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This thesis describes innovative methods used to predict high-stress amplitude, low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of a material commonly used in gas turbine blade design with the absence of such data. A combination of extrapolation and estimation techniques from both prior and current studies has been explored with the goal of developing a method to accurately characterize such high-temperature fatigue of IN738LC, a dual-phase Ni-base superalloy. A method capable of predicting high-stress (or strain) amplitude fatigue from incessantly available low-stress amplitude, high cycle fatigue (HCF) would lower the costs of inspection, repair, and replacement on certain turbine components. Three sets of experimental data at different temperatures are used to evaluate and examine the validity of extrapolation methods such as anchor points and hysteresis energy trends. Stemming from extrapolation techniques developed earlier by Coffin, Manson, and Basquin, the techniques exercised in this study purely implement tensile test and HCF data with limited plastic strain during the estimation processes. A standard practice in engineering design necessitates mechanical testing closely resembling planned service conditions; for design against fatigue failure, HCF and tensile data are the experiments of choice. High stress amplitude data points approaching the ultimate strength of the material were added to the pre-existing HCF base data to achieve a full-range data set that could be used to test the legitimacy of the different prediction methods. While some methods proved to be useful for bounding estimates, others provided for superior estimation.

<p>Renewable energy technologies and the development of cleaner and more environmentally friendly power have been at the forefront of research for the past few decades. Photovoltaic systems – systems that convert photon energy to electrical energy – are at the center of these research efforts. Decreasing the cost of energy production, through increasing the power conversion efficiency or decreasing the device cost, is a key factor in widespread use of these energy production systems. To increase the energy conversion efficiency, ideally, all useful photons should be absorbed by the solar cell; however, due to the large discontinuity in the refractive index at the solar cell/air interface, a large fraction of incidence light is lost due to reflection (30% loss in crystalline silicon cells). The currently used single and double layer anti-reflection coatings reduce the reflection losses, but their optimal performance is limited to a narrow range of wavelengths and angles of incidence. Moth-eye anti-reflection coatings are composed of patterned single layer films having a gradual decrease in refractive index from the solar cell surface to air. This study is focused on developing an inexpensive method for direct deposition of patterned films – in the form of moth-eye anti-reflection coatings – on solar cell surface.</p> <p>In this research, the creation of moth-eye anti-reflection coatings has been attempted through the process of electrodeposition. ZnO was chosen for the thin film material, and the ability to develop the required moth-eye structure by changing the electrodeposition parameters including temperature, applied potential, type and concentration of solution-borne species, and type of substrate was investigated. Using this method, pyramidal and hemispherical structures with a 100-200 nm diameter and 100-200 nm height were created directly on ITO substrates. Similar structures were also developed on silicon substrates. The anti-reflection properties of ZnO-coated silicon substrates were investigated by comparing their broadband and broad angle reflection-mode UV-VIS spectrum with uncoated silicon. The optimized ZnO-coated silicon substrate showed a reflectance of at most 20% for wavelengths between 400-1500 nm at angles of incidence less than 50^O.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

This thesis addresses the problem healthcare facilities are having in maintaining proper food temperatures while transporting meals to patients after food has left the kitchen area. Induction heat has been a known method for generating heat for many years. The commercial food industry currently uses this technology, which is beginning to appear in the residential sector as well because of developments made by manufacturers. This study focuses on the top commercial brand models of induction heaters and the supporting materials currently used to create heat sources to maintain food temperatures in hospitals and long term care facilities. The research in this thesis includes data recorded from 6,000 total induction cycles from the 3 leading induction heating models. The focus of the research was to gather data concerning the models’ reliability to consistently create the intended inducement of radio frequency waves as well as deliver consistent temperature reactions from the recorded induction cycles. There were 18,000 temperature data points recorded during different time intervals for each of the induction cycles for the entire study. The results indicate the current technology not only is reliable in creating inductions fields but also in delivering consistent temperatures in the supporting materials being heated. Induction has been used historically as a fast heating process to treat large metal products and requires no direct contact to create or transfer heat to a surface (Rudnev et al., 2003). The speed and consistent application of heat transfer that has been derived by modern manufacturing induction practices makes it a logical use of existing technology to be applied in maintaining temperatures of food in the healthcare market. However, the focus for commercial equipment manufacturers has been to market products that can consistently maintain desired food temperatures, particularly in the healthcare industry. Traditionally, heating foods was accomplished by physically applying heat to areas where food is stored, in order to reach a certain temperature, and then working to deliver that food to the patient in a timely manner or before it cooled to temperatures that would be deemed too cold for consumption. If the food was too cold, before it was served to the patient, then it was typically micro waved in order to reheat the food. However, reheating food in the microwave is not only detrimental, but it also degrades food quality, texture, and visual presentation (Harvard Health, 2015). As a result, the effort demanded to deliver all foods to all patients, while the food is still at an ideal temperature, has resulted in an increased cost of labor. This is because healthcare facilities have had to hire additional workers to meet the demands placed on the nutrition department related to safe temperatures and speed of food delivery (Aladdin, 2013).

Vertically aligned multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) arrays fabricated by xylene pyrolysis in anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) templates without the use of a catalyst, were integrated into a resistive sensor design. The steady state sensitivities as high as 5% and 10% for 100 ppm of NH3 and NO2 respectively at a flow rate of 750 sccm were observed. A study was undertaken to elucidate (i) the dependence of sensitivity on the thickness of amorphous carbon layers, (ii) the effect of UV light on gas desorption characteristics and (iii) the dependence of room temperature sensitivity on different NH3 and NO2 flow rates. An equivalent circuit model was developed to understand the operation and propose design changes for increased sensitivity. Multi Walled Carbon NanoTubes (MWCNTs) – Polymer composite based hybrid sensors were fabricated and integrated into a resistive sensor design for gas sensing applications. Thin films of MWCNTs were grown onto Si/SiO2 substrates via xylene pyrolysis using chemical vapor deposition technique. Polymers like PEDOT:PSS and Polyaniline (PANI) mixed with various solvents like DMSO, DMF, 2-Propanol and Ethylene Glycol were used to synthesize the composite films. These sensors exhibited excellent response and selectivity at room temperature when exposed to low concentrations (100ppm) of gases like NH3 and NO2. Effect of various solvents on the sensor response imparting selectivity to CNT – Polymer nanocomposites was investigated extensively. Sensitivities as high as 28% was observed for a MWCNT – PEDOT:PSS composite sensor when exposed to 100ppm of NH3 and -29.8% sensitivity for a MWCNT-PANI composite sensor to 100ppm of NO2. A novel nanostructured electrode design for Li based batteries and electrochemical capacitor applications was developed and tested. High density and highly aligned metal oxide nanowire arrays were fabricated via template assisted electrochemical deposition. Nickel and Molybdenum nanowires fabricated via cathodic deposition process were converted into respective oxides via thermal treatments and were evaluated as electrodes for batteries and capacitor applications via Cyclic Voltammetery (CV). Several chemical baths were formulated for the deposition of pristine molybdenum nanowires. Superior electrochemical performance of metal (Ni and Mo) oxide nanowires was observed in comparison to the previously reported nano-particle based electrodes.

Sneak path current is a significant remaining obstacle to the utilization of large crossbar arrays for non-volatile memories and other applications of memristors. A two-terminal selector device with an extremely large current-voltage nonlinearity and low leakage current could solve this problem. We present here a Ag/oxide-based threshold switching (TS) device with attractive features such as high current-voltage nonlinearity (~1010), steep turn-on slope (less than 1 mV/dec), low OFF-state leakage current (~10-14 A), fast turn ON/OFF speeds (<75/250 ns), and good endurance (>108 cycles). The feasibility of using this selector with a typical memristor has been demonstrated by physically integrating them into a multilayered 1S1R cell. Structural analysis of the nanoscale crosspoint device suggests that elongation of a Ag nanoparticle under voltage bias followed by spontaneous reformation of a more spherical shape after power off is responsible for the observed threshold switching of the device. Such mechanism has been quantitatively verified by the Ag nanoparticle dynamics simulation based on thermal diffusion assisted by bipolar electrode effect and interfacial energy minimization.