty-two experiments were performed. It is concluded that the use of a double-ring infiltrometer to determine the infiltration rate is possible for existing swale sites. Another conclusion is that published values of permeability are very variable and accurate, nor specific enough to predict actual infiltration rates. However, very conservative values …

Multiplan Models For Construction, Edson. Jackson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As computer hardware becomes smaller and increasingly less expensive, more contractors can now use computers to do a number of construction computations which were formally done on hand calculators. The advent of user-oriented software packages has had a significant impact on the traditional data processing procedures of the construction industry. Among the software packages that are available for a large number of computer systems are electronic spreadsheets. Electronic spreadsheets packages, such as Multiplan, are widely used where the display of information can best be depicted in an array of rows and columns. It is frequently useful in situations in which …

Internal Precision And The Common Sample Rate, James C. Kirkwood

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between internal precision and input/output precision and the ratio of sample frequency to signal frequency has been described in qualitative terms for the general case and in quantitative terms for many special cases. This paper attempts to generate quantitative approximated guidelines for the general case. Lowpass and bandpass digital filters are implemented using cascaded second order sections via a program that varies the amount of internal precision available for the emulation, and calculates the error produced compared to a 64 bit standard. The errors are plotted, and general equations relating input/output precision and internal precision and the ratio …

Speciation Of Heavy Metals In Highway Drainage Systems, Lee P. Wiseman

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A trace metal speciation scheme proposed by Batley and Florence (1976) was applied to determine the physiochemical forms of zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper in two Central Florida highway drainage systems. The linearity and limitations of the ASV technique were also examined. The measurements showed that (a) more than 70% of the soluble Zn and Cd in all of the waters analyzed existed as liable ionic metal (b) lead was divided between labile and non-labile inorganic forms, but one particular form, PbCO₃, predominated (c) a substantial fraction of copper is associated with organic colloids if humic substances are …

Suitability Of The Tms320 Digital Signal Processor In Digital Signal Processing Applications Requiring Multiple-Precision, Randall L. Walker

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The TMS320 single-chip digital signal processor, produced by Texas Instruments, shows promise for a long life-cycle not only because it fills a technical need in the digital signal processing field; but because it also represents an excellent early design. Furthermore, Texas Instruments has provided thorough software and development support. However, this chip was not designed to support digital signal processing applications which require multiple-precision operations. In this paper, algorithms were developed and expressed in macros that provide the capability of modeling systems requiring multiple-precision operations. Finally, a performance envelope showing the system complexity versus sampling bandwidth limitations is provided to …

Exfiltration From Stormwater Ponds In Central Florida, Nicolas E. Andreyev

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to develop guidelines for the analysis of storm water retention ponds in Central Florida. Development of a combined seepage analysis considering both unsaturated and saturated groundwater flow incorporation into a systematic approach for storm water retention pond design will result in safer and more economical storm water management practices. The research was conducted in four phases: 1) A literature review. 2) A review of mathematical and empirical analysis of transient – unsaturated/saturated groundwater flow. 3) Construction and testing of a downscaled storm water pond model. 4) Incorporation of full scale percolation pond test data …

A Comparison Of Analog And Direct Digital Control (Ddc) Of A Physical Process, Clifton R. Hargrove

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The following report presents the development of a computer-based system designed to examine the response of a physical process is a process trainer, PT326, from Feedback Corporation. There are two main categories of control available to the user: (1) analog control and (2) digital control. Within each of these categories the following types of control systems are available: (1) Proportional control, (2) Proportional-Integral control, (3) Proportional-Integral-Derivative control and (4) On-Off control. The user can examine both regulator and servo response for any of the given control systems. All parameters associated with the selected control system are variable and user-input. The …

A Projectile Subsystem In A Flight Simulation System, Robert F. Hodson

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An overview of a flight simulation system is presented with a discussion of the system components and the interaction between functional units. The functions of each unit in the visual system are described. Specifically, the projectile subsystem portion of the visual system is presented in detail. A projectile subsystem executive structure is presented with capability of controlling projectile activation and deletion. Mathematical models for missiles with linear projected impact and proportional guidance are discussed. Ballistic projectile models with and without wind and drag considerations are developed. The mathematical equations for position and attitude calculations are given. Design considerations and implementation …

An Approach To Noise Estimation And Elimination In Communication Systems, Jerome J. Viviano

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This paper is a description of the analysis and testing of a method to estimate noise mixed in with a desired signal and to then subtract out the estimated noise. The paper documents the situation in which noise becomes a problem, the method of noise elimination, the mathematics used to analyze the noise eliminator, a digital/analog hybrid simulation of a system utilizing the techniques described, and comparative results between expected performance and actual system performance. Also described is the practicality of the system, the limitations of the system and its unique capabilities. Since the system is a totally new concept, …

Golden Opportunities For White Collar Productivity Improvements In Quality Assurance, Jane M. Algee

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The efficient processing of defective or nonconforming hardware and paperwork is important to both defense contractors and the government. Management's concern of excessive costs in this area initiated an investigation into the actual activities, personnel, and computer systems involved in such processing. Applicable military specifications and an assortment of corporate and divisional procedures were reviewed to obtain baseline data. Additional information was sought through personal interviews and visits to the manufacturing areas. The activity flow was documented in block diagrams and time estimates and labor requirements were applied. The detailed labor estimates were input to a LOTUS123 spreadsheet and used …

Optimization Analysis For Alignment Criteria And Installation Of Gravity Flow Underground Pipe, Eugene N. Balter

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In 1982 the Business Roundtable prepared several reports which investigated various aspects of construction which posed significant research opportunities. Their findings placed piping construction in the group of activities categorized as having "highest potential" for improvements based on inefficiency, or construction difficulty and proportionate costs. It was estimated that over $1 billion could be saved annually if the difficulty in the piping industry was improved to only average of other areas. Further investigation into the piping area showed that the alignment process took 20% of the cycle time for installation and ranked either first or second as compared to other …

A High Level Programming Language And Graphics Simulator For The Heathkit Et-18 Hero Robot, Kenneth J. Sizemore

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As modern industrial robots are used more in industry, the need for qualified programmers and operators will increase. Inexpensive robots are available for use as training systems, but these robots typically lack the high level tools, such as high level, languages and graphics simulators, that are available for the industrial robots. A high level programming language and a graphics simulator were developed for one of these training robots, the Heath ET-18 Hero Robot. The programs were designed to be executed on an IBM Personal Computer. The software was developed as part of an overall system which also includes a compiler …

An Interactive Information System For Tracking Student Academic Progress And Aid In Course Scheduling, Farahzad Behi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An interactive information system has been developed for the Computer Engineering Department to promote faster and more accurate means of obtaining academic information on a student or a group of students. It was also developed to provide departmental administrative personnel with information to guide course scheduling. The system has the capability of providing the following information concerning undergraduate students enrolled in the Computer Engineering program of the College of Engineering, University of Central Florida. 1. Basic information about the student, such as, address, telephone number, classification, etc. 2. A student's completed and in-progress courses 3. The grade and other information, …

Fate Of Heavy Metals From Highway Runoff In Stormwater Management Systems, Harvey H. Harper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The movement and fate of heavy metal inputs (Cd, Zn, Mn, Cu, Al, Fe, Pb, Ni and Cr) from highway runoff were investigated in a three-year study on 1.3 hectare retention facility near the Maitland Interchange on Interstate 4, north of Orlando, Florida. Physical characteristics of the retention pond and surrounding watershed were defined and field instrumentation was installed. Stormwater samples were collected over a one-year period, representing a wide range of intensities and antecedent dry periods. Stormwater characteristics were compared with average retention pond water quality to determine removal efficiencies for heavy metals within the pond. A total of …

An I/O Controller Design For A Mainframe Computer In A Military Training Device, Robert E. Cara

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The design of an I/O Controller capable of processing data in real time in a tactical training simulator is presented. The controller consists of two microprocessor systems that communicate with peripherals by means of programmed I/O, and with the host computer by Direct Memory Access (DMA) and a serial RS232 link. This thesis addresses both the hardware and software aspects of the controller design.

Simulation Of High Resolution Range And Separation Profiles Using A Stepped Frequency Radar Pulse, Howard. Fain

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Single frequency pulse, linear frequency pulse, and stepped frequency pulse are a few of the radar pulse waveforms used to obtain target range information. Using a basic single frequency pulse limits the radar's range resolution by the pulse width, has excessive energy requirements, and is more vulnerable to jamming. With the use of frequency modulation the radar's range resolution can be greatly enhanced. This report deals with some of the issues involved in using stepped frequency pulse trains to obtain high resolution target range and range autocorrelation profiles. Radar returns from stepped frequency pulse trains may be coherently processed to …

Application Software Of The Future-Filter Design With Gem, Alan D. George

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As the use of computer in engineering design as well as other areas increase, it becomes more imperative that the application software used be as simple, convenient, and powerful as possible. The engineer is not interested in the internal workings of the computer or its operating system. It is the design itself that takes precedence. The filter design package developed for this project, known as FILTER, is such an application. With FILTER, coupled with the Digital Research Graphics Environment Manager, the engineer is led through the analog and digital filter design phase on a personal computer with carefully designed interactive …

Radar: Theory And Insight, Terry A. Dougherty

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Radar principles and design considerations are reviewed, using both analytical and heuristic methods. Emphasis is placed on achieving physical insight while maintaining technical rigor. Waveform properties and signal detectability maximization through matched filtering is discussed in detail. The Moving Target Indicator radar system is presented as an illustration of digital signal processing technology applied to modern radar systems.

A Tool For Developing Diagnostics For A Digital Switching System, David G. Tagge

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Testing large digital systems is difficult. Throughout the literature on “design for testability,” the existence of diagnostic software is assumed. However, developing such software is a significant task. A hardware test fixture was developed to assist in the development of diagnostic software for a Stromberg-Carlson Corporation switching system. Two circuit boards were designed, constructed, and debugged.