Engineering Commons^™

Study Of The Growth And Switching Kinetics On Ferroelectric Nanocrystals Of Copolymer Vinylidene Fluoride And Trifluoroethylene On An Atomic Force Microscope, R. V. Gaynutdinov, O. A. Lysova, A. L. Tolstikhina, V. M. Fridkin, S. G. Yudin, Stephen Ducharme

Stephen Ducharme Publications

The growth of nanocrystals obtained from Langmuir-Blodgett films of ferroelectric copolymer consisting of 70% vinylidene fluoride and 30% trifluoroethylene has been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The radius and concentration of nanocrystals are found to depend on the annealing time of the film. A model for nanocrystal growth is proposed which yields adequate time dependences for nanocrystal size parameters. The switching kinetics of individual ferroelectric nanocrystals with an average diameter of 100–200 nm and a height of 15–20 nm has been investigated in the piezoelectric response mode. It is shown that the switching of nanocrystals has an activation character.

Audio Convolution On Gpus: A Follow-Up, Davide Andrea Mauro

Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering Faculty Research

This paper focuses on the use of GPGPU (General- Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units) for audio processing. This is a promising approach to problems where a high parallelization of tasks is desirable. Within the context of binaural spatialization we will develop a convolution engine having in mind both offine and real-time scenarios, and the support for multiple sound sources. Details on implementations and strategies used with both dominant technologies, namely CUDA and OpenCL, will be presented highlighting both advantages and issues. Comparisons between this approach and typical CPU implementations will be presented as well as between frequency (FFT) and …

Influence Of Wing Span On The Aerodynamics Of Wings In Ground Effect, Sammy Diasinos, Tracie J. Barber, Graham Doig

Aerospace Engineering

A computational fluid dynamics study of the influence of wing span has been conducted for an inverted wing with endplates in ground effect. Aerodynamic coefficients were determined for different spans at different ground clearances, highlighting a trend for shorter spans to delay the onset of both separation and resulting loss of negative lift. The vortices at the wing endplates were not observed to change significantly in terms of strength and size; thus, at shorter spans, their influence over a larger percentage of the wing helped the flow stay attached and reduced the severity of the adverse pressure gradient which invokes …

Shear-Wave Velocity–Based Probabilistic And Deterministic Assessment Of Seismic Soil Liquefaction Potential, R. Kayen, R. E.S. Moss, E.M. Thompson, R. B. Seed, K. O. Cetin, A. Der Kiureghian, Y. Tanaka, K. Tokimatsu

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Shear-wave velocity (Vs) offers a means to determine the seismic resistance of soil to liquefaction by a fundamental soil property. This paper presents the results of an 11-year international project to gather new Vssite data and develop probabilistic correlations for seismic soil liquefaction occurrence. Toward that objective, shear-wave velocity test sites were identified, and measurements made for 301 new liquefaction field case histories in China, Japan, Taiwan, Greece, and the United States over a decade. The majority of these new case histories reoccupy those previously investigated by penetration testing. These new data are combined with previously published case histories to …

Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field Thresholds For Nanopore Formation In Neural Cells., Caleb C Roth, Gleb P Tolstykh, Jason A Payne, Marjorie A Kuipers, Gary L. Thompson Iii, Mauris N Desilva, Bennett L Ibey

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

The persistent influx of ions through nanopores created upon cellular exposure to nanosecond pulse electric fields (nsPEF) could be used to modulate neuronal function. One ion, calcium (Ca(2+)), is important to action potential firing and regulates many ion channels. However, uncontrolled hyper-excitability of neurons leads to Ca(2+) overload and neurodegeneration. Thus, to prevent unintended consequences of nsPEF-induced neural stimulation, knowledge of optimum exposure parameters is required. We determined the relationship between nsPEF exposure parameters (pulse width and amplitude) and nanopore formation in two cell types: rodent neuroblastoma (NG108) and mouse primary hippocampal neurons (PHN). We identified thresholds for nanoporation using …

Thermal And Electrical Transport In Ferromagnetic Metal Thin Films, Azure D. Avery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The recent emergence of spin caloritronics has focused considerable attention on the interplay between spin, charge, and temperature gradients in magnetic materials. A reliable and energy efficient method for generating pure spin currents would signify an important step toward future spin-based nano-electronics that may offer lower power consumption and greater processing capabilities. To develop new technology using thermoelectric effects in magnetic thin films, it is essential to understand thermal and electrical transport through these films. One possible source of pure spin currents is the so-called spin Seebeck effect (SSE) in which a thermal gradient (∇T) applied to a ferromagnet is …

Neutron Irradiation Effects On Domain Wall Mobility And Reversibility In Lead Zirconate Titanate Thin Films, Joseph T. Graham, Geoff L. Brennecka, Paulo Ferreira, Leo Small, David Duquette, Christopher Apblett, Sheldon Landsberger, Jon F. Ihlefeld

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effects of neutron-induced damage on the ferroelectric properties of thin film lead zirconate titanate (PZT) were investigated. Two sets of PbZr_0.52Ti_0.48O₃ films of varying initial quality were irradiated in a research nuclear reactor up to a maximum 1 MeV equivalent neutron fluence of (5.16± 0.03) x 10¹⁵ cm^-2. Changes in domain wall mobility and reversibility were characterized by polarization-electric field measurements, Rayleigh analysis, and analysis of first order reversal curves (FORC). With increasing fluence, extrinsic contributions to the small-signal permittivity diminished. Additionally, redistribution of irreversible hysterons towards higher coercive fields was …

Current State Of Wireless Information Technology In The Construction Industry In Ohio, Alan Atalah, Aaron Seymour

Construction Management Faculty Publications

Construction projects are increasingly getting complex and fragmented in nature, yet contractors persistently face shortened project durations and reduced budgets. Timely delivery of accurate and reliable information among all project participants is critical and important because information is the foundation upon which decisions are made and projects are estimated, planned, monitored, and controlled. Recent developments in technology promise to introduce efficiencies that were not previously available to the industry. This study seeks to identify the current state of wireless information technology through the analysis of quantitative data from a web-based survey that represents the views of the respondents on the …

Case History Of Microtunneling Through A Very Soft Soil Condition, Alan Atalah

Construction Management Faculty Publications

Waikiki Public Bath Force Main Replacement Project consists of 1,037 m of 400 mm force main that carries the wastewater from the Public Bath pump station to a gravity sewer on the Kuhio Avenue. This force main transports wastewater underneath Kalakaua Ave, very close to some of the most expensive real state in the world. This area is the heart of Waikiki beach, and it is full of beach resorts, five star hotels, shopping, etc. The soil strata can be described as 2.50 to 3.00 m deep of beach sand on top of half a meter of a very hard …

Design And Construction Cost Of A Water Line Underneath I-75 In Bowling Green, Ohio, V. Goduto, Alan Atalah

Construction Management Faculty Publications

The City of Bowling Green, OH operates a water distribution system that delivers high quality water. The system operates optimally in a grid system; larger, “trunk water mains,” are installed in a grid pattern on the outer limits of the system with smaller lines branching from the larger lines. Almost all the residential, industrial, and commercial areas in Bowling Green were originally limited to the west side of I-75. However over the past few decades, these areas grew on the east side of I-75. Two 24” water mains crossed underneath I-75 at the central and south part of the city …

Csp Desalination/Water Purification Unit, Sean Goodison

Industrial Technology and Packaging

An estimated 3.4 million people die each year from unsanitary water or inaccessible water supply. Most of these deaths take place in the developing, third world (99%). There is a dilemma arising on the world stage as well. The water demand/supply deficit is expected to increase significantly over the next 37 years if preemptive action isn’t taken. 97% of the world water supply is oceanic, making it an attractive solution to the water deficit. Providing autonomous, “deploy and watch” systems for utilizing sustainable energy to provide purified water for unitized low pricing has the potential to penetrate a large world …

Liquifaction At Strong Motion Stations And In Urayasu City During The 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake, Brady R. Cox, Ross W. Boulanger, Kohji Tokimatsu, Clinton M. Wood, Akio Abe, Scott Ashford, Jennifer Donahue, Kenji Ishihara, Robert Kayen, Kota Katsumata, Tadahiro Kishida, Takaji Kokusho, H. Benjamin Mason, Robb Moss, Jonathan P. Stewart, Kazushi Tohyama, Dimitios Zekkos

Civil and Environmental Engineering

The 2011 M_W = 9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake generated a large number of unique soil liquefaction case histories, including cases with strong ground motion recordings on liquefiable or potentially liquefiable soils. We have compiled a list of 22 strong motion stations (SMS) where surface evidence of liquefaction was observed and 16 SMS underlain by geologically recent sediments or fills where surface evidence of liquefaction was not observed. Pre-earthquake standard penetration test data and borehole shear wave velocity (V_s) profiles are available for some stations, but critical information, such as grain size distribution and fines plasticity, are often …

Evaluation And Design Of Potting Production Process Improvements For The Non-Profit Organization, Growing Grounds Farm, Maiya Avalon Bourland, Precilla Tang

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This report focuses on the potting production process for the non-profit organization (NPO) Growing Grounds Farm (GGF), and aims to promote a standardized workflow system to enhance the working experience for Transitions‐Mental Health Association employees and volunteers. This project takes careful consideration into the process improvements proposed so to support the double bottom line of economic and social objectives. To address the equally important objectives, the Human Centered Design toolkit created by IDEO, specifically for third sector organizations, was integrated with the traditional Industrial Engineering design process methodology. Feasible alternatives were developed and evaluated based on the objectives. The selected …

Design Of An Automated Employee Scheduling System, Matthew Cameron, Yuriy Goldman

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Many retail stores, as well as other organizations that employ a multitude of part-time employees, rely on developing schedules frequently, since the availabilities of the employees as well as the needs of the business change often. This process is often performed on a weekly basis, and is complex and time-consuming. The schedule must typically satisfy numerous requirements, including business needs, legal restrictions, and employee availability constraints. As a result, errors are common, and employee time that could have been spent on improving sales or operations is instead consumed by the scheduling task.

This project explores two solution methods for this …

Atk's Radial Airframe Forming Process Assessment, Andres Martinez

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The purpose of this project was to provide ATK with a solution to increase efficiency in the R-02 radial forming center so that it could meet the increase in demand projected for the next 5 years. In addition, give ATK projected dates of when new machines would need to be implemented to be able to keep up with the demand. The system was analyzed through time studies to identify areas of possible improvement and eliminate any non-value added activities. Cycle times of each activity were used to simulate the current state of the system using ProModel software. Changes in operations …

Restaurant Design: An Industrial Engineering Perspective, Joseph Travis Spanu

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The objective of this paper is to design a health food restaurant using current industrial engineering tools and practices. This includes creating a menu, determining the average gross profit per customer, determining the location, designing a 3-d layout, simulating service, and analyzing local food supply chains. Using a simplified menu and pricing quotes from a food distributor, the average gross profit per customer is estimated to be $3.50. Location is determined by comparing the predicted number of customers and the cost to rent at two different areas. A downtown location is determined to gross approximately $5,200 per month over a …

Robert E. Kennedy Library Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Fire Protection Analysis Fpe Culminating Project, Isaac De Haro Martinez

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

California State University has acquired fire protection services to conduct a survey of and produce a fire protection report that analyzes the current condition of the existing Robert E. Kennedy Library on the Cal Poly campus. The prescriptive analysis of the Library is based on the 2010 California Building- the analysis considers the building a new building and will not consider the building provision for existing buildings as permitted by Chapter 34 of the CBC. A performance-based design using FDS is also analyzed to determine the tenability advantages of providing fire sprinklers within the Library. Non-conforming conditions include, among others, …

Implementing A Matlab Based Attitude Determination Algorithm In C Within The Polysat Software Architecture, Dominic Bertolino

Computer Engineering

This project focuses on one component within a complete attitude determination and control system (ADCS) for a small satellite. The component consists of porting the algorithm that determines the current attitude of the satellite developed by AERO students / team members. The original algorithm has been developed in MATLAB code. The actual algorithm will be simulated and tested in MATLAB by the AEROs. The porting consisted of integrating the pieces into the custom PolySat software environment in C. Testing was done to verify the ported component corresponded to the original MATLAB component as well as verify its runtime on the …

Senior Project Report - Doctest, Stephen Weessies

Computer Engineering

DocTest is a program that, simply put, allows a programmer or user to document STANAG 4586 (a standard for unmanned aerial vehicle interoperability) messages and test the vehicle system at Lockheed Martin [5]. The program is extensible to allow for further development aiding our software team to do what they do best and not get bogged down in tedious but necessary documentation. DocTest is also used to aid in testing, keeping track of the issues and bugs found and creating a document that captures each issue so an issue is not missed or forgotten. This program was made for use …

Soil Chemistry Response To Wollastonite (Casio3) Addition At Hubbard Brook, Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering - All Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Court House Project- Fire Protection Report, Ryan Rigsbee

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This fire protection report intends to provide Fictitious Architects (The Client) with sufficient information about code requirements and best practices pertaining to occupant and building safety. The chapters within this report include specific design requirements to aid the client during the design of the Court House Project. The following recommendations have been prepared by Ryan Rigsbee to address all major building code requirements for life safety systems. These life safety systems include egress, fire alarm and signaling, water-based fire suppression, structural fire protection, smoke control, and an emergency management plan. This project details the requirements for a new courthouse containing …

Helping Bridges Withstand Hurricane Waves, Daniel Cox

TREC Project Briefs

A large-scale laboratory model helps researchers determine horizontal and vertical wave forces on a highway bridge superstructure.

Preparing Nebraska Future Water Leaders: Nwla Academy Class Iii (2013), Connie I. Reimers-Hild

Nebraska Water Leaders Academy: Publications and Materials

Group communications, Phyllis Schoenholz, UNL

Communication and transformational leadership. Dr. Mark Burbach and Dr. Connie Reimers-Hild, UNL

Nebraska's instream flow laws and applications, Ann Bleed, board member, Lower Platte Natural Resources District

River Basin Compacts; Nebraska's obligations, Michael Jess, water resources engineer; consultant.

Conservation along the Central Platte, Mark Peyton, senior biologist, Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District

Central Platte River water issues in regard to habitat for endangered species, Jason Farnsworth, natural resources specialist, Headwaters Corporation & Jerry Kenny, executive director of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program

Rowe Sanctuary; discussion and viewing …

The Sustainability Generation: Why Young People Hold The Key To A Better Future, Leidy Klotz

Publications

In a standard test of reasoning, you are given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches. Your task is to attach the candle to the wall so that it does not drip onto the table below.

I thought about how to melt the wax and use it to stick the candle to the wall. What would you do?

This challenge is designed to reveal functional fixedness, mental blocks against using objects in a new way. The experience that comes with age is a disadvantage here because it leads to thinking of the normal use of the …

3d Object Recognition Based On A Geometrical Topology Model And Extreme Learning Machine, Rui Nian, Bo He, Amaury Lendasse

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In This Paper, One Geometrical Topology Hypothesis is Present based on the Optimal Cognition Principle, and the Single-Hidden Layer Feedforward Neural Network with Extreme Learning Machine (Elm) is Used for 3d Object Recognition. It is Shown that the Proposed Approach Can Identify the Inherent Distribution and the Dependence Structure for Each 3d Object Along Multiple View Angles by Evaluating the Local Topological Segments with a Dipole Topology Model and Developing the Relevant Mathematical Criterion with Elm Algorithm. the Elm Ensemble is Then Used to Combine the Individual Single-Hidden Layer Feedforward Neural Network of Each 3d Object for Performance Improvements. the …

Tracking Trucks To Improve Performance, Mecit Cetin, Christopher M. Monsere

TREC Project Briefs

Freight transportation is an important part of Oregon’s economy, and the Oregon Department of Transportation, or ODOT, continually observes the highway system to make sure it is running as smoothly as possible. By monitoring the progress of individual trucks, ODOT can obtain performance metrics such as travel time, travel delays, and origin-destination flows. This information can help identify slow passages or bottlenecks in the highway system. Typical ways of obtaining these metrics, however, may involve purchasing expensive equipment, and may also raise privacy concerns if each truck is required to carry a tracking unit. To avoid these difficulties, Portland State …

Effective Criteria For Seismic Rehabilitation Planning Of Road Transportation Infrastructures, Mohammadreza Yadollahi, Rosli Mohamad Zin, Sadegh Asgari

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

While seismic rehabilitation process for road infrastructures has been traditionally based on seismic factors, consideration of non-seismic factors is necessary for reliable project ranking. Non-seismic factors include socioeconomic criteria, determining the value of a project to its users’ community. Based on the information obtained from a questionnaire survey and literature review, this paper identifies a set of effective rehabilitation criteria (ERC) for seismic rehabilitation decision-making to develop a priority index that is applied to determine the rehabilitation priority. The identified RC will then be weighted for four types of road structures including bridges, tunnels, retaining walls, and buildings. The results …

Limitations Of The High-Low C-V Technique For Mos Interfaces With Large Time Constant Dispersion, Ashish Verma Penumatcha, Steven Swandono, James A. Cooper

Birck and NCN Publications

We discuss the limitations of the high-low CV technique in evaluating the interface trap density (D-TT) in MOS samples with a large time constant dispersion, as occurs in silicon carbide (SiC). We show that the high-low technique can seriously underestimate D-IT for samples with large time constant dispersion, even if elevated temperatures are used to extend the range of validity.

Fast And Frugal Heuristics For New Product Screening - Is Managerial Judgment "Good Enough?", Antonie J. Jetter, Fatima M. Albar

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Project screening in the fuzzy front-end of product development is dominantly based on managerial judgment, yet little is known about the quality of heuristic screening decisions. This research models three commonly discussed fast and frugal (F&F)heuristics for project screening (take-the-best, tallying and elimination-by-aspect) and explores their performance. An illustrative dataset of 52 new product development projects is used to compare the performance of F&F heuristics against that of regression models, which reflect compensatory judgment behaviour. The findings uncover a 'less is more' effect that justifies the use of simple heuristics in early stage product screening; two out of the three …

Acuta Enews March 2013 Vol. 42, No. 3

ACUTA Newsletters

In this issue...

1 Meet the 2014 Board

2 Connexity

3 What's on Your Desk?

3 New State/Province Coordinators

4 Second Annuall ResNet Report The App Is Back-Better than Ever!

5 Info Links

6 Members Celebrate Anniversaries

8 FCC 6 the Enterprise

9 Congratulation to Brian Yamaguchi

10 Board Report

10 Compliance Alliance: First Anniversary

11 Welcome New Members

11 Check It Out