Engineering Commons^™

Passive Water Distillation: Water Qualityanalysis, Elle Janice Holbrook

Collection of Engaged Learning

No abstract provided.

Application Of Concurrent Engineering Design, Chance Ballard

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Mediator-Less Immunodetection With Voltage-Controlled Intrinsic Amplification For Ultrasensitive And Rapid Detection Of Microorganism Pathogens, Jiapeng Wang, Yan Xu, Siu-Tung Yau

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A mediator-less immunodetection method for microorganisms is realized by incorporating the newly developed field-effect enzymatic detection (FEED) technique with the conventional electrochemical immunosensing approach. The gating voltage of FEED facilitates the transduction of electrical signal through the bulky immune complex so that the detection does not rely on the use of mediators or other diffusional substances. The voltage-controlled intrinsic amplification provided by the detection system allows detection in low-concentration samples without target pre-enrichment, leading to ultrasensitive and rapid detection. The detection approach is demonstrated with E. coliO157:H7, a model microorganism, in milk with an estimated detection limit of 20 CFU …

Kinetic Modeling Of Self-Hydrolysis Of Aqueous Nabh4 Solutions By Model-Based Isoconversional Method, Rajasree Retnamma, A. Q. Novais, C. M. Rangel, Lin Yu, Michael A. Matthews

Faculty Publications

The present work reports the kinetic modeling of self-hydrolysis of non-buffered, non-stabilized NaBH4 solutions by model-based isoconversional method. The overall kinetics is described by a „reaction-order‟ model in a practical operating window of 10-20 wt% NaBH4 solutions at 25-80 C and 0-50% conversions. The apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor are interrelated through a kinetic compensation effect (KCE). The apparent reaction order remains constant at a given temperature irrespective of extent of conversion and decreases with increase in temperature. It decreases from firstorder to 0.26 with increase in temperature from 25 to 80 C. The apparent activation energy is found …

Experimental Study Of Characteristics Of Motions Of A Large Mooring Ship In Long-Period Waves, Xian-Ying Shi, Ning-Chuan Zhang, Chang-Ping Chen, Heng-Zhi Jiang, Lei Cui

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

By using the method of physical model tests, the characteristics of mooring ship’s motion responses in transverse long-period waves have been studied under different conditions, including such elements as loading conditions, wave heights, and specific patterns of mooring, etc. The results indicate that: the mooring ship’s movements of surge, sway and yaw had their own natural periods; the movement of sway was a period motion. The ratio of the natural period of sway and the natural rolling period of the mooring ship was within 1.11~1.23. The peak value of sway grew along with the increase of the wave period; the …

Surface Modification Of Ato Photocatalyst On Its Bactericidal Effect Against Escherichia Coli, Hshiang-Ho Chiang, Shing-Hoa Wang, Hsin-Yiu Chou, Chih-Ching Huang, Tsung-Lun Tsai, Yi-Che Yang, Jyh-Wei Lee, Tai-Yuan Lin, Yeun-Jung Wu, Chien-Chon Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The increases in catalytic photolysis efficiency of the surface modified ATO (anodic titanium oxide) by Ag or/and Au nanoparticles were attributed to the greater light absorbance than that of the sole ATO. In addition to the enhanced inherent ATO absorbance at 365 nm inasmuch as the surface-plasmon enhancement of the band emission, additional light absorbance peak occurred at the wavelength around 430 nm, 530 nm and 500 nm for nano Ag modified TiO2, nano Au modified TiO2, and composite nano Ag/Au modified TiO2, respectively. All surface modified ATO catalysts exhibited stronger bactericidal effect under UV exposure than under visible light …

Position Tracking Using Wifi, Tyler Bayne

Honors Theses

Position tracking using WiFi is needed as a more accurate method of intra-building tracking due to Global Positioning System's (GPS) lack of accuracy in buildings. The main application of this project is to provide a safety system, which may be either tracking employees within a building and allowing them to send an emergency message through a device, or to track objects throughout a building. The devices can send simple messages to a central location. These messages will include position information and which emergency has been selected. The devices consist of two buttons and two LEDs, and with a button press, …

Position Tracking Using Wifi, Nathan Conrad

Honors Theses

Position tracking using WiFi is needed as a more accurate method of intra-building tracking due to Global Positioning System’s (GPS) lack of accuracy in buildings. The main application of this project is to provide a safety system, which may be either tracking employees within a building and allowing them to send an emergency message through a device, or to track objects throughout a building. The devices can send simple messages to a central location. These messages will include position information and which emergency has been selected. The devices consist of two buttons and two LEDs, and with a button press, …

Subtalar Fusion Fixture Design And Test, Andrew Campbell

Honors Theses

An experiment was designed to quantify the relative displacement between the calcaneus and talus ankle bones during various types of loading. The ankles were embedded in an epoxy resin and three loads were applied: compressive forces, flexion moments, and inversion moments. A stereo camera system took photographs during the loading process, and the images were correlated via digital image correlation (DIC). The DIe was carried out via a suite of homemade programs written using the open-sourced computational program Octave.

Subtalar Fusion Fixture Design And Test, Nathan Ortiz

Honors Theses

Subtalar arthrodesis is performed when cartilage in the talo-calcaneal (the ankle) joint is degraded in a patient and there are multiple approaches to this surgery. Using synthetic bone material, fixtures were cast from aluminum, using the process of evaporation pattern casting, and epoxy. This casting was used to grip the calcaneus bone of the foot in order to load it mechanically, simulating different scenarios that would be encountered during walking. The relative displacement of the ankle joint was measured using a digital image correlation (DIC) program that was modified to work in both two- and three-dimensional space. This program can …

The Numerical Study Of The Dynamic Behavior Of An Underwater Vehicle, Tsung-Lung Liu, Kuan-Cheng Pan

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

How to employ numerical methods to predict the dynamic behavior of underwater vehicles will become important in the near future. Over the past decade, the results obtained from the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods had been proven similar to that of experimental approach with the same test conditions. In order to reduce the computational time of such flow simulation, the concept of relative motion with body-fixed and fluid-moving scheme is usually employed as a conventional procedure to figure out the flow physics around moving bodies. However, the dynamic influence of fluid on a moving vehicle is self-evident and the relative …

Truncated Model Tests For Mooring Lines Of A Semi-Submersible Platform And Its Equivalent Compensated Method, Dong-Sheng Qiao, Jin-Ping Ou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study conducted a model test of 1:100 model scale of a semi-submersible platform with a 1500 m full-depth mooring system in the Joint Laboratory of Wind Tunnel & Wave Flume at Harbin Institute of Technology. A truncated mooring system of 400 m water depth was designed based on the static equivalent principle. The semi-submersible platform was tested under regular wave excitation periods that ranged from 10 s to 45 s and one year of irregular wave conditions in the South China Sea. The results validated the feasibility of using numerical simulation in the motions calculation of semisubmersible platform and …

Liquefaction Potential Of Non-Plastic Silty Sand, Chun-Chi Chen, Wei F Lee, Jing-Wen Chen, Kenji Ishihara

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper is to introduce research progress on liquefaction potential of undisturbed high fines content non-plastic silty sand. A new sampling technique that was applied to the field allowing sensitive and high fines content silty sand material to be retrieved in sounding condition is described. Laboratory tests on the liquefaction resistance of non-plastic silty sand that emphasized on the influence of fines content percentages were conducted. It concludes that soil liquefaction would occur in non-plastic silty sand deposits even with high nonplastic fines contents. Both fines contents and void ratios have deterministic influences to the cyclic resistance of such silty …

Exponential Stability Analysis For Neural Networks With Time-Varying Delay And Linear Fractional Perturbations, Chang-Hua Lien, Ker-Wei Yu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In this paper, the global exponential stability and global asymptotic stability for a class of uncertain delayed neural networks (UDNNs) with time-varying delay and linear fractional perturbations are considered. Delay-dependent and delay-independent criteria are proposed to guarantee the robust stability of UDNNs via linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. Additional nonnegative inequality approach is used to improve the conservativeness of the stability criteria. Some numerical examples are illustrated to show the effectiveness of our results. From the simulation results, significant improvement over the recent results can be observed.

Combined Effects Of Magnetic Field And Surface Roughness On Long Journal Bearing Lubricated With Ferrofluid, Tze-Chi Hsu, Jing-Hong Chen, Hsin-Lu Chiang, Tsu-Liang Chou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study investigated the influence of ferrofluids on the lubrication performance of long journal bearings under the combined effects of stochastic surface roughness and a magnetic field generated by an infinitely long wire. According to our results, placing an infinitely long wire magnetic field at an appropriate distance from the center of the bearing can suppress side leakage in long journal bearings, thereby extending the life of the bearings. Under a higher power-law index and induced magnetic force, the introduction of transverse roughness can enhance film pressure and load capacity, while reducing the attitude angle and modified friction coefficient. The …

The Properties And Structure Of Zinc Magnesium Phosphate Glasses, Charmayne E. Smith (Lonergan), Richard K. Brow

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Zn-Mg-phosphate (ZMP) glasses, including those with the nominal molar compositions (50 - x)ZnO xMgO 50P₂O₅ (0 ≥ x ≥ 50) and (60 - y)ZnO yMgO 40P₂O₅(0 ≥ y ≥ 60), were prepared and properties such as density, refractive index, coefficient of thermal expansion and glass transition temperature (Tg), were measured. The glass transition temperature increases by 100-150 C and the room temperature dissolution rates in water decrease by 1-2 orders of magnitude when MgO replaces ZnO while maintaining a constant P₂O₅ content. Glass structures were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and …

Hydrodynamic Study Of A Fixed Pontoon Structure Under Wave Loads With Different Reynolds Numbers, Parviz Ghadimi, Farzam Safarzadeh Maleki, Mohammad A. Feizi Chekab

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

As a breakwater, a suspended fixed pontoon is expected to receive energy of the wave and to reduce the wave height at downstream as much as possible. However, in other applications like floating bridges, the structure is expected to allow the wave to pass with the lowest possible energy absorption. In the present study, a numerical investigation has been conducted to identify the effective types of floating pontoon with different rectangular and circular cross sections under regular waves at different Reynolds numbers. Volume of fluid scheme and finite volume methods have been applied for tracking the free surface and discretization …

Evaluating Current Fire Test Methods For Determining Flammability Performance Of Ceiling Materials, Wei-Ting Chung, Ming-Yuan Lei, Kuang-Chung Tsai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Many fire tests have been developed to evaluate the flammability performance of lining materials. According to the test methods, specimens are traditionally mounted vertically as a wall or horizontally as a floor. The only exception is the ISO 9705 room corner test in which ceiling material is installed beneath a ceiling. This study was accordingly designed to discuss the test results of ceiling materials in the ISO 9705 room corner test with the testing capacity of the traditional tests to evaluate the feasibility of the traditional tests to rank materials mounted beneath a ceiling. Materials used were gypsum board and …

Effects Of Sweep Angles And Angles Of Attack On Junction-Flow Patterns, Kuo-Ching San, Ying-Zong Lin, Shun-Chang Yen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study utilized the NACA 0012 finite wings to investigate the effects of wing sweep angle (Λ) and angle of attack (α) on the junction vortex at Re = 8 × 104 . The junction-vortex structures are visualized using the surface oil-flow visualization. The junction vortex is classified as — separation, attached, bubble, and bluff-body wake modes. The separation mode occurs at Λ < 12° and α < 5°. The attached mode occurs at low α for a swept-back wing (Λ > 0°) and the bluff-body wake mode occurs at high α for a forward-swept wing (Λ < 0°). Furthermore, the bubble mode occurs at high sweep angle (i.e., high backward sweep angle) and high angle of attack. Moreover, the properties of velocity vectors, normal stress and shear stress are also detected and analyzed using an X-type hot-wire anemometer.

Optimal Design On One-Layer Close-Fitting Acoustical Hoods Using A Simulated Annealing Method, Min-Chie Chiu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

High noise levels in a multi-noise plant can be harmful to workers and will not only lead to psychological but also to physiological ailments. Consequently, noise control of industrial equipment becomes vital for workers. The study focuses on shape optimization of space-constrained close-fitting acoustic hoods. In this paper, a sound insertion loss used for evaluating the acoustic performance of an acoustical hood will be adopted. Numerical assessments of case studies for depressing the broadband noise emitted from motor-driven equipment by optimally designing a shaped one-layer close-fitting acoustic hood within a space constrained situation will be introduced. Additionally, simulated annealing (SA), …

Shape Optimization Of Multi-Chamber Plenums With Multi-Layer Sound Absorers Using An Artificial Immune Method, Min-Chie Chiu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Because of the space constraints problem in practical engineering work, there is a growing need to optimize the acoustical performance of a sound-proofing device within a fixed space. The optimal mechanism used in adjusting either the plenum’s chamber or an internal sound absorber has been ignored. In order to maximize the acoustical performance of a plenum, a case study of depressing a diesel engine noise by using three kinds of optimally shaped multi-chamber acoustical plenums lined with three kinds of multi-layer sound absorbers is introduced. On the basis of constrained weight and space in the plenum, a low cost optimal …

Dynamics And Cutting Stability Of Dynamically Loaded Worktable Subjected To Elastic Supports, Kuo-Chiang Cha, Nenzi Wang, Jen-Yi Liao

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This paper investigated the dynamic characteristics and the cutting stability of a dynamically loaded worktable on elastic supports in a surface grinder. The operation of worktables is usually dynamically loaded in various positions, which results in a complex system of governing equations. In this study, the assumptions of elastic and rigid body modes of a free-free beam were specified in analyzing the worktable. By combining the Lagrange energy method with the technique of assumed mode expansion, the system of equations was developed. The absolute value of the maximum negative real part of the overall dynamic compliance (MNRPODC) and the limiting …

Design And Analysis Of A Cold Gas Propulsion System For Stabilization And Maneuverability Of A High Altitude Research Balloon, Mitchell Brownell

Honors Theses

The need for a cold gas propulsion system is crucial to the scientific industry which allows for maneuvering and stabilizing a high altitude research balloon and propose an inexpensive, light weight design that researchers can reproduce. The methodology to the design of this system was based on factors that are all dependent upon one another. The parameters that directed the decisions made throughout this design project was the thrust needed to rotate the unit, and the allowable weight permitted by federal regulations. The frame was designed with a gas storage system, gas transmission system, and nozzle assembly which was integrated …

Financial Appraisal Of A Small Scale Wind Turbine With A Case Study In Ireland, Tony Kealy

Articles

This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this paper is obtained by using actual data obtained from the installed equipment over a three year period. The objective is to accurately appraise the financial investment using real data. There appears to be limited studies conducted into this type of research, possibly because the renewable energy sector is in the infancy stage in the host country, Ireland. There are some wind energy installations with financial appraisal …

Major Advancements In Personal Computing, Brandon Brooks

Senior Seminars

This research essay expounds on the history and the journey of the Personal Computer. You will read about some of the most important items that the author felt contributed to the advancement of the PC over the years. The dates of the information ranges from the late 1960s up until the last year or so. The author talks about hardware components and software components, but the bulk of the material in this paper explains the history of each major milestone and what contributed to making it better, or more useful than the last. Each sub-topic will bring us closer to …

A Technical Assessment Of Aperture-Coupled Antenna Technology, Justin T. Obenchain

Senior Honors Theses

Aperture coupling refers to a method of construction for patch antennas, which are specific types of microstrip antennas. These antennas are used in a variety of applications including cellular telephones, military radios, and other communications devices.

The purpose of this thesis is to assess the benefits and drawbacks of aperture-coupled antenna technology. To develop a successful analysis of the patch antenna construction technique known as aperture coupling, this assessment begins by examining basic antenna theory and patch antenna design. After uncovering some of the fundamental principles that govern aperture-coupled antenna technology, a hypothesis is created and assessed based on the …

Optimization Of Layered Battery Cathode Materials Synthesized Via Spray Pyrolysis, Miklos Lengyel

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

Rapid advancements of techniques for the synthesis of Li-ion battery materials are critically needed to address the requirement of a clean and efficient transportation sector. The current research serves this goal by developing an approach to producing layered cathode materials with superior electrochemical performance for electric vehicles (EVs). Current widespread application of EVs is primarily limited by their short range and their high price, which is primarily driven by the cost of the battery pack. The cost of the battery pack is driven by the cost of the cathode material that empowers it.

Novel, high throughput and inexpensive synthesis methods …

Characterization Of The Flow Field Over An Ablative Surface, Michael Allard, C. M. White, Y. Dubief

Ablation Workshop

No abstract provided.

Experimental Determination Of Pyrolysis Products From Carbon/Resin Ablative Materials, Hsi-Wu Wong, Jay Peck, Robin Edwards, Guillaume Reinisch, Jean Lachaud, Nagi N. Mansour

Ablation Workshop

No abstract provided.

Remote Recession Sensing Of Ablative Heat Shield Materials, Michael Winter, Margaret Stackpoole, Anuscheh Nawaz, Gregory Lewis Gonzales, Thanh Ho

Ablation Workshop

No abstract provided.