Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-78).

The inferred mode protocol uses contextual reasoning and local mediators to eliminate the need to access specic modes to perform draw, select, move and delete operations in a sketch interface. This thesis describe an observational experiment to understand the learn- ability, user preference and frequency of use of mode inferencing in a sketch appli- cation. Novel methodology is presented to study both quantitative and long term qualitative facets of mode inferencing. The experiment demonstrated that participants instructed in the in- terface features enjoyed fluid transitions between modes. As well, interaction techniques were not self-revealing: Participants who were not instructed in interaction techniques took longer to learn about inferred mode features and were more negative about the interaction techniques. Over multiple sketching sessions, as users develop expertise with the system, they combine inferred mode techniques to speed interaction, and frequently make use of scratch space on the display to retrain themselves and to tune their behaviors. Lastly, post- task interviews outline impediments to discoverability and how performance is affected by negative perceptions around computational intelligence. The results of this work inform the design of sketch interface techniques that incorporate noncommand features.

The purpose of this research is to examine structural durability of advanced composite materials under critical loading conditions, e.g., combined thermal and mechanical loading and shear fatigue loading. A thermal buckling model of a burnt column, either axially restrained or under an axial applied force was developed. It was predicted that for a column exposed to the high heat flux under simultaneous constant compressive load, the response of the column is the same as that of an imperfection column; the instability of the burnt column happens. Based on the simplified theoretical prediction, the post-fire compressive behavior of fiberglass reinforced vinyl-ester composite columns, which have been exposed to high heat flux for a certain time was investigated experimentally, the post-fire compressive strength, modulus and failure mode were determined. The integrity of the same column under constant compressive mechanical loading combined with heat flux exposure was examined using a specially designed mechanical loading fixture that mounted directly below a cone calorimeter. All specimens in the experiments exhibited compressive instability. The experimental results show a thermal bending moment exists and has a significant influence on the structural behavior, which verified the thermal buckling model. The trend of response between the deflection of the column and exposure time is similar to that predicted by the model. A new apparatus was developed to study the monotonic shear and cyclic-shear behavior of sandwich structures. Proof-of-concept experiments were performed using PVC foam core polymeric sandwich materials. Shear failure occurred by the extension of cracks parallel to the face-sheet/core interface, the shear modulus degraded with the growth of fatigue damage. Finite element analysis was conducted to determine stress distribution in the proposed specimen geometry used in the new technique. Details for a novel apparatus used for the fatigue testing of thin films and face sheets are also provided.

Most design of experiments assumes predetermined design regions. Design regions with uncertainty are of interest in the first chapter. This chapter proposes optimal designs under a two-part model to handle the uncertainty in the design region. In particular, the logit model in the two-part model is used to assess the uncertainty on the boundary of the design region. The second chapter proposes an efficient and effective multi-layer data collection scheme (Layers of Experiments) for building accurate statistical models to meet tight tolerance requirement commonly encountered in nano-fabrication. "Layers-of-Experiments" (LOE) obtain sub-regions of interest (layer) where the process optimum is expected to lie and collect more data in the sub-regions with concentrated focus. The third chapter contributes a new design criterion combining model-based optimal design and model-free space-filling design in a constraint manner. The proposed design is useful when the fitted statistical model is required to have both characteristics: accuracy in statistical inference and design space exploration. The fourth chapter proposes adaptive combined designs in the layers of experiments. This chapter also develops methods to improve model quality by combining information from various layers and from engineering models. Combined designs are modified to improve its efficiency by incorporate collected field data from several layers of experiments. Updated engineering models are used to build more accurate statistical models.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oulu, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. James R. Simpson, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Mar. 2, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in M.E.)--School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Farrokh Mistree. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 396-399).

Universities are places where advanced education be taught, and also where pinner thoughts be conceived. Explorations and innovations in every field are spontaneous and highly encouraged, so does in field of Sustainable Architecture. Correspondingly, campus buildings should be considered as a carrier of knowledge, which can enlighten occupants in certain extents. Can the design of a Living Laboratory on Campus of the University of Texas at Austin facilitate student architectural sustainable explorations and innovations and contribute to campus sustainability socially and environmentally through the operation of interactive interchangeable building system? Specifically focusing on the University of Texas at Austin, this Master Design Study attempts to utilize a design process of a campus living laboratory to answer the questions above. It considered the lab as a platform for students to public their sustainable ideas and works, and get initial feedback from the occupants thereby. It would be especially benefit for university education and also for professional practice of students. / text

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While theory formation and the relation between theory and data has been investigated in many studies of scientific reasoning, researchers have focused less attention on reasoning about experimental design, even though the experimental design process makes up a large part of real-world scientists' reasoning. The goal of this thesis was to provide a cognitive account of the scientific experimental design process by analyzing experimental design as problem-solving behavior (Newell & Simon, 1972). Three specific issues were addressed: the effect of potential error on experimental design strategies, the role of prior knowledge in experimental design, and the effect of characteristics of the space of alternate hypotheses on alternate hypothesis testing. A two-pronged in vivo/in vitro research methodology was employed, in which transcripts of real-world scientific laboratory meetings were analyzed as well as undergraduate science and non-science majors' design of biology experiments in the psychology laboratory. It was found that scientists use a specific strategy to deal with the possibility of error in experimental findings: they include "known" control conditions in their experimental designs both to determine whether error is occurring and to identify sources of error. The known controls strategy had not been reported in earlier studies with science-like tasks, in which participants' responses to error had consisted of replicating experiments and discounting results. With respect to prior knowledge: scientists and undergraduate students drew on several types of knowledge when designing experiments, including theoretical knowledge, domain-specific knowledge of experimental techniques, and domain-general knowledge of experimental design strategies. Finally, undergraduate science students generated and tested alternates to their favored hypotheses when the space of alternate hypotheses was constrained and searchable. This result may help explain findings of confirmati