Engineering Commons^™

Reflection-Based Phase-Shifted Long Period Fiber Grating For Simultaneous Measurement Of Temperature And Refractive Index, Jie Huang, Xinwei Lan, Amardeep Kaur, Haining Wang, Lei Yuan, Hai Xiao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report a reflection-based phase-shifted long period fiber grating (PS-LPFG) and demonstrate its capability for simultaneous measurement of temperature and external reflective index (RI). The sensor device comprises a grating directly written by CO₂ laser and silver-coated end face. A π-shifted LPFG is presented with two attenuation bands through its reflection spectrum. These two bands have different sensitivity towards temperature and external RI that can be used for simultaneous measurement of the two variables. The experimental results show that this probe-type PS-LPFG performs well in terms of linearity and sensitivity.

Tests For Time Domain Em Solvers For Stability And Towards Passivity, G. Antonini, Albert E. Ruehli, D. Romano, L. (Lijun) Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Stability issues for time domain integral equation based EM solvers have been a problem for a many years. In this paper, we consider ways to test for stability as well as other criteria towards passivity. The tests are designed to monitor the EM solver while the time domain solution is progressing. Hence, the solution can be terminated and improved with a passivization technique when a violation of the criterion has been detected. Also, the tests help to understand the cause of instabilities and results can be used for passivization. © 2013 IEEE.

Adaptive Multi-Vehicle Area Coverage Optimization System And Method, Ryan J. Meuth, John Lyle Vian, Emad W. Saad, Donald C. Wunsch

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A mission planning system for determining an optimum use of a plurality of vehicles in searching a predefined geographic area (PGA). A discretizer subsystem may be used for sensing the capabilities of each vehicle to produce a point set defining a number of points within the PGA that the vehicles must traverse to completely search the PGA. A task allocator subsystem may determine an optimum division of the PGA into different subregions to be handled by specific ones of the vehicles, thus to minimize an overall time needed to search the PGA. A path optimizer subsystem may determine an optimum …

No-Boundary Thinking In Bioinformatics Research, Xiuzhen Huang, Barry Bruce, Alison Buchan, Clare Bates Congdon, Carole L. Cramer, Steven F. Jennings, Hongmei Jiang, Zenglu Li, Gail Mcclure, Rick Mcmullen, Jason H. Moore, Bindu Nanduri, Joan Peckham, Andy Perkins, Shawn W. Polson, Bhanu Rekepalli, Saeed Salem, Jennifer Specker, Donald C. Wunsch, Donghai Xiong, Shuzhong Zhang, Zhongming Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Currently there are definitions from many agencies and research societies defining "bioinformatics" as deriving knowledge from computational analysis of large volumes of biological and biomedical data. Should this be the bioinformatics research focus? We will discuss this issue in this review article. We would like to promote the idea of supporting human-infrastructure (HI) with no-boundary thinking (NT) in bioinformatics (HINT).

Product Lifecycle Management: Measuring What Is Important - Product Lifecycle Implementation Maturity Model, Abram Walton, Cynthia Tomovic, Michael Grieves

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Industry reports that benefits of PLM are difficult to assess because the same benefit can be expressed as a function of time, cost, quality, or any combination. Based on a review of the PLM literature in an earlier study, a PLM Process Model and an initial list of PLM related metrics was generated and later confirmed through interviews with experienced PLM users. In the current study, the original PLM Process Model was refined and the list of metrics was subjected to an exploratory factor analysis in which specific metrics were found to be related to one of four factors: Inputs, …

Perceptions Of New Doctoral Graduates On The Future Of The Profession, John Ritz, Gene Martin

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Advancement of a profession relies heavily on the participation of its members. Leadership roles must be filled at many levels. To effectively prepare future leaders, efforts must be undertaken to educate and mentor them both about their professions and how to lead within them. The authors sought to identify the perceptions of those who recently earned a doctoral degree with focus on technology and engineering education. In the past, this group developed and assumed major roles in leading their education professions. This study reports on new doctoral graduates’ perceptions related to the focus of content taught in formalized K-12 technology …

Real Time Motion Control For Natural Human Robot Interaction, Suresh Sampathkumar

Electrical Engineering Theses - Archive

In this thesis, we present the research work performed with various robots including Android PKD, Zeno and the Atlas robot. The main focus of this thesis is to develop algorithms for vision based natural human robot interaction in real time. Zeno is a childlike robot that we use for the research related to Autism in children. Children with Autism who lack motor skills tend to shy away from humans. In this project we use the robot Zeno that is capable of facial expressions, arm and body motions to teach motor skills to them. For this purpose we developed a program …

Transfer-Printed Photonic Crystal Nanomembrane Fano Resonance Filters And Modulators, Yi-Chen Shuai

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

This dissertation presents the research work on photonic crystal nanomembrane Fano resonance devices based on transfer printing techniques. Ultra-compact high quality (Q) factor optical filters have been design, fabricated, and characterized based on single-layer and coupled double-layer photonic crystal slabs (PCS). Optical filters have also been designed and investigated for potentially high speed spatial lighting modulations. Fano resonance membrane reflectors with operation wavelength bands cover from near-infrared to mid and far-infrared have also been fabricated based on both reaction ion-etching and magnetic field guided metal-assisted chemical etching processes.Based on crystalline semiconductor nanomembrane transfer printing technique, we designed and experimentally demonstrated …

Cmos Analog Correlator Based Glucose Sensor Readout Circuit, Varun K. Shenoy

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Recent investigations show research and development of alternative methods of glucose sensing using electrochemical biosensors to help significantly reduce the difficulties associated with treating diabetes. The integration of microelectronic circuit technology with biosensors is generating greater research interest. The advantages of small size and less power consumption of integrated circuits (ICs) are helping with the realization of biosensors for improved performance. The major challenges involving designing of readout ICs for the electrochemical biosensors are accuracy and range. In this research work, an analog correlator based readout circuit for amperometric glucose electrochemical biosensors is designed and implemented. It is designed to …

The Use Of Complexity Theory And Strange Attractors To Understand And Explain Information System Development, Arthur P. Tomasino

2013

In spite of the best efforts of researchers and practitioners, Information Systems (IS) developers are having problems "getting it right". IS developments are challenged by the emergence of unanticipated IS characteristics undermining managers ability to predict and manage IS change. Because IS are complex, development formulas, best practices or development guides simply will not work. The difficulties in these system developments stem from the complexity of IS arising from the inter-relationship, interaction, and interconnectivity of the elements in the system and its environment. This research uses complexity concepts to help solve the problem with IS development and explain why so …

A Numerical Study Of Incompressible Fluid Flow Over A Forward Facing Step At Various Grades, Peter Andrew Martinez

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

The study of the effect of natural forces on hydraulic structures is of great concern for the accurate prediction of when a design could be at risk of failure. In recent times the use of the shallow water equations to predict the behavior of the free surface for flow over a step has proven inaccurate because only a hydrostatic pressure distribution is considered. One of the phenomena that will not be accounted for with the shallow water equations in such a setup is the formulation of undular bore type waves on the surface. In order for a more accurate representation …

Design, Fabrication And Test Of Surface Tension-Driven Microboats And Thermally Oscillatory Bubble-Propelled Microsubmarines, Lei Qiao

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

In this work, we develop microboats and microsubmarines, which are capable of moving on and under water, respectively. The microboat is propelled due to the difference between surface tensions around stern and bow. This difference is generated by releasing a liquid with lower surface tension than water from the stern. We explore both horizontal and vertical motions of the microboats through a combination of experimental and theoretical investigations. It has a length of 8 mm and weight of 20 mg with the highest speed of 25 cm/s and travel distance of 85 cm. Moreover, we design, fabricate and test microboats …

Effect Of Suction On Dynamic Properties Of Unsaturated Soils At Mid- To High-Shear Strain Amplitudes, Alejandro Hernan Pino Bravo

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

This paper presents the results from an experimental study that has been designed to assess the effect of the suction and net mean stress on the dynamic properties of poorly graded sand with silt subjected to small- to mid-shear strains. The practical implication of this study includes determining the effect on soil stiffness properties of increased matric suction (transpiration of water) at different net mean stresses (or depths) in the field. The engineering analysis of earth structures subjected to static and non-static loading under unsaturated conditions requires knowing the relevant parameters of the soil, such as shear wave velocity, shear …

Lrfd Pullout Resistance Factor Calibration For Soil Nails Incorporating Survival Analysis And Plaxis 2d, Brett Devries

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The use of soil nail walls (SNWs) in the United States has increased since their introduction in the mid-1970's, to where currently the analysis, design and construction are commonly performed (Lazarte, 2011). These SNW designs were mostly based on ASD methods and LRFD-based methodologies were lacking until the 1998 FHWA manual on SNW design (Byrne, Cotton, Porterfield, Wolschlag and Ueblacker, 1998), which provided uncalibrated resistance factors developed from ASD safety factors. As a result, little improvement was made toward a more efficient design, until fully calibrated LRFD pullout resistance factors were provided in the NCHRP Report 701 (Lazarte, 2011). These …

A Study Of Sustainability Adoption Trends In The Transportation Market, Carlos Parra, Christine Toh, Marta Ventura

Interdisciplinary Informatics Faculty Proceedings & Presentations

Due to an increasing concern for sustainability, automobile manufacturers have been introducing hybrid variants of popular vehicles in an attempt to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles. However, it is still unclear how this ‘hybridization’ of popular car models affects the overall success of the vehicle. This paper seeks to address these gaps in knowledge by implementing a demand modeling approach, game theory framework, and a technology forecasting model. In the demand model, it was found that the percent of hybrid cars sold, the year and the model of the car are significant predictors of the total sales. In the …

Cal Poly Nano Hydro, Brandon N. Fujio, Alex J. Sobel, Andrew F. Del Prete

Mechanical Engineering

This projects goal was to design, construct, and test a machine capable of generating a usable amount of energy from naturally flowing water. The device conceived for this purpose is a portable raft with a turbine mounted to the underside. The turbine is mated directly to a low angular velocity generator which outputs to a power electronics system on shore. Using a Gorlov Helical turbine, this proof-of-concept is designed to output ~50 Watts of electricity to charge a battery for later use. Possible applications for this device include camping in remote locations, supplemental power generation for a home, or for …

The Journal Of Undergraduate Research: Volume 11

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This is the complete issue of the South Dakota State University Journal of Undergraduate Research, Volume 11.

Design, Fatigue, And Strength Analysis Of A Tie Rod Hydraulic Cylinder Bolt, Jacob Roemen, Donald Webber

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This report illustrates strength and fatigue analysis completed on a tie rod hydraulic cylinder bolt from a Lion TX 2500 tie rod hydraulic cylinder. The goal was to: solve for total clamping force, damping force per bolt at 90% proof load strength, amount of force per bolt, find the required number of bolts to hold the hydraulic cylinder together, solve for bolt spacing requirements, estimate a safety factor based on proof load strength, nut shear strength, required nut thickness, the least number of threads that must be engaged, estimate R.R. Moore Bending Fatigue Strengths, estimate the maximum value of P …

Two-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Modeling Of Two-Phase Flow For Understanding Geyser Phenomena In Urban Stormwater System, Zhiyu S. Shao

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

During intense rain events a stormwater system can fill rapidly and undergo a transition from open channel flow to pressurized flow. This transition can create large discrete pockets of trapped air in the system. These pockets are pressurized in the horizontal reaches of the system and then are released through vertical vents. In extreme cases, the transition and release of air pockets can create a geyser feature.

The current models are inadequate for simulating mixed flows with complicated air-water interactions, such as geysers. Additionally, the simulation of air escaping in the vertical dropshaft is greatly simplified, or completely ignored, in …

Camber Control In Simply Supported Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders, Osamah Ibrahim Mahmood

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

When designing a bridge, serviceability usually controls and is a more important factor than the ultimate capacity of the bridge or the allowable stresses. Therefore, the behavior of the bridge girder deflection and camber must be predicted as accurately as possible. Therefore, excessive camber has become one of the most common problems when constructing concrete bridges. Different methods have been developed to overcome this problem. The most common and widely used is using haunch with adjustable pedestals to overcome the excessive camber. However, this method has limitations that must be considered. Therefore, this study is evaluating the effectiveness of using …

Biological Control Of Manganese In Water Supplies In The Presence Of Humic Acids, Michael S. Snyder

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The main objective of this study was to improve our understanding of biological filtration (biofilm type) treatment for manganese (Mn) removal in drinking water. Biological filtration treatment involves biofilms of Mn(II)-oxidizing microorganisms attached to solid filter material that remove and immobilize dissolved Mn(II) in raw water by conversion to black MnO_2(s) precipitates. Mn-biological filtration is an emerging green technology that can serve as an alternative to conventional physicochemical treatments but its full potential is hindered by various factors. These include lack of understanding the: (1) optimal removal conditions for Mn, (2) mechanisms for Mn releases of the accumulated Mn …

Development Of An Eeg Brain-Machine Interface To Aid In Recovery Of Motor Function After Neurological Injury, Elizabeth Salmon

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Impaired motor function following neurological injury may be overcome through therapies that induce neuroplastic changes in the brain. Therapeutic methods include repetitive exercises that promote use-dependent plasticity (UDP), the benefit of which may be increased by first administering peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) to activate afferent fibers, resulting in increased cortical excitability. We speculate that PNS delivered only in response to attempted movement would induce timing-dependent plasticity (TDP), a mechanism essential to normal motor learning. Here we develop a brain-machine interface (BMI) to detect movement intent and effort in healthy volunteers (n=5) from their electroencephalogram (EEG). This could be used in …

Noninvasive Near-Infrared Diffuse Optical Monitoring Of Cerebral Hemodynamics And Autoregulation, Ran Cheng

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Many cerebral diseases are associated with abnormal cerebral hemodynamics and impaired cerebral autoregulation (CA). CA is a mechanism to maintain cerebral blood flow (CBF) stable when mean arterial pressure (MAP) fluctuates. Evaluating these abnormalities requires direct measurements of cerebral hemodynamics and MAP. Several near-infrared diffuse optical instruments have been developed in our laboratory for hemodynamic measurements including near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), hybrid NIRS/DCS, and dual-wavelength DCS flow-oximeter. We utilized these noninvasive technologies to quantify CBF and cerebral oxygenation in different populations under different physiological conditions/manipulations. A commercial finger plethysmograph was used to continuously monitor MAP. For investigating …

Effects Of Acute Stretch On Cardiac Electrical Properties In Swine, Anuj Agarwal

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Stretch is known to result in an electrically less stable ventricular substrate, yet the reported effects of stretch on measured electrophysiological parameters have been inconsistent and even contradictory. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute mechanical stretch on cardiac electrical features thought to be key in generation of arrhythmia, namely restitution of action potential duration (APD), electrical memory, and onset of alternans.

Microelectrodes were used to record intracellular potentials pre, during, and post-stretch from isolated right ventricular tissues from swine. In separate experiments, the effects of two levels of stretch were quantified. Pacing protocols employing …

Hysteresis In Repolarization Of Cardiac Action Potentials: Effects Of Spatial Heterogeneity And Slow Repolarization Currents, Linyuan Jing

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Repolarization alternans, i.e. beat-to-beat variation of repolarization of action potential, is proposed as a predictor of life-threatening arrhythmias. Restitution relates repolarization duration with its previous relaxation time, i.e. diatstolic interval (DI), and is considered a dominant mechanism for alternans. Previously, we observed that different repolarization durations at the same DI during decelerating and accelerating pacing, i.e. restitution displays hysteresis, which is a measure of “cardiac memory”.

Objective of the current study was to investigate in the pig 1) the mechanism for a previously observed hysteresis type phenomenon, where alternans, once started at higher heart rate, persists even when heart rate …

Unsaturated Soil Parameters From Field Stiffness Measurements, Jason M. Curd

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The behavior of unsaturated soils depends heavily on material properties and soil conditions. In Geotechnical Engineering, compacted soils are frequently used as fill material, and quality control is vital to the construction process. There are few methods available to estimate the parameters associated with unsaturated soils based on field measurements, and a relationship between these factors could reduce testing time and lower construction costs. Undrained triaxial tests were performed on four clays representing a range of material properties in an effort to reach the maximum dry density, which provides the highest bearing capacity. Each clay was compacted at optimum moisture …

Moisture And Unit Weight Readings From A Complex Impedance Measuring Instrument, Kirk Andrew Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Complex Impedance Measuring Instruments (CIMI’s) are non-nuclear devices that calculate the dry unit weight and moisture content of soil by means of electromagnetic wave propagation theory. Unlike nuclear based test devices, these devices do not require certification or elaborate maintenance to own and operate. CIMI operation requires a soil specific calibration process where soil moisture and unit weight are correlated to electrical parameters. A new, smaller acrylic mold was developed as an alternative calibration tool to the manufacturer’s recommended mold. Calibrated soil models were generated using manufacturer recommended procedures as well as new procedures involving an acrylic mold. Models were …

Development Of A Multilayered Association Polymer System For Sequential Drug Delivery, Sharath Kumar Chinnakavanam Sundararaj

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

As all the physiological processes in our body are controlled by multiple biomolecules, comprehensive treatment of certain disease conditions may be more effectively achieved by administration of more than one type of drug. Thus, the primary objective of this research was to develop a multilayered, polymer-based system for sequential delivery of multiple drugs. This particular device was designed aimed at the treatment of periodontitis, a highly prevalent oral inflammatory disease that affects 90% of the world population. This condition is caused by bacterial biofilm on the teeth, resulting in a chronic inflammatory response that leads to loss of alveolar bone …

Growth Plate Regeneration Using Polymer-Based Scaffolds Releasing Growth Factor, Amanda Clark

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Currently growth plate fractures account for nearly 18.5% of fractures in children and can lead to stunted bone growth or angular deformation. If the body is unable to heal itself a bony bar forms, preventing normal bone growth. Clinical treatment involves removing the bony bar and replacing it with a filler substance, which causes poor results 60% of the time.

Using primarily poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as the scaffold material, the goal was to develop an implant that would support to the implant site, allow for cell ingrowth, and degrade away over time. Porous scaffolds were fabricated from PLGA microspheres using …

Applying Cognitive Principles To The Delivery Of Engineering Information By Different Mediums, Gabriel B. Dadi

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Construction project performance and worker productivity are often tied to the availability and effective presentation of information, tools, materials, and equipment. While advancements in technology have improved much of the processes on a construction project, the medium of information dissemination at the construction work face has consistently relied on the use of two dimensional drawings and specifications.

Industry initiatives are driving increased collaboration through three dimensional BIM (Building Information Modeling) models. However, the added dimension partially loses its effect when presented on a two dimensional computer monitor. Other computer forms of presentation intended for mobility (PDAs, laptops, and tablets) can …