Design optimization of structures has become an important method to study and develop these days. Due to the fact that the world's population is increasing, and the worlds' resources are decreasing. An optimum design algorithm is a useful tool that can help to minimize the weight of a structure. Over the last four decades, several number of algorithms have been developed to solve engineering optimization problems, for example, metaheuristic algorithms. An example of metaheuristic algorithms is the Harmony Search algorithm (HS). HS algorithms make use of the analogy between the performance process of natural music and searching for solutions to optimization problems. In this research, the HS was applied on the College of Engineering Building at Temple University Main Campus in Philadelphia, PA. The HS algorithm searches for minimum cross-sectional areas that leads to find optimal steel sizes considering design constrains such as: stress, deflection, and lateral displacement limitations. The HS algorithm obtained lighter weight of steel frames by selecting a suitable steel section from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and by following the specification of Allowable Stress Design method (ASD). The results show that HS yielded lighter steel moment frames with approximately 20% weight reduction. Keywords: Harmony Search Algorithm, Steel Moment Frame, Optimization. / Civil Engineering

The partial differential equations of motion for an uncontrolled distributed structure can be transformed into a set of independent modal equations by means of the system eigenfunctions. In vibration analysis, the modal coordinates are referred to as natural coordinates. Active control forces generally recouple the modal equations so that the natural coordinates for the open-loop (uncontrolled) system cease to be natural coordinates for the closedloop (controlled) system. Control of this form is known as coupled control. In contrast, it is shown that a method known as the independent modal-space control method is a natural control method; i.e., the natural coordinates of the open-loop system and of the closed-loop system are identical. Furthermore, it is shown that natural control provides a unique and globally optimal closed-form solution to the linear optimal control problem for the distributed structure. The optimal control forces are ideally distributed. If implementation of distributed control is not feasible, then the distributed control forces can be approximated by finite-dimensional control forces. The class of self-adjoint systems are first considered following a treatment of non-self-adjoint systems. Numerical examples of a beam, a membrane and a whirling shaft are presented. In general, the eigenquantities for a distributed structure cannot be computed in closed-form, so that spatial discretization of the differential eigenvalue problem is necessary. A common discretization method is the finite element method leading to a discrete eigenvalue problem. Two bracketing theorems characterizing convergence of the discrete eigenvalue problem derived by the finite element method to the differential eigenvalue problem are formulated. The independent modal-space control method requires as many actuators as controlled modes. In contrast, coupled control is capable of controlling any number of modes using a single actuator, provided controllability is ensured. However, coupled control is sensitive to errors in the system parameters. As a compromise between coupled control and independent mbdal-space control, a block-independent control method is developed in which blocks of modes are controlled independently. The performances of independent modal-space control, coupled control and block-independent control are compared. / Ph. D.

The objectives of this experimentally and to simulate study were to implement theoretically a method of active vibration control, known as modal-space control, on a relatively simple beam-cable structure. The control was implemented in analog form and provided modal viscous damping in each of the three modes of the structure. Transient response to initial conditions was analyzed experimentally and theoretically. Control hardware included permanent magnet-coil systems for the three control force actuators and the single velocity sensor, and an analog controller built around integrated circuit operational amplifiers. This thesis compares open-loop experimental response and closed-loop experimental and theoretical response on the basis of Fast Fourier Transforms of transient time data. / M.S.

The beef cattle industry has placed increased focus on mature cow size as a result of its influence on production efficiency and profitability. The objectives of this study were to evaluate relationships among lifetime measures of body weight (BW) and frame score (FS) in commercial beef females, and to assess the value of immature measures as predictors of mature cow size. Measurements of BW, hip height (HH), body condition score (BCS), and calculated FS were recorded at weaning (WN), breeding at 13 mo age (BR), and 8 subsequent periods, ceasing at approximately 5 yr of age for 232 Angus-cross females born 2004 through 2008. Correlation analysis revealed significant (P < 0.001) relationships among BW taken at WN and BR with BW measurements taken at 2.5, 3.8, and 4.8 yr of age (WN r = 0.70, 0.51, 0.61; BR r = 0.65, 0.57, 0.64, respectively). Significant relationships (P < 0.001) existed between FS collected at WN and BR, and FS at 2.5 and 3.8 yr (WN= 0.70, 0.72; BR= 0.79, 0.82, respectively). Repeatability of lifetime FS measures was 0.73. BCS was a significant (P < 0.001) source of variation in mature BW, with a unit change in BCS accounting for 41 kg BW change at 4.8 yr (P < 0.001). BW and FS were moderately to strongly related (P < 0.001) at WN, BR, 2.5, 3.8, and 4.8 yr (r = 0.62, 0.49, 0.62, 0.62, and 0.47 respectively). Prediction models for BW at 4.8 yr were similar using weaning BW alone, or with inclusion of both weaning BW and HH (R2 = 0.57 and 0.56). Similarly, breeding BW and HH were non-additive for prediction of 4.8 yr BW (R2 = 0.68, 0.58, and 0.68 for BW, HH, and BW +HH respectively). Performance at immature ages proves to be a satisfactory indicator of mature size, supporting continued incorporation of immature BW and HH and/or FS measurements into selection practices. / Master of Science

This thesis explores the framing of graphical qualities of the passenger train and the city of Roanoke, Virginia. A passenger train station frames these icons and brings people directly to the train. This framing creates a new icon for the city. An area on the train tracks is revitalized and creates a permeable threshold into and out of the city. / Master of Architecture

Folding: A House is a study of the continuity of floor, wall and ceiling within the context of a house. With this method of continuity through folding, a strong directionality occurs within the spaces. The relationship among the different folds and between the folds and their enclosures is a syntactical relationship. Each fold slips in and past the previous fold. The forty-five degree rotation of the house on the forty-five degree sloped hill site allows for four fundamentally different relationships of house to ground and the surrounding views. The closed and open spaces inherently created within the folds directly relate to these differentiated views. / Master of Architecture

The control problem of a large-order flexible system in the form of a beam-lattice is presented using the Independent Modal-Space Control (IMSC) method. The method is based on a transformation of the system equations of motion to modal space, yielding internally independent modal equations of motion. The control laws are designed in the modal space, permitting independent control of each mode, providing complete decoupling of the equations of motion. Linear optimal control with quadratic performance index is designed to control the response of the elastic as well as the rigid body modes, using the IMSC method. Actuators placement is of fundamental importance in the control of two-dimensional domains if IMSC is used. A method is presented as to the selection of actuators configuration in order to avoid singularity in the mode participation matrix, guaranteeing system controllability. The minimum-fuel problem is a very important one in the design of various space structures. Solution of the minimum-fuel problem is feasible in a coupled form for a fourth order system at most, but will be of insurmountable computational difficulty in the control of a flexible structure, since the model of such system will require a large number of degrees of freedom. A reformulation of the problem in the framework of "Modal Minimum-Fuel Problem" is presented, using the IMSC method. By this method, the complexity inherent in a high-order system is reduced, thus treatment of the coupled high-order system is avoided. Numerical examples for linear optimal control, with quadratic performance index, as well as for the minimum-fuel problem, are presented. / Ph. D.

There are many forces at work in a design process. Each element of a design sketch reacts to ones before and after it. As a designer, one must be able to look at each individually and as part of the whole. In addition, the ideals and experiences brought to a project works its magic as well. It is the tension and the balance between the elements and ideals that create architecture. With a Bed and Breakfast as a project vehicle, the connection to the site, the relationship between public and private areas, and how the materials and structure form spaces were studied. These considerations led to a process of discovery and the challenge to weave the site, structure, and materials in a cohesive design. / Master of Architecture

This study examined attitudes and behavioral responses to a social marketing campaign's video messages. Independent variables in the study were the regulatory framing of the campaign message, personal involvement, and collective efficacy. Results revealed main effects of both collective efficacy and personal involvement on attitude toward the brand, attitude toward the issues, and behavioral intentions. Significant interactions between collective efficacy and the regulatory frame of the video were found to affect the dependent variables. Gender was also found to significantly moderate the findings. Theoretical implications and practical implications are discussed. / Master of Arts

Motivated by the example of the tangent bundle of a stratified space, which is no longer a vector bundle, we begin the construction of a general theory of smooth stratified vector bundles. We show that one can construct a frame bundle of a smooth stratified vector bundle in a canonical way, but that there are substantial obstructions to constructing an orthonormal frame bundle. / Master of Science / Smooth manifolds are the natural class of spaces on which we can perform the normal operations of calculus. There have been many efforts to generalize the class of spaces on which one can perform these operations. One possible class are stratified spaces, which are spaces that are built out of smooth manifolds in sufficiently nice ways. Spaces such as vector bundles and their frame bundles play a central role in the smooth manifold theory, and here we begin the development of the appropriate corresponding theory for stratified spaces.