Engineering Commons^™

Corrosion Propagation Of Stainless Steel Reinforced Concrete, Nelly Sofía Orozco Martínez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Structural durability is a growing concern in global infrastructure. The infrastructure report card released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) indicates that approximately 9.1% of the total bridges in the United States were structurally deficient in 2016. In addition, it suggests that about 40% of the total bridges in the country are now 50 years or older. This issue becomes even more critical in structures exposed to aggressive environments such as marine structures. Thus, federal and regional efforts are now being directed towards infrastructural durability improvement to improve the long-term cost-efficiency of civil infrastructure.

Corrosion prevention strategies may …

Corrosion Durability Service Life Of Calcium Silicate-Based Reinforced Concrete, Carolina Páez Jiménez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Corrosion of reinforcing steel is a major area of study for assessing durability of reinforced concrete infrastructure. Conventional concrete infrastructure designs use ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as the primary cementitious material. However, the world's current challenge to achieve sustainable development requires the cement industry to reduce its environmental impact, as it is responsible for 8% of the anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Hence, a new type of cement has been developed. This novel calcium silicate cement (CSC) reduces the carbon dioxide emissions during its manufacturing process as compared to OPC, providing an environmentally-sound alternative for reinforced concrete fabrication.

Corrosion of steel reinforcement …

A Framework To Aid Decision Making For Smart Manufacturing Technologies In Small-And Medium-Sized Enterprises, Purvee Bhatia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 has changed today’s manufacturing scenario. The transition to smart manufacturing technologies has been evolving over the last few years and has recently accelerated due to the pandemic. The need to make manufacturing systems agile, adaptive, resilient, and robust has expediated the adoption and implementation of smart manufacturing technologies.

Despite the interest of manufacturers in smart manufacturing, the adoption rate has been slow due to the lack of decision-making tools that can provide a clear strategic roadmap for effective execution. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are especially slow in adoption due to the …

Sustainability Assessment Of A Pressure Retarded Osmosis System, Samar Al Mashrafi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Desalination has the potential to provide a stable supply of clean fresh water and meet the increasing water demands; however, this process does come with a few challenges such as high energy consumption, high energy cost, and a discharge of a highly concentrated brine. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is a technology that could work as an efficient energy recovery technology for desalination since it can significantly reduce the energy consumption and dilute the brine before discharge. Studies have assessed the economic feasibility of PRO systems; however, these studies have not addressed the environmental sustainability of the systems. Thus, there is …

Issue 7: Contributors, David Hartshorn, Martin Jarrold

Online Journal of Space Communication

List of Issue 7 Contributors.

Future Solutions: Access To Ict: A Tale Of Three Briefings, David Hartshorn

Online Journal of Space Communication

If your inbox is anything like mine, then you already know that the publication of satellite communications reports has become an industry unto itself. But that's not to say that it's always an end unto itself. On the contrary.

Future Solutions: Universal Access, David Hartshorn

Online Journal of Space Communication

Today, the nations of the world have an immediate opportunity to advance essential telecommunication policy objectives through harmonisation of regulations governing the use of fixed satellite-based network solutions.

Regulatory Reform: Strengthening Access To Information & Communications Technologies: Guidelines To Facilitate Policy & Regulation For Satellite Services, Global Vsat Forum

Online Journal of Space Communication

This document was prepared by GVF, an association of organisations engaged in the delivery of advanced broadband and narrowband satellite services to consumers, and commercial and government enterprises worldwide.

Regulatory Reform: In The Land Of The 'Coffeenet', Martin Jarrold

Online Journal of Space Communication

Sitting down to write this article at a desk some 30 miles south of central London, and less than one degree west of the Greenwich meridian, I became immediately more conscious than usual of geography. The frequently interwoven use of such western-centric cartographic labels as Middle East, and Far East, with the geographically more precise terms of Western or Central Asia, and East and South-East Asia, sometimes causes us to confuse the actual proximity of Europe's, much larger, near-neighbour.

Regulatory Reform: Asia's Great Step Forward, David Hartshorn

Online Journal of Space Communication

This paper was presented at Connect-World Asia Pacific, June 2002.

Forget about a great leap forward. All that's needed to facilitate communications in Asia are a few small steps. Indeed, today all nations of the world have an immediate opportunity to advance essential telecommunication policy objectives through harmonisation of regulations governing the use of telecommunications solutions.

Regulatory Reform: Wanted: A Bridge For Africa's Digital Divide Apply: Pretty Much Anywhere In Africa Quote Reference: Vsat, Martin Jarrold

Online Journal of Space Communication

For Africa, and for the economy of the whole planet, those hundreds of millions of people across the continent who are currently denied reasonable access to even simple voice service represent a vast untapped pool of creativity. This very large and potentially very powerful economic dynamo demands access to more than the simplest tools of communication, and requires the means to unleash the potential productivity of its own knowledge-base into an increasingly connected world. The International Telecommunications Union acknowledges this, as does its sister organisation, the United Nations. The Global VSAT Forum enjoins you to acknowledge it too.

Overview: A+B+C = Vsat, Martin Jarrold

Online Journal of Space Communication

The benefits of VSAT systems and services are being realised in all spheres across the globe, both private and public. Banks, government departments, schools, hospitals, home offices, small enterprises, multi-national corporates, and rural telephony… all sectors are seizing upon the opportunity to get connected through satellite communications.

Overview: Satellite Communication In Ghana - Challenges And Prospects, Kwasi Boateng

Online Journal of Space Communication

Busy Internet is a Ghanaian ISP that uses satellite connectivity to bring Internet to West Africans. The operations of this ISP illustrate the reliability, versatility and efficiency of, VSAT, (Very Small Aperture Terminal) networks in delivering fast broadband Internet services.

Overview: The View From 22,300 Miles High, David Hartshorn

Online Journal of Space Communication

Asia's geography, claiming many of the world's highest peaks, has provided a dramatic setting for a climbing expedition that began decades ago, when the satellite communications community took its first step on the lower slopes of the mountain.

Overview: Politics And Technology Converge: Case Studies On The Effects Of Regulatory Reform On Vsat Adoption In Developing Countries, Emmanuel Adugu, Kwasi Boateng, D. Flournoy, Eric Gavua, Wencelous Kaswoswe, Miao Zhang

Online Journal of Space Communication

Developing countries are actively implementing satellite data networks, and have undertaken policy reforms to facilitate such networks. This research examines how regulatory changes have resulted in the removal of barriers relating to the deployment of access technologies and growth in connectivity, especially in VSAT installations for low cost Internet access. In addition, this research seeks to identify the socio-economic impact of emerging data network applications in government, business, health and education. In some cases, government offices have been the driver of change; in other cases, businesses have been the ones to initiate and press these developments forward.

Overview: Pipelines Of The Skies, Errol Olivier

Online Journal of Space Communication

Advances in fixed satellite technology are enabling oil and gas concerns to enhance the efficiency of offshore operations with cost-effective voice and data network solutions.

Issue 7: From The Guest Editors, David Hartshorn, Martin Jarrold

Online Journal of Space Communication

During the past 15 years, the international satellite communications industry has been developing and refining network solutions such that today, there are more than one million so-called Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) systems installed and operating in more than 120 countries.

A Laboratory Investigation Of High Polymer Modified Asphalt Mixtures With Softening Agent, Basel K. Al-Badr

Theses and Dissertations

This study was initiated to evaluate the impact of aging and High Polymer Modified Asphalt (HPMA) binders containing a bio-based-oil softening agent (SA) on the rutting, cracking, and durability of asphalt mixtures. One control asphalt binder (PG 52-34), Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) polymer modifier, and corn-oil SA were used to produce four asphalt mixtures including a control prepared using PG 52-34 binder and three modified mixtures were produced by blending PG 52-34 binder with different dosages of SBS and SA. The mixtures were tested using the Dynamic Complex Modulus (|E*|), Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device (HWTD), Flow Number (FN), Indirect Tension Cracking Test …

Kinematic Analysis Of Gait In An Underwater Treadmill Using Land-Based Vicon T 40s Motion Capture Cameras Arranged Externally, Shreyas L. Raghu, Ryan T. Conners, Chang-Kwon Kang, David B. Landrum, Paul N. Whitehead

PRC-Affiliated Research

Aquatic therapy for rehabilitation can be performed in a variety of environments, which can vary from a traditional swimming pool to a self-contained underwater treadmill. While kinematic analysis has been performed in large volume swimming pools using specific underwater motion capture systems, researchers may only have access to a land-based motion-capture system, which is not waterproof. Additionally, underwater motion capture systems may not fit within the confines of a smaller underwater treadmill. Thus, the purpose of this study was to design and analyze methodology to quantify lower limb kinematics during an aquatic treadmill session, using a land-based motion capture system. …

Kinematic Analysis Of Gait In An Underwater Treadmill Using Land-Based Vicon T 40s Motion Capture Cameras Arranged Externally, Shreyas L. Raghu, Ryan T. Conners, Chang-Kwon Kang, David B. Landrum, Paul N. Whitehead

PRC-Affiliated Research

Aquatic therapy for rehabilitation can be performed in a variety of environments, which can vary from a traditional swimming pool to a self-contained underwater treadmill. While kinematic analysis has been performed in large volume swimming pools using specific underwater motion capture systems, researchers may only have access to a land-based motion-capture system, which is not waterproof. Additionally, underwater motion capture systems may not fit within the confines of a smaller underwater treadmill. Thus, the purpose of this study was to design and analyze methodology to quantify lower limb kinematics during an aquatic treadmill session, using a land-based motion capture system. …

Transparent Planar Micro-Electrode Array For In-Vitro Electric Field Mediated Gene Delivery, Raj Himatlal Shah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gene delivery is the process of delivering the modified gene into the human cell. There are two types of gene delivery depending on where the target cells are. The in-vivo gene delivery deals with delivering the altered genes into the cells while still in the host body. While another approach is to extract the cells from the host body, transfer the modified gene into cells and then put these cells back into the host body, this approach is called the ex-vivo method.

A vector is a carrier that carries the modified gene to the host cell or body. Hence, depending …

Atomistic Thermo-Mechanical Description Of The Deformation Behavior, Scaling Laws, And Constitutive Modeling Of Nanoporous Gold, Mohammed Hassan Yousef Saffarini

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Metallic foams, or nanoporous (NP) metals as it is widely referred to in literature, with ligament sizes up to a few tens of nm show exceptional mechanical properties such as high strength and stiffness per weight ratio under different loading scenarios due to their high surface area to solid volume ratio. Therefore, they can be utilized in a wide range of applications making them of great interest to researchers. While their elasticity and yield strength have been the subject of several studies, very limited attention was given to the effect of size, strain rate, and temperature on the material plastic …

Sealant Injectivity Through Void Space Conduits To Assess Remediation Of Well Cement Failure, Mohammed Alkhamis, Abdulmohsin Imqam

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The primary cement of oil and gas wells is prone to fail under downhole conditions. Thus, a remedial operation must be conducted to restore the wellbore integrity and provides zonal isolation. Many types of materials are currently used and/or have the potential to be employed in wellbore integrity applications, including, but not limited to, conventional Portland cement, microfine and ultrafine cement, thermoset materials, and thermoplastic materials. In this study, several types of materials were selected for evaluation: (1) conventional Portland cement, which is the most widely used in remedial operations in the petroleum industry, (2) polymer resin, which is one …

Assessing The Feasibility Of Microbially Managed Biological Filtration In U.S. Drinking Water Systems For Removal Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern, Andrew J. Black

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The future of water security in the U.S. is clouded by the progression of anthropogenic climate change and the increasing number of households unable to afford access to safe drinking water, while advances in detection and potential health risks of trace organic contaminants are constantly moving the water treatment finish line. There is a need for sustainable, economically feasible technology to provide the means to meet increasingly stringent water quality regulations while also ensuring current standards are met for all communities. Biologically active filtration, combined with an operational approach designed to optimize contaminant removal by the biofilm, may enable water …

Mechanical Failure Of Metal/Ceramic Interfacial Regions Under Shear And Tensile Loading, Xiaoman Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Quantitative assessment of the adhesion strength of ceramic hard coatings on substrates is a subject of great technological importance as well as current scientific relevance. Achievement of reliable and quantitative measurements of interfacial strength has proven difficult over the past two decades. In this dissertation, how the deformation and fracture behavior of ceramic/metal/substrate interfacial regions under shear and tensile loading is influenced by the structure and chemical composition of the interfacial region were observed and discussed. Interfacial shear failure experiments were carried out on focused ion beam fabricated micro pillars containing interfacial regions of ceramic/metal/substrate systems. Detailed characterization was carried …

Predictors Of Successful Adoption Of Technology Supported Learning In Universities In Uganda: A Students’ Perspective, Esther Namirembe, Michael Eddie Kyobe Prof.

The African Journal of Information Systems

This study identified the predictors of successful adoption of technology supported learning (TSL) among students in universities. Presumably, the perspective of the students in understanding this study is crucial because students are key users of TSL systems and are faced with challenges in the adoption of such systems in learning institutions. We argue in the present study that predictors can be identified using Gestalts approach given the complex interactions between the organizational and individual factors. The extent of interaction between the factors was accomplished using the clustering algorithm. Data was collected from 184 students from Makerere and Gulu universities. Six …

Hydration Automation: Smart Tank, Peter Ferguson

Computer Science and Engineering Master's Theses

Agriculture is a huge field that can benefit from Internet of Things (IoT) with many solutions focused around the monitoring and management of water in irrigation or storage systems. Different types of sensors to measure water quality, amount, flow and pressure are used to monitor the health of these systems and actuators are deployed like pumps or valves to manage the water in theses systems. The Hydration Automation (HA) automated water monitoring and management system utilizes low cost, small form factor, and sustainable Sensing Units (SUs) to collect water level reading of water storage systems through the use of an …

Deep Peak-Shaving Transformation Planning Of Thermal Power Units Based On Approximate Dynamic Programming, Weiqing Sun, Song He, Han Dong, Kunpeng Tian

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The generation of renewable energy has great randomness. The lack of flexibility of thermal power unit leads to the problem of peak adjustment. Three reformation schemes for thermal power units, including the thermal power unit internal transformation, configurating energy storage, and joint transformation of the two are proposed. Taking into account the additional cost of thermal powerunit in the deep peak regulation, the planning model of thermal power units depth peak-shaving transformation considering the unit combination is proposed, and the strategy iteration approximate dynamic programming algorithm to decouple the model is presented. The “curses of dimensionality” can be avoided …

Prediction Method For Health Degree Of Front Bearing Of Wind Turbine Generator And Implementation, Yin Shi, Guolian Hou, Chi Yan, Linjuan Gong, Xiaodong Hu

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the deterioration trend of front bearing of doubly-fed wind turbine generator, a new combined modeling method is proposed to predict health degree of front bearing of generator. The GMM is used to identify operating conditions of wind turbines. The temperature model of front bearing based on ELM is established respectively in each sub-condition. Combining with temperature residual characteristics and time-frequency characteristics of vibration signal, the health degree of front bearing is calculated. Based on attention mechanism, the Bi-LSTM neural network is proposed to model and predict health degree of front bearing. The result shows that the …

Design Of Lvc Simulation Test Middleware For Saas, Du Nan, Yaxin Tan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: LVC (Live-Virtual-Constructive) technology provides a new technical means for equipment test. In view of the large number of heterogeneous simulation resource objects and complex interaction in the LVC system test, which can not meet the test task requirements of quick response of the weapon system, the middleware and application model framework is reformed according to the remote method invocation based on TENA. The functional modules of LVC simulation middleware including model running component, publishing and ordering component, message processing component and real-time running component are designed to provide efficient real-time communication mechanism for LVC simulation and support the application …