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Me-Em 2005 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Annual Reports

Table of Contents

• Overview, Mission, and Vision
• Comments on the Strategic Plan
• Enrollment and Expenditure Data
• Professional Advisory Committee
• Faculty & Staff
• Students
• Alumni
• Entrepreneurs
• Resources
• Graduates
• Publications

Digital Image Processing, Jonathan Blackledge

Books/Book chapters

Newspapers and the popular scientific press today publish many examples of highly impressive images. These images range, for example, from those showing regions of star birth in the distant Universe to the extent of the stratospheric ozone depletion over Antarctica in springtime, and to those regions of the human brain affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Processed digitally to generate spectacular images, often in false colour, they all make an immediate and deep impact on the viewer’s imagination and understanding.

Professor Jonathan Blackledge’s erudite but very useful new treatise Digital Image Processing: Mathematical and Computational Methods explains both the underlying theory and …

Slope Stability Of Laterite Soil Embankments, Ikiensinma Gogo-Abite

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Embankments are key elements in the infrastructural development of structures such as dams, bridges, and roads. Residual soils are generally used as fills in the construction of embankments in areas were residual soils such as laterite is the dominant soil types. Laterite soils have the characteristics of losing its shear strength with time and in fully saturated conditions and its properties varies from region to region. The soil property is influenced by the chemical composition and the environment. The binding agent iron oxide in such soils changes its composition with time and in the presence of moisture. Sudden failures of …

Potential Of Multivariate Quantitative Methods For Delineation And Visualization Of Ecoregions, William Hargrove, Forrest Hoffman

United States Department of Energy: Publications

Multivariate clustering based on fine spatial resolution maps of elevation, temperature, precipitation, soil characteristics, and solar inputs has been used at several specified levels of division to produce a spectrum of quantitative ecoregion maps for the conterminous United States. The coarse ecoregion divisions accurately capture intuitively-understood regional environmental differences, whereas the finer divisions highlight local condition gradients, ecotones, and clines. Such statistically generated ecoregions can be produced based on user-selected continuous variables, allowing customized regions to be delineated for any specific problem. By creating an objective ecoregion classification, the ecoregion concept is removed from the limitations of human subjectivity, making …

Attainable Compressive Strength Of Pervious Concrete Paving Systems, Ann Marie Mulligan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The pervious concrete system and its corresponding strength are as important as its permeability characteristics. The strength of the system not only relies on the compressive strength of the pervious concrete but also on the strength of the soil beneath it for support. Previous studies indicate that pervious concrete has lower compressive strength capabilities than conventional concrete and will only support light traffic loadings. This thesis investigated prior studies on the compressive strength on pervious concrete as it relates to water-cement ratio, aggregate-cement ratio, aggregate size, and compaction and compare those results with results obtained in laboratory experiments conducted on …

Stormwater Irrigation Of Saint Augustine Grass: Nitrogen Balance And Evapotranspiration, Ewoud Hulstein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A change in surface condition of a watershed, which is usually caused by development, can have measured effects on the naturally occurring hydrologic cycle and nitrogen cycle. This could result in environmental problems, such as reduced springflow and eutrophication. In an effort to address these issues, a combination of best management practices (BMPs) can be adhered to. The practice of using excess stormwater as a source for irrigation is proposed as a BMP for the minimization of impacts by development to the hydrologic and nitrogen cycles. To study the proposed BMP, a field experiment was installed in an outdoor location …

Spatial Resolution And Processing Tradeoffs For Hydros: Application Of Reconstruction And Resolution Enhancement Techniques, David G. Long, Michael W. Spencer, Eni G. Njoku

Faculty Publications

Recent developments in reconstruction and resolution enhancement for microwave instruments suggest a possible tradeoff between computation, resolution, and downlink data rate based on postcollection reconstruction/resolution enhancement processing. The Hydrospheric State (HYDROS) mission is designed to measure global soil moisture and freeze/thaw state in support of weather and climate prediction, water, energy, and carbon cycle studies, and natural hazards monitoring. It will use an active and passive L-band microwave system that optimizes measurement accuracy, spatial resolution, and coverage. The active channels use synthetic aperture radar-type processing to achieve fine spatial resolution, requiring a relatively high downlink data rate and ground processor …

Towards An Rts,S-Based, Multi-Stage, Multi-Antigen Vaccine Against Falciparum Malaria: Progress At The Walter Reed Army Institute Of Research, D. Gray Heppner Jr., Kent E. Kester, Christian F. Ockenhouse, Nadia Tornieporth, Opokua Ofori, Jeffrey A. Lyon, V. Ann Stewart, Patrice Dubois, David E. Lanar, Urszula Krzych, Philippe Moris, Evelina Angov, James F. Cummings, Amanda Leach, B. Ted Hall, Sheetij Dutta, Robert Schwenk, Collette Hillier, Arnoldo Barbosa, Lisa A. Ware, Lalitha Nair, Christian A. Darko, Mark R. Withers, Bernhards Ogutu, Mark E. Polhemus, Mark Fukuda, Sathit Pichyangkul, Montip Gettyacamin, Carter Diggs, Lorraine Soisson, Jessica Milman, Marie-Claude Dubois, Nathalie Garcon, Kathryn Tucker, Janet Wittes, Christopher V. Plowe, Mahamadou A. Thera, Ogobara K. Duombo, Maria G. Pau, Jaap Goudsmit, W. Ripley Ballou, Joe Cohen

United States Army: Publications

The goal of the Malaria Vaccine Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) is to develop a licensed multi-antigen, multi-stage vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum able to prevent all symptomatic manifestations of malaria by preventing parasitemia. A secondary goal is to limit disease in vaccinees that do develop malaria. Malaria prevention will be achieved by inducing humoral and cellular immunity against the pre-erythrocytic circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and the liver stage antigen-1 (LSA-1). The strategy to limit disease will target immune responses against one or more blood stage antigens, merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) and apical merozoite antigen-1 (AMA-1). The …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Training System Approaches For Highly Complex Flight Training, Maria Bauer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the Training Effectiveness of a low-cost, PC-based training system when compared with two modes (motion and no motion) of a cab training system with large screen for various aviation flying tasks. While much research on this topic has been done in the past, advances in technology have significantly altered what is considered a "low-cost" "simulator." The technology advances have in effect increased the ability of a "low-cost" "simulator" to deliver desired experiences to the user. These "simulators" often are nothing more than PC training system, with only notional representations of the actual aircraft. This research considers the …

The Effect Of Tidal Inlets On Open Coast Storm Surge Hydrographs: A Case Study Of Hurricane Ivan (2004), Michael Salisbury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Florida's Department of Transportation requires design storm tide hydrographs for coastal waters surrounding tidal inlets along the coast of Florida. These hydrographs are used as open ocean boundary conditions for local bridge scour models. At present, very little information is available on the effect that tidal inlets have on these open coast storm tide hydrographs. Furthermore, current modeling practice enforces a single design hydrograph along the open coast boundary for bridge scour models. This thesis expands on these concepts and provides a more fundamental understanding on both of these modeling areas. A numerical parameter study is undertaken to elucidate the …

Power System Optimization And Coordination Of Damping Controls By Series Facts Devices, Jung-Wook Park, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Reactive Power And Voltage Control Of The Nigerian Grid System Using Micro-Genetic Algorithm, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, G. A. Bakare, U. O. Aliyu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this paper, a micro-genetic based approach to the optimization of reactive power and voltage profiles improvement and real power loss minimization is presented. The reactive power control devices such as generators, tap positions of on-load tap changer of transformers, shunt reactors are used to correct voltage limits violations while simultaneously reducing the system real power losses. Genetic algorithms (GAs) are well-known global search techniques anchored on the mechanisms of natural selection and genetics. Because of the time intensive nature of the conventional GA, the micro-GA is proposed as a more time efficient alternative. The feasibility and effectiveness of the …

Characterization Of Fluoropolymer Powders Made By Supercritical Assisted Mixing With Crystalline Additives, Ntoh Atem-Tambe

Theses and Dissertations

This research project investigates a new technique to efficiently mix crystalline solid additives with polymers by gentle ball milling with steel balls in the presence of carbon dioxide (C02) at 17 to 30°C and 1300 to 2500 psig. As the ball milling system is agitated, the steel balls transfer mechanical energy to the fluoropolymer and additive thereby converting them to powders. C02 is added into the chamber to expand the polymer and make it amenable to impregnation by the additive. At the end of the mixing process, a free flowing powder is produced consisting of the additive coated with fluoropolymer. …

Analysis Of Alternative Well Control Methods For Dual Density Deepwater Drilling, Mikolaj Stanislawek

LSU Master's Theses

The recent push into deepwater is currently limited by high drilling costs resulting from conventional well designs. As a result, dual gradient drilling methods have been proposed. This research investigates riser gas-lift as a potential means to implement a dual gradient system. A primary concern is well control in a system containing so many different density fluids and different flow paths. The specific concerns addressed in this study were kick detection, cessation of formation feed-in, removal of kick fluids, and re-establishing hydrostatic control with a constant bottom hole pressure method. These concerns were studied using a transient, multiphase simulator whose …

Physico-Chemical Characteristics Of European Pulverized Coal Combustion Fly Ashes, N. Moreno, X. Querol, J. M. Andrés, K. Stanton, Mark R. Towler, H. Nugteren, M. Janssen-Jurkovicová, R. Jones

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fly ashes sourced from European pulverized coal burning power plants (from Spain, The Netherlands, Italy and Greece) were characterized in terms of their chemical composition, mineralogy and physical properties. The amount and composition of the glass present in the ashes were also determined. The materials analyzed have very different compositions and were selected with a view to determining their suitability for different applications and for further studies on applications. The results were compared to the literature to determine their similarities to UK coal fly ashes. Chemical analysis has enabled the categorization of the ashes based on their oxide contents. Devitrification …

An Automated Methodology For A Comprehensive Definition Of The Supply Chain Using Generic Ontological Components, Mohamed Fayez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Today, worldwide business communities are in the era of the Supply Chains. A Supply Chain is a collection of several independent enterprises that partner together to achieve specific goals. These enterprises may plan, source, produce, deliver, or transport materials to satisfy an immediate or projected market demand, and may provide the after sales support, warranty services, and returns. Each enterprise in the Supply Chain has roles and elements. The roles include supplier, customer, or carrier and the elements include functional units, processes, information, information resources, materials, objects, decisions, practices, and performance measures. Each enterprise, individually, manages these elements in addition …

Ridding Ships' Ballast Water Of Microorganisms, Fred C. Dobbs, Andrew Rogerson

OES Faculty Publications

( First paragraph) A complex assemblage of microorganisms exists in nearly every aquatic system on earth. In lakes and oceans, every milliliter of water contains about 10² protists (single-celled eukaryotes), 10⁶ bacteria, and 10⁷–10⁹ viruses. Therefore, billions of microorganisms inevitably enter ships’ ballast tanks during normal operations. It has been argued that microorganisms must certainly be frequent invaders of coastal ecosystems, given the high densities of bacteria and viruses in ballast water—10⁸ and 10⁹ organisms per liter, respectively (1)—their potentially high reproductive rates, broad tolerances to physical conditions, and ability to form resting …

Engineered Struvite Precipitation: Impacts Of Component-Ion Molar Ratios And Ph, Jun Wang, Joel Gerard Burken, Xiaoqi Zhang, Rao Y. Surampalli

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Struvite precipitation has the potential for removing and recovering phosphorus from agricultural wastewater streams, such as concentrated animal feeding operations wastewater. However, impacts of anticipated component-ion molar ratios and potentially interfering ions are unknown as are the compounding pH relationship with respect to all potential complexes. This research experimentally investigates and mathematically models these factors. Emphasis is placed upon the composition of formed deposits and model validation with experimental data. Results show that calcium is a major interfering ion affecting the deposit composition, decreasing struvite purity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy + energy dispersive spectrometry were used to …

Geostatistical Integration Of Geophysical, Well Bore And Outcrop Data For Flow Modeling Of A Deltaic Reservoir Analogue, Hong Tang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Significant world oil and gas reserves occur in deltaic reservoirs. Characterization of deltaic reservoirs requires understanding sedimentary and diagenetic heterogeneity at the submeter scale in three dimensions. However, deltaic facies architecture is complex and poorly understood. Moreover, precipitation of extensive calcite cement during diagenesis can modify the depositional permeability of sandstone reservoir and affect fluid flow. Heterogeneity contributes to trapping a significant portion of mobile oil in deltaic reservoirs analogous of Cretaceous Frontier Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming. This dissertation focuses on 3D characterization of an ancient deltaic lobe. The Turonian Wall Creek Member in central Wyoming has been selected …

Long Term Pressure Behavior In Turbidite Reservoirs, Feng Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, we investigated several possible mechanisms that would give rise to the anomalous pressure behavior (early concave-up on Horner plot or upward drift on the derivative curve of the log-log plot and asymmetry between the pressure drawdown and buildup behavior) sometimes encountered in the turbidite reservoirs in GOM primarily using numerical simulation and 2-level experimental designs. We ascertained the most influential parameters to the pressure behavior and identified that multilayer commingled system and the leaky compartment model are the most probable mechanisms to cause the anomalous behavior due to layer or zone property contrast to a certain degree. …

Geological Research Regarding A Well In Mutare, Zimbabwe, Laura Ruf

Opportunities for Undergraduate Research Experience Program (OURE)

The purpose of this project was to collect information regarding the geology and hydrogeology of the area surrounding Mutare, as well as any other information that would be needed for determining a water supply for a well that will be built there. Unfortunately, much of this information could not be found. The two water sources that seem to be the most easily provided are building a well on spot or extending pipes to the Pungwe project. Determining which is the better choice would require a geologist or geological engineer to survey the site planned for the orphanage.

A Comparison Of Pso And Backpropagation For Training Rbf Neural Networks For Identification Of A Power System With Statcom, Salman Mohagheghi, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Yamille Del Valle, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Backpropagation algorithm is the most commonly used algorithm for training artificial neural networks. While being a straightforward procedure, it suffers from extensive computations, relatively slow convergence speed and possible divergence for certain conditions. The efficiency of this method as the training algorithm of a radial basis function neural network (RBFN) is compared with that of particle swarm optimization, for neural network based identification of a small power system with a static compensator. The comparison of the two methods is based on the convergence speed and robustness of each method.

Wide Area Power System Protection Using A Learning Vector Quantization Network, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Mahyar Zarghami

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a wide area monitoring and protection technique based on a learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network. Phasor measurements of the power network buses are monitored continuously by a LVQ network in order to alert the control room operators of possible faults. The proposed scheme could be used in a wide area monitored network to provide remedial action when primary local protection schemes for transmission lines fail to function. This technique could also be extended to the actuation of the secondary protection schemes, hence, preserving the integrity of the power network especially when the faults are spreading over …

A Novel Method Based On Neural Networks To Distinguish Between Load Harmonics And Source Harmonics In A Power System, Joy Mazumdar, Frank C. Lambert, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

A Heuristic-Dynamic-Programming-Based Power System Stabilizer For A Turbogenerator In A Single-Machine Power System, Wenxin Liu, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Power system stabilizers (PSSs) are used to generate supplementary control signals for the excitation system in order to damp the low-frequency power system oscillations. To overcome the drawbacks of a conventional PSS (CPSS), numerous techniques have been proposed in the literature. Based on the analysis of existing techniques, a novel design based on heuristic dynamic programming (HDP) is presented in this paper. HDP, combining the concepts of dynamic programming and reinforcement learning, is used in the design of a nonlinear optimal power system stabilizer. Results show the effectiveness of this new technique. The performance of the HDP-based PSS is compared …

Two Separate Continually Online-Trained Neurocontrollers For A Unified Power Flow Controller, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Radha P. Kalyani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The crucial factor affecting the modern power systems today is load flow control. The Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) provides an effective means for controlling the power flow and improving the transient stability in a power network. The UPFC has fast complex dynamics and its conventional control is based on a linearized model of the power system. This paper presents the design of neurocontrollers to provide better damping during transient and dynamic control. Two separate neurocontrollers are used for controlling the UPFC, one neurocontroller for the shunt inverter and the other for the series inverter. Simulation studies carried out in …

Investment Casting Using Ice Patterns -- Solid Mold And Shell Mold Methods, Harish Jose

Masters Theses

"This thesis focuses on the development and implementation of the investment casting process using ice patterns. The traditional method of the investment casting process involves using wax patterns. Wax patterns tend to expand during the dewaxing process, and this causes stress on the shell wall which can eventually lead to the breaking of the wall. Ice patterns on the other hand shrink when heated. This is a very desirable property for the investment casting process. The process of dewaxing (dewatering) of ice patterns can be achieved by keeping the shells at room temperature, instead of heating the shell in an …

Multi-National Project Team Communications And Cultural Influences, Morgan E. Henrie

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This exploratory case study dissertation examined multinational project teams' communication satisfaction as influenced by the project team's cultural attribute of power distance. Utilizing a exploratory case study, semi-guided interview research approach, ordinal scale data and open-ended contextual based question responses was obtained. This data was gathered from United States---Russia and Canada---Angola multi-national, complex, high technology oil transportation project teams. Triangulation data gathering techniques were utilized to obtain empirical data from multiple sources of data and multiple data types. Subsequent data analyses combined descriptive statistical analysis, graphical analysis, cluster analysis, and content analysis techniques to derive a theoretical construct of multi-national …

Optimal Dynamic Neurocontrol Of A Gate-Controlled Series Capacitor In A Multi-Machine Power System, Swakshar Ray, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Edson H. Watanabe, F. D. De Jesus

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents the design of an optimal dynamic neurocontroller for a new type of FACTS device - the gate controlled series capacitor (GCSC) incorporated in a multi-machine power system. The optimal neurocontroller is developed based on the heuristic dynamic programming (HDP) approach. In addition, a dynamic identifier/model and controller structure using the recurrent neural network trained with backpropagation through time (BPTT) is employed. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the dynamic neurocontroller and its performance is compared with that of the conventional PI controller under small and large disturbances.

Using A Neural Network To Distinguish Between The Contributions To Harmonic Pollution Of Non-Linear Loads And The Rest Of The Power System, Joy Mazumdar, Frank C. Lambert, Ganesh K. Venayagamoorthy, Ronald G. Harley

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.