Engineering Commons^™

Water–Soil–Vegetation Dynamic Interactions In Changing Climate, Xixi Wang, Xuefeng Chu, Tingxi Liu, Xiangju Cheng, Rich Whittecar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Previous studies of land degradation, topsoil erosion, and hydrologic alteration typically focus on these subjects individually, missing important interrelationships among these important aspects of the Earth's system. However, an understanding of water–soil–vegetation dynamic interactions is needed to develop practical and effective solutions to sustain the globe's eco-environment and grassland agriculture, which depends on grasses, legumes, and other fodder or soil-building crops. This special issue is intended to be a platform for a discussion of the relevant scientific findings based on experimental and/or modeling studies. Its 12 peer-reviewed articles present data, novel analysis/modeling approaches, and convincing results of water–soil–vegetation interactions under …

Heavy Metal Distribution And Groundwater Quality Assessment For A Coastal Area On A Chinese Island, Sha Lou, Shuguang Liu, Chaomeng Dai, An Tao, Bo Tan, Gangfeng Ma, Roman Sergeeyvich Chalov, Sergey Romanovich Chalov

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Chongming Island is located in the lower Yangtze Estuary in China. Due to the Leachate from a refuse landfill and the hydrodynamics of the Yangtze Estuary, the groundwater environment is particularly complicated on Chongming Island. Field observations were carried out around the landfill disposal site. The groundwater table, temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured in the field by portable equipment, and 192 water samples were collected at eight groundwater sites and one surface water site. Through laboratory analysis we found the highest measured concentration of Cr to be 54.07 μg/L, and the measured concentration of Zn was in …

A Comparative Study On Using Meta-Heuristic Algorithms For Road Maintenance Planning: Insights From Field Study In A Developing Country, Ali Gerami Matin, Reza Vatani Nezafat, Amir Golroo

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Optimized road maintenance planning seeks for solutions that can minimize the life-cycle cost of a road network and concurrently maximize pavement condition. Aiming at proposing an optimal set of road maintenance solutions, robust meta-heuristic algorithms are used in research. Two main optimization techniques are applied including single-objective and multi-objective optimization. Genetic algorithms (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and combination of genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization (GAPSO) as single-objective techniques are used, while the non-domination sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGAII) and multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) which are sufficient for solving computationally complex large-size optimization problems as multi-objective techniques are …

Prestressed Concrete Inverted Tee Beams With Cfrp For Building Structures, Herish A. Hussein, Zia Razzaq

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Presented herein is the outcome of a study of prestressed concrete inverted tee beams with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets for possible use in building structures. To determine an effective approach for the use of CFRP, nine different retrofitting schemes are investigated for a prestressed beam under quasi-static distributed load to increase flexural strength. The theoretical analysis is based on coupling moment-curvature relations with a central finitedifference formulation. Three different thicknesses of CFRP sheets are studied in both tension and compression and effective retrofitting schemes are identified.

Numerical Modeling Of The Interactions Between Nonlinear Waves And Arbitrarily Flexible Vegetation, Navid Tahvildari

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Coastal wetlands are among the natural features with the capability to dissipate wave energy and reduce storm damage. Inadequate representation of wave and vegetation characteristics in numerical models may reduce their capability in predicting wave processes over wetlands. Previous numerical wave models have typically applied simplifications on vegetation behavior. For instance, vegetation stems were usually assumed to be rigid or semi-flexible and thus extreme stem deflections could not be captured. In this study, a time-domain nonlinear numerical model based on extended Boussinesq formulation is developed and coupled with a numerical model for vegetation blade dynamics that allows for arbitrary flexibility. …

Effects Of Sea Level Rise On Hydrology: Case Study In A Typical Mid-Atlantic Coastal Watershed, Xixi Wang, Rui Li, Homa Jalaeian Taghadomi, Shohreh Pedram, Xiao Zhao

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Sea level rise (SLR) can negatively affect the hydrology of coastal watersheds. However, the relevant information is incomplete and insufficient in existing literature. The objective of this study is to present a modeling approach to predict long-term effects of SLR on changes of flood peak, flood stage, and groundwater table with an assumption that the historical climate would reoccur in the future. The study was conducted for a typical coastal watershed in southeast USA. The results indicate that sea level had been rising at a rate of 4.21 mm yr⁻¹ from 1948 to 1982 but at a faster rate …

Hoeffding Tree Algorithms For Anomaly Detection In Streaming Datasets: A Survey, Asmah Muallem, Sachin Shetty, Jan W. Pan, Juan Zhao, Biswajit Biswal

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

This survey aims to deliver an extensive and well-constructed overview of using machine learning for the problem of detecting anomalies in streaming datasets. The objective is to provide the effectiveness of using Hoeffding Trees as a machine learning algorithm solution for the problem of detecting anomalies in streaming cyber datasets. In this survey we categorize the existing research works of Hoeffding Trees which can be feasible for this type of study into the following: surveying distributed Hoeffding Trees, surveying ensembles of Hoeffding Trees and surveying existing techniques using Hoeffding Trees for anomaly detection. These categories are referred to as compositions …

Secrecy Rates And Optimal Power Allocation For Full-Duplex Decode-And-Forward Relay Wire-Tap Channels, Lubna Elsaid, Leonardo Jimenez-Rodriguez, Nghi H. Tran, Sachin Shetty, Shivakumar Sastry

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the secrecy rates and optimal power allocation schemes for a decode-and-forward wiretap relay channel where the transmission from a source to a destination is aided by a relay operating in a full-duplex (FD) mode under practical residual self-interference. By first considering static channels, we address the non-convex optimal power allocation problems between the source and relay nodes under individual and joint power constraints to establish closed-form solutions. An asymptotic analysis is then given to provide important insights on the derived power allocation solutions. Specifically, by using the method of dominant balance, it is demonstrated that full power …

Bulletproof Vests/Shields Prepared From Composite Material Based On Strong Polyamide Fibers And Epoxy Resin, Remon A. Mankarious, Mostafa A. Radwan, Mostafa Shazly, Hany A. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) have arisen as a main class of tactual materials having high strength and light weight implemented in a large scale of different applications. This study performs a comparison between the enhanced propidines of Kevlar 49 fiber and Twaron CT 704 reinforced with epoxy resin to obtain an efficient, light weight and slim body m o r capable of resisting high speed projectiles (9 mm bullets). Reinforcing the fabrics adds extra strength to the fabrics instead of using several unreinforced fabrics which increases the weight thickness and the cost of the final product. The response of the …

Mechanical Characteristics For Different Composite Materials Based On Commercial Epoxy Resins And Different Fillers, Marwa Mhamed Naeem, Mostafa A. Radwan, Mohamed A. Sadek, Hany Sa. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this research, different compositions of composite materials based on epoxy resin and four different fillers were prepared and all mechanical characteristics were investigated to reach a composite material having high resistance to impact by high kinetics energy projectiles which is required in the production of bulletproof jackets and also in cassette shields of explosive reactive armors to protect tanks. This composite material is usually applied as layers with other polymeric fibers such as carbon fibers and Kevlar (polyamide) sheets. The used epoxy consists of Epon as linear epoxy and tertiary amine as hardener. The used fillers are carbon black, …

The Effect Of Different Insertion Techniques On The Depth Of Cure And Vickers Surface Micro-Hardness Of Two Bulk-Fill Resin Composite Materials, Lamiaa Mahmoud Moharam, Ahmed Zohair El-Hoshy, Karim Abou-Elenein

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Vickers surface micro-hardness and the depth of cure of two bulk-fill resin composites and one incremental-fill resin composite. Material and Methods: Two Bulk-fill dental resin composites (X-tra Fil, Voco; Sonic-FillTM 2, Kerr Corporation) and an incremental-fill dental resin composite (Filtek™ Z250 XT, 3M ESPE) were used. Sixty cylindrical specimens of 4 mm thickness were prepared using split Teflon molds. Specimens were divided into six groups (n=10) according to the type of the material used and according to the insertion technique applied (bulk or incremental). Prepared specimens were stored dry in …

Ultrathin Conductive Ceo₂ Coating For Significant Improvement In Electrochemical Performance Of Limn₁.₅Ni₀.₅O₄ Cathode Materials, Rajankumar L. Patel, Sai Abhishek Palaparty, Xinhua Liang

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ (LMNO) has a huge potential for use as a cathode material in electric vehicular applications. However, it could face discharge capacity degradation with cycling at elevated temperatures due to attacks by hydrofluoric acid (HF) from the electrolyte, which could cause cationic dissolution. To overcome this barrier, we coated 3-5 micron sized LMNO particles with a ∼3 nm optimally thick and conductive CeO₂ film prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD). This provided optimal thickness for mass transfer resistance, species protection, and mitigation of cationic dissolution at elevated temperatures. After 1,000 cycles of chargedischarge between …

Generalized Interval Valued Neutrosophic Graphs Of First Type, Florentin Smarandache, Said Broumi, Mohamed Talea, Assia Bakali, Ali Hassan

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In this paper, motivated by the notion of generalized single valued neutrosophic graphs of first type, we defined a new neutrosophic graphs named generalized interval valued neutrosophic graphs of first type (GIVNG1) and presented a matrix representation for it and studied few properties of this new concept. The concept of GIVNG1 is an extension of generalized fuzzy graphs (GFG1) and generalized single valued neutrosophic of first type (GSVNG1).

A Lattice Theoretic Look: A Negated Approach To Adjectival (Intersective, Neutrosophic And Private) Phrases, Florentin Smarandache, Selcuk Topal

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Computation Of Shortest Path Problem In A Network With Sv-Triangular Neutrosophic Numbers, Florentin Smarandache, Said Broumi, Assia Bakali, Mohamed Talea

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In this article, we present an algorithm method for finding the shortest path length between a paired nodes on a network where the edge weights are characterized by single valued triangular neutrosophic numbers. The proposed algorithm gives the shortest shortest path length from source node to destination node based on a ranking method. Finally, a numerical example is also presented to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.

An Operational View In Computational Construction Of Information, Florentin Smarandache, Stefan Vladutescu, Constantin Dima, Valeriu Voinea

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The paper aims to explain the technology of emergence of information. Our research proves that information as communicational product is the result of processing within some operations, actions, mechanisms and strategies of informational material meanings. Are determined eight computational-communicative operations of building information. Information occurs in two communication phases, syncretic and the segregation-synthetic. The syncretic phase consists of four operations: referral of significant field, primary delimitation of information, detection-looking information and an anticipative-draft constitution (feedforward). The segregation-synthetic phase also includes four operations: discrimination, identification, interpretation and confrontation (feedback). In the future we will investigate informational actions, mechanisms and strategies.

Multicriteria Decision Making Using Double Refined Indeterminacy Neutrosophic Cross Entropy And Indeterminacy Based Cross Entropy, Ilanthenral Kandasamy, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Double Refined Indeterminacy Neutrosophic Set (DRINS) is an inclusive case of the refined neutrosophic set, defined by Smarandache [1], which provides the additional possibility to represent with sensitivity and accuracy the uncertain, imprecise, incomplete, and inconsistent information which are available in real world.

More precision is provided in handling indeterminacy; by classifying indeterminacy (I) into two, based on membership; as indeterminacy leaning towards truth membership (IT ) and indeterminacy leaning towards false membership (IF ). This kind of classification of indeterminacy is not feasible with the existing Single Valued Neutrosophic Set (SVNS), but it is a particular case of the …

Sensitivity Analysis Method To Address User Disparities In The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Marie Ivanco, Gene Hou, Jennifer Michaeli

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Decision makers often face complex problems, which can seldom be addressed well without the use of structured analytical models. Mathematical models have been developed to streamline and facilitate decision making activities, and among these, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) constitutes one of the most utilized multi-criteria decision analysis methods. While AHP has been thoroughly researched and applied, the method still shows limitations in terms of addressing user profile disparities. A novel sensitivity analysis method based on local partial derivatives is presented here to address these limitations. This new methodology informs AHP users of which pairwise comparisons most impact the derived …

Longitudinal Academic Performance Analysis Using A Two-Step Clustering Methodology, Volkan Cakir, Adrian Gheorghe

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The present study aims to examine the academic profiles of industrial engineering undergraduate students among a sample group of military college engineering students (N=276) in order to determine the factors impacting academic performance; to compare student groups that were identified by course scores, and to analyse performance changes over four academic years. The study started with data collection, database creation and preparation for clustering study. A two-step clustering methodology was used for grouping courses based on academic performance and context similarities. The clustering methodology results are validated by discriminant analysis. Student movements among clusters over the four years are identified …

Systemic Intervention For Complex System Governance Development, Charles B. Keating, Polinpapilinho F. Katina,, John C. Pyne, Ra’Ed M. Jaradat

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper explores the issues related to systemic intervention for Complex System Governance (CSG) development. Systemic intervention seeks to intentionally engage a system to influence trajectory or outcomes. CSG is an emerging field focused on the design, execution, and evolution of the functions necessary to provide continued system performance (stability) in the midst of incessant turbulence and increasing complexity. Integral to this field is the necessity to ‘intervene’ in a complex system to enhance system behavior, structure, or performance. Arguably, system interventions have an unremarkable record of success, ranging from declared success in improving a situation (system) to abysmal failure …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Study Of Thromboembolism As A Function Of Shunt Size And Placement In The Hybrid Norwood Palliative Treatment Of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, John Seligson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Hybrid Norwood procedure has emerged as a promising alternative palliative first stage treatment for infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The procedure is done to provide necessary blood flow to the pulmonary and systemic regions of the body. The procedure can affect hemodynamic conditions to be pro-thrombotic, and thrombus particles can form and release from the vessel walls and enter the flow. Assuming these particles are formed and released from the shunt surface, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model can be used to mimic the patient's vasculature geometry and predict the occurrence of embolization to the carotid or …

Hydrodynamic Measurements Of The Flow Structure Emanating From A Multi-Row Film Cooling Configuration, Michael Voet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The demand for more power is rapidly increasing worldwide. Attention is turned to increasing the efficiency of modern methods for power generation. Gas turbines provide 35% of the power demands within the United States. Efficiency of gas turbines is defined in an ideal sense by the thermal efficiency of the Brayton Cycle. The overall efficiency of a gas turbine can be increased while simultaneously maximizing specific work output, by increasing the turbine inlet temperature. However, even with the advancements in modern materials in terms of maximum operating temperature, various components are already subjected to temperatures higher than their melting temperatures. …

Simultaneous Imaging Of The Diatomic Carbon And Methylidyne Species Radicals For The Quantification Of The Fuel To Air Ratio From Low To High Pressure Combustion, Jonathan Reyes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The radical intensity ratio of the diatomic carbon to methylidyne was characterized at initial pressures up to 10 bar using certified gasoline of 93% octane. This gasoline was selected due to its availability as a common fuel. The characterization of the radical intensity ratio of gasoline at elevated pressures enabled the creation of a calibration map of the equivalence ratio at engine relevant conditions. The proposed calibration map acts as a feedback loop for a combustor. It allows for the location of local rich and lean zones. The local information acquired can be used as an optimization parameter for injection …

Enhanced Handheld Engine Ethanol Study, Charindu Kariyawasan Jalath Thanthree

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study examined consumer and professional grade handheld engines. Twenty-four consumer grade 50 hour Emissions Determination Period (EDP) trimmers and 24 professional grade 300 hour EDP backpack leaf blowers were run on four different ethanol fuel concentrations; E0, E10, E15, and E20. Six engines of each type were run on each of the fuel blends through their full EDP.

All engines were broken-in and adjusted to manufacturer specifications on E0. Then engines were emissions tested on E0 to provide a baseline and to determine the rich to lean order of the engines. Next, the leanest operating engine received E20 and …

Real-Time Pricing Strategy Based On The Stability Of Smart Grid For Green Internet Of Things, Huwei Chen, Hui Hui, Zhou Su, Dongfeng Fang, Yilong Hui

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

The ever increasing demand of energy efficiency and the strong awareness of environment have led to the enhanced interests in green Internet of things (IoTs). How to efficiently deliver power, especially, with the smart grid based on the stability of network becomes a challenge for green IoTs. Therefore, in this paper we present a novel real-time pricing strategy based on the network stability in the green IoTs enabled smart grid. Firstly, the outage is analyzed by considering the imbalance of power supply and demand as well as the load uncertainty. Secondly, the problem of power supply with multiple-retailers is formulated …

Performance Of Seed Treatments And In-Furrow At-Plant Insecticides For Protection Against Cry3bb1-Resistant Western Corn Rootworm, 2015, Jonas Victor De Macedo,, Kayla A. Mollet, Julie A. Peterson

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The western corn rootworm is an important pest of corn that can compromise yield by feeding on plant roots during its larval stage. WCRW management has been complicated by the development of resistance in some regions, including Nebraska, to transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) traits, particularly the protein Cry3Bb1, which confers cross-resistance to mCry3A. A field trial was established to evaluate the efficacy of neonicotinoid seed treatments in combination with in-furrow insecticides on a corn hybrid expressing mCry3A Bt proteins against corn rootworm in an area with a history of rootworm resistance. The trial was conducted in a farmer’s field in …

The Impact Of Active Aerodynamics On Motorcycles Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations, Aditya Sripathi

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Motorcycles are mostly utilized by commuters whose requirements are cheap and affordable transportation from point A to point B. Motorcycles also provide means to tour various places and have a leisure time for the majority of motorcyclists. Unfortunately, with pros also come cons such as accidents which are disabling or life-taking. According to motorcycle crash statistics produced every year, the majority of motorcycle crashes are caused due to facing unexpected obstacles in the path causing collisions due to insufficient braking time. Thus, this thesis serves as a mean to overcome this issue and provide a technological solution to the world …

Implementing Software Lab At Hackathons, Istvan Gates

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Hackathons are events where groups of college students have 24 hours to build up a any project, using Computer Science and Electrical Engineering skillsets. These events are typically hosted on college campuses, and attract over 200 students per event. Each student brings 2 devices - their phone, and their laptop. That means that 400 devices are connected to a University venue's Internet network, commonly overloading it. Software Lab alleviates this overloading by providing an abstracted NAS node network for events. Software Lab guarantees speeds of at least 100 mbits/s, and provides a 8-10x improvement on download speeds over the common …

Molecular Dynamics Studies Of Crystal Growth Phenomena In Cdte Based Heterostructures, Rodolfo Aguirre Ii

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) is a material used to make solar cells because it absorbs the sunlight very efficiently and converts it into electricity. However, CdTe modules suffer from degradation of 1% over a period of 1 year. Improvements on the efficiency and stability can be achieved by designing better materials at the atomic scale. Experimental techniques to study materials at the atomic scale, such as Atomic Probe Tomography (APT) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) are expensive and time consuming. On the other hand, Molecular Dynamics (MD) offers an inexpensive and fast computer simulation technique to study the growth evolution of …

A Data Driven Approach To Solar Generation Forecasting, Guangyuan Shi

Theses - ALL

With the developments in renewable energy resources, more Photovoltaic (PV) generators are being built. Compared to traditional generators, a PV generator is less controllable which will adversely impact power system operation and planning. To ensue seamless operation of power systems, PV forecasting is essential and necessary. A challenge in PV forecasting is that PV generation behavior differs in different regions due to the fact that PV generation is highly dependent on weather conditions, in particular solar irradiance. This makes it important to study the power output data based on a specific region. In this thesis, I first analyze how PV …