Engineering Commons^™

Membrane Bioreactor For Enhanced Enzymatic Hydrolysis Of Cellulose, Saleha Abdullah Al-Mardeai

Dissertations

With the rising environmental concerns related to fossil fuels utilization and the depletion of these resources, interest in bioethanol from lignocellulosic waste as an alternative, sustainable energy source has been increasing. Date palm waste is considered a good feedstock for bioethanol production, especially in countries of large date palm plantations, such as the United Arab Emirates.

In the lignocellulose to bioethanol process, the enzymatic hydrolysis of celluloses to produce simple sugars that can be converted to bioethanol by fermentation is the most challenging step, and enhancing it is essential for efficient and feasible operation. Enzyme inhibition by the products is …

Resource Allocation For Heterogeneous Wireless Networks Of Devices With Multi-Connectivity, Monika Prakash

Dissertations

This dissertation contributes to designing an effective resource allocation scheme for multi-connectivity (MC) networks. MC is a feature that allows devices to utilize the radio resources from more than one base station simultaneously. With MC anticipated to play a key role in satisfying the stringent QoS requirements of the next-generation networks (5G/6G), it is crucial to efficiently allocate the resources across multiple connections of one or more radio access technologies (RATs).
/="/">Currently, there is a huge demand on the availability of radio spectrum resources with a large volume of different types of data traffic (Internet-of-things, human-based, machine-machine) traversing the …

Locating Unknown Interference Sources With Time Difference Of Arrival Estimates, Chia Ying Kuo

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Adaptive spectrum sharing between different systems and operators is being deployed in order to make use of the wireless spectrum more efficiently. However, when the spectrum is shared, it can create situations in which an operator is unable to determine the identity of an interferer transmitting an unknown signal. This is the situation in which the POWDER testbed found itself in, starting in late 2021. This thesis provides general-purpose tools for operators to locate an unknown signal source in real-world outdoor environments. We used cross-correlation between the signals measured at multiple time-synchronized base stations to estimate the time difference of …

A Study Of Asymmetric Supersonic Wind Tunnel Nozzle Design, Brittany A. Davis

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Achieving higher Mach numbers for private and commercial flight is a growing interest in the aerospace community. To qualify vehicles prior to flight, tests must be run in wind tunnels. Asymmetric wind tunnel nozzles are of continuing interest to the aerospace community due to their ability to change throat geometry, allowing for a range of Mach numbers to be achieved that encompasses all of the supersonic regime. The sliding block wind tunnel at Old Dominion University (ODU) is designed for a range of Mach numbers from about 1.8 to 3.5 but is limited to an upper limit of 2.8 by …

Fabrication Of Nmos Logic Gates, Samantha Hahn

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

NMOS logic gates were a predecessor to the CMOS logic gates widely used today. They allow for easier process steps and take into account the limited equipment that is available in the ODU clean room. In this thesis, NMOS logic gates were studied in order to open a new field of research into logic gates at Old Dominion University. This work focuses mostly on the designs of the mask patterns and the design of the fabrication process. NOT, NOR, NAND, OR, and AND gates were fabricated with transistors with a 75 µm gate length, using masks and processes specifically developed …

Pedestrian Evacuation: Vulnerable Group Member Influence On The Group Leaders’ Decision-Making And The Impact On Evacuation Time, Terra Lynne Elzie

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As pedestrian evacuations of buildings, outdoor venues, and special events occur, dynamic interactions between pedestrians and vehicles during egress are possible. To model pedestrian and vehicle evacuations, simulation models have evolved to incorporate more realistic crowd characteristics and behaviors to provide improved results. Past studies using modeling and simulation, specifically agent-based modeling, have explored pedestrian behaviors such as decision-making, navigation within a virtual environment, group formations, intra-group interactions, inter-group dynamics, crowd behaviors such as queuing and herding, and pedestrianvehicle interactions. These studies have led to relevant insights helpful to improving the accuracy of evacuation times for normal and emergency egress …

Complex System Governance Leadership, David C. Walters

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop a systems theory-based framework for leadership in governance of complex systems. Recognizing complexity and uncertainty as norms for the environments in which organizations exist encouraged researchers to suggest complexity theory, complex systems, and complex adaptive systems as appropriate for addressing these conditions. Complex System Governance (CSG), based in systems theory, management cybernetics, and governance, endeavors to provide for the design, execution and evolution of functions that provide control, communication, coordination, and integration at the metasystem level to support operations and continued system existence (viability). From a management cybernetics perspective, CSG leadership has …

A Research Framework And Initial Study Of Browser Security For The Visually Impaired, Elaine Lau, Zachary Peterson

Master's Theses

The growth of web-based malware and phishing attacks has catalyzed significant advances in the research and use of interstitial warning pages and modals by a browser prior to loading the content of a suspect site. These warnings commonly use visual cues to attract users' attention, including specialized iconography, color, and an absence of buttons to communicate the importance of the scenario. While the efficacy of visual techniques has improved safety for sighted users, these techniques are unsuitable for blind and visually impaired users. This is likely not due to a lack of interest or technical capability by browser manufactures, where …

Exploring The Role Of Metabolites In Cancer And The Associated Nerve Crosstalk, Inah Gu, Emory A. Gregory, Casey Atwood, Sun-Ok Lee, Young Hye Song

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Since Otto Warburg's first report on the increased uptake of glucose and lactate release by cancer cells, dysregulated metabolism has been acknowledged as a hallmark of cancer that promotes proliferation and metastasis. Over the last century, studies have shown that cancer metabolism is complex, and by-products of glucose and glutamine catabolism induce a cascade of both pro- and antitumorigenic processes. Some vitamins, which have traditionally been praised for preventing and inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, have also been proven to cause cancer progression in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, recent findings have shown that the nervous system is a key …

Experimentation Of Abrasion Erosion At High Temperature For Concentrated Solar Power Systems, Tessa Mei-Lin Fong

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is an alternative and sustainable way to produce energy. Studies have shown that running these plants at high temperatures above 700°C can increase the thermal efficiency in heat transfer. Molten salt is usually used as the heat transfer medium but cannot be used due to its low maximum temperature and high freezing point. Running these plants at high temperature brings up the concern of erosion and oxidation. Abrasion erosion occurs through the interaction of particles and material. The goal of this research is to understand material degradation due to abrasion erosion to understand the durability of …

Rapid, Reliable Tissue Fractionation Algorithm For Commercial Scale Biorefineries, Rahul Reddy Kancharla

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Increasing demand, limited supply, and the impact on the environment raise significant concerns about the consumption of fossil fuels. Because of this, global economies are facing two significant energy challenges: i) securing the supply of reliable and affordable energy and ii) achieving the transformation to a low-carbon, high-efficiency, and sustainable energy system. Recently, there has been growing interest in developing portable transportation fuels from biomass in order to reduce the petroleum consumption in the transportation sector - a major contributor to greenhouse gas emission. A cost-effective conversion process to produce biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass material relies not just on the …

Understanding The Radiation Effects On Fiber Optic Sensors, Sohel Rana

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, the effects of radiation (gamma, neutron or mixed gamma and neutron) on optical fiber sensors are studied and new techniques for real-time measurement of radiation-induced macroscopic changes in optical fibers are presented. It is crucial among the research and development efforts in the nuclear energy field to conduct experiments in Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) to support lifetime extension, novel fuels and materials development, better fuel management, and enhanced safety of existing as well as future nuclear power plants (NPP). Due to their unparalleled and unique advantages over traditional sensors, optical fiber sensors are deemed potential candidates for …

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Of Zirconium Oxidation For In-Situ Nuclear Sensing Applications, Michael Andrew Reynolds

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

To meet the ever-growing energy demands of the modern world, alternative forms of producing power are necessary, and the field of nuclear engineering holds promise to answer this call. Nuclear fuel cladding in light water reactors (LWRs) currently draws a large amount of attention from scientists and researchers, as it provides many challenges to design around. Since the 1950s, zirconium and its protective oxide layer have been utilized as an effective material for the task, possessing good mechanical strengths, high corrosion resistance, and a low neutron absorption cross section. Despite these beneficial properties, however, fuel cladding remains vulnerable to several …

Millimeter-Wave Channel Measurements In Airport Environment, Mahfuza Khatun

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The wide spectrum available at millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands promises very high data rates and has been proposed as an attractive solution to provide high-speed and reliable wireless communication. Further, there are various potential usages of mmWave technology in transportation, aviation, autonomous vehicles, robotics, etc. Specifically, it is anticipated that automation through this technology will affect and improve the operations in every phase in airport environments. Consequently, the extended autonomous capabilities at airports will generate and consume more information and increase the demand for robust data transfer, which requires larger data rates than ever before. Hence, mmWave frequency, due to its …

Modern Optimal Controllers For Hybrid Active Power Filter To Minimize Harmonic Distortion, Feras Alasali, Khaled Nusair, Husam Foudeh, William Holderbaum, Arangarajan Vinayagam, Asma Aziz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Nowadays, AC distributed power networks are facing many challenges in guaranteeing and improving the required level of power quality indices in power networks with increasing nonlinear, time-variable and unbalanced loads. Power networks can benefit from avoiding and minimizing different AC problems, such as frequency fluctuation and Total Harmonic Distortions (THDs), by using power filters, such as Hybrid Active Power Filters (HAPFs). Therefore, attention towards responsible power quality indices, such as Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), Power Factor (P.F) and Harmonic Pollution (HP) has increased. THD and HP are important indices to show the level of power quality at the network. In …

Review On Physical And Chemical Factors Affecting Fines Migration In Porous Media, Yulong Yang, Weifeng Yuan, Jirui Hou, Zhenjiang You

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Permeability reduction and formation damage in porous media caused by fines (defined as unconfined solid particles present in the pore spaces) migration is one of the major reasons for productivity decline. It is well accepted that particle detachment occurs under imbalanced torques arising from hydrodynamic and adhesive forces exerted on attached particles. This paper reviewed current understanding on primary factors influencing fines migration as well as mathematical formulations for quantification. We also introduced salinity-related experimental observations that contradict theoretical predictions based on torque balance criteria, such as delayed particle release and attachment-detachment hysteresis. The delay of particle release during low-salinity …

Semi-Annual Progress Report #10, Missouri University Of Science And Technology. Inspire - University Transportation Center

Semi-Annual Progress Reports

No abstract provided.

Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Fluidic Diode Injector Studies, Allison Brooke Lentz

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Multicarrier Modulation Using Discrete Fractional Fourier Transform, Amir Raeisi Nafchi

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The focus of the research was to investigate the application of the discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFRFT) in communication systems. We investigated the compactness of the Gauss-Hermite like eigenvectors of the DFRFT and showed how a multi-carrier modulation system could benefit from it. This led to identifying an affine DFRFT. We proved the circular convolution property for the proposed DFRFT. Using this affine transform, we were able to design an orthogonal frequency division multiplexer (OFDM) communication system. In the process of implementing the OFDM, we developed a method for fast computation of the DFRFT using the chirp-z transform. Using the …

Design And Implementation Of I2c Bus Protocol On Master And Slave Data Transfer Based On Fpga, Mohamad Khairi Ishak, Meenal Pradeep Kumar

Makara Journal of Technology

This paper presents the design of the inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol with different types of features, such as combined messages, addressing modes, different data patterns and start addresses, clock frequencies, and types of modes between the field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and test card. Moreover, all these features can be randomized and run for long hours. The FPGA and the test card respectively act as master and slave. The design architecture comprises master and slave. The master generates a START condition, in which the serial data will transact between high to low levels and the serial clock will remain high. Then, …

Mechanical Behavior Of Clay Soil Stabilized With Fly Ash And Bottom Ash, Soewignjo Agus Nugroho, Azra Zulnasari, Ferry Fatnanta, Andius Dasa Putra

Makara Journal of Technology

Soil is one of the most important aspects of an infrastructure given its functions of receiving and holding structural loads. However, not all soils have good physical and mechanical properties. To overcome those conditions, stabilization of the soil is practiced to meet the technical requirements. This study aims to determine the behavior of high plasticity clay stabilized with lime, fly ash, and bottom ash. These additives can be used as a stabilizing agent to increase soil strength. The percentage of additives varied from 5%–25% then mixed with clay and were tested through the (Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) test. The UCS …

Enhancement Of Biogas Production Through Solid-State Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Food Waste And Corn Cobs, Lukhi Mulia Shitophyta, Anisa Salsabila, Firanita Angraini Putri, Siti Jamilatun

Makara Journal of Technology

Although biogas has been primarily produced through liquid anaerobic digestion, this method leads to the floating and stratification of fibers and non-homogeneous mixing, which can reduce the biogas yield. Alternatively, biogas can be produced by the solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD) of organic material with a high solid content, such as corn cobs. We investigated the co-digestion of food waste and corn cobs as a biomass feedstock for SS-AD in biogas production. We measured the effects of the total solid (TS) content, percentage of food waste, and reduction in volatile solids (VS), from which we determined its appropriate kinetic model. We …

Control Strategy For Solar Energy-Saving Lamps For Optimized Energy Utilization And Sustainability Of Operation Durability: Indonesia Case, Burhanuddin Halimi, Agus Purwadi, Nana Heryana

Makara Journal of Technology

To solve the electrification ratio issue, the Indonesian government has promoted the use of solar energy-saving lamps. This study proposes a control strategy that adopts current reference time-based profiling for solar energy-saving lamps. For optimal energy consumption, the current reference profile is determined according to users’ daily energy requirements. From the aspect of user comfort, a gradual step reference profile is also introduced to provide a subtle change in lighting intensity level. The proposed control strategy can minimize energy consumption and optimize the operation durability of the system. The concept is verified by simulating four scenarios, the results of which …

Prediction Of Residual Stresses In L-Pbf Ti-6al-4v Fatigue Specimens Using A Thermo-Mechanical Finite Element Model, Haley Petersen, Brad J. Sampson

ME 4233/6233 Fundamentals of FEA

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is an additive manufacturing process that is becoming widely adopted in the automotive, aerospace, and biomedical industries. It uses a laser to melt metal in the form of powder to build parts in a layer-by-layer fashion based on an imported CAD geometry. The constant remelting of previous layers can produce unwanted thermally induced residual stresses in the part due to large thermal gradients, which can drastically reduce the fatigue life of the material. Predicting these residual stresses within the as-built part would be advantageous because one could better understand how the part will perform in …

Structural Health Monitoring: From Virtual Shakers To Machine Learning, Ahsan Kareem

Abbett Distinguished Seminar Series

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a critical means of assessing the performance of aging civil infrastructure. Earlier studies used heavy dynamic shakers to assess the dynamics of structures, which are unwieldy and reliance has been shifted to ambient vibration of structures to extract dynamic features. This study introduces a “virtual shaker” concept that effectively replaces the physical shaker and provides all the desired features for SHM. Examples are provided along with an App that facilitates the use of this concept to identify dynamic features. A traditional structural health monitoring (SHM) operation requires a wired system, which is often termed “hub …

Trust Nonlinear Dynamic, Sami Zeggar, Adib El Mrabet Tarmach

ME 4233/6233 Fundamentals of FEA

The TRUST project's goal is to promote the efficient and responsive development of experimental, modeling, and simulation capabilities for future systems by constructing realistic testbeds that can be exercised more readily and efficiently. The testbeds will be used to conduct experiments in present and future engineering environments using complimentary modeling and simulation. TRUST required several tools in preproduction states and helped identify key features for future development. The required tools include: 1. Automated simulation management from the engineering common model framework (ECMF) 2. Version controlled model repositories for engineering analysis baseline models (EABM) 3. Experimental results databases (TIMS) 4. Communication …

Autonomous Navigator Mobile Robot Upgrade, David Sansoucy

Thinking Matters Symposium

The mobile robot platform has been developed over the course of 10 years at USM. In Spring 2020, Belle-Isle and Werner updated the previous framework by rewriting the software to use the ROS framework running on an on-board Raspberry Pi 3. They also implemented navigation using an A* motion planning algorithm and image processing. In Summer 2021, Ames incorporated Lidar and Kinect sensors onto the robot to improve its real-time navigation capabilities. He also made improvements to the power distribution systems. This project aimed to build on the ROS frameworks developed by the previous 2 teams with the main goal …

Ads-B Aircraft Photography, Gabriel Michael Adamson, Wesley Crouch, Jacob Elmore

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Honor Capstone Lunar Logistics Study, Owen Bradley Cox

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Orthologous Gene Groups Using Machine Learning, Dillon Burgess

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Identification of genes that show similarity between different organisms, a.k.a orthologous genes, is an open problem in computational biology. The purpose of this thesis is to create an algorithm to group orthologous genes using machine learning. Following an optimization step to find the best characterization based on training data, we represented sequences of genes or proteins with kmer vectors. These kmer vectors were then clustered into orthologous groups using hierarchical clustering. We optimized the clustering phase with the same training data for the method and parameter selection. Our results indicated that use of protein sequences with k=2 and scaling the …