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Three different void content calculation techniques using optical microscopy werecompared in multiple-user trials. The three methods studied comprised of a selection,thresholding, and semi-automatic machine learning method. The techniques wereapplied to micrographs of three carbon fiber-epoxy composite plates manufacturedin-house, where one plate had reduced void content by means of debulking priorto curing. The users performed the techniques on the sets of micrographs and thestandard deviation between the users void content results were measured.The advantages of the three methods were discussed and their practical applications wereproposed. The trials showed agreement between users on what are voids and not as well asshowing that uncertainties in void content are specimen-specific and not attributed todifferent users or methods applied. All three methods showed satisfying precision incalculating void content compared to void content quality levels provided by literature.It was found that thresholding, which is the current standard method of void contentcalculation using microscopy, inhabits an unscientific bias which compromises the legitimacyof the method. The study formulates a manual selection-based method usingedge-detection selection tools intended to benchmark void content in images, as wellas proposing a route to the automation of void content analysis using microscopy. / Tre olika beräkningstekniker för kavitetshalter med hjälp av mikroskopi jämfördes genom fleranvändar-tester. De tre metoderna innefattade en selektions-metod, tröskelvärdesmetod, och en övervakad maskininlärningsmetod. Metoderna applicerades på mikrografer av tre kolfiber-epoxi kompositplattor tillverkade internt, varav en platta hade reducerad kavitetshalt genom en avbulkningsprocess innan härdning. Användarna genomförde metoderna på mikrograferna och standardavvikelsen mellan användarnas resulterande kavitetshalter mättes. För- och nackdelarna hos de tre metoderna diskuterades och deras praktiska applikationer föreslogs. Testerna visade en överensstämmelse mellan användare om vad som omfattar kaviteter och inte, samt en påvisning på att osäkerheter kring kavitetshalter är provbitberoende och inte användar- eller metodberoende. Alla tre metoder uppvisade en tillfredsställande precision i kavitethaltsberäkning jämfört med kvalitetsnivåer av kavitethalter erhållna från litteratur. Det konstaterades att tröskelvärdesmetoden, vilket är nuvarande standardmetoden för kavitethaltsberäkning med mikroskopi, innehar en bias som sätter validiteten av metoden i fråga. Studien formulerar även en manuell selektions-metod som använder selektions-verktyg för randdetektering, ämnad för att hitta referensvärden för kavitetshalter. Förslag ges även kring tillvägagångssättet till att uppnå automatiserade metoder för kavitethaltsberäkning.

This thesis contains the details of an experimental study on the local void fraction measurements in large-diameter vertical pipes using optical fiber probes. The experiments were conducted in vertical transparent acrylic pipe of a 20-cm diameter. An experimental test facility used for performing of experiments, was designed as a low-pressure air-water loop, which can operate in either a natural circulation mode or a forced circulation mode. Radial void fraction profiles were measured using an optical fiber probe. An average cross-sectional void fraction was calculated by integration of the data obtained by the optical fiber probe. The average void fraction was also calculated using two-phase pressure-drop measurements . The results were compared and the resulting good accuracy of the optical fiber probe was determined. The flow regime results were plotted in terms of superficial gas and liquid velocities using flow regime maps of several researchers. Absence of the slug flow regime in large-diameter pipes was observed during the experiments. The data were correlated using the drift-flux model. A near unity distribution parameter showed that nearly uniform radial distribution of the void fraction dominates in two-phase flow through large-diameter vertical pipes. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Void fraction is an essential parameter for understanding the interfacial structure, and heat and mass transfer mechanisms in various gas-liquid flow systems. It becomes critically important to accurately measure void fraction as advanced high fidelity two-phase flow models require high-quality validation data. However, void fraction measurement remains a challenging task to date due to the complexity and rapid-changing characteristic of the gas-liquid boundary flow structure. This study aims to develop an advanced void fraction measurement system based on x-ray and fast line detector technologies. The dissertation has covered the major components necessary to develop a complete measurement system. Spectral analysis of x-ray attenuation in two-phase flow has been performed, and a new void fraction model is developed based on the analysis. The newly developed pixel-to-radial conversion algorithm is capable of converting measured void fraction along with the detector array to the radial distribution in a circular pipe for a wide range of void fraction conditions. The x-ray system attains the radial distributions of key measurable factors such as void fraction and gas velocity. The data are compared with the double-sensor conductivity probe and gas flowmeter for various flow conditions. The results show reasonable agreements between the x-ray and the other measurement techniques. Finally, various 2-D tomography algorithms are implemented for the non-axisymmetric two-phase flow reconstruction. A comprehensive summary of classical absorption tomography for the two-phase flow study is provided. An in-depth sensitivity study is carried out using synthetic bubbles, aiming to investigate the effect of various uncertainty factors such as background noise, off-center shift, void profile effect, etc. The sensitivity study provides a general guideline for the performance of existing 2-D reconstruction algorithms. / Doctor of Philosophy / Gas-liquid flow phenomenon exists in an extensive range of natural and engineering systems, for example, hydraulic pipelines in a nuclear reactor, heat exchanger, pump cavitation, and boilers in the gas-fired power stations. Accurate measurement of the void fraction is essential to understand the behaviors of the two-phase flow phenomenon. However, measuring void fraction distribution in two-phase flow is a difficult task due to its complex and fast-changing interfacial structure. This study developed a comprehensive suite of the non-intrusive x-ray measurement techniques, and a pixel-to-radial conversion algorithm to process the line- and time-averaged void fraction information. The newly developed algorithm, called the Area-based Onion-Peeling (ABOP) method, can convert the pixel measurement to the radial void fraction distribution, which is more useful for studying and modeling axisymmetric flows. Various flow conditions are measured and evaluated for the benchmarking of the algorithm. Finally, classical 2-D reconstruction algorithms are investigated for the void fraction measurement in non-axisymmetric flows. A comprehensive summary of the performance of these algorithms for a two-phase flow study is provided. An in-depth sensitivity study using synthetic bubbles has been performed to examine the effect of uncertainty factors and to benchmark the algorithms for the non-axisymmetric flows.

Measuring void fraction distribution in two-phase flow has been a challenging task for many decades because of its complex and fast-changing interfacial structure. In this study, a non-intrusive X-ray measurement system is developed and calibrated to mitigate this challenge. This approach has several advantages over the conventional methods such as the multi-sensor conductivity probe, wire-mesh sensor, impedance void meter, or direct optical imaging. The X-ray densitometry technique is non-intrusive, insensitive to flow regime changes, capable of measuring high temperature or high-pressure flows, and has reasonable penetration depth. With the advancement of detector technology, the system developed in this work can further achieve high spatial resolution (100 micron per pixel) and high temporal resolution (1000 frames per second). This work mainly focuses on the following aspects of the system development: establishing a geometrical model for the line detector system, conducting spectral analysis for X-ray attenuation in two-phase flow, and performing calibration tests. The geometrical model has considered the measurement plane, geometry of the test-section wall and flow channel, relative position of the X-ray source and detector pixels. By assuming axisymmetry, an algorithm has been developed to convert void fraction distribution along the detector pixels to the radial void profile in a circular pipe. The X-ray spectral analysis yielded a novel prediction model for non-chromatic X-rays and non-uniform structure materials such as the internal two-phase flow which contains gas, liquid and solid wall materials. A calibration experiment has been carried out to optimize the detector conversion factor for each detector pixels. Finally, the data measured by the developed X-ray system are compared with the double-sensor conductivity probe and gas flow meter for sample bubbly flow and slug flow conditions. The results show reasonable agreement between these different measuring techniques. / Master of Science

what follows is a relatively concise attempt at designing a place that would contain spaces of quietude, solitude and interaction through architectural qualities such as light and shadow, mass and void along with materials and layering. enjoyable and relaxing spaces that would last in one's memory. Hoping that these qualities would engrave a beautiful mark on one's soul even when they are no longer at that place. a complex of thermal baths in the city of isfahan, iran, a city rich in culture, made this exploration of mine pursuable and possible. / Master of Architecture

The objective of this study is to characterize the properties of typically adopted drainage layer materials in VA, OK, and ID. A series of laboratory tests have been conducted to quantify the volumetric properties, permeability and mechanical properties of the laboratory-compacted asphalt treated and cement treated permeable base specimens. The modified test protocols to determine the dynamic modulus of the drainage layer materials have been provided, which can be followed to determine the dynamic modulus of the drainage layers as level 1 input in Mechanistic-Empirical (M-E) pavement design. The measured dynamic moduli have been used to calibrate the original NCHRP 1-37A model to facilitate its application on drainage layer materials for prediction of the dynamic modulus as level 2 input. The compressive strength of the cement treated permeable base mixture of different air void contents has also been quantified in laboratory. Numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the location effects and the contribution of the drainage layer as a structural component within pavement. The optimal air void content of the drainage layer is recommended for Virginia, Oklahoma and Idaho based on the laboratory-determined permeability and the predicted pavement performances during 20-year service life. / Ph. D.

It is not uncommon for underground coal mining to be conducted in the proximity of abandoned underground mines that are prone to accumulate water, methane or other toxic gases, and are often either poorly mapped or without good surface survey control. Mining into such abandoned voids poses a great safety risk to personnel, equipment, and production from inundation or toxic/explosive gas release. Often, surface or underground drilling is employed to detect the mine void and evaluate the hazards, sometimes with disastrous results. The use of guided waves within coal seams can be utilized to locate voids, faults, and abrupt seam thickness changes. The use of seam waves for void detection and mine planning has tremendous value and use. To demonstrate the feasibility of abandoned mine void detection utilizing coal seam seismic waves, two in-seam reflection surveys and a transmission survey were acquired at an abandoned underground mine near Hurley, Virginia. Numerical modeling of the seam waves was examined as well. The Airy phase was observed in the synthetic and real field data. Dispersion analysis of the field data shows reasonable agreement with the dispersion characteristics of the synthetic data. Using standard commonly available seismic reflection processing tools, a known and well-mapped mine was detected and located. Detection of the mine with both surveys indicates that ``exploratory'' drilling can be replaced by noninvasive seismic methods. Location, however, was not good enough to replace drilling entirely. Hence seismic methods can be used for detection, but if a potential void is detected, focused drilling should be applied for accurate mapping and circumvention of potentially hazardous areas. / Master of Science

A discussion concerning the frame, foundation, midsection and stair of the Odd Fellows Lodge. Influenced by the precedents of rural Virginia's pragmatic building techniques and the personal and poetic work of architect Carlo Scarpa, the interventions to the Lodge maintain its gentle existence while asserting a new presence as an introduction to downtown Blacksburg. / Master of Architecture

The character of an urban void is defined by the built surrounding which determines the appearance and the function of the enclosed space. In modelling urban form, three major zones corresponding to this phenomenon may be distinguished: 1. Core 2. Transition Zone 3. Surrounding The transition zone contains the capacity to determine the prospective character of the framed void. It offers the possibility to intervene in the existing urban form, not by filling, but by emptying it. The void experiences a transformation from a neglected urban object to a clearly identified urban subject. This threshold towards the void serves as a mediating element between the two coexisting situations. It acts as a "coulisse" of an urban theater towards the void. / Master of Architecture