Engineering Commons^™

Preliminary Development Of A Certification Protocol For Conventional Fireplaces, Paul L. Reitz, Harold M. Cota

Civil and Environmental Engineering

In order to attain and maintain federal and state air quality standards for particulate matter, some local agencies in California have adopted rules and regulations to control emissions from wood burning devices. Some of these rules restricted the use or installation of new masonry fireplaces. The purpose of this study was to begin development of a test protocol that would provide for consistent measurement of particulate emissions from conventional fireplaces and could be useful for compliance determinations or possible certification of a fireplace design or model. A modified California Air Resources Board Stationary Source Test Method 5 was used to …

Techniques For Modeling Hazardous Air Pollutant Emissions From Landfills, Robert J. Lang, Samuel A. Vigil, Henryk Melcer

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Air Estimation Model (LAEEM), combined with either the AP-42 or CAA landfill emission factors, provide a basis to predict air emissions, including hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), from municipal solid waste landfills. This paper presents alternative approaches for estimating HAP emissions from landfills. These approaches include analytical solutions and estimation techniques that account for convection, diffusion, and biodegradation of HAPs. Results from the modeling of a prototypical landfill are used as the basis for discussion with respect to LAEEM results.

Measured Energy Savings From Retrofits Installed In Low-Income Housing In A Hot And Humid Climate, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) is metering energy use in a Habitat for Humanity housing development. The objective is to understand the way in which energy is used in low income housing and how it can be effectively reduced.

The ten homes come from a conventional housing project built by in 1993 Habitat for Humanity in Homestead, Florida. The instrumentation was installed in the homes in July of 1994 with over three years of 15-minute data collected on all sites. Data were obtained on seven electrical end-uses (air conditioning, heating, hot water, dryer, range, refrigerator, washer/freezer) as well as …

Monitored Summer Peak Attic Air Temperatures In Florida Residences, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has analyzed measured summer attic air temperature data taken for some 21 houses (three with two different roof configurations) over the last several years. The analysis is in support of the calculation within ASHRAE Special Project 152P which will be used to estimate duct system conductance gains which are exposed to the attic space. Knowledge of prevailing attic thermal conditions are critical to the duct heat transfer calculations for estimation of impacts on residential cooling system sizing.

The field data was from a variety of residential monitoring projects which were classified according to intrinsic differences …

Ventilation, Humidity, And Energy Impacts Of Uncontrolled Airflow In A Light Commercial Building, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A small commercial building was monitored before and after energy saving retrofits to study the impact of retrofits upon ventilation rates, humidity, building pressure and air conditioning energy use. Duct airtightness testing identified severe duct leakage as a significant source of uncontrolled airflow. Differential pressure and infiltration measurements using tracer gas indicated an attic exhaust fan as another significant source of uncontrolled airflow. Duct repair resulted in a 31% drop (30.5 kWh/day) in cooling energy, and an increase in relative humidity from 72% to 76%. Turning off the attic exhaust resulted in an additional 36% energy savings (14.3 kWh/day), including …

Improving Water Properties To Increase Infiltration Characteristics, Richard W. O. Soppe, Stuart W. Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Water properties, such as the viscosity and surface tension, can be affected by temperature and surfactants to Increase infiltration rates into soils. Specifically, they will change the hydraulic conductivity of the soil. A simple soap solution and the new material PAM (inexpensive polymer chemical) were evaluated as surfactants. Laboratory experiments and field tests on a site in Davis, California were done to quantify the effects of changing the water properties. Additional effects, like the improved soil structure during infiltration and less soil particles in tailwater (reduced erosion due to runoff) were observed and are described in this paper. The conclusions …

Redesigning Engineering Education, William W. Durgin, Edward A. Parrish

Office of the Provost Scholarship

In developing the PLAN, WPI sought to address concerns inherent to its then traditional curriculum that was rigid, unresponsive to differences among students, and was compartmentalized by independent departments so that intellectual growth was fragmented.

The PLAN was an entirely new and different educational program responsive to the needs of students and society while nurturing sensitivity to the ideas and values of our society. It included fundamental departures from the traditional elements of technical education including:
A. The achievement of competence rather than the accumulation of credits.
B. Individual freedom and responsibility in planning the program of study.
C. A …

System And Method For Performing Optical Code Division Multiple Access Communication Using Bipolar Codes, James F. Young, Benhaam Aazhnag, Lim Nguyen

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

An optical encoding and decoding system which performs code-division multiple access (CDMA) communication in the incoherent, or direct detection, optical domain using bipolar +1/-1 codes. The present invention uses code modu lation and detection principles that permit all-optical imple mentation of the bipolar. +1/-1. code and correlation detec tion that have been developed for the radio frequency (RF) systems. This is possible in spite of the non-negative, or unipolar, +1/0, nature of the incoherent optical system that only detects and processes the signal intensity. The unipolar optical system of the present invention is equivalent to the bipolar RF system in …

Multi-Spectral Inverse Problems In Satellite Image Processing, Scott A. Starks, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Satellite imaging is nowadays one of the main sources of geophysical and environmental information. It is, therefore, extremely important to be able to solve the corresponding inverse problem: reconstruct the actual geophysics- or environment-related image from the observed noisy data.

Traditional image reconstruction techniques have been developed for the case when we have a single observed image. This case corresponds to a single satellite photo. Existing satellites (e.g., Landsat) take photos in several (up to 7) wavelengths. To process this multiple-spectral information, we can use known reasonable multi-image modifications of the existing single-image reconstructing techniques. These modifications, basically, handle each …

Evaluation Of The Pv Systems At Martin Power Plant. 07-14-98 (Rev. 07-23-98), Florida Solar Energy Center, Jennifer Skislak

FSEC Energy Research Center®

On June 3, 1998, researchers from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) conducted a field test of six, independent photovoltaic (PV) systems at the Florida Power and Light (FPL) Martin Power Plant. The weather conditions during test were hazy with a few clouds. This test was performed at the request of FPL to determine the operational status of the PV systems and to provide recommendations for upgrading or repairing these systems. Of the six systems, three were fully operational and were providing power to the grid.

Energy-Efficient Florida Educational Facilities: Improvements To A Portable Classroom At A Volusia County School. Final Report. 06-98, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

An ambitious project by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and sponsored by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) is monitoring the energy use of two adjacent portable classrooms to see how they might be made more energy efficient in a hot-­humid climate. These classrooms have been monitored for one year to collect baseline data before the energy efficient measures are installed. These measures include an efficient lighting system, a new air conditioner, and a reflective white metal roof.

Fair Division Under Interval Uncertainty, Ronald R. Yager, Vladik Kreinovich

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

It is often necessary to divide a certain amount of money between n participants, i.e., to assign, to each participant, a certain portion w(i)>=0 of the whole sum (so that w(1)+...+w(n)=1). In some situations, from the fairness requirements, we can uniquely determine these "weights" w(i). However, in some other situations, general considerations do not allow us to uniquely determine these weights, we only know the intervals [w-(i),w+(i)] of possible fair weights. We show that natural fairness requirements enable us to choose unique weights from these intervals; as a result, we present an algorithm for fair division under interval uncertainty.

Kolmogorov Complexity, Statistical Regularization Of Inverse Problems, And Birkhoff's Formalization Of Beauty, Vladik Kreinovich, Luc Longpre, Misha Kosheleva

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

Most practical applications of statistical methods are based on the implicit assumption that if an event has a very small probability, then it cannot occur. For example, the probability that a kettle placed on a cold stove would start boiling by itself is not 0, it is positive, but it is so small, that physicists conclude that such an event is simply impossible.

This assumption is difficult to formalize in traditional probability theory, because this theory only describes measures on sets (e.g., for an inverse problem, on the set of all functions) and does not allow us to divide functions …

Experimental Analysis Of Desiccation Crack Propagation In Clay Liners, Carol J. Miller, Hong Mi, Nazli Yesiller

Civil and Environmental Engineering

A laboratory investigation on a scaled model of a landfill liner was conducted to provide data regarding the occurrence and extent of desiccation cracking of prototype liners. The crack intensity factor, CIF, was introduced as a descriptor of the extent of surficial cracking. CIF is defined as the ratio of the surface crack area A, to the total surface area of the clay liner, At. A computer aided image analysis program was used to determine CII’ values from scanned photographs of the desiccation process. The variation of the CII’ was related to duration of drying and measured soil moisture suctions. …

Flight Physician - June, 1998, Civil Aviation Medical Association

Browse all Civil Aviation Medical Association Newsletters

A twelve page newsletter of the Civil Aviation Medical Association. The newsletter provided news about civil aviation medicine and information related to the organization.

Sustainability And Resource Assessment: A Case Study Of Soil Resources In The United States, Dana L. Hoag, Jennie S. Hughes Popp, D. Eric Hyatt

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Assessment of environmental condition is critical to wise management and policy decisions. However, for some concerns such as sustainability, it is difficult to assess environmental condition because it involves disparate social objectives and an understanding of complex ecological systems. Here, a general framework is proposed to examine sustainability of environmental resources in objective, measurable ways. By using soil quality as an example, sustainability research is taken beyond theory and into application.
Sustainability depends on the quality of resource endowment. Endowment of a natural resource can be modeled as an index of quality to assess the degree of sustainable management. This …

Case Study Of Non-Linear Inverse Problems: Mammography And Non-Destructive Evaluation, Olga Kosheleva, S. Cabrera, Roberto A. Osegueda, Carlos M. Ferregut, Soheil Nazarian, M. J. George, Vladik Kreinovich, K. Worden

Departmental Technical Reports (CS)

The inverse problem is usually difficult because the signal (image) that we want to reconstruct is weak. Since it is weak, we can usually neglect quadratic and higher order terms, and consider the problem to be linear. Since the problem is linear, methods of solving this problem are also, mainly, linear (with the notable exception of the necessity to take into consideration, e.g., that the actual image is non-negative).

In most real-life problems, this linear description works pretty well. However, at some point, when we start looking for a better accuracy, we must take into consideration non-linear terms. This may …

Solar Weatherization Assistance Program, Program Final Report, Volume 1: Main Report. 08-25-98, Florida Solar Energy Center, John Harrison

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Solar Weatherization Assistance Program (SWAP) was a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to provide solar water heating systems for low-income residents in Florida.

Raising families, incurring everyday bills and purchasing common necessities are all part of daily life that can rapidly drain a family's budget. This is especially burdensome for low-income and elderly residents on a fixed income. A major part of the budgetary concerns are the recurrent and unavoidable electric bills.

In northern colder climates, weatherization programs assist low-income clients …

Location Independent Names For Nomadic Computers, David Steere, Mark Morrissey, Peter Geib, Calton Pu, Jonathan Walpole

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent advances in the Domain Name System (DNS) and the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) have enabled a new approach to supporting mobile users: location independent naming. In this approach, machines use the same hostname from any internet location, but use an IP address that corresponds to their current location. We describe a protocol that implements location independent naming for nomadic computers, i.e., machines that do not need transparent mobility. Our protocol allows hosts to move across security domains, uses existing protocols, and preserves existing trust relationships. Therefore, it preserves the performance and security of normal IP for nomadic computers …

Mixed Electron Emission From Doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ Ceramics: Microstructural Aspects, Weiming Zhang, Wayne Huebner

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A mixed type electron emission, i.e., simultaneous ferroelectric and plasma emission, was observed with a negative driving pulse applied to doped Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ ceramics in the absence of any external potential on the electron collector. During these emission studies, significant microstructural changes on the emission surface were observed, and corresponded to the different emission modes. Erosion craters at the edge of the electrode and small particles near these craters reflected the formation of a dense plasma there. Comparatively, cavities, i.e., grain pullouts, accumulated on the bare ferroelectric surface, the frequency of which depended upon its distance from the grid. This …

A Quasi-Experimental Approach For Assessing Air Traffic Controller Workload, Ana Theresa Borja

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

The objective of this thesis was to evaluate and determine the operational impacts to the Oceanic Air Traffic Controller (controller) from deficiencies of an Oceanic Data Link system. These deficiencies in the Oceanic Data Link system are in regards to the Computer Human Interface (CHI) and its effect on the cognitive effort and physical task requirements imposed on the controller. The various workload methodologies and techniques were reviewed for specific workload techniques applicable to the operational environment when resources, such as time and funding, are lacking for a laboratory design. Data was collected from a live oceanic control facility where …

Psychophysically Derived Work Frequencies For Manual Pouring Operations In The Foundry, Sadat Karim

Masters Theses

This paper presents a study on a combination lift and carrying task and was designed to simulate a metal pouring operation commonly found in foundries. Two laboratory experiments were conducted. The first experiment was designed to study the effects of two different mold heights (0.6096 m. and 0.4572 m.) and two carrying distances (1.2192 m. and 4.572 m.) on physiological response variables and on subjects' rating of perceived exertion while performing a simulated pouring operation at a documented foundry frequency. The second experiment was designed to determine maximum acceptable task frequencies (MAF) for males performing a simulated pouring operation at …

Acuta Enews June 1998, Vol.27, No. 6

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

CICs Go to 4 Digits June 30

Winners Announced in Second Annual Student Papers Competition

Board Report

Do You Have a Story?

UNM Admissions Goes Online

FYI: Digital Decay

PRI ISDN at UMSL

DC at a Glance

Positions Available

Welcome New Members

Environmental Auditing Of Small Wastewater Treatment Plants, Hanan Mahmoud El-Hadary

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Data-Driven Homologue Matching For Chromosome Identification, R. Joe Stanley, James M. Keller, Paul D. Gader, Charles William Caldwell

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Karyotyping involves the visualization and classification of chromosomes into standard classes. In "normal" human metaphase spreads, chromosomes occur in homologous pairs for the autosomal classes 1-22, and X chromosome for females. Many existing approaches for performing automated human chromosome image analysis presuppose cell normalcy, containing 46 chromosomes within a metaphase spread with two chromosomes per class. This is an acceptable assumption for routine automated chromosome image analysis. However, many genetic abnormalities are directly linked to structural or numerical aberrations of chromosomes within the metaphase spread. Thus, two chromosomes per class cannot be assumed for anomaly analysis. This paper presents the …

Singularity Avoidance Strategies For Satellite Mounted Manipulators Using Attitude Control, Nathan A. Titus

Theses and Dissertations

Control concepts for satellite mounted manipulators (SMM) are examined. The primary focus is on base actuated concepts, which eliminate singularity problems associated with free floating SMMs. A new form of the equations of motion for an n-link SMM is developed using a quasi coordinate form of Lagrange's Equation. Alternative free floating SMM designs are presented which eliminate dynamic singularities, but still experience difficulties due to the unactuated base. A new generic SMM controller is developed as a framework for various control concepts with and without base actuation. Momentum constrained Jacobians are shown to produce better SMM tracking than fixed base …

Trigonometric Transforms For Image Reconstruction, Thomas M. Foltz

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation demonstrates how the symmetric convolution-multiplication property of discrete trigonometric transforms can be applied to traditional problems in image reconstruction with slightly better performance than Fourier techniques and increased savings in computational complexity for symmetric point spread functions. The fact that the discrete Fourier transform a circulant matrix provides an alternate way to derive the symmetric convolution-multiplication property for discrete trigonometric transforms. Derived in this manner, the symmetric convolution-multiplication property extends easily to multiple dimensions and generalizes to multidimensional asymmetric sequences. The symmetric convolution-multiplication property allows for linear filtering of degraded images via point-by-point multiplication in the transform domain …

Development And Packaging Of Microsystems Using Foundry Services, Jeffrey T. Butler

Theses and Dissertations

Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are a new and rapidly growing field of research. Several advances to the MEMS state of the art were achieved through design and characterization of novel devices. Empirical and theoretical model of polysilicon thermal actuators were developed to understand their behavior. The most extensive investigation of the Multi-User MEMS Processes (MUMPs) polysilicon resistivity was also performed. The first published value for the thermal coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of the MUMPs Poly 1 layer was determined as 1.25 x 10(exp -3)/K. The sheet resistance of the MUMPs polysilicon layers was found to be dependent on linewidth due to …

The T-27 "Tucano" Engine Pipeline Of The Brazilian Air Force: A Managerial Approach, Jorge Barros Santos

Theses and Dissertations

The T-27 is a Brazilian-made aircraft, manufactured by "Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica - EMBRAER". The purpose of this study is to describe the processes that take place in the logistic pipeline of the T-27 Engine. With the objective of identifying any existent bottlenecks and suggests managerial approaches to improve the overall system performance.

The Scheduling Process In A Depot From The Brazilian Air Force, Fabricio J. Saito

Theses and Dissertations

The Brazilian Air Force (BAF) in its logistic structure contains 5 Air Logistic Centers (depots). This thesis concentrates its analysis on one of the most important BAF depots located at Sao Paulo (PAMASP). This thesis explores the scheduling process currently used in PAMASP. This thesis adopted a managerial approach in a sense that it looked to take a big picture of the current process. The researcher performed field interviews with the goal of describing the process. During the visit to PAMASP, the researcher also gathered problems related to the process. The recommendations stated on this study were based on the …