Engineering Commons^™

Experimental Determination Of Colburn And Friction Factors In Small Plate Heat Exchangers With High Surface Enlargement Factors, Andrew H. Pike

Masters Theses

Experiments were conducted to measure the performance of several small brazed plate heat exchangers. A test apparatus was designed and constructed that allowed for the easy switching of the plate heat exchangers, as well as having the ability to electronically monitor and record the inlet and outlet temperatures, pressures, and flow rates. The flow rates and applied electrical power were controlled electronically by the same program which recorded the data. De-ionized water was used as the heat transfer medium to reduce the uncertainty related to fluid properties.

An existing mathematical model was used to create Colburn and friction factors based …

Active Diesel Soot Measurement By Laser Opacity, Jonathan Audish, Brian Ko, Edward Ma, Travis Mcdaniel

Electrical Engineering

This project looks into understanding the concentration of soot being omitted by a diesel engine through the creation of an innovative opacity sensor. The system contains a receiver circuit implementing a photodiode, laser with wavelength of 405±10nm, and a microcontroller with analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. As the laser pulsates, the microcontroller collects and processes the data to calculate the amount of soot within the exhaust system. The opacity sensor in our tests will be used on an Isuzu 1.9 liter diesel engine. The elegant design of the system can be integrated into conventional manufacturing molding or casting processes for new exhaust …

Application Of Wireless Power For Charging The Battery Of A Wireless Mouse, Jacob Keast, Vincent Jison

Electrical Engineering

Electronic devices are a part of all modern homes, but restricted by available outlets and the hassle of wires. With the modern wireless mouse, this is also the case. When the battery is low the consumer has several options: it is replaced with a new battery, it can be recharged using a USB wire, or the mouse is placed on a charging dock. This project provides an alternative to these options and allows the mouse’s battery to be charged via wireless inductive coupling. The wireless power charging system that was implemented in this project was successful in its ability to …

Radio Link Analysis And Characterization Of Past And Future Cal Poly Cubesats, Brian Gilbert Tubb

Electrical Engineering

Cal Poly's satellites design team, PolySat, has three satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and four more planned to launch within the next two years. Radio communication of past and current orbiting satellites has been an exercise in frustration, prompting significant research into the satellite-side of the radio link by several other Senior Projects and Thesis papers. However, minimal effort has been spent on evaluating why these problems were discovered only once the satellites reached orbit. This paper details the downfalls of relying heavily on link budgets and improper long range test setups, then experimentally determines the sensitivity of PolySat's …

Analysis And Evaluation Of Existing And Novel Turbulent Dynamic Pressure Based Methods For Measuring Bridge Pier And Abutment Scour, Murray Fisher

All Dissertations

Scour is one of the most significant threats to bridge infrastructure and is the leading cause of failure within the United States. Given this risk to the nation’s transportation infrastructure, it is necessary to understand the development of scour holes around bridge piers and abutments. This can be achieved with scour monitoring, a Federal Highway Administration approved scour countermeasure. As the monitoring techniques available range from simple devices that rest on or in the channel bed to advanced scanning systems that provide a bed contour profile, a concise study of the state of the art in real time scour measurement …

Network Target Coordination For Design Optimization Of Decomposed Systems, Wenshan Wang

All Dissertations

A complex engineered system is often decomposed into a number of different subsystems that interact on one another and together produce results not obtainable by the subsystems alone. Effective coordination of the interdependencies shared among these subsystems is critical to fulfill the stakeholder expectations and technical requirements of the original system. The past research has shown that various coordination methods obtain different solution accuracies and exhibit different computational efficiencies when solving a decomposed system. Addressing these coordination decisions may lead to improved complex system design. This dissertation studies coordination methods through two types of decomposition structures, hierarchical, and nonhierarchical.
For …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Investigation Of The Orientation Of A Pediatric Left Ventricle Assist Device Cannula To Reduce Stroke Events, Stephen Guimond

HIM 1990-2015

Ventricle Assist Devices (VADs), which are typically either axial or centrifugal flow pumps implanted on the aortic arch, have been used to support patients who are awaiting cardiac transplantation. Success of the apparatus in the short term has led to long term use. Despite anticoagulation measures, blood clots (thrombi) have been known to form in the device itself or inside of the heart. The Ventricle Assist Devices supply blood flow via a conduit (cannula) implanted on the ascending aorta. Currently, the implantation angle of the VAD cannula is not taken into consideration. Since the VADs supply a significant amount of …

Imitating Individualized Facial Expressions In A Human-Like Avatar Through A Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization - Tabu Search Algorithm, Evan Husk

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis describes a machine learning method for automatically imitating a particular person's facial expressions in a human-like avatar through a hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization - Tabu Search algorithm. The muscular structures of the facial expressions are measured by Ekman and Friesen's Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Using a neutral face as a reference, the minute movements of the Action Units, used in FACS, are automatically tracked and mapped onto the avatar using a hybrid method. The hybrid algorithm is composed of Kennedy and Eberhart's Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) and Glover's Tabu Search (TS). Distinguishable features portrayed on the …

Rssi-Based Localization In Cellular Networks, Lei Wang, Maciej Zawodniok

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper presents a novel RSSI based localization scheme that employs an existing cellular network infrastructure to perform trilateration. Traditional localization schemes employ RSSI-Based radial distance estimation and trilateration algorithm. However, in a realistic scenario, the RSSI measurements are distorted due to multipath fading thus introducing error in radial distance estimation. Moreover, the selection of the best three anchor cell towers with the lowest localization error is not explored. the proposed scheme improves localization accuracy using two, novel correcting and evaluating metrics: The Radial Distance Error Indicator (RDEI) and the Localization Error Indicator (LEI). the proposed RDEI metric is derived …

Determination Of The Maximum Mgs Mounting Height Phase Ii Detailed Analysis, Ramen D. Julin, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid, Mario Mongiardini

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Characteristics Of Fatigued Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers -- A Preliminary Investigation, Aemal Khattak, Carrie Mohlman

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The goal of this research was to identify and correlate easily observable characteristics of drivers to different levels of fatigue, thus enabling state patrol officers to make more judicious decisions related to driver fatigue. A literature review was conducted pertaining to the characteristics of fatigued drivers. Next, a nationwide survey was administered to state patrol agencies to assess their practices regarding fatigue-involved driving. To explore relationships between state patrol agency practices and vehicular safety, data collected from the telephone survey were merged with data from different states on fatigue-involved vehicle fatalities and vehicle miles traveled. Analysis revealed that states with …

Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis And Prevention, Dean L. Sicking, Cody S. Stolle

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Cross-median crashes have been identified as one of the highest injury or fatality risk crash types. Although crossmedian crashes account for only 2% to 5% of all median crash events, they are disproportionately represented in the number and frequency of fatalities on interstate roadways. Many states have utilized cable median barriers to reduce the risk of cross-median crashes, frequently with great success. However, cable median barriers are also fixed obstacles to errant vehicles. Cable median barriers can place occupants at increased risk of severe injury or fatality if the barrier fails to adequately contain and redirect errant vehicles, resulting in …

Dynamic Testing Of Mgs W6x8.5 Posts At Decreased Embedment, Robert W. Bielenberg, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid, Tyler L. Schmidt, Mario Mongiardini

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of The Environmental Impacts Of Bridge Deck Runoff, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Lauren Swadener, Ekizabeth G. Jones

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Bridges are located in very close proximity to receiving waters, and regulatory agencies often require specific stormwater control measures for bridge deck runoff. While there is some information available on roadway runoff, few studies have focused on bridge deck runoff. Currently, there is no information available regarding the impacts of bridge deck runoff on receiving waters in Nebraska. Due to the cost, maintenance, and design issues associated with implementing structural controls for bridge deck runoff, it is important to develop a better understanding of the relationship between bridge deck runoff and potential impacts to receiving streams. The objectives of this …

Modeling, Fabrication And Characterization Of Scalable Electroless Gold Plated Nanostructures For Enhanced Surface Plasmon Resonance, Gyoung Gug Jang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The scientific and industrial demand for controllable thin gold (Au) film and Au nanostructures is increasing in many fields including opto-electronics, photovoltaics, MEMS devices, diagnostics, bio-molecular sensors, spectro-/microscopic surfaces and probes. In this study, a novel continuous flow electroless (CF-EL) Au plating method is developed to fabricate uniform Au thin films in ambient condition. The enhanced local mass transfer rate and continuous deposition resulting from CF-EL plating improved physical uniformity of deposited Au films and thermally transformed nanoparticles (NPs). Au films and NPs exhibited improved optical photoluminescence (PL) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), respectively, relative to batch immersion EL (BI-EL) …

Pulse Sharpening Effects Of Thin Film Ferroelectric Transmission Lines, Robert J. Sleezer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advances in material science have resulted in the development of electrically nonlinear high dielectric thin film ferroelectrics, which have led to new opportunities for the creation of novel devices. This dissertation investigated one such device: a low voltage nonlinear transmission line (NLTL). A finite element simulation of ferroelectric transmission lines showed that NLTLs are capable of creating shockwaves. Additionally, if the losses are kept sufficiently low, it was shown that voltage gain should be possible. Furthermore, a method of accounting for material dispersion was developed. Results from simulations including material dispersion showed that temporal solitons might be possible from a …

A Watershed Scale Evaluation Of Selected Second Generation Biofeedstocks On Water Quality, Gurdeep Singh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study compares a novel simulation approach to the conventional Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) modeler's approach for targeting biofuel crop production on marginal lands. In conventional SWAT modeling approach, non-spatial definition of hydrological response units (HRUs) results in the simulation of biofuel crops on both marginal and non-marginal land. This study provides an alternative approach in which a marginal-land raster was integrated into the land use and land cover (LULC) raster in such a way that the land uses were divided into marginal and non-marginal components. This modified LULC was used for model setup which resulted in marginal …

Computational Design Of The Electrical And Mechanical Performance Of Steerable Mems Antennas, Morgan Andrew Roddy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes the origins, improvements, and variations of a broadband microwave antenna that can be beam-steered by a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS). The steerable MEMS antenna of this work was comprised of a planar antenna on top of a Silicon membrane. The membrane is etched to create a gimbal hinge structure and a platform which supported the antenna and gave it one or two degrees of freedom of rotation. The antennas presented were broadband and fed by a coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line which traversed the hinge structure. The antenna's orientation in space was designed to be changed through electrostatic …

Flow Behavior Modeling And Process Control Of Electrically-Assisted Forming (Eaf) For Sheet Metals In Uniaxial Tension, Joshua Jones

All Dissertations

This work studies the influence of an applied electrical current on magnesium sheet metal and introduces models which are successful in predicting the deformation behavior (i.e. material flow stress, local material strain, and thermal response). Also, this work examined the theory of electroplasticity by studying prior proposed theories and by quantifying the prior theories potential for improved dislocation mobility. From this analysis, a single dominant mechanism is determined and the theory of electroplasticity is explained using this single mechanism. The theory discussed in this work is supported by experimental testing and microstructure analysis.
In addition to studying the exact electroplastic …

Cetirizine Dihydrochloride Tablets Comprising Two Different Lubricants With Highly Loaded Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, P. Katewongsa, T. Phaechamud

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Recently, the fast disintegrating tablet (FDT) has started gaining popularity and acceptance as new drug delivery system. Cetirizine dihydrochloride (CD) is the selective histamine (H-1)-receptor antagonist that is demonstrated to treat the symptoms associated with seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis which this drug nowadays was prepared in form of FDT. Lubricant typically influences on tablet disintegration time (DT) and wetting time (WT). Therefore, it is important for optimizing the lubricant amount in this dosage form. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the lubricants (magnesium stearate (Mg-st) and sodium stearyl fumarate (SSF)) on the CD tablet …

Polymeric Eutectic Drug Delivery System, S. Tuntarawongsa, T. Phaechamud

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Eutectic system is the mixture of at least two substances that suppresses melting point for each of them. The viscosity enhancement of liquid eutectic by polymer addition might increase the viscous environment for retardation of drug release. Typically, there are rare polymers that can dissolve in the liquid eutectic. The aim of this study was to develop the polymeric eutectic delivery system for controlling the drug delivery. Liquid eutectic used as vehicle was prepared by mixing menthol and camphor in various ratios. The obtained lowest viscosity liquid eutectic was used as vehicle in this study. Various polymers were attempted to …

Twin-Jet Electropolishing Of Cast Sterling Silver Alloys Using Perchloric Acid And Potassium Cyanide Solutions, W. Kongmuang, T. Chairuangsri, C. Chanmuang

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

Twin-jet electropolishing of Ag-4.87 wt%Cu-0.79 wt%Zn-0.09 wt%Si alloy was studied. Two electrolytes, i.e. potassium cyanide solution in distilled water and glycerol-perchloric acid solution in absolute ethanol, were used in the experiments. Effects of parameters including voltage and electrolyte concentration have been studied. Surface of polishing specimens and artifact formed were characterized by light microscopy and electron microscopy. In general, the potassium cyanide solution is a better electrolyte than the glycerol-perchloric acid solution. A more uniform polishing can be obtained from the potassium cyanide solution at the voltage higher than 5 V. Increasing of the potassium cyanide concentration reduced the electrical …

Radio Direction Finding Network Receiver Design For Low-Cost Public Service Applications, Marcel Colman Eric Stieber

Master's Theses

A low-cost radio direction finding (RDF) VHF receiver has been investigated for development into a radio direction finding network (RDFN) with a particular focus towards public service and commercial asset tracking applications. The primary design criteria were reproducibility, low-cost, and simplicity such that public service and volunteer organizations can benefit from the technology. Two receiver designs were built and tested to allow for comparison of practicality, cost, and accuracy. A pseudo-Doppler RDF and a time difference of arrival (TDOA) receiver were built as proof-of-concept for a system design based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The pseudo-Doppler system is a less …

Implementation And Validation Of Fault-Rupture Response Spectrum Analysis Procedure In Csibridge For Bridges Crossing Earthquake Fault Ruptures, Jennifer Evelyn Tures

Master's Theses

This thesis evaluates the application of a simplified analysis procedure as implemented in version 16 of CSiBridge^TM for design of bridges crossing earthquake fault ruptures. The fault-rupture response spectrum analysis (FR-RSA) approximation method has been proved adequate for both straight and curved ordinary bridges, but lacked a comfortable interface to accommodate the method users. Computers and Structure, Inc. has implemented the FR-RSA procedure into CSiBridge^TM, a user-friendly integrated 3-D bridge design software, as an added seismic design feature. By combining the response of the bridge due to the quasi-static displacement from the fault strike-slip rupture and the …

Amelia Earhart On Nikumaroro: A Summary Of The Evidence, Thomas King

Pacific Studies

The fate of American aviation pioneers Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan, who disappeared over the Pacific in July 1937, is a continuing Pacific historical mystery. Twenty-three years of interdiSciplinary research by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) has produced results supporting the hypotheSiS that Earhart and Noonan landed their Lockheed Electra IDE safely on Nikumaroro in the Phoenix Islands, made repeated efforts to radio for help, but eventually expired. This paper summarizes TIGHAR's data relevant to the "Nikumaroro HypotheSiS."

Me-Em Enewsbrief, December 2012, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.

Seismic Performance Of Symmetric Steel Moment Frames With Random Reactive Weight Distributions, Conner F.F. Williamson

Master's Theses

When a structure undergoes seismic excitation, the intensities and spatial distributions of the reactive weights on the structure may not be the same as those assumed in original design. Such a difference is inevitable due to many facts with the random nature (e.g., redistribution of live load), resulting in accidental eccentricity and consequently torsional response in the system. The added torsion can cause excessive deformation and premature failure of the lateral force resisting system and its detrimental effect is typically accounted for in most building design codes with an arbitrarily specified accidental eccentricity value. While it tends to amplify drift …

Design, Fabrication And Manufacturing Analysis Of A Rollover Protection System, Nikolas Paris

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the design, fabrication and manufacturing analysis of a rollover protection system specifically designed for early body style Ford Broncos (1966-1977). The rollover protection system, or roll cage, is an integral safety feature on vehicles which commonly encounter extreme terrain conditions. Many vehicles which attempt to traverse terrain such as this are not always properly equipped with a rollover protection system. This is the case with the early body style Ford Bronco. This system will be designed to market the niche of early bronco parts.

Pervious Pavement Infiltrometer, Madeline Musgrove

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project tests infiltration rates on three different slabs of pervious pavement. A methodology was put in place to ensure that all three slabs were tested the same way. The test that is used for the infiltration rates is a constant head test. A steel ring is placed on the surface of the pervious pavement and sealed with Plumbers Putty around the bottom of the ring. A mark is then sketched on the inside of the ring at 2 inches above the surface of the pavement for a constant backpressure that is equal in all scenarios. Five gallons of water …

Md Mouse: Integrated Blood Pressure Device, Anand Shah, Jamila Mckenzie, Rex Weinstein, Noelle Nelson, Clayton Goertemiller

Intersections Fall 2020

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a public health concern due to both its pervasiveness and the significant risk of disability, stroke, or heart attack that can occur years after high blood pressure is detected. Furthermore, new pandemic statistics suggest that patients with hypertension experience greater health consequences of COVID-19, indicating that the condition is more circumstantially deadly. Occasional visits to a doctor's office, the most common method to measure blood pressure, only provide a snapshot of a person's blood pressure and are not an accurate characterization. This is because blood pressure can fluctuate based on daily changes to the …