Indoor thermal comfort in residential buildings is usually achieved by tenants manually adjusting fixed temperature set-points; this is known as a 'static' method. Prior research has explored automated control of thermal comfort based on the concept of a Predicted Mean Vote (PMV…
Machine automation and atmospheric monitoring are used by many industries to improve safety and productivity in the workplace. The underground Methane Watchdog System (MWS) is a multi-nodal network of sensors currently under development. The MWS aims to improve safety and produc…
Energy data management is imperative to the understanding of complex building systems and is necessary to make operational decisions and changes that reduce energy spending and carbon emissions. This thesis details the implementation of a data management software (OSI PI)at 41 C…
Self-reacting friction stir welding (SR-FSW) is one of the processes used in the fabrication of the liquid oxygen and hydrogen tanks that comprise NASA’s Space Launch System’s (SLS) rocket. The SR-FSW tool assembly both clamps and stirs the material by means of rotation and tran…
The structures comprising the human auditory periphery each perform unique functions to direct incoming sound, provide frequency-dependent gain, match impedance between air and liquids, and decompose the signal into its component frequencies. However, conductive and sensorineura…
The work presented here concerns the use of sapphire-based layered composites to increase the level of protection for eyewear applications. We analyze the dynamic behavior of sapphire and constitutive properties of polycarbonate, which are the materials involved in the composite…
In conjunction with the continuity equation, the Cauchy equation forms the basis in formulating existing wind turbine (WT) aerodynamics theories such as the actuator disk (ADT), rotating annular stream-tube (RAST) and blade element momentum (BEMT) theories. An alternative vortex…
The materials available to society define the substance of civilization. Continuous innovations in material science through history have enabled groundbreaking applications and technologies. The emergence of smart materials is revolutionizing the way we interact with everyday ob…
Composite materials, such as metal- and polymer-matrix composites, exhibit both elastic (conservative) and viscous (dissipative) features while deforming under com- plex loading histories. Modeling this viscoelastic behavior remains a challenging task, despite the significant ad…
This dissertation examines the interconnected problems of (i) analyzing and (ii) optimizing the impact of a multi-compartment dynamic system's input history on the identifiability of its parameters. Identifiability refers to the feasibility and accuracy with which a system's par…
Creep and creep-corrosion, which are the most important degradation mechanisms in structures such as piping used in the nuclear, chemical and petroleum industries, have been studied. Sixty two creep equations have been identified, and further classified into two simple groups of…
The method of Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium (RCCE) has been further developed to study the combustion of CH4/Air and C 2H5OH/O2/Diluent mixtures. The method is based on local maximization of entropy or minimization of a relevant free energy at any time during the non-e…
Thermal energy storage is a major contributor to bridge the gap between energy demand (consumption) and energy production (supply) by concentrating solar power. The utilization of high latent heat storage capability of phase change materials is one of the keys to an efficient wa…
This thesis presents an accurate and robust method to determine the angular position of a rotary manipulator using artificial neural network (ANN). A bias type, single degree of freedom rotary manipulator actuated by shape memory alloy (SMA) is used. During the operation of rota…
Determination of thermal radiation energy plays an important role in the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modeling of combustion devices. For this purpose, many gas radiation models have been developed and used. These models vary in their accuracy and complexity. In this study,…
Common metals for stable long-term implants (e.g. stainless steel, Titanium, and Titanium alloys) are much stiffer than spongy cancellous and even stiffer than cortical bone. When bone and implant are loaded this stiffness mismatch results in stress shielding and as a consequenc…
Cranes are used worldwide for transportation and material handling in a variety of industries and facilities, including manufacturing industries, shipyards, and warehouses. Safety and efficiency in crane operations are a concern, since these issues are closely related to product…
The objective of this thesis was to develop a novel understanding of the mechanics of two phase gas-liquid flows and sprays injected through industrial effervescent nozzles. This was done using detailed experimental investigations and scaling for two-phase flows and sprays. This…
Glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite sections, manufactured through pultrusion process, are known for their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity, electric and magnetic transparency, low life cycle cost and ease of fabrication. …