Computational Engineering Commons^™

An Agent-Based Combat Simulation Framework In Support Of Effect-Based And Net-Centric Evaluation, Robert Joseph Bowen

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The use of information technologies (IT) and information networks has proliferated in industry as a method to achieve competitive advantage. The U.S. Military and its allies, in recent years, have employed IT to improve the way they conduct operations, speed decision making, and increase the span of control of commanders. This has resulted in a fundamental shift in the way military commanders employ combat units today. These (Information Age) forces no longer have to be able to see each other or even communicate directly in order to synchronize maneuvers. Dispersion is now favored over mass, relying on the IT network …

A Markov Based Model For Maintenance And Repair Of Equipment, Deepa Jaishankar

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The failure repair process of a continuously operating device is studied in this research. Different cases that incorporate modeling of equipment deterioration, inspection, and maintenance for optimal maintenance policy are proposed. Markov processes are used to determine state probabilities, and the optimal value of the mean time to preventive maintenance is determined by maximizing the availability of the equipment with respect to the mean time preventive maintenance. The approach uses models that assume that equipment can fail due to both deterioration and random failures. Preventive maintenance can be performed from each working state to avoid deterioration failure. Economic effects are …

A Simplex Model For Layered Niche Networks, Philip Fraundorf

Physics Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Medical Image Modeling And Processing, Ramu Pedada

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

During the last few decades of the twentieth century, medical imaging has been playing a prominent role in many fields of biomedical research and clinical practice. Image modalities such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance images (MRI) have all been valuable additions to the radiologist's arsenal of imaging tools. Medical images assure quality diagnosis and patient safety by gathering valuable information without invading the human body. Apart from clinical diagnosis, medical images are used as tools for education where they are used for training individuals before operating on a patient. Many medical educators tum to simulation based training …

Immersive Active Learning For Virtual Laboratory Experiments, Swetha Punnandla

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A Laboratory Immersive Interactive Virtual Environment (LIIVE) for scientific experiments is developed using MAY A and Virtools. The LIIVE is used as a pre-lab practice module to familiarize the students with the equipment, procedure and parameters involved in a laboratory experiment. The system has been assessed for its effectiveness as a learning tool by administering a project and a quiz to each participant and conducting a structured observation during the actual laboratory experiment on the real equipment. The learning effect achieved by the LIIVE is compared to the learning effects obtained by the less immersive 2D virtual environment and the …

Experimental Analysis And Modeling Validation Of A Knee Brace In Shock Mitigation, Manish Prakash Dhekane

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An experimental setup simulating the dynamic environment in a high sea state is developed for the lower extremities to study the mitigation of shock impact. A single degree of freedom machine is equipped with six linear induction motors to produce impact acceleration ranging from 0.5G to 4G. The experiments are carried out along the dummy leg by using two configurations, one without a knee brace and one with a knee brace. Force and acceleration data is collected using a data acquisition system.

To develop the analytical model of the same experimental setup, the knee brace and dummy leg were scanned …

Applications Of Data Mining For Educational Decision Support, Mohamed Nabil Essam El-Din Ahmed El-Refai Khamis

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Two-Dimensional Computer-Generated Ornamentation Using A User-Driven Global Planning Strategy, Dustin Robert Anderson

Master's Theses

Hand drawn ornamentation, such as floral or geometric patterns, is a tedious and time consuming task that requires much skill and training in ornamental design principles and aesthetics. Ornamental drawings both historically and presently play critical roles in all things from art to architecture; however, little work has been done in exploring their algorithmic and interactive generation. The field of computer graphics offers many algorithmic possibilities for assisting an artist in creating two-dimensional ornamental art. When computers handle the repetition and overall structure of ornament, considerable savings in time and money can result. Today, the few existing computer algorithms used …

Investigation Of A Validation Technique For The Registration Of 3d Points Directly To Subjects With Pectus Excavatum, Taryn Tacosa Cuper

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Pectus excavatum (PE) is a congenital deformity that results in a "caved in" appearance of the chest wall. The cause of this condition is unknown, but research suggests that an in vivo investigation of the biomechanical properties of the costal cartilages of subjects with PE may offer insight. Force and deflection measurements are proposed as a way to obtain this data; however, accurate location of cartilage from the skin level would be required for such an effort. Given the multiple potential sources of error with this process, a validation procedure to ensure the appropriateness of the findings must be developed; …

Numerical Simulations Of A Nonlinear Transmission Line, Stuart Rogers

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This thesis investigates wave propagation along a nonlinear transmission line having a voltage-dependent capacitance. The telegrapher's equations that model wave propagation along such a transmission line are derived and shown to represent a nonlinear hyperbolic system of balance laws. The Lax-Friedrichs, Lax-Wendroff, and hybrid numerical schemes for obtaining approximate solutions to nonlinear hyperbolic systems of balance laws are presented, analyzed, and applied to the nonlinear telegrapher's equations. The Lax-Wendroff and hybrid schemes are invoked to numerically simulate wave propagation along a nonlinear transmission line. Simulations obtained via the hybrid scheme are used to briefly study the potential application of a …

A Weighted Modular Principal Component Analysis Approach For Face Authentication, Chandrika Tummala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A weighted modular approach for face authentication based on the priorities of different facial regions that change with varying poses, expressions and occlusions is presented in this thesis. This helps in verifying the identity of an individual who claims to be a subject in the database and is unaware of the presence of the face authentication system. A sequence of face images is selected from a video in a particular predefined interval and is used for verification. The face images are divided into different horizontal modules based on the regions representing facial features. A principal component analysis on these modules …

Stochastic Calculations For Computation Of Radiation Effects And Cell Survivability Under Voltage Pulsing, Madhuri Ganapathiraju

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Statistical computations are an important tool for the analysis of stochastic phenomena and processes that are characterized by variability. Biological systems (e.g., cells, tissues etc.) are perfect examples wherein response to a given external stimulus can be varied and needs to be adequately considered. The Monte Carlo method of analysis has now been recognized as the most effective way of treating stochastic variability.

This thesis uses Monte Carlo based simulations to probe two problems that require the quantification and modeling of effects caused by energy deposition onto biological matter from external sources. One problem involves the probabilistic study of the …

Evaluation Of The Applicability Of Jc3iedm Based Information Exchange Standardization Efforts To Link-16 Based Systems, Anthony Devivi

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Command and Control (C2) systems are critical components in decision-making systems in both the military and civilian domains. These systems act as the data evaluation and dissemination tools for larger Command, Control, Computer, Communication, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Recognizance (C4ISR) systems. Typical C2 systems accept a wide variety of inputs from many sources such as radars, weapons systems, simulators, operators, and other C2 systems. The C2 system processes the input data and presents to the user information with which decisions are made. The C2 system also determines what information should be translated and disseminated to other C2 platforms.

The basis for …

Classification Of Mouth Action Units Using Local Binary Patterns, Sarah Adel Bargal

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Patient-Centred Laboratory Validation Using Software Agents, John Mcgrory, Jane Grimson, Frank Clarke, Peter Gaffney

Conference Papers

Guidelines are self-contained documents which healthcare professionals reference to obtain knowledge about a specific condition or process. They interface with these documents and apply known facts about specific patients to gain useful supportive information to aid in developing a diagnosis or manage a condition. To automate this process a series of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and workflow processes are constructed using the contents of these documents in order to manage the validation flow of a patient sample. These processes decompose the guidelines into workflow plans, which are then called using condition triggers controlled by a centralised management engine. The software …

Referring Expression Generation Challenge 2008 Dit System Description, John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee

Conference papers

This section describes the two systems developed at DIT for the attribute selection track of the REG 2008 challenge. Both of theses systems use an incremental greedy search to generate descriptions, similar to the incremental algorithm described in (Dale and Reiter, 1995). The output of these incremental algorithms are, to a large extent, determined by the order in which the algorithm tests the target object’s attributes for inclusion in the description. Indeed, the major difference between the two systems described in this section is the mechanism used to order the attributes for inclusion.

Autopilot: Simulating Changing Concepts In Real Data, Patrick Lindstrom, Sarah Jane Delany, Brian Mac Namee

Conference papers

An increasingly important area in supervised incremental learning is learning in the presence of changing concepts. Research into concept drift is hampered by the lack of availability of controllable `real life' datasets. In this paper we propose an approach for generating real life data over which we have control of the concept and can generate data exhibiting different types of concept drift. The approach uses a 3-D driving game to produce a data stream of instances describing how to drive around a track. The classification problem is learning the driving technique of the driver, which can be affected by changes …

Physics-Based Table-Top Mixed Reality Games, Qingqing Dong, Zhongyi Sun, Brian Mac Namee

Conference papers

Mixed reality applications use techniques from computer vision, augmented reality and virtual reality to allow real and virtual objects interact physically together on a user’s computer screen. This paper will describe two mixed reality applications which allow the user to play games that appear to take place on top of their physical desk. The games described are a desktop racing game and a desktop based game of ten pin bowling. In the desktop racing game virtual cars, controlled by the user, interact with both virtual objects (such as trees, walls and lampposts) and real ones (such as ramps and blocks). …

A Computational Method For Flow Separation Detection And Control For Axial Compressor Airfoils, Chang Jun Meang

Master's Theses - Daytona Beach

Conducting full annulus experiments on multistage compressors is costly and time consuming due to the complexity of the experimental processes. To reduce complexity, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods are applied to turbomachinery and other applications in recent analysis of such cases. CFD methods are widely used within the aerospace industry and are increasingly demonstrating their reliability. For axial compressors, it is known that highly staggered compressor stators will increase the aerodynamic loading on the stator, which directly relates to the compressor stall and efficiency. In this work, compressor stators stagger angle is increased 4 ° to induce separation on the …

Simulation To Augment Standardized Patients In Obstetric Ultrasound Training, Scott Richard Guirlinger

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Standardized patients are actors used in medical training to teach and eval11atc clinical skills of students prior to their using these skills on an actual patient. Augmented Reality is a relatively new technology that can be used to augment standardized patients with abnonnalitie8 and pathologies that they cannot portray themselves as normal healthy human beings. In our project, we sought to augment standardized patients with a 12-week- old fetus in order to train and possibly evaluate medical students and professionals in performing obstetric ultrasound procedures and interpreting the corresponding ultrasound image results.

The software library ARToolkit provided the framework for …

Integrating Game Technology And Discrete Event Simulation To Analyze Mass Casualty Scenarios, Jason Loveland

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

In the last 10 years, video games have become complex simulation environments with high resolution 3D graphics enabled by powerhouse rendering engines, multi-player client server networks, user friendly displays and graphical user interface , while remaining relatively inexpensive. There is a critical need for systems engineering analysis and rapid trade studies due to changes in operations caused by current events such as terrorist attacks, asymmetric threats, natural disasters, etc. Modem games provide a unique way to visualize and interact with these complex environments, scenarios, missions, and operations. A discrete event simulator (DES) provides an environment to model system architecture behavior, …

Simulation, Visualization And Self-Assessment Tools For Enhanced Engineering Education The Stiffness Matrix Method Module For Structural Analysis, Ahmed Ali Mohammed

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Existing macromedia FLASH software which has extensive and exciting simulation and visualization capabilities is utilized to develop the "Stiffness Matrix Method" (SMM) module, which is one of the new topics ( offered for the first time in Spring 2007 semester) covered in a Structural Analysis I course, offered at the junior level at Old Dominion University. The developed software (under the FLASH environment), including tutorial lectures to explain all necessary theoretical backgrounds, formulas, step-by-step computerized procedures and numerical examples are presented in simple, user friendly, visualized, interactive fashion to enhance the student's learning capabilities. Through numerous graphical visualization and simulation …

Simulations Of Intracellular Calcium Release In Response To High-Intensity, Ultrashort Electric Pulse, Anh Nguyen

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Calcium modulation is an important signaling process and could even contribute to cell apoptosis through ionic-induced perturbations in trans-membrane potential at the mitochondria. In this research, the numerical study constitutes a first step in quantitatively probing the time- and spatially-dependent modulation of calcium dynamics through the application of external electrical fields. The research uses both widely accepted deterministic continuum and discrete stochastic intracellular calcium models coupling with external electric field, with a focus on high-intensity ultrashort pulse electrical field.

For deterministic continuum intracellular calcium models with electric field assisted, numerical simulations for electrically induced, intra-cellular calcium-release from the endoplasmic reticulum …

Dynamic Routing Structure For An Rti Taking An Evolutionary Approach Towards Optimization, Matthew Ryan Davis

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The Runtime Infrastructure (RTI) is the common communication framework that High Level Architecture (HLA) simulations incorporate to exchange data. By abstracting the network communication layer from simulation, a common protocol for information exchange is achieved, allowing any RTI- based simulation to exchange data with any other. Such commonality can bring a limitation upon the network infrastructure, enforcing all federates to agree on the same communication policy. While this static network structure is not always the case, an optimal choice would be to adhere to the dynamic properties of a network. Static network configurations deny federates the ability to dynamically avoid …

Swarm Multi-Path Congestion & Power Aware Routing Protocol For Manets, Ahmed Said Nagy

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

What Should Be In A Human Behavior Representation Federation Object Model For High Level Architecture, Gurkan Haznedaroglu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Modeling and Simulation (M&S) can assist in evaluating scenarios and enhancing the performance of operational systems. Fully integrated use of MBS can enable the evaluation of the effectiveness of proposed equipment or software in realistic simulated environments and can provide an assessment of the impacts of specific equipment or capabilities on battle outcomes. Every level, from strategic planners, technology experts, operations research analysts, weapons systems designers and users, testers, maintainers, and cost analysts, has to be interactively involved to maximize the benefits of this approach. Human behavior is a very important part of the M&S process. Especially in constructive simulations, …

Simulation And Modeling Of Nerve Impulse Propagation And Its Blockage By External Electrical Stimulation, Nidhi Nahar

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The electric nature of biological tissues permits the transmission of signals for information and for control and is, therefore, of vital importance for life. The latest scientific achievements and nanoscale probing techniques now allow scientists to research at the subcellular level by measuring the electric current flows through a single ion channel of the cell membrane with the patch-clamp method. With the latter approach, the effects of electrical stimulation can be quantified, understood, and applied to molecular biology and the development of medical diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

In this thesis, the Hodgkin-Huxley approach for unmyelinated fibers, coupled with a transmission …

Evaluation Of Minimum Number Of Points For Assessment Of Geometric Deviations, Ola Hamada Rashwan

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Using Neural Networks For The Diagnosis And Repair Of Corroded Steel In Reinforced Concrete Structures, Youssef Ibrahim Fayez

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Van Der Waals Forces On Increasing The Strength And Toughness In Dynamic Fracture Of Nanofibre Networks: A Peridynamic Approach, Florin Bobaru Ph.D.

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

The peridynamic method is used here to analyse the effect of van der Waals forces on the mechanical behaviour and strength and toughness properties of three-dimensional nanofibre networks under imposed stretch deformation. The peridynamic formulation allows for a natural inclusion of long-range forces (such as van der Waals forces) by considering all interactions as ‘long-range’. We use van der Waals interactions only between different fibres and do not need to model individual atoms. Fracture is introduced at the microstructural (peridynamic bond) level for the microelastic type bonds, while van der Waals bonds can reform at any time. We conduct statistical …