Engineering Commons^™

Study Of Ingaas-Based Modulation Doped Field Effect Transistor Structures Using Variable-Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, S. A. Alterovitz, R. M. Sieg, H. D. Yao, Paul G. Snyder, John A. Woollam, J. Pamulapati, P. K. Bhattacharya, P. A. P. A. Sekula-Moise

John A. Woollam Publications

Variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to estimate the thicknesses of all layers within the optical penetration depth of InCaAs-based modulation doped field effect transistor structures. Strained and unstrained InGaAs channels were made by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on InP substrates and by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on GaAs substrates. In most cases. ellipsometrically determined thicknesses were within 10% of the growth-calibration results. The MBE-made InCaAs strained layers showed large strain effects, indicating a probable shift in the critical points of their dielectric function toward the InP lattice-matched concentration.

A Mathematical Model Of Electrochemical Reactions Coupled With Homogeneous Chemical Reactions, Ken-Ming Yen, Taewhan Yeu, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The zinc/bromine (Zn/Br2) flow battery has received considerable
attention in recent years [e.g., (2-4)]. Although it
is agreed that the solution chemistry is important in the
system, most of the work that has been done is concentrated
on the design variables. In this note the basic mass
transfer-solution and surface kinetics are studied to furnish
a better understanding of the system.

Current Distribution In A Horizon® Lead-Acid Battery During Discharge, Z. Mao, Ralph E. White, B. Jay

Faculty Publications

A simple mathematical model is presented and used to analyze the potential and current distributions in a HORIZON® sealed lead-acid battery. It was found that an increase in the thickness of an electrode would not enhance the discharge rate of that electrode; instead, it causes the transfer current distribution to be less uniform in the electrode. Also, the ohmic drop across the separator would decrease with a decrease in the thickness of the separator more rapidly when the thickness is small than when it is large. In addition, it was found that efficient high-capacity, high-rate electrodes must consider the electrode …

Impedance Analysis For Oxygen Reduction In A Lithium Carbonate Melt, Bhasker B. Davé, Ralph E. White, Supramaniam Srinivasan, A. John Appleby

Faculty Publications

Oxygen reduction on a smooth gold electrode in a pure lithium carbonate melt was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The impedance data were analyzed using the Randles-Ershler equivalent circuit to determine parameters such as the charge-transfer resistance, Warburg coefficient, double-layer capacity, and uncompensated electrolyte resistance. The parameters estimated by complex plane plots and a complex nonlinear least squares method are in good agreement. Cyclic voltammetric measurements showed that oxygen reduction in a lithium carbonate melt is very rapid. A mass transfer parameter, DC₀, estimated by the cyclic voltammetry concurred withthat calculated by the electrochemical …

Electrochemical Characterization Of Electronically Conductive Polypyrrole On Cyclic Voltammograms, Taewhan Yeu, Ken-Ming Yin, Jose Carbajal, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

Experimental and theoretical cyclic voltammograms for electronically conducting polypyrrole film are obtained from the identical conditions and compared to each other to characterize electrochemical behavior of the polymer. A comparison of the simulated and experimental cyclic yoltammograms shows quantitative agreement. The profiles of the dependent variables show that the switching process is governed by the availability of the counter ion to the polypyrrole electrode and the amount of electroactive sites. Sensitivity analysis shows that the double layer effects have more influence in the cyclic voltammograms than the electrokinetic effects.

A Modified Electrochemical Process For The Decomposition Of Hydrogen Sulfide In An Aqueous Alkaline Solution, Z. Mao, A. Anani, Ralph E. White, S. Srinivasan, A. J. Appleby

Faculty Publications

An electrochemical process for the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide into its constituents in an aqueous alkaline solution is presented. It essentially consists of presaturation of an alkaline scrubber solution with H₂S. Thereafter, partial neutralization of the presaturated solution provides not only the necessary mass balance for electrolysis, but also creates the optimum conditions under which passivation of the anode, as well as side chemical and electrochemical reactions, are minimized. Finally, the electrolysis stage of the process leads to precipitation of crystalline sulfur at the anode and evolution of hydrogen at the cathode. Regeneration of the alkaline solution via …

A Mathematical Model Of The Self-Discharge Of A Ni-H2 Battery, Z. Mao, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A simple mathematical model is presented and used to characterize the self-discharge of a nickel oxyhydroxide(NiOOH) electrode in a hydrogen environment. This model includes diffusion of dissolved hydrogen in an electrolyte film which covers a flooded electrode, electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen, reduction of nickel oxyhydroxide, and changes of surface area and of porosity of the electrode during the self-discharge process. Although the self-discharge process is complicated, the predictions of the model are consistent with experimental results reported in the literature, which include linear relationships between the logarithm of hydrogen pressure and time and between the logarithm of the capacity remaining …

In Situ Degradation Of Polyhalogenated Aromatic Hydrocarbons By Electrochemically Generated Superoxide Ions, E. E. Kalu, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

The reduction of dioxygen in aprotic media yields superoxide ions which react with polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons by nucleophilic substitution. The degradation of hexachlorobenzene to bicarbonates and chlorides using in situ generated superoxide ions was carried out at room temperature in a flow cell system equipped with a gas fed, porous electrode. The effects of current, electrolyte flow, and aprotic media on the extent of degradation of hexachlorobenzene are presented.

A Mathematical Model Of A Hydrogen/Oxygen Alkaline Fuel Cell, Michael C. Kimble, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

A mathematical model of a hydrogen/oxygen alkaline fuel cell is presented that can be used to predict polarization behavior under various potential loads. The model describes the phenomena occurring in the solid, liquid, and gaseous phases of the anode, separator, and cathode regions, assuming a macrohomogeneous, three-phase porous electrode structure. The model calculates the spatial variation of the partial pressures of oxygen, hydrogen, and water vapor, dissolved oxygen and hydrogen concentrations, electrolyte concentration, and the solid- and solution-phase potential drops. By developing a complete model of the alkaline fuel cell, the interaction of the various transport and kinetic resistances can …

Mathematical Modeling Of A Nickel-Cadmium Battery: Effects Of Intercalation And Oxygen Reactions, Deyuan Fan, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

Extensions are presented for a previously published (1) mathematical model of a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) cell. These extensions consist of intercalation thermodynamics for the nickel electrode and oxygen generation and reduction reactions during charge and overcharge. The simulated results indicate that intercalation may be important in the nickel electrode and that including the oxygen reactions provides a means of predicting the efficiency of the cell on charge and discharge.

Effect Of Ohmic, Mass-Transfer, And Kinetic Resistances On Linear-Sweep Voltammetry In A Cylindrical-Pore Electrode, John W. Weidner, Peter S. Fedkiw

Faculty Publications

Extracting quantitative kinetic information from linear-sweep voltammograms (LSV) on porous electrodes is more difficult than on planar electrodes since the electrode surface is not uniformly accessible to the bulk supply of reactant or the counterelectrode. We present here a means to account for the effect of ohmic, mass-transfer, and kinetic resistances on LSV by modeling a pore in a porous matrix as a cylindrical-pore electrode, and solving the mass and charge conservation equations in the context of this geometry for the simply redox reaction O + ne^– <=> R where both O and R are soluble species. Both analytical …

Equipment For Ridge Planting, Elbert C. Dickey, Paul J. Jasa

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

In ridge plant systems, crops are planted into ridges formed during cultivation of the previous crop.

Row cleaning devices on the planter push weed seed and residue lying on the soil surface from the ridge to the area between the rows, or row middles. The crop seed is planted into the old row in a cleanly tilled strip at a higher elevation than the row middles. A band application of herbicide behind the planter typically is used in the row for weed control. Crop cultivation controls weeds between the row and rebuilds ridges for the following year.

Ridge plant systems …

A Mathematical Model For Outgassing And Contamination, W. Fang, M. Shillor, E. Stahel, E. Epstein, C. Ly, J. Mcniel, Edward D. Zaron

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A model for the mathematical description of the processes of outgassing and contamination in a vacuum system is proposed. The underlying assumptions are diffusion in the source, convection and diffusion in the cavity, mass transfer across the source-cavity interface, and a generalization of the Langmuir isotherm for the sorption kinetics on the target. Three approximations are considered where the asymptotic behavior of the model for large time is shown as well as the dependence and sensitivity of the model on some of the parameters. Some numerical examples of the full model are then presented together with a proof of the …

An Evaluation Of A Prototype Osi-Based Communications Architecture For The Distributed Interactive Simulation Application Utilizing The Isode, Margaret Lucas Loper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The advent of computer networking has spawned a wide variety of applications and technologies. Among the most exiciting and pro1nising of these is Distributed Interactive Sin1ulation (DIS). This technology involves the interconnecting of simulated (virtual) environ men ts which allow participants in one simulation to interact, in real time, with those in another simulation, and observe their interactions by means of out-thewindow views of the individual simulators. The key to the evolution and worldwide acceptance of this DIS technology will be the adoption and integration of standard computer networking methodologies (i.e., Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)) into the overall DIS system …

Precipitation And Inter-Event Dry Periods For Selected Areas Of Florida, Teresa Rae Lineback

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The increase in the pollution of existing water bodies due to poor management of storwater runoff has demanded continuous re-evaluation of present design methods for stormwater management facilities. Current criteria used in determining water quality (treatment) volumes in pond design neglect antecedent conditions resulting from preceding rainfall. The inter-event dry period refers to that time period (hours) which occurs between rainfall events. The

minimum inter-event dry period used for pollution control design should be consistent with the time required for infiltration, chemical precipitation, sediment removal, and biological assimilation; as well as the period of time required to minimize the cumulative …

Surface Mapping And Automatic Tool Path Generation, Labiche Ferreira

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

With the use of machine vision systems in the manufacturing cycle of a product, the lead time for producing the final product has been substantially reduced. Efforts in the past have aimed at automating the tasks right from the drawing board stage to final production of the product. Such technologies include CAD, CAM, and CAPP. However the task of tool path (NC code) generation has not yet been fully automated. In the current techniques, the user plays a crucial role in the NC code generation process. There is an increasing trend for using machine vision systems in the fabrication of …

Photorefractive Materials For Optical Signal Processing, William B. Lawler

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The optical response of the photorefractive crystals KNbO₃:Ta, KNbO₃:Fe, LiNbO₃:Fe, and nominally pure BaTiO₃ is investigated. In the experiment, a holographic grating is built in the crystal under investigation via a two-wave mixing scheme that utilizes the signal-processing capacities of two acousto-optic Bragg cells. The dynamic interaction of the Bragg cells with the photorefractive grating causes a heterodyned RF signal to appear on the output laser beam, enabling the real-time, direct measurement of the amplitude and phase of the space-charge fields in the crystal. Experimental results are presented for the amplitude and phase …

Application Of A Six-State Passive Track Filter Within A Weapon-Delivery System For A Lock-On-After-Launch Missile, Lynda Jeanne Ciaponi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Knowing the benefits that a passive air target tracking system gives the host aircraft attempting to conceal its own presence on the battlefield, it is desired to determine whether the aircraft can also deliver one of its own lock-on-after-launch air-to-air missiles to the target via use of the same passive system. The objective of this thesis is to demonstrate that a passive six-state track filter can be successfully used within such a weapon delivery system. The role of the filter within the system is to track the enemy target in cartesian space utilizing only line-of-sight measurements and to track the …

Texture Segmentation And Classification Using Fractal And Energy Measures, Qing Chen

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis introduces a multi-feature based texture segmentation and classifi­ cation algorithm. We first present general background on segmentation approaches which can be categorized into three groups : characteristic thresholding and clus­ tering, edge detection, and region merging. According to our texture segmentation objective, we choose characteristic thresholding and clustering along with region merging as our segmentation method which is accomplished by a popular K-mean algorithm applied in the feature space. Fractal geometry is receiving increasing attention as a model for natural phe­ nomena. We present an efficient method for estimating the fractal dimension of image surfaces and show that …

Design Curves For The Reuse Of Stormwater, Gregory Miller Harper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The reuse of stormwater runoff is becoming an increasingly popular addition to stormwater management systems. The advantages include a reduction in pollution and volume discharges to surface waters, the return of runoff to the ground, and savings in the cost of using potable water. This research, by developing a relationship between the reuse volume (temporary storage volume), the rate at which stormwater is reused, and the percentage of annual surface runoff that is reused, provides a procedure in which to design stormwater reuse systems. The traditional design of pond temporary storage volume has been based on the consideration of water …

Rs170 Image Processing Interface, Charlotte Christou

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This thesis deals with the hardware design and implementation of an image processing board that digitizes RS-170 video, passes it thru a sobel filter and sends the results to a high-resolution color printer. Most sobels deal with black and white images, but this thesis uses a static color image. The hardware design will allow direct printing from a RGB separate channel RSl 70 video source to a Tektronix 4693DX Color Printer through a Centronics port. It will also allow the red, blue and green video channels to pass through a sobel filter, with the resulting image being sent out to …

An Analysis Of The Parameters Affecting The Stabilization Rate Of Yard Waste Compost, Patricia G. Fleming

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In recent times, municipalities have turned to yard waste composting in an effort to comply with mandated recycling and reduction laws aimed at extending existing landfill capacity. Composting is a biological process whereby decomposition of organic matter occurs under aerobic conditions, producing a stabilized humified material. The objective of the research was to analyze data gathered during pilot yard waste composting operations utilizing the windrow method. The following tasks were accomplished: temperature and oxygen profiles from daily monitoring data were examined and the effect these parameters had on stabilization was determined; stabilization time of varying yard waste matrices was compared …

Observation Of The Visible Absorption Spectrum Of H2o+, Biswajit Das, John W. Farley

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

The Ã ² Ã₁–X̃ ² B̃₁ system of H₂O⁺ has been observed, using laser absorption spectroscopy in a velocity‐modulated discharge. A total of 78 transitions between 14 794 and 15 475 cm⁻¹ have been observed with an uncertainty (1 SD) of 0.02 cm⁻¹, including 76 transitions in the (0,7,0)–(0,0,0) band and 2 in the (0,8,0)–(0,0,0) band. This species is important for cometary astronomy, and intriguing for molecular physics because of its prominent Renner–Teller interaction. Careful measurements were made of the relative intensities of the absorption lines, …

In-Situ Film Thickness Measurements For Real-Time Monitoring And Control Of Advanced Photoresist Track Coating Systems, Richard N. Savage, Thomas E. Metz, Horace O. Simmons

Materials Engineering

This paper explores the methodologies of real-time measurement of photoresist film thickness on silicon wafers using multi-wavelength reflection interferometry. Reflected light from the wafer's surface, containing the interference profile, is collected in-situ via a fiber optic cable and film thickness is determined in real-time via a pattern recognition algorithm. The instrumentation used to make this measurement and its application toward optimizing track performance during spin-coating and back are discussed. Data demonstrating basic thickness versus spin-time and thickness versus bake-time profiles acquired on-line without process disruption are presented along with its utilization toward minimizing process set-up and machine qualification. Moreover, the …

The Production Data-Based Similarity Coefficient Versus Jaccard's Similarity Coefficient, Hamid Seifoddini, Manocher Djassemi

Industrial Technology and Packaging

This paper compares the performance of Jaccard's similarity coefficient with the production data-based similarity coefficient. A number of machine-component charts taken from the literature or randomly generated are used to form machine-component groups. Then, the sum of intercellular and intracellular material handling costs for each machine-component group is calculated and used as a basis for performance evaluation of the two similarity coefficients.

Methods Of Measuring The Solubility And Viscosity Of Lubricating Oil/Refrigerant Mixtures At High Discharge Pressures And Temperatures, Nolan Van Gaalen

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The design and construction of a test facility and methodology for measuring the solubility and viscosity of lubricating oil/refrigerant mixtures at high pressures and temperatures are described. An auxiliary charging system, developed to provide precisely measured quantities of oil and refrigerant to the test facility, is also presented. The test facility was developed under the sponsorship and supervision of ASHRAE which funded this research project (RP-580);The solubility, viscosity and density of mixtures of R-22 and of R-502 with commonly used 150 SUS lubricants have been measured by using this facility. Specifically, results for liquid mixtures of 10% to 40% refrigerant …

Toward The Development Of Decision Support Tools To Manage The Catis Project Life Cycle, Steven Wayne Mccrary

Doctoral Dissertations

"The American Public Works Administration (1987) states that communities' infrastructures are in need of repair and better management and recommends CATIS (Computer-Assisted Terraspatial Information Systems) as an excellent tool to assist in that endeavor. Small communities have several voids that CATIS technology can fill. This research reports on a life-cycle approach to CATIS adoption that will help small communities to better manage their infrastructure.

It is important for small communities to become aware of the types of systems available and what each system can do. This study presents a straightforward, understandable discussion of CATIS technologies, features, and applications. Justifying the …

A Practical Parallel Algorithm For The Minimization Of KröNecker Reed-Muller Expansions, Paul John Gilliam

Dissertations and Theses

A number of recent developments has increased the desirability of using exclusive OR (XOR) gates in the synthesis of switching functions. This has, in turn, led naturally to an increased interest in algorithms for the minimization of Exclusive-Or Sum of Products (ESOP) forms. Although this is an active area of research, it is not nearly as developed as the traditional Sum of Products forms. Computer programs to find minimum ESOPs are not readily available and those that do exist are impractical to use as investigative tools because they are too slow and/or require too much memory. A practical tool would …

Neural Network Character Recognition With A 2-D Fourier Transform Preprocessor, Daqiao Du

Dissertations and Theses

In pattern recognition applications, it is usually important that the same identification be given for a pattern, independent of a variety of positions, rotations and /or distortions of the pattern within the recognition device's field of view. This research relates to development of a preprocessor for a neural network character recognition system, where the role of the preprocessor is to assist in minimizing the difficulties related to variations of position and rotations of a character within the field of view. The preprocessor explored here was suggested in 1970' (Lendaris & Stanly, 1970), and is implemented here with more recent advances …

Freeway Control Via Ramp Metering: Development Of A Basic Building Block For An On-Ramp, Discrete, Stochastic, Mesoscopic, Simulation Model Within A Contextual Systems Approach, Mohamed Yaser Alkadri

Dissertations and Theses

One of the most effective measures of congestion control on freeways has been ramp metering, where vehicle entry to the freeway is regulated by traffic signals (meters). Meters are run with calibrated influx rates to prevent highway saturation. However, recent observations of some metering sites in San Diego, CA indicate that metering, during peak hour demand, is helping freeway flow while sometimes creating considerable traffic back-ups on local streets, transferring congestion problems from the freeway to intersections. Metering problems stem largely from the difficulty of designing an integrated, dynamic metering scheme that responds not only to changing freeway conditions but …