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2013

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Articles 121 - 150 of 187

Full-Text Articles in Engineering Science and Materials

High-Stress Shear-Induced Crystallization In Isotactic Polypropylene And Propylene/Ethylene Random Copolymers, Zhe Ma, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Dario Cavallo, Tim Gough, Gerrit W. M. Peters Mar 2013

High-Stress Shear-Induced Crystallization In Isotactic Polypropylene And Propylene/Ethylene Random Copolymers, Zhe Ma, Lucia Fernandez-Ballester, Dario Cavallo, Tim Gough, Gerrit W. M. Peters

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Crystallization of an isotactic polypropylene (iPP) homopolymer and two propylene/ethylene random copolymers (RACO), induced by high-stress shear, was studied using in situ synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) at 137 °C. The “depth sectioning” method (Fernandez-Ballester, Journal of Rheology 53:5 (2009), pp. 1229−1254) was applied in order to isolate the contributions of different layers in the stress gradient direction and to relate specific structural evolution to the corresponding local stress. This approach gives quantitative results in terms of the specific length of fibrillar nuclei as a function of the applied stress. As expected, crystallization becomes faster with increasing stress—from the inner …


Me-Em Enewsbrief, March 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University Mar 2013

Me-Em Enewsbrief, March 2013, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering eNewsBrief

No abstract provided.


High Performance Membrane Electrode Assembly With Low Platinum Loadings Prepared By Atomic Layer Deposition For Pemfc Application, Ting Shu, Shi-Jun Liao, Chien-Te Hsieh, Ay Su Feb 2013

High Performance Membrane Electrode Assembly With Low Platinum Loadings Prepared By Atomic Layer Deposition For Pemfc Application, Ting Shu, Shi-Jun Liao, Chien-Te Hsieh, Ay Su

Journal of Electrochemistry

A high performance membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with low platinum loadings was successfully prepared with atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. The anode of the MEA was prepared by depositing platinum on the carbon paper substrate, which was prepared by coating the slurry of carbon black (XC-72R) and Teflon, followed by drying and calcining at 350 °C. The MEAs consisted of the ALD anode or commercial catalyst anode, pretreated Nafion membrane (Nafion-117) and commercial cathode. Performances of MEAs were measured by single cell testing, and the anodes and MEAs were characterized by CV, SEM, TEM and XRD. The results revealed that …


Electrochemical Performance Of Fe3O4/C Composites As Negative Material For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Jun-Jie Cai, Shu Yao, Ze-Sheng Li, Hui Meng, Pei-Kang Shen Feb 2013

Electrochemical Performance Of Fe3O4/C Composites As Negative Material For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Jun-Jie Cai, Shu Yao, Ze-Sheng Li, Hui Meng, Pei-Kang Shen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Fe3O4/Carbon composites have been synthesized through coprecipitation pathway and by insitu aniline polymerization as a carbon source. Structural characterization and morphological study of the composites were investigated by using XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The results showed that the nanosized Fe3O4 particles (40 ~ 80 nm) were encapsulated in the amorphous carbon. During the electrochemical tests, the Fe3O4/C composites exhibited high capaticity and excellent cycle ability, the retention of capaticity was about 1000 mAh·g-1 after 30 cycles of charge/discharge tests at 50 mA·g-1.


A Comparative Study Of Charge-Discharge Behaviors Of α-Pbo2 And β-Pbo2 Cathodes, Cong-Ying Cui, Xue-Mei Ma, De-Long Kong, Hou-Yi Ma Feb 2013

A Comparative Study Of Charge-Discharge Behaviors Of α-Pbo2 And β-Pbo2 Cathodes, Cong-Ying Cui, Xue-Mei Ma, De-Long Kong, Hou-Yi Ma

Journal of Electrochemistry

The α-PbO2 and β-PbO2 powders were prepared using simple chemical synthetic methods, and their crystalline structures and surface morphologies were characterized with X-ray powder diffraction spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Using the as-synthesized α-PbO2 and β-PbO2 powders as positive active materials, the electrochemical performance of the two PbO2 materials was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The results indicate that the discharge capacity of α-PbO2 electrode is larger than that of β-PbO2; moreover, the composite electrodes made by α-PbO2 and β-PbO2 mixtures with …


An In Situ Ftir Spectroelectrochemical Study On Methanol Oxidation At Pt-Mo2C/Gc Catalyst, Hai-Ping Huang, Xi-Yu Yao, Pei-Kang Shen Feb 2013

An In Situ Ftir Spectroelectrochemical Study On Methanol Oxidation At Pt-Mo2C/Gc Catalyst, Hai-Ping Huang, Xi-Yu Yao, Pei-Kang Shen

Journal of Electrochemistry

A 40% Pt on Mo2C/GC catalyst has been prepared by ion exchange method. The mechanism of methanol electrooxidation on Pt-Mo2C/GC and commercial Pt/C catalysts in acidic media was studied by cyclic voltammetry, XRD measurements and in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroelectrochemistry. The results revealed that the Pt nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed on Mo2C/GC with an average particle size of 3 nm. The cyclic voltammetric and chronopotentiometric experiments indicated that Pt-Mo2C/GC catalyst exhibited a better performance for methanol oxidation than that of Pt/C in acid solution. A negative shift over 90 mV of the …


Applications Of Ellipsometry In The Investigations Of Electrode-Solution Interface, Jing-Lei Lei, Liang-Liu Wu, Ling-Jie Li, Sheng-Mao Wu, Sheng-Tao Zhang Feb 2013

Applications Of Ellipsometry In The Investigations Of Electrode-Solution Interface, Jing-Lei Lei, Liang-Liu Wu, Ling-Jie Li, Sheng-Mao Wu, Sheng-Tao Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Ellipsometry is an optical technique with high-sensitivity to quantitatively obtain surface/interface properties such as thickness andrefractive index by analyzing the changes in polarized light reflected from the surface/interface. Its noncontacting and nondestructivenature makes it possible to acquire thein situreal-time information of the change at the surface/interface. Therefore, ellipsometry has been used widely in the electrochemical investigations. In this paper, based on the brief introduction of the measurementprinciple of ellipsometry, the current progress and the future trends of ellipsometry in electrochemistry arediscussed. The applications of ellipsometry in the fields of conversion and storage of electrochemical energy, electrochemistry ofmaterials science,electroanalysisand bioelectrochemistry are …


Oxygen Reduction Reaction On Glycin Modified Pt(111) Electrode, Ming-Fang Li, Jing Kang, Ling-Wen Liao, Yan-Xia Chen, Shen Ye Feb 2013

Oxygen Reduction Reaction On Glycin Modified Pt(111) Electrode, Ming-Fang Li, Jing Kang, Ling-Wen Liao, Yan-Xia Chen, Shen Ye

Journal of Electrochemistry

O

xygen reduction reaction (ORR) on glycin (NH2CH2COOH) modified Pt(111) electrode has been investigated using hanging meniscus rotating disk electrode system (HMRD) in 0.05 mol•L-1 H2SO4 and 0.1 mol•L-1 HClO4 solutions, respectively. Cyclic voltammograms of the glycin modified Pt (111) electrode measured in 0.05 mol•L-1 H2SO4 solution similar to that of CN- modified Pt(111) electrodes, demonstrating that sulfate adsorption is strongly inhibited at the glycin modified Pt(111). From the polarization curve of ORR recorded in 0.05 mol•L-1 H2SO4 solution, it is …


Porous Electrodes With High Pt Utilization Obtained By Ion-Exchange/Electrodeposition, Si-Guo Chen, Wei Ding, Xue-Qiang Qi, Li Li, Zi-Hua Deng, Zi-Dong Wei Feb 2013

Porous Electrodes With High Pt Utilization Obtained By Ion-Exchange/Electrodeposition, Si-Guo Chen, Wei Ding, Xue-Qiang Qi, Li Li, Zi-Hua Deng, Zi-Dong Wei

Journal of Electrochemistry

We report a novel method based on ion-exchange/electrodeposition (IEE) for constructing high Pt utilization porous electrodes. The electrode prepared using IEE was assessed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and single cell test. The preliminary results show that the undesired ion-exchange between Pt anion and surface functional group in carbon black can be eliminated through the electrode preparation process, and every Pt particle prepared by IEE is expected to be deposited on the three-phase reaction zone and thus can be fully utilized in fuel cell reactions. The Pt particle size, shape and distribution …


Effect Of Ti/Pbo2 Electrodes Doped With Different Elements On Electrocatalytic Oxidation Characteristics Of Phenol, Xiao-Lei Liu, Yuan-Yuan Dan, Hai-Yan Lu, Hai-Bo Lin, Ming-Li Ouyang, Chuan-Jun Yun Feb 2013

Effect Of Ti/Pbo2 Electrodes Doped With Different Elements On Electrocatalytic Oxidation Characteristics Of Phenol, Xiao-Lei Liu, Yuan-Yuan Dan, Hai-Yan Lu, Hai-Bo Lin, Ming-Li Ouyang, Chuan-Jun Yun

Journal of Electrochemistry

Three types of electrodes, namely, Ti/PbO2, F-doped PbO2 (Ti/PbO2-F) and nano-Co3O4-doped PbO2 (Ti/PbO2+Nano-Co3O4) electrodes, were prepared by electro-deposition method on the Ti substrate with the interlayer of SnO2-Sb2O5. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to study the compositions, structures and film morphologies of the electrodes. Electrocatalytic oxidation characteristics to phenol on the prepared electrodes were investigated by electrochemical method. The experimental results showed that compared with the Ti/PbO2 electrode, the potentials of oxygen …


A Dft Calculation Screening Of Pt-Based Bimetallic Catalysts For Oxygen Reduction, Li-Hui Ou, Sheng-Li Chen Feb 2013

A Dft Calculation Screening Of Pt-Based Bimetallic Catalysts For Oxygen Reduction, Li-Hui Ou, Sheng-Li Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

Developing Pt-lean catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the key for large-scale application of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this paper, we have proposed a multiple-descriptor strategy for screening efficient and durable ORR alloy catalysts of low Pt content. We argue that an ideal Pt-based bimetallic alloy catalyst for ORR should possess simultaneously negative alloy formation energy, negative surface segregation energy of Pt and a lower oxygen binding ability than pure Pt. By performing detailed DFT calculations on the thermodynamics, surface chemistry and electronic properties of various Pt-M alloys (M refers to non-precious transition metals in the …


Sodium Carbonate Catalyzed Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Over Tio2 Nanotubes Photoanode, De-Sheng Kong, Jing Wang, Xue-Di Zhang, Xi Zhao, Chao Wang, Yuan-Yuan Feng, Wen-Juan Li Feb 2013

Sodium Carbonate Catalyzed Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Over Tio2 Nanotubes Photoanode, De-Sheng Kong, Jing Wang, Xue-Di Zhang, Xi Zhao, Chao Wang, Yuan-Yuan Feng, Wen-Juan Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Surface recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs at semiconductor/electrolyte interface is one of the most essential reasons responsible for lowering photoconversion efficiency (Φ) of light to chemical energy for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting reaction. In this paper, the catalytic effect of sodium carbonate on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) over TiO2 nanotubes photoanode during PEC water splitting was investigated by performing photocurrent and ac impedance measurements. It was demonstrated that the addiction of 1 mmol•L-1 Na2CO3 in 0.5 mol•L-1 NaClO4 electrolyte can effectively improve the charge transfer properties for the photogenerated holes across …


Room-Temperature Organic Ferromagnetism In The Crystalline Poly(3-Hexylthiophene): Phenyl-C61-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Blend Film, Bin Yang, Zhengguo Xiao, Yongbo Yuan, Tanjore V. Jayaraman, Jeffrey E. Shield, Ralph Skomski, Jinsong Huang Jan 2013

Room-Temperature Organic Ferromagnetism In The Crystalline Poly(3-Hexylthiophene): Phenyl-C61-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Blend Film, Bin Yang, Zhengguo Xiao, Yongbo Yuan, Tanjore V. Jayaraman, Jeffrey E. Shield, Ralph Skomski, Jinsong Huang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Pronounced ferromagnetism was observed in a crystalline blend film of conjugated polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) by using magnetic force microscopy measurements. A substantial room-temperature saturation magnetization of about 0.65 emu g−1 was measured by an alternating gradient field magnetometer. Multiple experimental evidences demonstrate the charge transfer from the P3HT to the PCBM and the formation of P3HT crystal domain are expected to be two critical factors for the originals of room-temperature organic ferromagnetism.


Me-Em 2012-13 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University Jan 2013

Me-Em 2012-13 Annual Report, Department Of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Annual Reports

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Analysis Of Laser Induced Spallation Of Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposited (Eb-Pvd) Thermal Barrier Coatings, David Allen Beeler Jan 2013

Analysis Of Laser Induced Spallation Of Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposited (Eb-Pvd) Thermal Barrier Coatings, David Allen Beeler

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The use of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) has been an important factor in the efficiency improvements of jet engines due to their ability to withstand the extreme environments within the engine. With this improved resistance, TBCs have also become more difficult to remove without damaging the substrate. Mound Laser & Photonics Center, Inc. (MLPC) has developed an innovative, laser based technique to spall this coating. The intention of this work was to investigate and better understand the removal mechanism. Through experimentation and analysis (such as high speed video, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, semi-logarithmic analysis, and a numerical …


Structure And Properties Of Cocoons And Silk Fibers Produced By Attacus Atlas, Narendra Reddy, Yi Zhao, Yiqi Yang Jan 2013

Structure And Properties Of Cocoons And Silk Fibers Produced By Attacus Atlas, Narendra Reddy, Yi Zhao, Yiqi Yang

Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design: Faculty Publications

Silk fibers in the three layers of Attacus atlas (A. atlas) cocoons have morphological structure and tensile properties similar to that of Bombyx mori silk. Attempts are being made to produce silk for commercial applications from cocoons of relatively unknown wild insects due to the unique properties of the fibers and as a source of income and employment. In this research, A. atlas cocoons were used to study the chemical composition, morphology, physical structure and tensile properties of the silk fibers in the cocoons and ability of the fibers to support the attachment and proliferation of mouse fibroblast cells. It …


A Mathematical Evaluation Of Hemodynamic Parameters After Carotid Eversion And Conventional Patch Angioplasty, Alexey Kamenskiy, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Yuris A. Dzenis, Prateek K. Gupta, Syed A. Jaffar Kazmi, Jason N. Mactaggart Jan 2013

A Mathematical Evaluation Of Hemodynamic Parameters After Carotid Eversion And Conventional Patch Angioplasty, Alexey Kamenskiy, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Yuris A. Dzenis, Prateek K. Gupta, Syed A. Jaffar Kazmi, Jason N. Mactaggart

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Carotid endarterectomy has a long history in stroke prevention, yet controversy remains concerning optimal techniques. Two methods frequently used are endarterectomy with patch angioplasty (CEAP) and eversion endarterectomy (CEE). The objective of this study was to compare hemodynamics-related stress and strain distributions between arteries repaired using CEAP and CEE. Mathematical models were based on in vivo three-dimensional arterial geometry, pulsatile velocity profiles, and intraluminal pressure inputs obtained from 16 patients with carotid artery disease. These data were combined with experimentally derived nonlinear, anisotropic carotid artery mechanical properties to create fluid-structure interaction models of CEAP and CEE. These models were then …


Effects Of Mode Coupling On The Admittance Of An At-Cut Quartz Thickness-Shear Resonator, Huijing He, Jiashi Yang, Wei-Ping Zhang, Ji Wang Jan 2013

Effects Of Mode Coupling On The Admittance Of An At-Cut Quartz Thickness-Shear Resonator, Huijing He, Jiashi Yang, Wei-Ping Zhang, Ji Wang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

We study the effects of couplings to flexure and face-shear modes on the admittance of an AT-cut quartz plate thickness-shear mode resonator. Mindlin’s two-dimensional equations for piezoelectric plates are employed. Electrically forced vibration solutions are obtained for three cases: pure thickness-shear mode alone; two coupled modes of thickness shear and flexure; and three coupled modes of thickness shear, flexure, and face shear. Admittance is calculated and its dependence on the driving frequency and the length/thickness ratio of the resonator is examined. Results show that near the thickness-shear resonance, admittance assumes maxima, and that for certain values of the length/thickness ratio, …


A Comparative Study Of The Dry And Wet Nano-Scale Electro-Machining, M. P. Jahan, K. R. Virwani, Kamlakar P. Rajurkar, A. P. Malshe Jan 2013

A Comparative Study Of The Dry And Wet Nano-Scale Electro-Machining, M. P. Jahan, K. R. Virwani, Kamlakar P. Rajurkar, A. P. Malshe

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In recent years, a nano-electromachining (nano-EM) process based on a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) platform has been demonstrated. Nano-EM is capable of machining nano-features, under both, liquid dielectric (wet nano-EM) and air dielectric (dry nano-EM) media. The objective of this paper is to present a comparative study between the wet and dry nano-EM processes based on process mechanism, machining performance, consistency and dimensional repeatability of these two processes. The comparison of the two processes has been conducted at near field nano-EM, where the gap between the tool electrode and workpiece is 2 nm and the machining is performed at room …


Inducing Neurite Outgrowth By Mechanical Cell Stretch, Suzanne Higgins, Jeong Soon Lee, Ligyeom Ha, Jung Yul Lim Jan 2013

Inducing Neurite Outgrowth By Mechanical Cell Stretch, Suzanne Higgins, Jeong Soon Lee, Ligyeom Ha, Jung Yul Lim

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Establishing extracellular milieus to stimulate neuronal regeneration is a critical need in neuronal tissue engineering. Many studies have used a soluble factor (such as nerve growth factor or retinoic acid [RA]), micropatterned substrate, and electrical stimulation to induce enhanced neurogenesis in neuronal precursor cells. However, little attention has been paid to mechanical stimulation because neuronal cells are not generally recognized as being mechanically functional, a characteristic of mechanoresponsive cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and muscle cells. In this study, we performed proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate the potential anabolic effects of mechanical stretch to enhance cellular neurogenesis. We cultured human neuroblastoma …


Systems Biology Of The Functional And Dysfunctional Endothelium, Jennifer Frueh, Nataly Maimari, Takayuki Homma, Sandra M. Bovens, Ryan M. Pedrigi, Leila Towhidi, Rob Krams Jan 2013

Systems Biology Of The Functional And Dysfunctional Endothelium, Jennifer Frueh, Nataly Maimari, Takayuki Homma, Sandra M. Bovens, Ryan M. Pedrigi, Leila Towhidi, Rob Krams

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

This review provides an overview of the effect of blood flow on endothelial cell (EC) signalling pathways, applying microarray technologies to cultured cells, and in vivo studies of normal and atherosclerotic animals. It is found that in cultured ECs, 5–10% of genes are up- or down-regulated in response to fluid flow, whereas only 3–6% of genes are regulated by varying levels of fluid flow. Of all genes, 90%are regulated by the steady part of fluid flow and 10% by pulsatile components. The associated gene profiles show high variability from experiment to experiment depending on experimental conditions, and importantly, the bioinformatical …


Structural, Optical And Electrical Properties Of Yttrium-Doped Hafnium Oxide Nanocrystalline Thin Films, Abhilash Kongu Jan 2013

Structural, Optical And Electrical Properties Of Yttrium-Doped Hafnium Oxide Nanocrystalline Thin Films, Abhilash Kongu

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hafnium oxide (HfO2) has emerged as the most promising high-k dielectric for Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) devices and has been highlighted as the most suitable dielectric materials to replace silicon oxide because of its comprehensive performance. In the present research, yttrium-doped HfO2 (YDH) thin films were fabricated using RF magnetron sputter deposition onto Si (100) and quartz with a variable thickness. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy coupled with Filmetrics revealed that film thickness values range from 700 A° to 7500 A°. Electrical properties such as AC Resistivity and current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of YDH films were studied. YDH films that were relatively thin (<1500 A°) crystallized in monoclinic phase while thicker films crystallized in cubic phase. The band gap (Eg) of the films was calculated from the optical measurements. The band gap was found to be ∼5.60 eV for monoclinic while it is ∼6.05 eV for cubic phase of YDH films. Frequency dependence of the electrical resistivity (ρac) and the total conductivity of the films were measured. Resistivity decreased (by three orders of magnitude) with increasing frequency from 100 Hz to 1 MHz, attributed due to the hopping mechanism in YDH films. Whereas, while ρac∼1Ω-m at low frequencies (100 Hz), it decreased to ∼ 104 Ω-cm at higher frequencies (1 MHz). Aluminum (Al) metal electrodes were deposited to fabricate a thin film capacitor with YDH layer as dielectric film thereby employing Al-YDH-Si capacitor structure. The results indicate that the capacitance of the films decrease with increasing film thickness. A detailed analysis of the electrical characteristics of YDH films is presented.


Experimental Comparison Study Of The Response Of Polycarbonate And Laminated Glass Blast Resistant Glazing Systems To Blast Loading, Joshua Calnan Jan 2013

Experimental Comparison Study Of The Response Of Polycarbonate And Laminated Glass Blast Resistant Glazing Systems To Blast Loading, Joshua Calnan

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

This thesis recounts the experimental study of the dynamic response of polycarbonate blast resistant glazing systems to explosive loading through the use of triaxial load cells, pressure sensors, and a laser displacement gauge. This instrumentation captured the response of the glazing systems to blast loading over three phases of testing. The first phase of testing characterizes the load distribution around the perimeter and the second phase examines the repeatability of the results. The final phase of testing pushes the samples to failure. The results are then compared to HazL, a commonly used blast resistant glazing system analysis software tool. The …


Analysis Of An Actuated Two Segment Leg Model Of Locomotion, Nikhil Vinayak Rao Jan 2013

Analysis Of An Actuated Two Segment Leg Model Of Locomotion, Nikhil Vinayak Rao

Open Access Theses

Research studies on dynamic models of legged locomotion have generally focused on telescoping-type leg models. Such telescoping spring loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) models have been able to accurately predict observed center of mass (CoM) trajectories. There have been comparatively fewer studies on dynamics of locomotion

with segmented legs. Some earlier studies on the dynamics due to leg segmentation appear straightforward. For example, a simple model with the only joint moment being due to a passive springy knee has been shown to behave similarly to a telescoping spring-mass model. However, in real-life animal locomotion, there are multiple joint-moments acting at the …


Orientation Controllable Epitaxial Vapor-Liquid-Solid Semiconductor Nanowire Synthesis On Silicon Substrate, Sung Hwan Chung Jan 2013

Orientation Controllable Epitaxial Vapor-Liquid-Solid Semiconductor Nanowire Synthesis On Silicon Substrate, Sung Hwan Chung

Open Access Dissertations

Semiconductor nanowires synthesized via the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism have attracted extensive research interest in recent years owing to their unique structure as a promising candidate for the future electronic devices. Germanium and silicon nanowires, in particular, are compatible with the current silicon-based technology via direct assembly. However, one of the main challenges for the successful nanowire application in large-scale is the lack of the method for obtaining nanowires in desired positions and directions. Therefore, the comprehensive, systematic understanding of epitaxial nanowire growth and the more suitable method to align nanowires on novel structure are required. In this work, the synthesis …


A Metaheuristic-Based Simulation Optimization Framework For Supply Chain Inventory Management Under Uncertainty, Qinglin Duan Jan 2013

A Metaheuristic-Based Simulation Optimization Framework For Supply Chain Inventory Management Under Uncertainty, Qinglin Duan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The need for inventory control models for practical real-world applications is growing with the global expansion of supply chains. The widely used traditional optimization procedures usually require an explicit mathematical model formulated based on some assumptions. The validity of such models and approaches for real world applications depend greatly upon whether the assumptions made match closely with the reality. The use of meta-heuristics, as opposed to a traditional method, does not require such assumptions and has allowed more realistic modeling of the inventory control system and its solution. In this dissertation, a metaheuristic-based simulation optimization framework is developed for supply …


Quantification Of The Environmental Impact Of Titanium Dioxide Photocatalytic Pavements For Air Pollution Remediation, Heather Lee Dylla Jan 2013

Quantification Of The Environmental Impact Of Titanium Dioxide Photocatalytic Pavements For Air Pollution Remediation, Heather Lee Dylla

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Photocatalytic concrete pavements are a promising technology for mobile source air pollution remediation, however before widespread application of this technology is realized many unanswered questions remain regarding its overall environmental impact. In response to these questions, the goal of this study was to increase the understanding of the environmental impact of photocatalytic concrete pavement highways. To achieve this goal, the objectives of this study were to (A) construct a model that evaluates the nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction from photocatalytic pavements, (B) quantify the nitrates released from the photocatalytic degradation of NOx, and (C) identify and characterize pathways for TiO2 nanoparticle …


Designing A Cost Effective Microalgae Harvesting Strategy For Biodiesel Production With Electrocoagulation And Dissolved Air Flotation, Adam James Dassey Jan 2013

Designing A Cost Effective Microalgae Harvesting Strategy For Biodiesel Production With Electrocoagulation And Dissolved Air Flotation, Adam James Dassey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Microalgal harvesting strategies for biodiesel production have been a major setback in the industry with high energy estimates of $3400/ton biomass by centrifugation. The present study utilized effective mass and energy balances to reduce these large operating costs. The energy for Stage 1 centrifugation was reduced by 82% when harvesting 28.5% of biomass at 18 L/min as opposed to 95% harvesting at 1 L/min. This strategy was further confirmed using electrocoagulation (EC) with Nannochloris and Dunaliella algae with perforated aluminum and iron electrodes at low (< 6 mg/L) metal ion concentrations. Despite 20% lower harvesting efficiencies, the iron electrodes were more energy and cost efficient with operating costs less than $0.03/L oil when flocculating and settling Nannochloris and Dunaliella cultures. Furthermore, a continuous multistage algae harvester using EC and dissolved air flotation (DAF) for Stage 1 harvesting and centrifugation for Stage 2 dewatering was designed. It was determined throughout the testing that greater EC costs for improved harvesting efficiencies were necessary to offset the large energy requirements of the DAF. The multistage system dewatered a low density (100 mg/L) Nannochloris to 20% solids for a final energy requirement of 1.536 kWh/kg algae ($138/ton). Using the data collected from this research and existing literature, a life cycle analysis was assembled to judge the sustainability of microalgal biofuels in Louisiana. High and low energy estimates for culturing (mixing, CO2, nutrients), harvesting, lipid extraction and energy conversion were compared with the current research. Scaling the EC/DAF system for a full size facility was expected to reduce the harvesting costs to 1.133 kWh/kg algae, resulting as $0.44/L oil for a culture with 20% lipids. Despite this improvement in harvesting costs, the production of algal for the sole purpose of biodiesel was not economically viable. Considering a system with a growth rate of 15 g/m2/day and lipid content of 20%, the energy inputs exceeded the outputs from biodiesel production by 36% under the most ideal conditions. However, incorporating additional revenue through wastewater treatment and biogas production from residual biomass could improve sustainability and profitability of algal biodiesel to an 18.5% energy surplus at its current state.


Non-Equilibrium Pressure Control Of The Height Of A Large-Scale, Ground-Coupled, Rotating Fluid Column, R. L. Ash, I. R. Zardadhkan Jan 2013

Non-Equilibrium Pressure Control Of The Height Of A Large-Scale, Ground-Coupled, Rotating Fluid Column, R. L. Ash, I. R. Zardadhkan

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

When a ground-coupled, rotating fluid column is modeled incorporating non-equilibrium pressure forces in the Navier-Stokes equations, a new exact solution results. The solution has been obtained in a similar manner to the classical equilibrium solution. Unlike the infinite-height, classical solution, the non-equilibrium pressure solution yields a ground-coupled rotating fluid column of finite height. A viscous, non-equilibrium Rankine vortex velocity distribution, developed previously, was used to demonstrate how the viscous and non-equilibrium pressure gradient forces, arising in the vicinity of the velocity gradient discontinuity that is present in the classical Rankine vortex model, effectively isolate the rotating central fluid column from …


Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Titanium Nitride Optical Coatings Made By Dc Magnetron Sputtering, Gustavo Martinez Jan 2013

Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Titanium Nitride Optical Coatings Made By Dc Magnetron Sputtering, Gustavo Martinez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Titanium nitride (TiNx) thin films were grown by DC (Direct Current) magnetron sputtering method onto Si(100) substrates by varying time of deposition to produce films with variable thickness (dTiN) in the range of 20-120 nm. The grown TiNx films were characterized by studying their structure, composition, and mechanical properties. Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) combined with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) analyses indicate that the grown films were stoichiometric TiN. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) measurements indicate that the texturing of the TiN films changes as a function of dTiN. The (111) and (002) peaks appear initially; with increasing dTiN, (111) becomes …