Engineering Commons^™

Multiresolution Template Matching Using An Optical Correlator, Samuel Peter Kozaitis, Zia Saquib, Rufus H. Cofer, Wesley E. Foor

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications

Infrared imagery of 512 × 512 pixels was processed with 128 × 128 arrays by computer simulation of an optical correlator using various correlation filters. Pyramidal processing using binary phase-only filters (BPOFs), synthetic discriminant function (SDF) filters, and feature-based filters was used to process an entire image in parallel at different resolutions. Results showed that both SDF and feature-based filters were more robust to the effects of thresholding input imagery than BPOFs. The feature-based filters offered a range of performance by setting a parameter to different values. As the value of the parameter was changed, correlation peaks within the training …

Analysis Of Multifrequency Dispersive Optical Bistability And Switching In Nonlinear Ring Cavities With Large Medium-Response Times, Pawel Pliszka, Partha P. Banerjee

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Using a simple model of a ring cavity comprising a cubically nonlinear medium, we analyze dispersive optical bistability in the presence of more than one spectral component. We show the phenomenon of so-called competition for resonance. In addition to presenting cavity characteristics for the cases of two and three different frequencies, we also discuss the general method for finding steady-state solutions and checking their stability. A simple and efficient algorithm, based on a relaxation method, is devised to find steady-state solutions satisfying appropriate boundary conditions. The relaxation dynamics is physically related to a finite response time of the medium.

Measurement Of Thermal-Energy Charge-Transfer Rate Coefficient Of Mo6+ And Argon, Victor H.S. Kwong, Z. Fang, Yingtao Jiang, T. T. Gibbons, L. D. Gardner

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

The charge-transfer rate coefficient of Mo6+ and argon has been measured at mean ion energies of 8.8 and 1.4 eV using a laser-ablation ion source and an ion trap. The rate coefficient deduced from these measurements is 1.02(0.10)×10-10 cm3 s-1 and appears to be independent of the mean ion energy at this energy range. However, the measured value is an order of magnitude smaller than the Langevin rate coefficient.

New Speckle Technique For Noncontact Measurement Of Small Creep Rates, Donald D. Duncan, F. Fausten Mark, Lawrence W. Hunter

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A highly sensitive method for measuring thermal expansion, mechanical strain, and creep rates has been developed. This technique is based on Yamaguchi's speckle strain gauge concept, but uses a novel data-processing approach that provides estimates of the time rate of inplane strain. The approach is appropriate for assessing very small strain rates in hostile environments. It provides simultaneous global estimates of the strain at both small and large gauge sizes. This may be of importance in studying materials with different short- and long-range orders. General advantages of the technique are compact design, modest resolution requirements, insensitivity to surface microstructure changes …

Mechanical Backup Systems For Electronic Environmental Controllers, Richard S. Gates, Douglas G. Overhults, Larry W. Turner

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

A series of mechanical backup systems for electronic environmental controllers is presented for a typical finishing swine barn and a typical tunnel ventilated broiler house. The systems consist of mechanical thermostats and timers used in parallel with the electronic controller, designed to ensure animal survival in the event of controller or related hardware failure. For swine housing, three distinct mechanical backup functions are identified; for broiler housing, four distinct mechanical backup functions are identified. Schematic diagrams of the mechanical backup functions are provided and their implementation is described.

Rotating-Wave Approximation In High-Gain Lasers, Lee W. Casperson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Semiclassical models for lasers typically incorporate a fundamental simplification called the rotating-wave approximation. In this study the rotating-wave approximation is reexamined, and its implications for the simplest problem of a steady-state laser oscillator are considered in detail. It is found that for practical laser operating conditions the errors resulting from this approximation may not always be negligible.

A Novel Technique For Deep Level Characterization Of High-Resistivity Semiconductor Materials, Sridhar Panigrahi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An improved photo induced current transient spectroscopy (PICTS) technique is developed for studying deep level parameters in high-resistivity semiconductor materials. A new digital data acquisition approach and improvement in the cryogenics of the system have enabled us, for the first time in our laboratory, to detect CuA level in a copper doped silicon compensated gallium arsenide (GaAs:Si:Cu) sample. The digital approach improves both the signal to noise ratio (S/N) and the efficiency of the system. Also, multiple PICTS spectra in a single thermal cycle can be obtained. In the present work, various doped and undoped gallium arsenide ( GaAs) and …

Runge-Kutta Upwind Multigrid Multi-Block Three-Dimensional Thin Layer Navier-Stokes Solver, Frank E. Cannizzaro

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A state-of-the-art computer code has been developed that incorporates a modified Runge-Kutta time integration scheme, Upwind numerical techniques, Multigrid acceleration, and Multi-block capabilities (RUMM). A three-dimensional thin-layer formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations is employed. For turbulent flow cases, the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic turbulence model is used. Two different upwind techniques are available, van Leer's flux-vector splitting and Roe's flux-difference splitting. Full approximation multigrid plus implicit residual and corrector smoothing were implemented to enhance the rate of convergence. Multi-block capabilities were developed to provide geometric flexibility. This feature allows the developed computer code to accommodate any grid topology or grid configuration with …

Design Considerations For An Astronaut Monorail System For Large Space Structures And The Structural Characterization Of Its Positioning Arm, Judith J. Watson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An astronaut monorail system (AMS) is presented as a vehicle to transport and position EV A astronauts along large space truss structures. The AMS is proposed specifically as an alternative to the crew and equipment transfer aid for Space Station Freedom. Design considerations for the AMS were discussed and a reference configuration was selected for the study. Equations were developed to characterize the stiffness and frequency behavior of the AMS positioning arm. Experimental data showed that these equations gave an fairly accurate representation of the stiffness and frequency behavior of the arm. A study was presented to show trends for …

Multi-Ion Ambipolar Diffusion, Thomas E. Gist

Theses and Dissertations

The continuity and momentum equations for electrons and multiple ion species are solved analytically and numerically using a new model for ambipolar diffusion. The general form of the model is valid for any quasi-neutral plasma for which the diffusion approximation is appropriate, including positive or negative ions, arbitrary geometries, and time dependence. The model provides criteria for determining when single ion diffusion theory is appropriate for describing multi-ion discharges, when a multi-ion proportional model is appropriate, and when a multi-ion nonproportional model is necessary. An expression is developed which provides a necessary condition for proportionality and provides the proportionality constant …

Laminar And Turbulent Natural Convection Heat Transfer In Trombe Wall Channels, Tony D. T. Chen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The natural convective heat transfer and air movement in a Trombe wall solar passive system has been studied analytically and numerically. Three Trombe wall channel geometries including the parallel channel with axial inlet and exit, parallel channel with side vents and Trombe wall channel coupled to the room have been considered. Several models representing these Trombe wall geometries have been formulated. For the parallel channel with axial inlet and exit geometry, a momentum-integral method has been used to solve parabolic governing equations for two-dimensional laminar flow. This formulation leads to a second order ordinary differential equation for pressure defect in …

Summary Of Results Of 1991 Field And Laboratory Evaluations Of Pavement Marking Materials, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the results of data collected as part of the 1991 field and laboratory evaluations of pavement marking materials for the SASHTO Regional Test Facility.The purpose of the Regional Test Facility (RTF) is to minimize the amount of field and laboratory research testing of specific types of materials. This is accomplished by combining efforts in an organized manner to reduce the monetary and man-hour requirements of both the states and industry. A RTF for the twelve SASHTO states was approved at the 1988 SASHTO convention. The twelve SASHTO states are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North …

The Degradation Of Aluminium Cathodes By Fluoride Ion During Zinc Electrowinning, J. S. Han, Thomas J. O'Keefe

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The influence of fluoride ions on aluminum cathode surface degradation during zinc electrowinning has been studied. Electrolyte with a composition similar to that employed in plant operations has been used. A direct correlation is shown between the electrolyte fluoride content and the number of deposition cycles possible before zinc removal becomes difficult. The role of initial nucleation and starting electrode morphology is discussed in terms of the degree of adherence observed. Electrochemical tests have also been made on the electrodes at various stages of the process in an attempt to gain a better fundamental understanding of the mechanisms responsible for …

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Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Text-Independent Automatic Speaker Identification Using Partitioned Neural Networks, Laszlo Rudasi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation introduces a binary partitioned approach to statistical pattern classification which is applied to talker identification using neural networks. In recent years artificial neural networks have been shown to work exceptionally well for small but difficult pattern classification tasks. However, their application to large tasks (i.e., having more than ten to 20 categories) is limited by a dramatic increase in required training time. The time required to train a single network to perform N-way classification is nearly proportional to the exponential of N. In contrast, the binary partitioned approach requires training times on the order of N². …

Graded Refractive Index Silicon Oxynitride Thin Film Characterized By Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, Paul G. Snyder, Yi-Ming Xiong, John A. Woollam

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

A graded refractive index silicon oxynitride (SiO_xN_y) thin film was prepared on a silicon substrate by ion assisted deposition. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) was used to optically analyze the film. The measured SE spectra (2500-8200 Å) were analyzed with several fitting models, whose construction was based on an Auger depth profile of the film. In each model, the optical response of SiO_xN_y was described using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation, by modeling it as a physical mixture of two distinct phases: silicon dioxide and silicon nitride. Grading was modeled by varying the silicon nitride …

Silicon Nitride/Silicon Oxynitrid/Silicon Dioxide Thin Film Multilayer Characterized By Variable Angle Spectroscopic Ellipsometry, Yi-Ming Xiong, Paul G. Snyder, John A. Woollam

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) was used to nondestructively characterize a silicon nitride (Si₃N₄)/silicon oxynitride (SiO_xN_y)/silicon dioxide (SiO₂) thin film multilayer structure, in which Si₃N₃ and SiO_xN_y layers were deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and low-pressure chemical vapor deposition, respectively. The measured VASE spectra (3500-8200 Å) were analyzed with an appropriate multilayer fitting model, in which the SiO_xN_y layer was modeled. in the Bruggeman effective medium approximation (EMA), to be a physical mixture of two distinct phases, SiO_{2 …}

Experimental Road Base Construction Utilizing Atmospheric Fluidized Bed Combustion Residue, David Q. Hunsucker, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes findings of laboratory and field trial evaluations of two experimental test sections constructed adjacent to one another. One experimental section contained a mixture of pulverized fuel ash, residue from an atmospheric fluidized bed combustion process, and limestone aggregate. The second section contained a similar mixture but included a small amount of Type Ill cement. Both experimental sections were constructed to a total nominal thickness of nine inches. The typical design section included six inches of the experimental mixtures, used as base materials, beneath three inches asphaltic concrete. A previous report documented construction of the test sections and …

Survey Of Current Bridge Painting Practices And Related Literature Search, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Christopher M. Oberst

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A survey on current bridge painting practices was conducted. Questionnaires were sent to all 50 state highway agencies concerning their present bridge painting practices, changes in those practices that they anticipate due to environmental regulations, and new or experimental painting practices they are investigating. Forty-three responses were received. Those are collated and presented in the appendices along with comments of the responders.

A literature search was conducted on publications related to painting of steel structures (since 1987). Forty-nine documents were identified as being relevant to the topic. Those documents are listed in bibliographic form in the appendices.

Laboratory And Field Evaluations And Correlations Of Properties Of Pavement Components, David L. Allen, R. Clark Graves, L. John Fleckenstein

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the selection and sampling of 21 long-term pavement performance testing sites. Seven of those sites were also chosen to be a part of the LTPP portion of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). All sites were sampled in accordance with SHRP protocol and procedures.

The report includes three years of visual distress data and pavement deflection data obtained by a Road Rater. There were wide variabilities in backcalculated subgrade moduli and asphaltic concrete moduli within each 500-foot test section.

Laboratory resilient modulus tests were performed on undisturbed samples of the subgrade and asphaltic concrete cores. Again, there …

Dynamics And Control Of A Five Degree-Of-Freedom Magnetic Suspension System, Anwar Mohammed Haj

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A large-gap magnetic suspension system with five degrees-of-freedom is presented. The system is multi-input multi-output with coupling between degrees-of-freedom. Simulation was performed on this multi degree-of-freedom system in order to control each degree-of-freedom separately. Two types of controllers are considered by adding white noise to a single degree-of-freedom system in order to test their behavior and determine which is the best choice for the system. The responses of the system are produced in continuous and discrete time where a sample interval and delay time was introduced. Using these responses, a comparison between each degree-of-freedom was made and the maximum value …

Experimental Investigation Of Crossflow Instability Waves In Rotating Disk Flow, Alan E. Blanchard

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

For the past 40 years, the crossflow (or inflectional) instability associated with rotating disk flow has been generally assumed to be a pure vortex that is fixed with respect to the disk; however, the terms "wave" and "vortex" have also been used interchangeably throughout the computational and experimental literature to describe this instability. Through the use of both hot-wire surveys and smoke-wire flow visualizations in the present investigation, the existence of crossflow instability waves prior to vortex formation has been shown. The results of the hot-wire surveys and smoke-wire flow visualizations for both a "clean" disk case and a disk …

An Application Of Neural Networks In Data Communication Real-Time Resource Reallocation, Qing Fan

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis presents an application of artificial neural networks in real-time resource reallocation, a methodology used in the implementation of an intelligent interface node in the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) environment. In particular, the problem is formulated using a Hopfield neural network model. The real-time reallocation problem is mapped into a two-dimensional matrix of neurons similar to Hopfield and Tank's approach to the traveling salesman problem (TSP) . An energy function is formulated in terms of the hard constraints and the solution cost. The interconnection weights and the input biases are determined by the energy function. It is shown through …

Analysis Of Impact Damage Of Composite Laminates Using Five-Point Bending, Mark Edward Robeson

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The low-velocity impact of composite laminates can induce high transverse shear strains, resulting in severe damage within the laminate. This type of damage may be studied in a quasi-static manner by use of a multi-span beam shear test in five-point bending configuration. A five-point bending arrangement induces high transverse shear strains in sections of the laminate, causing failures, such as intraply cracks and delaminations, that are similar to those caused by low-velocity impact. Stress distributions in the laminate can be calculated using a potential energy approach, and these stress distributions can be correlated with failure locations in the five-point bending …

Neural Modeling And Control Of A Distillation Column, James Edward Steck, K. Krishnamurthy, Bruce M. Mcmillin, Gary G. Leininger

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Control of a nine-stage three-component distillation column is considered. The control objective is achieved using a neural estimator and a neural controller. The neural estimator is trained to represent the chemical process accurately, and the neural controller is trained to give an input to the chemical process which will yield the desired output. Training of both the neural networks is accomplished using a recursive least squares training algorithm implemented on an Intel iPSC/2 multicomputer (hypercube). Simulated results are presented for a numerical example.

Theoretical And Experimental Study Of Inlet Manifold Pressure Profiles Using Compensated Transducers, P Mtui

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Computer simulation and experimental findings on single cylinder four-stroke cycle engine were done with a view of getting more realistic inlet manifold pressures. Since there is a direct relationship between the inlet pressure profiles and the volumetric efficiency of the engine, then there is a possibility of utilizing the knowledge of these profiles to enhance better engine air flow characteristics and hence improvement of engine performance.

The simulation program is based on hometropic process with constant specific heats where the results were validated using experimental findings of the engine with varying engine speeds.

Experimental results are obtained by measuring manifold …

The Performance Of A Horizontal Flow Roughing Filter/Slow Sand Filter Water Treatment Plant In Tanzania, Mbwette T. A

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The performance of a water treatment plant comprising of the Horizontal f Iow Roughing F i Iter (HRF) / Slow Sand Filter (SSF) System was evaluated by monitoring the water quality of the inlet water and the plant filtrates for a Improper operational procedures and period of two months. the absence of adequate maintenance of the plant was found to have resulted to relatively Iow removal efficiency. This subsequently improved as a result of plant rehabilitation and introduction of new operational procedures and became comparable to the performance of HRE/SSF plants documented in literature. For example, as a result of …

Control System Design Program Based On Cascade Compensation, Fredrick Ishengoma

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

CAD is becoming more widely accepted in the design and analysis of control systems. A program has been developed for analyzing single-input single-output linear time-invariant control system. The application of the progranl for frequency domain design of cascaded phase lead and phase lag coinpensators is briefly discussed. Two examples to illustrate the program are presented.

Evidence That Free Fatty Acid-Iron Complexes Directly Initiate Lipid Peroxidation In Vitro And In Vivo: A New Mechanism Of Oxidative Stress, Steven C. Salaris, Charles F. Babbs, Joann Pham, John J. Turek

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Working Papers

Through a series of biochemical and histochemical experiments we explored the novel hypothesis that iron and free fatty acids, liberated after tissue injury, combine to form liposoluble complexes that directly initiate lipid peroxidation. The addition of 100 M ferric iron to 30 mM linoleate suspensions at pH 7.4 produced time dependent lipid peroxidation, measured as conjugated diene formation. Complexes of 100 M ferric iron and 600 M pentanoate also initiated formation of conjugated dienes in linoleate suspensions and formation of malondialdehyde-like materials in rat liver slices. A histochemical stain for free fatty acids revealed positive reactions within cell membranes in …

Optimization Of Dispersed Flor Pond For Bacterial Removal, Mayo A. W

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The design of waste stabilization ponds is seldom done with consideration of optimum pond dimensions. The analysis of pond dimensions within practical limits in dispersed flow ponds on the basis of minimum cost for the predetermined bacterial remova) ef ficiency, with the aid of computer is presented. The data collected in the pilot and full scale waste stabilization ponds at the University of Dar es Salaam Was used as input to the computer program. The results shows that pond configuration and climatic conditions which have influence on bacterial mortality rate have a re:narkable influence on pond cost