Engineering Commons^™

Irrelevance, Polymorphism, And Erasure In Type Theory, Richard Nathan Mishra-Linger

Dissertations and Theses

Dependent type theory is a proven technology for verified functional programming in which programs and their correctness proofs may be developed using the same rules in a single formal system. In practice, large portions of programs developed in this way have no computational relevance to the ultimate result of the program and should therefore be removed prior to program execution. In previous work on identifying and removing irrelevant portions of programs, computational irrelevance is usually treated as an intrinsic property of program expressions. We find that such an approach forces programmers to maintain two copies of commonly used datatypes: a …

Real-Time Vertical Track Deflection Measurement System, Sheng Lu

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Track quality is a major factor in railroad safety, and one accepted indicator of track quality is the vertical track deflection. Measuring track deflection from a moving railcar is difficult because there is no stable reference for the measurements. A system developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska to measure track deflection from a moving railcar in real-time is described in detail. The system consists of a loaded hopper with a camera/laser sensor system to detect the vertical deflection of the rail relative to the wheel/rail contact point. Modeling and simulation of the system is also presented along with …

Control And Sensor Development On A Four-Wheel Pyramidal Reaction Wheel Platform, Jeffery Jay Logan

Master's Theses

The Pyramidal Reaction Wheel Platform, or PRWP, is used to simulate three-axis controls in a torque free space-like environment. The primary purpose of the system will be to evaluate the effects of conjoining sensors to maximize pointing accuracy. Furthermore, the system will incorporate a star tracker in conjunction with a Simulated Star Field (SSF) to better estimate the PRWP orientation. For the sake of this document, however, the goal is to implement a gyroscope, wheel rate sensors, and a make-shift accelerometer—to the PRWP—and integrate a controls algorithm such that three-axis controls are achieved for the PRWP. Three sensors were either …

Design And Optimization Of A Blood Vessel Mimic Bioreactor System For The Evaluation Of Intravascular Devices In Simple And Complex Vessel Geometries, Sara M. Leifer

Master's Theses

Coronary artery disease affects millions of people and the ability to detect and treat the disease is advancing at a rapid rate. As a result, the development of intravascular technologies is the focus of many medical device manufacturers. Specifically, coronary stent implantation is being performed in an increasing number of patients and a number of new stent designs have been introduced to the market, resulting in the need for improved preclinical testing methods. An in vitro tissue engineered “blood vessel mimic” (BVM) system has previously been established and its feasibility for the initial testing of newly emerging intravascular technology has …

A C-Band Scatterometer Simultaneous Wind/Rain Retrieval Method, David G. Long, Congling Nie

Faculty Publications

Using collocated ERS scatterometer (ESCAT), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR), and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) data, the effects of rain on ESCAT wind-only retrieval are evaluated. Additional scattering from rain causes estimated wind speeds to appear higher than expected. Selected directions of the rain-corrupted wind vectors are biased toward along-track directions under conditions of heavy rain, which is regardless of the true wind direction. Rain becomes more significant for data acquired at a high incidence angle. To compensate for rain-induced backscatter, a simultaneous wind/rain retrieval (SWRR) method, which simultaneously retrieves wind velocity and surface …

An Analysis Of The Technical And Economic Potential For Mid-Scale Distributed Wind, K. Granfield, A. Kagel, A. Appleton

United States Department of Energy: Publications

This report examines the status, restrainers, drivers, and estimated development potential of mid-scale (10 kW to 5000 kW) distributed wind projects. This segment of the wind market has not enjoyed the same growth that central-station wind has experienced. The purpose of this report is to analyze why, and to assess the market potential for this technology under current market and policy conditions.

As discussed in section 2, one of the most significant barriers to the development of distributed wind is a general scarcity of turbine choices and turbine inventory available for purchase. Most turbine manufacturers have scaled back their involvement …

Surface Relief D-Fiber Bragg Gratings For Sensing Applications, Tyson Lee Lowder

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the novel creation of a surface relief fiber Bragg grating on the flat surface of a D-shaped optical fiber. In order to produce an efficient surface relief grating the grating must be etched into the surface of the glass fiber close to the core. A short etch that removes the cladding above the core is performed in order to decrease the core-to-flat distance and allow the light to interact with the grating on the flat surface. Due to the unique D-shape of the optical fiber the mechanical integrity of the fiber remains high even after the fabrication …

2008 Scholars And Artists Bibliography, Rajshehkar G. Javalgi Dr., Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University, Friends Of The Michael Schwartz Library

Scholars and Artists Bibliographies

This bibliography was created for the annual Friends of the Michael Schwartz Library Scholars and Artists Reception, recognizing scholarly and creative achievements of Cleveland State University faculty, staff and emeriti. Dr. Rajshekhar Javalgi was the guest speaker.

Plurality Of Principal Angles For A Given Pseudo-Brewster Angle When Polarized Light Is Reflected At A Dielectric-Conductor Interface, R. M.A. Azzam, A. Alsamman

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications

The pseudo-Brewster angle ϕpB of minimum reflectance for p-polarized light and the principal angle ϕ¯ at which incident linearly polarized light of the proper azimuth is reflected circularly polarized are considered as functions of the complex relative dielectric function ε of a dielectric–conductor interface over the entire complex ε plane. In particular, the spread of ϕ¯for a given ϕpB is determined, and the maximum difference (ϕ¯−ϕpB)max is obtained as a function of ϕpB . The maximum difference (ϕ¯−ϕpB)max approaches 45° and 0 in the limit as ϕpB→0 and 90°, respectively. ForϕpB<22.666° , multiple principal angles ϕ¯i , i=1,2,3 , appear for each ε in a subdomain of fractional optical constants. …

Cmol/Cmos Hardware Architectures And Performance/Price For Bayesian Memory - The Building Block Of Intelligent Systems, Mazad Shaheriar Zaveri

Dissertations and Theses

The semiconductor/computer industry has been following Moore's law for several decades and has reaped the benefits in speed and density of the resultant scaling. Transistor density has reached almost one billion per chip, and transistor delays are in picoseconds. However, scaling has slowed down, and the semiconductor industry is now facing several challenges. Hybrid CMOS/nano technologies, such as CMOL, are considered as an interim solution to some of the challenges. Another potential architectural solution includes specialized architectures for applications/models in the intelligent computing domain, one aspect of which includes abstract computational models inspired from the neuro/cognitive sciences.

Consequently in this …

Methodology For Developing A Functional Multiscale Architecture Model System Towards Future Integrated Circuits, Yamini Yadov

Dissertations and Theses

Detection of the biochemical species in the environmental pollution, industrial emission monitoring, medical diagnosis, public security, agriculture and a variety of industries has resulted in the emerging need for a generation of high density nanostructured sensor arrays. The fundamental two terminal and three terminal device components because of their potential for specificity eventually have to be integrated into miniaturized and portable nanoarray sensors. One of the key components in these nanosensors is the development of building functional building blocks that improve device performance capabilities. This research is focused on methodology for developing fundamental, functional, multiscale architecture model system for generating …

Methodology Development For Three-Dimensional Mr-Guided Near Infrared Spectroscopy Of Breast Tumors, Colin M. Carpenter, Subhadra Srinivasan, Brian W. Pogue, Keith D. Paulsen

Dartmouth Scholarship

Combined Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) has been proposed as a unique method to quantify hemodynamics, water content, and cellular size and packing density of breast tumors, as these tissue constituents can be quantified with increased resolution and overlaid on the structural features identified by the MR. However, the choices in how to reconstruct and visualize this information can have a dramatic impact on the feasibility of implementing this modality in the clinic. This is especially true in 3 dimensions, as there is often limited optical sampling of the breast tissue, and methods need to accurately reflect …

Ceas E-News 10.23.2008, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

College of Engineering and Applied Sciences News

WMU Formula SAE team competes, wins exhibition competition

Implementing Arabic-To-English Machine Translation Using The Role And Reference Grammar Linguistic Model, Yasser Salem, Arnold Hensman, Brian Nolan

Conference Papers

This paper presents work-in-progress investigating the development of a rule-based lexical framework for Arabic language processing using the Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) linguistic model. A system, called UniArab is introduced in this research to support the framework. The paper outlines the conceptual structure of UniArab System, which utilizes the framework and translates the Arabic language into another natural language. Also, this paper explores how the characteristics of the Arabic language will effect the development of a Machine Translation (MT) tool from Arabic to English. Several distinguishing features of Arabic pertinent to MT will be explored in detail with reference …

Work In Progress - Attaining And Measuring Global Competency For Engineering Graduates, James Widmann, Linda Vanasupa

Materials Engineering

Downey et al. laid out a clear path of learning criteria and outcomes for global competence in their 2006 Journal of Engineering Education publication. We build on their work by integrating other disciplinary perspectives to expand upon the questions: "How can global competency be learned?", and "How can we assess it?" In this work-in-progress paper, we propose an expanded framework for global competence and identify the use of Fink's taxonomy of significant learning as a tool to consider how it can be achieved through careful design of classroom learning experiences. Drawing heavily from other models, our framework attempts to articulate …

Work In Progress - A Design Guide To Retain Female (And Male) Students In Engineering, Linda Vanasupa, Katherine C. Chen, Stacey Breitenbach, Karen R. Bangs

Materials Engineering

Despite a rich body of research on factors contributing to attrition of women during the college, women continue to be underrepresented in the graduating classes of most traditional engineering disciplines. We present our Four-Domain Development Diagram (4DDD) in an attempt to enable a systems approach to managing all the factors that contribute to retention. This diagram makes explicit the connections between the learners' response factors in the learning environment, including motivation, interest, and ultimately retention. Although we are only three years into our use of the diagrams' relationships, we have seen a lower overall net attrition rate (male and female) …

Work In Progress - Enhancing Student-Learning Through State-Of-The-Art Systems Level Design And Implementation, Albert A. Liddicoat, Jianbiao Pan, James G. Harris, Dominic J. Dal Bello, Lynne A. Slivovsky

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The curriculum for undergraduate engineering programs is often partitioned into several courses that are taught in isolation followed by a single culminating senior design or capstone project experience. In the senior design class students being to synthesize the knowledge and skills that they acquired through the engineering curriculum. This paper presents lower and upper division course and curricular changes made to accommodate learning objectives that better prepare students for project-based learning. These learning experiences and skills include: systems level design, experience with state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools, printed circuit board (PBC) design, design for manufacturability, electronics assembly, project management, …

Work In Progress – Building The Survey Of Engineering Ethical Development (Seed) Instrument, Janel A. Sutkus, Donald D. Carpenter, Cynthia J. Finelli, Trevor S. Harding

Materials Engineering

When developing surveys, researchers can readily identify the concepts they intend to study, but how do they create individual survey items that will most accurately measure those concepts? Here we describe the first year of a four-year NSF project in which the E³ Team (Exploring Ethical Decision Making in Engineering) prepared to develop a national survey of the curricular and cocurricular activities, events, and experiences affecting the ethical development of engineering undergraduates. As this survey is likely to be the most comprehensive assessment of ethical development - both in content and scope - ever administered to engineering undergraduates, it …

The Psychology Of 'Ought', Trevor S. Harding

Materials Engineering

As educators, we would like to believe that we can influence the ethical growth of our students. If we are to do this, it seems worthwhile to first understand what ethical decision-making is and how it happens. For millennia, ethical decision-making has fallen within the domain of philosophy. However, recent evidence suggests that the average person does not consider ethical dilemmas in the abstract. Instead, ethical decision-making appears to be a complex dance between an individual’s rational calculus of the ethical dilemma and their emotional response to the context of the dilemma. I will present an argument that in the …

Space Program For Kentucky, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Space Program for Kentucky" from October 22, 2008.

System And Technique For Retrieving Depth Information About A Surface By Projecting A Composite Image Of Modulated Light Patterns, Laurence G. Hassebrook, Daniel L. Lau, Chun Guan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Patents

A technique, associated system and program code, for retrieving depth information about at least one surface of an object. Core features include: projecting a composite image comprising a plurality of modulated structured light patterns, at the object; capturing an image reflected from the surface; and recovering pattern information from the reflected image, for each of the modulated structured light patterns. Pattern information is preferably recovered for each modulated structured light pattern used to create the composite, by performing a demodulation of the reflected image. Reconstruction of the surface can be accomplished by using depth information from the recovered patterns to …

Non-Destructive Testing Of Physical Characteristics Of Composite Structures, R. Zoughi, Sergey Kharkovsky, Vivian Stephen

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A method for detecting an anomaly in a composite material comprising directing two transmitted electromagnetic wave signals orthogonally polarized with respect to each other from a probe to the composite material, wherein the probe and composite material are positioned for near-field evaluation of the probe. A related apparatus comprising an open-ended square waveguide probe.

The Revolution In Space By University Students, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint Presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "The Revolution in Space by University Students" from October 21, 2008.

Overview And Summary Of Design Ideas From The High Performance Green Relocatable Classroom Charrette, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Past research has shown that energy use can be reduced by 81% in improved new portable classrooms in Florida. On June 2-3, 2008 a design charrette was held in Palm Beach Gardens with the goal of developing qualities that should be considered for a High-Performance Green Relocatable Classroom (HPGRC) standard for Florida or other regions in hot and humid climates. This charrette is just one of many steps that would be involved in development and acceptance of a HPGRC standard. It is hoped that the results of this can be shared with others and used to build on the development …

Spin Transport Studies In Nanoscale Spin Valves And Magnetic Tunnel Junctions, Sridhar Patibandla

Theses and Dissertations

Spintronics or electronics that utilizes the spin degree of freedom of a single charge carrier (or an ensemble of charge carriers) to store, process, sense or communicate data and information is a rapidly burgeoning field in electronics. In spintronic devices, information is encoded in the spin polarization of a single carrier (or multiple carriers) and the spin(s) of these carrier(s) are manipulated for device operation. This strategy could lead to devices with low power consumption. This dissertation investigates spin transport in one dimensional and two dimensional semiconductors, with a view to applications in spintronic devices.

Impact Assessment Of Problem-Based Learning In An Engineering Science Course, Karim J. Nasr, Bassem Ramadan

Mechanical Engineering Publications

This paper presents the development and implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in an engineering thermodynamics course at Kettering University. In this project, the thermodynamics course was restructured as modules presenting practical applications first, whereas principles were introduced just-in-time and as encountered. Theoretical information was presented to support the understanding of knowledge as students applied inquiry-based learning. These modules were carefully designed to reflect traditional concepts but made more exciting as students discover the need for the laws and principles. The classroom format was interactive, cooperative and revolves around students' needs. Formative and summative assessment tools were designed to examine the …

Effect Of Operating Pressure On The Extent Of Hysteresis In A Trickle Bed Reactor, Zeljko V. Kuzeljevic, Werner Van Der Merwe, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan, Milorad P. Dudukovic, Willie Nicol

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Dependence of Hydrodynamic Parameters, Such as Pressure Drop, on the Flow History of the Bed is Called Hysteresis. This Phenomenon is Most Commonly Associated with Changes of Flow Distribution and Flow Patterns with the Flow History. Many Studies Have Shown that Increased Operating Pressure Will Affect Flow Distribution and Wetting Efficiency; However, There Seems to Be No Study of the Effect of the Elevated Operating Pressure on the Extent of Hysteresis. in This Study, an Experimental Investigation of the Hysteresis in a High-Pressure Trickle Bed Has Been Performed. a Hysteresis Factor Has Been Introduced to Quantify the Extent of …

Contact-Resonance Atomic Force Microscopy For Viscoelasticity, P. A. Yuya, D. C. Hurley, Joseph A. Turner

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

We present a quantitative method for determining the viscoelastic properties of materials with nanometer spatial resolution. The approach is based on the atomic force acoustic microscopy technique that involves the resonant frequencies of the atomic force microscopy cantilever when its tip is in contact with a sample surface. We derive expressions for the viscoelastic properties of the sample in terms of the cantilever frequency response and damping loss. We demonstrate the approach by obtaining experimental values for the storage and loss moduli of a poly(methyl methacrylate) film using a polystyrene sample as a reference material. Experimental techniques and system calibration …

Implantable Biosensors For Real-Time Strain And Pressure Monitoring, Ee Lim Tan, Brandon D. Pereles, Brock Horton, Ranyuan Shao, Mohammed Zourob, Keat Ghee Ong

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Implantable biosensors were developed for real-time monitoring of pressure and strain in the human body. The sensors, which are wireless and passive, consisted of a soft magnetic material and a permanent magnet. When exposed to a low frequency AC magnetic field, the soft magnetic material generated secondary magnetic fields that also included the higher-order harmonic modes. Parameters of interest were determined by measuring the changes in the pattern of these higher-order harmonic fields, which was achieved by changing the intensity of a DC magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet. The DC magnetic field, or the biasing field, was altered …

Experimental Study On Web Crippling Of Lapped Cold-Formed Steel Channels Subjected To Interior Two-Flange Loading, Q. Rahman, K. Sennah

CCFSS Proceedings of International Specialty Conference on Cold-Formed Steel Structures (1971 - 2018)

No abstract provided.