Engineering Commons^™

Validation Of Waimss Incident Duration Estimation Model, Wei Wu, Pushkin Kachroo, Kaan Ozbay

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

This paper presents an effort to validate the traffic incident duration estimation model of WAIMSS (wide area incident management support system). Duration estimation model of WAIMSS predicts the incident duration based on an estimation tree which was calibrated using incident data collected in Northern Virginia. Due to the limited sample size, a full scale test of the distribution, mean and variance of incident duration was performed only for the root node of the estimation tree, white only mean tests were executed at all other nodes whenever a data subset was available. Further studies were also conducted on the model error …

Wide-Area Incident Management System On The Internet, Kaan Ozbay, Pushkin Kachroo

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

The incident management process consists of four sequential steps-incident detection, response, clearance and recovery. Each of these components comprises of a number of operations and coordinated decision-making between the agencies involved. The provision of computer based support tools for the personnel involved will help develop appropriate strategies and increase efficiency and expediency. Existing systems are developed on various traditional computing platforms. However, with the advent of World Wide Web and Internet based programming tools such as Java, it is now possible to develop platform independent decision support tools for the incident management agencies. Any agency will be able to use …

A Summary Report On The Application Of Photovoltaic Systems And Metal Roofs, Florida Solar Energy Center, Stephen Barkaszi

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A recent resurgence of interest in roof-mounted photovoltaic systems has prompted the Florida Solar Energy Center to assess the current state of the technology from a systems viewpoint. A major part of the system that is often underestimated in the performance and economics of the system is the roof structure. The type of roof can significantly affect both the initial cost of an installation and the life cycle costs.

Method For Improving Consolidation Of Powder Resin, David A. Pienkowski, Eric A. Grulke, Robert J. Jacob

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Patents

A method for improving consolidation of powder resin is provided. The method broadly includes the steps of: (1) sorting particles of the powder resin according to their diameter; (2) combining the sorted particles having a first diameter D1 with the sorted particles having a second diameter D2 so as to form a particle mixture; (3) applying a vibration to the particle mixture; (4) heating the particle mixture; and (5) delivering the particle mixture through a nozzle or into a mold. The particle diameters D1 and D2 are chosen so that once combined there is optimal close packing of the three-dimensional …

Chromium Oxides And Lithiated Chromium Oxides. Promising Cathode Materials For Secondary Lithium Batteries, Pankaj Arora, Dong Zhang, Branko N. Popov, Ralph E. White

Faculty Publications

Chromiumoxides and lithiated chromium oxides were synthesized by thermal decompositionof chromium trioxide (CrO₃) at high temperatures and oxygen pressures.Synthesis temperature and pressure markedly affect the performance of thesecathode materials. Higher pressures lead to a higher O/Cr ratioand fewer impurities in the final product. These materials arestable intercalation hosts for lithium, and exhibit a higher capacitythan any of the prominent positive electrodes used in secondarylithium batteries. m-CrO_x has a capacity of 255 mAh/g, while m-LiCrO_xhas a capacity of 210 mAh/g, during the first discharge. Theaverage voltage of these cells is 3.0 V vs. Li/Li …

The Sinmap Approach To Terrain Stability Mapping, Robert T. Pack, David G. Tarboton, C. N. Goodwin

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A promising approach to modeling the spatial distribution of shallow debris slides combines a mechanistic infinite slope stability model with a steady-state hydrology model. The spatial distribution of a “stability index” is governed primarily by specific catchment area (the upslope area per unit contour length) and slope. The model can be interactively calibrated to the unique characteristics of the topography, rainfall, and soils of a particular study area using simple parameters, graphs and maps. Once a landslide and terrain inventory is completed using aerial photographs, this approach is shown to have the capability of producing a stability classification map of …

Language And Aviation Safety: Sovereignty Versus Sanctity Of Life, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article identifies political factors that impede adequate language training for flight crews. These factors also are impediments to aviation safety.

Trends. The Crash Of Swissair Flight 111: Amidst The Tragedy, The Virtue Of Virtual Realities, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the development of a virtual community: a community of relatives of victims of air fatalities throughout the world, a community whose members rarely meet that occurs after an air tragedy.

Seismic Code Improvements Based On Recorded Motions Of Buildings During Earthquake, Anil K. Chopra, Rakesh K. Goel, Juan Carlos De La Llera

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Summarized in this paper are the results of two recent investigations utilizing recorded motions of buildings to develop improvements in two aspects of seismic code provisions for buildings: (1) fundamental vibration period formulas, and (2) accidental torsion.

Cooling Saber With A Miniature Pulse Tube Refrigerator, Scott M. Jensen, J. Clair Batty, William A. Roettker, Matthew J. Felt

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Utah State University/Space Dynamics Laboratory (USU/SDL), teaming with NASA Langley Research Center, is currently building the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry(SABER) instrument. Stringent mass and power constraints, together with a greater than two year mission life, led to the selection of a TRW miniature pulse tube refrigerator to cool SABER's infrared detectors to the required temperature of 75 K.

This paper provides an overview of the SABER thermal management plan and the challenges encountered in matching the refrigerator characteristics with instrument performance requirements under the broadly variant space environments expected for this mission. Innovative technologies were developed …

New Cmos Universal Constant-Gm Input Stage, Vladimir I. Prodanov, Michael M. Green

Electrical Engineering

Conceptually new constant-Gm input-stage architecture is presented. It provides near constant net transconductance independent of transistor operating region-strong, moderate or weak inversion. One possible implementation of the proposed architecture is discussed in details. Its operation has been experimentally verified. Results from performed measurements are included.

Orion: A Microsatellite Testbed For Formation Flying, Robert J. Twiggs, Jonathan How

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs and Jonathan How titled "ORION: A Microsatellite Testbed for Formation Flying" from September 3, 1998.

Wright State University College Of Engineering And Computer Science Bits And Pcs Newsletter, Volume 14, Number 7, September 1998, College Of Engineering And Computer Science, Wright State University

BITs and PCs Newsletter

An eight page newsletter created by the Wright State University College of Engineering and Computer Science that addresses the current affairs of the college.

The Role Of Air Cargo In California's Goods Movement, H.-S. Jacob Tsao

Faculty Publications

Caltrans began a systematic investigation into the role of air cargo in California’s goods movement, as part of the larger development effort for a statewide goods movement strategy, and funded a research project in 1997 for the Institute of Transportation Studies at U.C. Berkeley to (i) gain a broader understanding of the State’s air cargo industry and the role of air cargo in California’s goods movement, (ii) assess the importance of air cargo to the State’s economy, (iii) begin identification of issues hindering efficient air cargo movement in the State, and (iv) explore possible State roles for resolving the issues. …

Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Lighting Systems - A Decision-Maker's Guide, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This document provides general considerations for evaluating the feasibility of photovoltaic (PV) lighting applications. These considerations include assessing lighting requirements, understanding site conditions and investigating alternative lighting and power source options. These guidelines are intended to help prospective buyers of PV lighting equipment evaluate applications, as well as helping those supplying systems and equipment identify potential markets for their products. Also covered in this document is an overview of popular PV lighting system applications, including area and sign lighting, signal and warning systems, consumer lighting devices and solar home lighting systems.

Hybrid Force-Feedback Control For Virtual Environments, Carol Chesney

Link Foundation Modeling, Simulation and Training Fellowship Reports

The scope of this project is the design and implementation of a force-feedback device that utilizes brakes as well as motors for hybrid force control.. The device is a pen-sized device for planar point force-feedback. The design and software are implemented with consideration towards extending the force-feedback technology to three dimensions. The benefits of such a hybrid device include increased safety and realism. Larger forces can be reflected safely in the form of impenetrable constraints and instabilities can reduced or eliminated. The passive force component is the only way to accommodate the model of static friction. Delay in force measurement …

Navier-Stokes Analysis Of Lift-Enhancing Tabs On Multi-Element Airfoils, Paul G. Carrannanto, Bruce L. Storms, James C. Ross, Russell M. Cummings

Aerospace Engineering

The flow over multi-element airfoils with flat-plate lift-enhancing tabs was numerically investigated. Tabs ranging in height from 0.25 to 1.25% of the reference airfoil chord were studied near the trailing edge of the main element. The two-dimensional numerical simulation employed an incompressible Navier–Stokes solver using a structured, embedded grid topology. The effects of various tabs were studied at a constant Reynolds number on a two-element airfoil with a slotted flap. Both computed and measured results indicated that a tab in the main-element cove improved the maximum lift and lift-to-drag ratio relative to the baseline airfoil without a tab. Computed streamlines …

A Neural Network Pruning Algorithm With Embedded Gradient-Conjugate Training For The Identification Of Large Flexible Space Structures, Xiao-Hua Yu

Electrical Engineering

The choice of network dimension is a fundamental issue in the design of artificial neural networks. A larger neural network is powerful for solving problems while a smaller neural network is always advantageous in real-time environment where speed is crucial. In this paper, a network pruning algorithm with embedded gradient-conjugate training is investigated and applied to the identification of a large flexible space structure. Computer simulation results show that this approach can dramatically reduce the size of neural network while maintaining compatible identification accuracy.

Sprinkler Irrigation As A Voc Separation And Disposal Method: Innovative Technology Evaluation Report, Teri Richardson, Paul Depercin, Douglas Grosse, Rena Howard, Ann Kern, Endalkachew Sahle-Demissie, Johnny Springer Jr., Richard Schlenker, Roy F. Spalding

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

This report summarizes the findings of an evaluation of sprinkler irrigation as a volatile organic compound (VOC) separation and disposal method.

Background A need for lower cost, effective treatment alternatives for the disposal of treated contaminated groundwater provided the impetus to conduct a SITE demonstration of sprinkler irrigation since it provides both separation and disposal options. Since the application of irrigation is fairly widespread throughout the United States, there may be an opportunity to employ this as a dual purpose technology; concurrent irrigation and disposal of treated groundwater. In order to determine whether this option is viable, it is necessary …

Climate Change And Nebraska

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

The earth’s climate is predicted to change because human activities are altering the chemical composition of the atmosphere through the buildup of greenhouse gases — primarily carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. The heat-trapping property of these greenhouse gases is undisputed. Although there is uncertainty about exactly how and when the earth’s climate will respond to enhanced concentrations of greenhouse gases, observations indicate that detectable changes are under way. There most likely will be increases in temperature and changes in precipitation, soil moisture, and sea level, which could have adverse effects on many ecological systems, as well as on …

Fuzzy Justification Of Heuristic Methods In Inverse Problems And In Numerical Computations, With Applications To Detection Of Business Cycles From Fuzzy And Intuitionistic Fuzzy Data, Vladik Kreinovich, Hung T. Nguyen, Berlin Wu, Krassimir T. Atanassov

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

No abstract provided.

Np-Hardness In Geometric Construction Problems With One Interval Parameter, Nuria Mata, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

No abstract provided.

Truck Route Access Evaluation: Edmonson County, From Western Kentucky Parkway To I-65, Lisa Aultman-Hall, Kenneth R. Agent, Brian Aldridge, David Cain, Nicole Lefever, 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 is slightly different from the others that summarize the access evaluation to a particular cluster of existing facilities. This route provides access to Edmonson county from the Western Kentucky Parkway (in Grayson county) and …

Truck Route Access Evaluation: Bath County Industrial Site, Off Of Kendall Springs Road Southwest Of Owingsville, Site #26, Brian Aldridge, Kenneth R. Agent, Lisa Aultman-Hall, David Cain, Nicole Lefever, 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 1) the evaluation of 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 Bath County in the Gateway Area Development District (ADD) and KYTC Highway District #9. The location of the site is shown in …

A Feedback-Driven Proportion Allocator For Real-Rate Scheduling, David Steere, Ashvin Goel, Joshua Gruenberg, Dylan Mcnamee, Calton Pu, Jonathan Walpole

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this paper we propose changing the decades-old practice of allocating CPU to threads based on priority to a scheme based on proportion and period. Our scheme allocates to each thread a percentage of CPU cycles over a period of time, and uses a feedback-based adaptive scheduler to assign automatically both proportion and period. Applications with known requirements, such as isochronous software devices, can bypass the adaptive scheduler by specifying their desired proportion and/or period. As a result, our scheme provides reservations to applications that need them, and the benefits of proportion and period to those that do not. Adaptive …

Computer-Assisted Gait Analysis In Equine Orthopaedic Practice: The Case For Inverse Dynamic Analysis, Antonie J. Van Den Bogert

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Acuta Enews September 1998, Vol.27, No. 9

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

Is xDSL Right for Your Campus?

Delegate It!

A Commitment to Service

DC at a Glance

Board Report

Positions Available

Welcome New Member

Optimization Of Solid-State Fermentation Parameters For The Production Of Xylanase By Trichoderma Longibrachiatum On Wheat Bran, Elizabeth R. Ridder, Sue E. Nokes, Barbara L. Knutson

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Solid-state fermentation has the potential to produce inexpensive enzymes for use in high-volume industrial applications. Process parameters such as substrate moisture content and length of fermentation can have a significant effect on the amount and timing of enzyme production. This study was conducted in two stages, a screening stage and an optimization stage, to determine the effects of moisture content of the substrate, surfactant addition upon inoculation, depth of the substrate, and duration of fermentation on xylanase activity produced by Trichoderma longibrachiatum. Screening fermentations were conducted at 25°C, 50 and 75% wet basis moisture content (w.b.), 0.0 and 0.2% …

Vegetated Filter Strip Removal Of Cattle Manure Constituents In Runoff, Teng T. Lim, Dwayne R. Edwards, Stephen R. Workman, Brian T. Larson, Lloyd Dunn

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Pasture runoff can contribute to elevated concentrations of nutrients, solids, and bacteria in downstream waters. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of vegetative filter strip (VFS) length on concentrations and transport of nitrogen, phosphorus, solids and fecal coliform in runoff from plots treated with cattle manure. Three plots with dimensions of 2.4 × 30.5 m were used. The upper 12.2 m of each plot was treated with cattle manure, while the lower 18.3 m acted as a VFS. Runoff produced by rainfall simulators was sampled at VFS lengths of 0, 6.1, 12.2, and 18.3 m and …

Truck Route Access Evaluation: Kenmor Stone And Ruth Brothers Quany, Olive Hill, Site #2620, Joel Weber, Kenneth R. Agent, Brian Aldridge, Lisa Aultman-Hall, David Cain, Nicole Lefever, Nick Stamatiadis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This is a study undertaken on behalf of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). There are two main objectives of the Freight Movement and Intermodal Access in Kentucky Study (SPR 98-189): evaluation of the 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 Kenmor Stone and Ruth Brothers Quarry located in Carter county in the FIVCO Area Development District (ADD) and KYTC Highway District #9. The location of the sites is shown in Figure 1. Work …