Other Engineering Commons^™

A Review Of Process And Product Systems In Construction, Charles Anthony Mitchell

Reports

This paper was produced as part of the coursework associated with a Masters in Quantity Surveying (Mechanical and Electrical) undertaken by the Author. The aim of the research was to study and review 1) processes and sub-processes in the pre-construction phase, 2) risk analysis in the project and 3) the use of off-site construction in relation to an iconic structure of the author’s choice. In the absence of information the author was permitted to make assumptions about the processes involved as long as these were qualified within the text.

The author chose the Aviva stadium, Dublin 4 as the iconic …

How Robotics Programs Influence Young Women’S Career Choices: A Grounded Theory Model, Cecilia D. Craig

2010-2016 Archived Posters

Women in college, alumnae of a well-known high school robotics program, shared how it influenced their career choices and who they have become in this qualitative study. A general system theory model was developed using grounded theory practices, after conducting online focus groups and interviews.

Stock Aggregation Model And Virtual Archetype For Large Scale Retrofit Modelling Of Local Authority Housing In Ireland, James Pittam, Paul D. O’Sullivan, Garrett O’Sullivan

Conference Papers

Developing representative archetypes using a bottom up approach for stock modelling is an excellent tool for evaluating the overall performance of the building stock; however it requires detailed analysis of the various building types. Currently there is no detailed housing data base for Local Authority housing in Cork City, Ireland that catalogues the housing stocks geometric properties and thermal characteristics for each typology. This study details a methodology to catalogue the LAH stock and build a detailed housing data base. The GIS web based mapping application Google Street View is used to identify 20 house typologies across 36 LAH developments; …

The Influence Of National Culture On Effectiveness Of Safety Trainings During Postdisaster Reconstruction, Behzad Esmaeili, Kevin Grosskopf, Amy Javernick-Will

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Non-English speaking workers constitute a disproportionately high number of workers involved in postdisaster reconstruction. Additionally, the rate of fatality among these workers is higher than the industry average. Research shows this population is more prone to unsafe behaviors in the working environment, conceivably because many of these workers are sent into the field prior to any formalized training. Recent studies show that the native culture of construction workers can impact risk-taking behavior. While numerous researchers have attempted to develop training materials for Hispanic workers, the number of studies that consider the impact of native culture on safety behavior is minimal. …

Phenomenology And Hermeneutic Phenomenology: The Philosophy, The Methodologies And Using Hermeneutic Phenomenology To Investigate Lecturers' Experiences Of Curriculum Design, Arthur Sloan, Brian Bowe

Articles

This article investigates the philosophy of phenomenology, continuing to examine and describe it as a methodology. There are different methods of phenomenology, divided by their different perspectives of what phenomenology is: largely grouped into the two types of descriptive and interpretive phenomenology. The focal methodology is hermeneutic phenomenology – one type of phenomenological methodology among interpretive phenomenological methodologies. The context for phenomenology and the location of hermeneutic phenomenology is explained through its historic antecedents. When using phenomenology as a methodology there are criteria for data gathering and data analysis and examples of these are cited in this paper. Also in …

Hybrid Of Natural Element Method (Nem) With Genetic Algorithm (Ga) To Find Critical Slip Surface, Shahriar Shahrokhabadi, Vahid Khoshfahm, Hamed Nabizadeh Rafsanjani

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

One of the most important issues in geotechnical engineering is the slope stability analysis for determination of the factor of safety and the probable slip surface. Finite Element Method (FEM) is well suited for numerical study of advanced geotechnical problems. However, mesh requirements of FEM creates some difficulties for solution processing in certain problems. Recently, motivated by these limitations, several new Meshfree methods such as Natural Element Method (NEM) have been used to analyze engineering problems. This paper presents advantages of using NEM in 2D slope stability analysis and Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization to determine the probable slip surface and …

Virtual Surface Temperature Sensor For Multi-Zone Commercial Buildings, Yuebin Yu, Denchai Woradechjumroen, Daihong Yu

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

Multi-zone structure is commonly used in small commercial office buildings, retail stores and supermarket. While there is no adjacent wall between the zones, the impact of a neighbor zone on the current zone can be approximated and analyzed through the application of virtual walls. It is critical to accurately estimate the virtual wall surface temperature in order to evaluate the model uncertainty and apply improved supervisory control on multiple rooftop air-conditioning units (RTUs). We propose an innovative virtual surface temperature sensor based on system-identification to solve this challenge. The validation of the virtual temperature model is processed by the three …

Shallow Flat Soffit Precast Concrete Floor System, George Morcous, Maher Tadros

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

A precast concrete floor system that eliminates the need for column corbels and beam ledges while being very shallow. The main advantages of the present system include a span to-depth ratio of 30, a flat soffit, economy, consistency with prevailing erection techniques, and fire and corrosion protection. The present system consists of continuous precast columns, prestressed rectangular beams, hollow-core planks, and cast-in-place composite topping. Testing results have indicated that a 12 inch deep flat soffit precast floor system has adequate capacity to carry gravity loads (including 100 psf live load) in a 30 ft x 30 ft bay size. Testing …

What Role Does Mathematical Preparedness Play For Engineering Students Who Transfer From And Ordinary Degree Into An Honours Degree?, Michael Carr, Marisa Llorens, Susan O'Shaughnessy, Anne Marie Mccarrick, Domhnall Sheridan

Conference papers

Students who have not achieved a high level of mathematics at secondary school but have a pass in ordinary level mathematics have the option of entering onto a 3-year Ordinary degree (Level 7). Upon successful completion of this award students may apply to progress to the third year of the Honours degree. Up until relatively recently an upper merit (60%) was the minimum required to make this transition. In recent years this requirement has been reduced with many students with lower marks being offered the possibility of transferring.

Relatively little work has been done on the transition from an Ordinary …

Polysemy In Design Review Conversations, Georgi V. Georgiev, Toshiharu Taura

Design Thinking Research Symposium

This paper examines the role of polysemy, defined as the quality of having multiple meanings, in design review conversations. It examines the polysemy, particularly of nouns, involved in a dataset of design review conversations with reference to design ideas. The purpose is to determine whether polysemy is related to successful development of design ideas and more creative design outcomes. The results show that the polysemy of nouns involved in the conversations of the finally developed, successful, design ideas exceeds in the most cases the average polysemy involved in the conversations pertaining to the unsuccessful design ideas. Furthermore, the polysemy of …

Equipment Fragility Due To Shock Response, Christopher Y. Tuan

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Because of its simplicity, the shock response spectrum has become widely used as a means of describing the shock responses and fragilities of structures and equipment. This paper focuses on the drawbacks of using the shock response spectrum for defining equipment shock tolerance. A cantilever beam with a tip mass was used to model a hypothetical piece of equipment subjected to strong ground motion such as that caused by an explosion. The exact solution from a detailed modal analysis shows that multiple modes of response were excited. Contributions from higher modes can be more predominant than that from the fundamental …

Mixing It Up With Peter Mokran, Sound Engineer

DePaul Magazine

Peter Mokran (MUS '90) is one of the music industry's most sought-after sound mixers, engineers and producers because he understands what it takes to make a great record. He didn't realize there was a career in mixing, but he learned his craft at the DePaul School of Music sound recording technology program.

Neutrosophic Logic Approaches Applied To ”Rabot” Real Time Control, Alexandru Gal, Luige Vladareanu, Florentin Smarandache, Hongnian Yu, Mincong Deng

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

In this paper we present a way of deciding which control law should operate at a time for a mobile walking robot. The proposed deciding method is based on the new research field, called Neutrosophic Logic. The results are presented as a simulated system for which the output is related to the inputs according to the Neutrosophic Logic.

A Wedge Impact Theory Used To Predict Bow Slamming Forces, Ashok Benjamin Basil Attumaly

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The pressures and impact forces acting on a hull while experiencing bow wave slamming is analyzed using Vorus' Impact Theory. The theory extends the hydrodynamic analysis of planing hulls from simple wedges to irregular shapes using a Boundary Element Method. A Fortran-based code developed by the Author is used to analyze hullforms. Linear strip theory is used to extend the analysis over a three dimensional hull. Post-processing of output data gives hull pressure distributions at different time steps and is visually presentable.

Impact pressure, Impact force, Planing, Wave slamming, Bow impact, Vorus' theory, Boundary Element Method, Linear strip theory

Utilizing Economic And Environmental Data From The Desalination Industry As A Progressive Approach To Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (Otec) Commercialization, Michael R. Eller

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a renewable energy technology that has to overcome several key challenges before achieving its ultimate goal of producing baseload power on a commercial scale. The economic challenge of deploying an OTEC plant remains the biggest barrier to implementation. Although small OTEC demonstration plants and recent advances in subsystem technologies have proven OTEC’s technical merits, the process still lacks the crucial operational data required to justify investments in large commercial OTEC plants on the order of 50-100 megawatts of net electrical power (MWe-net). A pre-commercial pilot plant on the order of 5-10 MWe-net is required …

Effects Of Time Varying Background Noise Conditions On Human Perception And Performance, Andrew H. Hathaway

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis was designed to study the effects of changing noise conditions on human perception and performance. In two phases, participants were exposed to a number of noise conditions and their performance on an arithmetic task involving short-term memory was monitored and their subjective perception of noise conditions was collected via questionnaires.

In the first phase, participants were tested while being subjected to RC-29(H) and RC-47(RV) conditions created by broadband noise fluctuating on different time intervals, resembling the changing noise conditions potentially found in modern HVAC systems. These intervals varied from two minutes to ten minutes. Results show a significant …

A Simple Method For Estimation Of Queue Length, S. P. Anusha, Lelitha Devi Vanajakshi, Anuj Sharma

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Urban arterials are characterized by frequent intersections. Queue length and delay are the two primary measures of performance of intersection. These measures play a primary role in determining the arterial performance. This article presents a methodology to determine the number of vehicles in queue at a signalized intersection for under saturated traffic conditions. The results obtained were validated using actual values that are manually extracted. The root-mean-square error is of the range 1.3 vehicles for estimation of number of vehicles in queue. The various aspects that have to be considered in accurate estimation of performance measures are also discussed.

Evaluation Of Alternate Mouthpiece Material Types To Minimize Vibrations And Heat Loss - The Research And Execution Of Prototypes, Kristen Bobuk

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This paper is based on the idea of current horn mouthpieces being made solely out of brass with a limited market of stainless steel and titanium with plating being silver or gold. This is an opportunity to explore alternate materials; specifically steel, cast iron and aluminum for the base material and chrome, copper and nickel for plating materials. Readers will learn about metal properties such as hardness, thermal conductivity and specific heat and learn why certain materials are more beneficial than others.

La Yeguada Volcanic Vomplex In The Republic Of Panama: An Assessment Of The Geologic Hazards Using 40ar/39ar Geochronology, Karinne L. Knutsen, William I. Rose, Brian Jicha

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Publications

La Yeguada volcanic complex is one of three Quaternary volcanic centers in Panama. To assess potential geologic hazards, new samples were analyzed using argon analysis (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar), and obtained the following: the most recent eruption occurred approximately 32,000 years ago at the Media Luna cinder cone; the youngest dated eruption from the main dome complex occurred 357 ± 19 ka, producing the Castillo dome unit; Cerro Picacho, a separate dacite dome 1.5 km east of the main complex is 4.47 ± 0.23 Ma; and the El Satro Pyroclastic Flow unit surrounds the northern portion of the volcanic …

Nuts & Bolts, Volume 1, Issue 4

Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum

Splinter Gallery Construction

Restoration Club

Museum OLLI Program

Free Webinar: Ethanol in Legacy Engines

Cost Of Housing Regulation In Utah Valley-Impact Fees, Rhett M. Turner, Dr. Howard Bashford

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of impact fees is to help fund infrastructure needs brought on by new growth. The State of Utah has recently passed legislation which allows cities to charge impact fees for the construction of new homes. These impact fees can be substantial, amounting to thousands of dollars for each home.

Lemmings: A Student Animation, Craig Paul Van Dyke, Dr. Brent R. Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Lemmings brought together eighteen students for one full year to work on a 5 minute computer animation. Such a learning experience broke the bonds of a normal artistic and technical education; it became a lesson in teamwork, leadership and hard work. The entire animation was student run and directed.

Dynasense: Remote Monitoring System, Bryce Ott, Mike Coleman, Tyler Monson, Janell Armstrong, Ben Tanner, Brad Anderson, Dr. Steven Renshaw

Journal of Undergraduate Research

DynaSense is a robust and modular remote monitoring system that can be incorporated into an existing network. Individual embedded hardware modules gather and log data from attached sensors. This data is web-accessible from each individual module or can be compiled and monitored by custom management software for additional processing and display. A variety of industries could benefit from the features provided in the DynaSense system, including hospitals and clinical centers, manufacturing plants and refineries, museums, grocery stores, and the military.

Establishing The Facility Capital Investment Laboratory, Tim Tucker, Dr. Jeffery Campbell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

One of the greatest difficulties a manager has in the current economy is being able to validly show the value that is being created by their efforts. After human resource and related issues the greatest expenses an organization faces is the total cost of ownership of their fixed assets. Many organizations both private and public are coming to the understanding that a plan must be developed for the care of facilities and other capital assets. As one looks for information on how to proceed in the development of these plans one thing becomes clear, there is no single source that …

Asset Tracking System, Jacob Roberts, Dr. Joseph Ekstrom

Journal of Undergraduate Research

RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, is a technology that is beginning to attract the attention of large business. These businesses have complicated and expensive supply chains. RFID promises to streamline asset tracking and reduce supply chain costs.

Student Digital Portfolio Analysis And Implementation For Byu Students, Keith Kasperson, Dr. Gordon W. Romney

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Student Digital Portfolio (StuDigiPort) capstone team shall provide a web application that provides students with a digital or electronic portfolio. A digital portfolio is a collection of student work that is organized similar to a hard copy portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio is to demonstrate the character and abilities of the student. Following are some of the requested features that shall be provided by the Student Digital Portfolio application:

Ds3 Web Interface, Kevin Wong, Dr. Gordon Romney

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As digital media storage is growing ever more popular, security of this data is becoming more and more important. Intruders can relatively easily alter digital files and documents. Several customers, such as the Harold B. Lee Library, the archivist of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Director of the Center for Earth Remote Sensing, need the assurance of data integrity, as the users of these files require unaltered content. A digital signature signing server can receive a digital file, digitally sign it, and store the digital signature with the original file. When needed, the server can regenerate the signature and …

Digital Signature Signing Server Project Management And Client Support, Frederick Penrose, Dr. Gordon Romney

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the ever increasing move to electronic documents in every industry and field, digital security is becoming a greater concern for everyone. Various departments within BYU have the concern of distributing images to the public and in-turn persons from the public fraudulently change the images and then claim that their modified image is the original. The mission of our project was to create a method for which the integrity of the image is preserved to produce a unique “Digital Signature” on the object at the time of archival. The objective of the Digital Signature Signing Server (DS3 ) project is …

Securing Engineering For The Future: An Inquiry-Base Approach To Teaching Engineering In Grades 6-12, Ryan Anderson, Dr. Jared Berrett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The basis behind inquiry-based learning is that questions are being asked and answers are being found. On that same note problems are being presented and solutions are being discovered. Inquiry-based learning and instruction allows for personal growth and choice in education on the part of the student. It doesn’t eliminate the role of the teacher, but it places the teacher in the position of facilitator. The goal of the facilitator is to create an environment where students can begin to make connections with previous learning, add to that learning new knowledge, and then form their own conclusions to find solutions.

Digital Signature Signing Server Archiving Method For Secure Data, Hoan Do, Gorden Romney

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In a world where digital information can be so easily altered it is essential to protect the original content of digital files from unauthorized changes. This is especially important with digital images such as maps or historical documents. If these images are provided to the world for research or public use then proof must be provided showing that no alterations have been made and that the image contains exactly what it should. The DS3 project will create a digital signature system that will uniquely sign digital image files and provide a process to validate each file according to the individual …