Engineering Commons^™

A Century Of Observations Reveals Increasing Likelihood Of Continental-Scale Compound Dry-Hot Extremes, Mohammad Reza Alizadeh, Jan Adamowski, Mohammad Reza Nikoo, Amir Aghakouchak, Philip Dennison, Mojtaba Sadegh

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Using over a century of ground-based observations over the contiguous United States, we show that the frequency of compound dry and hot extremes has increased substantially in the past decades, with an alarming increase in very rare dry-hot extremes. Our results indicate that the area affected by concurrent extremes has also increased significantly. Further, we explore homogeneity (i.e., connectedness) of dry-hot extremes across space. We show that dry-hot extremes have homogeneously enlarged over the past 122 years, pointing to spatial propagation of extreme dryness and heat and increased probability of continental-scale compound extremes. Last, we show an interesting shift between …

Autonomous Pev Charging Scheduling Using Dyna-Q Reinforcement Learning, Fan Wang, Jie Gao, Mushu Li, Lian Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This paper proposes a demand response method to reduce the long-term charging cost of single plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) while overcoming obstacles such as the stochastic nature of the user's driving behaviour, traffic condition, energy usage, and energy price. The problem is formulated as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) with an unknown transition probability matrix and solved using deep reinforcement learning (RL) techniques. The proposed method does not require any initial data on the PEV driver's behaviour and shows improvement on learning speed when compared to a pure model-free reinforcement learning method. A combination of model-based and model-free learning methods …

Multihazard Hurricane Fragility Model For Wood Structure Homes Considering Hazard Parameters And Building Attributes Interaction, Carol C. Massarra, Carol J. Friedland, Brian D. Marx, J. Casey Dietrich

Faculty Publications

Predicting building damage as a function of hurricane hazards, building attributes, and the interaction between hazard and building attributes is a key to understanding how significant interaction reflects variation hazard intensity effect on damage based on building attribute levels. This paper develops multihazard hurricane fragility models for wood structure homes considering interaction between hazard and building attributes. Fragility models are developed for ordered categorical damage states (DS) and binary collapse/no collapse. Exterior physical damage and building attributes from rapid assessment in coastal Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina (2005), high-resolution numerical hindcast hazard intensities from the Simulating WAves Nearshore and ADvanced CIRCulation …

Bio-Oils From Vacuum Ablative Pyrolysis Of Torrefied Tobacco Residues, Nattawut Khuenkaeo, Blake Macqueen, Thossaporn Onsree, Sangu Daiya, Nakorn Tippayawong, Jochen A. Lauterbach

Faculty Publications

Fast pyrolysis, in combination with torrefaction pretreatment, was used to convert tobacco residues to value-added bio-fuels and chemicals. Tobacco plant residues were torrefied at 220, 260, and 300 °C, before being pyrolyzed at 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C in a rotating blade ablative reactor under vacuum conditions to test the effects on product yields. With torrefaction, tobacco residues thermally decomposed 20-25% w/w at low temperatures. Torrefaction and pyrolysis temperatures were found to markedly affect pyrolytic product yields of bio-chars and bio-oils, while having no effect on gas-phase products. Bio-oil yields exhibited a direct relation with pyrolysis temperature and an …

Epoxy-Functional Thermoplastic Copolymers And Their Incorporation Into Thermosetting Resins, Kayla Rose Sweet

Theses and Dissertations

While polymers have secured a place in the consumer, industrial, and military markets over the last seventy years, the next generation of polymers must become more renewable, more adaptive, and higher performing to bridge industrial needs and environmental gaps. To this end, unique network configurations of copolymers and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) have been employed to combine features of two or more polymers into a single material that surpasses the sum of its parts. The customization of polymer networks can be made possible via dual-functional monomers, molecules characterized by two different reactive substituents that allow for versatile methods of polymerization. …

Hybrid Electro-Plasmonic Neural Stimulation With Visible-Light-Sensitive Gold Nanoparticles, Ratka Damnjanovic, Parveen Bazard, Robert D. Frisina, Venkat R. Bhethanabotla

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Biomedical prosthetics utilizing electrical stimulation have limited, effective spatial resolution due to spread of electrical currents to surrounding tissue, causing nonselective stimulation. So, precise spatial resolution is not possible for traditional neural prosthetic devices, such as cochlear implants. More recently, alternative methods utilize optical stimulation, mainly infrared, sometimes paired with nanotechnology for stimulating action potentials. Infrared stimulation has its own drawbacks, as it may cause collateral heating of surrounding tissue. In previous work, we employed a plasmonic method for stimulation of an electrically excitable neuroblastoma cell line, which had limited success. Here, we report the development of a hybrid electro-plasmonic …

Bio-Oils From Vacuum Ablative Pyrolysis Of Torrefied Tobacco Residues, Nattawut Khuenkaeo, Blake Macqueen, Thossaporn Onsree, Sangu Daiya, Nakorn Tippayawong, Jochen A. Lauterbach

Faculty Publications

Fast pyrolysis, in combination with torrefaction pretreatment, was used to convert tobacco residues to value-added bio-fuels and chemicals. Tobacco plant residues were torrefied at 220, 260, and 300 °C, before being pyrolyzed at 450, 500, 550, and 600 °C in a rotating blade ablative reactor under vacuum conditions to test the effects on product yields. With torrefaction, tobacco residues thermally decomposed 20-25% w/w at low temperatures. Torrefaction and pyrolysis temperatures were found to markedly affect pyrolytic product yields of bio-chars and bio-oils, while having no effect on gas-phase products. Bio-oil yields exhibited a direct relation with pyrolysis temperature and an …

Information Technology News, Georgia Southern University

Information Technology: News & Publications (2012-2023)

• Georgia Southern Center for Applied Cyber Education to take part in cyber exercise

Data Is Personal: We Should Treat It As Such, Kaleb Dunn

Student Papers in Public Policy

The rise of the internet as a fact of daily life is the defining element of the modern age. Widespread use of the internet has fundamentally altered entire industries, and much of American life has migrated online. Dating is augmented by online dating; shopping by online shopping; television by internet streaming.

The digitization of American life has brought with it considerable benefits, including great convenience and innumerable efficiencies, but it has not come without a cost. Although there are many business models used by internet companies, many of the now-largest companies in the world have converged on one entity upon …

The Glycocalyx And Its Role In Vascular Physiology And Vascular Related Diseases, Sheldon Weinbaum, Limary M. Cancel, Bingmei M. Fu, John M. Tarbell

Publications and Research

Purpose—In 2007 the two senior authors wrote a review on the structure and function of the endothelial glycocalyx layer (Weinbaum in Annu Rev Biomed Eng 9:121–167, 2007). Since then there has been an explosion of interest in this hydrated gel-like structure that coats the luminal surface of endothelial cells that line our vasculature due to its important functions in (A) basic vascular physiology and (B) vascular related diseases. This review will highlight the major advances that have occurred since our 2007 paper.

Methods—A literature search mainly focusing on the role of the glycocalyx in the two major areas described above …

Preparation Characterization And Tribological Behavior Of Lube Oil With Nanoparticles Additives, Waleed Alghani

Student Works (2020-2029)

There are many companies worldwide that would like to improve and upgrade the lube oil and enhance its performance. There is a big concern for the enhancement of lube oil by using nanotechnology and more precisely with using nanomaterial additives. Much work has made to explore and develop new sorts of lubricating oil nano-additives to diminish wear and friction in tribological configurations and to enhance surface morphology. It has noted that the use of dual nano-additives should examine the lubricating capacity and durability of lubricant. (TiO2 Anatase + Graphene) and (ZnO + Graphene) nanoparticles have selected to formulate nano-additives that …

Application Of Modified River Health Index For Sungai Penchala, Sathis Venkitasamy

Student Works (2020-2029)

The aim of this study is to have a tool of management of an urban river. A simple tool in terms of index aimed to be developed to manage urban river to meet its intended usage. River Health Index (RHI) developed by combining both physico-chemical parameters and biological measures through scores and weightages. Sungai Penchala is the small urban river chosen for this study. Water quality study, which include physico-chemical parameters, benthic macroinvertebrates and surrounding land use activities have been carried out since May 2016 to September 2016. Ten sampling points have been selected to represent the condition of the …

Isotherm And Kinetics Study For The Adsorption Of Nitrate From An Aqueous Solution Using A Modified Rice Straw, Dalia A. Ali Eng, Mohamed A. Sadek Prof., Nagwa Mahmoud Al-Mansi Prof, Ahmad Wafiq Aboelnasr Dr.

Chemical Engineering

In this research, modified rice straw (MRS) is proposed. The proposed production process of the modified rice straw (MRS) adsorbent is carried out by precipitation of iron nano particles on the surface of acid activated rice straw. The nitrate adsorption is carried out through batch experiments. The optimum nitrate removal 94.8 % was achieved at pH = 7, adsorbent dose 3 = g/L, 150 rpm, initial nitrate concentration = 23 mg/L and contact time 180 = min. The new adsorbent synthesis, kinetics and isotherm models were studied. The nitrate adsorption was well described by pseudo second order kinetic model (R2 …

Classifying Reflectance Targets Under Ambient Light Conditions Using Passive Spectral Measurements, Ali Hamidisepehr, Michael P. Sama, Joseph S. Dvorak, Ole O. Wendroth, Michael D. Montross

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Collecting remotely sensed spectral data under varying ambient light conditions is challenging. The objective of this study was to test the ability to classify grayscale targets observed by portable spectrometers under varying ambient light conditions. Two sets of spectrometers covering ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), and near−infrared (NIR) wavelengths were instrumented using an embedded computer. One set was uncalibrated and used to measure the raw intensity of light reflected from a target. The other set was calibrated and used to measure downwelling irradiance. Three ambient−light compensation methods that successively built upon each other were investigated. The default method used a variable …

100% Renewable Energy Grid For Rural Electrification Of Remote Areas: A Case Study In Jordan, Loiy Al-Ghussain, Mohammad Abujubbeh, Adnan Darwish Ahmad, Ahmad M. Abubaker, Onur Taylan, Murat Fahrioglu, Nelson K. Akafuah

Institute of Research for Technology Development Faculty Publications

Many developing countries suffer from high energy-import dependency and inadequate electrification of rural areas, which aggravates the poverty problem. In this work, Al-Tafilah in Jordan was considered as a case study, where the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of a decentralized hybrid renewable energy system that can match 100% of the city demand were investigated. A tri-hybrid system of wind, solar, and hydropower was integrated with an energy storage system and optimized to maximize the match between the energy demand and production profiles. The optimization aimed at maximizing the renewable energy system (RES) fraction while keeping the levelized cost of …

The Expansion From System Simulation To Domain Simulation, Xiaogang Qiu, Yazhou Chen, Zhang Peng

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: With the generalization of simulation application and complex system simulation becoming the focus, domain simulation is becoming more and more important. In 1995 United States Department of Defense (DoD) presented the master plan of modeling and simulation, which gives birth to the basic idea of domain simulation. The advances in information technology such as network technology and cloud computing help domain simulation to access to use. Taking the change of simulation research object as the basis, the development of simulation research from the aspects of model researches, simulation tools and simulation applications are summarized. The goal of domain simulation …

Review On Agv Scheduling Optimization, Jianlin Fu, Hengzhi Zhang, Zhang Jian, Liangkui Jiang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: AGV scheduling plays an important role in improving the efficiency and reducing manufacturing cost, but it is also a very complex combinatorial optimization procedure. AGV scheduling optimization is divided into three types, AGV static scheduling, AGV dynamic scheduling and AGV simultaneous scheduling with other resources scheduling. Various methods are summarized and listed, including traditional analysis method, modeling and simulation method, intelligent optimization algorithm and hybrid optimization method, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method are also analyzed. The deficiencies of AGV scheduling research are pointed out and the research directions for future are presented.

Research On Recursive Variable Sampling Period Scheduling Algorithm Based On Two-Parameter Priority, Weiguo Shi, Xu Chao, Wang Xun, Xiangtai Wang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A recursive variable sampling periodic dynamic scheduling algorithm based on two-parameter priority is proposed for the resource-constrained network control system. The network demand degree and network urgency double parameter of the control loop are calculated, and the two-parameter weight is established by the two-square root mapping function which is created by the absolute value of the control loop error to realize the scheduling of the sensor priority. The comprehensive analysis of the control loop performance recursively adjusts the sampling period of each control loop, and completes the scheduling adjustment under the premise of ensuring the stability of the …

Finite Element Method Evaluation On Chest Blunt Injury By Rubber Projectile, Wang Song, Renjun Zhan, Xiongyi Duan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In order to reveal the non-lethal injury mechanism of rubber projectile and improve its safety service level, the 18.4 mm rubber projectile finite element model and the improved chest blunt injury assessment model are constructed and verified. The virtual impact test experiments under different loads are carried out, and the stress-time response and deformation-time response data are obtained. The results show that the time to reach the peak stress (less than 0.2 ms) is much shorter than the time to reach the maximum deformation variable (4~5 ms), which means the damage is not caused by the impact itself …

Simulation Analysis On Penetration To Aircraft Carrier Of Image Homing Rocket, Shidong Fang, Chen Dong, Quanli Ning, Zhang Jie, Li Yong

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: The effect of image homing rocket projectile penetrating aircraft carrier is the important basis for its operation. According to the characteristics of projectile and aircraft carrier, the geometric equivalent model and simulation model are established, and the penetration process is simulated by LS-DYNA. Simulation results are verified by the failure form and penetration limit velocity, and show the correctness of the model. Using the established models, the penetration processes are simulated under the different conditions. The overall force on the projectile is analyzed according to the extreme acceleration value of projectile. Based on the analysis of some collected key …

Operation Loss Reduction Control For Large-Scale Wind Farm Based On Hybrid Modeling Simulation, Yunqi Xiao, Wang Yi

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Due to the large number of transformers and collection lines in large-scale wind farms, the losses of collecting system is serious in actual operation. A reactive power/voltage control strategy is proposed, which takes wind turbines as the distributed reactive power sources to optimize the power flow in wind farm and reduce the overall losses of collector system. To improve the efficiency of wind farm modeling and multi-scene loss reduction simulation, a hybrid modeling and simulation scheme based on combining object model configuration and control algorithm programming is proposed. The wind farm model consists of module configuration, and can be …

Delay Model Of Vehicles At Urban Road Drop-Off Area, Lifan Zhang, Pengpeng Jiao, Mingkai Si

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A model for calculating the delay of the drop-off vehicles at urban road drop-off area is proposed. The traffic organization modes of the independent drop-off area and the road drop-off area are analysed. The “queue up to drop off” mode process is divided into two stages, a delay model of drop-off vehicle based on queuing theory and gap theory is established, and an optimization algorithm is presented. Taking the entrance section of Anzhen Hospital in Beijing as the test object, the model is tested by VISSIM simulation software and real survey data. The influence of drop-off rate and drop-off …

Design Of Fragment Warhead Simulation System Based On Mvc Distributed Framework, He Miao, Wang Hao, Huang Yong, Xue Shao, Yinqing Shen

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Numerical computation and visualization simulation are carried out for the whole physical process from the explosion of warhead to the fragments impacting target. The whole system is designed and implemented by using MVC architecture, Framework component library and JSON data format computer software technology, which make the system scalable, cross-platform and easy to maintain. The distributed computing architecture is designed according to the high computation, large data volume and multi-user concurrency in user scenarios. The simulation experiment results show that the distributed simulation of the system can satisfy the concurrent needs of multi-users, and the visual simulation effect …

Combat Effectiveness Simulation Evaluation Framework Of Complex Weapon System, Yonglin Lei, Zhu Zhi, Bin Gan, Lei Sen, Chen Yong

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Combat effectiveness evaluation of complex weapon system is a scientific issue both military departments and defense industry concern. Current researches on simulation-based weapon system combat effectiveness evaluation lack the specificity to complex weapon system and a simulation-based formal combat effectiveness evaluation framework is especially desired. A framework is created and formalized on three measure layers of performance-outcome-effectiveness. Within the framework, simulation inputs are classified into different categories different outcome measure layers and different effectiveness measure layers are considered. An example of combat effectiveness evaluation framework for typical ballistic missiles is presented to demonstrate the proposed framework.

Research On Geographical Battlefield Environment Model Facing Autonomous Platform, You Xiong, Jiangpeng Tian

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Battlefield environment model is an abstraction and description of the complex battlefield environment for specific needs. It supports the research and application of the nature and evolution of the battlefield environment. However, the existing battlefield environment model is mainly oriented to human war activities to describe the battlefield environment,and lacks the design for unmanned autonomous platforms. A multi-level battlefield environment model structure which couples the advantages of humans and machines is proposed, which can give full play to the machine's rapid numerical calculation capabilities at the geometric and feature levels, as well as human cognitive experience at the element, …

A Continuous Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Prediction Method Based On Improved Svr Learning, Haixia Fan, Xiaohui Chen

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the accuracy of continuous non-invasmive monitoring of blood pressure by photoelectric method based on the photoplethysmography (PPG) signal and the electrocardiography (ECG) signal, is influenced by the differences of human characteristics, a blood pressure prediction method based on principal component analysis (PCA) and genetic algorithm (GA) to optimize machine learning model is proposed. The method processes the PPG signal, ECG signal and human body features to form a feature matrix, and uses an improved SVR learning model to perform regression training on the feature matrix and the real-time blood pressure value measured by the mercury sphygmomanometer. …

Evaluation On Geo-Registration Accuracy Of Outdoor Augmented Reality, Deng Chen, You Xiong, Meixia Zhi

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Geo-registration technology is a key technology for the combination of augmented reality and geographic information systems, and its registration accuracy has a significant impact on the availability of ARGIS. Aiming at this application, the basic concepts and principles of augmented reality geo-registration technology are analyzed, and the method for quantitative evaluation of geo-registration accuracy is proposed. Combined with the pre-acquired high-precision geographic information data, a variety of outdoor geo-registration experiments are carried out by using the different hardware devices, and the quantitative accuracy of different geo-registration methods is evaluated. The geo-registration errors and the problems existing in the practical …

Ship's Rudder/Fin Joint Anti-Rolling Mpc Control Based On Feedback Linearization, Li Hui, Yingnan Xie, Liqi Lan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the nonlinearity, strong coupling and multivariate characteristics of the ship motion system, and considering the influence of marine environment on ship motion, a four-degree-of-freedom (surging, swaying, rolling and yawing) motion nonlinear mathematical model is established to comprehensively represent the essential characteristics of ship motion. Since the model predictive control is an applied multivariable optimal control strategy, the ship rudder/fin joint anti-rolling Model Predictive Control (MPC) system based on feedback linearization is designed. The simulations of ship rolling and course-keeping joint control are carried out under different sea conditions, and the results show that the control method is …

Eeg Classification Based On Multi-Domain Features And Random Subspace Ensemble, Deng Xin, Can Long, Jianxun Mi, Boxian Zhang, Kaiwei Sun, Wang Jin

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Aiming at the preprocessing feature extraction and classification recognition in BCI system, a method for EEG classification of motion imagery based on random subspaces ensemble learning of multi-domain features is proposed. Based on the analysis on the ERD/ERS characteristics of motion imagery (MI) signals, the multi-domain features of best effective time and frequency bands are extracted as the feature vectors, and the scale of the random subspace ensemble with cross-validation is adaptively chosen, and the EEG classification is realized by using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifiers ensemble. The test results show that the accuracy of the multi-domain features and …

Simulation On Vehicles Mandatory Lane Changing And Merging Process In Case Of Road Bottleneck, Lü Wei, Feizhou Huo

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A microscopic dynamic traffic flow model based on vehicle's mandatory lane changing behavior is established. Under the condition of road bottleneck, three macroscopic traffic flow characteristics of traffic flow, lane speed distribution and space-time diagram, and two microscopic traffic flow characteristics of merging distance and vehicle's travel time are analyzed. The simulation results show that, the total flow of arbitrary cross section of the bottleneck road can represent the overall traffic capacity, and the road bottleneck can reduce the total traffic flow by 10% to 35%, and cause a delay of 17% to 42% to the vehicle travel time …