The goal of this research is to investigate computational and experimental techniques to effectively analyze microscale fluid dynamics, transport, and mixing of an analyte-antibody system. This work is applicable to the development of an in-plane, passive mixer component of a miniature antibody-based sensor suitable for environmental monitoring, food testing, and medical diagnostics. The computational methods allow the efficient evaluation of microchannel designs to enhance analyte-antibody binding, which may reduce the time and cost required for experimental trials. We describe a computational algorithm to solve the governing equations for microscale fluid flow and transport in complex 2-D domains created through a graphical user interface. We implement the particle strength exchange method to solve the convection-diffusion-reaction equations, coupled to the boundary element method to compute the velocity field from the steady state Stokes equations. We validate the numerical methods by comparison to analytical and finite element method solutions. Because the chosen methods require no internal mesh, our algorithm provides an efficient alternative to grid-based methods when solving transport in complex geometries with internal obstacles. We characterize two fluorescein-antibody clones through competitive ELISA experiments and demonstrate the quenching effect of the antibodies with a fluorescence spectrophotometer. We describe a microchannel flow system to image the quenching of fluorescence by the antibody when fluorescein and fluorescein-antibody solutions are injected into separate inlets of the microchannel. We correlate the fluorescence intensity of microscope images of fluorescein flowing through the microchannel to concentrations of fluorescein to establish a calibration curve. This system provides a method to visualize and quantitatively analyze the mixing and reaction in a microfluidic device. We test the numerical methods by comparing the experimentally determined fluorescein concentration to the outlet amount numerically predicted by the computational model under identical conditions and find good agreement between the two fluorescein concentration profiles. We complete the transport-reaction computation in a set of microchannels with cylindrical obstructions. We find that decreasing the channel width and increasing the fluid path length by placing the obstruction on the walls is more effective than placing free-standing obstructions within the channel to enhance the fluorescein and fluorescein-antibody reaction. / acase@tulane.edu

<p>The development in electronics increases the demand for good design methods and design tools in the field of electrical engeneering. To improve their design methods Ericsson Microwave Systems AB is interested in using computer tools to create a link between the specification and the implementation of a digital system in a FPGA. </p><p>Xilinx System Generator for DSP is a tool for implementing a model of a digital signalprocessing algorithm in a Xilinx FPGA. To evaluate Xilinx System Generator two testcases has been designed. </p><p>The testcases are selected to represent the FPGA designs made at Ericsson Microwave Systems. The testcases show that Xilinx System Generator can be used to effectivly implement a model made in Simulink in a FPGA from Xilinx. The result of the implementation is comparable to the implementation of VHDL code written by hand. </p><p>The use of tools for implementation of a model in hardware cause change in the design methods used at Ericsson Microwave Systems. The higher level of abstraction introduced by System Generator results in the design decisions made at system level having a higher impact on the final realization.</p>

The development in electronics increases the demand for good design methods and design tools in the field of electrical engeneering. To improve their design methods Ericsson Microwave Systems AB is interested in using computer tools to create a link between the specification and the implementation of a digital system in a FPGA. Xilinx System Generator for DSP is a tool for implementing a model of a digital signalprocessing algorithm in a Xilinx FPGA. To evaluate Xilinx System Generator two testcases has been designed. The testcases are selected to represent the FPGA designs made at Ericsson Microwave Systems. The testcases show that Xilinx System Generator can be used to effectivly implement a model made in Simulink in a FPGA from Xilinx. The result of the implementation is comparable to the implementation of VHDL code written by hand. The use of tools for implementation of a model in hardware cause change in the design methods used at Ericsson Microwave Systems. The higher level of abstraction introduced by System Generator results in the design decisions made at system level having a higher impact on the final realization.

Axial compressors are widely used in many aerodynamic applications. The design of an axial compressor configuration presents many challenges. Until recently, compressor design was done using 2-D viscous flow analyses that solve the flow field around cascades or in meridional planes or 3-D inviscid analyses. With the advent of modern computational methods it is now possible to analyze the 3-D viscous flow and accurately predict the performance of 3-D multistage compressors. It is necessary to retool the design methodologies to take advantage of the improved accuracy and physical fidelity of these advanced methods. In this study, a first-principles based multi-objective technique for designing single stage compressors is described. The study accounts for stage aerodynamic characteristics, rotor-stator interactions and blade elastic deformations. A parametric representation of compressor blades that include leading and trailing edge camber line angles, thickness and camber distributions was used in this study A design of experiment approach is used to reduce the large combinations of design variables into a smaller subset. A response surface method is used to approximately map the output variables as a function of design variables. An optimized configuration is determined as the extremum of all extrema. This method has been applied to a rotor-stator stage similar to NASA Stage 35. The study has two parts: a preliminary study where a limited number of design variables were used to give an understanding of the important design variables for subsequent use, and a comprehensive application of the methodology where a larger, more complete set of design variables are used. The extended methodology also attempts to minimize the acoustic fluctuations at the rotor-stator interface by considering a rotor-wake influence coefficient (RWIC). Results presented include performance map calculations at design and off-design speed along with a detailed visualization of the flow field at design and off-design conditions. The present methodology provides a way to systematically screening through the plethora of design variables. By selecting the most influential design parameters and by optimizing the blade leading edge and trailing edge mean camber line angles, phenomenon s such as tip blockages, blade-to-blade shock structures and other loss mechanisms can be weakened or alleviated. It is found that these changes to the configuration can have a beneficial effect on total pressure ratio and stage adiabatic efficiency, thereby improving the performance of the axial compression system. Aeroacoustic benefits were found by minimizing the noise generating mechanisms associated with rotor wake-stator interactions. The new method presented is reliable, low time cost, and easily applicable to industry daily design optimization of turbomachinery blades.

Standardization, flexibility and transparency had been the eminent keywords of Modern Architecture that have also provided material for the re-interpretation and re-production of several discussions on concepts like &lsquo / form&rsquo / and &lsquo / function&rsquo / in architecture. This study is an inquiry into a number of different interpretations that scrutinize the intricate relationship between architectural form and function in the 20th century with respect to the concepts defined above. The conceptualization of this thesis will be based on the assumption that function is an inadequate and weak concept for the generation of architectural form. It is in this context that form is accepted as an architectural &ldquo / fragment&rdquo / that attains its autonomy not from the strictures imposed by other architectural fragment like &lsquo / function&rsquo / , &lsquo / structure&rsquo / , &lsquo / program&rsquo / and &lsquo / site / but from an infinite number of internal relationships or &lsquo / design tools&rsquo / as we call. The aim of this study is to propose a project for &ldquo / A Multi &ndash / Functional Hall at METU&rdquo / which has the capability of expanding its limits in future, both physically and conceptually / and investigate the &lsquo / design tools&rsquo / that will direct the steps of transformations in the process of architectural production. Within this framework, the investigation is concerned with the production of a flexible, unstable and indeterminant building, focused on the concepts of &lsquo / transformation of space&rsquo / and &lsquo / constant change&rsquo / , that could be re-designed and re-generated in respect to possible future transformations in the program. Thus, architectural production is defined merely as a &lsquo / step&rsquo / or a &lsquo / snap-shot&rsquo / , controlled by the design tools suggesting the solutions for an ever-lasting transformation as the conditions change.

O processo de seleção de alternativas é uma das atividades do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produto (PDP) que visa avaliar as configurações de soluções de um prob lema, para que sejam selecionadas as alternativas mais condizentes com as delimitações de um projeto. Dada a complexidade dessa tarefa, existem técnicas sistematizadas para auxiliar essa tomada de decisão, que são formalizadas e proporcionam visualização, ordem e lógica no processo. Contudo, verificou-se o desinteresse por parte de designers na utilização dessas, devido à falta de intimidade com as mesmas, dificuldades na aplicação e crença em processos não fo rmais para esta ava liação. Por sua vez, técnicas são ap licadas por meio de ferramentas, e essas tem a possibilidade de serem configuradas para aplicar uma ou mais técnicas de outras maneiras. Por isso, o problema desta pesquisa é: como incorporar técnicas sistemáticas de seleção de al ternativas no Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos de fo rma a estimular e facilitar o uso destas técnicas? Sob a hipótese de que uma ferramenta lúdica resolva este problema, o objetivo principal do trabalho é o desenvolvimento de um jogo como ferramenta de projeto para a aplicação de técnicas sistemáticas de seleção de alternativas por equipes de design de produto. Para isso foram mapeadas as principais dificuldades dos designers em relação ao processo de seleção e compreendeu-se as causas da abstenção das técnicas. Após, foi realizado o levantamento de técnicas sistemáticas de seleção de alternativas com base em autores de metodologias projetuais, rea lizada a triagem, descrição e análises aprofundadas sobre recursos, funcionamento e Auxo, que resultou na caracterização de onze técn icas aplicáveis no processo de seleção. Em seguida, foi feita a distinção do jogo como ferramenta de projeto e levantados os elementos essenciais para sua configuração e efetividade quanto ao estímulo - princípio de motivação. Com base nas informações coletadas, foi desenvolvido um jogo de plataforma física para realização do processo de se leção de alternativas, que contempla uma ordem de utilização das técn icas, reconfiguradas de forma a estimular e facilitar a sua ap licação. Por fim, realizou-se uma verificação da jogabilidade quanto à aplicação das técnicas, com base em playtests iniciais, rea lizados com um modelo funcional do jogo. / The process of concept selection one of the activities of Product Development Process (PDP), which aims ro evaluate the solutions of a design problem, ro se lect the most consistem alternatives to the requirements of a project. Given the complexity of this task, there are systematized techniques to assist this decision-making, which are formalized and provide visualization, arder and logic in the process. However, there was a disi nterest of designers in the use of such, dueto lack of intimacy with them, difficul ties in applying and belief in a non-formal process for rhis evaluation.ln rurn, the techniques are applied rhrough tools, and these have rhe ability to be configured to apply one or more techniques in orher ways. The research problem that emerges from this question is: how to incorporare systematic techniques of concept selection in the Product Development Process in arder to stimulare and facilitare the use of these techniques? Based on a hypothesis that a ludic tool could solve this, the main goal of this work is to develop a game as a project tool for the application of systematic techniques of concept selecrion for producr design teams. To this, the main di fficulties in rhe selection process were mapped and the abstention of techniques were understood. Afrer th at, was performed the survey of systematic techniques of concept's se lection based on authors of project merhodologies, performed a triage, description and detailed analysis of resources, operation and Aow, which resulted in the characterization of eleven techniques applicable in the selection process. Then, there was made the distinction of the game as a project tool, and raised the essencial elements for its configuration and effecriveness as the srimulus - the principie of motivacion. Based on these informations, a physical platform game was developed ro make che concept's selection process, which has an arder of use of the techniques, rearranged in a way to estimulare and to facilitare its application.Lastly, it was made a gameplay rest abour the techniques' applicarion, based on inici al playtests, using a fun ctional prototype.

O processo de seleção de alternativas é uma das atividades do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produto (PDP) que visa avaliar as configurações de soluções de um prob lema, para que sejam selecionadas as alternativas mais condizentes com as delimitações de um projeto. Dada a complexidade dessa tarefa, existem técnicas sistematizadas para auxiliar essa tomada de decisão, que são formalizadas e proporcionam visualização, ordem e lógica no processo. Contudo, verificou-se o desinteresse por parte de designers na utilização dessas, devido à falta de intimidade com as mesmas, dificuldades na aplicação e crença em processos não fo rmais para esta ava liação. Por sua vez, técnicas são ap licadas por meio de ferramentas, e essas tem a possibilidade de serem configuradas para aplicar uma ou mais técnicas de outras maneiras. Por isso, o problema desta pesquisa é: como incorporar técnicas sistemáticas de seleção de al ternativas no Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos de fo rma a estimular e facilitar o uso destas técnicas? Sob a hipótese de que uma ferramenta lúdica resolva este problema, o objetivo principal do trabalho é o desenvolvimento de um jogo como ferramenta de projeto para a aplicação de técnicas sistemáticas de seleção de alternativas por equipes de design de produto. Para isso foram mapeadas as principais dificuldades dos designers em relação ao processo de seleção e compreendeu-se as causas da abstenção das técnicas. Após, foi realizado o levantamento de técnicas sistemáticas de seleção de alternativas com base em autores de metodologias projetuais, rea lizada a triagem, descrição e análises aprofundadas sobre recursos, funcionamento e Auxo, que resultou na caracterização de onze técn icas aplicáveis no processo de seleção. Em seguida, foi feita a distinção do jogo como ferramenta de projeto e levantados os elementos essenciais para sua configuração e efetividade quanto ao estímulo - princípio de motivação. Com base nas informações coletadas, foi desenvolvido um jogo de plataforma física para realização do processo de se leção de alternativas, que contempla uma ordem de utilização das técn icas, reconfiguradas de forma a estimular e facilitar a sua ap licação. Por fim, realizou-se uma verificação da jogabilidade quanto à aplicação das técnicas, com base em playtests iniciais, rea lizados com um modelo funcional do jogo. / The process of concept selection one of the activities of Product Development Process (PDP), which aims ro evaluate the solutions of a design problem, ro se lect the most consistem alternatives to the requirements of a project. Given the complexity of this task, there are systematized techniques to assist this decision-making, which are formalized and provide visualization, arder and logic in the process. However, there was a disi nterest of designers in the use of such, dueto lack of intimacy with them, difficul ties in applying and belief in a non-formal process for rhis evaluation.ln rurn, the techniques are applied rhrough tools, and these have rhe ability to be configured to apply one or more techniques in orher ways. The research problem that emerges from this question is: how to incorporare systematic techniques of concept selection in the Product Development Process in arder to stimulare and facilitare the use of these techniques? Based on a hypothesis that a ludic tool could solve this, the main goal of this work is to develop a game as a project tool for the application of systematic techniques of concept selecrion for producr design teams. To this, the main di fficulties in rhe selection process were mapped and the abstention of techniques were understood. Afrer th at, was performed the survey of systematic techniques of concept's se lection based on authors of project merhodologies, performed a triage, description and detailed analysis of resources, operation and Aow, which resulted in the characterization of eleven techniques applicable in the selection process. Then, there was made the distinction of the game as a project tool, and raised the essencial elements for its configuration and effecriveness as the srimulus - the principie of motivacion. Based on these informations, a physical platform game was developed ro make che concept's selection process, which has an arder of use of the techniques, rearranged in a way to estimulare and to facilitare its application.Lastly, it was made a gameplay rest abour the techniques' applicarion, based on inici al playtests, using a fun ctional prototype.

O Roteamento Global é responsável pelo planejamento da distribuição dos meios de interconexão dentro da área do circuito. Dentro da fase do projeto de circuitos conhecida como Síntese Física, essa fase situa-se após a etapa de posicionamento, que define uma posição exata para cada célula do circuito, e antes da etapa de roteamento detalhado que irá definir uma posição para cada meio de interconexão. Os roteadores globais utilizam uma versão abstrata e simplificada do circuito, que agrega uma região e toda a capacidade de fios que esta região comporta, trabalhando com o planejamento dessas capacidades em relação a demanda de interconexão entre as células do circuito. Este trabalho, apresenta um conjunto de técnicas para delimitação e tratamento de áreas que possuem alta demanda por meios de interconexão em circuitos VLSI. As técnicas são aplicadas em duas fases do fluxo de rotamento global: a primeira é executada na fase de pré-roteamento, onde são identificadas as regiões que possuem alta demanda por interconexão, isto é, são destino ou origem de um número elevado fios em relação a sua capacidade de alocar meios de interconexão; a segunda etapa ocorre dentro da fase de roteamento iterativo, identificando e protegendo aquelas que regiões que possuem os níveis mais elevados de congestionamento. Para avaliar os impactos da aplicação das técnicas propostas, foi feita a implementação em um fluxo de roteamento global existente. A avaliação foi partir da extração de quatro métricas de roteamento global comumente utilizadas na literatura de síntese física, para análise de roteamento global: comprimento dos fios, valor total de congestionamento, máximo congestionamento de aresta e tempo de execução. A partir da execução de experimentos utilizando as técnicas, foi possível verificar ganhos de até 11% em redução do congestionamento total no circuito, em benchmarks para os quais ainda não se tem soluções válidas na literatura. Os tempos de execução obtiveram um redução de até 35%, quando comparados com a implementação usada como referência para aplicação das técnicas, o roteador GR-WL. Um dos efeitos colaterais da aplicação de técnicas de calibração de custos é o aumento do comprimento médio dos fios. Os resultados dos experimentos mostram que as técnicas propostas conseguem reduzir este efeito colateral para, no máximo, 1.39% de acordo com os benchmarks executados. / Global routing phase is responsible for the interconnect planning and distribution across the circuit area. During the integrated circuit project flow, the global routing is contained in the Physical Synthesis, after the placement, that is when the position of all circuit cells are defined, and before the detailed routing, when the position of all interonnection wires is realized. A simplified and abstrate version of the circuit routing area is used by the global router, that will agregate in a single vertex, an specific region of the circuit, that represents a bunch of interconnection with their total capacity. This work presents a set of techniques to delimit and threat areas that have high interconnection demand in VLSI circuits. These techniques are applied in two steps of the global routing flow: the first is executed during the initial routing, where the high interconnection demanding regions are identified. the second step is executed during the iterative routing, where the top offender regions are identified and heva their costs pre-allocated. In order to evaluate the impact of the proposed techniques, they are implemented in an existing global routing flow, and four metrics are collected: total wirelenght, execution time, total overflow and maximum overflow. Tha last two metrics will be different from zero just for the circuits that not have a valid solution. After the execution of the experiments it was possible to verify a reduction up to 11% in wirelenght, in some benchmarks that the literature do no have a valid solution. Furthermore, it was possible to verify a reduction up to 35% in the execution time, when compared to the reference implementation. Once we are including constraints in form of cost pre-allocation, it is possible to verify an wirelength increase in some cases. In this work, it was possible to observe a small presence of these side-effects, up to 1.39%, according to the executed benchmarks.

O Roteamento Global é responsável pelo planejamento da distribuição dos meios de interconexão dentro da área do circuito. Dentro da fase do projeto de circuitos conhecida como Síntese Física, essa fase situa-se após a etapa de posicionamento, que define uma posição exata para cada célula do circuito, e antes da etapa de roteamento detalhado que irá definir uma posição para cada meio de interconexão. Os roteadores globais utilizam uma versão abstrata e simplificada do circuito, que agrega uma região e toda a capacidade de fios que esta região comporta, trabalhando com o planejamento dessas capacidades em relação a demanda de interconexão entre as células do circuito. Este trabalho, apresenta um conjunto de técnicas para delimitação e tratamento de áreas que possuem alta demanda por meios de interconexão em circuitos VLSI. As técnicas são aplicadas em duas fases do fluxo de rotamento global: a primeira é executada na fase de pré-roteamento, onde são identificadas as regiões que possuem alta demanda por interconexão, isto é, são destino ou origem de um número elevado fios em relação a sua capacidade de alocar meios de interconexão; a segunda etapa ocorre dentro da fase de roteamento iterativo, identificando e protegendo aquelas que regiões que possuem os níveis mais elevados de congestionamento. Para avaliar os impactos da aplicação das técnicas propostas, foi feita a implementação em um fluxo de roteamento global existente. A avaliação foi partir da extração de quatro métricas de roteamento global comumente utilizadas na literatura de síntese física, para análise de roteamento global: comprimento dos fios, valor total de congestionamento, máximo congestionamento de aresta e tempo de execução. A partir da execução de experimentos utilizando as técnicas, foi possível verificar ganhos de até 11% em redução do congestionamento total no circuito, em benchmarks para os quais ainda não se tem soluções válidas na literatura. Os tempos de execução obtiveram um redução de até 35%, quando comparados com a implementação usada como referência para aplicação das técnicas, o roteador GR-WL. Um dos efeitos colaterais da aplicação de técnicas de calibração de custos é o aumento do comprimento médio dos fios. Os resultados dos experimentos mostram que as técnicas propostas conseguem reduzir este efeito colateral para, no máximo, 1.39% de acordo com os benchmarks executados. / Global routing phase is responsible for the interconnect planning and distribution across the circuit area. During the integrated circuit project flow, the global routing is contained in the Physical Synthesis, after the placement, that is when the position of all circuit cells are defined, and before the detailed routing, when the position of all interonnection wires is realized. A simplified and abstrate version of the circuit routing area is used by the global router, that will agregate in a single vertex, an specific region of the circuit, that represents a bunch of interconnection with their total capacity. This work presents a set of techniques to delimit and threat areas that have high interconnection demand in VLSI circuits. These techniques are applied in two steps of the global routing flow: the first is executed during the initial routing, where the high interconnection demanding regions are identified. the second step is executed during the iterative routing, where the top offender regions are identified and heva their costs pre-allocated. In order to evaluate the impact of the proposed techniques, they are implemented in an existing global routing flow, and four metrics are collected: total wirelenght, execution time, total overflow and maximum overflow. Tha last two metrics will be different from zero just for the circuits that not have a valid solution. After the execution of the experiments it was possible to verify a reduction up to 11% in wirelenght, in some benchmarks that the literature do no have a valid solution. Furthermore, it was possible to verify a reduction up to 35% in the execution time, when compared to the reference implementation. Once we are including constraints in form of cost pre-allocation, it is possible to verify an wirelength increase in some cases. In this work, it was possible to observe a small presence of these side-effects, up to 1.39%, according to the executed benchmarks.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Mechanical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted