Engineering Commons^™

Improving The Jar Slake, Slake Index, And Slake Durability Tests For Shales, Paul M. Santi

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This study proposes modifications to three shale durability tests to improve reproducibility, reduce the level of effort required, and better correlate the test to actual slaking characteristics. Modifications to the jar slake test reduced test variability by one-third, offering a substantial improvement in consistency, with only a slight loss in the ability of the test to predict slake durability. Analysis showed that slake index test error could be reduced or at least pinpointed by testing groups of samples, rather than single samples. Furthermore, the wet-sieving procedure should be more carefully defined. Analysis of correlations between single- and multiple-cycle slake durability …

Kentucky Traffic Accident Facts 1998 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FACTS report for 1998 is based on accident reports submitted to the Accident Unit housed in the Kentucky State Police Information Services Branch, Records Section. As required by Kentucky Revised statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize date on traffic accidents” for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth.” Data contained in …

Virtual Reality Modelling Of A Cnc Machine, Damian O'Sullivan

Theses

The increasing importance of training and upgrading skills has led to the use of new interactive technologies in the development of more effective training tools. Previous techniques for training Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine operators, while excellent for their time, varied from brief inexpensive tutorials to expensive on the job training. A CNC machine uses a computer to perform the functions of the machine using a part program stored in the memory of the computer. This thesis describes a Virtual Reality (VR) model of a CNC milling machine, implemented within a VR environment representing a CNC workshop. Its development and …

An Investigation Using The Finite Element Method Into Bowing & Lean Of The 3rd Stage Turbine Blade Of The Pratt & Whitney Jt8d Gas Turbine Engine, Kevin O'Donoghue

Theses

Following a recent series of failures of overhauled third stage turbine blades in the JT8D- 15A gas turbine engine, new inspection criteria have been introduced by the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. One such inspection checks for airfoil bowing and lean. A blade will bow or lean towards the suction face of the airfoil as a result of creep during engine operation. Third stage turbine blades from the JT8D low pressure turbine have been observed with as much as two millimetres of deflection measured at mid-span. In a geometrically correct T3 blade, the tensile centrifugal load due to engine rotation …

The General Approximation Theorem, Donald C. Wunsch, Alexander N. Gorban

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A general approximation theorem is proved. It uniformly envelopes both the classical Stone theorem and approximation of functions of several variables by means of superpositions and linear combinations of functions of one variable. This theorem is interpreted as a statement on universal approximating possibilities ("approximating omnipotence") of arbitrary nonlinearity. For the neural networks, our result states that the function of neuron activation must be nonlinear, and nothing else

Adjustable Ice Fishing Tip-Up, Ashok Midha

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An ice fishing tip-up includes a base frame adapted to span a hole in a layer of ice over a body of water, and carrying a mast which is extendible through the hole into the water. The mast includes a shaft fixed at its lower end to a spool of fishing line and at its upper end to a cam cylinder with a helical groove formed in its outer surface. A signal staff is spring-biased to a raised position and is movable to a lowered position received in one of the convolutions of the helical groove. A pull on the …

A Class Of Modified Hopfield Networks For Control Of Linear And Nonlinear Systems, Jie Shen, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a class of modified Hopfield neural networks (MHNN) and their use in solving linear and nonlinear control problems. This class of networks consists of parallel recurrent networks which have variable dimensions that can be changed to fit the problems under consideration. It has a structure to implement an inverse transformation that is essential for embedding optimal control gain sequences. Equilibrium solutions are discussed. Numerical results for a motivating aircraft control problem (linear) are presented. Furthermore, we formulate the state-dependent Riccati equation method (SDRE) for a class of nonlinear dynamical system and show how MHNN provides the solution. …

Cell Mapping Based Fuzzy Control Of Car Parking, Tea-Quin Kim, Ming-Chuan Leu

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper describes the development of a near-optimal fuzzy controller for maneuvering a car in a parking lot. To generate the rules of the fuzzy controller, a cell mapping method is utilized to systematically generate near-optimal trajectories for all possible initial states in the parking lot. Based on the input-output relations of these trajectories, which represent the states and controls of the corresponding cells, a set of fuzzy rules are generated automatically. In order to result in a small number of fuzzy rules from the large amount of numerical information generated by cell mapping, grouping of trajectories is proposed and …

Electrochemical Characterization Of Copper Deposited On Plasma And Thermally Modified Titanium Surfaces, K. S. Teng, J. L. Delplancke, Jiangfan Zhang, T. J. O'Keefe

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Thin oxide films were grown at temperatures from 373 to 1073 K in plasma and in air on commercially pure titanium substrates. It was determined that the color, thickness, composition, phase, and polarization behavior in a copper electrolyte varied with operating conditions: temperature, oxygen partial pressure, and plasma composition. High-temperature and high oxygen partial pressure plasma produced a thick oxide film. The surface film structure transformed from TiO2 (anatase) to TiO2 (rutile) at a temperature of 600 °C. A lower oxide of the form TinO2n-1, such as Ti2O3 (which may be porous) or possibly Ti3O5, was formed on a thermally …

Investigation Of A Complex Reaction Network: I. Experiments In A High-Pressure Trickle-Bed Reactor, M. R. Khadilkar, Y. Jiang, M. (Muthanna) H. Al-Dahhan, M. P. Duduković, S. K. Chou, G. Ahmed, R. Kahney

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A High-Pressure Trickle-Bed Reactor Was Used to Achieve High Productivity and Selectivity for the Manufacture of a Key Herbicide Intermediate (Α-Aminomethyl-2-Furanmethanol (Amino Alcohol, AA) from Α-Nitromethyl-2-Furanmethanol (Nitro Alcohol, NA). Raney Nickel Catalysts of Varying Activity Were Prescreened for Suitability in Trickle-Bed Operation. the Effect of Operating Parameters Such as Reactant Feed Concentration, Liquid Mass Velocity, and Temperature on the Yield of Amino Alcohol (AA) for RNi-A Are Discussed. the Superiority of Trickle-Bed Reactors over Others Such as Semibatch and Batch Slurry Systems is Demonstrated. the AA Yield Increases with Decrease in Feed Reactant Concentration and Liquid Mass Velocity, as Well …

Modeling Partially Premixed Fast Chemical Reactions In Statistically Homogeneous Turbulent Flow Using One-Dimensional Equations Of Change, Yang Gi Kim, X. B. Reed

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A pseudospectral algorithm has been used to compute solutions u(x,t), Ax,t), B(x,t), and R(x,t) to one-dimensional equations of change incorporating the simple reaction A + B → R for statistically homogeneous random velocity and partially premixed reactant concentration fields. An initial turbulence Reynolds number of 400 has been used, together with Damkohler numbers of 102 and 103 for fast reactions and Schmidt numbers of 10-3, 1, and 102 to span a wide range of diffusivities. Evolving concentration profiles inform intuition in general and provide insight into the evolution of the single-point statistical measures in particular: (A), (B), (a2), (b2), (ab), …

Experimental Measurements And Simulation Of Mixing And Chemical Reaction In A Stirred Tank, Robertp Zipp, Gary Kent Patterson

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effects of mixing on the rate of second-order chemical reactions have been studied by measuring the time-average degree of conversion at enough points in a steady-state, continuous-flow stirred reactor to provide comparisons with numerical simulations of the same reactions using a standard Reynolds-averaged turbulence simulation code with an added closure. The reactants were introduced in widely separated feed streams in order to provide a difficult test for the measurements and simulations. Concentration and segregation measurements were made with two fluorescence based methods - one remote and one using a fiber optic probe. The rates of mixing and reaction were simulated …

Biological Fixed-Film Systems, Mark W. Fitch, Natalie Pearson, Gene Richards, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Natural Treatment And On-Site Processes, Kevin D. White, Joel Gerard Burken

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Contribution Of Externally Bonded Frp To Shear Capacity Of Rc Flexural Members, Ahmed Khalifa, William J. Gold, Antonio Nanni, M. I. Abdel Aziz

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) materials are continuing to show great promise for use in strengthening reinforced concrete structures. These materials are an excellent option for use as external reinforcing because of their light weight, resistance to corrosion, and high strength. Externally bonded FRP sheets have been used to increase moment capacity of flexural members and to improve confinement in compression members. Investigations into the use of externally bonded FRP sheets for shear strengthening have also been conducted and have been shown to be viable. The objectives of this study were to review the current research on shear strengthening with FRP …

Designing Power Bus Decoupling For Cmos Devices, S. Radu, Richard E. Dubroff, Todd H. Hubing, Thomas Van Doren

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The adequacy of the DC power bus decoupling for CMOS devices can be determined if the effective board decoupling capacitance, the CMOS load capacitance, the CMOS power dissipation capacitance, the switching time, and the allowable bus noise voltage are known. A simple method is presented for estimating the effective decoupling capacitance. The load and power dissipation capacitance values are shown analytically and experimentally to be closely related to the transient current. The transient current and switching time are used to estimate the transient noise voltage on the power bus

Emc Applications Of The Emap5 Hybrid Fem/Mom Code, Yun Ji, Todd H. Hubing, Mohammad Wares Ali

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

EMAP5 is a numerical software package designed to model electromagnetic problems. It employs the finite element method (FEM) to analyze three-dimensional volumes, and the method of moments (MOM) to analyze the current distribution on the surface of these volumes. The two methods are coupled through the fields on the dielectric surface. This paper describes the formulation of the EMAP5 code and demonstrates how it can be used to analyze simple printed circuit board configurations

Optical Digital Fragmentation Measuring Systems -- Inherent Sources Of Error, Norbert H. Maerz, Wei Zhou

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Automated optical imaging systems of measuring fragmentation are increasingly being used in the mining, comminution, and materials handling industries. These methods have been well received in many of the industries involved. Considering that in many of these applications there are no alternative ways of sizing material, having even a rudimentary measurement of size distributions allows evaluations of explosive, blast design, detonator performance, crusher and milling performance, and material degradation due to transport.

Optical methods have inherent limitations, which reflect on accuracy, precision, and reproducibility of measurement results. This stems from the fact that there are myriads of variables, which affect …

Emission Of Excimer Radiation From Direct Current, High-Pressure Hollow Cathode Discharge, Ahmed El-Habachi, Karl H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

A novel, nonequilibrium, high-pressure, direct current discharge, the microhollow cathode discharge, has been found to be an intense source of xenon and argon excimer radiation peaking at wavelengths of 170 and 130 nm, respectively. In argon discharges with a 100 μm diam hollow cathode, the intensity of the excimer radiation increased by a factor of 5 over the pressure range from 100 to 800 mbar. In xenon discharges, the intensity at 170 nm increased by two orders of magnitude when the pressure was raised from 250 mbar to 1 bar. Sustaining voltages were 200 V for argon and 400 V …

1998 Highway Cost Allocation Update: Technical Report, Samantha S. Jones, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This update of the highway cost allocation study is the eighth in a recent series begun in the early 1980's by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Transportation Center. The primary objectives were to determine the level of revenue contribution and cost responsibility for each class of highway user. The base year of the study is FY 97; the most recent time period for which revenue and cost data were available. Highway user or travel activity for calender year 1996 was the most recent available. A basic premise of the study was that only state maintained highways were of …

Truck Route Access Evaluation: Fulton County, Hickman Riverport Area, Site No. 16, Lisa Aultman-Hall, Kenneth R. Agent, Brian Aldridge, David Cain, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Joel M. Weber

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

There are two main objectives of the Freight Movement and Intermodal Access in Kentucky Study (SPR 98-189) that is being undertaken by the Kentucky Transportation Center for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC): 1) evaluation of the access for trucks between intermodal or other truck generating sites and the National Highway System (NHS); and 2) furthering the understanding of freight commodity flows throughout the state. This report summarizes the access evaluation for one cluster of facilities located in Fulton county in the Purchase Area Development District (ADD) and KYTC Highway District #1. The location of the site in the town of …

Generation Of Intense Excimer Radiation From High-Pressure Hollow Cathode Discharges, Ahmed El-Habachi, Karl H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

By reducing the diameter of the cathode opening in a hollow cathode discharge geometry to values on the order of 100 μm, we were able to operate these discharges in noble gases in a direct current mode up to atmospheric pressure. High-pressure discharges in xenon were found to be strong sources of excimer radiation. Highest intensities at a wavelength of 172 nm were obtained at a pressure of 400 Torr. At this pressure, the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiant power of a single discharge operating at a forward voltage of 220 V and currents exceeding 2 mA reaches values between 6% …

Thermodynamic Modeling And Analysis Of Human Stress Responses, Satish C. Boregowda

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A novel approach based on the second law of thermodynamics is developed to investigate the psychophysiology and quantify human stress level. Two types of stresses (thermal and mental) are examined. A Unified Stress Response Theory (USRT) is developed under the new proposed field of study called Engineering Psychophysiology. The USRT is used to investigate both thermal and mental stresses from a holistic (human body as a whole) and thermodynamic viewpoint. The original concepts and definitions are established as postulates which form the basis for thermodynamic approach to quantify human stress level. An Objective Thermal Stress Index (OTSI) is developed by …

An Alternative Method For Determining Adjusted Function Points As The Basis For Software Cost Estimating, William Alexander Eldred

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As software costs become an increasingly higher percentage of total computer system costs, it becomes increasingly more important for software development managers to have the ability to predict development costs with reasonable accuracy early in the software development cycle. Software development cost estimates are based in large measure on software size. Function points are considered by many to be a de facto industry standard as a size metric. The function points technique, unlike lines-of-code, can be applied early in the software development cycle and is language independent. Critics claim that the function point “value adjustment factor,” which purports to capture …

Sensory Changes In Adults With Unilateral Transtibial Amputation, Judith B. Kosasih, Barbara Silver-Thorn

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to describe the sensory changes in adults with unilateral transtibial amputation

(TTA), as any loss of sensation may have significant impact on the successful use of a prosthesis. Sensory modalities of light touch, deep pressure, vibration, and superficial pain (pinprick) were examined on the residual and contralateral limbs of 16 veterans with TTA. Six subjects demonstrated normal sensation on the contralateral limb and impaired sensation of superficial pain, vibration, and/or light touch on the residual limb. Superficial pain was the most frequently impaired sensation, and vibration and superficial pain sensation appeared to be age-dependent, …

Electrodeposition Of Copper On Thermally Oxidized 316 L Stainless Steel Substrates, Z. Zhou, Thomas J. O'Keefe

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effect of thermal oxidation of 316 L stainless steel cathode blanks used in copper electrodeposition was studied. Current and potential step experiments were performed to evaluate electrochemical changes caused by the oxidation treatments. SEM and AES were used to characterize the stainless-steel substrates and the deposited copper films. Particular emphasis was given to the initial stages of copper nucleation and growth. The copper electro crystallization process was strongly influenced by the temperature employed in oxidizing the stainless steel. Dense, uniform and fine copper nuclei were obtained on the stainless-steel substrate oxidized in air at 200°C and 300°C for 3 …

Truck Route Access Evaluation: Medusa Aggregates, Warren County, Site #2628, Brian Aldridge, Kenneth R. Agent, Lisa Aultman-Hall, David Cain, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Joel M. Weber

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Freight Movement and Intermodal Access in Kentucky Study (SPR 98-189), undertaken by the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) on behalf of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), has two main objectives. These objectives include the evaluation of access for trucks between intermodal or other truck generating sites and the National Highway System (NHS) and furthering the understanding of freight commodity flows throughout the state. This report summarizes the access evaluation for one facility located in Warren County in the Barren River Area Development District (ADD) and KYTC Highway District #3. The location of the site is shown in Figure 1 while …

Mathematics, Modeling, And Modular Curriculum In Engineering Retraining Programs, Massoud Moussavi

Educational Studies Dissertations

The present study is an attempt to probe, explore, and provide an appropriate educational method for engineering retraining programs. The central concerns and implications of this study revolve around: who engineers are, how they learn, why they need to learn, and what they have to learn. The existing retraining programs also will be evaluated in order to develop a suitable retraining program for engineers.

Making Concrete Less Abstract, David Newton Richardson

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

CE 3 13 is a second level properties of concrete lecture course. In an effort to make it appear less abstract to the students, over the course of several semesters several learning strategies were tried, including journaling, muddiest point, entering the academy, role playing, bookends-on-a-lecture, and hands-on lab projects. Most recently, an emphasis on short writing-to-learn papers, a problems-based stance, and an integrated lab project was used. Student evaluations indicated that the lab projects and the increased writing was of significant benefit in promotion of learning.

The Structural Behavior Of Homogeneous And Hybrid Stub Columns Under Dynamic Loading Conditions, Chi Ling Pan, Wei Wen Yu

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

It has been recognized that the mechanical properties of sheet steels and the structural strength of cold-formed steel members can be influenced by strain rate. For studying the local and postbuckling behavior of the stiffened and unstiffened compression elements under dynamic loading condition, 97 stub columns which were assembled from the same material have been tested under different strain rates. In order to study the structural behavior of hybrid cold-formed stub columns, a total of 144 specimens were investigated. In addition, 52 drop silo tests of stub columns were conducted at General Motors Corporation (GM). The results showed that the …