Engineering Commons^™

Structure Analysis And Governance Strategy Of International Containerized Liner Market Under The Shipping Alliances, Xuming Fan

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Barge Fleet Composition For An Industrial Dry Bulk Transportation : Operating Between River Wharf And Coastal Floating Transshipment Platform, Boyu Jin

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Panama Canal Expansion On Container Liner Shipping Industry, Rongrong Xue

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Models And Policies Of Port Carbon Emission Reduction : A Case Study Of The Port Of Dalian, Jiaqiong Zhao

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Study On Shanghai International Air Transportation Hub, Diandian Li

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.

College Welcomes Newest Engineering Faculty | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

The College of Engineering at Utah State University is excited to welcome 11 new faculty members.

Non Destructive Testing For Eps Geofoam Quality Assurance, Engda Kassahun Temesgen

Theses - ALL

Abstract

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) geofoam is a compressible lightweight fill material. The quality of the EPS geofoam supplied must be inspected thoroughly before its placement in a project site. A review of the quality assurance measures put forward by different construction authorities around the globe was performed. It was found that the quality measures cited by these authorities are not representative of actual full sized EPS geofoam block properties. Hence, these measures have room for more revision and improvement for an effective and efficient quality assurance measure both at the EPS geofoam production plant and on the project site. Moreover, …

Temporal Trends In Fish Mercury In Response To Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) Removal In Little Moose Lake, Adirondacks, New York, Mariah Shannon Taylor

Theses - ALL

Mercury contamination within aquatic ecosystems is a concern in the Adirondack Park of New York State due to mercury deposition from global and regional atmospheric sources coupled with watershed characteristics that drive biophysical processes which mobilize and transform mercury, increasing its bioavailability. Short-term internal biological forces also impact mercury bioaccumulation as fish communities and populations change due to species introductions and lake management practices causing alterations in food web structure and energy transfer. Little Moose Lake, located in the southwestern region of the Adirondacks, provides an opportunity to study how shifts in food web dynamics may impact biological cycling of …

A Novel Approach To Near-Real Time Monitoring Of Ventilation Rate And Indoor Air Quality In Residential Houses, Achalu Kuma Tirfe

Dissertations - ALL

Physics-based infiltration models, like Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) and Alberta Infiltration Model (AIM-2), have been used to predict infiltration rate in near real time. These models are constructed from the driving forces of wind and temperature difference across the building enclosure system, both of which cause pressure differences across the enclosure system for infiltration. The models incorporate other major factors like building leakage characteristics, distributions of openings, microenvironment conditions around the building enclosure as affected by building shields, topography and building shape. The accuracy of the models dependents on getting these factors right. However, these factors are specific for individual …

Information Theoretic Limits Of State-Dependent Networks, Yunhao Sun

Dissertations - ALL

We investigate the information theoretic limits of two types of state-dependent models in this dissertation. These models capture a wide range of wireless communication scenarios where there are interference cognition among transmitters. Hence, information theoretic studies of these models provide useful guidelines for designing new interference cancellation schemes in practical wireless networks.

In particular, we first study the two-user state-dependent Gaussian multiple access channel (MAC) with a helper. The channel is corrupted by an additive Gaussian state sequence known to neither the transmitters nor the receiver, but to a helper noncausally, which assists state cancellation at the receiver. Inner and …

Quantized Consensus By The Alternating Direction Method Of Multipliers: Algorithms And Applications, Shengyu Zhu

Dissertations - ALL

Collaborative in-network processing is a major tenet in the fields of control, signal processing, information theory, and computer science. Agents operating in a coordinated fashion can gain greater efficiency and operational capability than those perform solo missions. In many such applications the central task is to compute the global average of agents' data in a distributed manner. Much recent attention has been devoted to quantized consensus, where, due to practical constraints, only quantized communications are allowed between neighboring nodes in order to achieve the average consensus. This dissertation aims to develop efficient quantized consensus algorithms based on the alternating direction …

Analytical Modeling, Testing, And Comparison Of 1-D, 2-D, And 3-D Dewatering Process, Ratnayesuraj Chelvarajah Ratnasamy

Theses - ALL

Geotextile tubes are used in dewatering applications over many decades for a variety of slurries, sediments, and wastes. With the increased use of geotextile tubes dewatering in recent years, the desire to maximize both the dewatering rate and retention lead to the use of chemical accelerant, which has become a standard practice in geotextile dewatering projects. A variety of small-scale, medium-scale, and pilot-scale test methods are used to assess geotextile tube dewatering performance, including Falling Head Test (FHT), Pressure Filtration Test (PFT), hanging bag test (HBT), Geotextile-tube Demonstration Test (GDT), and Pressure Gravity Dewatering Test (PGDT). However, a very few …

Thermal Conductance Measurement And Flexibility Enhancement Of Flexible Thermal Links, Matt Felt, Matt Sinfield, Brian Thompson, Matt Munns, K. Lloyd

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Introduction

• Flexible thermal links provide a thermally conductive path with low mechanical stiffness

• Scope of this work is to characterize

– Uncertainty in thermal conductance measurements

– Compliance improvements gained by slitting foils

Wireless Throughput And Energy Efficiency Under Qos Constraints, Mustafa Ozmen

Dissertations - ALL

Mobile data traffic has experienced unprecedented growth recently and is predicted to grow even further over the coming years. As one of the main driving forces behind this growth, wireless transmission of multimedia content has significantly increased in volume and is expected to be the dominant traffic in data communications. Such wireless multimedia traffic requires certain quality-of-service (QoS) guarantees.

With these motivations, in the first part of the thesis, throughput and energy efficiency in fading channels are studied in the presence of randomly arriving data and statistical queueing constraints. In particular, Markovian arrival models including discrete-time Markov, Markov fluid, and …

Algorithms And Theory For Robust Pca And Phase Retrieval, Huishuai Zhang

Dissertations - ALL

In this dissertation, we investigate two problems, both of which require the recovery of unknowns from measurements that are potentially corrupted by outliers. The first part focuses on the problem of \emph{robust principal component analysis} (PCA), which aims to recover an unknown low-rank matrix from a corrupted and partially-observed matrix.

The robust PCA problem, originally nonconvex itself, has been solved via a convex relaxation based approach \emph{principal component pursuit} (PCP) in the literature.

However, previous works assume that the sparse errors uniformly spread over the entire matrix and characterize the condition under which PCP guarantees exact recovery. We generalize these …

Risk-Aware Navigation For Uav Digital Data Collection, Zhi Xing

Dissertations - ALL

This thesis studies the navigation task for autonomous UAVs to collect digital data in a risky environment. Three problem formulations are proposed according to different real-world situations. First, we focus on uniform probabilistic risk and assume UAV has unlimited amount of energy. With these assumptions, we provide the graph-based Data-collecting Robot Problem (DRP) model, and propose heuristic planning solutions that consist of a clustering step and a tour building step. Experiments show our methods provide high-quality solutions with high expected reward. Second, we investigate non-uniform probabilistic risk and limited energy capacity of UAV. We present the Data-collection Problem (DCP) to …

Efficient Implementation Of Stochastic Inference On Heterogeneous Clusters And Spiking Neural Networks, Khadeer Ahmed

Dissertations - ALL

Neuromorphic computing refers to brain inspired algorithms and architectures. This paradigm of computing can solve complex problems which were not possible with traditional computing methods. This is because such implementations learn to identify the required features and classify them based on its training, akin to how brains function. This task involves performing computation on large quantities of data. With this inspiration, a comprehensive multi-pronged approach is employed to study and efficiently implement neuromorphic inference model using heterogeneous clusters to address the problem using traditional Von Neumann architectures and by developing spiking neural networks (SNN) for native and ultra-low power implementation. …

Wireless Information And Power Transfer In Communication Networks: Performance Analysis And Optimal Resource Allocation, Tewodros Aklilu Zewde

Dissertations - ALL

Energy harvesting is considered as a prominent solution to supply the energy demand for low-power consuming devices and sensor nodes. This approach relinquishes the requirements of wired connections and regular battery replacements. This thesis analyzes the performance of energy harvesting communication networks under various operation protocols and multiple access schemes. Furthermore, since the radio frequency signal has energy, in addition to conveying information, it is also possible to power energy harvesting component while establishing data connectivity with information-decoding component. This leads to the concept of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer. The central goal of this thesis is to conduct …

Organic Solar Cell By Inkjet Printing—An Overview, Sharaf Sumaiya, Kamran Kardel, Adel El-Shahat

Manufacturing Engineering: Faculty Publications (2015-2023)

In recent years, organic solar cells became more attractive due to their flexible power devices and the potential for low-cost manufacturing. Inkjet printing is a very potential manufacturing technique of organic solar cells because of its low material usage, flexibility, and large area formation. In this paper, we presented an overall review on the inkjet printing technology as well as advantages of inkjet-printing, comparison of inkjet printing with other printing technologies and its potential for organic solar cells (OSCs). Here we highlighted in more details about the viability of environment-friendly and cost-effective, non-halogenated indium tin oxide (ITO) free large scale …

Discovery Canada Films At Water Lab | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Production crews for Discovery Canada were at the Utah Water Research Lab on Wednesday producing an upcoming TV special about the Oroville Dam spillway model.

Applications Of Cfd Simulations On Chemical Processing Equipment Designs, Gongqiang He

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this work is to achieve process intensification by seeking optimal equipment design with CFD investigations. In this work, two projects on chemical equipment design have been discussed.

The first project is on design and optimization of fractal distributor in a novel ion-exchanger. Flow distributors are adopted extensively by chemical industry to distribute an incoming process stream uniformly to the downstream equipment. Currently, the performance of chemical equipment installed with conventional distributor is severely undermined due to poor flow distribution. For conventional distributors such as spray nozzle distributors, their design concept is based on maintaining very high pressure …

Experimental Study And Modeling Of Smart Loss Circulation Materials; Advantages And Promises, Ahmed Khaled Abdelmaksoud Mansour

LSU Master's Theses

Lost circulation occurs when mud or cement is lost to the formation while drilling. Lost circulation has been a huge problem and may cause heavy financial costs in the form of lost rig time, mud fluid and in severe cases, well blowout with serious environmental and safety consequences. Despite extensive advances in the last couple of decades, lost circulation materials used today still have disadvantages such as damaging production zones, plugging drilling tools or failing to seal the fractures. Here, we propose a new class of smart expandable lost circulation material (LCM) to remotely control the expanding force and functionality …

Pltw Female High-School Students' Supports And Barriers In Choosing A College Degree, Lisa Lubin Rubin

Dissertations

Purpose:The purpose of this mixed-methods research study is to identify and describe the barriers and supports that PLTW female students encounter when pursuing a non-traditional female STEM degree upon graduation from high school.

Methodology:A mixed-method (qualitative-quantitative) research design was chosen for this study to explore barriers and supports of female high-school seniors in PLTW. The qualitative portion of the study was phenomenology. This study explored the supports and barriers of female high-school seniors in PLTW courses when choosing a college degree. The quantitative portion of the study was conducted via a hard-copy survey containing closed-ended five-point Likert scale …

Examining The Learning Effects Of Live Streaming Video Game Instruction Over Twitch, Katherine Payne, Mark J. Keith, Ryan M. Schuetzler, Justin Scott Giboney

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

Technology facilitates advances in learning and drives learning paradigms. One recent innovation is Twitch™, an online streaming platform often used for video game tutorials but also enables amateur online instruction (Hamilton, Garretson, & Kerne, 2014)). Twitch represents a unique learning paradigm that is not perfectly represented in previous technologies because of its “ground-up” evolution and the opportunity for novice instructors to educate mass audiences in real-time over the Internet while enabling interaction between teachers and learners and among learners. The purpose of this research is to empirically examine the efficacy of Twitch as a learning platform by manipulating each of …

Characterization Of Asphalt Healing And Incorporation In A Fatigue Damage Model, Umme A. Mannan

Civil Engineering ETDs

Healing is defined as the restoration of the material property during the rest period after damage. The healing property of the asphalt binder is opposite to fatigue damage, which occurs due to repeated traffic loading. On the other hand, healing occurs in the rest period between loading. Most of the existing methods for characterizing the fatigue damage and healing of asphalt are empirical in nature and do not consider the mechanism of healing. Although the asphalt concrete is a mixture of asphalt binder, fines and aggregates, most of the healing occurs in the asphalt binder. Therefore, it is important to …

Rapid Thermocycler System For Rapid Amplification Of Nucleic Acids And Related Methods, Joel R. Termaat, Scott E. Whitney, Hendrik J. Viljoen, Matthew R. Kreifels

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Patents

A thermocycling device and method of operating a thermocycler instrument, the instrument including a sample holder, at least one thermal cycling element, and at least one first and second temperature sensors, for causing the sample holder containing the at least one sample to undergo polymerase chain reaction amplification by repeated cycling between at least a denaturation heating stage and an aunealing cooling stage. The first temperature corresponding with the temperature of the sample holder is monitored using the at least one first temperature sensor, and a second temperature corresponding with the temperature external of the sample holder is monitored using …

Effect Of Bottom Friction, Wind Drag Coefficient, And Meteorological Forcing In Hindcast Of Hurricane Rita Storm Surge Using Swan + Adcirc Model, Muhammad K. Akbar, Simbarashe Kanjanda, Abram Musinguzi

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Faculty Research

An evaluation of the effect of bottom friction, wind drag coefficient, and meteorological forcing is conducted using a tightly coupled wave and circulation model, SWAN + ADCIRC (i.e., Simulating WAves Nearshore + ADvanced CIRCulation), to hindcast the storm surge of Hurricane Rita (2005). Wind drag coefficient formulations of Powell, Zijlema, and Peng & Li are used to calculate wind stresses. Bottom friction and wind drag coefficients are systematically increased and decreased to quantify their impacts on the hindcast. Different meteorological forcing options are applied to study the effect of wind fields on storm surge development and propagation. Simulated water levels …

A Decision Making Tool For Incorporating Sustainability Measures In Rigid Pavement Design, Neveen Samy Talaat Soliman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

One of the most important tools in assessing rigid pavement design sustainability (or environmental impact) is a lifecycle assessment (LCA), which may be applied in any stage of a product’s lifecycle from cradle to grave, such as pavements. Although LCA was the focus of much research and codification by organizations such as the International Organization for Standards and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, limitations exist, such as a) LCA is time consuming; and b) the used data may become outdated, inaccurate, biased, incomplete, and/or expensive to use. These limitations are not a deficiency in LCA as a tool, …

Thermocatalytic-Reforming (Tcr®) And Tcr®-Biochar Properties, Markus Heberlein, Fabian Stenzel, Andreas Hornung

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR®) is an endothermic two stage process developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, able to process biomass and biomass residues with high ash and moisture contents as well as with low ash melting points. The process is a combination of an intermediate pyrolysis reactor and a reforming stage. The pyrolysis stage is typically running at temperatures between 400 and 500 °C and the reforming stage between 600 and 700 °C. In the first stage pyrolysis vapors and biochar are produced. In the second stage the vapors has to pass a continuous removed biochar bed in the reformer where they …

Autothermal Biochar Production And Characterization At Pilot Scale, Andrea M. Rizzo, Marco Pettorali, Lorenzo Bettuci, Giulia Lotti, Renato Nistri, David Chiaramonti

BIO-CHAR: Production, Characterization and Applications

The present work reports on the results from the validation campaign of an autothermal pilot carbonization unit (CarbON) and on the characterization of the produced biochar and pyrolysis vapors. The proposed pilot plant leverages the simplicity and effectiveness of autothermal operations together with open top, downdraft design, to bring to the small scale the performance of larger installations. In autothermal operation, heat for the process is internally provided by combusting part of the feedstock and evolved volatiles inside the reactor, the so called “oxidative pyrolysis”.

Please click on the file below for full content of the abstract.