Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Marine Current Energy Devices: Current Status And Possible Future Applications In Ireland, Fergal O'Rourke, Fergal Boyle, Anthony Reynolds

Articles

There is a growing demand for the use of renewable energy technologies to generate electricity due to concerns over climate change. The oceans provide a huge potential resource of energy. Energy extraction using marine current energy devices (MCEDs) offers a sustainable alternative to conventional sources and a predictable alternative to other renewable energy technologies. A MCED utilises the kinetic energy of the tides as opposed to the potential energy which is utilised by a tidal barrage. Over the past decade MCEDs have become an increasingly popular method of energy extraction. However, marine current energy technology is still not economically viable …

Wave Energy Converter Performance Modeling And Cost Of Electricity Assessment, Dmitri Jarocki

Master's Theses

California is experiencing a rapid increase in interest for the potential of converting ocean waves into clean electricity. Numerous applications have been submitted for the permitting of such renewable energy projects; however the profitability, practicability, and survivability have yet to be proven. Wave energy conversion technology has steadily matured since its naissance in the 1970’s, several wave energy power installations currently exist, and numerous plans for commercial power plant are in the works on the shores of multiple continents. This study aims to assess the economic viability of two proposed commercial wave energy power plant projects on the Central California …

Turbulent Flow Studies Of A Scaled Model Of A Large Mining Truck - Computations And Experiment, Wayne Randolph Sexton

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Modern mining operations are highly reliant on the amount of material that can be removed from the earth, transported to processing, and then processed. The companies that design and build mining dump trucks concentrate on improving the material payload capacity. Currently, the largest trucks are 400ton-class trucks. The design of these large mining dump trucks certainly does not stem from aerodynamics, but rather, from functionality and payload As a result, the shear size and asymmetric functional design creates interesting turbulent wakes on, around, and behind these trucks. This research focuses on the turbulent flow behind the truck. Computational Fluid Dynamic …

A Simple Technique For Surface Area Determination Through Supercritical Co2 Adsorption, Mahmud Sudibandriyo

Makara Journal of Technology

The measurement of specific surface area of porous materials has long been important in physical sciences and is currently growing in importance in applied and environmental science. Numerous systems have been developed for surface area measurement by gas adsorption. Commercial systems are available which can measure a wide range of absolute surface area with relative ease. However, their cost is often prohibitive. In this study, an inexpensive apparatus for surface area measurement has been set up to be used for measuring supercritical adsorption of CO2. The Ono-Kondo Lattice model was used to represent the adsorption isotherm and to determine the …

Fishing Catch And Catch Rate Assesment Of Mini Trawl, Trapnet And Setnet Fisheries, Muhammad Firdaus

Makara Journal of Technology

Fishing Catch and Catch Rate Assesment of Mini Trawl, Trapnet and Setnet Fisheries. This paper is aimed at assessing fishing catch and catch rate of the dragged gear on shrimp, trapnet, and setnet fisheries in Tarakan. The catch and effort data (number and species) and the fishing time of captured units were used in this qualitative analysis of fishing catch and catch rate to describe catch composition and catch rate from three catch fishery units in Tarakan. The result of the research shows that in the catching operation the dragged gear on shrimp has two main catch targets, which are …

Reducing Orbit Covariance For Continuous Thrust Spacecraft Transfers, Scott Zimmer, Oscar Ocampo, Robert H. Bishop

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The calculus of variations is used to develop the necessary theory and derive the optimality conditions for a spacecraft to transfer between a set of initial and final conditions, while minimizing a combination of fuel consumption and a function of the estimation error covariance matrix associated with the spacecraft state. The theory is developed in a general manner that allows for multiple observers, moving observers, covariance associated with an arbitrary frame, a wide variety of observation types, multiple gravity bodies, and uncertainties in the spacecraft equations of motion based on the thrusting status of the engine. A series of example …

Mechatronic Tools For The Modeling And Design Of Servo Motor Actuated Belt Driven Motion Systems, Robert William Copsey

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Mechatronics is defined as the synergistic integration of physical systems, electronics, controls, and computers through the design process, from the very start of the design process, thus enabling complex decision making. This definition reveals the elements involved yet it eludes to the complexity and the constant balance of tradeoffs which are prevalent in the context of applying Mechatronics to a successful design process. This work pursues the use of various tools for the application of Mechatronics to the modeling and design of a servo motor driven motion system.

The use of Mechatronics is pervasive in and among today's highly integrated …

Ontology-Based Automatic Classification For News Articles In Indonesian Language, Prajna Wira Basnur, Dana Indra Sensuse

Makara Journal of Technology

Ontology-Based Automatic Classification for News Articles in Indonesian Language. Searching specific information will be difficult if relying only on query. Choosing less specific queries will result in a lot of irrelevant information fetched by the system. One of the most successful ways to overcome this problem is to perform document classification based on the topic. There are many methods that can be used to conduct such a classification, such as using statistical and machine learning approaches. However, those document classification methods require training the data or learning the documents. In this study, the authors attempted to classify documents using a …

Particle Filter With Binary Gaussian Weighting And Support Vector Machine For Human Pose Interpretation, Indah Agustien, Muhammad Rahmat Widyanto, Sukmawati Nur Endah, Tarzan Basaruddin

Makara Journal of Technology

This paper proposes human pose interpretation using particle filter (PF) with Binary Gaussian Weighting and support vector machine (SVM). In the proposed system, particle filter is used to track a human object, then this human object is skeletonized using thinning algorithm and classified using SVM. The classification is to identify human pose, whether it is normal or abnormal behavior. Here particle filter is modified through weight calculation using Gaussian distribution to reduce the computational time. The modified particle filter consists of four main phases. First, particles are generated to predict target’s location. Second, the weight of certain particles is calculated …

Maintenance Activity Planning By Reability Centered Maintenance Ii Method, Rachmad Hidayat, Nachnul Ansori, Ali Imron

Makara Journal of Technology

Maintenance Activity Planning by Reability Centered Maintenance II Method. This research discusses maintenance activity planning using the RCM II method to evaluate failure function risk on compresor screw. The calculation of maintenance time is performed by considering maintenance and repair costs. The risk evaluation result with RPN shows that the critical component that needs to get the main priority in applying maintenance on compresor screw is function disorder on timeworn piston and on the broken outgoing air sponge’s filter that receives RPN 45. The optimum maintenance time calculation is applied on components that undergo scheduled restoration and scheduled discard task …

Software Design Of Mobile Antenna For Auto Satellite Tracking Using Modem Correction And Elevation Azimuth Method, Djamhari Sirat, Muhamad Asvial, Arman Djohan Diponegoro, Himawan Sidharta

Makara Journal of Technology

Software Design of Mobile Antenna for Auto Satellite Tracking Using Modem Correction and Elevation Azimuth Method. Pointing accuracy is important in satellite communication. Because the satellite’s distance to the surface of the earth's satellite is so huge, 1 degree of pointing error will make the antenna unable to send data to satellites. To overcome this, the auto-tracking satellite controller is made. This system uses a microcontroller as the controller, with the GPS as the location indicator of the antenna, a digital compass as the beginning of antenna pointing direction, a rotary encoder as azimuth and elevation censor, and a modem …

Petroleum Degradation In Soil By Thermophilic Bacteria With Biopile Reactor, Astri Nugroho, Edison Effendi, Yulius Karonta

Makara Journal of Technology

Crude oil degradation has been carried out using biopile reactor in total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration of 5%, 10% and 15%. The thermophilic microorganisms used from isolation result and identification are Aeromonas salmonicida, Bacillus pantothenticus, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The biodegradation of biopile reactor is done by various concentrations of TPH, total plate count (TPC), and volatile suspended solid (VSS) per day for 30 days. The biodegradation of kinetic parameter calculated consists of μ, μm, Y, Yt, Yobs, Kd, Ks from TPH concentration decision, and TPC and VSS in every microorganism with t (observation time) of 0 hour to 168 hours. …

Ergonomic Analysis Of Ui’S Bicyclesusing Posture Evaluation Index (Pei) Method In Virtual Environment, Erlinda Muslim, Boy Nurtjahyo, Zulkarnain Zulkarnain, Liza Afrinotha

Makara Journal of Technology

Ergonomic Analysis of UI’s Bicycles Using Posture Evaluation Index (PEI) Method in Virtual Environment. This research was conducted to study the ergonomic aspect of University of Indonesia’s bicycles in virtual environment. Software Jack 6.0 was used to analyze it. PEI was used as an approach that integrated the results of three methods: lower back analysis (LBA), ovako working posture analysis (OWAS), and rapid upper limb assessment (RULA). The research objective is to evaluate the existing design of University of Indonesia’s bicycles and to determine the most ergonomic redesign which concerns handlebar height and saddle height modification. The result showed that …

Thermal Models Of Railroad Wheels And Bearings, Kevin D. Cole, Constantine Tarawneh, Arturo A. Fuentes, Brent Wilson, Linda Navarro

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The rolling surface for railroad wheels can be a heat source that may have an impact on the performance of the wheel bearing. In this study, experimental data from an electrically-heated railroad wheel set is analyzed by constructing thermal models of the wheel set. A steady finite-element model, a steady-analytical model, and a transient lumped-parameter model are discussed. Model parameters are determined from careful comparisons with the experimental data. The lumped-parameter model given here is intended as a simple predictive tool for determining when wheel heating caused by rail operations will have an impact on bearing temperature. The model parameters …

Online Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring And Control System, Paul Duffy, Gerard Woods, James Walsh, Michael Kane

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Follow Up Nucleate Boiling On-Flight Experiment, Andrew Fassmann

Presentations

No abstract provided.

Morphological Evolution Of Single-Crystal Ultrathin Solid Films, Mikhail Khenner

Mathematics Faculty Publications

An introduction to mathematical modeling of ultrathin solid films and the role of such modeling in nanotechnologies: Educational presentation for senior physics majors

Morphological Evolution Of Single-Crystal Ultrathin Solid Films, Mikhail Khenner

Mathematics Faculty Publications

An introduction to mathematical modeling of ultrathin solid films and the role of such modeling in nanotechnologies: Educational/Research presentation for senior physics majors

Using Sports Coaching Techniques To Enhance Project Based Learning Instruction, Lizabeth Schlemer, Faith Mimnaugh

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

As instructors attempt to apply project based learning as a preferred pedagogy for many aspects of engineering education, countless questions are raised. For instance, how do instructors assess individual performance in a team based environment? How do instructors prepare students for the culminating presentation or report? How do instructors develop the students individually? After reviewing literature on both project based learning and exceptional coaching, we have found that much can be learned from John Wooden, Phil Jackson and other coaches. This paper will organize some of the best practices in sports coaching and draw parallels that will enhance student learning …

Field Monitoring And Hourly Simulation Of Energy And Demand Savings From Use Of The Telkonet Ss5000 System Hotel Ac Occupancy Control, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Air conditioning and heating control systems were installed in a 56-room hotel in central Florida. Thermostat setpoints in half of the rooms were adjusted when the room was detected to be unoccupied. Heating and cooling energy use was monitored for a period of 9.5 months. Energy and demand savings were analyzed.

Solar Water Heating Performance: Use Of Energy Factors, Florida Solar Energy Center, Carol Emrich

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The goal of increasing solar energy installations is widely accepted by all. The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) concluded that the goal of increasing solar hot water system installations in Florida could be greatly enhanced by concentrating its efforts on new construction through simplification of the residential building energy code. Since implementation in 1980, the Florida Energy Efficiency Code for Building Construction has required a calculation procedure that assigns multipliers to residential water heating systems. The multiplier for every water heating system type except solar is based on the system's rated efficiency at standard conditions and is a one- or …

Slip Boundary Conditions For The Moving Contact Line In Molecular Dynamics And Continuum Simulations, Nikolai V. Priezjev, Anoosheh Niavarani

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The problem of the moving contact line between two immiscible fluids on a smooth surface is revisited using molecular dynamics (MD) and continuum simulations. In MD simulations a finite slip is allowed by choosing incommensurate wall-fluid densities and weak wall-fluid interaction energies. The shear stresses and velocity fields are extracted carefully in the bulk fluid region as well as near the moving contact line. In agreement with previous studies, we found slowly decaying partial slip region away from the contact line. In steady-state shear flows we extract the friction coefficient along the liquid-solid interface, the local slip length, and the …

Optimal Design Of A Planar 3-Rpr Haptic Interface Based On Manipulability, Wesley Kay Harris

Theses and Dissertations

A haptic interface is a robotic force feedback device that provides a sense of touch to users of virtual reality simulations. This thesis presents a general method for the design optimization of parallel planar haptic devices based on maximizing the manipulability of the interface over its workspace. Manipulability is selected as the key design objective to ensure avoidance of singular configurations within the workspace and to maximize the interface's ability to generate feedback forces and torques in each direction in each handle location and orientation. The optimization approach developed in this thesis results in a set of candidate designs that …

Development Of A Plasma Arc Manufacturing Process And Machine To Create Metal Oxide Particles In Water From Wire Feedstock, Jonathan Alan George

Theses and Dissertations

A plasma arc erosion process can be used to create metal and metal oxide particles in the ultra-fine size range (<70 µm). An electric arc is struck between two metallic electrodes, submerged in water, melting the surface of the electrodes. When the arc collapses a high energy pressure wave strikes the molten surface of the electrode. When the pressure wave strikes the molten metal, small metallic particles are created from the molten metal and are immediately cooled in the water. Previous research developed a process that used a constant current power supply and electrode motion to create ultra-fine particles. This research improves upon previous research by using a pulsed power supply similar to those used in Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM). The pulsed power supply eliminates the need for electrode motion and improves the rate of particle production, provides control over size of the particles created, and reduces the amount of energy needed to produce the particles. The new process improves the maximum particle production rate from 3.6 g/hr to 14 g/hr, provides a method to control the mean diameter of the particles produced, and reduces the amount of energy needed from 200 kWh/kg(previous constant current process) to 10.6 kWh/kg(using the pulsed power supply).

Investigation Of Rf Curing Parameters In Resin Infusion Molding, Christopher K. Love

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate RF or Radio Frequency energy as a viable alternative to traditional heating methods for the purpose of curing resins used in resin infusion molding, a molding system for polymeric composites. Traditional heating/curing methods include technologies such as room temperature, oven, microwave, infrared, and ultraviolet. Although RF curing provides far more advantages than disadvantages, its implementation into a manufacturing process can be challenging. Specifically, three critical elements must be present in order for RF to function in a manner that is profitable to the manufacturer. Those elements are: (1) the proper generator (voltage …

Aerial Recovery Of Micro Air Vehicles: Orbit Estimation And Tracking, Daniel Clarke Carlson

Theses and Dissertations

Aerial recovery of autonomous micro air vehicles (MAVs) presents many unique challenges due to the difference in size and speed of the recovery vehicle and MAV. This thesis presents algorithms to enable an autonomous MAV to estimate the orbit of a recovery vehicle and track the orbit until the final docking phase. Methods for estimating ellipses that are rotated out of the x − y plane are developed and demonstrated through simulation. These algorithms are shown to be robust to noise and stable numerically. Parameter update methods that are computationally inexpensive, such as recursive least squares and Kalman filtering, are …

Recognizing Parametric Geometry From Topology Optimization Results, Shane H. Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

Topology Optimization has been proven to be a useful tool in discovering non-intuitive optimal designs subject to certain design constraints. The results of Topology Optimization are either represented as a tessellation object composed of thousands of triangular surfaces, or as a point cloud. In either case, the results of Topology Optimization are not suited for use in subsequent steps of the design process which require 3D parametric CAD (Computer Aided Design) models. Converting Topology Optimization results into parametric CAD geometry by hand is an extremely tedious and time consuming process which is highly subjective. This thesis presents a shape recognition …

Structure-Property Relationship In Ionomer Membranes, Ahmet Kusoglu, Anette M. Karlsson, Michael H. Santare

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer membranes are ion-conducting polymers with high water sorption capacity and thermo-mechanical stability. The morphology of PFSA changes during sorption affecting the mechanical and physical properties of the membrane. In this work, we investigate the structure-property relationship in swollen PFSA membranes using three proposed nanostructural descriptions and determine Young's modulus of the membrane at a wide range of temperatures (−20–85°C) and water volume fractions (0–0.5) for these configurations. Comparing the mechanics-based models with experimental data we propose that ion-rich water domains in PFSA membrane are spherical at low water content, spherical with connecting channels at intermediate water …

Increasing The Sensitivity Of Surface Acoustic Wave (Saw) Chemical Sensors And Other Chemical Sensing Investigations, Nina R. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The work involves the fabrication and testing of three different surface acoustic wave (SAW) device designs, an investigation of nanowires sensitive to chemicals and preconcentrator prototypes to include with chemical sensors. The SAW chemical sensor designs include modifications to a basic SAW device to see if the sensitivity of the SAW device is increased. The modifications consist of etched trenches along the propagation field, coating the device with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under the chemically sensitive layer and coating CNTs on top of the chemically sensitive layer. SAW devices are coated with Nafion®, a polymer sensitive to ethanol. The tests indicate …

Numerical Investigation Of Pre-Detonator Geometries For Pde Applications, Robert T. Fievisohn

Theses and Dissertations

A parametric study was performed to determine optimal geometries to allow the successful transition of a detonation from a pre-detonator into the thrust tube of a pulse detonation engine. The study was performed using a two-dimensional Euler solver with progress variables to model the chemistry. The geometrical configurations for the simulations look at the effect of shock reflections, flow obstructions, and detonation diffraction to determine successful geometries. It was observed that there are success and failure rates associated with pre-detonators. These success rates appear to be determined by the transverse wave structure of a stably propagating detonation wave and must …