Engineering Commons^™

Airplanes Donated To Andrews, Keri Suarez

Lake Union Herald

No abstract provided.

Strategies To Improve And Preserve Flexible Pavements At Intersections, Imad N. Abdallah

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Many rural intersections originally constructed with thin untreated flexible base and hot mix or a two-course surface treatment experience severe pushing, shoving and rutting. These failures cause an extremely rough surface that can cause damage to small vehicles and potentially cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle. These distresses almost always result in complete failure of the existing pavement that must be repaired several times during the life of the roadway by maintenance forces. Pavement sections constructed with the same materials adjacent to the intersection perform adequately until the approach (approximately 150 ft in advance) of the intersection and …

Electrochemical Behavior Of Zinc, Carlos E. Castillo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The investigation focused on the corrosion of galvanized steel exposed to soil. The primary objective of the study was to develop a technique for monitoring the corrosion behavior of samples in the field by measuring the potential and current with respect to time (or electrochemical noise). Electrochemical electrodes were designed to simulate the galvanized steel in contact with thin electrolytes which are usually generated in soils as they collect and drain rain water depending on soil porosity.

The corrosion behavior of the galvanized steel was also studied by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) coupled with potentiokinetic scans to predict the …

Implications Of Surface Runoff Recharge In Semi-Arid Regions On Groundwater Sustainability, Omar M. Al-Qudah

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Amargosa Desert, Nevada regional groundwater studies show that the surface runoff infiltration occurring in the arroyos following runoff producing storms, and this infiltration is considered to be a major source of groundwater recharge. Groundwater infiltration through alluvium was investigated in the Amargosa Desert using borehole drill cuttings, groundwater chemistry, and applying a novel method for collecting runoff water. The sampling process included sediment, precipitation, and runoff water. In total, 176 runoff, 182 sediment, and 45 precipitation samples were collected between January, 2009 and January, 2011.Water chemistry, chloride concentrations, and stable isotopes of water collected from specially designed runoff samplers, placed …

Spatio-Temporal Cardiac Pacing Sites Localization And Time Varying Pericardium Potential Maps Projection Using Ecg Precordial Leads And A Single Moving Dipole Model, Jaime R. De La Cruz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A novel non-invasive method for the spatiotemporal localization of the sites of strongest cardiac activity, and for the creation of time varying Pericardium Potential Maps (PPM), with the use of patients' ECG precordial leads, is proposed in this Thesis study. Compared to previous studies, which analyze electrocardiograms in either time domain or spatial domain, the proposed method has the advantage of a simultaneous spatiotemporal electrocardiograph analysis and a 3-D visualization of pericardium potentials maps, as well as, the pericardium surface polarization patterns during the cardiac cycle. The spatial properties added to the electrocardiogram allow for the analysis of specific regions …

Assessment And Evaluation Of Peripheral Neuropathy From Diabetic Mellitus Using Systems Analysis Approach, Oscar Alonso Espino

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Currently in America 1 out of every 10 residents suffers from diabetes, and this tendency is likely to grow up to "1 of every 3" by the year [6]. Diabetes exhibits several complications. In 2005, the lead cause of stroke and heart disease was diabetes, 68% of the cases [1]. In 2008, 44% of kidney failure was associated with diabetes [1]. 60 to 70 % of cases of diabetes have a mild to severe nervous system damage [1]. Diabetic patients who have developed peripheral neuropathy tend to also develop foot ulceration. In an advanced stage a foot ulcer can lead …

Experimental Study Of Thermoelectric Properties For Randomly Distributed Carbon Nanotubes And Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles, Onasis Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this experimental study, the thermoelectric (TE) properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles have been investigated. Nanoparticles were randomly disrtibuted on a non-conductive glass or quartz substrate. The carbon nanotubes used were single-walled and multi-walled type, consisting of approximately 60% semiconducting 40% metallic tubes. The experimental design is analogous to that of a thermocouple measurement, with the nanoparticle layers creating hot and cold joints with a dissimilar metal Alumel (Ni-Al). Voltage (mV), current (μA) and resistance (Ω) values were measured with respect to temperature (°C), and Seeback coefficient values were also calculated in parallel. Summarized results …

Enterprise Transformation Through A Zachman-Bayesian Framework To Improve Efficiency & Productivity, Ramakanth Gona

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Although organizations are aware of the benefits of enterprise architectures models, organizations have difficulties determining deficiencies in their business architecture. Organizational assessment tools often do not achieve expectations as sold to management. Performance measures often fail to properly represent necessary holistic measurements. Methods for capturing deficiencies in current business models and deterring improvements to optimize business processes are rare. This thesis develops a new experimental architecture modeling approach for enterprise transformations. The approach is efficient in capturing deficiencies and finding correlations which can become targeted goals for improvements. The Zachman enterprise architecture framework provides a holistic view of organizational models …

The Loughcrew Hills And Passage Tomb Complex, Frank Prendergast

Books/Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Obtaining Speech Assets For Judgement Analysis On Low-Pass Filtered Emotional Speech, John Snel, Charlie Cullen

Conference papers

Investigating the emotional content in speech from acoustic characteristics requires separating the semantic con- tent from the acoustic channel. For natural emotional speech, a widely used method to separate the two channels is the use of cue masking. Our objective is to investigate the use of cue masking in non-acted emotional speech by analyzing the extent to which filtering impacts the perception of emotional content of the modified speech material. However, obtaining a corpus of emotional speech can be quite difficult whereby verifying the emotional content is an issue thoroughly discussed. Currently, speech research is showing a tendency toward constructing …

Perforation Of Arterial Tissue Using Kilohertz Frequency Ultrasound Delivered Via Wire Waveguides, Mark Wylie, Garrett Mcguinness, Graham Gavin

Conference Papers

An emerging technology proposes the use of low frequency-high power ultrasound transmitted via wire waveguides for the disruption and ablation of atherosclerotic lesions, more specifically advanced fibrous or calcified plaques such as chronic total occlusions (CTO). This energy delivery selectively ablates rigid diseased tissue by means of direct mechanical contact, cavitation and other forces generated by the intense dynamic pressure fields generated.

The first clinical device using this energy delivery was granted FDA approval in 2007 [1] for the ablation of CTOs and most research to date has focused on ablation and disruption of hard, fibrous or calcified tissues [2]. …

A High Sensitivity, Evanescent Feld Refractometric Sensor Based On Tapered Multimode Fiber Interference, Pengfei Wang, Gilberto Brambilla, Ming Ding, Yuliya Semenova, Qiang Wu, Gerald Farrell

Articles

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an enhanced evanescent field fiber refractometer based on a tapered multimode fiber sandwiched between two single-mode fibers. Experiments show that this fiber sensor offers ultrahigh sensitivity [better than 1900 nm/RIU at a refractive index (RI) of 1.44] for RI measurements within the range of 1.33–1.44 , in agreement with the theoretical predictions. This is the highest value reported to date (to our knowledge) in the literature.

Investigation And Experimental Measurement Of Scissor Blade Cutting Forces Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors., Dean Callaghan, Ginu Rajan, Mark Mcgrath, Eugene Dermot Coyle Professor, Yuliya Semenova, Gerald Farrell

Articles

This paper investigated the application of FBG sensors in the measurement of scissor blade–tissue interaction forces. Sensor placement at the blade–tissue interaction site provides the basis for increased force measurement accuracy, without compromising the functionality of the instrument. This increased accuracy provided the foundation for in-depth analysis of the force components generated during typical scissor cutting cycles. Theoretical analysis and experimental investigation explored the decoupling of the major forces present during cutting. The isolation of tissue-fracture forces from inter-blade friction forces was carried out. This is useful as knowledge of the fracture properties of biological tissues can be diff cult …

Formation Of Infrared Windows Of Transparency In One-Dimensional Silicon Photonic Crystals, Anna Baldycheva, Vladmir A; Tolmachev, Tatiana S. Perova, Kevin Berwick

Articles

The optical properties of three-component one-dimensional photonic crystal (1-D PC) structures were investigated by modeling them as two-component PCs with an additional regular t-layer, using the gap map approach and the transfer matrix method. Numerical results demonstrate that the introduction of the t-layer affects the properties of the high-order photonic band gaps, replacing them with transmission bands and creating regions of transparency over certain wavelength ranges. For the first time, a map of the transmission bands for a three-component 1-D PC was generated. This map constitutes a unique design tool for infrared optical filters for silicon-based photonic integrated …

The Influence Of Thermal Expansion Of A Composite Material On Embedded Polarimetric Sensors, Manjusha Ramakrishnan, Ginu Rajan, Yuliya Semenova, Piotr Lesiak, Andrzej Domanski, Tomasz Wolinksi, Anna Boczkowska, Gerald Farrell

Articles

Abstract. Some of the most critical issues of the influence of the thermal expansion of composite materials on embedded polarimetric sensors for measurements of strain and temperature are studied in this paper. A composite material sample with polarimetric fiber sensors embedded in two distinct layers of a multi-layer composite structure is fabricated and characterized. The polarimetric fiber sensors used in this study are based on panda type fiber and polarization maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PM-PCF). The temperature sensitivities of polarimetric fiber sensors with acrylate buffer coated and buffer stripped polarization maintaining optical fibers are measured in free space and compared …

An International Comparison Of Engineering Programs In Their Emphases And Professional Skills Development, Gul Okudan Kremer, Mike Murphy, Brian Bowe

Articles

In the face of grand challenges for engineering, several efforts have been undertaken to identify the vision for what we should expect from our undergraduate engineering students. For example, one of the significant reports indicates that our graduates should aspire “to have the ingenuity of Lillian Gilbreth, the problem solving capabilities of Gordon Moore, the scientific insight of Albert Einstein, the creativity of Pablo Picasso, the determination of the Wright brothers, the leadership abilities of Bill Gates, the conscience of Eleanor Roosevelt, the vision of Martin Luther King, and the curiosity and wonder of our grandchildren.” This statement implies that …

Combining A Virtual Learning Tool And Onsite Study Visits Of Four Conservation Sites In Europe, Alain Chenaux, Maurice Murphy, Garrett Keenaghan, James Jenkins, Eugene Mcgovern, Sara Pavia

Conference papers

The design and evaluation of virtual learning environments for construction and surveying students is presented in this paper; by combining virtual learning environment and on-site student surveys to model and replicate practice in the architectural heritage sector. The Virtual Learning Environment is enhanced with real live survey projects whereby students collect the data to build virtual historic buildings from onsite surveys using advanced survey equipment. The survey data is modelled in HBIM; Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) is currently being developed as a virtual learning tool for construction and surveying students in the Technological University of Dublin. HBIM, is a …

Dissemination Strategy For The Nanosafety Cluster 27.09.2011, Extra Deliverable 4.12 .Nanoimpactnet Report, Gordon Chambers, Iseult Lynch, Darren Hart, Nathalie Boschung, Byrony Ross, Sonja Grossberndt

Reports

So that the widest possible group of European nanosafety stakeholders are able to meet, interact, benefit from the work of NSC project members and work using reproducible methods using the same terms, there must be coordination. The following requirements should be clearly defined in the formulation of all new EC sponsored nanosafety-related projects and should be strongly encouraged in existing NSC projects:

Critical Success Factors In The Re-Engineering Of 21st Century Supply Chains, Edward Sweeney

Practitioner Journals

No abstract provided.

Marco, Micro, Structure, Agency: Analysing Approaches To Engineering Ethics, Eddie Conlon

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

On Improving Electrooculogram-Based Computer Mouse Systems: The Accelerometer Trigger, Johnalan Keegan, Edward Burke, James Condron, Eugene Coyle

Conference Papers

Eye tracking is a well-established method of computer control for profoundly paralysed people (Anson et al., 2002). Cameras are commonly used to track eye movements (Morimoto et al., 2005) but one alternative is the bioelectrical signal known as the electrooculogram (EOG). There are some EOG mouse control systems that facilitate the use of GUI applications, but certain actions, which are straightforward using a conventional mouse, remain impossible. Unless the eyes are tracking a target, they move in saccades (jumps), making it impossible to voluntarily trace out smooth trajectories with one's gaze, as would be required to draw a smooth curve. …

Crystallisation And Phase Transition Characteristics Of Sol-Gel-Synthesized Zinc Titanates, Suresh Pillai, Michael Seery, Nicholas Nolan

Articles

No abstract provided.

Obtaining The Secondary Impedance Of Single-Sided Linear Induction Motor With A Double Layer Reaction Rail: A New Approach, Ali̇ Suat Gerçek, Vedat Mehmet Karsli

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

In the performance calculations of single-sided linear induction motor (SLIM),the equivalent circuit technique (ECT) is used. In this paper, a new approach is proposed for obtaining the secondary impedance of single-sided linear induction motor (SLIM) with a double layer reaction rail by using the layered secondary model. The proposed method improves the ECT technique by considering the saturation effect and the non-linear complex equivalent relative permeability. This study also examines the contributions of other electromagnetic effects, such as longitudinal end effect and transverse edge effect as well. Our method is applied to the SLIM and computed results of the method …

A Logic Method For Efficient Reduction Of The Space Complexity Of The Attribute Reduction Problem, Mehmet Hacibeyoğlu, Fati̇h Başçi̇ftçi̇, Şi̇rzat Kahramanli

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

The goal of attribute reduction is to find a minimal subset (MS) R of the condition attribute set C of a dataset such that R has the same classification power as C. It was proved that the number of MSs for a dataset with n attributes may be as large as (_{n/2}^n) and the generation of all of them is an NP-hard problem. The main reason for this is the intractable space complexity of the conversion of the discernibility function (DF) of a dataset to the disjunctive normal form (DNF). Our analysis of many DF-to-DNF conversion processes showed that approximately …

Performance Evaluation Of Nonparametric Ica Algorithm For Fetal Ecg Extraction, Yusuf Sevi̇m, Ayten Atasoy

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Fetal electrocardiograms (FECG) contain important indications about the health and condition of the fetus. In this respect, it is crucial to apply a robust algorithm to ECG data for extraction of the FECG signal. Most of the independent component analysis (ICA) algorithms used for this purpose rely on simple statistical models. Such algorithms can fail to separate desired signals when the assumed statistical model is inaccurate. Statistical models can be estimated accurately using kernel density estimation methods. Therefore, the kernel density estimation method was used in this paper for building an ICA algorithm (nonparametric ICA: NpICA) and the algorithm was …

A Vision Based Feedback Mechanism For 6-Dof Stewart Platform, Utku Büyükşahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Eyes are the most ubiquitous sensors of humankind. However, ``Vision Based Sensors" are not as common as what this fact would suggest. A survey of the previous work on image processing would reveal that the bulk of the research in this area have been conducted since the year 2000. These facts clearly show that image processing is the technology of our century, and is very open to further development. In this work, a system that combines a classical mechanism of the 20th century with the recent technology of the 21st century is presented and the design, theoretical background, the software …

Modeling Extreme Traffic Loading On Bridges Using Kernel Density Estimators, Cathal Leahy, Eugene J. Obrien, Bernard Enright

Conference papers

Kernel density estimators are a non-parametric method of estimating the probability density function of sample data. In this paper, the method is applied to find characteristic maximum daily truck weights on highway bridges. The results are then compared with the conventional approach

Parallelizing Scale Invariant Feature Transform On A Distributed Memory Cluster, Stanislav Bobovych

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) is a computer vision algorithm that is widely-used to extract features from images. We explored accelerating an existing implementation of this algorithm with message passing in order to analyze large data sets. We successfully tested two approaches to data decomposition in order to parallelize SIFT on a distributed memory cluster.

Natural Convection In An Internally Finned Phase Change Material Heat Sink For The Thermal Management Of Photovoltaics, M. J. Huang, P. C. Eames, Brian Norton, N. J. Hewitt

Articles

Elevated operating temperatures reduce the solar to electrical conversion efficiency of building integrated photovoltaic devices (BIPV). Phase change materials (PCM) can be used to passively limit this temperature rise although their effectiveness is limited by their low thermal conductivities and by crystallization segregation during solidification. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the effects of convection and crystalline segregation in a PCM as a function of efficiency of heat transfer within the finned PV/PCM system. The thermal performances of bulk PCM with crystallization segregation for different internal fin arrangements are presented. It is noted that the addition of internal fins …

Steganography Using Stochastic Diffusion For The Covert Communication Of Digital Images, Jonathan Blackledge, Abdulrahman Al-Rawi

Articles

This paper is devoted to the study of a method called Stochastic Diffusion for encrypting digital images and embedding the information in another host image or image set. We introduce the theoretical background to the method and the mathematical models upon which it is based. This includes a comprehensive study of the diffusion equation and its properties leading to a convolution model for encrypting data with a stochastic field that is fundamental to the approach considered. Two methods of implementing the approach are then considered. The first method introduces a lossy algorithm for hiding an image in a single host …