Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Insulator Charging In Rf Mems Capacitive Switches, Jay F. Kucko

Theses and Dissertations

While capacitive radio frequency microelectromechanical (RF MEM) switches are poised to provide a low cost, high isolation, low power alternative to current RF switch technologies, there are still reliability issues limiting switch lifetime. Previous research identified insulator charging as a primary cause of switch failure. Changes in switch pull-in and release voltages were measured to provide insight into the mechanisms responsible for charging and switch failure. A spatial and temporal dependent model was developed to describe silicon nitride's time-dependent charging as a function of applied bias. This model was verified by applying constant biases to metal-silicon nitride-silicon capacitors and tracking …

Forest Fire Monitoring With Multiple Small Uavs, David W. Casbeer, Randal W. Beard, Timothy W. Mclain, Sai-Ming Li, Raman K. Mehra

Faculty Publications

Frequent and detailed updates of the development of a forest fire are essential for effective and safe fire fighting. Since a forest fire is typically inaccessible by ground vehicles due to mountainous terrain, small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) are emerging as a promising solution to the problem of monitoring large forest fires. In this paper we present an effective path planning algorithm for a UAV utilizing infrared images that are collected on-board in realtime. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our path planning algorithm in realistic scenarios, we implemented the forest fire propagation model EMBYR to simulate the time …

Load Interaction Effects On Fatigue Crack Growth, Stoyan Ivanov Stoychev

Dissertations

Load excursions, in the form of tensile and compressive overloads are known to produce interaction effects during subsequent constant amplitude loading. In this work, the fatigue crack growth and crack closure levels, under both constant amplitude and variable amplitude loading, are investigated in the aluminium-lithium alloy 2090-T84, and the aluminium alloys 2024-T351 and 7150-T651. The crack closure measurements were obtained using both a crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) gauge and a crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) gauge.

Fatigue crack growth tests were performed on specimens of thickness 1.6mm, 3mm, 6mm and 14mm. Tests were performed at load ratios of 0.1 …

Hierarchical Optimal Force-Position-Contour Control Of Machining Processes. Part Ii. Illustrative Example, Yan Tang, Robert G. Landers, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

There has been a tremendous amount of research in machine tool servomechanism control, contour control, and machining force control; however, to date these technologies have not been tightly integrated. This paper develops a hierarchical optimal control methodology for the simultaneous regulation of servomechanism positions, contour error, and machining forces. The contour error and machining force process reside in the top level of the hierarchy where the goals are to 1) drive the contour error to zero to maximize quality and 2) maintain a constant cutting force to maximize productivity. These goals are systematically propagated to the bottom level, via aggregation …

Hierarchical Optimal Force-Position-Contour Control Of Machining Processes. Part I. Controller Methodology, Yan Tang, Robert G. Landers, S. N. Balakrishnan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

There has been a tremendous amount of research in machine tool servomechanism control, contour control, and machining force control; however, to date these technologies have not been tightly integrated. This paper develops a hierarchical optimal control methodology for the simultaneous regulation of servomechanism positions, contour error, and machining forces. The contour error and machining force process reside in the top level of the hierarchy where the goals are to 1) drive the contour error to zero to maximize quality and 2) maintain a constant cutting force to maximize productivity. These goals are systematically propagated to the bottom level, via aggregation …

Prediction Of Shaft Vibration Modes In A Geared Transmission System, Kevin W. Marsh

Masters Theses

During the development process of heavy-duty truck transmissions, specific gear designs (geometries) are created to meet load requirements and ratio coverage. Few tools are available to investigate the noise generating potential of these transmissions early in the design stages. This research describes the development and application of a software program that predicts transmission countershaft vibration modes. From simple gear and shaft geometries, the program calculates gear mesh forces and bearing forces then construct the system of equations to compute the shaft vibration modes. Because of the way the input data was structured, this software tool can also be used to …

A Novel Hybrid Heat Sink Using Phase Change Materials For Transient Thermal Management Of Electronics, Shankar Krishnan, S V. Garimella, S. S. Kang

CTRC Research Publications

A hybrid heat sink concept which combines passive and active cooling approaches is proposed. The hybrid heat sink is essentially a plate fin heat sink with the tip immersed in a phase change material (PCM). The exposed area of the fins dissipates heat during periods when high convective cooling is available. When the air cooling is reduced, the heat is absorbed by the PCM. The governing conservation equations are solved using a finite-volume method on orthogonal, rectangular grids. An enthalpy method is used for modeling the melting/re-solidification phenomena. Results from the analysis elucidate the thermal performance of these hybrid heat …

Finite Element Analysis Of Covered Microstents, Linxia Gu, Swadeshmukul Santra, Robert A. Mericle, Ashok V. Kumar

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Currently available neuroendovascular devices are inadequate for effective treatment of many wide-necked or fusiform intracranial aneurysms and intracranial carotid-cavernous fistulae (CCF). Placing a covered microstent across the intracranial aneurysm neck and CCF rent could restore normal vessel morphology by preventing blood flow into the aneurysm lumen or CCF rent. To fabricate covered microstents, our research group has developed highly flexible ultra thin (~150 μm) silicone coverings and elastomerically captured them onto commercially available metal stents without stitching. Preliminary in vivo studies were conducted by placing these covered microstents in the common carotid artery of rabbits. The feasibility of using covered …

A Cartilage Growth Mixture Model For Infinitesimal Strains: Solutions Of Boundary-Value Problems Related To In Vitro Growth Experiments, Stephen M. Klisch, Robert L. Sah, Anne Hoger

Mechanical Engineering

A cartilage growth mixture (CGM) model is linearized for infinitesimal elastic and growth strains. Parametric studies for equilibrium and nonequilibrium boundary-value problems representing the in vitro growth of cylindrical cartilage constructs are solved. The results show that the CGM model is capable of describing the main biomechanical features of cartilage growth. The solutions to the equilibrium problems reveal that tissue composition, constituent pre-stresses, and geometry depend on collagen remodeling activity, growth symmetry, and differential growth. Also, nonhomogeneous growth leads to nonhomogeneous tissue composition and constituent pre-stresses. The solution to the nonequilibrium problem reveals that the tissue is nearly in equilibrium …

Manufacture Of Near Net Shaped 3-Dimensional Components For Industrial Applications, David Kennedy, Donal Brosnan

Conference Papers

The development of near net shape 3-Dimensional products for industrial applications has been one main goal for Manufacturing Industries over the last few decades. Processes such as polymer blow moulding and its various stages of development, glass forming, extrusion, forging, centrifugal and sand casting, bulge forming and vacuum forming are typical processes that have contributed to this development. Current practices centre on Surface coatings, Rapid Prototyping, laser forming and nanotechnology manufacture of complex 3-D shapes and assemblies. The work described in this paper is a new and highly efficient and cost effective technique for producing 3-Dimensional thin walled shapes by …

Evaporating Cross Flow Spray Jets In Gas-Solid Circulating Fluidized Bed, Tong Hoon Lee

Dissertations

Three-phase flow of solid-gas suspension with liquid spray is found in many industrial applications, including fluidized catalytic cracking in petroleum refinery process, and wet scrubbing process. This dissertation study is aimed to understand the gas-solid-liquid three-phase flow structure, phase interactions and transport in a gas-solid circulating fluidized bed where an evaporating cross-flow liquid spray jet from a rectangular nozzle with a fan angle is injected. The investigation is based on both numerical and experimental approaches. The numerical study is for detailed field descriptions of the flow structure, phase interaction and distributions whereas the experimental study is for simulation validations. The …

Direct Numerical Simulations And Experimental Investigation Of Dielectrophoresis, Arun Thankamony John-Kadaksham

Dissertations

This dissertation deals with the numerical and experimental studies of the phenomenon of dielectrophoresis, i.e., the motion of neutral particles in nonuniform electric fields. Dielectrophoresis is the translatory motion of neutral particles suspended in a dielectric medium when they are subjected to an external nonuniform electric field. The translatory motion occurs because a force called the dielectrophoretic force, which depends on the spatial variation of the electric field, acts on the particles. As the generation of force involves no moving parts and the particles can be moved without touching them, dielectrophoresis can be used in many applications, including manipulation and …

Simulation Of Creep In Nickel Based Single Crystal Superalloys, Yunhong Pang

Dissertations

Nickel based single crystal Superalloys are finding wide spread use in high temperature gas turbines and other similar applications because of their superior high-temperature strength and creep properties as compared to the other materials. This is due to two factors: solid solution and precipitation strengthening of the gamma (γ) and gamma prime (γ') phases, and the elimination of grain boundaries. Creep of Nickel based single crystal Superalloys are caused by two primary mechanisms, dislocation creep and diffusion creep. Several factors that affect the creep life of Nickel based single crystal Superalloys are the specific microstructure, stress, temperature and rafting. Also, …

Gas Fluidization Of Nanoparticles, Qun Yu

Dissertations

The primary objective of this study is to perform a systematic investigation on the gas fluidization of various nanoparticle agglomerates. Firstly, the gas fluidization characteristics and regime classifications without any additional external force fields are identified using both experimental measurements and modeling. Secondly, the effect of introducing certain external force fields on nanoparticle fluidization is experimentally investigated. Two external force fields were applied: sound waves from a loud speaker (acoustic assistance) and in-bed magnets that were excited by an external oscillating magnetic field (magnetic assistance). Thirdly, exploratory experimental research on the use of nanoparticle agglomerates as a granular filtration media …

Literature Review Of The Impact And Need For Attic Ventilation In Florida Homes, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is seeking to examine the impact and necessity of residential attic ventilation in Florida homes. Here, we provide technical support by examining existing data sources on the impacts of attic ventilation both on cooling and heating energy use as well as to attic and home moisture levels. In particular we evaluate the issues with sealed attic construction where the attic is unvented and expanded foam insulation is applied directly to the underside of the roof decking.

We also report the data from Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) instrumented facilities to add unique information …

The Accuracy Of Energy-Based Crash Reconstruction Techniques Using Event Data Recorder Measurements, Peter Niehoff

Theses and Dissertations

In the field of accident investigation, a vehicle's delta-V is commonly used to quantify the severity of a collision. Delta-V is defined as the impulsive change in vehicle velocity caused by a collision. Often, the method used to obtain delta-Vs in real-world collisions is estimation based on post-collision vehicle crush measurements. However, these estimates have been known to result in large errors. The recent advent of Event Data Recorder (EDR) technology has provided engineers with measured delta-Vs from real-world collisions. These accurate measurements were the basis for several studies conducted in this thesis.

As EDRs are a new technology, little …

The Sensitivity Of Aircraft Emergency Locator Transmitters To Non-Distress Impact Events, Christopher John Molnar

Theses and Dissertations

Emergency locator transmitters are radio beacons that help locate aircraft in distress and are required on many aircraft, primarily general aviation aircraft. The purpose of an emergency locator transmitter is to assist SAR teams in rapidly locating downed aircraft so aid can be provided to the pilot and passengers. The first emergency locator transmitters, still in use today, were found to have crash activation rates of only twenty-five percent (25%). This means that three out of every four crashes are not detected by these devices. Newer emergency locator transmitters were found to have crash activation rates of seventy-three percent (73%) …

Microparticle Influenced Electroosmotic Flow, John M. Young

Theses and Dissertations

The influence of microparticles on electroosmotic flow was investigated experimentally and numerically. Experiments were conducted using four different particle types of varying chemical composition, surface charge and polarity. Each particle type was tested at five different volume fractions ranging from 0.001 – 0.025. With a constant applied electric field, positively charged particles enhanced the electroosmotic flow by as much as 850%. The enhancement depended on particle composition, size and concentration. For negatively charged particles, the bulk electroosmotic flow was retarded with the largest reductions being 35%. This occurred for the greatest negative paricle concentration studied. A final experimental study utilizing …

Pnl Applied To Economics, Barbara Diaz, Tomohiro Takagi, Sema E. Alptekin

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

This work is a continuation of Zadeh’s research on Precisiated Natural language. Precisiated Natural Language (PNL) provides a system for computation and deduction of propositions expressed in a natural language. The importance of PNL for economics is discussed. The improved process of PNL is presented using a real world example from economics.

Development Of An Energy-Based Nearfield Acoustic Holography System, Michael C. Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Acoustical-based imaging techniques have found merit in determining the behavior of vibrating structures. These techniques are commonly used in numerous applications to obtain detailed noise source information and energy distributions on source surfaces. This thesis focuses on the continued development of the nearfield acoustic holography (NAH) approach. Conventional NAH consists of first capturing pressure data on a two-dimensional conformal measurement contour in the nearfield of the radiating source. These data are then propagated back to the vibrating structure to obtain the normal velocity profile on the source surface. With the source surface velocity profile known, the acoustic pressure, particle velocity, …

Sound Quality Analysis Of Sewing Machines, James J. Chatterley

Theses and Dissertations

Sound quality analysis is a tool designed to help determine customer preferences, which can be used to help the designer improve product quality. Many industries desire to know how the consuming public perceives their product, as this affects the product life and success. This research investigates which of the six sewing machines provided by Viking Sewing Machine Group (VSM group) consumers find most acoustically appealing. The sound quality analysis methods used include both jury based listening tests and quantitative sound quality metrics from empirical equations. The results from both methods are completely independent and are shown to have a very …

Effects Of Fuel Molecular Structure And Composition On Soot Formation In Direct-Injection Spray Flames, Kenth Ingemar Svensson

Theses and Dissertations

Numerous investigations have been conducted to determine the effect of fuel composition and molecular structure on particulate emissions using exhaust gas analysis, but relatively few measurements have been obtained in-cylinder or under conditions where fuel effects can be isolated from other variables. In this work, dimethoxymethane was used as the base fuel to produce a non-sooting flame in a constant volume combustion vessel at 1000 K, and a density of 16.6 kg/m3. A second fuel was then added incrementally to determine an incipient soot limit. Line-of-sight extinction measurements were used as the primary diagnostic tool to determine if a correlation …

Fabrication Of Magnetic Hollow Silica Nanospheres For Bioapplications, L. Shao, Dumitru Caruntu, J. F. Chen, C. J. O'Connor, W. L. Zhou

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Different kinds of nanospheres are used in magnetic nanosphere fabrication for bioapplications. In this paper, we report a successful synthesis of magnetic hollow silica nanospheres (MHSNS). The MHSNS were fabricated with a one step coating of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (NPs)(∼10nm) and silica on nanosized (20–100nm) spherical calcium carbonate (CaCO3) surface under alkaline conditions, in which the nanosized CaCO3 were used as nanotemplates and tetraethoxysilane and magnetic NPs were used as precursors. The as-synthesized nanoshperes were immersed in an acidic solution to remove nanosized CaCO3, forming MHSNS. The MHSNS were characterized by SEM, TEM, and SQUID. SEM and TEM results showed …

Method Of Reducing Internal Stress In Materials, Maher S. Amer, John F. Maguire

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Methods are provided for adjusting and controlling the stress between layers of material in a multilayer structure. A first stress is configured in a region of stress on the substrate material. A second material is then deposited over the substrate. A second stress results between the substrate and the second material such that a net stress results where the net stress is a function of said first and second stresses. As such, the first stress can be configured to achieve a predetermined, desired net stress. For example, the first stress can be configured to cancel out the second stress such …

Development Of A Five-Axis Machining Algorithm In Flat End Mill Roughing, Michael Blaine Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

To further the research done in machining complex surfaces, Jensen [1993] developed an algorithm that matches the normal curvature at a point along the surface with the resultant radius formed by tilting a standard flat end mill. The algorithm called Curvature Matched Machining (CM2) is faster and more efficient than conventional three-axis machining [Jensen 1993, Simpson 1995 & Kitchen 1996]. Despite the successes of CM2 there are still many areas available for research. Consider the machining of a mold or die. The complex nature of a mold requires at least 20-30 weeks of lead time. Of those 20-30 weeks 50% …

Development And Application Of A New Modeling Technique For Production Control Schemes In Manufacturing Systems, Bashar Hafez Sader

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents dynamic system models of continuous manufacturing systems based on analogies with electrical systems. The developed modeling technique has the capability to explicitly specify production control schemes including control points, material and information flow paths, and logical operations. The model provides standard graphical representations and governing equations to describe both the steady state and transient responses of continuous manufacturing systems. For deterministic systems, these equations can be solved to get closed-form solutions. For stochastic systems, numerical solutions can be obtained for any probabilistic distribution. The electrical analogs provide an excellent tool to model control signals and logical operations. …

Determination Of Dynamic Delamination Toughness Of A Graphite-Fiber/Epoxy Composite Using Hopkinson Pressure Bar, Xiangfa Wu, Yuris A. Dzenis

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Faculty Publications

Modified dynamic three-point-bending and compact shearing test configurations based on Hopkinson pressure bar (HPB) and crack detection gage (CDG) (Vishay Intertechnology, Inc) were used for the determination of the dynamic mode I and mode II delamination-initiation toughness of a unidirectional graphite-fiber/epoxy composite made of P7051S-20Q-1000 prepregs (Toray Composites America). The transient loading history was recorded precisely by the HPB installed with a highresolution digital oscilloscope, and the crack initiation and delay time were captured using the CDG. By means of dynamic finite-element analysis (FEA) of the impact processes with the loading history and crack initiation time as input, the critical …

Development Of A Linear Control Model For A Camless Valvetrain, Domenic R. Albert

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

The disciplines of mechanical and electrical engineering have been merging slowly over the last few decades. More specifically, the automotive industry has reaped the benefits of using electronics to improve upon the economics and ergonomics of business well as product. Although electronic systems have proved to be useful throughout consumer vehicles, the engine is arguably the area that benefits the most. Essentially, efficiency and power output of an internal combustion engine can be improved by optimizing the airflow of the cylinders. Since this airflow is controlled by the valve train, their manipulation affects the overall performance of an engine. Additionally, …

A Case Study On Implementation Of Quality Function Deployment Into The Design Process Of A Small Job Shop, Benjamin A. Thomson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The majority of research involving Quality Function Deployment (QFD) was focused on large consumer based companies and not small job shop business-to-business companies. This case study involved the implementation of QFD into the design process at Reynolds & Co., a small job shop in Terre Haute, IN. The specific objectives of the research were to find the QFD concepts that apply to the improvement of Reynolds & Co.'s (small job shop) design process. The next objective was to reduce the average design time associated with Reynolds & Co.'s design process. The final objective of this case study was to reduce …

Nanocharacterization Of Bio-Silica Using Atomic Force And Ultrasonic Force Microscopy, Vinaypreet S. Gill, Kevin P. Hallinan, N. S. Brar

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Nanotechnology has become central to our research efforts to fabricate relatively smaller size devices, which are more versatile than their older and larger predecessors. Silica is a very important material in this regard. Recently, a new biomimetically inspired path to silica production has been demonstrated. This processing technique was inspired from biological organisms, such as marine diatoms, which produce silica at ambient conditions and almost neutral ph with beautiful control over location and structure. Recently, several researchers have demonstrated that positional control of silica formed could be achieved by application of an electric field to locate charged enzymes responsible for …