Engineering Commons^™

A Pore Water Pressure Diffusion Model To Predict Formwork Pressure Exerted By Freshly Mixed Concrete, Chan Kyu Park, Jae Hong Kim, Seong Ho Han

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The formwork pressure exerted by freshly mixed concrete is one of the most important considerations in ensuring the safety of construction in the field. The formwork pressure also affects the quality of concrete structures, determining the final shape of concrete members. Previous studies on the form pressure mostly investigated the intrinsic material effect. For example, the use of self-consolidating concrete increases the maximum pressure on the formwork. The extrinsic factor of a formwork system itself has rarely been considered. In the mockup tests and theoretical evaluations, it is identified that the bleed water-out controlled by the formwork tightness is critical. …

Linking A Dermal Permeation And An Inhalation Model To A Simple Pharmacokinetic Model To Study Airborne Exposure To Di(N-Butyl) Phthalate, Matthew Lorber, Charles J. Weschler, Glenn Morrison, Gabriel Bekö, Mengyan Gong, Holger M. Koch, Tunga Salthammer, Tobias Schripp, Jørn Toftum, Geo Clausen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Six males clad only in shorts were exposed to high levels of airborne di(n-butyl) phthalate (DnBP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) in chamber experiments conducted in 2014. In two 6 h sessions, the subjects were exposed only dermally while breathing clean air from a hood, and both dermally and via inhalation when exposed without a hood. Full urine samples were taken before, during, and for 48 h after leaving the chamber and measured for key DnBP and DEP metabolites. The data clearly demonstrated high levels of DnBP and DEP metabolite excretions while in the chamber and during the first 24 h …

Development Of Vegetation-Pervious Concrete In Grid Beam System For Soil Slope Protection, Xiaohua Bao, Wenyu Liao, Zhijun Dong, Shanyong Wang, Waiching Tang

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

One of the most efficient and environmentally friendly methods for preventing a landslide on a slope is to vegetate it. Vegetation-pervious concretes have a promising potential for soil protection. In this study, the vegetation-pervious concrete with low alkalinity was developed and studied. Combined with a grid beam structure system, the stability and strength between the vegetation-pervious concrete and base soil are believed to be enhanced effectively. For improving plant adaptability, the alkalinity of concrete can be decreased innovatively by adding a self-designed admixture into the cement paste. The effects of the admixture content on alkalinity and compressive strength of the …

The Effect Of Organization Centralization, Organization Climate, Knowledge Management And Supply Chain Integration Perception On The Success Of Product Launch In The U.S. Automotive Industry, Raed Jalal Anabtawi

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study examines variables that may affect new product launches in the automotive industry. The automakers need to have capabilities to address product launch issues when converting their efforts into automotive products that meet consumer requirements. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of organization centralization, organizational climate, knowledge management, and supply chain integration perception on the success and effectiveness of a product launch. The survey samples consisted of 101 respondents from automotive companies. Organization centralization perception, where decisions are made solely by upper management, had no significant correlation to the success of product launch. Analysis of …

A Study Of Scattering From Snow Embedded With Non-Spherical Shapes Of Scatterers With Relaxed Hierarchical Equivalent Source Algorithm (Rhesa), Chan Fai Lum, Fu Xin, Hong Tat Ewe, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Remote sensing has been used widely in studying the earth terrain such as snow or sea ice due to its fast, convenient and long-term monitoring capabilities. SAR images acquired could be used to analyze the condition of snow, snow water equivalent (SWE), surface roughness and others. Theoretical models have also been developed to understand how microwave interacts with the snow medium and the scatterers embedded inside the medium. Conventionally, spherical shape of scatterers is commonly used to represent the ice particles embedded inside snow where the actual shape of scatterers can vary. This paper is to present a theoretical model …

The Error Control Of Mixed-Form Fast Multipole Algorithm Based On The High-Order Multipole Rotation, Ling Ling Meng, Xiaoyan Y.Z. Xiong, Tian Xia, Li (Lijun) Jun Jiang

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this letter, the mixed-form fast multipole algorithm (MF-FMA) with feasible error controllability is implemented through high-order multipole rotation that can make the translation matrices very sparse. The saving of both storage and CPU time makes it attainable to increase the number of harmonics in the middle frequency regime, thus shifting up the transition region of MF-FMA. Consequently, the broadband accuracy of the MF-FMA can be improved significantly.

Robust Airfoil Design Optimization Using Stochastic Expansions And Utility Theory, Xiaosong Du, Leifur Leifsson, Slawomir Koziel

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Efficient and effective robust airfoil design optimization is proposed by integrating stochastic expansions and utility theory. In this work, the stochastic expansions are generated efficiently using non-intrusive polynomial chaos (NIPC) expansions. The robust design problem is formulated using utility functions which transfer a targeted response using a prescribed mathematical function to represent the designers' risk preferences. The proposed approach is demonstrated using examples of lift-constrained airfoil drag minimization in transonic viscous flow using the Mach number as an uncertain variable in the range of 0.70 to 0.75. The results are compared with the common problem formulation for robust design of …

Pareto Ranking Bisection Algorithm For Em-Driven Multi-Objective Design Of Antennas In Highly-Dimensional Parameter Spaces, Adrian Bekasiewicz, Slawomir Koziel, Leifur Leifsson, Xiaosong Du

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A deterministic technique for fast surrogate-assisted multi-objective design optimization of antennas in highly-dimensional parameters spaces has been discussed. In this two-stage approach, the initial approximation of the Pareto set representing the best compromise between conflicting objectives is obtained using a bisection algorithm which finds new Pareto-optimal designs by dividing the line segments interconnecting previously found optimal points, and executing poll-type search that involves Pareto ranking. The initial Pareto front is generated at the level of the coarsely-discretized EM model of the antenna. In the second stage of the algorithm, the high-fidelity Pareto designs are obtained through optimization of corrected local-approximation …

The Ill-Nitrides As A Universal Compound Semiconductor Material: A Review, Chuanle Zhou, Amirhossein Ghods, Vishal G. Saravade, Paresh V. Patel, Kelcy L. Yunghans, Cameron Ferguson, Yining Feng, Xiaodong Jiang, Bahadir Kucukgok, Na Lu, Ian T. Ferguson

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

III-nitrides are attracting considerable attention as promising materials for a wide variety of applications due to their wide coverage of direct bandgap range, high electron mobility, high thermal stability and many other exceptional properties. The light-emitting diodes based on Ill-nitrides revolutionize the solid-state lighting industry. Ill-nitrides based solar cells, and thermoelectric generators support the sustainable energy progress, and the III-nitrides are better alternatives for power and radio frequency (RF) electronics compared with silicon. The doped Ill-nitrides' magnetic properties and sensitivity to radiation can contribute to novel spintronic and nuclear detection devices. This paper will review Ill-nitride material properties and their …

Silicon Carbide Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Waveguide Sensor With A Bimetallic Layer For Improved Sensitivity, Wei Du, Feng Zhao

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this letter, silicon carbide (SiC) waveguide-based surface plasmon resonance optical sensor with an Ag-Au bilayer metal configuration was studied. The wide bandgap energy of SiC allows the sensor to operate in visible and near-infrared range. The spectrum of resonant wavelength with refractive index shows improved sensitivity and sensing resolution in the Au-Ag bilayer configuration than in the single Au layer configuration. A sensitivity of 2581 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) indicated by the shift of resonant wavelength with refractive index was observed from a refractive index range of n=1.34–1.36, showing that the sensor is desirable for sensing in a series …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2016, Eric R. Green, Paul A. Ross, Christopher L. Blackden, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.635, “every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth. Data contained in this report are based solely on the observations and judgements …

Variable Structure Feedback Control With Application To Spacecraft With Small Thrust Propulsion Systems, Samuel J. Kitchen-Mckinley

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Small spacecrafts requiring small propulsion systems are becoming more popular for low Earth orbit. It is important for these research satellites to have accurate guidance and control systems. Small propulsion systems will also be beneficial for multiple small spacecrafts used future exploration expeditions beyond low Earth orbit. These small spacecrafts benefit from the simplicity of low thrust cold gas propulsion systems. Additionally, large spacecrafts using low thrust, high specific impulse propellants for main propulsion systems, such as ion engines, allow longer and more flexible missions, including Earth orbiting spacecraft and interplanetary spacecraft.

In order to extend the life of future …

Decision Process In Mcdm With Large Number Of Criteria And Heterogeneous Risk Preferences, Jian Liu, Hong Kuan Zhao, Zhao Bin Li, Si Feng Liu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A new decision process is proposed to address the challenge that a large number of criteria in the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) problem and the decision makers with heterogeneous risk preferences. First, from the perspective of objective data, the effective criteria are extracted based on the similarity relations between criterion values and the criteria are weighted, respectively. Second, the corresponding types of theoretic model of risk preferences expectations will be built, based on the possibility and similarity between criterion values to solve the problem for different interval numbers with the same expectation. Then, the risk preferences (Risk-seeking, risk-neutral and risk-aversion) …

A Method For Key Performance Indicator Assessment In Manufacturing Organizations, Patrick Hester, Barry Ezell, Andrew Collins, John Horst, Kaleen Lawsure

VMASC Publications

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are an essential element of an organization’s ability to monitor its strategic health, helping to ensure the strategic goals of the organization are achieved. However, KPI assessment and improvement is often an ad hoc and consultant-driven process rather than one undertaken using scientific principles. This paper outlines the development and subsequent deployment of a method for KPI assessment founded in scholarly literature and balancing practitioner concerns for ease of use. The proposed method draws heavily on organizational stakeholder involvement at varying levels throughout the KPI assessment process, improving current methods by introducing a mathematical foundation based …

Assessment Of Multimode Spacecraft Micropropulsion Systems, Steven P. Berg, Joshua L. Rovey

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Multimode spacecraft micro propulsion systems that include a high-Thrust chemical mode and high-specific impulse electric mode are assessed with specific reference to CubeSat-sized satellite applications. Both cold-gas butane propellant and ionic liquid chemical monopropellant modes are investigated alongside pulsed plasma, electrospray, and ion electric thruster modes. These systems are studied by varying electric propulsion usage percent and calculating the payload mass fraction and thruster burn time for missions requiring 250, 500, and 1000 m/s delta-V. Systems involving chemical monopropellants have the highest payload mass fractions for a reference mission of 500 m/s delta-V and 6U-sized CubeSat, where 1U is a …

Resilient Control Of Active-Passive Networked Multiagent Systems In The Presence Of Persistent Disturbances, Dzung Tran, Tansel Yucelen, John Daniel Peterson

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

An active-passive networked multiagent system consists of agents subject to inputs (active agents) and agents without any inputs (passive agents). Specifically, this class of networked multiagent systems utilizes a novel form of dynamic consensus filters, where the states of all agents converge to the average of the exogenous inputs applied only to the active agents, and it has broad practical applications including, for example, real-time situational awareness and data gathering using sensor networks and distributed control of multirobot systems. In this paper, we focus on active-passive networked multiagent systems that are subject to constant and/or harmonic exogenous disturbances. In particular, …

Nanoparticle-Induced Unusual Melting And Solidification Behaviours Of Metals, C. Ma, Lianyi Chen, C. Cao, X.C. Li

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Retarding Field Energy Analyzer For High Energy Pulsed Electron Beam Measurements, J. Hu, Joshua L. Rovey, W. Zhao

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Relationships Between Access To Mobile Devices, Student Self-Directed Learning, And Achievement, Scott R. Bartholomew, Edward M. Reeve, Raymond Veon, Wade Goodridge, Victor R. Lee, Louis Nadelson

Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Faculty Publications

Today’s students are growing up in a world of constant connectivity, instant information, and ever-changing technological advancements. The increasingly ubiquitous nature of mobile devices among K–12 students has led many to argue for and against the inclusion of these devices in K–12 classrooms. Arguments in favor cite instant access to information and collaboration with others as positive affordances that enable student self-directed learning.

In this study, 706 middle school students from 18 technology and engineering education classes worked in groups of 2–3 to complete an open-ended engineering design challenge. Students completed design portfolios and constructed prototypes in response to the …

Green Synthesis Of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles In Aqueous Medium As A Potential Efficient Catalyst For Catalysis Applications, Waad Mohsen, M. A. Sadek, Hany A. Elazab

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In this research, we have developed a reliable green method for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles as a potential efficient catalyst for several catalysis applications. In our experimental approach, microwave-assisted synthesis technique was used in order to perform chemical reduction of copper salt using hydrazine hydrate as a strong reducing agent. The prepared catalyst was characterized using various techniques showing the formation of well dispersed copper oxide nanoparticles. The synthesized Copper oxide catalyst shows many advantages including the use of environmentally benign solvent systems, green synthetic approach, and mild reaction conditions.

Real-Time Diesel Particulate Matter Monitoring In Underground Mine Atmospheres, Association With The Standard Method And Related Challenges, Muhammad Usman Khan

Doctoral Dissertations

"Diesel-powered equipment is a significant component of underground mining operations. Miners' exposure to diesel exhaust is harmful. The standard Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) monitoring method (NIOSH 5040 method) has limitations that preclude rapid DPM estimation and detailed understanding of DPM variations over time. However, real-time DPM monitors do not inherit these limitations. Biodiesel is often used as a substitute for regular petroleum-diesel because of its ability to emit less DPM. However, accuracy of available real-time DPM monitors has not been determined in mines using 70% to 99% (high-percent) biodiesel. The present research addresses this need by rigorous testing of a …

Design And Performance Of Cost-Effective Ultra High Performance Concrete For Bridge Deck Overlays, Mahdi Valipour

Doctoral Dissertations

"The main objective of this research is to develop a cost-effective ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for bonded bridge deck overlays. The high durability and mechanical properties of such repair material can offer shorter traffic closures and prolong the service life of the pavement. The UHPC was optimized using supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), proper combinations of sands, and adequate selection of fiber types and contents. Packing density studies included paste, sand, and fiber combinations. The robustness of optimized UHPC mixtures to variations of mixing and curing temperatures was examined. The efficiency of various shrinkage mitigation approaches in reducing autogenous and drying …

Impact Of Vertical Internals On The Hydrodynamics And Heat Transfer Coefficient In A Gas-Solid Fluidized Bed, Haidar Moafaq Taofeeq

Doctoral Dissertations

"This research studied the impact of the dense vertical immersed heat exchanging tubes on the gas and solids hydrodynamic characteristics, flow regime, pressure drop, and heat transfer in a 0.14 m inside diameter gas-solid fluidized bed column of. Two sizes of vertical internal tube bundles (0.0127 and 0.0254 m) of circular arrangement have been implemented to represent the heat exchange tubes covering 25% of the column cross-sectional area. The experimental work was achieved at different operating conditions and various solids particle types that differ in average particle size, solids density, particles shape, and particles sphericity. The experimental measurements were performed …

Manufacturing Of Advanced Continuous Fiber Reinforced Composites For High Temperature Applications, James Robert Nicholas

Doctoral Dissertations

"New resin systems have enabled composites to be considered as attractive alternatives in structural applications that require material to be stronger, lighter and/or more resilient to environmental effects. The current work is on the development of processes to produce continuous fiber reinforced materials from two state of the art resin systems. Two processes were developed to produce continuous fiber reinforced ceramic materials from a preceramic polymer. The first was a vacuum forming process developed using the out-of-autoclave polymer composite manufacturing technique in conjunction with the polymer infiltration and pyrolysis process to produce ceramic composite material of zirconium diboride-silicon carbide reinforced …

Development Of Structural-Functional Integrated Energy Storage Concrete With Innovative Macro-Encapsulated Pcm By Hollow Steel Ball, Hongzhi Cui, Waiching Tang, Qinghua Qin, Feng Xing, Wenyu Liao, Haibo Wen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Phase change materials (PCMs) have great potential for applications in energy efficient buildings. In this study, an innovative method of macro-encapsulation of PCM using hollow steel balls (HSB) was developed and the thermal and mechanical performance of PCM-HSB concrete was examined. The macro-encapsulation system (PCM-HSB) was attached with a metal clamp (c) for better mechanical interlocking with the mortar matrix. The latent heat of PCM-HSB-c that can be acquired is approximately 153.1 J/g, which can be considered to rank highly among PCM composites. According to the self-designed thermal performance evaluation, the PCM–HSB-c concrete panel is capable of reducing and deferring …

Programming Problems On Time Scales: Theory And Computation, Rasheed Basheer Al-Salih

Doctoral Dissertations

"In this dissertation, novel formulations for several classes of programming problems are derived and proved using the time scales technique. The new formulations unify the discrete and continuous programming models and extend them to other cases "in between." Moreover, the new formulations yield the exact optimal solution for the programming problems on arbitrary isolated time scales, which solve an important open problem. Throughout this dissertation, six distinct classes of programming problems are presented as follows. First, the primal as well as the dual time scales linear programming models on arbitrary time scales are formulated. Second, separated linear programming primal and …

Gamma Spectroscopy By Artificial Neural Network Coupled With Mcnp, Huseyin Sahiner

Doctoral Dissertations

"While neutron activation analysis is widely used in many areas, sensitivity of the analysis depends on how the analysis is conducted. Even though the sensitivity of the techniques carries error, compared to chemical analysis, its range is in parts per million or sometimes billion. Due to this sensitivity, the use of neutron activation analysis becomes important when analyzing bio-samples. Artificial neural network is an attractive technique for complex systems. Although there are neural network applications on spectral analysis, training by simulated data to analyze experimental data has not been made. This study offers an improvement on spectral analysis and optimization …

2017 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

Environmental Hazard Identification, Assessment And Control For A Sustainable Maritime Transportation System, Lizzette Marie Pérez Lespier

Doctoral Dissertations

"A demand exists to contribute towards the widening awareness of the need for sustainable maritime development and for coordinated maritime policies worldwide. Maritime shipping is considered the most eco-efficient mean of transportation and yet, is responsible for negative environmental impacts.

This dissertation focuses on developing data-driven decision support tools to evaluate the sustainable performance of MTS by focusing on the elements of the MTS that place stress on the environment. The first research contribution is a System Dynamics simulation model that examines the MTS resiliency after an extreme event and determines the sequence needed to restore the ocean-going port to …

Design And Theoretical Analysis Of Advanced Power Based Positioning In Rf System, Lei Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

"Accurate locating and tracking of people and resources has become a fundamental requirement for many applications. The global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) is widely used. But its accuracy suffers from signal obstruction by buildings, multipath fading, and disruption due to jamming and spoof. Hence, it is required to supplement GPS with inertial sensors and indoor localization schemes that make use of WiFi APs or beacon nodes. In the GPS-challenging or fault scenario, radio-frequency (RF) infrastructure based localization schemes can be a fallback solution for robust navigation. For the indoor/outdoor transition scenario, we propose hypothesis test based fusion method to integrate …