Report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. M.S. 1993. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 107). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2005. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-134).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1980. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-75).

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio State University, 1985. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-153). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2006. / Title from title screen (site viewed May 23, 2007). PDF text: vi, 140 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 2.70Mb UMI publication number: AAT 3236905. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

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This thesis is concerned with the continued development of multisensor array sensing technology for the detection and classification of aromas. The technology applies the use of conducting polymers grown across a gap between metallic conductors. The electrochemically deposited films complete a circuit and providing electrical resistance. In this format the films act as chemical resistors (chemiresistors) the current flow being influenced by the polymers' molecular electronics. Devices of this nature are potentially useful as sensors for analytes which cause the reversible modulation of the films' molecular electronics, leading to a detectable resistance change. Variation in the chemical and physical properties of the conducting polymer films has led to the generation of sensing devices capable of providing rapid, meaningful sensory information. The development of multisensor arrays containing a series of sensing devices having broad ranging sensitivities, has enabled effective discrimination of sample analytes. The information generated from such an array provides a 'fingerprint' or patterned response relating directly to the sample analyte. Complex statistical processing techniques have been coupled with the sensor technology to categorise and differentiate between the 'fingerprints' obtained. Instrumentation based on multisensor array technology has been developed by Neotronics Scientific Ltd., who currently market the NOSE (Neotronics Olfactory Sensing Equipment) based upon conducting polymer sensors. The research project resulting in this thesis was intended to develop and examine conducting polymer chemiresistor technology and explore the parameters that contribute to the production of effective discriminating sensors for use in array devices. The study involved an investigation of the variables involved in the electropolymerisation protocols, and expansion of the sensing chemiresistors available. This was achieved by analysis of polymer fabrication methods, and the variation in monomer and electrolyte feedstocks used during polymerisation. Polymer film stability was a major feature of the work performed as the long-term effectiveness of a sensing device is governed by environmental stability allowing reproducible analysis. Sensor optimisation was investigated using an individual system to determine the effect of the electrodeposition protocols, surface morphology, baseline resistance and film thickness. Polymer composition and stability were studied using a series of electrochemical, spectroscopic and surface analysis techniques. The data obtained resulted in the fabrication of chemiresistors not previously tested in electronic nose technology. Experimental optimisation studies also allowed variation in the nature of the responses obtained. A final area of investigation was the analysis of chemiresistors within a multisensor array environment using the NOSE technology. A series of arrays were prepared and the sensors exposed to a number of single, pure, organic analytes. From this data information was obtained on sensor response relating to molecular size, shape, position and nature of functional groups. The multifaceted nature of these experiments increased the number and response characteristics accessible to Neotronics, and provided a contribution to the knowledge surrounding the interactions between conducting polymer films and volatile organic analytes.

This dissertation encompasses primarily design for testability (DFT) problems of concurrent checking and structural off-line Built-In Self-Test. We present a new DFT method, which employs cyclic code checking as a medium to combine the concurrent checking and signature analysis in a built-in fashion. It uses bit-sliced linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs) or linear cellular automata registers (LCARs) as the implementation mechanism. A circuit under test designed in this method supports both on-line and off-line testability with shared hardware resources. It has comparable on-line error-detecting ability to the conventional error-detecting codes and without affecting the high fault coverage of off-line signature analysis. This testing scheme complies with the IEEE boundary-scan standard and is applicable to general circuitry. Evaluations of the proposed scheme are carried out with respect to the area overhead, performance and testing time, design complexity, pin count, and fault coverage. The concatenation properties of LCARs are introduced and recent developments in related issues are reviewed. Finally, a new area estimation method for circuit design is presented to ease silicon cost measurement / Graduate

M.Phil. / This study identifies and evaluates dynamic models used to characterise the dynamic stiffness and phase angle of hydraulic elastomeric mounts that are primarily used as engine and operator cab isolators in vehicular applications. Linear models developed for hydraulic elastomeric mounts are analysed for their suitability to be used to characterise the dynamic stiffness and its phase angle in the low and high frequency range. A sensitivity analysis provides insight into the parameters with a high level of sensitivity to changes in model parameters. The models selected from the linear analysis are enhanced and updated by performing a quasi-linear analysis to compensate for the dynamic behaviour of certain parameters. Non-linear dynamic behaviour of the decoupler is also investigated. These models are then verified experimentally. To set-up an analytical model that can be used to predict the dynamic characteristics of the hydraulic elastomeric mount it is necessary to develop a physical model from which the system differential equations are extracted. From the physical model flow continuity equations and fluid momentum equations are developed to obtain an expression that describe the fluid response in the inertia track and decoupler respectively. Lumped parameter mechanical models are developed next from which equivalent differential equations are derived to describe the internal dynamics of the hydraulic mount. These differential equations along with the transmitted force equation directly derived from the physical model are used to develop the dynamic stiffness transfer function. Time domain input displacement and output transmitted force data are taken at a specific frequency and amplitude, and are used to generate hysteresis loops to extract the dynamic stiffness and phase angles. For most of the computational effort, both analytical and experimental, MATLAB programs are written to perform curve fitting, FFT calculation, numerical integration and dynamical simulation. Emphasis is placed on the dynamic considerations of hydraulic mount design in the automotive industry and where machines are subjected to shock and vibration. The results and techniques used to model and the mounts are useful to designers in the field of shock and vibration isolation. Finally, the aim of the work is to keep the dynamic models as simple as possible, to be used effectively in the identification of the structural dynamic characteristics of hydraulic elastomeric mounts. To avoid complexity two models are used to describe the dynamics of the mount, one model for the low frequency, large amplitude conditions and one for the high frequency, small amplitude conditions. The information is then used to determine how the mount will respond under certain dynamical conditions.

M.Ing. / This dissertation covers a literature study of the reliability engineering, and this is then applied to the hospital oxygen supply system in order to determine the reliability of the system. The hospital oxygen supply system must comply with international and local legislation, which insists that the reliability of the system must be very high, since it supports life in the hospital. Since there were no previous studies conducted in terms of the oxygen supply system to the knowledge of the author, it definitely opens a new study field for the application of reliability engineering concepts. In the research it was found that no records were kept by the company on the failures occurring with the oxygen supply system. This increased the difficulty to calculate the actual reliability of the supply system. A reliability prediction was done, based on the failure rate data from a database. The reliability prediction of the .system was very low, and possibly not a very accurate prediction of the actual reliability of the system. The author therefore created a reliability calculation program, which calculates the reliability of the system and also keeps, an accurate failure data record on each component of the system. The main conclusion reached with this dissertation is that failure data feedback, and accurate records are a very important factor of reliability engineering. This may influence the company's ability to rectify design changes in their systems, as there is no idea where the failure occurred and how much money value is linked to the failures occurring.