Engineering Commons^™

In Memoriam: Former Director Of Utah Water Research Lab Dies From Covid-19, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

April 9, 2020 — A former Utah State University professor of civil engineering and former director of the Utah Water Research Laboratory has died after a month-long battle with COVID-19, his wife said.

Study Of Fundamental Tradeoff Between Deliverable And Private Information In Statistical Inference, Farhang Bayat

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

My primary objective in this dissertation is to establish a framework under which I launch a systematic study of the fundamental tradeoff between deliverable and private information in statistical inference. My research was partly motivated by arising and prevailing privacy concerns of users in many machine learning problems.

In this dissertation, I begin by introducing examples where I am concerned of privacy leakage versus decision utility in statistical inference problems. I then go into further details about what I have achieved in formulating and solving such problems using information theory related metrics in a variety of settings. Both related works …

The Long-Term Outlook Of The Mississippi-Atchafalaya Bifurcation: A Convergence Of Engineering, Economics, And Deltaic Evolution, Thomas Mitchell Andrus

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The most recent and currently active delta lobe of the Mississippi River (MR) is the Atchafalaya-Wax Lake lobe, which was initiated approximately 400 years ago as a result of MR stream capture by the Atchafalaya River (AR). This capture process accelerated in the early to mid-1900s but further progress was prevented by construction and operation of the Old River Control Structure (ORCS) Complex. Many recent studies indicate that MR system below the ORCS is on a retreating geologic trajectory due to contributing factors such as sea level rise, subsidence, faulting, and declining hydraulic stream power. Diversions along the Lower MR …

Internals In Gas-Liquid Systems, Sai Sankar Ganesan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this study is to model gas-liquid contact and separation problems (using Euler-Euler based Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models) at different scales. We have explored process intensive solutions, design optimizations by introducing internals in these gas-liquid operations.

A 500L pilot plant scale and a 7000L industrial scale novel down-flow bubble column problems were modeled. Methodologies used to overcome challenges on large-bubble micro-bubble dynamics are discussed and the resulting fluid dynamic solutions were studied. These solutions were further modified and tailored toward intensification, by exploring horizontal plate internals. We then modeled mass transfer and reaction kinetics on this system …

Narrow Angle Radiometer For Oxy-Coal Combustion, Nicole Ashley Burchfield

Theses and Dissertations

A new method of power production, called pressurized oxy-fuel combustion, burns coal with CO2 and oxygen, rather than air, bringing us closer to the end goal of developing zero emission coal-fired utility boilers. However, high-pressure, high-temperature systems such as these are under-studied, and their behavior is difficult to measure. An accurate model for previously untested conditions requires data for validation. The heat release profile of flames and their radiative intensity is one of the key data sets required for model validation of an oxy-coal combustion system. A radiometer can be used to obtain the necessary radiative heat flux data. However, …

Reliability Improvement On Feasibility Study For Selection Of Infrastructure Projects Using Data Mining And Machine Learning, Xi Hu

Theses and Dissertations

With the progressive development of infrastructure construction, conventional analytical methods such as correlation index, quantifying factors, and peer review are no longer satisfactory in support for decision-making of implementing an infrastructure project in the age of big data. This study proposes using a mathematical model named Fuzzy-Neural Comprehensive Evaluation Model (FNCEM) to improve the reliability of the feasibility study of infrastructure projects by using data mining and machine learning. Specifically, the data collection on time-series data, including traffic videos (278 Gigabytes) and historical weather data, uses transportation cameras and online searching, respectively. Meanwhile, the researcher sent out a questionnaire for …

Growth And Characterization Of 2d Layered Materials, Algene Fryer Ii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

2D layered materials are becoming an important area of research due to their exceptional electrical and optical properties. Specifically, 2D layered monochalcogenides are known for their high carrier motilities, whereas layered metal halides have been shown to have noteworthy photoresponsivity. Despite the assortment of 2D layered materials, the search for reliable and scalable synthesis methods is still a challenge in this family of materials. Often a certain growth technique will compromise a desirable trait needed for further fabrication, such as the quality of the crystal or its coverage on a substrate. In this study, two growth techniques that incorporate changeable …

Development Of A Parameterized Model Of Transverse Maize (Zea Maysl.) Stalk Morphology, Ryan A. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

Stalk lodging, or failure of the stalk structure, presents a serious problem in the production of maize (Zea mays L.). Lodged stalks negatively impact crop yields by inhibiting further grain growth and often prevent the harvest of the grain. Addressing this problem requires the development of new maize hybrids that exhibit enhanced lodging resistance, which in turn requires an understanding of the parameters that influence lodging resistance. Current methods make use of specimen-specific geometry and material properties, but these methods have limited ability to examine geometric effects and can require excessive time. A parameterized model of the maize stalk has …

A Data-Driven Model For Multiphase Flow In Pipes, Francisco Bruno Xavier Teles

LSU Master's Theses

Steady-state models commonly used to determine pressure gradient in wells are either empirical correlations or are dependent on empirical parameters correlated to specific flow conditions such as pressures, temperatures, fluid types, and pipe inclinations. The empirical nature of these models leads to limitations in predicting cases in a wide range of conditions. Established models may be delivering inaccurate results when applied at conditions beyond those which they were derived from. For instance, models available in the literature have shown to have limitations when used in large diameter pipes and high-velocity scenarios.

This work aims to evaluate different flow models with …

Capturing Children With Autism’S Engagement In Engineering Practices: A Focus On Problem Scoping, Hoda Ehsan, Monica E. Cardella

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

In the last two decades, pre-college engineering education has increased, with research on pre-college engineering education emerging as a nascent field. However, limited research, if any, has considered aspects of engineering thinking of children with neurodiversity. In line with calls for broadening participation in engineering education, consideration of neurodiverse children is critical. Among various neurodiverse conditions, the number of children with autism is rapidly growing. In addition, studies have shown that individuals with autism have the potential to perform well in activities that require systematizing abilities. Engineering is one such activity. Prior research has provided evidence of the importance of …

Automated Extraction Of Crosswalk From High-Resolution Images, Luciano Lalika, Thobias Sando Phd

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Intersection geometric data are crucial in addressing various safety and operation issues in roadway intersections. Traditionally, agencies have hire staff to extract geometric information from images visually and manually. Manual data extraction is time-consuming, costly (labor intensive), and prone to errors. This study aims to develop an automated signalized intersection geometric data extraction algorithm based on high-resolution images in order to identify crosswalks, left and right turns, and mid-block crosswalks. Using the computer vision technology, the developed algorithm will be able to extract key intersection geometrics such as intersection width, number of lanes, intersection configuration, the presence of turn lanes, …

Physical Unclonable Functions Based On Delay Paths And An Interdigital Microstrip Notch Filter, Mitch Martin

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

A Physical Uncloneable Function (PUF) is an integrated circuit hardware primitivethat is designed to leverage naturally occurring variations to produce a randombitstring. The Aribiter (ARB) PUF is one of the first to be described in the literature.It derives its entropy from variations that occur in the delays of identically configuredlogic paths. The ARB PUF uses a phase comparator to decide which path of a pairis faster under a given challenge, and generates a 0 or 1 as a response indicatorbit. Unfortunately, the ARB PUF is not reliable, requiring error correction in caseswhere the sequence of response bits (the bitstring) needs …

Usu And Community Join To Provide Protective Health Care Equipment, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

April 8, 2020 — The College of Engineering and the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University are collaborating to provide medical grade personal protective equipment to health care workers in northern Utah. Now they are asking businesses and individuals to join them.

Analysis And Implementation Of Quantum Computing Algorithms, Caroline Fedele, Asai Asaithambi Ph.D

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

In this research, we investigate the relationships between classical and quantum computing, and the superior time complexity and memory allocation proposed theoretically for quantum algorithms. This is accomplished by building quantum circuits to represent algorithms and test in a quantum computer simulation. Classical circuit components have been continually reducing in size to the point where they are now being impacted by quantum properties, resulting in the need to investigate quantum computing. The inherent parallelism of quantum computing also allows us to solve problems for which classical computers are inept. The class of intractable problems in computing where the solution can …

Race Car Performance Increase Using A Precision-Fabricated Aerodynamics (Wing) Package, Jacob Millard, Brian Ramsey, John Nuszkowski

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Formula SAE is an international collegiate competition that spans over 300 campuses worldwide. Each year, teams from these campuses design and manufacture a prototype Formula-style race car to compete in various static and dynamic competitions every May in Michigan. Static competitions include engineering design, business presentations, and cost accounting; while Dynamic competitions include Autocross, Acceleration, and Endurance racing events, where the prototype cars from each team race head-to-head in a bid to achieve first place. Of the 300+ campuses that participate in Formula SAE, only 120 are permitted to compete in the Michigan competition each year and The University of …

What Are The Most Important Features On Infant Car Seats To Prevent Injuries: A Systematic Qualitative Review, Andrew Miceli, Donovan Arnold

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Background: Pediatric safety continues to be a main topic of scientific research and specifically injuries sustained from accidents in automobile accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been quoted as saying “Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for children 4 years of age or older.” In the studies analyzed, head impacts were the most frequently injured body region for children occupants seated in a child restraint system. Traumatic brain and skull injuries sustained from these types of accidents were the case studies considered for this literature review due to the high nature of volume …

Performance Evaluation Of Long Range (Lora) Wireless Rf Technology Blue For The Internet Of Things (Iot) Using Dragino Lora At 915 Mhz, Victor Lopez, Hemani Kaushal, Zornitza Prodanoff

Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS)

Internet of Things (IoT) is a developing concept that introduces the network of physical sensors which are interconnected to each other. Some sensors are wirelessly connected among themselves and to the internet. Currently, IoT applications demand substantial requirements in terms of Radio Access Network (RAN) such as long-range outdoor coverage, environmental factors, obstructions, interference, power consumption, and many others. Also, the current wireless technologies are not able to satisfy all these requirements simultaneously. Therefore, there is no single wireless standard that would predominate the IoT. However, one relevant wireless radio solution to IoT is known as Long Range Wide Area …

Qualitative Investigation Of Gaseous Hydrodynamic Mixing Model Efficacy And Associated Sensitivity, Caleb White

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

A mixing model analyzes the mixing of helium (He) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) according to two classical gaseous equations of state (EOS), namely, Amagat’s Law and Dalton’s Law, undergoing planar traveling shocks in three dimensions (3D). Numerical simulations utilize the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) shock hydrodynamic code CTH and other codes including the SNL thermochemical equilibrium code TIGER and the uncertainty qualification (UQ) and sensitivity analysis code DAKOTA. Comparison with experimental results show that none of the equations of state are able to accurately predict the properties of the shocked mixture; similar discrepancies have been observed in previous …

Using Fuzzy Models And Time Series Analysis To Predict Water Quality, Zhao Fu, Mei Yang, Jacimaria R. Batista

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

Water quality prediction is very important for both water resource scheduling and management. Simple linear regression analysis and artificial neural network models cannot accurately forecast water quality because of complicated linear and nonlinear relationships in the water quality dataset. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) that can integrate linear and nonlinear relationships has been proposed to address the problem. However, the ANFIS model can only work in scenarios where input and target parameters have strong correlations. In this paper, a fuzzy model integrated with a time series data analysis method is proposed to address the water quality prediction problem when …

Space-Time Coding For The Advanced Range Telemetry Continuous Phase Modulation, Robert L. Leatham

Theses and Dissertations

Aeronautical telemetry systems that transmit the same signal through multiple antennas from the flight vehicle suffer from severe link dropouts when the signals destructively interfere one with another at receiver. The underlying issue is a transmit array with element spacing far greater than the wavelength producing a transmit antenna pattern with significant and deep nulls. Recently, space-time coding techniques have been proven to resolve the issue for systems using linear modulations and shaped-offset quadrature shift keying (SOQPSK) modulation, a non-linear continuous phase modulation (CPM). This thesis examines application of space-time coding techniques to resolve the self-interference issue for another CPM …

Reu Site: Engineering Education Research On Undergraduate Engineering Students' Problem Solving Capacity, Oenardi Lawanto

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

An Open-Source Web-Application For Regional Analysis Of Grace Groundwater Data And Engaging Stakeholders In Groundwater Management, Travis Clinton Mcstraw

Theses and Dissertations

Since 2002, NASA's GRACE Satellite mission has allowed scientists of various disciplines to analyze and map the changes in Earth's total water storage on a global scale. Although the raw data is available to the public, the process of viewing, manipulating, and analyzing the GRACE data can be difficult for those without strong technological backgrounds in programming or geospatial software. This is particularly true for water managers in developing countries, where GRACE data could be a valuable asset for sustainable water resource management. To address this problem, I have a developed a utility for subsetting GRACE data to particular regions …

Isogeometric Shell Analysis: Multi-Patch Coupling And Overcoming Locking, Zhihui Zou

Theses and Dissertations

The fundamental advantages of applying Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) to shell analysis have been extensively demonstrated across a wide range of problems and formulations. However, a phenomenon called numerical locking is still a major challenge in IGA shell analysis, which can lead to dramatically deteriorated analysis accuracy. Additionally, for complex thin-walled structures, a simple and robust coupling technique is desired to sew together models composed of multiple patches. This dissertation focuses on addressing these challenges of IGA shell analysis. First, an isogeometric dual mortar method is developed for multi-patch coupling. This method is based on Be ?zier extraction and projection and …

Pitch And Thrust Allocation For Full-Flight-Regime Control Of Winged Evtol Uavs, Jacob B. Willis, Randal W. Beard

Faculty Publications

Trajectory tracking control for winged eVTOL aircraft is complicated by the high-angle-of-attack aerodynamics experienced during navigational flight occurring immediately after takeoff and immediately before landing. The total energy use of the vehicle can be reduced and the control performance can be improved by appropriately considering the pitch angle of the vehicle in varying flight conditions. We present a review of high-angle-of-attack aerodynamic models as well as an algorithm for finding the optimal pitch and thrust of a winged eVTOL throughout its flight regime. We show simulation results demonstrating a 75% reduction in tracking error over our previous work while maintaining …

Pilot Source Study 2018: Five Years After The Foq Rule—New-Hire First Officer Backgrounds And Their Performance In Us Regional Airline Training, Guy M. Smith, Maryjo O. Smith, Troy E. Techau, Michelle P. Hight

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

After the Pilot Source Study (PSS) 2015 was published, there was concern that the data were collected too soon after the First Officer Qualification Rule compliance date. The Collaborative Research Committee of the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI) voted to undertake the PSS 2018 to determine whether the results of the PSS 2015 were still valid. In fall 2018, five research teams collected 9,776 pilot records from five regional airlines and analyzed these data. In the PSS 2018, the criteria for success were: ≥90% completions and ≤1 extra training event. In rank order, the following pilots were most successful in …

Aggregated Water Heater System (Awhs) Optimization For Ancillary Services, Manasseh Obi

Dissertations and Theses

In this dissertation, I present a two-stage optimization routine that schedules an Aggregated Water Heater System (AWHS) to concurrently provide three utility ancillary services, namely, frequency regulation, frequency response, and peak demand mitigation.

Water heaters can be controlled to manage their energy take, the amount of energy a water heater can absorb upon command. The AWHS is a model aggregation of thousands of water heaters, the energy take and power characteristics of which are based on U.S Census household data and usage behavior patterns. The aggregate energy take available in the AWHS may be dispatched en masse for participation in …

College Of Engineering News, Georgia Southern University

College of Engineering & Computing: News & Publications (2010-2023)

• MSCS Student Paper Selected as Best Paper at ACMSE 2020

Ku-Band Ultra-High Resolution Radar Tomography Of An Alpine Snowpack, Ryan Natale Bartley

Theses and Dissertations

A commercial-off-the-shelf Ku-band Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system is coupled with a custom built two-dimensional scanning system. This system is installed in an alpine environment and pointed at a snow-unstable mountain slope for the duration of a Utah winter. The radar scanning system, designed to be capable of mapping a snowpack and its layers, is employed to create a series of three-dimensional images from a remote location. Individual images demonstrate the ability to directly detect snow layers, Furthermore, successive images are compared to track volume magnitude and phase values over the course of winter, including …

Arizona Hyperloop: The Fifth Mode Of Transportation, Eleanor Pahl, Matthieu Rada

Discovery Day - Prescott

Arizona Hyperloop is a coalition between Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Arizona State University students competing in Elon Musk’s annual SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition. Hyperloop is the proposed “Fifth Mode of Transportation” - coined “a cross between a Concorde, a rail gun, and an air hockey table.” A hyperloop pod levitates and travels at nearly the speed of sound inside a vacuum tube, which eliminates air resistance. Musk hosts the annual competition to university students to encourage the evolution of urban transportation. The goal is to design, build, and race the fastest prototype pod at SpaceX’s mile-long test track in Hawthorne, …

Vex U Robotics, Kyle Lutterman, Jeffrey Ryan, Sierra Wong, Elizabeth Geiger

Discovery Day - Prescott

VEX U is a competition hosted by the REC Foundation for university students to get engaged in hands-on engineering. Each team produces two robots using the VEX provided parts to compete in the VEX U competition. The competition changes every year with the only constants being the size of the field, the tools and parts teams are able to use, and the size constraints of the robots. The teams compete in regional competitions in order to qualify for the World Championship Competition, which is the highest competition a team can compete in for VEX U. The VEX U teams at …