Engineering Commons^™

Networking Embedded Agents, Michael N. Huhns

Faculty Publications

Most of us will soon be managing an intranet in our homes, though we might not realize it. We might also be surprised at the devices that will be networked together. Just about every electrical device now contains one or more microprocessors. Designers typically find this a cost-effective way to provide device functionality, even when much of a processor's power is unnecessary or unused. For example, my coffee maker contains a processor, even though the appliance needn't be very smart and wastes most of its CPU cycles. Nevertheless, it is cheaper to include a general-purpose microprocessor than to incorporate custom …

Negotiating For Goods And Services, Michael N. Huhns, Anuj K. Malhotra

Faculty Publications

Can a negotiation protocol be both fair and “envy-free” when more than two agents are involved? The authors consider how envy-free apportioning is more difficult than fair apportioning, but both can help to manage critical resources. They discuss an envy-free protocol and agent-based Web auctions.

Loss Detection In The Dairy Industry., Michael Quealy

Theses

In any waste management program, the primary objective must be minimizing product loss without having an affect on product quality. Good waste management is recognized as good manufacturing practice and optimizes the processes to gain the highest possible yield from the available raw materials. A good waste management program must involve the daily monitoring of effluent from the plant for volume and strength. This data needs to be analyzed sufficiently to obtain clear pictures of what problems are present and where they are originating. If this is achieved then the task of reducing the product loss is made much easier. …

Review Of: Frank Pearce & Steve Tombs, Toxic Capitalism: Corporate Crime And The Chemical Industry (Dartmouth Publishing Co. 1998), Jonathan Gatmaitan

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Review of the Book: Frank Pearce & Steve Tombs, Toxic Capitalism: Corporate Crime and the Chemical Industry (Dartmouth Publishing Co. 1998). Conclusions, notes, introduction, preface ISBN 1-85521-950-6 [372 pp. Hardbound $72.00 Old Post Road, Brookfield, VT 05036.]

The Hygrothermal Response And Physical Aging Of Polymer Matrix Textile Composites, Natalie L. Dixon

Masters Theses

"Woven graphite/epoxy composite laminate is one type of composite currently being investigated for use in aircraft engine components. However, polymers tend to become brittle with age, especially when exposed to elevated temperature. It is necessary to understand the physical changes in a material during the aging process in order to predict the long-term behavior.

In addition to aging, materials used in aircraft will be exposed to a wide variety of temperatures and relative humidity levels. Variations in temperature and moisture content affect both the physical and the mechanical properties of composites.

Experimental methods are described for hygrothermal testing of a …

Contributions Of Pg Graded Asphalt To Low Temperature Cracking Resistance Of Pavement, Ssu-Wei Loh, J. Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

The purpose of this research was to study and evaluate the role that asphalt binders play in the resistance of asphalt pavements to low temperature cracking. As part of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) new specifications for asphalt binders were developed that are based on the performance of the material. The asphalt binder graded and specified according to these new performance-based specifications is called PG binder. These new specifications are commonly referred to as Superpave (Superior Performing Asphalt Pavement) binder specifications. A section of Interstate 64 in southern Indiana was experiencing severe low temperature cracking before it was reconstructed …

Methods Of Corrosion Protection And Durability Of Concrete Bridge Decks Reinforced With Epoxy-Coated Bars - Phase I, Lisa Michele Samples, J. A. Ramirez

JTRP Technical Reports

In this study, the results of an extensive field and laboratory investigation conducted to evaluate the corrosion performance of epoxy-coated reinforcement are reported. One hundred and twenty three concrete bridge decks containing epoxy-coated reinforcement, uncoated reinforcement, and various other corrosion protection systems were included in a field investigation. An initial visual inspection of these bridge decks showed that 44% had signs of distress from corrosion of the reinforcement. Six decks, representing 5% of the total sample, were selected for a second more detailed survey. Three of the six decks had epoxy-coated reinforcement. This number represents 11% of the total sample …

Bs News

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Optimal Stimulus Electrode Dipole Orientation, Robert B. Szlavik, Hubert De Bruin

Biomedical Engineering

The elicited M-Wave that results from the surface stimulation of the median nerve is highly dependent upon the geometric orientation of the stimulus electrode dipole. This phenomenon could make standardization of M-Wave measurements between tests performed on a single subject problematic. We present an experimental paradigm that illustrates this variability in terms of an estimate of the slope of the M-Wave peak potential versus stimulus current amplitude and the minimum stimulus current required to consistently elicit a minimal response. The design of an automated instrument for selecting the optimal stimulus electrode dipole orientation based on the electrode orientation experiment is …

The Effects Of Testing Methods On The Flexural Fatigue Life Of Human Cortical Bone, L. V. Griffin, J. C. Gibeling, R. B. Martin, V. A. Gibson, S. M. Stover

Biomedical Engineering

A flexural model of four-point bending fatigue that has been experimentally validated for human cortical bone under load control was used to determine how load and displacement control testing affects the fatigue behavior of human cortical bone in three-point and symmetric four-point bending. Under load control, it was predicted that three-point bending produced no significant differences in fatigue life when compared to four-point bending. However, three-point bending produced less stiffness loss with increasing cycles than four-point bending. In four-point bending, displacement control was predicted to produce about one and a half orders of magnitude greater fatigue life when compared to …

A Process For Appraising Commerical Usability Evaluation Methods., Ronan Fitzpatrick, Alan Dix

Conference papers

Recent international quality standards and European Community legislation have identified new software quality factors. These new factors include suitability, installability and adaptability. Other quality factors need to be reviewed in the light of these developments. This has impacted on established commercial usability evaluation methods to the extent that it is appropriate to ask if these evaluation methods comply with the new standards and legislation. In order to answer this question the commercial evaluation methods need to be appraised (meta-evaluation) using a suitable method appraisal process. This paper describes such an appraisal process which specifically addresses the many considerations raised by …

Effects Of Salt And Its Trace Minerals On Aggregate In Bituminous Pavements, Terry R. West, H. J. Park, S. E. Grover

JTRP Technical Reports

Research on the effects of deicing salts and their trace minerals on bituminous highway wearing courses was prompted by early pavement deterioration of federal and state highways in Indiana. Several bituminous surface courses containing slag, slag-dolomite, or dolomite aggregates showed deterioration soon after deicing salts were first applied. Initially, a detailed literature review (Appendix A of report) was conducted. Data on eighteen dolomite sources from a previous study (Bruner, Choi and West, 1995) plus ten additional dolomite sources formed the basis for the brine freeze thaw testing program. Mercury intrusion porosimetry testing conducted on multiple specimens showed that rock texture …

Evaluation Of Strand Transfer And Development Lengths In Pretensioned Girders With Semi-Lightweight Concrete, Robert J. Peterman, J. A. Ramirez, J. Olek

JTRP Technical Reports

Indiana has been using lightweight aggregate consisting mostly of expanded shale in the production of prestressed concrete bridge girders for several projects. The lightweight aggregate has been used as partial replacement for regular gravel or crushed limestone coarse aggregate. This semi-lightweight concrete weighs around 2080 kg/m .

In a study sponsored by the FHWA, the current AASHTO equations for the calculation of transfer and development lengths of prestressing strand were found to be unconservative in the case of lightweight concrete members with unit weight less than 1 920 kg/m3 . This finding raises a question regarding the applicability of the …

Steel Bridge Protection Policy: Main Report, Luh M. Chang, Tarek Zayed, Jon D. Fricker

JTRP Technical Reports

The study identifies various painting systems that are successfully used in Indiana’s surrounding states and other industries. The identified systems are further screened and evaluated. After prudently comparing INDOT’s inorganic zinc / vinyl system with the waterborne acrylic system, the moisture cure urethane coating system, and the 3-coat system of zinc-epoxy-urethane, the results show that the new 3-coat system fulfills INDOT’s needs with the most benefits. Therefore, the 3-coat system is recommended to replace INDOT present inorganic zinc / vinyl system. To deal with the problems facing the lead-based paint, a comparison between full-removal and over-coating alternatives is made. Results …

Light Aircraft Management System, Evan Karjalainen

Theses : Honours

This report details methods to construct a flight data logging system that can be used to manage student flight and aircraft maintenance records. These methods utilise GPS, embedded processors and associated software to depict the occurrence of landings, "Touch and Goes" and record aircraft total flight time. By manipulating these methods it was possible to produce a usable data-logging unit which facilitated the automation of flight maneuver recording. This datatogging unit was constructed from embedded components and interfaced with a user defined database. Perusal of the details within should provide the reader with a clear understanding of the tasks involved …

Nebraska Summary: S294 New Holland Ts90, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Test 1886: New Holland Tv-140 Diesel, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

No abstract provided.

Tests 1860 & 1861: Challenger Mt 535 Diesel, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Summary 319: Massey Ferguson 8240 Diesel 18-Speed, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA

The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data.

EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES

Purpose

The purpose of …

Enterprise Business Objects : Design And Implementation Of A Business Object Framework, Kai-Uwe Schafer

Theses

Software components representing business entities like customer or purchase order introduce a new way of Online Transaction Processing to business applications. Collaborating business objects allow to complete whole business processes as a single distributed transaction, instead of dividing it into queued steps, which sometimes even require user intervention. This IS due to the fact that business objects contain both business data and logic and that they incorporate multiple databases from different vendors and different geographic locations in a single transaction.

Business objects cannot be used as stand-alone components, but require a framework of services that manage persistence, concurrent transactions, and …

Aneuploidy Frequencies In Semen Fractions From Ten Oligoasthenoteratozoospermic Patients Donating Sperm For Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, Jerome Pfeffer, Myung-Geol Pang, Stanton F. Hoegerman, Christopher J. Osgood, M. W. Stacey, Jacob Mayer, Sergio Oehninger, William G. Kearns

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine aneuploidy frequencies in pellet and swim-up semen fractions from 10 infertile men with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) who were donating sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection and to determine whether the swim-up isolation method would successfully separate aneuploid from haploid sperm.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Infertility clinic and molecular genetics laboratory.

Patient(s): Ten patients with severe OAT.

Intervention(s): Cytogenetic analyses by fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine aneuploidy frequencies for chromosomes 1, 13, 18, 21, X, and Y in sperm from swim-up and pellet fractions.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Gametic aneuploidy was scored in sperm fractions separated by the swim-up …

A Qfd Decision Model For Selecting Service, Teaching, And Research Opportunities, Paul Kauffmann, Abel Fernandez, Charles Keating

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

New faculty are confronted with a barrage of information reiterating the importance of performance in the "big three" areas: teaching, service, and research / publications. From the provost to the department head, an untenured faculty member faces strong and sometimes conflicting pressures to become involved in activities ranging from committee assignments to participation in department or university research programs. Often these opportunities come with little guidance, advice, or obvious linkage to long term success in the three pillar areas and ultimately tenure. New faculty are confronted with a complex decision problem for which there is unstructured information available to develop …

Analysis Of Fiber-Reinforced Laminated Momentum Wheel Rotors, Rania Abdel Hassan

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Experimental Investigation Of The Performance Of A Solar Crop Dryer, Sherif Nabil Abd

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Analytical Appraisal Of The Egyptian Privatization Experience, Hanaa Mossad El Habrouk

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Steel Bridge Protection Policy: Life Cycle Cost Analysis And Maintenance Plan, Jon D. Fricker, Tarek Zayed, Luh M. Chang

JTRP Technical Reports

The study identifies various painting systems that are successfully used in Indiana's surrounding states and other industries. the identified systems are further screened and evaluated. After prudently comparing INDOT's inorgainc zinc/vinyl system with the waterborne acrylic system, the moisture cure urethane coating system and the 3-coat system of zinc-epoxy-urethane, the sresults show that thte new 3-coat system fulfills INDOT's needs with the most benefits. Therefore, the 3-coat system is recommended to replace INDOT present inorgaic zinc/vinyl system. To deal with the problems facing the lead-based paint, a comparison between full-removal and over-coating alternatives is made. Results show that over-coating might …

Robust Controller Design For Time Delay Systems Using H-Infinity Techniques, Susan Carr, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Using H-infinity control, the design problem is formulated in terms of user defined weighting polynomials on the process closed-loop sensitivity functions to achieve desired closed-loop performance and robust stability in the presence of process modelling error. In this paper stability conditions , in terms of the process sensitivity functions, are derived for processes containing a pure time delay for the following three design scenarios i) the time delay is neglected in the control design and is considered as part of the unmodelled process dynamics ii) A Pade approximation of the delay is included in the controller design and the effect …

Pi And Pid Controller Tuning Rules For Time Delay Processes: A Summary. Part 2: Pid Controller Tuning Rules, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

A summary of tuning rules for the PID control of single input, single output (SISO) processes with time delay, modeled in stable first order lag plus time delay (FOLPD) form, is provided in this part of the paper.

A Classification Of Techniques For The Compensation Of Time Delayed Processes. Part 2: Structurally Optimised Controllers, Aidan O'Dwyer, John Ringwood

Conference papers

Following on from Part 1, Part 2 of the paper considers the use of structurally optimised controllers to compensate time delayed processes.

Application Of Pvd Coatings To Enhance The Wear Life Of Needles Used In The Textile Industry, Neil Donnelly

Masters

Needles are used in the textile industry for weaving. In high volume textile production a problem is wear of the needle eyelet as the threat is pulled through. This wear results in a cost to the textile manufacturer both in needle replacement, but in many cases more importantly, lost production during needle substitution The objective of this study was to examine the potential of wear resistant coatings deposited using the magnetron sputtering technique to increase the life-time of textile needles. Four coatings were evaluated, titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride, titanium diamond-like carbon and a novel coating titanium nitride/molybdenum disulphide. These coatings …