Engineering Commons^™

A Study Of Executable Model Based Systems Engineering From Dodaf Using Simulink, Weston J. Hanoka, Michael H. Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

Diagrams and visuals often cannot adequately capture a complex system’s architecture for analysis. The Department of Defense Architectural Framework (DoDAF), written to follow the Unified Modeling Language (UML), is a collection of mandated common architectural products for interoperability among the DoD components. In this study, DoDAF products from as-is Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Satellite Communication (SATCOM) systems have been utilized for the creation of executable architectures as part of an Executable Model Based Systems Engineering (EMBSE) process. EMBSE was achieved using Simulink, a software tool for modeling, simulating and analyzing dynamic systems.

This study has demonstrated that DoDAF products can …

Investigation Into Suitability Of Geopolymers (Illite & Metakaolin) For The Space Environment, Brandon T. Cesul

Theses and Dissertations

Suitability of non-organic polymers for space application is studied. Materials included are illite and metakaolin. Bulk material suitability was investigated for exposure to ultraviolet radiation, atomic oxygen, and high energy charged particles. Outgassing phenomenon of the materials was studied. Curing shrinkage reduction techniques were identified as well.

Novel Discretization Schemes For The Numerical Simulation Of Membrane Dynamics, Kyle F. Kolsti

Theses and Dissertations

Motivated by the demands of simulating flapping wings of Micro Air Vehicles, novel numerical methods were developed and evaluated for the dynamic simulation of membranes. For linear membranes, a mixed-form time-continuous Galerkin method was employed using trilinear space-time elements, and the entire space-time domain was discretized and solved simultaneously. For geometrically nonlinear membranes, the model incorporated two new schemes that were independently developed and evaluated. Time marching was performed using quintic Hermite polynomials uniquely determined by end-point jerk constraints. The single-step, implicit scheme was significantly more accurate than the most common Newmark schemes. For a simple harmonic oscillator, the scheme …

The Characterization Of Material Properties And Structural Dynamics Of The Manduca Sexta Forewing For Application To Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle Design, Ryan P. O'Hara

Theses and Dissertations

The Manduca Sexta species of moth serves as a source of biological inspiration for the future of micro air vehicle flapping flight. The ability of this species to hover in flapping flight has warranted investigation into the critical material, structural, and geometric properties of the forewing of this biological specimen. A rigorous morphological study of the Manduca Sexta forewing was conducted to characterize the physical and material properties of the biological forewing for the purpose of developing an advanced parametric three dimensional model finite element analysis (FEA) model. This FEA model was tuned to match the experimentally determined structural dynamics …

Towards The Mitigation Of Correlation Effects In The Analysis Of Hyperspectral Imagery With Extension To Robust Parameter Design, Jason P. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Standard anomaly detectors and classifiers assume data to be uncorrelated and homogeneous, which is not inherent in Hyperspectral Imagery (HSI). To address the detection difficulty, a new method termed Iterative Linear RX (ILRX) uses a line of pixels which shows an advantage over RX, in that it mitigates some of the effects of correlation due to spatial proximity; while the iterative adaptation from Iterative Linear RX (IRX) simultaneously eliminates outliers. In this research, the application of classification algorithms using anomaly detectors to remove potential anomalies from mean vector and covariance matrix estimates and addressing non-homogeneity through cluster analysis, both of …

People Matching For Transportation Planning Using Texel Camera Data For Sequential Estimation, Scott E. Budge, J.A. Sallay, Z. Wang, J.H. Gunther

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper addresses automatic people matching in the dynamic setting of public transportation, such as a bus, as people enter and then at some later time exit from a doorway. Matching a person entering to the same person exiting at a later time provides accurate information about individual riders, such as how long a person is on a bus and the associated stops the person uses. At a higher level, matching exits to previous entry events provides information about the distribution of traffic flow across the whole transportation system. The proposed techniques may be applied at any gateway where the …

Platinum Nanocatalytic Combustion Of Methanol-Air Mixture, James Applegate

Theses and Dissertations

Catalytic combustion's ability to release the potential energy of high energy density fuels could transform the portable electronic device market by removing the reliance on batteries. Catalytic combustion is a generally well understood combustion technique, but the effects of specific experimental conditions (catalyst loading, flow rates and substrates) on catalyst performance are not as well known. Systhesized catalytic Pt nonoparticles (dp ~ 11.6 nm) were dispersed on a cordierite substrate and were characterized using TEM, XRD and SEM. Experimental results were obtained in a miniature-scale continuous flow reactor. Subsequent studies report the effect catalyst loading and reactor flow parameters have …

Nanostructured Dielectric Materials For High Energy Density Multi Layer Ceramic Capacitors, Fatih Dogan

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A high energy density multilayer ceramic capacitor, having at least two electrode layers and at least one substantially dense polycrystalline dielectric layer positioned therebetween. The at polycrystalline dielectric layer has an average grain size of less than about 300 nanometers, a particle size distribution of between about 150 nanometers and about 3 micrometers, and a maximum porosity of about 1 percent. The dielectric layer is selected from the group including TiO₂, BaTiO₃, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, lead zirconium titanate, and combinations thereof and has a breakdown strength of at least about 1100 …

Progress On: “Coherent Terahertz Acoustic Phonon Scattering: Novel Diagnostic For Erosion In Plasma Thruster Discharge Chamber Walls", Thomas E. Wilson, Iain D. Boyd

Physics Faculty Research

The study is based on the success in obtaining the first experimental evidence for the direct excitation of coherent nanosecond-pulsed high-frequency acoustic phonons in semiconducting doping superstructures by electromagnetic fields of the same frequency. Acoustic phonons are detected by a superconducting bolometer, with nanosecond resolution, at the appropriate time-of-flight across a (100) silicon substrate for ballistic longitudinal phonons when a silicon delta-doped doping superlattice is illuminated with grating-coupled nanosecond-pulsed 246-GHz laser radiation with an approximate power density of 1 kW/mm². The absorbed phonon power density in the bolometer detector is estimated to be 10 μW/mm², in …

Novel Crankshaft Mechanism And Regenerative Braking System To Improve The Fuel Economy Of Light Duty Vehicles And Passenger Cars, Alberto A. Boretti, Joseph Scalzo

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Improvements of vehicle fuel economy may be achieved by the introduction of advanced internal combustion engines (ICE) improving the fuel conversion efficiency of the engine and of advanced power trains (PWT) reducing the amount of fuel energy needed to power the vehicle. the paper presents a novel design of a variable compression ratio advanced spark ignition engine that also permits an expansion ratio that may differ from the compression ratio hence generating an Atkinson cycle effect. the stroke ratio and the ratio of maximum to minimum in-cylinder volumes may change with load and speed to provide the best fuel conversion …

Subwavelength Ripples Adjustment Based On Electron Dynamics Control By Using Shaped Ultrafast Laser Pulse Trains, Lan Jiang, Xuesong Shi, Xin Li, Yanping Yuan, Cong Wang, Yongfeng Lu

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study reveals that the periods, ablation areas and orientations of periodic surface structures (ripples) in fused silica can be adjusted by using designed femtosecond (fs) laser pulse trains to control transient localized electron dynamics and corresponding material properties. By increasing the pulse delays from 0 to 100fs, the ripple periods are changed from ~550nm to ~255nm and the orientation is rotated by 90°. The nearwavelength/subwavelength ripple periods are close to the fundamental/second-harmonic wavelengths in fused silica respectively. The subsequent subpulse of the train significantly impacts free electron distributions generated by the previous subpulse(s), which might influence the formation mechanism …

Characteristics, Causes, And Evaluation Of Helicopter Particulate Obstruction, Michael P. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

A comprehensive approach to evaluation of rotorcraft brownout under degraded visual environmental conditions is presented. The results of a literature search covering the current state of brownout research are summarized. The brownout dust cloud generated by modern rotorcraft is analyzed and characterized using photographic and video data, coupled with examination of previous computer modeling techniques. A modeling analysis is performed in order to relate aircraft design and operating parameters to brownout dust cloud size is performed. The effect of vorticity in brownout dust cloud rollup is included. An augmented rating scale for pilot assessment is proposed for operational use, and …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Oscillatory Couette Flows With Slip Boundary Conditions, Nikolai V. Priezjev

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The effect of interfacial slip on steady-state and time-periodic flows of monatomic liquids is investigated using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The fluid phase is confined between atomically smooth rigid walls, and the fluid flows are induced by moving one of the walls. In steady shear flows, the slip length increases almost linearly with shear rate. We found that the velocity profiles in oscillatory flows are well described by the Stokes flow solution with the slip length that depends on the local shear rate. Interestingly, the rate dependence of the slip length obtained in steady shear flows is recovered when the …

Increasing Pt Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity And Durability With A Carbon-Doped Tio 2 Nanocoating Catalyst Support, Kan Huang, Kotaro Sasaki, Radoslav R. Adzic, Yangchuan Xing

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report a conductive TiO2 nanocoating on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a Pt electrocatalyst support that shows a significant enhancement in Pt catalyst activity and durability for the oxygen reduction reaction. by using CNTs as the substrate for TiO2 nanocoating, the nanoscale morphology of the oxide was retained during heat treatment. after carbon doping of the TiO2 nanocoating, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests a shift in the binding energy of Ti 2p, implying a suboxide formation. the X-ray absorption near-edge structure showed the mid-edge and post-edge up to 5010 eV, which are attributed to a 1s → 4p transition and promotion …

Cfd Transient Simulation Of An Isolator Shock Train In A Scramjet Engine, Troy C. Hoeger

Theses and Dissertations

For hypersonic flight, the scramjet engine uses an isolator to contain the pre-combustion shock train formed by the pressure difference between the inlet and the combustion chamber. If this shock train were to reach the inlet, it would cause an engine unstart, disrupting the flow through the engine and leading to a loss of thrust and potential loss of the vehicle. Prior to this work, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the isolator was needed for simulating and characterizing the isolator flow and for finding the relationship between back pressure and changes in the location of the leading edge …

Steering Adaptation In A Driving Simulator, Brian P. Moran

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

Steering adaptation in a driving simulator occurs when participants, who possess the skills necessary to control a vehicle, modify their use of the steering controls to successfully interact with a driving simulator. This approach is sensitive to individual driving styles, as it is free of any threshold, criterion, or benchmark value and can be applied to any steering task at any driving speed.

Microcontroller Based Ecg Amplifier, Berney Montavon

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

A microprocessor that reads ECG data and detects heart arrhythmias can help keep people safe while working in high-risk environments.

Characterization Of Heterogeneous Reaction Systems By Thermal Analysis And Mathematical Modeling, Shreya Adhikari, Chuck Tillie

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

It is anticipated that this research will lead to scale-up parameters that can be used to model a laboratory-scale deposition furnace, and guide further experimentation to advance technologies for protective and conversion coatings.

The Study Of Bone Diffusion In Canine Tibia, Mariela Gonzalez-Nieves

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

The provision of nutrients is imperative in order to maintain healthy bone structure. Bones are composed of dense connective tissues that are consistently reforming making it difficult for simple diffusion of large signaling molecules to occur. Fully understanding the rate at which nutrients, minerals, and waste travel throughout bone could lead to solutions to problems such as bone illnesses, breaks, and integration of prosthetics in the human body. Enhanced targeted medication delivery can be established as well.

Energy Analysis Of Bio-Ethanol Dehydration Using Pervaporative Processes, Michel Elia Kahwaji Janho

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

Environmental effects and health hazards posed by fossil-fuel based technologies complemented by changes in the global economy have increased the demand for “cleaner” and more efficient technologies. Developments in technologies that rely on renewable or synthetic resources have therefore become more relevant in today’s economy and current industrial outlook. This study focuses on a critical assessment of pervaporation as a dehydration technique in the production of ethanol from sugar-cane. Energy demands of various separation schemes using this technique are evaluated.

Adhesion And Proliferation Of Red Fluorescent U87 Cells In A Mirco-Incubator, Rebecca L. Jensen

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

Availability of bone forming osteoblast cells from genetically modified green fluorescing protein (GFP) expressing mouse opens up the possibility of carrying out live cell imaging of the cells as they adhere, migrate and proliferate on nano-texture modified opaque metallic surfaces. Cells inoculated at a density of 200 cells/mm2 proliferated 131% over a one week period.

A Low Cost Motion Analysis System Based On Kinect, Jonathan Michael Cardinale, Tracy N. Jennemann, Vitaliy Sinyuk, Sam Kenji Yokoyama

Undergraduate Research Posters 2012

The project focused on the validation of using the Kinect sensor to build a low cost motion analysis system for physical therapy and rehabilitation, and the identification of the types of the motions that cannot be captured well by the Kinect sensor and are in need of inertial sensors.

Analysis Of Compensation Techniques Applied To The Control Of Converter Connected Synchronous Wind Turbines And Dfig’S During Grid Disturbances., Joseph Kearney, Michael Conlon, Eugene Coyle

Conference papers

This paper investigates control schemes to improve the performance of converter connected synchronous generators and DFIG’s to grid voltage unbalance and grid faults. Both the synchronous generator with a full converter and a DFIG are modelled in Matlab/Simulink. The control schemes of both turbines are modified to improve their performance during grid disturbances including grid voltage unbalance and single-phase faults. These disturbances are introduced into the models at specific times to analyse the performance of the wind generation systems. The performances of both systems to the grid disturbances are compared and the results are analysed.

Incorporation Of Life Cycle Models In Determining Optimal Wind Energy Infrastructural Provision, Brendan Cleary, Aidan Duffy, Alan O'Connor

Conference papers

The deployment of wind energy has grown rapidly over the last two decades with an average annual growth rate of more than 26% since 1990. During this period the development and innovation of wind turbines has resulted in continual growth in wind turbine size with output ranges of 10-15MW likely to be deployed by 2020. This increased output has a knock-on effect on the growth of rotor diameters and tower heights. Wind turbine towers are required to become taller, stronger and stiffer in order to carry the increased weight and associated structural loading. Consequently, the dimensions of the tower cross-sections …

Proposed Msu Matchbooksat For Iss Launch 2014, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Professor Bob Twiggs titled "Proposed MSU MatchBookSat for ISS Launch 2014" from September 6, 2012.

Ballistic Flash Characterization Of Entry-Side Flash, David J. Peyton

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft survivability is a broad subject that encompasses many fields and subjects. An important part of aircraft survivability is fire prevention. Flashes created by ballistic impacts are a very real threat to aircraft because they can start fires or cause explosions. In an effort to better protect against these flashes, this study seeks to further the understanding and characterization of them. Recent research on this subject has been greatly helped by the use of high-speed video footage of flash events. This footage has led to new algorithms and methodologies for how to characterize a flash. A preliminary predictive model of …

Image-Based Quantification Of Benzoporphyrin Derivative Uptake, Localization, And Photobleaching In 3d Tumor Models, For Optimization Of Pdt Parameters, Michael D. Glidden, Jonathan P. Celli, Iqbal Massodi, Imran Rizvi, Brian Pogue, Tayyaba Hasan

Dartmouth Scholarship

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a light-based treatment modality in which wavelength specific activation of a photosensitizer (PS) generates cytotoxic response in the irradiated region. PDT response is critically dependent on several parameters including light dose, PS dose, uptake time, fluence rate, and the mode of light delivery. While the systematic optimization of these treatment parameters can be complex, it also provides multiple avenues for en- hancement of PDT efficacy under diverse treatment conditions, provided that a rational framework is established to quantify the impact of parameter selection upon treatment re- sponse. Here we present a theranostic technique, combining the inherent …

From Titanic To Costa Concordia — A Century Of Lessons Not Learned, Jens-Uwe Schröder-Hinrichs, Erik Hollnagel, Michael Baldauf

Journal Publications

The recent foundering of the Costa Concordia in January 2012 demonstrated

that accidents can occur even with ships that are considered masterpieces of

modern technology and despite more than 100 years of regulatory and technological

progress in maritime safety. The purpose of this paper is, however, not to speculate

about the concrete causes of the Costa Concordia accident, but rather to consider

some human and organizational factors that were present in the Costa Concordia

accident as well as in the foundering of the Titanic a century ago, and which can be

found in many other maritime accidents over the years. …

2012 Fall Engr333 Project Assignment, Matthew K. Heun

ENGR 333

The Fall 2012 ENGR333 project focused on a prospective West Wing addition to the Spoelhof College Center at Calvin University.

I asked the students “What will it take for Calvin College to install a geothermal HVAC system for the West Wing?”

Customer

The customer for this project was Calvin’s VP for finance Henry DeVries.

Method And Apparatus For Jet-Assisted Drilling Or Cutting, David A. Summers, Klaus Woelk, Kenneth Doyle Oglesby, Greg Galecki

Mining Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An abrasive cutting or drilling system, apparatus and method, which includes an upstream supercritical fluid and/or liquid carrier fluid, abrasive particles, a nozzle and a gaseous or low-density supercritical fluid exhaust abrasive stream. The nozzle includes a throat section and, optionally, a converging inlet section, a divergent discharge section, and a feed section.