Other Engineering Commons^™

Themed Ride Vehicle Concept Design, Ryan Alletag

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

No abstract provided.

Successful Engineering And Technology Student Mobility: Key Student Perspectives And Quality Determinants Before, During And After Student Exchange Under The Atlantis Programme, Mike Murphy, Donal Mchale, Michael Dyrenfurth

Conference papers

In this paper, we describe the lessons learned, and determinants of quality, from two Atlantis programmes. Additionally our two student authors will share key student perspectives relevant to student mobility: (1) before they visited the partner university, (2) while they were studying at the partner university and (3) after they returned to their home university. Purdue University and the Technological University Dublin, together with the Hochschule Darmstadt and Pennsylvania State University, were successful in securing an Atlantis mobility grant [1] for four years to support student and staff mobility between the United States and Europe. The programme has just completed …

Characterization Of Key Process Parameters In Injection Blow Molding For Improving Quality, Aspen D'Costa

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

The purpose of this study was to discover the performance of significant process parameters in manufacturing 20 oz. plastic beverage bottles. An experimental methodology was carefully designed to examine the characteristics of key variables such as ambient and operating temperatures, process line operators, resin types, resin colors and operating lines associated with a plastic bottle manufacturing line. More explicitly, this study seeks to identify the definitive relationship between the selected process parameters for the production machine (Sidel™) and the ensuing product quality. Also, this study was conducted to evaluate the performance characteristics of Post Consumer Resin (PCR), virgin resin and …

Assessing Laser Lifetime Test Performance, Joe Weichman, Hamid Hemmati, Malcolm Wright

STAR Program Research Presentations

Assessing expected component lifetime is necessary in developing instruments for future space-flight projects to ensure long term operation in the challenging environment. Although semiconductor diode lasers have widespread use in terrestrial applications, their use in space is still an emerging technology that requires on-going testing to demonstrate their capability. The project called for re-establishing the test setup for assessing lifetime performance of 20 continuously running 200mW 830 nm diode lasers. These lasers underwent previous testing based on parameters for NuSTAR’s laser metrology system, and met the six month lifetime project requirements under nominal operating conditions. Laser testing is currently underway …

Rail Freight In The Republic Of Ireland, Juan Carlos Carrasco Gimenez, Edward Sweeney, John Harvey

Conference papers

In a world where freight transport is increasing, efficiency is essential. Transport by rail is characterised by its low fuel consumption per tonne. This mode of transport became extremely important during the last century but unfortunately it has been losing its importance in the logistics sector with the passing of time. However, we are currently witnessing an important transformation in the railway sector throughout Europe. This has been promoted by the European Union, with a significant allocation of resources to this issue. With the objective of increasing the volume of goods transported by rail, European nations are conducting a transformation …

A Digital Hydraulic Valve, Actuated Using A Piezoelectric Linear Motor, Brian C. Bevill

Purdue Polytechnic Directed Projects

Proportional control in hydraulics is widely utilized. The most widely used current types of proportional valves utilize solenoid technology. While this technology has been around for decades and has been proven an effective means of control, there is always a demand for improved performance of advancing technologies. Integrating piezoelectric devices as a means to control hydraulic systems helps advance control for hydraulic systems.

Piezoelectric stack devices have been used to control hydraulic systems with success. Advantages of these stacks include being relatively small with a high power to weight ratio, using less energy than solenoid operations, and being fast acting. …

Developing And Assessing Stem Curriculum With The Intent Of Promoting Technological Literacy, Scott Bartholomew, Geoff Wright, Ron Terry

Faculty Publications

Developing and Assessing STEM Curriculum with the Intent of Promoting Technological Literacy Technological literacy is a key component of President Barack Obama’s $260 Million STEM educational initiative (Office of the Press Secretary, 2009). Central to his plan is STEM teacher training and curriculum development. Both of these issues were addressed and are currently being measured by the research outlined in this paper. Spring2010 a collection of technology and engineering education graduate students developed with mentoring from two technology and engineering education professors 20 lesson unit and lesson plans promoting technological literacy. The lesson plans are currently being used and assessed …

Coverage Of Continuous Regions In Euclidean Space Using Homogeneous Resources With Application To The Allocation Of The Phased Array Radar Systems, Kassandra M. Merritt

Theses and Dissertations

Air surveillance of United States territory is an essential Department of Defense function. In the event of an incoming aerial attack on North America, the DoD, Department of Homeland Security, and Federal Aviation Administration surveillance capabilities are critical to discovering and tracking the threat so that it can be eliminated. Many of the currently used surveillance radar will reach the end of their design life within ten to twenty years. By replacing the current radar network with a single integrated network of Multifunction Phased Array Radar (MPAR) units, surveillance capabilities can be enhanced and life cycle cost can be reduced. …

Process Refinement Through Design Of Experiments (Taguchi) To Reduce Porosity Levels Of Thin Flame Spray Nicrbsi Coatings On Cast Aluminium Alloys, David Culliton, David Kennedy, Tony Betts

Conference Papers

Thin(16matrix of key deposition parameters was constructed to develop the optimum spray parameters. The effects of parameter variations on the porosity levels of these coatings were assessed. Key parameter interactions were reported. Quantifiable interactions between the selected parameters were noted for the LM24 substrate. However, on the LM25 substrate these interactions were much less defined. Corrosion performance of the optimised coatings, based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, was reported. The presence of through-pores in the coatings were shown to reduce the corrosion resistance of the coated systems by a factor of 10, in dilute NaCl solutions, compared to bulk 316L stainless …

Cal Poly Hydrogen Fuel Cell Senior Project Air Plane Galley Demonstrator, Laurel Fee, Adam Ferrarelli, Nick Hasheider, Jeff Massman, Alex Mosbacher, David Mravca, Brian Noland, Levi Sternberg

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

No abstract provided.

Ackermann Steering Geometry Applied To A Skateboard Truck, Daniel D. Downs

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Conventional skateboard trucks are currently unable to meet the challenges of the modern enthusiast. They are lacking in key performance metrics such as handling, stability, and traction. Longboard enthusiasts, whom rely heavily on handling performance, are hungry for new and innovative technology to help bring the sport to the next level. The aim of this project was to solve these problems by applying specific aspects of automotive steering geometry and best engineering practices. Three successive prototypes were designed, with the first two prototype sets being manufactured and extensively tested. The first prototype served as a proof of concept, but suffered …

A Review Focused On The Psychological Effectiveness Of Tai Chi On Different Populations, Long Zhang, Thomas Lowder, Jian Liu

Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering Faculty Research

As a popular exercise form, Tai Chi (TC) has been investigated to determine its contributions to an active and healthy lifestyle. There are an increasing number of researchers who focus on exploring the potential physiological and psychological benefits of TC but only a few systematic reviews of these benefits to a variety of populations. The purpose of this paper is to comprehensively evaluate the reported psychological benefits associated with practicing TC. Although many investigators have reported possible psychological benefits of TC for children, young adults, older healthy adults, and for a variety of patient populations, many of the reports suffer …

Quest Hierarchy For Hyperspectral Face Recognition, David M. Ryer

Theses and Dissertations

Face recognition is an attractive biometric due to the ease in which photographs of the human face can be acquired and processed. The non-intrusive ability of many surveillance systems permits face recognition applications to be used in a myriad of environments. Despite decades of impressive research in this area, face recognition still struggles with variations in illumination, pose and expression not to mention the larger challenge of willful circumvention. The integration of supporting contextual information in a fusion hierarchy known as QUalia Exploitation of Sensor Technology (QUEST) is a novel approach for hyperspectral face recognition that results in performance advantages …

Newsletter 44 Issue 1 - Spring 2011 - Nuts And Bolts

Friends of the Larsen Tractor Museum

No abstract provided.

A Century Long Pursuit Of Alternative Fuels And Feedstocks: A Content Analysis, Elias J. Halvorson

Theses and Dissertations

he United States has dramatically increased its production of alternative fuels over the past seven years. With the passing of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), alternative fuel production will increase in the United States over 700% from 2005 levels. However, the pursuit of petroleum alternatives is not a recent trend. Over the last 100 years, various nations have pursued petroleum alternatives with varying levels of success. This research focuses on the historical development of 10 leading alternative fuels and feedstocks. Through a thorough literature review we will identify commonalities among these fuels and feedstocks which have …

A Systems Architecture And Advanced Sensors Application For Real-Time Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring, Hyoungjin Shin, Edward C. Beckett

Theses and Dissertations

Aircraft are being pushed beyond their original service life, increasing the potential for structural failures. A catastrophic in flight failure of an F-15 bulkhead and severe cracking in the C-130 Wing rainbow fitting are two recent examples that have caused major problems for the Air Force. Previous Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring Systems research primarily explored using a system during the ground maintenance phase. This research will explore a Real-Time Aircraft Structural Health Monitoring System (RTASHMS) that includes a ground phase as well as an in-flight phase. The RTASHMS will continuously analyze structural hot spots, detect critical structural damage or cracks …

Perimeter Security And Intruder Detection Using Gravity Gradiometry: A Feasibility Study, Jared D. Tuinstra

Theses and Dissertations

Changes in the mass distribution around some point on the Earth’s surface induce corresponding changes to the magnitude and direction of the gravity vector at that location. The nine-tensor derivative of the gravity vector, or gravity gradient, is sensitive to very small changes in the gravity vector. With some assumptions, continuous measurement of the gravity gradient using a gravity gradiometer (GGI) is used to determine the location of a mass change in the local area near the instrument. This investigation sought to determine the effectiveness, operating characteristics, and limitations of a physical perimeter security system that uses an array of …

4-Bit Adder Design And Simulation, Amin Atwa, Ahmed Samir, Fady Soliman

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

The project is to design a 4-bit digital adder, while taking care of performance parameters: area, speed and power consumption, the team has chosen to design according to the cost function: Area*Delay*Power. The project is implemented in three phases: research phase, simulation phase, and evaluation/re-evaluation phase. The adder circuit implemented as Ripple-Carry Adder (RCA), the team added improvements to overcome the disadvantages of the RCA architecture, for instance the first 1-bit adder is a Half Adder, which is faster and more power-efficient, the team was also carefully choosing the gates to match the stated cost function. Gates are implemented using …

The Impact Of 3pl’S Green Initiatives On The Purchasing Of Transport And Logistics Services: An Exploratory Study, Pietro Evangelista, Maria Huge-Brodin, Karin Isaksson, Edward Sweeney

Conference papers

There is a lack of research investigating the interaction and reciprocal influences between the buyer perspective and the supplier of transport and logistics services. Studies on the buyer perspective analyse the selection criteria to buy 3PL services, while research focused on green 3PL services examine initiatives undertaken by these companies to provide more environmentally sustainable services. The objective of this paper is to fill this void through an explorative case study analysis on the environmental attitude of 3PL companies in order to derive relevant implications for buyer’s behaviour. The results provide useful guidelines to buyers for understanding awareness, initiatives as …

Industry-Experienced Graduate Student Program: Innovative Collaboration In Architectural Engineering At The University Of Nebraska–Lincoln, Clarence E. Waters, Steve Alvine, Michelle L. Eble-Hankins

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

In 2001, the Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, along with industry partners, established an industry-experienced graduate student program. The program was developed to bring experienced design professionals to collaborate with the industry while pursuing a Ph.D. in architectural engineering. This program is designed to be mutually beneficial to industry partners, -graduate students, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Architectural Engineering Department, and the building industry at large. The first doctoral candidate in the program graduated, and significant collaborative work was completed for the industry partner. All parties to this initial offering are pleased with the outcome and believe the …

Toward A Technology Management Core: Defining What The Technology Manager Needs To Know, Mark Doggett, Pam Mcgee, Sophia Scott

SEAS Faculty Publications

With the increasing demands on organizations to do “more with less,” and produce acceptable market results, productivity and performance standards continually raise the expectations on competitive success. To meet these expectations, organizations should create learning opportunities that combine the application of technical management skills along with the softer skills involved in people management. Technical managers with little training or past experience with nontechnical skills often perform poorly in technical management positions (Kroecker, 2007). Because this generation lives in a highly technical environment, managers need to be proficient in dealing with knowledge workers and systems; therefore, there is a growing emphasis …

The Loughcrew Hills And Passage Tomb Complex, Frank Prendergast

Books/Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Marco, Micro, Structure, Agency: Analysing Approaches To Engineering Ethics, Eddie Conlon

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Natural Convection In An Internally Finned Phase Change Material Heat Sink For The Thermal Management Of Photovoltaics, M. J. Huang, P. C. Eames, Brian Norton, N. J. Hewitt

Articles

Elevated operating temperatures reduce the solar to electrical conversion efficiency of building integrated photovoltaic devices (BIPV). Phase change materials (PCM) can be used to passively limit this temperature rise although their effectiveness is limited by their low thermal conductivities and by crystallization segregation during solidification. This paper presents an experimental evaluation of the effects of convection and crystalline segregation in a PCM as a function of efficiency of heat transfer within the finned PV/PCM system. The thermal performances of bulk PCM with crystallization segregation for different internal fin arrangements are presented. It is noted that the addition of internal fins …

Successful Engineering And Technology Student Mobility: Key Student Perspectives And Quality Determinants Before, During And After Student Exchange Under The Atlantis Programme, Mike Murphy, Donal Mchale, Michael Dyrenfurth, James Barnes

Articles

The EU-US Agreement through the Atlantis Programmes supports consortia of higher education and training institutions working together at undergraduate or graduate level to improve their educational services, to compare and modernise curricula and to develop joint study programmes with full recognition of credits and qualifications. The EU-US Atlantis Programme funds innovative projects across three strands: mobility projects, double or joint “transatlantic degrees” for students in the EU and US and policy-oriented measures. The main focus of activities must be on transatlantic rather than intra-European or intra-American interactions. Funded activities, such as the development of curricula, joint study programmes, exchanges and …

An International Comparison Of Engineering Programs In Their Emphases And Professional Skills Development, Gul Okudan Kremer, Mike Murphy, Brian Bowe

Articles

In the face of grand challenges for engineering, several efforts have been undertaken to identify the vision for what we should expect from our undergraduate engineering students. For example, one of the significant reports indicates that our graduates should aspire “to have the ingenuity of Lillian Gilbreth, the problem solving capabilities of Gordon Moore, the scientific insight of Albert Einstein, the creativity of Pablo Picasso, the determination of the Wright brothers, the leadership abilities of Bill Gates, the conscience of Eleanor Roosevelt, the vision of Martin Luther King, and the curiosity and wonder of our grandchildren.” This statement implies that …

Critical Issues And Lessons Learned In Establishing Concurrent International Ms Degree Programs In Engineering Technology, Mike Murphy, Michael Dyrenfurth, Gary Bertoline, Robert Herrick, Kathryne Newton, Sancho Maria-Ribera, Nuria Castell, James Barnes, Matthias Kuder, Gareth O'Donnell

Articles

Globalization, competitiveness, and innovation are frequently employed themes as governments, business and industry and universities attempt to respond to the challenges facing them. Clearly business as usual is not likely to be successful in the future. One strategic response for universities has been a significant impetus – in many parts of the world – towards dual, joint or concurrent degree programs involving international partners. It is perhaps not surprising that engineering is among the disciplines that make most use of international collaboration but it seems that engineering technology programs do not yet participate as extensively in this aspect of international …

Community-Based Internet Usage Policy Development, Mashael Alhawsah

Students Learning with Communities

The Internet is a tool for learning and obtaining a vast amount of information, but it is a tool which also has associated problems. The number of risks associated with the internet has been increasing both in number and in danger. As a result, protection measures must be developed to minimize the risks. One of the most important groups of such measures are Internet Usage Policies. An Internet Usage Policy addresses the problem by providing a set of guideline to be followed which minimize the risks. This dissertation investigates the development of Internet Usage Policy with the assistance of the …

Tempo Detection Using A Hybrid Multi-Band Approach, Mikel Gainza, Eugene Coyle

Articles

In this paper, a novel tempo detection system is presented, which suggests the use of a hybrid multiband decomposition. The model tracks the periodicities of different signal property changes that manifest within different frequency bands by using the most appropriate onset/transient detectors for each frequency band. In addition, the proposed system applies a novel method to weight tempo candidates. Each contribution is evaluated by comparing the presented system against existing approaches using three different databases that comprises 1638 songs. These databases include the two publicly available database of songs used in the tempo evaluation contest of ISMIR 2004. These songs …

Role Of Information On Probability Of Traffic Conflict On The Onset Of Yellow, Nathaniel P. Burnett, Anuj Sharma

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This paper examines the effect of information provided to drivers through advance warning flashers (AWFs) on driver’s probability of conflict at the onset of yellow at a high-speed intersection. AWFs are specifically designed to minimize the number of vehicles trapped in their respective dilemma zones at the onset of yellow. A probit modeling technique was used to establish dilemma zone boundaries. Based on the dilemma zone boundaries probability of a perceived conflict curves was computed and compared against actual conflicts observed at each of the studied intersections. The comparison between the actual and theoretical probability of conflict curves generated a …